This article is provided by Shawn Bradford, founder of Breathe and Work, PLLC.

Arizona is one of the most stressed out states according to this article and WalletHub. Are you among the stressed out in our city? Stress no more as we’ve got you covered with five quick & proven techniques to combat that stress.

What’s the big deal about being stressed out anyways? First, it is a huge detriment to our health. The top 5 chronic diseases in the United States are all stress related and can be prevented. Learn more here. Stress also messes with our ability to pay attention and show up as our best selves. Employees suffering from high stress levels have lower engagement, are less productive and have higher absentee levels than those not operating under excessive pressure, according to research from professional services firm Towers Watson.

The good news is there are effective and easy ways to implement strategies you can use on a daily basis to combat the negative effects of stress.

Tip 1: Stress Awareness

Start to pay attention to your personal signs of stress. Without awareness of our stress triggers we cannot do anything about it. What gets your blood boiling, your head pounding or causes you shortness of breath? These are your personal stress triggers. Now notice how your body responds. Is it with a clenched jaw, tense shoulders or uneasy stomach? This awareness of how you respond to stress and where your body holds it is the first step to managing your stress. The next time you feel stressed take one minute to scan your body to begin to cultivate this awareness.

Tip 2: Minute Movement Breaks

Once you identify where the stress is being held, take a moment to move the stress out. A one-minute stress buster break will help you to release the stress and regain focus. For instance, if you identified stress being held in your shoulders try this: inhale and roll your shoulders up to your ears and exhale and roll your shoulders down your back. Repeat 3 to 10 times. Feels great, doesn’t it? Not only are you actively doing something to move the stress out, you are also increasing your concentration. Peter Strick, PhD and brain researcher, has documented that the same pathway in the brain for learning and concentration is also the same pathway for movement. Take a minute each time you feel stressed to move the stress out of your body.

Tip 3: Breathe Better

This tip is all about how we take a breath. Notice when you are anxious your breath is shallow and fast. This rapid breathing is simply exaggerating your anxiousness and stress. Instead, to calm the body down and reduce stress take a deep belly breath. To do this, inhale through the nose, fill up your lungs from bottom to top and expand the belly out, now take a slow deep exhale breath out with pursed lips as the belly deflates. This deep breath and slow exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the relaxation response in the body. The Mayo Clinic states that breath work can help to increase alertness, release stress and shift and release negative energy. Set a timer every 30 minutes to take a one minute deep breathing break and notice how much more productive you are.

Tip 4: Mindful Observation Break

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly typing, forgetting to send attachments or find your mind constantly wandering off? Of course you do! We all battle with this. A mindful break provides us with practice to combat this stressful and time-wasting behavior. Here’s how to do it. Take a 5-minute break and head outside or to a quiet place in your office. Sit and begin to engage your senses to notice everything around you. What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you see? What thoughts come into your mind? Acknowledge those thoughts and then let them float away like clouds on a clear blue sky. This practice of mindfulness, paying attention to the present moment, will increase focus, happiness and present moment awareness. When our mind wanders we make errors. Mindfulness tames our wandering mind and increases productivity while decreasing stress. Learn more here. Practice mindfulness 5 minutes a day with a mindful timeout by simply observing yourself and your surroundings and experience the benefits.

Tip 5: Connect to destress.

Dignity Health says that when we feel connected to another person our bodies respond in a way that makes us feel calmer. Showing kindness also reduces our response to stressful circumstances more effectively. Have fun and manage stress by meeting up with friends at your lunch hour or going for a walk outside with colleagues at a break. Do good and lower stress by organizing a company wide charity event. Connection with others increases compassion and decreases stress.

While stress can be a detriment to our health, focus and happiness the good news is that we hold all the tools to bring down our response to stress right now. So, take a moment and take a deep breath, or a few, and then return to the task at hand with more clarity and focus. Your calmer state of being will thank you!

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Shawn Bradford, founder of Breathe and Work, PLLC, is an expert on stress management. She lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more about her here.

As a business owner or manager, brand awareness is crucial to the success of your business. However, you don’t have to have a million dollar budget or decades of experience to build a strong brand! Your most valuable brand assets are right in front of you.

