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Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

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Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

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These resources are part of the Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) offer provided by Access Training.

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Before we cover your apprenticeship you need to remember that you are starting a new job with a new employer.

For some apprentices this could be your first job after leaving education, which is a big step.

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Indeed.co.uk - Guide to Starting a New Job

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Indeed.co.uk - Guide to Starting a New Job

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Indeed.co.uk has a good guide which might help you get started in your new workplace.

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As an apprentice you will have a contract of employment with your employer.

Your contract should explain all of the terms and conditions that your employer expects you to follow.

It will also contain details of your pay / wages, holiday entitlement and the duration of the contract.

Some contracts are for a fixed period of time, such as 12 or 24 months, whilst others are open ended with no fixed end date. It's important for you to know what type of contract you have.

For your apprenticeship it is a requirement for you to have a contract in place which covers the full duration of your apprenticeship.

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Grammarly - How to Write a Professional Email

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Grammarly - How to Write a Professional Email

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How to Write a Professional Email, With Tips and Examples

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Writing polished professional emails is a critical skill: It’s a basic but important tool for day-to-day communication with coworkers, managers, clients, and customers. Nearly everyone…

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Indeed - How to Write a Professional Email

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Indeed - How to Write a Professional Email

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Learn My Way | Learn how to use the internet

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Learn how to use the internet. Learn My Way is a website of free online learning for beginners, helping you develop digital skills.

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Why are online meeting skills important?

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Why are online meeting skills important?

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As more and more interactions with other people are taking place remotely, it is important to have all the skills needed to communicate effectively.
These might be different communication skills from communicating with someone face to face or over the phone.

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The Digital Skills you need will depend on the type of career you’re pursuing, however there are some essential skills that are increasingly required in almost every job. These are skills that everyone should aim to develop.

Essential Digital Skills:

Email and instant messaging

Word processing

Social media for business

Web-based research and problem solving

Data entry and handling

Behaving safely and legally online

*source highspeedtraining.co.uk

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High Speed Training - The Importance of Digital Skills in the Workplace.

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High Speed Training - The Importance of Digital Skills in the Workplace.

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The demand for digital skills in the workplace has never been greater, and in a progressively digital world developing these skills can have a hugely positive impact on your life. With an ever increasing number of people working remotely, and 82% of all jobs in the UK listing digital skills as a requirement, being adept in a wide variety of these skills is vital for your career.

Whilst it's easy to think your digital knowledge is good enough for the workplace, recent research has shown that 52% of employees lack important digital skills. But what are these skills? In this article, we will define what digital skills are, provide examples, discuss why they're vital in today's work environment, and provide insight on how to improve your digital skills.

What are Digital Skills for the Workplace?

Digital skills can be hard to define, particularly as feedback from businesses reveals that the phrase encompasses numerous skills and capabilities. In short, it refers to any skills needed to effectively operate in an increasingly digital world.

Digital skills are broadly described by UNESCO as the ability to use digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information. They allow us to create and share content, communicate, and collaborate globally and instantaneously. It is important to keep in mind, however, that these skills range significantly, and whilst they can be data and IT focused, they also include core skills such as problem-solving and communication.

Whilst they range from entry-level tasks to advanced abilities, all digital skills are highly transferable and are now considered to be a critical component for employability. As the use of digital technology and automation is transforming the jobs market, transferable skills, particularly those in the digital sphere, are becoming more and more sought after.

The Digital Skills Gap

Despite a rise in the use of technology, there is a large digital skills gap which is causing a multitude of issues. Digital skills shortages not only hold individuals back from finding work and progressing in their career, they also have a negative impact on the overall growth and productivity of the UK economy.

Additionally, and perhaps surprisingly, this affects individuals of all ages. Just 1 in 5 young people are confident they have the advanced digital skills an employer needs.

Add to this the fact that the digital skills required by employers are constantly changing to keep up with technological advancements, and it's clear we need to do more to ensure a greater number of individuals are developing digital skills for the workplace.

