Top 10 reasons why constant complaining is so toxic in the workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Top 10 reasons why constant complaining is so toxic in the workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Back when I was still working in the tech industry (I was a software developer for a small consulting company in my second job out of university) I had a boss that was shall we say unpopular. My co-workers and I hated his guts and we complained ceaselessly about him. It got to the point where we couldnt start a meeting, have lunch in the cafeteria, or even go out for a beer without spending half an hour complaining about him. We whined about his attitude, his stupidity, his meddling, his spinelessness hell, even his dress sense came under fire. But then again, he is the only manager who has ever interviewed me wearing a narrow 80s-style purple, fake-leather tie. But did we ever tell him? Nooooooo! While we were bitching and moaning to ourselves, he blithely went on as usual because no one ever complained to him. Which mightve made sense when you think about it Looking back, Im not sure that complaining to him would have worked I think he was incorrigible but one thing is for damn sure: Out bitching about it, fun though it may have been, did not improve things one little bit. Because that kind of chronic complaining, justified or not, in the workplace leads to no good. In fact, in can be downright toxic and can make a department or even a whole company a terrible place to work. Heres why constant complaining is so bad: 1: It makes things look worse than they are When people complain, they focus only on whats wrong. Things may be mostly fine in the company, but complainers only talk about the problems, annoyances and peeves they perceive. If things in a company are 80% good and 20% bad and you spend most of your time thinking and talking about the bad 20% the situation will look a lot worse than it really is. 2: It becomes a habit The more you complain, the easier it gets. In the end, everything is bad, every situation is a problem, every co-worker is a jerk and nothing is good. The more you focus on the negative, the harder it gets to switch into a positive mindset. 3: You get what you focus on According to Wikipedia, Confirmation bias is: a tendency to search for or interpret new information in a way that confirms ones preconceptions and avoid information and interpretations which contradict prior beliefs. In other words, what you already believe influences your perception of everything around you. Thats why constant complaining makes you see everything in a negative light, because your subconscious mind tries to make new observation fit with what you already know. 4: It leads to onedownmanship A complaining session might go something like this: The other day, my boss came in 5 minutes before I was leaving and asked me to finish two huge projects for him. I had to stay two hours and missed my football game. Yeah, well my boss told me to work this weekend AND the next. Hah, thats nothing! My boss This type of interaction rewards the person with the worst story who can complain the loudest. Not healthy! 5: It makes people despondent Not only does constant complaining make you see the workplace as worse than it really is, but because youre constantly hearing stories of how bad things are and how theyre constantly getting worse it also destroys all hope that things can get better. This of course makes people less likely to take action to improve their situation, because everybody knows its doomed to fail anyway. 6: It kills innovation Because the situations looks so hopeless, people become less creative and innovative. Whats the point of coming up with ideas and implementing them its never going to work anyway. Also, chronic complainers are the first to shoot down any new idea. 7: It favors negative people The way to get status among complainers is to be the most negative. To be the one who sees everything in the most negative light. Any attempt to be positive or cheerful will be shot down and optimists will be accused of being Pollyanna, naive and unrealistic. 8: It promotes bad relationships People who complain together unite against the world and can create strong internal relationships based on this. But these relationships are based mostly on negative experiences. Thats not healthy. It also means that you can only continue to be a part of the group if you can continue to complain, miring you even deeper in a complaint mindset. 9: It creates cliques Being positive, optimistic and appreciative makes you more open towards other people no matter who they are. It becomes easy to connect to co-workers in other departments, projects or divisions. Complaining, on the other hand, makes people gather in cliques with their fellow complainers where they can be critical and suspicious of everybody else. 10: Pessimism is bad for you Research in positive psychology has shown that people who see the world in a positive light have a long list of advantages, including: They live longer Theyre healthier They have more friends and better social lives They enjoy life more Theyre more successful at work We sometimes think that pessimists and complainers have the edge because they see problems sooner but the truth is that optimists not only lead better lives, theyre also more successful because they believe that what theyre doing is going to work. The upshot Constant complaining in the workplace is toxic. It can drain the happiness, motivation, creativity and fun from a whole company. Wherever its going on it must be addressed and handled properly. Im NOT saying that we should never complain at work quite the contrary. If you see a problem in your workplace, complain to whoever can do something about it. What we should avoid at all costs, is constant bitching and moaning, where were always complaining about the same things, to the same people, in the same way, day in and day out. So what can we do about it? Well first of all, each of us can learn to complain constructively. This means learning to complain in a way that leads to the problem being fixed rather than to more complaining. Heres my post on how you can How to complain constructively. Secondly, we can learn to deal with the chronic complainers we meet at work. Unfortunately, our traditional strategies like trying to cheer them up or suggesting solutions for their problems dont work because complainers arent looking for encouragement or solutions. Heres my post on how to deal with chronic complainers. Finally, you can train your own ability to be positive. Just like complaining can become a habit, so can being appreciative, optimistic and grateful. You could declare today a positive day, you could take a few minutes at the end of every work day to write down five good experiences from that day or you could praise a co-worker. Try it and let me know how it goes! Your take But what do you think? Do you know any chronic complainers at work? What is their impact? How do you complain, when you see a problem? Please write a comment, Id really like to know! Related Here are some related posts about workplace complaining: A real-life story on how being positive helps at work Go complain. Right now! Some negative phrases to avoid Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Job competition at all-time high. Time to raise the bar. -

