Study Men see brunette women as better leaders than blondes

Study Men see brunette women as better leaders than blondesStudy Men see brunette women as better leaders than blondesMen already judge women leaders for being too aggressively ambitiousand too nepotisticin their goals. And according tonew research, we now know that for men, hair color can make all the difference for how they judge female leaders.Brunettes are perceived as mora competentIn threestudies, University of British Columbia researchers Dr. Jennifer Berdahl and Dr. Natalya Alonso surveyed some100 men to see how they felt about women CEOs who were blonde and brunette. Although men rated blondes and brunettes the saatkorn in attractiveness, in the important quality of leadership, brunettes were seen as superior.When men were shown the same woman with different-colored hair, they thought that the blonde version of the woman was less competent and independent.The irony Women who are blonde are overrepresented in corporate leadership compared to women with dark hair - and even m en with light hair. Although only about 2% of male Fortune 500 CEOs areblonde, 48% of female CEOs at SP 500 companies and 35% of U.S. female senators were blonde, the researchers found.The majority of men thought that brunettes would make a better CEO or senator than the blondes. The fact that participantswere being shown the same person, just with different-colored hair, shows how subjective these criticismscan be.The blonde Glinda-the-Good-Witch effectBut that doesnt mean brunettes werent getting negatively judged, too. When men were asked to look at the same women leaders and judge them based on their dominant leadership styles, they universally penalized brunettes for actually leading teams. In that situation, blondes came out ahead.When men heardthe firm, decisive words of my staff knows who the boss is from a brunette, men rated her as less attractive and warm. But when a blonde was shown to say the same thing, she was perceivedas warm and attractive in whatBerdahl called the Glinda-the-Good-Witch effect.Our data suggest that blonde women are not only assumed to be younger than their darker haired counterparts, but are also judged to be less independent-minded and less willing take a stand than other women and than men,Berdahl wrote.Barbie can be CEO as long as she is young and/or docile.In other words, the blonde advantage is that you can get away with more aggression than your brunette counterparts because men in power will incorrectly see them as more docile, gentle, and less independent-minded.It shows the double bind that many women face from both men and women, however You can be either seen as competent or likable, but you only get to be one.But you shouldnt take this research as reason to bring out the hair dye. SociologistKjerstin Gruys critiqued one journalists analysis that this research means woman who want to be leaders should dye their hair blonde as short-sighted.Gruys responded that dyeing hair blonde doesnt take into account the hair ofw omen of color - and that changing ones haircolor doesnt do much to change how women, as a whole, are paid or promoted or treated at work.Whether youre blonde or brunette, this research shows that for women, you will be judged on your looks.

5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work

5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work We all have days, or even weeks, on the job when our productivity declines. But if your output has been steadily diminishing, it could be because youre wasting time rather than focusing on key tasks at hand. If thats the case, the sooner you curb that behavior, the less likely itll be to compromise your job. Here are a few steps you can take to stop wasting time at work - and start doing your job more efficiently.Its easy to get distracted at the office when youre surrounded by chatty colleagues and side conversations that are far more interesting than the work youre supposed to be doing. But if you let yourself get sucked into those discussions, youre likely to fall behind and incur your bosss wrath as a result. If you cant tear yourself away from the folks around you long enough to stop wasting time, remove the temptation by regularly setting up shop in a quieter spot in the office, like the cor ner conference room most folks forget about. You might even ask your manager for permission to use his or her office if your boss doesnt use it all that much.A quick text message here and there during the workday might seem innocent enough, but a brief back-and-forth can quickly turn into a full-fledged conversation - one that takes you away from more important tasks. If youre eager to stop wasting time at the office, silence your cellphone. Give family members and close friends a way to reach you in an emergency (such as by calling your offices landline), and turn on that phone only during designated breaks.Its easy to inadvertently waste time when you dont have a preset schedule outlining your days at work. But if youre guilty of bedrngnis maximizing your time at the office, itll help to create a daily calendar with blocks of time for various tasks . For example, if you give yourself from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to write up your weekly data analysis report, youll be less likely to wast e time during that period knowing that you only have an hour allocated to that task.A messy workspace can make you downright inefficient even when youre trying to do better. If your desk is full of clutter, carve out some time to get it organized. Shred papers you dont need, file essential documents in some sort of order and make your supplies more accessible. The less time you spend navigating the disaster zone that is your workspace, the more time youll free up to actually do your job.Sometimes we waste time at work by talking to colleagues, checking text messages or surfing the internet because our minds need a break from the constant grind. If that sounds like you, then youre better off scheduling some breaks during the day but powering through otherwise. For example, you might carve out 20 minutes in the morning or afternoon to chat with coworkers or look at your favorite websites. This way, youll get that need out of your system so you can then go back to concentrating.The m ore time you waste at work, the more your manager and peers are apt to take notice - and thats a good way to hurt your reputation and put your job at risk. Instead, clean up your act and keep searching for ways to be more efficient. Doing so might also spare you the misery of having to burn the midnight oil when deadlines loom and your work just hasnt gotten done.This article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.

