Friday, September 5, 2008

what kind of employee are you?

Aries Employee Profile(march 21 - april 19)
Aries employees make excellenttroubleshooters. They'll usually want to be out in the field at a variety ofdifferent work sites fixing things. They certainly won't be happy for very longbehind a desk in a 9 to 5 schedule. The bored Aries employee who has been forced into a square hole will typically be restless, angry, and careless with details. Noamount of money would compensate for being stuck in a routine job. Money infact isn't why they are working at all. They do want to be paid fairlyand need a status position to satisfy their competitive tendencies--but evenmore importantly, they'll want challenging new projects They typically like tohave a sense of responsibility and need to feel needed. In return, they'll givetheir all and provide detailed, consistent work. They will literally workthemselves to exhaustion to prove themselves. If you want to keep yourAries co-worker productive and happy, you'll want to give them the opportunityto work independently or let them help and lead less experienced workers.

Taurus Employee Profile (april 20 - may 20)
Taureans make some of the best employees. They are loyal, hardworking, andno-nonsense. They work methodically and follow projects through until they arecomplete. Some may appear to work a little too slowly-usually becausethey are so careful-but they will always finish what they start. They thrive onstructure, schedules, and routine. You'll find them doing the same exact thingat the same time every day. Taureans, however, are not exactly themalleable workers that they often appear to be. If they have to work in achaotic environment, they won't be happy and will be prone to child-like tempertantrums and stubbornness. They might react similarly if they have to workaround ignorant people or at a job where there is no obvious potential foradvancement. Taureans will be very unhappy if there isn't a ladder forthem t o climb. Even in the worst situations, they will find a way toadvance slowly, winning over the most difficult people who may stand in theirway of progress. Taurus employees will only take so much patiently andhappily before they feel they are being taken advantage of. They will gladlyaccept orders and do whatever dirty work needs to get done, but they expectrewards. They want material gain, salary increases, and the potential for morepower. To make your Taurus employees happy, be sure to give them projectsthrough which they will see tangible results-hopefully something that willallow them to express their unique creativity in addition to their practicalside. They don't want to feel mired in details for long periods of time. Make sure to schedule regular performance and salary reviews. This showof respect should keep them loyal to the company.

Gemini Employee Profile (may 21 - june 21)
Geminiemployees can have difficulty concentrating on one thing for long periods oftime. They have quick-moving minds and love to talk and communicate theirideas with others. They thrive on social interaction -- even if their jobsdon't particularly support it. You'll be able to find them wandering fromdesk to desk gossiping about all the sordid news in the office. They canbe powerful persuaders in their speech and make ideal salespeople andmediators. They love to negotiate and can work out the best Deal for everyoneinvolved. When properly stimulated, they can manage to keep theirwandering mind focused and actually be quite productive. When they arebored, bogged down with mundane detail-work, or forced to work with people whothey consider droll, they can become mean-spirited and gossipy. Their moods canfluctuate vastly day to day, as well as their productivity. It is reallyagainst their nature to be forced into an average workday schedule andenvironment. They are happier travelling. lf they are in an office theywill need constant new stimulation. Most will be wanting advancement ifthey see this as a way to escape the limitations of their jobs. This canmotivate them to put extra effort into their job. If you work with a Gemini,try to avoid getting into any debates with them - they will surely win and itcould end in some hard feelings on your part. They will need an acceptingenvironment-one that supports their need for multi-tasking.

Cancer Employee Profile (june 22 - july 21)
TheCancer employee isn't at work to feed their ego -- their job is just a job anda means to get paid. They work steadily and are usually very reliable. You'll beable to depend on them to show up on time and do what is necessary. Theywon't get involved in power struggles or get upset when someone advances beforethem. They are able to accept the situation because they see it simply asa rung on the ladder up. Their motivation is security. They'll want moremoney the longer they've stayed at a job. They don't want to have to worryabout how they'll make ends meet tomorrow so they'll need a stable positionwithout much risk. Cancerian workers can slip into some dark moods onoccasion. During these periods productivity tends to drop-as well aseveryone else's in the office. Their moods can be so strong every one becomesaffected. To avoid the frequency of these occurrences, managers and co-workersshould try to make the work environment as homey as possible-keep it wellheated, cozy, and friendly. Don't press them to reveal their true innerthoughts-their tendency is to be secretive and protective, and they could seeprying as an attempt to disturb their security.

