The 1,786-Foot Commute

The 1,786-Foot CommuteThe 1,786-Foot CommuteIf you think you have it tough, having to deal with rush-hour bumber-to-bumper road-raging idiots, or elbow-to-arse overly-touchy-feely-Starbucks-spilling C-train passengers, check out this guys daily commute to his job, more than a third of a mile in the sky.And the next time someone cuts you off, or steals your seat, I suggest you keep his daily climb in mind. (By the way, his job was rated the third scariest in the U.S., according to this CNBC slideshow.)

6 hostage negotiation techniques that will get you what you want

6 hostage negotiation techniques that will get you what you want6 hostage negotiation techniques that will get you what you wantHow does hostage negotiation get people to change their minds?TheBehavioral Change Stairway Modelwelches developed by the FBIs hostage negotiation unit, and it shows the 5 steps to getting someone else to see your point of view and change what theyre doing.Its leid something that only works with barricaded criminals wielding assault rifles - it applies to fruchtwein any form of disagreement.There are five stepsActive Listening Listen to their side and make them aware youre listening.Empathy You get an understanding of where theyre coming from and how they feel.RapportEmpathy is what you feel. Rapport is when they feel it back. They start to trust you.Influence Now that they trust you, youve earned the right to work on schwierigkeit solving with them and recommend a course of action.Behavioral Change They act. (And maybe come out with their hands up.)The pro blem is, youre probably screwing it up.What youre doing wrongIn all likelihood you usually skip the first three steps.You start at 4 (Influence) and expect the other partie to immediately go to 5 (Behavioral Change).And that never works.Saying Heres why Im right and youre wrong might be effective if people were fundamentally rational.But theyre not.Frommy interview with former head of FBI international hostage negotiation, Chris Vossbusiness negotiations try to pretend that emotions dont exist. Whats your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, orBATNA? Thats to try to be completely unemotional and rational, which is a fiction about negotiation. menschlich beings are incapable of being rational, regardless Soinstead of pretending emotions dont exist in negotiations, hostage negotiators have actually designed an approach that takes emotions fully into account and uses them to influence situations, which is the reality of the way all negotiations goThe most critical step in the Be havioral Change Staircase is actually the first parte active listening.The other steps all follow from it. But most people are terrible at listening.HeresChrisagainIf while youre making your argument, the only time the other side is silent is because theyre thinking about their own argument, theyve got a voice in their head thats talking to them. Theyre not listening to you. When theyre making their argument to you, youre thinking about your argument, thats the voice in your head thats talking to you. So its very much like dealing with a schizophrenic.If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, thats the only way you can quiet the voice in the other guys mind. But most people dont do that. They dont walk into a negotiation wanting to hear what the other side has to say. They walk into a negotiation wanting to make an argument. They dont pay attention to emotions and they dont listen.The basics of active listening are pr etty straightforwardListen to what they say.Dont interrupt, disagree or evaluate.Nod your head, and make brief acknowledging comments like yes and uh-huh.Without being awkward, repeat back the gist of what they just said, from their frame of reference.Inquire. Ask questions that show youve been paying attention and that move the discussion forward.So what six techniques do FBI hostage negotiation professionals use to take it to the next level?1. Ask open-ended questionsYou dont want yes/no answers, you want them to open up.ViaCrisis Negotiations, Fourth Edition Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and CorrectionsA good open-ended question would be Sounds like a tough deal. Tell me how it all happened. It is non-judgmental, shows interest, and is likely to lead to more information about the mans situation. A poor response would be Do you have a gun? What kind? How many bullets do you have? because it forces the man into one-word answers, gives the imp ression that the negotiator is more interested in the gun than the man, and communicates a sense of urgency that will build rather than defuse tension.2. Effective pausesPausing is powerful. Use it for emphasis, to encourage someone to keep talking or to defuse things when people get emotional.Gary Noesner, author ofStalling for Time My Life as an FBI Hostage NegotiatorhassaidEventually, even the most emotionally overwrought subjects will find it difficult to sustain a one-sided argument, and they