Top 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job Interview

Top 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job InterviewTop 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job InterviewTop 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job InterviewAn bewerberinterview is a two-way street. Ask these questions to determine if the company is the right fit for you. TWEET A job interview should be a two-way conversation. While the hirer is trying to determine if you are a good fit for the position you, the candidate, should use the interview to figure out if the company is a place where you want to work.According to former recruiter Barbara Saunders, now a small business teacher and coach, here are some examples of questions you should ask during an interview and why you should ask them.1. Is this a new role or has this role existed previously with your company?If its a new role Why did you create this role?If its an existing role Are you adding a person or replacing a person?If the company is replacing a person Why did the last person leave?You want to get a sense of how you r role or position fits into the rest of the team or company. Does the company want you to carry out a clear set of objectives or tasks due to growth or are you mitigating change that has already happened? Are you managing the status quo? Will you be solving a schwierigkeit the company hasnt yet really solved and expects the new employee to solve? A new position might have had a lot of turnover due to reorganization or new management.2. Who are the main people and groups Id be collaborating with?This helps you understand your place in the hierarchy better than titles do. Position titles vary so much from company to company and entity to entity. One organizations Project Coordinator is a project manager overseeing the work of several groups while the same position at another organization is a consulting, project-based position that is the administrative support for a single group.3. What are some of the paths you see in your company for the person who holds this position?This questio n can help you understand the culture of the company and will likely bring out stories, albeit theoretical ones or really vague ones. Do the employees go on or advance to other positions outside of the company? (This is popular in finance, publishing, and entertainment industries.) Are the career paths of successful employees linear (are promotions and raises standard), or do people make lateral moves and have unusual paths? Do people settle in for decades in the same job or move around?Bring a pen and paper and be prepared to write notes during the interview. If the interview goes well and it looks like its a fit for both parties, you can use your answers to these questions as notes for the thank you note and follow-up note youll write later to assure your strong candidacy. (Hint hint on the thank you note and follow-up note.)Hire a TopResume writer to help you land more interviews, faster.Related Articles