Examples of Digital Skills

The digital skills you need will depend on the type of career you're pursuing, however there are some essential skills that are increasingly required in almost every job. These are skills that everyone should aim to develop.
Essential Digital Skills:

Email and instant messaging

Word processing

Social media for business

Web-based research and problem solving

Data entry and handling

Behaving safely and legally online

Additionally, developing more advanced digital skills may give you an advantage in specific technical careers such as marketing, design, development, and data science. With 85 million jobs expected to be displaced and another 97 million created by 2025, of which many will be technological roles, the demand from employers for these more advanced digital skills will continue to increase.
Advanced Digital Skills:

User experience design

Coding

Programming, web, and app development

SEO, SEM, and content creation

Data analysis

Why are Digital Skills Important for Work?

In today's world, technology plays an increasingly important role in the economy and society as a whole. Businesses need to stay on top of the changing digital landscape in order to remain competitive, so there's a huge demand for skills that didn't even exist a few years ago. Therefore individuals need to continuously upskill themselves to remain employable.

The Benefit of Digital Skills for Employers

Having a workforce with a variety of digital skills has numerous benefits for your business. Being able to embrace new technology in the workplace helps to streamline working processes, meaning less time is spent on repetitive tasks and staff are freed up to focus their efforts on higher value work that helps both you and your employees to meet objectives.

Overall, the improvement in efficiency produced by digital technology creates space for businesses to be more collaborative and innovative. This in turn builds an exciting and productive work environment to be a part of, leading to improved staff retention and acquisition.

Given these numerous benefits, it's no wonder businesses expect the vast majority of their workforce to have the digital skills needed to embrace the use of new technology.

The Benefit of Digital Skills for Employees

Whilst digital skills are essential to employers, they also have huge benefits for workers too. Having the key digital skills needed to help drive a business forward can be incredibly empowering, and helps employees feel more confident and secure in their roles.

Nowadays, jobs traditionally carried out by people are increasingly being replaced by automation software, however research shows that having the right digital skills can help workers reduce the risk of their role becoming automated by 59%.

Furthermore, demonstrating a variety of digital skills often results in a higher salary, with roles requiring digital skills paying on average 29% more than roles that do not. Therefore, developing digital skills for the workplace not only aids employability, job security and career progression, but often generates a financial boost too.

The Benefit of Digital Skills for Students

For individuals who are looking to enter the job market, digital skills may be the key to standing out amongst a multitude of possible candidates. With the vast majority of job vacancies requiring digital skills, investing in learning a range of these skills is one of the best ways to increase your chances of being hired for your desired role.

Today, many jobs are only advertised online. Even before the interview stage, job applications demonstrate your level of digital skills to a certain extent, and this is something employers will be looking out for. Many applications now include a range of online tests and forms to assess your abilities before an interview. Obtaining the right digital skills could prove a huge help in completing these early assessments successfully and progressing onto the next stage of the application process.

How to Improve Essential Digital Skills

It's clear that having a range of digital skills is essential to thriving in today's working environment, but how do you gain and improve these all-important skills?

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to increase your digital skill set, and not all of them are expensive or time consuming. Whether it's from learning on the job, online, or through face-to-face training, there are plenty of opportunities to acquire new digital abilities and upskill yourself. Use these methods to get started:

Improve your Digital Presence

It may sound obvious, but one of the most effective ways to improve your digital skills is to spend more time online getting well-acquainted with the web's most used functions.

This may include building a social media presence in order to stay up to date with the latest online trends, or using communication software such as email or instant messaging platforms to improve your ability to convey ideas and collaborate online.

The more time you spend in the digital sphere, the more confident you'll feel navigating it and your digital skills will grow organically.

Complete Online Training Courses

If you're looking to learn a new skill needed to get ahead in the workplace, online learning is a fast and flexible way to gain and retain information.

Online training is now seen as a more effective method of learning than traditional face-to-face instruction, and this is reflected in its growing popularity. 79% of learning and development professionals revealed that they expect to spend more on online learning than they did three years ago, and it's not hard to see why.

E-learning allows you to learn in a faster and more flexible way, from any location, and from any device. In fact, a recent study reveals that individuals taking courses on their smartphone finished on average 45% faster than other methods without compromising the effectiveness of their learning. This creates an estimated 4,270 hours of extra productivity.