Job competition at all-time high. Time to raise the bar. - The AP reports that, according to data released Friday, October 9th, competition for jobs is tougher now than when the recession began, with the Labor Department reporting an average of 6.3 unemployed workers competing for each job opening. (This compared to 1.7 workers when the recession began in December 2007.) The article by Christopher S. Rugaber indicates that, while layoffs are slowing, companies are hesitant to begin hiring. Several key points from the post: Fewer people are facing job loss, said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at Economic Policy Institute in Washington, but once you have lost your job, you are in serious trouble. The recovery in output continues to be unaccompanied by a recovery in jobs, said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight. He expects the unemployment rate, currently at 9.8 percent, will be at 8.6 percent in 2012. Economists offer several reasons why companies arent hiring. Many employers laid off huge numbers of workers earlier this year but have since found that productivity jumped, enabling them to maintain output. It appears that American workers, possibly afraid to lose jobs if they still have them, have managed to outperform, inadvertantly making some employers believe that ramping up hiring is not necessary. What is a job seeker to do? Yesterdays Career Collective posts addresssed the topic of avoiding being a cookie cutter job seeker. My post included several suggestions, and I encourage you to follow THIS LINK and link to other member posts on the topic. Is this news unwelcome? Of course, but anecdotal evidence (talking to people involved in outplacement and to my own clients) suggests that those who mobilize good information along with cutting-edge job search techniques, such as using Twitter to expand a network and find a job, ARE landing in opportunities. So, take a good, solid look at your resume. Think about how you are approaching the market. Are you doing the same things you did the last time you looked for a job (10 years ago)? If so, it is time for a change. Another idea? Visit my friend Laurie Ruettimanns blog with her outside the box ideas on how to manage if you are freaking out. If looking for a job is tiring you out, and you are not sure that you are doing everything you can to fuel your plans, learn more about how I can help you HERE. photo by lloydcrew