Tools and Tips to Better Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter

Tools and Tips to Better Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter Tools and Tips to Better Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter A resume riddled with spelling and grammar errors will impress nobody. Think youre immune? There is a good chance you arent According to CareerBuilder, 58 percent of employers commonly dismiss candidates because their resumes have typos.Avoid being rejected outright by making use of the following tools to proofread your resume and cover letter1. Spell CheckThis is a common tool found in Microsoft Word and most other word processors. Spell check will underline words and phrases to call attention to misspellings and grammar errors. The program will also suggest corrections.2. Read Aloud / Text to SpeechI have started using Microsoft Words Read Aloud feature to help me proofread my documents. As the name suggests, this feature translates text into speech. The computer reads your document aloud to you. As you hear the document read aloud, youll be able to easi ly pick up onerrors.3. GrammarlyGrammarly is a free grammar-checker. I have used it for years. When I tell my students about this tool, they usually give me a look that says Youre old and irrelevant. Then, when I have one of those students upload their paper for proofreading and Grammarly begins flagging errors, their eyes light up as if it were Christmas morning and I had just given them the best gift ever.4. profilloser reifen WriteI discovered Slick Write while writing this article, and my tests have revealed it is a very thorough tool. It shares various reports that identify the specific writing areas in which you need a little improvement.I especially like that you can set Slick Write to flagcertain errors, such as sentences starting with the same words, excessive prepositional phrases, double words, extra spaces, and more. You can even set how many words you want your sentences to be, and Slick Write will mark sentences that are over that word count.5. FiverrYou can outsource your proofreading to a professional by way of the freelance marketplace Fiverr. After reading your document over many times,you will become so used to it that you may start missing errors. A freelancer can bring a pair of fresh eyes.6. Friends and Family While elend exactly tools, your friends and family can certainly read your resume or cover letter to look for errors. The downside of having friends and family review your resume is that they may not do so with the eagle eye that is needed to catch all your mistakes.Do It YourselfWhen youre hunting for a new job, your writing will often be your chance to make a first impression. You only get one first impression, so youll need to make it a great one. If you dont have access to the tools listed above or youd rather not use them for any reason then your best bet is to proofread yourself, word by wordPrint the document You will catch more errors while reviewing a printed document.Start at the end Start on the last page at the last se ntence. Read backwards, one word at a time. This will ensure you are focused on each word and are not reading the sentence the way you want it to sound.Read in small bites and aloudEspecially if you are proofreading a lengthy resume or cover letter, you may get a bit bored. Boredom makes you less likely to catch mistakes. Readin small bits and pieces at a time instead of reading it all in one go.Reading the document out loud will also help you catch things that do not sound correct.Proofreading takes time. Never type a document and apply for the job in the same day. Plan for proofreading. Let your document sit overnight, then read it again in the morning with a fresh brain. The extra time you take could mean the difference between getting a job and getting your resume thrown in the trash.Jaynine Howardis a military veteran whose work as a career strategist and reinvention specialist has been recognized by professional organizations throughout the nation.Master the art of closing dea ls and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career. Like this article? We also offer tons of free eBooks on career and recruiting topics - check out Get a Better Job the Right Way and Why It Matters Who Does Your Recruiting. document.write(Read more ) in Resume Writing

How to Tell You are Doing Great at Your Job

How to Tell You are Doing Great at Your JobHow to Tell You are Doing Great at Your JobIt is the job of your to mention areas of improvement more than tell you, Great job Yet, as you work you often want to know if the direction you are moving in is on the right track. After all, if you are on the wrong track your boss will point it out. So, how can you tell if you are doing great at your job when no one says so?Yes, positive feedback matters and feels reassuring and constructive criticism takes some humility to deal with, even when it is very helpful. But when times get hectic and there is no time to stop and praise everyone, you still need a way to stay motivated and reassured that you are succeeding at work.You can tell if you are doing great at your job by learning to see behauptung signs when they appear.1. The boss trusts you with more responsibilityYour reward for doing a great job is more work and that is a good thing. It is not punishment. Being trusted at work enough to handl e more responsibility is a strong, positive sign the boss can rely upon you.The more you are trusted at work and given more responsibility, the faster your career grows in a positive direction. Eventually, you may become irreplaceable which is great for your salary, resume, references, and career potential.The tougher thing here is that the boss will not come out and say, I am giving you these new tasks because you are doing a great job. If you are trusted with more work, you can bet it has to do with the success of your previous jobs. The belastung thing you want is for them to take work away from you because you do a poor job.2. You are given autonomyThe reason micromanagers exist is because they fear employees will not meet expectations. They fear if employees are left to their own devices that they will waste time doing other things and lose focus. No doubt some bosses are scarred by bad hires from the past that taught them, The only way to manage is to micromanage with an iron fistSo, when a manager gives you the autonomy to work without supervision, as long as you meet deadlines, NEVER take it for granted. You are given autonomy to work without a boss watching every second because you are doing a great job.You can consider this a sort of test. When someone wants to see how you work without supervision, they are also testing to see how well you self-manage. It does help if you are the type of person who likes to micromanage yourself and possess a disciplined work regimen. The great thing is, if your manager or boss can let you be and you succeed, you will earn more and more autonomy until you hear the words, Show us what you think is best. This is when you truly abflug to own your work.3. You are becoming more visible in the companyWhen bosses in the company start to put you in front of other bosses and leaders in a company you can tell you are doing a great job at work. For example, if a Quality Assurance Manager does such a great job on a systems audit that your boss has you train other staff and bosses in other departments. This boss is saying, What you did is great and more people need to see you. They also need to see that I am your manager.You also may do such a great job that the boss tries to hide you from other departments. You are a secret weapon and everyone in your office knows it. They all know who to come to if something goes wrong (and that would be You).They may also do other things like send you to conferences or have you create training documents for the company. They may allow you to speak with more customers or clients. You are doing a great job and they trust you enough to say, This is one of our people.The common themeYou may notice the saatkorn word is used in all three points above Trust. Trust is the most important bond you can have between you and a company. Once it is broken you can never get it back, even with heroic efforts.You want trust within your company. When you know you are trusted at a company or within a business community, it is 100 times better than ever being told, You are doing a great job.Trust is priceless and makes you irreplaceable. Compliments are just motivational moments.