Here are our top 3 online digital skills courses to get you started:

Shadow a Friend or Colleague

Chances are, you already know people who possess the valuable digital skills you need for the workplace. So why not use their knowledge to expand your own? Shadowing gives the opportunity to work with someone who has a different role and skill set to you, so you can learn from their experience.

Whether it's someone who uses essential day-to-day digital skills, or an acquaintance with an advanced technical job you aspire to, shadowing is one of the best ways to get a feel for what abilities are needed to succeed in certain workplaces.

Access Free Guides and Resources

Whilst it's common to think that learning a new skill and growing your knowledge may come with a cost, there are plenty of great free resources to be found online that could help you learn a range of digital skills without spending a penny.

Here are a couple of articles to help start building your digital skill set:
Digital skills can help you increase your employability prospects, advance your career, and make the most of modern technology. In an increasingly digital world, it's important to have a variety of essential digital skills, and a good idea to increase your knowledge of more advanced ones, to upskill yourself and help close the digital skills gap.
Further Resources:

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What is the Importance of Digital Skills in the Workplace?

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Digital skills can help you increase your employability prospects and advance your career. Learn about how to improve your digital skills here.

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Why are Attendance and Punctuality important?

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Why are Attendance and Punctuality important?

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All employers highly value the attendance and punctuality of their staff. FACT!

Punctuality and attendance are important in the workplace because they uphold the success and productivity of an organisation.

People at work rely on one another to be punctual so they can work together and meet the needs of their customers.

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It is highly likely that an employer will monitor the attendance and punctuality of its employees, usually over a set period of time like a full year.

An employer will record the number of absences and missed days that you have had and what the reasons for the missed days were. This will be recorded on your staff record.

An employer will usually allow a certain number of absences for reasons such as ill health and dependency.

If you exceed the number of allowed absences in a year, it is likely that your employer will speak to you about this, and whether or not there are good enough reasons for your absences.

If your level of attendance and punctuality do not meet the required standard, you may face disciplinary proceedings with your employer, which could (in the worst case) lead to you being dismissed from your job.

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https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/managing-stress-and-building-resilience/

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Lets Hear from a real Human Resources professional

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Lets Hear from a real Human Resources professional

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Whenever you apply for a position with an employer, it is likely that you will deal with that employer's Human Resources department.

Human Resources (HR) is the department that look after staff recruitment. They may be called something different in each employer but there will be an individual or department that you would deal with.

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One definition is:

"The ability to willingness to work without being told what to do"

(source Cambridge dictionary)

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Self-management skills are the ability to plan for and organise your career and take responsibility for your actions by improving your professional qualifications.
This type of skill allows you to control your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Typically, having excellent self-management skills means that you're an independent and self-driven professional who can work with little to no supervision because you have the ability to prioritise tasks and set goals for yourself.

text from indeed.com

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Intrapersonal skills are a type of skill that involves self-awareness. This includes an awareness of your goals, emotions and thoughts. Unlike interpersonal skills, which involve interacting with other people, intrapersonal skills focus solely on you and recognizing your innermost beliefs. Good intrapersonal skills typically mean you possess traits such as having a clear sense of self, understanding your motivations, recognizing desires and identifying your strengths and weaknesses. Intrapersonal skills typically involve controlling your inner thoughts, processes and attitudes. You don't learn these skills, they often develop through your own self-reflection.

text from indeed.com

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At Access Training Chris Rodgers is our Human Resources Manager. We asked Chris what qualities he would look for in a potential applicant.

He focussed on two key areas:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

The Candidate

Chris said, "For anyone looking to apply for a job in the future, I hope this helps".

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Culture is the environment that surrounds us all the time. A workplace culture is the shared values, belief systems, attitudes and the set of assumptions that people in a workplace share.
In a workplace, however, the leadership and the strategic organisational directions and management influence the workplace culture to a huge extent.
A positive workplace culture can improve teamwork, morale, productivity and efficiency, and enhance retention of the workforce. Job satisfaction, collaboration, and work performance can all be enhanced. And, most importantly, a positive workplace environment reduces stress in employees.