again will return to meaningful dialogue with negotiators. Thus, by remaining silent at the right times, negotiators actually can move the overall negotiation process forward.3. Minimal EncouragersBrief statements to let the person know youre listening and to keep them talking.Gary NoesnerEven relatively simple phrases, such as yes, O.K., or I see, effectively convey that a negotiator is paying attention to the subject. behauptung responses will encourage the subject to continue talking an d gradually relinquish more control of the situation to the negotiator.4. MirroringRepeating the last word or phrase the person said to show youre listening and engaged.Yes, its that simple - just repeat the last word or twoGary NoesnerFor example, a subject may declare, Im sick and tired of being pushed around, to which the negotiator can respond, Feel pushed, huh?5. ParaphrasingRepeating what the other person is saying back to them in your own words. Thispowerfully shows you really do understand and arent merely parroting.From my interview with former head of FBI international hostage negotiation, Chris VossThe idea is to really listen to what the other side is saying and feed it back to them. Its kind of a discovery process for both sides. First of all, youre trying to discover whats important to them, and secondly, youre trying to help them hear what theyre saying to find out if what they are saying makes sense to them.6. Emotional LabelingGive their feelings a name. It shows y oure identifying with how they feel. Dont comment on the validity of the feelings - they could be totally crazy - but show them you understand.ViaCrisis Negotiations, Fourth Edition Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and CorrectionsA good use of emotional labeling would be You sound pretty hurt about being left. It doesnt seem fair. because it recognizes the feelings without judging them. It is a good Additive Empathetic response because it identifies the hurt that underlies the anger the woman feels and adds the idea of justice to the actors message, an idea that can lead to other ways of getting justice.A poor response would be You dont need to feel that way. If he was messing around on you, he was not worth the energy. It isjudgmental. It tells the subject how not to feel. It minimizes the subjects feelings, which are a major part of who she is. It is Subtractive Empathy.Curious to learn more?To get my exclusive full interview with former head of FBI hostage negotiation Chris Voss (where he explains thetwo words that tell you a negotiation is going very badly) join my free weekly newsletter. Clickhere.Join over 140,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsHow To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple EmailsHow To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done 5 Expert TipsNew Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More SuccessfulThis article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.6 hostage negotiation techniques that will get you what you wantHow does hostage negotiation get people to change their minds?TheBehavioral Change Stairway Modelwas developed by the FBIs hostage negotiation unit, and it shows the 5 steps to getting someone else to see your point of view and change what theyre doing.Its not something that only works with barricaded criminals wielding assault rifles - it applies to most any form of disagreement.There are five stepsActive Listening Listen to their side and make them aw are youre listening.Empathy You get an understanding of where theyre coming from and how they feel.RapportEmpathy is what you feel. Rapport is when they feel it back. They start to trust you.Influence Now that they trust you, youve earned the right to work on problem solving with them and recommend a course of action.Behavioral Change They act. (And maybe come out with their hands up.)Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe problem is, youre probably screwing it up.What youre doing wrongIn all likelihood you usually skip the first three steps.You start at 4 (Influence) and expect the other person to immediately go to 5 (Behavioral Change).And that never works.Saying Heres why Im right and youre wrong might be effective if people were fundamentally rational.But theyre not.Frommy interview with former head of FBI international hostage negotiation, Chris Vossbusiness negotiations try to pretend that emotions dont exist. Whats your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, orBATNA? Thats to try to be completely unemotional and rational, which is a fiction about negotiation. Human beings are incapable of being rational, regardless Soinstead of pretending emotions dont exist in negotiations, hostage negotiators have actually designed an approach that takes emotions fully into account and uses them to influence situations, which is the reality of the way all negotiations goThe most critical step in the Behavioral Change Staircase is actually the first part active listening.The other steps