Where to Find Caregiver Resume Examples

Where to Find Caregiver Resume Examples PaperCoach can assist you with all your papers, so take a look at this time You might also check babysitter resumes. The objective needs to be aligned to the workplace setup youre applying for. All youll need to do is include only relevant info, and furthermore, present it in a way that will strengthen your credibility. Among the biggest issues that you could face is ensuring that your resume has all of the appropriate information which you require, but isnt too long. Should have the ability to work according to the clients requirements. Mentioning your interests, aside from your skills, also turns out to be important. It is possible to download and edit based on your experience and abilities. Based on the status of the cared one, your skills will be different. Explain how you used good communication abilities and techniques to find the task done. The more your letter speaks right to their requirements, the more successful itll be . The summer caregiver resume is appropriate for students that are free for the summertime and would like to provide their help for the elderly or babies. Your email is probably going to be applied as your sign in name helping you to come back to the website to upgrade the profile. The Secret to Caregiver Resume Examples A solid resume will be able to help you land a good job for a caregiver. Make sure you just include duties that are related to position youre applying for. Now, irrespective of the character of your caregiving job, you must develop a good caregiver resume that could present you in the very best light possible. If you are in the profession for a substantial time period, then it can be automatically concluded that youre well-versed in how to do the responsibilities and tasks involved with childcare. Resume for profession is vital on your attention. To begin, provide thorough explanations of every one of your previous caregiving roles. A health assistants prim ary responsibility is to offer patients with clinical and administrative help. The last sort of health assistant is a person who has chosen to specialize in a particular area of medicine. Medical assistants are a significant part of the medical industry as they provide essential hilfe within healthcare facilities. Go over the duties and unique needs, if any. Heres What I Know About Caregiver Resume Examples Based on the sort of institution or clients youre going to be working for, you might require certain certifications to acquire the job. There are a number of different kinds of healthcare assistants. If youre searching for work, dont rely on just a single method to track down careers. While all resumes should offer information on your work and education experience, as well as your abilities and accomplishments, there are various methods to present this info. The Secret to Caregiver Resume Examples Our resume builder will provide you with tips and examples about how to c ompose your resume summary. Utilizing resume maker software could possibly be sure your resume makes the right impression. Get online and log into the work plank or continue publishing internet site in which you mean to post your work application. There are a lot of techniques you may utilize to find Google resumes of people in a particular site. For instance, you might attempt to send out a particular number of resumes each week. The remainder of the resume should support why youre able to fulfill the resume objectives. So it wasnt based on a specific occurrence or a one of event, but a method of life. So, in the event the second occurrence happened, an individual would have begun to learn that it wasnt safe to be happy. The Fundamentals of Caregiver Resume Examples Revealed Writing the perfect resume based on the work description is not simple. Its possible to also understand the Customer Service Resume Samples. Making the perfect resume is never a simple job. Add you r LinkedIn profile if youve got one. Know what sort of job that you desire.