Companies often employ marketing efforts and advertising initiatives to improve their brand awareness. These efforts can take your company’s brand to the next level, help you attract top tier talent and secure loyal customers. However, one of your greatest assets in brand awareness are your employees.

With a strong brand, companies can grow in profitability and face competition with ease. Your employees are the ones on the front line, connecting with customers and promoting your business. When they feel empowered and engaged in their positions, they become natural brand ambassadors. Their passion for their work will flow into the way they interact with customers.

Here are three reasons why employees are the best brand ambassadors.

Employees are front-of-house representatives for your business.

Your employees are the first faces your customers see when they interact with your business. The words and actions of your employees are incredibly powerful. Customers who experience positive interactions with your employees are more likely to continue as customers in the future. Employees who are excited about what they are doing are willing to go above-and-beyond in their work to provide for their customers. This heightened level of customer experience results in greater customer loyalty.

Consider companies like as Dutch Bros. or Southwest. These businesses are highly regarded for their customer service and employee engagement. Customers feel valued and respected. In turn, these companies have flourished financially. Employees are excellent brand ambassadors because they are consistently acting as representatives for your business.

When employees pave the way for brand recognition, revenue follows.

According to a Hay Group study, engaged and empowered employees can cause company revenue to double compared to companies with low employee engagement. Customer loyalty generates financial success. While your business may have solid values and a powerful mission, without a strong, positive brand presence, growth may be difficult.

Consumers are more likely to commit to a brand based on their customer experience over the products or services being offered. Studies have found that companies with high levels of consumer engagement experienced twice the number of loyal customers than their less-engaged counterparts. This customer loyalty led to repeat purchases and recommendations to friends and family.

While engagement levels seem separate from brand recognition and brand success, a Gallup study revealed that “…companies with high employee engagement levels have 3.9 times the earnings per share when compared to those in the same industry with lower engagement levels.” Employees are the best brand ambassadors because their actions influence brand loyalty and boost revenues.

Your employees know your brand best.

Your employees know the ins and outs of your business. They have experienced a variety of situations and have learned all there is to know about your business.

Employees are great brand ambassadors because they have the ability to share your brand with consumers as they apply their knowledge to each individual customer interaction. A powerful brand is more than brand recognition. Powerful brands have a vision, set a foundation for the business based on that vision, and operate accordingly. Employees are the best brand ambassadors because they can deliver a high level of customer-experience and product knowledge.

Employees can act as brand ambassadors off the clock, too! When employees love their work and workplaces, they tend to share their experiences with friends, family and people in the community. This creates a ripple effect of positive thoughts about your company, prompting new people to give your products and services a try.

Educated and empowered employees are your greatest brand ambassadors. Employee engagement and knowledge highly influences customer loyalty and revenue growth. Give your employees a reason to be brand ambassadors for your company by making your firm a great place for them to work! Your bottom line will thank you for it

BestCompaniesAZ offers employer branding services that build brands locally, positioning them as great places to work. Click here to learn more about our services!

Story written and provided by Gloria Martinez, founder of WomenLed.org.

The days of following one career path until retirement are in the distant past. Today, men and women change careers frequently and at nearly any age. That’s not to say that changing careers is easy: it’s not. Changing careers brings about uncertainty, fluctuations in pay, and many sleepless nights. But, if you are unhappy in your position, want to do something that you love, or realize that you don’t have any room for growth in your present career, it may be time for you to change your life by changing your career. Our three tips will help any woman take charge of her path to happiness and success by changing her career.

1. Take a Step Back and Get an Empowered Perspective

Career coach Kathy Caprino has helped women change careers to gain financial, emotional, and spiritual success over the course of her career. In her Forbes article, she explains that women looking to change careers first need to take a step back and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Determine “what you’ll give up everything for, what you value, your priorities, standards of integrity, non-negotiables and your style, preferences, and ideals.” By gaining a better idea of who you are, you will choose a direction that is better for you and that will lead to a more successful and enjoyable career.

Then, look at your career and your life through a different lens with the help of others. Find a mentor, friend or coach who has a more objective sense of your potential. This person will help you identify your gifts and talents that you can utilize in your new career. Sometimes, the hardest part of changing careers is allowing yourself to see what you are capable of and truly believing it.