Getting the Best Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military

Getting the Best Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military Although there are fantastic resources of resume templates over the web, they don't guarantee the invention of a powerful resume. Professional services always guarantee they hire experienced writers who know of the recent demands of the business. The website does not have any limitations when it comes to your professional experience and specialization. Every customer may consult us at any opportunity to decide on the templates, an illustration of the greatest resumes, a market, a deadline, and various other elements necessary to finish the purchase. The Most Popular Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military Our customers decide what should or shouldn't be included in the last document. You will receive competent support and outstanding outcomes! Our services won't only demonstrate your value as an employee to prospective organizations, they'll also convince you of your very own expert worth. The service of Resumarea is given to clients at a fair price that matches the value of your self-presentation. Ok, I Think I Understand Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military, Now Tell Me About Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military! Unfortunately, writing a resume can be rather a challenge. As a result, should you need any type of writing help, we'll gladly ease your writing burden. Becoming good and expert writing professional you may apply anywhere as professional and make a great living. The New Fuss About Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military Your experience and accomplishments should be shown in an orderly fashion, in order to convey an organic expert evolution. Selecting a top resume service is among the main decisions that can be made in preparing for your career transition. You would like your career to visit the next level. Wherever you're in your career, we're here to assist. Professional writers employ the most innovative organization methods to your resume. Writing your resume is no simple endeavor. To have a handsome earning you should make your writing skills up to the mark. So How About Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military? The award-winning resume services provided by the absolute most trusted Military Resume Service may help to make the transition from military to civilian life much simpler. 1 special feature given by Resume Writers Service is that if you're a returning customer, you can secure any services for half off the normal price. You will not discover a particular military resume writing service. Express service is offered in under 24 hours. Professional resume writers also know the present buzz words in every single industry. A perfect document demands special wisdom and time. For instance, many resumes now are digitally scanned, and relevant search phrases and keyword phrases finally have to get included, or so the scanner will pick them up and move the re sume forward. Neither does this draw any offers. It is clear that professional services know of industry requirements. Our clients get helpful recommendations and tips in accordance with their professional life. What Needs to be Done About Best Professional Resume Writing Services 4 Military Before You Miss Your Chance For example, you may obtain a sheet of advice, guidance and skilled help from folks who focus on converting military resumes into civilian ones or may pay a person to compose your paper instead. Scannable resumes need specific page designs because computer scanners can't read certain products. If you go to our site, it usually means that you're going to make the correct decision and put your order with Pro-Papers. Furthermore, their website is extremely outdated and doesn't offer any sample resumes to look at.

The Dirty Facts on Writing Resume Sucks

The Dirty Facts on Writing Resume Sucks The Fundamentals of Writing Resume Sucks Revealed For Hiring Managers to examine your resume quickly, it should be short. So quit and return to the job you don't like as much. As you do that, know that you don't will need to include every job you've ever held. What Has to be Done About Writing Resume Sucks Before You Miss Your Chance Among the biggest concerns job hunters share is too little confidence in their resume. It's simple to blend in the crowd on the job. So once you're considering how to compose a resume, don't forget that you ought to be selling your abilities and accomplishments, not only listing your work history and your old responsibilities. More frequently than not, talent isn't a determinant of succeeding in any sphere. The fantastic thing about writing a book if you don't understand how to compose a book is that you get to understand how to compose a book. Your resume reader already is aware of what you desire. Yo u never understand how old school your audience might be, so include all of it. A resume isn't an exercise in creative writing unless you're asking for a position in creative writing. Writing Resume Sucks Help! There are excellent resources which can aid you. As soon as it's only a page or two in length, a resume is among the most important pieces of a work application. To start with, your resume ought to be personalized and unique. You are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. The Ultimate Writing Resume Sucks Trick Use the checklist to ensure you have included all appropriate data in your resume. After you've got that list of questions, you will know precisely what you have to write in your resume. There's no secret ingredient to making a resume the very best. Keep private information out. Including your GPA on your resume, whether it's your cumulative GPA or your main GPA, is dependent on several aspects. You r objective An objective statement tells an employer what you would like from the particular role that you're applying to. Spending a couple of hundred dollars on a resume rehaul can sound as a lot, but nevertheless, it is sometimes a prudent investment, especially if it drastically lessens the length of your job search or can help you land a greater salary. The challenges of dissatisfaction in a career may have a negative effect on our mental wellness. The Most Popular Writing Resume Sucks Learn about the three sorts of skills you may highlight and the way you are able to incorporate them into your resume. The fantastic news is diplomas and degrees may be used to a wide range of roles to pick. Resumes should demonstrate what you could do and not what you cannot do, states Harrison. They are so outdated and anyone can go on the internet, download a template and make it look sparkly and cool. The War Against Writing Resume Sucks Resume paper isn't needed. By ordering an ess ay you get a well-crafted bit of writing that is going to be a superior foundation for your paper. When you're preparing to make an application for work, the second document you would like to write is your resume or CV. Well it is all dependent on whether the job posting instructions specify a specific format.