(source website:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/pragyaagarwaleurope/2018/08/29/how-to-create-a-positive-work-place-culture/?sh=346be1484272)

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Culture is the environment that surrounds us all the time. A workplace culture is the shared values, belief systems, attitudes and the set of assumptions that people in a workplace share. This is shaped by individual upbringing, social and cultural context. In a workplace, however, the leadership and the strategic organizational directions and management influence the workplace culture to a huge extent. A positive workplace culture improves teamwork, raises the morale, increases productivity and efficiency, and enhances retention of the workforce. Job satisfaction, collaboration, and work performance are all enhanced. And, most importantly, a positive workplace environment reduces stress in employees.

Research by Deloitte has shown that 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct corporate culture is important to a business' success. Deloitte's survey also found that 76% of these employees believed that a "clearly defined business strategy" helped create a positive culture.

How can organizations create a positive workplace culture?

1. Establish clear ethos and values for the organization: It is important to have a set of clear organizational core values that are communicated effectively and discussed with the employees so that they feel part of it. It is the commitment that an organization or a company makes to certain policies and actions, such as "going green" or "social change". It is not enough to state this in the mission statement, brand story or in marketing and promotional material. It is crucial that demonstrable actions are taken regularly so that the employees feel an individual and personal responsibility towards these values. This will ensure that they can evaluate their own attitudes towards these positive core values, and take pride in them. Positive attitudes and positive actions make for a positive workplace culture.

2. Foster collaboration and communication: Leadership and management style that encourages teamwork, open and honest communication is vital to creating a positive feeling in the workplace. Open and honest communication also means that regular audits are taken to evaluate how people are interacting with each other, feedback is welcomed and taken on board, and opportunities for social interaction are enabled. These can include coffee mornings, team getaways and family weekends. This gives an opportunity for team members to nurture and foster connections outside of work. Continued learning opportunities enabling team members to assess their inherent unconscious and implicit biases that can impact their interactions with other employees are crucial. Also, strict no tolerance open door policies and complaint procedure for workplace bullying is crucial for creating a positive collaborative environment.

3. Create an inclusive work environment: A positive workplace is one where all the employees are valued, supported and nurtured irrespective of gender, sexual orientation or color. All employees should have equal opportunities to progress and equal access to all the perks and rewards on offer. An inclusive workplace is one that values individual differences in the workforce and makes them feel welcome and accepted. Include signage that supports inclusivity, is clear and positive. Language can create confusion and miscommunication. Careful use of language that reinforces the gender-conscious and inclusive ethos, such as that emphasizing the function of space rather than the gender identity of users is important.

4. Create clear goals and rewards for the employees: The survey by Deloitte showed that 83% of executives and 84% of employees rank having engaged and motivated employees as the top factor that substantially contributes to a company's success. Motivated and engaged employees can be created if they are treated equally and have clear goals that they can work towards. Having a transparent policy for progression and promotion offers the staff an opportunity to measure their performance. Measurable performance indicators will mean that there would be healthy competition, but this kind of honest policy statement would help avoid negative feelings and resentment amongst the team members towards each other. When goals are positively reinforced, and achievements are recognized and celebrated, it leads to employees feeling valued which in turn creates a positive feeling in the workplace.

A positive culture in the workplace is essential for fostering a sense of pride and ownership amongst the employees. When people take pride, they invest their future in the organization and work hard to create opportunities that will benefit the organization. By identifying and rewarding those who are actively striving towards creating a positive work culture, and supporting others around them, companies can encourage others to do the same. Positive attitudes and behavior in the workplace are the direct results of effective leadership and a positive management style.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

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How To Create A Positive Workplace Culture

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A positive workplace culture improves teamwork, raises the morale, increases productivity and efficiency, and enhances retention of the workforce. Here are tips on how an organization can create a positive workplace culture.

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What is Hybrid Working and Working from Home (WFH)?

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What is Hybrid Working and Working from Home (WFH)?

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This can be called "Hybrid Working", which is a type of flexible working where an employee splits their time between:

the workplace

remote working

Working from home is the most common way of working remotely.