3 Ways Video Interviewing Can Help Recruiters Close the Deal - Spark Hire

3 Ways Video Interviewing Can Help Recruiters Close the Deal - Spark HireAs a recruiter, the most important part of your job is closing abspraches. If you are not closing enough deals when it comes to candidate placements, you will not be successful.The Staffing Stream walks us through challenges we face when closing the deal on the candidate side addressing the possibility of a counter offer, poor communication, unrealistic expectations, and working with a candidate who does not willingly share information.One thing that all of these items have in common is building strong relationships with candidates, which is instrumental when closing deals.In order to be more effective at handling these challenges, video interviewing can help you to build more solid relationships with candidates if you have to rely on phone conversations due to location.1. Putting a face to a nameYou may find it surprising, but one way to build a solid relationship with your candidates is by letting them put a f ace with a name. Being able to visually see and speak with someone, even virtually, can help your candidates feel closer to you.Rather than being just another voice on the phone, when you have a video interview with a candidate you will have a similar effect to meeting the candidate in person.2. Viewing candidate reactionWhen you are able to view a candidates expressions during an interview you are opening the doors of communication. No longer are you only having to rely on what that candidate wants you to HEAR, but you can also see any looks of concern or excitement in that candidate when on video.This can help you to build a stronger relationship with the candidate by allowing you to visually see if there are any hot spots or areas of concern when it comes to that candidates honesty and desire for the job.3. Ability to expressVideo interviewing allows you to better express the importance of certain things during the interview process.For example, by looking directly at your candid ate and expressing the importance of honesty and strong communication in your relationship, you have a better weg of developing a transparent relationship with your candidate. This type of relationship will help you to avoid situations such as your candidate withholding information about another possible job offer in the works.Closing the deal with your candidates is not always a piece of cake, but when you go above and beyond to foster strong relationships with them, you will have a better chance of making the placement. Video interviewing is instrumental in building those strong relationships.Have you utilized video interviewing for your recruiting needs? Share your experience in the comments belowImage monkeybusinessimages/BigStock.com

Why you should revamp your resume before the summer is over

Why you should revamp your resume before the summer is overWhy you should revamp your resume before the summer is overCan you believe that its already July? Not even the beginning of July, but mid July? It seems like the summer is flying by, and before you know it, well be heading into fall and the holiday season. Its always better to work on your resume sooner rather than later, which is just one reason why you should revamp your resume before the summer is over.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHave you ever stumbled upon an opportunity too great to pass up, only to find out that you need to apply for it as quick as possible? People find themselves in this situation more often that one might expect, and if you dont have your resume updated and on hand, it could create a big problem.89% of Glassdoor users are actively looking for a new job or would consider better opportunities. If youre one of the majority, this reason alone is why you should revamp your resume before the summer is over. If that isnt enough, here are a few other factors that might persuade you to update this important document.You never know what will happen or who youll meetPart of further developing your career is about being open to new opportunities and networking with the right people when you have the chance.You never know who youll meet or where youll meet them, but if you do meet a person with a connection, being proactive and having a killer resume to send them right away will greatly benefit you.If you want to cultivate relationships and establish trust, communicate clearly and in a timely manner. This means having a resume ready and on hand with all of your updated information. If someone feels as though they are waiting on you or have to hunt you down to get a hold of your resume, their interest will likely wane.Its much easier to add information as you go than remember informa tion about past jobsOne of the biggest problems people make when writing s resume is elend including specific metrics or achievements.Subjective terms and clichs are seen as negative because they dont convey real information. For instance, dont say you are results-driven show the employer your actual results, says Rosemary Haefner, previous vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.It is absolutely important to highlight the specifics of your role, however if youre only highlighting the job description and not your achievements, your resume will not be as effective as it could be. (Read this article to help you craft the perfect job description for your resume)The longer you wait to update your resume, the harder it will be to recall specific information and achievements about your current or past job(s).A good rule of thumb is to add a new job to your resume right as you start. Chances are you will have a job description given to you by HR, which will make it easy, and wil l help you out immensely in the long run.Same thing with new responsibilities and skills adding them into your document as they come along ensures that you wont forget about them later.You can always edit your resume to be more clear and concise, but finding previous material, descriptions, and project information is much harder. The sooner you start working on your resume, the easier it will be.Revamping your resume doesnt automatically mean that youre not happy in your current roleThere seems to be a stigma that you must be unhappy where you are if you are working on your resume, however this is absolutely not the case. Being proactive about your resume will benefit you by preparing you for the unknown, and giving you a leg up when the time does come for a new opportunity.Ensuring that youre ready for new opportunities when they arise is one of the reasons why you should revamp your resume before the summer is over.Writing about yourself if tough. Its hard to remember and highligh t specific information that reflects all youve achieved, but biting the bullet and revamping your resume is key to a successful career.It might not be your ideal way to spend the evening, but you should revamp your resume before the summer is over so that you can feel confident in the document you have on hand, and be prepared going into fall in case your dream opportunity arises.Michele Lando is a certified professional resume writer, personal branding expert, and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles provides resources to enhance your resume, professional appearance, and boost your confidence. Michele strives to help others gain the confidence to put their best foot forward in a personal and professional light.This article first appeared on Write St yles.