all follow from it. But most people are terrible at listening.HeresChrisagainIf while youre making your argument, the only time the other side is silent is because theyre thinking about their own argument, theyve got a voice in their head thats talking to them. Theyre not listening to you. When theyre making their argument to you, youre thinking about your argument, thats the voi ce in your head thats talking to you. So its very much like dealing with a schizophrenic.If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, thats the only way you can quiet the voice in the other guys mind. But most people dont do that. They dont walk into a negotiation wanting to hear what the other side has to say. They walk into a negotiation wanting to make an argument. They dont pay attention to emotions and they dont listen.The basics of active listening are pretty straightforwardListen to what they say.Dont interrupt, disagree or evaluate.Nod your head, and make brief acknowledging comments like yes and uh-huh.Without being awkward, repeat back the gist of what they just said, from their frame of reference.Inquire. Ask questions that show youve been paying attention and that move the discussion forward.So what six techniques do FBI hostage negotiation professionals use to take it to the next level?1. Ask open-ended ques tionsYou dont want yes/no answers, you want them to open up.ViaCrisis Negotiations, Fourth Edition Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and CorrectionsA good open-ended question would be Sounds like a tough deal. Tell me how it all happened. It is non-judgmental, shows interest, and is likely to lead to more information about the mans situation. A poor response would be Do you have a gun? What kind? How many bullets do you have? because it forces the man into one-word answers, gives the impression that the negotiator is more interested in the gun than the man, and communicates a sense of urgency that will build rather than defuse tension.2. Effective pausesPausing is powerful. Use it for emphasis, to encourage someone to keep talking or to defuse things when people get emotional.Gary Noesner, author ofStalling for Time My Life as an FBI Hostage NegotiatorhassaidEventually, even the most emotionally overwrought subjects will find it difficult to susta in a one-sided argument, and they again will return to meaningful dialogue with negotiators. Thus, by remaining silent at the right times, negotiators actually can move the overall negotiation process forward.3. Minimal EncouragersBrief statements to let the person know youre listening and to keep them talking.Gary NoesnerEven relatively simple phrases, such as yes, O.K., or I see, effectively convey that a negotiator is paying attention to the subject. These responses will encourage the subject to continue talking and gradually relinquish more control of the situation to the negotiator.4. MirroringRepeating the last word or phrase the person said to show youre listening and engaged.Yes, its that simple - just repeat the last word or twoGary NoesnerFor example, a subject may declare, Im sick and tired of being pushed around, to which the negotiator can respond, Feel pushed, huh?5. ParaphrasingRepeating what the other person is saying back to them in your own words. Thispowerfully s hows you really do understand and arent merely parroting.From my interview with former head of FBI international hostage negotiation, Chris VossThe idea is to really listen to what the other side is saying and feed it back to them. Its kind of a discovery process for both sides. First of all, youre trying to discover whats important to them, and secondly, youre trying to help them hear what theyre saying to find out if what they are saying makes sense to them.6. Emotional LabelingGive their feelings a name. It shows youre identifying with how they feel. Dont comment on the validity of the feelings - they could be totally crazy - but show them you understand.ViaCrisis Negotiations, Fourth Edition Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and CorrectionsA good use of emotional labeling would be You sound pretty hurt about being left. It doesnt seem fair. because it recognizes the feelings without judging them. It is a good Additive Empathetic response bec ause it identifies the hurt that underlies the anger the woman feels and adds the idea of justice to the actors message, an idea that can lead to other ways of getting justice.A poor response would be You dont need to feel that way. If he was messing around on you, he was not worth the energy. It isjudgmental. It tells the subject how not to feel. It minimizes the subjects feelings, which are a major part of who she is. It is Subtractive Empathy.Curious to learn more?To get my exclusive full interview with former head of FBI hostage negotiation Chris Voss (where he explains thetwo words that tell you a negotiation is going very badly) join my free weekly newsletter. Clickhere.Join over 140,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