Leo Employee Profile (july 22 - august 21)
Leoworkers want to be first and at the center of the office. Even if they can'tlead, they'll look for every opportunity to increase their own status - and ifsomeone else seems ahead of them, look out. They will make it clear that theyaren't happy by pouting and complaining. They want advancement so much thatthey'll take on more responsibility and carry a heavier load than anyone elsedoes in the office. And they are self-promoters. It is likely that they aretelling everyone in the office what a great job they are doing as well asgiving everyone unwanted advice. They know they are superior and wanteveryone to know it as well. This arrogance can sometimes cause problems whenworking with management. But typically, they are just hard workers out todemonstrate just how good they really are. They thrive in sales posi tions- they can promote a product or company just as well as they promotethemselves. Their strength and arrogance isn't just show either. In acrisis situation, Leos really demonstrate their true courage. Leos wantto lead and will be pushing for more responsibility and rewards. They arehappy to train and mentor new co- workers as they enjoy giving advice and beingin positions of authority. If you are trying to manage a Leo employee,you'll need to give them plenty of praise, responsibility, and independence. They will certainly want to help lighten your load of managementresponsibilities. Just be careful- the next thing you know they could be takingover your job.

Virgo Employee Profile (august 22 - september 22)
In the right situations Virgos love to work. They make ideal employees,happily working late into the night to make sure everything is perfect and inorder. If you are looking for an employee who doesn't mind starting from rockbottom in the most entry-level position at the company, hire a Virgo. They'll have no complaints about the position being beneath them. Theyare CONTENT with basic, honest hard work. Their contentment isn't alwaysapparent, however. They love to complain and worry. They are quick tocriticize the way things are done around the office and are the first ones togrumble disapprovingly at what they consider to be extravagance or laziness. They are blunt and honest and don't mince words over what they feel justisn't right. Usually, this will be brought on by someone doing a half-baked job or not being considerate of other co-workers. You'll want toconstantly reassure them, but this will do little to quell their anxieties.They actually enjoy worrying, and there is little you can do about it. Justgive them a detail - oriented project and let them work alone on it. You won'thave to supervise a Virgo worker. They'll check all the facts before gettingstarted and catch their own errors when they are done. To keep a Virgoemployee happy, you should also make sure their environment is orderly andcalm. You should also provide small gestures of appreciation. They don't need extravagance,just let them know you appreciate them in small ways that won't embarrass them.They will probably just shrug their shoulders and say, "It's no bigdeal." But deep down inside they need these little reassurances.

LibraEmployee Profile (september 23 - october 22)
Libra employeesare detailed, dedicated workers with sensitive natures. Managers andco-workers sometimes find them difficult to get a handle on. They pick up theenergy of the office and are unable to prevent it from affecting them. Loudnoise,
flashy colors, and discordant vibrations will put them off so much thatthey will have difficulty fulfilling their obligations at work. One daythey may seem like the most bright, hardworking, ambitious employee around. Thenext day they might be down, irritated, and unable to produce. Co-workersshouldn't fret when Libra employees are in a dark mood. It really won'tlast, as a happy state of mind can come over them just as quickly. When Libraemployees are in a balanced frame of mind, they can be a powerful presence atwork-they have a way of gracing everything they touch. Underneath thatmess of moods, they really are basically happy and stable people. They arecapable of profound logical thought and evaluate all sides of a situationbefore acting. They are one of the most intelligent Signs around. They are expert researchers and mediators. And their sensitivity to theirenvironment makes them naturals at keeping things looking great. &n bsp;Theywill easily help others resolve conflicts and can act as a go-between withworkers and management so that everyone ends up happy. If you want tokeep your Libran worker smiling, give them the respect they are due and putthem in a position where they can project their great charm and diplomacy. Theywon't be CONTENT to take orders for very long, either- make sure they are givenincreased responsibility.

Scorpio Employee Profile (october23 - november 21)
Scorpio employees usually exude aquiet self-confidence. They are self-sufficient and do not depend on others fora sense of self-worth. They keep their private life separate from work and takecomplete responsibility for their actions and their situation. They don'tmake excuses; they just take care of business and expect everyone else to dothe same. Those who don't, co- workers and managers- will have to endure theScorpio wrath. They don't mind being completely vocal about what theyfeel is wrong with any given situation. And if you tread on their fire be sureto expect retaliation. They won't take insults or opposition lying down. If you manage a Scorpio employee, be sure to follow through with yourword and don't break any promises-Scorpio is keeping track and building up someheavy resentments against you if you do. You may not even be aware of ituntil too late-but when Scorpio gets too much, you'll be sure to know. Scorpio employees will react towards those around them exactly as they aretreated. When they get what they want, they will be very accepting. Ifyou are trying to work with or motivate a Scorpio co-worker, be sure to treatthem respectfully and act professionally. Give them challenging work thatallows them to utilize their awesome self-confidence and courage.