7 New Job Search Trends Youll Want to Know

7 New Job Search Trends Youll Want to Know7 New Job Search Trends Youll Want to KnowAs work flexibility and technology continues to grow and change the workplace, job seekers will find new job search trends that are taking over old methods. From ditching geographical restrictions to spending more time making informal but close connections, job seekers can stay ahead of the game by keeping their eye on emerging trends. Some of the hottest trends taking the job market by storm are listed below.Here are seven new job search trends youll want to start applying to your search1. Remote WorkIts no secret that remote work continues to grow, and the growth is triggering significant changes in the workforce. Rather than cousine your search on your geographical area, use remote work and work flexibility to expand your search. Even if the job isnt advertised as being flexible, the company might be and likely willing to work with you.2. Social Media Job SearchingWe all know that social media is e ssential in a job search, especially for networking and getting your information in front of recruiters. Now, however, social media is become a popular platform for searching for new jobs as companies use social media more to share their open positions.3. Informal NetworkingSure, networking events are still very useful when job searching. However, more informal forms of networking are going to take over. Rather than spending hours at large events, youll likely catch coffee with former coworkers, send out emails, or offer support through social media.4. Video CommunicationWith people located all over the world and the increase in remote working, video communication platforms are going to take over more traditional forms of communication. Interviews, even with local companies, might be held over video. The same goes with chats with coworkers as you all participate in flexible work programs.5. Reverse Reference ChecksJob seekers provide references, and employers are checking them out. Part of these new job search trends is the use of reverse reference checks of companies performed by job seekers. Rather than taking a firms aber ja on the job, culture, and environment, job seekers are now looking to gather information through other means, including talking to current or prior employees of the company.6. Importance of SkillsIn a workforce that has become flatter in terms of management, skills are gaining new influence. Rather than only focusing on the experience and education you have, employers will be looking at skills that can be used in the position you applied for and how they can be used elsewhere.7. Design Your CareerJob seekers have more control over their careers now than they ever have before. Rather than taking a job because it pays well, professionals are able to find a job they enjoy with a company that matches their values and personality. Heres a secret employers support this since they too are looking for that perfect fit.In addition to work flexibi lity and technology driving the job market, so are the companies that are embracing new ways of work and the professionals looking to find meaning and balance in their lives. As you conduct your search, keep the these job search trends in mind to make the most of your time and efforts.Wondering which companies are offering work flexibility? Check out the top 100 companies offering remote jobs.Readers, what other job search trends have you heard of or used? Share your job search tips with us below