2. Know How You Want Your Life to Change and What Your Ideal Situation Looks Like

Elaina Giolando is a writer and career coach who quit her management consultant position in New York City to get a dream job overseas. Her advice to women looking to change their lives by changing careers is to know how you want to change and what your dream looks like. When you know what your goals are, develop your plan of attack to achieve them. Clear goals and dreams help focus your actions to accomplish them. For example, if your dream is to be a consultant and lead fellow entrepreneurs to success, you first need to research what a consulting business is and exactly what it takes to run one. This will help you plan a concrete strategy and timeline for getting started. Giolando also recommends changing one aspect of your life at a time. So, if you want a new career, go after it before you try to find a new apartment or a new relationship.

3. Determine What It Will Take for You to Change Your Career

Knowing what you want is one thing; knowing how to achieve it is another. Women who want to move beyond daydreaming about changing their lives to taking action to change it with a career change need to know exactly what it will take to make it happen. Former corporate communications director turned almost-all-commission recruiter Jenny Foss took a reckless approach to her career change and wants to help women approach their lives and career changes in a less dangerous way. That’s why she recommends determining exactly what you will need to do to change careers. Determine whether you will need to take classes, get certified or licensed, gain some skills, or need outside support. Will you need to line up child care? Do you want to get your partner’s blessing? How much time will you need to devote to preparing for your career change?

This tip is not intended to make you take one look at the work you will need to put into changing your career and scrap the whole deal. It is intended, however, to help you go into the change with your eyes wide open so you are prepared to do what it takes to make your dreams come to fruition.

Changing your career is a big step. But, if you want to change your life for the better, and you know that a career change is the key to reduced stress or more freedom or more happiness, then start taking the steps to make it happen. Begin by taking a step back to gain an empowered perspective, identifying how you want to change your life and what your ideal situation looks like, and determining what it will take for you to change your career. Good luck!

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Gloria Martinez started WomenLed to celebrate the advancements women have made and inspire women to become entrepreneurs and seek promotions in the workplace.

Last month, we had an incredible webinar featuring BestCompaniesUSA’s Founder and CEO, Denise Gredler, and Lindsay M. Smith, BestCompaniesUSA’s VP of Brand Evangelism

The two experts discussed the importance of employer branding, diving deep into the definition of employer branding and how companies can see return on investment from implementing a branding strategy.

During the webinar, Denise and Lindsay also shared their insights on which department within an organization should own the branding strategy.

The Importance of Employer Branding

Employer Branding has been a buzzword for a while now and has proven to be a beneficial strategy that drives notable positive results both inside and outside of your company.

Did you know that organizations with strong employer brands have had nearly double the stock market performance of organizations that haven’t created a strong employer brand in recent years?

That’s right. Employer branding does more than just help you attract great job candidates. It helps your bottom line too!

Why It Matters – Insights From Denise and Lindsay

In the webinar, Denise shared her “Top 10 List” of employer branding tactics and gave in-depth recommendations for how to win regional and national awards to build your brand.

Throughout her career, Denise has helped many companies win local, regional and national awards, establishing the firms as great places to work. She explained the importance of garnering leadership buy-in, analyzing data associated with other award winners, and creating a process for promoting your organization’s results.

Denise then shared what types of special events, culture tours, round tables, and executive dinners solidify your company’s culture in the minds of job applicants.

The webinar was loaded with insights and knowledge to help businesses think about their employer brand intentionally.

Lindsay and Denise provided numerous examples and data from the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona and the Most Admired Companies awards. As an example, Lindsay asked attendees what percentage of employees at Top Companies to Work for in Arizona award winners were engaged (meaning happy at work). The answer is 92%.

This number is significantly higher than the average percentage of employees who’re engaged at work nationally, which sits around 30%, according to Gallup’s 2017 State of The American Workplace Report.

From that statistic alone, truly implementing an employer branding strategy can have far reaching impact! If you want to simplify recruitment, increase retention and improve your human resources function’s return on investment, this webinar is full of best practices!

You can listen to the podcast version of the webinar here or listen to the episode below!