SagittariusEmployee Profile (november 22 - december 21)
The Sagittarianemployee is head strong, cheerful, and willing to help. They exudeself-confidence and take on tasks like there's no tomorrow. They arewilling to tackle even the toughest of projects as long as it is challengingand gets them out of the routine. Lucky for them, their shining personalitiesand honest enthusiasm seem like a bright spot in the office- otherwiseco-workers might begin to build animosity towards someone so arrogant andextravagant. Their tendency to exaggerate and take on more then they canhandle usually results in missed deadlines and dropping the ball-not becausethey are lazy of procrastinate, but because their enthusiasm just gets thebetter of them sometimes. Don't let their nonchalance fool you- theyreally do care about what they are doing. They just have an easy-going attitudethat allows them to keep on smiling even when they just messed up big time. Just because they are flexible and easy-going doesn't mean they won'ttell you exactly how they feel-what is working for them and what isn't. Andthey won't just blindly take orders - they need to understand the method andreason behind the process. If you are trying to motivate your Sagittarianemployee, be sure to feed them plenty of challenging new projects and hint thatsome business trips might be on the horizon once deadlines are met. Andwhatever you do, try not to question their intentions - it is the quickest wayto make them upset. They aren't capable of deceit.

Capricorn Employee Profile (december 22 - january20)
A Capricorn employee with too much to do is a happy worker.They need plenty of projects and responsibility. There is no sadder sight thana Capricorn worker without a sense of responsibility. They need to beneeded. They are covertly ambitious - usually not flashy or obvious aboutit-but you will usually know that they are serious and determined aboutadvancing themselves. They are completely scrupulous, so much so thatthey can be self-disparaging. But they are no pushovers. They can wear downeven the toughest customers. Their persistence is incredible. Once they settheir sights on a goal, they work away at it until the bitter end-whether thegoal be that hard sell or the new hardware release. Capricorns don't workfor free, however. They expect to be paid handsom ely and be given more andmore responsibility. They need to come out ahead of the pack in the end,and they see the work environment as their primary vehicle. They won't goin for the typical office gossip and politics, though. They want to getdown to business at work and see it as no place for fooling around. Witha strong sense of duty and respect towards their superiors, it is rare theywill join in on boss-bashing or knocking the system. They can getfrustrated, however, with blue sky management schemes that lack common sense,and they will interject their dry sense of humor in the most critical ways. If they want change, they will be unyielding. If all their effort leadsto naught the result will be deep moods of darkness and depression with a senseof hopelessness. Keep your Capricorn employee happy by paying them fairlyand giving them plenty of hard work. Arrange for a path of advancementwithin your organization for t hem. If you don't, you might find them lookingfor other opportunities.

AquariusEmployee Profile (january 21 - february 19)
The Aquariusemployee can't tolerate unfairness in the office. Hair brained schemes will getthe positive attention they deserve if an Aquarian has anything to do with it.They'll try to help everyone see the good side of a bad situation if it's thelast thing that they do. They are so smart-they can't help but hold managementin disdain if they feel that they are being unfair and unintelligent. It isn'tthat they are overly ambitious and think they could be doing a better job- justthat they think people in power should know better. Most Aquarius workersare still looking for themselves and will want to try their hand at a varietyof jobs in the workplace. Whatever they are doing, they will do conscientiously. They usually have strict personal codes that in clude a strong workethic. Their bright, off-beat intelligence, and trustworthi- ness willtypically gain them many friends-in and out of work. Beneath thatsometimes odd-ball behavior is solid, concrete thinking and sensitivity toco-workers. Keep your smart Aquarius co-worker happy by giving them plenty ofopportunity to learn news kills. Raises are less important to them. Noamount of money will make it worth their while to stay in a stagnant position.Don't let them get too bored or they will simply find another job as easily asthey found this one-their genius is easy to spot.

Pisces Employee Profile (february 20 - march 20)
The Piscesemployee can be a loyal and hard-working, if unconventional, worker. In theright position, they are able to keep their daydreams in check and buckle downon the detail work-giving their all to the boss and corporation whom they feelare worthy of devotion. On the flip side, there is no image of extrememisery like that of an ill-placed Pisces worker. They will act as though theircubicle were a prison cell as they daydream of their own business or nextvacation. Unhappy Pisces workers usually won't stick around too long.Often Pisceans will drift from one job to another looking for that idealenvironment to which they will be able to commit and feel a sense of purpose.And if things are going in a bad direction at the office, Pisces will be thefirst to sense it. The y'd rather pick up and leave then wait until the problemreaches a head. Pisces are often misunderstood by their co-workers. Typically timid and introspective, they usually keep their true naturehidden, for fear it wouldn't fit with the corporate culture. Whatmotivates a Pisces employee to not only stick around but also excel? Trycompliments. And show them how their work impacts the entire organization. They need to know that what they are doing is worth something on agrander scale. Acceptance of their unconventional organization and planningwill be necessary. Just because their sales report isn't in the typical formatdoesn't mean it is any less effective. Keep their environment bright andupbeat; and an after-work cocktail wouldn't hurt.

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