When work is a pleasure, life is a joy!

When work is a pleasure, life is a joy3KSome people dread the image of a whole weekend sleepover with their colleagues, usually filled with cheesy teambuilding activities. But for me, it means a weekend full of fun and new memories with EnhancersDo you want to come and see me in Venice?, said ur Chief Innovator Mitko after we came back from the Power Week. He has been living there because of a university project and thought it could be fun if the whole team came for a visit. Thanks to ur adventurous souls, the decision was easy to make and Yes was the only answer.We are better togetherI couldnt wait to go to ur Venice Retreat. As some of us work remotely, gathering together is always a blast. With the distance and focus on work, I often forget about Vessys sarcastic sense of humor influenced by Dublin, for example.We also planned to sum up ur learnings, takeaways, and amazing memories from the past year which I personally enjoyed the most.A company of friends. Ive always dreamt of w orking in a company that states that about themselves. And it turned out that this description represents Enhancv. ?? The trust, support when I need it and the freedom of developing my top skills from the very beginning. Oh, I also felt it on the plane to Venice. Im scared of flying, you see, and I will never forget how the others tried to comfort me throughout the flight. Cheers for that ??Believe it or not, some of our team members met in Venice for the very first time Yet they acted like theyve known each other forever. Good job, Georgi, for recruiting such a superb crowd.Related articlesHow to identify and embed your company culture to grow your businessBringing more personality to our basic planA week to remember Enhancvs spring Power WeekWhy a retreat?2016 has been a pretty successful year for Enhancv. One of the most positive things is that our team has grown from 6 to 20 within 2016. It made our office a bit tight which led to choosing a new one. There were many other highs and lows, and we felt it was important to share them with each other. All the newbies, including me, could hear the history and all the old dogs could remind themselves of what brought Enhancv to where it is now.The first nightWe arrived in our cozy hostel Generator in Venice on a cold Friday evening. We got into our bunkrooms which brought some good memories from high-school to my head. The night talks about our childhood boyfriends/girlfriends. Or a bottle of wine cocktailpartey where instead of a glass, each of us had their own bottle of wine to drink from. Just to be clear, this didnt end too well for some of us. (Psst, you know who Im talking about.) ??But lets get back to Friday evening. We gathered in the lounge area with the other Enhancers. After we had our short talks, hugs and glad to see you moments, we were ready to start throwing our 2016 wins on the wall with sticky notes.Id like to mention some of the things I think make all of us Most Proud Of working at Enhancv. Fi rstly, the release of Marissa Mayers resume in geschftsleben Insider which brought 10K+ new users to our platform. The process of helping others changing their careers began.So far 200K+ people have created a resume on our platform to get the job they best fit in. Read our latest story here Sam from Spotify.We managed to save the company and most importantly the team after running out of investment funds, then secured a new one from 3 great investors. Soon after that, Enhancv reached the break-even point.This year we started building a true work-life harmony in our team. We travel together, spend time together outside of work, eat breakfast on Mondays, train Ving Tsun twice a week and so on.From this meeting I realized that before I joined Enhancv, there were some tough moments. What I know for sure by now, is that our Top Strengths are turning a difficult situation into an opportunity and sticking together no matter what.To celebrate, we went out in the quiet streets of Venice and made some noise. Nothing inappropriate, I think It was quite difficult to find a club which would fit all 18 of us in. We stopped at a place where they played salsa music and the night began I love a bit of salsita and I was surprised some of the others are actually pretty amazing at it Even the Colombian waiter said we dance like pros.Many tequilas, laughs and dances inspired by our Ving Tsun classes to a Kung Fu Fighting song, they let us play our own songs from YouTube. Imagine the mood after that It turned into a private Enhancv party. We left after the barman disconnected my phone from the speaker, at about 2 amThe Saturday adventureThe next day after our night out, we did some wandering around the streets of Venice together to clear our heads and explore its beautiful history and architecture. People say Venice is only for couples who are deeply in love. But I had a completely different feeling surrounded by people I love working with.Thanks to a detailed plan of our operatio ns star Deni, each of us could decide what to do. Most of us (mainly the ones who could bear the hangover) stuck together at the end. We passed by Piazza San Marco, Saint Marks Basilica and San Marco Campanile. Since our Chief Innovator Mitko loves history, he happily took on the role of our private guide. The weather was cold and our energy level high. We walked with smiles on our faces ready to use selfie sticks at each corner.In the afternoon, we were on our way to a conference room. Each team presented their Q1 focus and the plan. As weve heard from quite a few customers how we helped them find a job, I prepared a surprise for everyone. A Skype call with Sam, who I spoke with and wrote about on our blog. She found a job at Spotify and was super excited to talk to the whole team and give her feedback. I think it went pretty well. ??A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.Enhancers took it slow on Sunday and dedicated the entire day to a trip visiting the island Burano, famou s for its colorful houses. I loved it there, it felt like a fairytale. Our Arts Director Kaloian didnt like it so much as he prefers simplicity ?? We took loads of pictures and had delicious coffee in the cutest cafe.My very first retreat with Enhancv made me excited for the future. I look forward to new memories, retreats, Power Weeks and hard work it will bring. And to making you a part of it, of courseBack to youHave you tried traveling with your team for a company retreat? Let us know how it went in the comments Tags Company Culture, enhancv, team