The Best Companies Experience podcast is now available on iTunes! Then, check out our iTunes profile to stay up to date on all of the latest episodes and take a look at all of our upcoming webinars here!

If you work remotely, are self employed or consider yourself a freelancer by trade, you probably know how it feels to get bored with working from your home office. Working from a coworking space is a great way to break up the the monotony of your daily routine, and add some variety to your day to day scenery.

Coworking spaces bring independent individuals together into a shared workspace. Remote workers, startup companies, students, freelancers and professionals gravitate  to these spaces in order to feed off of one another’s creative energy and productivity.

Working from a coworking space allows people to collaborate, share ideas and motivate themselves, diminishing the feeling of isolation some freelancers experience when working by themselves.

Whether you’re looking for a stylish and modern workspace or a cozy, eclectic environment, you’re sure to find your personal go-to from this list of five creative coworking spaces in Phoenix! Take a look.

The Department: Downtown Phoenix

Named after their building’s past-life, The Department is a coworking space located in a refurbished department store in downtown Phoenix. Modern meets functional at this coworking space that offers a wide range of seating and table space, fully-equipped conference rooms, phone and printing equipment, designated mailboxes, and high-speed wireless internet. Not to mention free coffee from the local hotspot, Cartel Coffee Lab! The Department’s central location in the city makes it an excellent, groovy coworking space.

Mod: Midtown Phoenix

Mod is a coworking office and event venue in Midtown Phoenix where independent workers can enjoy an open floor plan and a variety of seating options. Meeting spaces, private suites, dedicated desks and conference rooms are offered to members at a monthly or yearly rate. Mod is designed to maximize productivity and encourage innovation! The space has everything you could possibly need, including phone and laptop chargers and complimentary shipping. Grab a beer or coffee from their full-service beverage bar and get working!

Deskhub: Phoenix & Scottsdale

Deskhub is a coworking environment with a “boutique look and feel.” Deskhub has locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and San Diego. Along with conference spaces, meeting rooms, free internet, mail service and 24/7 access. Deskhub offers weekly networking events, keynote speakers and member outings. Unlike many coworking spaces, Deskhub allows members to change their membership commitments as needed. Members will feel right at home in this cozy, inviting workspace.

Workuity: Central Phoenix

For those freelancers and independent workers looking for a more structured workspace, Workuity is the place for you! Modern design meets function at this Central Phoenix coworking space. Take your pick of a private office, dedicated workspace or a flex desk, and enjoy all-inclusive perks such as free internet access, free printing, an on-site gym and unlimited coffee. Workuity provides an office space without the office feel.

The Office Bowl: North Phoenix

If an eclectic space where work and play combine sounds like the perfect fit for you, The Office Bowl will be your go-to. With two Phoenix area locations, The Office Bowl is like nothing you have seen before. Enjoy high speed internet, unlimited office supplies, rental computers, printing, copying, front desk service, mail handling and so much more, while taking advantage of the popcorn bar and a variety of beverages. Murals and unique artwork line the walls of this hip and vibrant coworking space. The Office Bowl is a low-cost coworking space that will inspire creativity and boost your productivity.

Galvanize Phoenix: Warehouse District in Phoenix

Galvanize Phoenix is a multipurpose workspace for startups and established technology companies. The space, which is located in the heart of Phoenix’s trendy warehouse district, has conference rooms, private phone booths, bike storage areas, free printing and free locally-sourced coffee! While Galvanize serves as a hub for technology companies, the space has learning opportunities and resources for entrepreneurs as well, including workshops and educational programs to learn new tech skills. If you love everything tech, check out Galvanize Phoenix.

For more information about Phoenix “bests” visit our website!

Interested in working in tech? With word of the tech industry’s incredible perks and meaningful work spreading, more and more people are interested in jumping into one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. With a variety of sectors and specialties, the technology industry caters to the passions and interests of many.

Over the past couple of decades, the Phoenix area has grown into a hub for tech companies, creating thousands of great jobs for Phoenicians. If you’re looking for tech companies hiring in Phoenix in 2018, these incredible companies are the best of the best.

GoDaddy

With offices in Scottsdale and Tempe, GoDaddy is a large and growing technology company with more than 17 million customers worldwide. An exciting, innovative environment drives daily work at this fun-fueled company. Originally founded as a domain registrar company, GoDaddy has expanded into further tech ventures outside of web domains.