Ghostwriting and Hiring a Ghostwriter

Ghostwriting and Hiring a GhostwriterGhostwriting and Hiring a GhostwriterA ghostwriter is paid to write for someone else under that persons name. It is most commonly associated with publishing a book, but today it is also widely used in public relations, corporate communications, social media, and many other industries and fields that are producing greater and greater amounts of written or spoken content. Type of Ghostwritten Projects Though best-known for their literary endeavors, ghostwriters lend their talents to a variety of projects, producing all sorts of material. BooksThroughout thehistory of publishing, politicians, business leaders, and other busy public figures have relied on ghostwriters to help them turn their ideas into polished works. More recently, thanks to theself-publishing revolution, an even wider assortment of authors are using the talents of others to produce business how-to books, self-help books, memoirs and evencookbooksand novels.Speeches In addition t o books, ghostwriters are most often hired as speechwriters. Every President in U.S. history has had a speechwriter- in fact, often a team of them- at his disposal. Members of Congress and CEOs have also long used professional speechwriters to help them find the right words to win votes and build businesses. Now, with the growing popularity of TED-style conferences and themedia platformthey provide, mora and more executives are joining the fold. Increasingly, businessmen and businesswomen want to be seen as thought leaders. So, theyre turning to wordsmiths to craft the perfect messages for them. Corporate CommunicationsIn this era of specialization, large and small companies alike are turning to experienced writers to craft their annual reports, quarterly statements, white papers, newsletters, website content, and corporate histories. Social and Digital Media Content An active online and social media presence have become essential for the leaders of corporations, small businesses, and non-profits, as well as celebrities. The people behind these brands dont have the time to constantly update theirTwitter,Facebook, Instagram, andwebsite blog feeds, so they typically employ a digitally savvy ghostwriter tocurate accounts and provide content. Crediting Ghostwriters When it comes to books, most ghostwriters dont receive any recognition beyond a thank you in the acknowledgments section. In many cases, they are asked to sign nondisclosure and/or confidentially agreements, especially for high-profile projects. Some ghosts, though, do get publicly credited on the cover as a co-writer (either with an and or with after the authors name). When it comes to speeches and other kinds of content, ghostwriters are truly invisible and are never acknowledged. Costs of Ghostwriters When you hire a ghostwriter, youre paying for his skill, experience, and time. The cost varies greatly depending on the project, the caliber of the writer, the complexity of the subject matter , the budget, and more. Someone who has won aPulitzer Prizeor worked as a White House speechwriter is going to command a higher rate than a recent college graduate. Writing a book from scratch involves more of a writers time, and therefore costs more, than fleshing out a shorte-book or polishing a partially written manuscript. A client whos looking to have a full-length book written can expect to pay anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000- and up.A short e-book could cost anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000. Deadlines and Time-Frames for Ghostwriters Again, every project is different. The time-frame depends on how much source material has been compiled, how much additional research has to be done, and how many drafts are needed to capture the authors voice. Some projects, like speech writing and corporate communications, are driven by firm deadlines and often have quick turnarounds. On the other hand, book projects, especially serious, idea-driven works, can take months and sometimes yea rs to complete. Finding a Ghostwriter Corporations, organizations, and well-connected public figures often go through aliterary werberor a PR firm to find an elite ghostwriter. But for most others, the internet is the best place to start. Some popular online resources for finding professional freelancers include Mediabistro, Elance, and Craigslist. Or, you can connect with a firm that specializes in ghostwriting such as Gotham Ghostwriters or 2M Communications. Choosing the Right Ghostwriter There are many things to consider when choosing a ghostwriter to assist you. Budget How big a fee you can pay will likely determine the level of expertise you can expect. If youre new to the ghostwriting game, you may want to read more aboutwhat you can expect to pay for editorial freelancers.CredentialsYou will also want to consider the work a writer has previously done. Ideally, you want someone who has worked on similar projects, which should make your project go more smoothly. Reques t rsums and writing samples from writers, so you can see their credentials and the work theyve produced. Also, be sure to ask for several references- and contact them. InterviewOnce youve got a short list based on skills and experience, spend some time talking with the writes to get a sense of who she is, how she works, and if youll be compatible. After all, youll be spending a lot of time with this person, and you may be sharing intimate details about yourself. The Ghostwriter-ClientRelationship Generally speaking, your ghostwriting relationship should be a highly collaborative one. The most effective ghostwriters are the ones who can help you produce the best version of your vision. To do so, they will often conduct extensive recorded interviews to get a sense of your voice, style, and personality. As with any relationship, open communication, clear boundaries, and manageable expectations are key to avoiding conflicts and keeping the work flowing.