Pros And Cons Of Using A Treadmill Desk

Pros And Cons Of Using A Treadmill Desk Treadmill desks have been regularly used in the workplace since 2007. The advantages are many increased steps, mora calories burned, better circulation, and more overall energy. But there are some disadvantages too, from having to adjust to performing complex tasks while walking, to noise issues in the office.How popular are walking desks?Its hard to get an accurate idea of how many treadmill desks are in use today. To get some idea, we can look at the number of treadmill desks purchased and make assumptions that a good percentage of those units are still in use. According to some estimates, between 400K and 600K treadmill desks were either purchased or built in the United States between 2007 and 2015 meaning there could be as many as 30K to 70K commercially built treadmill desks being sold worldwide annually.First-hand accounts what real users thinkSisters Minessa Konecky and Saira Valley are independent retailers for LuLaRoe and run a thriv ing, demanding business together. They purchased a treadmill desk a couple of years ago and have experienced some of the same adjustment challenges other users do when they make the switch from sitting to using a walking desk. zu siche are their tips if youre considering walking while working Think about the tasks of your job. I dont use it as much as I used to, mostly because Im always running around. One minute Im taking pictures of the clothing and the next Im folding and shipping, Valley said. If I welches in my old job at a desk doing lots of spreadsheets and reading ja documents, it would be way easier. Make sure you have enough room. I think treadmill desks are a no-brainer if you have room for the device. Get one that can fold up so it can be out of the way if you need the space, Valley said. Konecky added, I was surprised at how BIG it is. Its like a full-size treadmill, so we had to empty out an entire section of our living room for it.Shop for a sturdy version. The sister s advise thinking about overall sturdiness, as well as ease in putting one together. I like it its sturdy and Im leid worried about falling off, Konecky said. The desk itself is great. I got the white glove treatment to have it put together, so I didnt have to bother with that.Compare costs. Its actually not very expensive I was shocked to find a really good one for, like, $600 bucks online. It came with a desk attachment its a very cool unit, and I was very impressed. Its easy to use, good speed, the desk is sturdy, and it folds away nicely, Valley added. To see costs and compare units online, look for a recent comparison like this one from Stand Up Work Style, which takes a closer look at 2017 treadmill desk reviews and DIY stand up desks.Find a working style that works for you. Both Konecky and Valley gave tips as to how they approach using a treadmill desk. Its funny, I get on it all dressed up in LuLaRoe so Im in the right frame of mind Im in a dress or skirt and sneakers so I can still do meetings and talk to customers. I find thats the best way to work and walk is when Im doing meetings on videos, Valley said. Her sister and business partner Konecky agrees. Since a lot of our business is online, it worked amazing for the times wed upload pictures of the clothing, save them, and handle parties. Its very quiet, but it can be distracting to use while Im talking to customers.Consider your level of commitment. I think the most important thing, as with anything, is that you have to commit to using it, Valley said. If a person can commit to doing even a little bit every day, its more than nothing, so Id recommend using a treadmill desk to anyone Konecky seconded her sister, saying, I used it pretty much every day for a month, hit all my steps, and the only reason Im not using it now is all me, nothing with the treadmill itself. At the moment, it sits in the corner, a painful reminder of what Im NOT doingWatch where you walk. If you are prone to falling or tr ipping, a treadmill desk might not be the best choice for you, Valley added. Yeah, so I tried to package and ship clothing while on the treadmill it