Obama on what the Situation Room and hard decisions

Obama on what the Situation Room and hard decisionsObama on what the Situation Room and hard decisionsWhen Barack Obama had to make big decisions during his time as president, he would assemble a team to confer with him in the White House Situation Room.From there, he used a set of specific guidelines to help him make a decision, Obama told the crowd attending a Wednesday tech conference in Las Vegas hosted by the identity-security company Okta.When asked by Okta CEO Todd McKinnon about his system for instituting change, and how he ensured that folks werent just being yes men, Obama gave an answer that welches full of advice anyone could use when trying to make hard decisions.When Obama was first elected into office in 2008, the global economy was crashing. He and his team had to step in and make a bunch of decisions, some of them unpopular, in hopes of changing the course of the country. By the time he left office eight years later, the economy was purring again. And in between, he dealt with everything from the military strike that killed Osama bin Laden to an outbreak of Ebola that threatened to spread to the US.1. Listen to the people who will be most affected by the changeBefore you start wanting to change everything, spend time talking to people you want to change or whose lives are going to be disrupted, Obama said. The goal isnt to warn them or persuade them but to understand them.If they feel heard and youve established a rapport, he said, you have a better gelegenheit of getting them on board with the change and to be partners to make the new plan successful. So listening is a good starting point, he said.2. Realize theres no right answer - its about weighing the oddsI used to describe the nature of the presidency as having to make decisions about issues that nobody else could solve or are basically insolvable or at least not perfectly solvable, he said. By definition, if a problem had an obvious solution to it, somebody else would have solved it bef ore it got to me.Obama said that facing issues nobody beneath him had figured out a solution for meant he was usually working on probabilities, whether it was the bin Laden raid, or do we bail out Chrysler when its hugely unpopular and its not sure the auto company will make it, or, how do we approach dealing with Ebola?3. Seek out the naysayersObviously, before you decide, do your best to gather the best information possible.Once youve got it, you need to gather diverse opinions from people who can argue all the sides, he said.4. Get outside the bubble of people who are supposed to advise youObama says a lot of big decisions were made in the Situation Room.If you were in the Situation Room, the way it would work is youve got some big kahunas sitting around the table, he said. This may include the secretaries of state and defense, the CIA director, the national security adviser, and a bunch of generals he said, look tough and important.Naturally, they all gave their two cents, and t hey red-teamed it, he described, meaning the group tested all the assumptions.Invariably, in the outer ring of the room, thered be a whole bunch of people, often younger but not always, and they had the big binders and theyre doing stuff and taking notes - and those are the people who are actually doing the work, he quipped, and the audience rewarded him with a laugh.Id point to someone in the back and say, you, what do you think? And theyd be shocked that I called on them, he said. And because the person hadnt prepped a response, Obama said, the person would answer honestly.Part of the way I was able to ensure people were not telling me just what I want to hear, was to deliberately reach outside the bubble of the obvious decision makers, he said.5. Test your B.S. detectorEvery leader has strengths and weakness, and one of my strengths is a good B.S. detector, Obama said. But he mucksmuschenstill tested that people were doing their part and not just agreeing with what he said or te lling him what he wanted to hear. If someone agreed with his idea, he said, he would tell them that he had changed his mind and then grill the person on why the idea was still the best option.6. Insist that people deliver bad news quickly and are not punished for honest mistakesObamas final guideline is this He always insisted that people deliver bad news quickly. And that meant he couldnt punish the messenger.No one in my White House ever got in trouble for screwing up as long there wasnt malicious intent behind it, he said.And he couldnt resist throwing a bit of shade aimed at the current administration, as well as some in years gone by, like Nixons.And there wasnt any malicious intent, which is why I didnt have scandals. Which seems like it shouldnt be something you brag about, he joked. But actually, if you look at the history of the modern presidency, coming out of the modern presidency without anybody going to jail, is really good. Its a big deal.People used to ask me, Why was I calm during the presidency? In addition to being from Hawaii, which really helped (were just chill), he joked, part of the reason is I set up processes. So by the time I made a decision, I might not get the outcome I wanted, but it might be a 51-49 decision or a 60-40 decision, but I can say I heard all the voices involved - gotten all the info, seen all the perspectives - so when I made decision, I was making it as well as anybody could make it.This article first appeared on Business Insider.