GoDaddy is looking for skilled software developers, technical support experts, data engineers, accountants and communications professionals. Skilled applicants who are excited by innovation and productivity should consider a career with GoDaddy. Take a look at GoDaddy’s open positions here!

Vixxo

Asset management and technology collide at this Scottsdale-based company. Vixxo aids in leveraging data to help businesses succeed, streamlining maintenance and achieving sustained cost savings for a variety of Fortune 500 companies.

Fostering diversity and employee growth is the foundation of this company, where continuous innovation lends a competitive edge in the market. Talented marketing specialists, content developers, web developers and data analysts are encouraged to apply and begin a career with Vixxo.

Zocdoc

Software company, Zocdoc, helps doctor up the healthcare experience for patients everywhere. Zocdoc’s user-friendly software helps solve patient problems, allowing them to book appointments online instantly, choose doctors and stay on top of checkups.

The company has more than 500 employees across it’s offices in Phoenix, New York, and Pune, India, and is looking to grow its team! Zocdoc is hiring team members for its client operations and health system sales departments in Phoenix. Click here to learn more about Zocdoc’s open positions.

Insight

Insight is a Fortune 500 information technology company that provides hardware, software and cloud and service solutions to businesses. The company prides itself on bringing a smart approach to technology solutions. The Insight team is comprised of more than 6,400 team members all over the world. You could be one of them!

Insight has more than 50 openings at it’s Tempe locations. If you’re looking for employment as an engineer, project manager, business development manager, Human Resources manager, marketing content coordinator or anything in between, take a look at Insight’s open positions here.

Infusionsoft

The founders of Infusionsoft love small businesses. They put this and passion love into action and BOOM, Infusionsoft was born. The company offers software solutions for small businesses, including a sales and marketing automation platform, and an ecosystem of resources for small businesses!

Infusionsoft is looking for a brand advocacy marketing manager, data analyst, and senior product manager. Think you’d be a great fit? Check out more career opportunities at Infusionsoft here.

Browse through more opportunities at Arizona’s best companies on our website!

Whether you work entirely remote, or you spend a few days of the week working from home, getting out of the office can provide a much-needed break from a busy work week.  

While the comfort of your home can lend some peace to your normally hectic week, it’s easy to feel restless and distracted. You need a go-to environment that clears away the mind fog and kicks your motivation into gear. Here’s a look at some of the best coffee shops for remote workers in Phoenix, Arizona. They’re bound to brighten up your work day.

Cartel Coffee Lab: Tempe, Scottsdale, Downtown Phoenix

With three equally inspiring locations, Cartel Coffee Lab is a hip and vibrant coffee shop. Cartel prides itself on its specialty coffee and the growers who supply their coffee beans. Each location offers a variety of indoor and outdoor seating options, and free wifi as powerful as their strongest cup of joe! The schedule of a remote worker can be in constant flux. Luckily, Cartel’s hours vary from location to location, giving you options and ensuring you’ll find one that’s open when you need it to be.

Sip Coffee and Beer Garage: Arcadia

Grab a cup of hot coffee or a cool cocktail at this modern, lively shop on the corner of N. 36th Street and Indian School Road. Sip Coffee and Beer Garage is an open-concept coffee and beer shop that boasts an inviting environment created for the purpose of bringing people together.

Locally sourced products line the shelves along with 24 rotating craft beers on draft. Many indoor seating options are available to those who prefer to listen to the live music and coffee shop chatter, while outdoor seating is offered for those who would like to work on the covered porch. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or an advocate for great beer, this coffee shop is great for remote workers looking for an open and lively work-space.

Piexoto Coffee Roasters: Chandler

If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, eclectic environment, Piexoto Coffee Roasters could be your go-to coffee shop. The shop’s crop-to-cup business model ensures that each coffee bean that goes into your cup comes straight from the farmers themselves.

The environment is just as inviting as the coffee! Pixeto offers a variety of cozy seating options and plenty of natural light. Remote workers will love this Chandler gem for its quiet, cozy atmosphere and incredible coffee. And of course, we can’t forget the free wifi.