was comical I think I almost died about four times, but hey, I had to try Konecky agrees with the coordination issue. I have trouble talking and walking, which isnt something I discovered until I got the treadmill desk, so I use it less than I thought I would just because I talk so much with my work she added. Inspired, but no spare cash? Try making your own treadmill deskIngenuity and consistency go a long way when setting up any new process to improve your health. Andy Jewell, a telecommuter with Alexa Internet, took matters into his own hands and built a walking desk for his use six years ago. Jewell is based in Cincinnati and Alexa is based in San Francisco, California, so hes able to set up his home office work environment in a way that works best for him.I didnt do a lot of research on treadmill desks before jumping in, Jewell sa id. I shop at woot.com and one day their special was a treadmill from Smooth Fitness. Around the same time six years ago, I had just gotten a Fitbit and read about how too much sitting will kill you. So, I threw a regular cardboard box up for a desk and put my laptop on it.Jewell has tracked his statistics over the past few years as hes used the walking desk, and his numbers and dedication are impressive I now actively take 20,000 steps a day Its hard to say how many I took before. Overall, Ive logged 12,000 miles in the last six years and climbed 35,000 flights of stairs.As many treadmill desk workers find out, it can be a challenging adjustment to walk and perform complex tasks. I started at first just trying to stand up more and work. Then once I started walking and working, I had to find the right speed, he said. Part of the trick is finding exactly the right speed so you dont have to think about walking mine is 2.8 mph for working and thinking. At first, if I really needed to focus, I needed to stop and stand. But now, its no longer the case.Jewell offered this final tip when considering whether or not to purchase a treadmill desk. Think about your office environment it probably wouldnt work in an office with other people, because its too noisy. And that would be distracting to them and to me.--Kimberly Gohringer started Empower Now to help women create positive change in their lives. As a neuro-linguistic coach, mom and professional writer, she has the tools to help you crash through the barriers that can stop you from pursuing your dreams and true potential.Our mission is to help women create the best careers for their lives.Join usto see what people are saying about your company, and pay it forward by sharing your own anonymous tip

Meet NYCs women tech leaders

Meet NYCs women tech leaders This is an invite-only fest. Contact hipowertofly.com for the invitation if you think this event would be a good fit for your skill set.PowerToFly is excited to introduce you to women tech leaders at some of New Yorks most exciting companies including Thrive Global, Bluecore, Stash Invest and AppNexus. You will hear how these female leaders and their teams are building inclusive environments and innovative tech products. Well end the evening with an opportunity for you to network with additional women in tech over cocktails and light food.The event will be held on April 12th from 6pm to 8pm at Rise New York, located at 43 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. About our Events All RSVPd attendees are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, or age. If you require accommodation to fully participate in this event, please email hipowertofly.com, and we will contact you to discuss y our specific needs.Create Your Free Profile on PowerToFly.Unfortunately, PowerToFly and the company it is holding an event on behalf of cannot admit outside recruiters to that particular event. Please email hipowertofly.com if you have any questions about this policy. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hir ed a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 1000000 construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help d rive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or hi gher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.