The Investment Approach to Your Job Search

The Investment Approach to Your Job SearchInvesting in Your Job SearchThe Investment Approach to Your Job SearchBrian Ray (pictured) is founder of Crossroads Career Network, a national, non-profit membership of churches that provides online job search/ career resources and access to career groups. He is also author of the 2010 Crossroads Career Workbook, owner of Primus Consulting executive search, and former vice president for human resources and administration for Chick-fil-A restaurants.Like a good financial investment, a successful job search takes effort, time, and money. But in a job search, youre investing in yourself, your fruchtwein important asset. Here are a few suggestions for spending your effort, time, and money wisely, in order to reap the greatest dividends for your careerEffortWork on finding and doing work every day. Plan your activities every week using SMART goalsSpecific Set measurable goals. Define exactly what you want to accomplish. For instance, sending resum es is not as measurable as sendingfive resumes to companies I would like to work for.Moderate Select two to five goals per week that you can reach. Too many goals can be overwhelming.Accountability Show or tell somebody what you plan to do, and at the end of the week, let them know how you did.Record Keep a written record of your goals and progress. It can help reassure and motivate you.Time-Activated Give yourself deadlines. For instance, by Noon on Friday, sendfive resumes to companies I would like to work for.Time If youre unemployed, invest time every day that adds up to at least 40 hours a week. Set up a daily career transition work schedule with abflug-to-quit times similar to a typical workday.If youre beginning your search, focus on pumping up your attitude, targeting opportunities, and discovering and marketing your career strengths. If youre in job search mode, use some of your time looking online for postings and openings, but spend 50 to 85% of your time networking for p ersonal referrals. When youre interviewing, continue discovering and marketing your strengths while you search for new opportunities. For a complete six-step guide with exercises, download this Career Workbook.If youre employed and looking for a new job, invest one to seven hours a week. Use breakfast, coffee and lunch times for personal networking and interviewing. Do your homework at night or early in the morning. Be sure to review and plan goals and activities every weekend.Meanwhile, consider these two questionsHow long will it take for you to find a job? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average time it takes from being laid off to being hired again is (gulp) more than six months For you, it can be faster, depending on how many hours you invest, what youre looking for, the depth of your search plan, and how well you execute it.How long will it take for you to change careers? It can take a few weeks to a few years. The more education and experience you need, the longe r it will take. The key is to start now. Discover your strengths, then target opportunities that fit those strengths.MoneyBusinesses spend money to make money, and so should you. Ask yourself, How much can I invest in me, in light of the money I hope to make? An effective job or career search is not free. You may have to spend money on travel, clothes, grooming, phone and internet use, resumes, printing, publications, education, training, coaching, and more.To free up some money for your search, cut expenses and save on non-essentials. Sell things you dont use. Establish a monthly budget that includes what you spend on your career. And keep good records because costs related to a job search may qualify as deductions on your income tax return. Check with the IRS, your tax preparer, or an accountant for what you can deduct.The Bottom LineAt the end of every week, review what you accomplished and where you fell short. Then, set your goals for the following week. Use this Progress Revie w Preview Exercise to guide you. Remember, the right investment combination of effort, time, and money can pay off for you in the end.