Volstead Public House: Mesa

Nothing beats a lunch break in the middle of a long day of hard work. Volstead Public House, located in the heart of downtown Mesa, boasts an unmatched coffee selection and a full-service vegan and vegetarian menu. The backdrop of historical brick walls and classic chandeliers makes for a unique, cozy environment.

If your work calls for a large workspace, Volstead’s option of large tables and open seating will meet all of your needs. Remote workers are sure to leave Volstead Public House with a renewed sense of motivation and a full stomach!

Desoto Central Market: Central Phoenix

Desoto Central Market is a food-lover’s dream. This open-concept, indoor market offers many eating options, an open bar and a specialty coffee shop. Get to work on the city-facing covered porch, or stake your claim a seat in one of the four indoor seating areas.

Remote workers will feel energized and inspired by the variety of food and seating options. If you love the feel of an industrial, modern environment, Desoto Central Market is the workspace for you.

Honorable Mentions

Phoenix is overflowing with coffee-shop goodness. It’s only fair to include some of our honorable mentions!

Lux: Uptown Phoenix

Lux is a bustling, 24-hour coffee shop with a full kitchen service. Grab a specialty coffee and find inspiration in one of the three themed rooms.

Gold Bar Espresso: Tempe

This small, mom and pop coffee shop fosters a peaceful work environment. Don’t forget to grab a sweet treat from their locally-praised pastry menu!

The Coffee Shop: Gilbert

Gilbert’s best kept secret, The Coffee Shop, is a restaurant and coffee shop in Gilbert’s Agritopa neighborhood. Remote workers will love this open-concept workspace for its yummy food options and vibrant environment.

For more information about some of the best people, places and companies to know in Phoenix, browse through our website!

Wondering how to start a career in cyber security? You’re not the only one.

Cyber security careers are one of the fastest growing, and most lucrative career opportunities in IT today. The median salary is set at around $92,500 per year nationwide. Industry trends are creating more job opportunities at large employers, which helps create job security. It’s no wonder why many IT professionals – including you – may be considering making cyber security a destination on your career path.

Here’s how to start a career in cyber security.

Decide if a career in cyber security is really right for you.

Dreaming about a cyber security career is one thing, but actually pursuing a career in this field is another.

Before you commit to this challenging career path, take a minute to determine if it’s really right for you.

One great way to do this is to conduct an informational interview with another cyber security professional who already has the job that you want. Identify cyber security professionals in Phoenix who are on LinkedIn and start reaching out with a connection request.

Inquire about meeting up for a coffee or conducting an interview via email. Ask the tough questions. What’s it really like working a 9-5 in cyber security? What are the pros and cons? What advice would you give to yourself if you were to start your career over again?

Ask the tough questions, and you’ll get real answers that will help guide you in your career journey.

Determine what education requirements you need.

The education requirements for cyber security professionals are demanding. Some cyber security jobs require a Master’s Degree in Cyber Security, Computer Science, or another IT related field. Those degrees are not easy to obtain, and they are certainly not cheap.

Analyze a few job descriptions and review the education requirements. How do the requirements align with your current education credentials?

Weigh the costs of education, and consider the benefit of a degree. What doors will education open for you that are currently closed?

Make your list of companies with cyber security career opportunities.

This is the fun part. Make a list of the best companies in Arizona that you want to work for. See if those companies have cyber security opportunities.

Here are a few local Phoenix based companies with cyber security job opportunities: Charles Schwab, GoDaddy, Vixxo, and more technology companies in Arizona.

Apply for cyber security job positions.

Now’s your chance to apply for a new job opportunity with cyber security.

Here’s a list of the best technology jobs in Arizona to give your job search a head start!

If you haven’t searched and applied for a job in awhile, be sure to brush up with these helpful resources:

• Best Companies Blog
• Best Companies Experience Podcast
• BestCompanies Newsletter

BestCompaniesAZ is the pioneer in recognizing best companies in Arizona. As a founding partner of several workplace awards programs including the first program in Phoenix in 2003, we have been a leader in identifying, developing, and promoting great workplaces. We know how to build strong employer brands. For us, this is more than a business, it’s a mission. We invite you to build and promote your best company with us.