Three Key Steps to Motivate Your Team to Strive for Excellence

It is a known fact that one of the most compelling reasons employees leave their job is because they feel unappreciated, or that they bring no real value to their team.【小题1】 In order to motivate and build up a team for excellence, there are some key steps that you should follow.

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This does not mean that you should hang out with them at the local bar, or become one of their weekend buddies. What it does mean is that if you want to motivate your team to excellence, then you should take the time to get to know your team personally by talking individually to them at different times, asking basic questions, and letting them see that you are human and accessible. 【小题3】

Recognize them as a person, not just their ability.

Too often, we are quick to praise people for a job well done, but we fail to let the person know that we appreciate them as a person. Praise them for that job well done, but take notice of their personal qualities and talents and how they bring value to the team.【小题4】 For example: “Hey Johnny, those were some great ideas you came up with in the team meeting today, I like the way you think!”

Make their success public.

Take time in your team meetings each week to recognize and talk about the people who made a difference that week.【小题5】 This makes others want to push harder and do more as they see that hard work is valued. Many times other team members do not know what has happened in other departments, or the accomplishments that they have had, so this is also a great way for your team to keep up with the latest and greatest.

Every student knows the importance of taking notes in class. But the skill of note-taking isn't only used in school. Adults need to take notes in meetings or training sessions for work. So here are some tips to help you develop this critical skill.

• Begin with the date and the topic of the class. This may seem obvious, but you could forget easily. It will help you keep your notes organized.

•【小题1】Trying to write down everything the speaker says will only exhaust and frustrate you. Instead, listen for the key ideas the person wants to communicate.

• If the speaker uses a PowerPoint, you may not need to copy the slides. Ask if the PowerPoint will be available afterwards. 【小题2】 Or you can take a picture with a phone. Also, the PowerPoint or a document with notes may be available before the class or meeting. If so, print it out so you can write notes on it.

• Think about whether you want to take notes by hand or with a computer. Writing notes by hand has been shown to help you remember things better. But with a computer, it will be easier for you to organize your notes. 【小题3】 Write notes by hand first, and then type them up as part of your review.

• Consider different note-taking strategies. 【小题4】Another strategy is to write an outline with details indented under the points they support.

• Look over your notes again after taking them. This will give you the chance to add any information that you didn't set down.【小题5】Do it before you forget anything. This extra review will also increase your chances of remember what you wrote.

Note-taking is a practical skill, so it's important to practice doing it well.

Creative ways to reduce food waste

When it comes to wasting food, part of this issue may arise from lifelong habits. 【小题1】

Now follow these tips to reduce unnecessary waste and save a pretty penny along the way.

Plan your meals and shop your fridge. When you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to eat, it’s easy to pick up more than you need, especially when items are at a discount. It might seem like a great short-term option. 【小题2】 Planning your meals for the week in advance can be a great way to avoid this issue.

【小题3】 There are many unknown tips that can help to keep produce fresh. For example, potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables last longest if they are kept in the dark. You can also find many ways to keep your perishables (易腐物品) fresh by using water. Overall, learning the best way to store perishables is a sure-fire way to make everything last longer.

Get creative with leftovers. Sometimes planning fails you and you end up with leftover meals in your fridge. 【小题4】 Try out a traditional recipe, or consider something more innovative, like making egg-fried rice, which is actually made with day-old rice.

Track your trash. Do you find that you get into the habit of buying the same things every single time you set foot in the supermarket, yet every week you have things you throw away? A good way of avoiding food waste is to note down the products which end up in the bin time and time again. 【小题5】