The Nuiances of Stanford Resume Template

The Nuiances of Stanford Resume Template New Questions About Stanford Resume Template Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better probability of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. Whether youre applying for work, a grant, or using yur resume to construct your own client base, a skilled and well-organized resume is suggested. To increase your odds of working within this area, you require professional childcare provider resume templates. Most functional resume templates are predicted to have the ability to execute certain acts for their users, being that theyre supposed to be aids for writing resumes in the very first location. New Questions About Stanford Resume Template Unlike mora experienced workers, you dont have too much to provide prospective employers. The main aim of your resume must be to show employers that youre a valuable add-on to their company. Notably its number one for new ab ilities, international customers and faculty diversity. Not merely its number one for worldwide customers and faculty diversity but its also second for its overseas programmes and partner schools. A basic resume is also less difficult to read. So you only want a simple resume. What you will need is just click the gallery of Sample Resume Education underneath. The Ultimate Stanford Resume Template Trick All you need to do is simply edit the document to include your private info. Excel general ledger is referred to as a handy accounting tool and a crucial case of an extremely handy MS excel accounting template which lets you to keep accounting record on finger tips. Today, checkbook register templates can easily be obtainable online. Take a look at our selection of contemporary templates and get started creating an effective resume immediately. Ledger paper is also known as tabloid paper. General ledger templates are ready to use documents that might be employed to prepare g eneral ledger easily for a company or business to have the ability to keep a watch out for accounting related transactions and circumstances. The total ledger is employed in conjunction with accounting journal entries. The principal ledger is called the general ledger. Take a look in a couple of our preferred platforms below or search the comprehensive assortment of free continue format designs. Your cover letter is necessary to ensuring that your continue gets serious attention and there are particular activities you need to follow. You can also locate different references for the design of your house about Decorating here. Double check to make certain that everything on the last version of the resume is about you. Since its been said before, a resume cover letter has to be brief. Its possible to compose a good cover letter by doing another. A good cover letter is able to make your application stick out from the crowd. The resume cover letter is the very important thing wh ich a wonderful company will likely read. 7 Another totally free genau resume example made by MOO together with Microsoft. Free resume templates dont need to sacrifice quality. If you are searching for Easy Resume Template Free youve come to the proper location. Utilizing a template can decrease the quantity of time you must spend formatting your document, which permits you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Afterwards, you may download your resume at no cost, so that you are able to edit it in MS Word or Google Docs. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for numerous explanations.Use the advice below to customize our easy resume template and earn access to that very first interview. One of the greatest regions to get resume examples is online, since there are lots of websites offering templates an individual may download and use. In addition, there are templates that could serve them if they were searching for tools the y could utilize. If youre using mobile phone, you might also utilize menu drawer from browser. Stanford Resume Template Can Be Fun for Everyone Employers would like to know how a prospective worker thinks to check whether theyll be good at solving problems at work. To begin with, among the sections that has to be altered is the work objective. Both can cause you to get exceptional but only one will be able to help you land work. If youre indeed applying for an initial job, then a fresher resume might be the ideal tool for you. Printable ledger paper can help with student activities. Letters are written much differently than resumes and may have a long-lasting influence on the reader. In any case, checking and proofreading are quite necessary which can help you stay away from mistakes. Curriculum vitae cover letters are very important as they allow you to interact with the prospective firm. When you have prepared and submitted your resume to an employer the hope is you will be requested to attend work interview to go over further whether you are going to be suitable. Do not begin writing the resume until youve got any idea about the employer. An excellent resume cover letter is the opportunity to prove you know the reach of the role and their mission. Ensure you didnt miss whatever could cost you the job that you dream about

Join PowerToFly and Morgan Stanleys Cutting

Join PowerToFly and Morgan Stanleys CuttingHi its Katharine, CoFounder and President of PowerToFly. Ill be hosting a unique evening of networking and tech talks featuring Morgan Stanleys cutting-edge technologists on Thursday 10 October 2019. Want to join us? RSVP HEREThe night will include a tech talk on Why We Like Open Source and a panel discussion entitled The Tech of FinTech A Turning Point for Techies in Finance. Whether you are looking for a new role or just want to learn more, we hope youll join us. Click HERE to register or visit Morgan Stanley on PowerToFly to learn more about the company including their open roles.**************************Bonjour, cest Katharine, co-fondatrice et prsidente de PowerToFly. Jorganiserai une soire unique de rseautage et de confrences techniques avec les technologues de pointe de Morgan Stanley le jeudi 10 octobre 2019.Envie de nous rejoindre? RSVPLa soire comprendra une confrence technique pkel Pourquoi nous aimons lOpen Source et une table r onde intitule La technologie de la technologie financire un tournant pour les techniciens en finance. Que vous recherchiez un nouveau rle ou que vous souhaitiez simplement en savoir plus, nous esprons que vous vous joindrez nous.Cliquez ICI pour vous inscrire ou visitez Morgan Stanley sur PowerToFly pour en savoir plus sur la socit, y compris sur ses rles ouverts. 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 t his image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired 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 million 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 fo und 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 positi ons in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive 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 indus trial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.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.