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Via Flickr - Kejoli

It’s not uncommon to see ads in local papers around the world that read “must be able to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.” What these ads should really say is “must be able to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment and a sense of humor is an absolute requirement.”
Sometimes we take ourselves so seriously that we move close to the point of losing it, and some people do. Stress and problems exist in every workplace; however, one of the best ways to deal with these issues is to laugh and move on. Yes, laugh and move on. A good laugh is relaxing and refreshing. Instead of getting uptight over problems that seem insurmountable, why not take the time to stop, breathe and have a good laugh?

Of course, this is hard to do. The learned reaction to problems is to get frustrated, angry and impatient with each other and ourselves. Unfortunately, when we react in this manner, our creativity and problem-solving powers are greatly diminished. One of the secrets to thriving in high-stress, fast-paced environments is the ability to see humor in the most unlikely places.

Just the act of laughing alone gives the brain a chance to focus on something else and regroup before returning to address the problem. Scientists have also proven that laughing has a healthy effect on the brain, and it’s becoming increasingly common to see groups of people gathering to conduct therapeutic laughing sessions. Laughing could be considered as aerobics for the mind.

The next time you find yourself about to “give someone a piece of my mind,” take a few minutes to try and see the humor in the situation. Laugh at it, and then move on!

Via Flickr - NASA

If you are hiring interns this summer, help them to fall in love with your brand and your company. Students want to know you care and that the possibility exists for future employment if they do a great job.

For the students, internships are a great way to test drive a career. It’s an insider’s view into the day-to-day activities of a career to determine if they are passionate about it. It’s also a perfect résumé builder for college students as many companies expect students to have some experience in their desired field. Here are 7 ways you can make it easier for interns to love your company.

1. Choose supervisors who will talk with them and who understand the importance of developing a solid talent pipeline through the summer experience.
2. Help them search out mentors in the company who can guide them.  A good mentor will help them avoid common errors that can limit their career and increase their chances of reaching their goals.
3. Show them the possibilities.  Students may not consider future employment with your company if they do not understand the opportunities available.
4. Encourage them to ask lots of questions.  Provide an atmosphere that encourages exploration and growth even though everyone may be busy.
5. Ask for their input. Take the time to seek out the opinion of the intern. Interns are savvy and may have the idea or solution you have been fishing for. Don’t dismiss them because of their age.
6. Give them real work.  Even though they aren’t getting paid, grunt work can only go so far. Have them work on actual projects so they see how important their part is, no matter how small. Visiting other departments and attending meetings work also.
7. Stay in touch after their internship ends and build those relationships. Social media makes that easier but go the extra mile and make that call or send an email.