An employee might work from home all the time, or as part of a hybrid working arrangement.
(source acas.org.uk)

Hybrid working cannot be expected in every type of employer, and whilst it is more common now than in the past, your employer is not under any obligation to make allowance for Hybrid Working.
For example, Hybrid Working would not be possible for employers such as a supermarket, where employees are expected to attend the workplace in person, as that is where the customers are.

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Hybrid working is a type of flexible working where an employee splits their time between:

Working from home is the most common way of working remotely.

An employee might work from home all the time, or as part of a hybrid working arrangement.

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Hybrid working is a type of flexible working where an employee splits their time between: Working from home is the most common way of working remotely. An employee might work from home all the time, or as part of a hybrid working arrangement.

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INDEED - The Pro's and Con's of Working from Home

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INDEED - The Pro's and Con's of Working from Home

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Employers often expect their employees to be respectful, hardworking and a team player.

Employer expectations can have many benefits, such as keeping people focused and motivated to stay on task.

This will also include Attendance and Punctuality, which are covered in more detail later in this Padlet.

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Common employer expectations and tips for meeting them

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Common employer expectations and tips for meeting them

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What Is a Work Dress Code?

A work dress code is a guide set by a company to tell employees what to wear to work, signposting what is appropriate in their specific workplace. It could be a specific set of clothes such as a uniform or standards to follow when picking your own clothing and managing your overall appearance.

Source:
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/dress-code

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Traditionally speaking, dressing for the workplace is pretty cut and dry. Business attire, the suit and tie, seem to be the convention when dressing for work.
But not everyone subscribes to these traditional ideals and many companies, and even entire industries, are moving away from the suit and tie in favour of a less formal approach.

Perhaps this is to reflect the way they like to do business or to create a more comfortable environment for their employees. Whatever the reason for the change and whatever the new ideas are, it remains as important as ever to dress appropriately for work.

According to XpertHR's latest research into dress codes, there is a clear shift from traditional business attire. Of the near 600 businesses they surveyed, three quarters operate a dress code policy. Among those businesses, 40% operate a 'smart casual' policy while only 17% require that their employees dress in 'business attire'. Very few workplaces allow their employees to dress as they please. We spoke with our consultants from a cross section of industries, about why it remains important to dress correctly in the workplace.

How and why do dress codes vary by industry?

Some industries do still employ a smart dress code. Consultancy is a sector where businesses need to project a smart, professional appearance. Kyra Cordrey, Director at Michael Page Finance & Consultancy, tells us that in her sector everyone is suited and it is pretty much industry wide. The exception is boutique consultancies where they will mirror the client's approach. She says it is important to separate work and play; you can tell a lot about someone by the way they dress for different situations.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: I always tell candidates to dress as if they care.
You might have expected that much of the legal profession adhere to a business/professional dress code. This can be the case, especially in top tier practices, but as David Forsdyke, Managing Director at Michael Page Legal explains, many legal teams and law firms are trying to demonstrate a more flexible approach to the working environment. This is often reflected in a dress code, which is smart casual rather than a formal/professional approach. In the case of in-house legal teams in creative industry sectors, such as digital or media, the legal team usually adopt a more casual approach, appropriate for that business environment. David notes that while people should judge you on your skills, experience and competencies, human nature is such that judgements are made, rightly or wrongly, on attire and personal presentation. While smart means different things to different people, he suggests that regardless of dress code if you make a real effort, it will be appreciated.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: You spend more time in work gear than in casual attire - budget accordingly!
Logistics varies from many working environments in that it is often based around depots, warehouses and transport offices. It is a hands-on environment so formal suits and smart attire are unusual. Ben Lyons, Operating Director at Michael Page Logistics, tells us that even in an industry where formal attire is not the norm, you rarely meet senior level people who are dressed in scruffy and ill-fitting attire. It is important to dress in line with the organisation's dress code and represent the company correctly.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: Dress for the job you want to be doing! Look at the senior people in your company; how do they dress and present themselves? Follow their lead.
Not every industry subscribes to these traditional dress codes though. Creative sectors such as digital and fashion are much more likely to snub standard dress codes. Katie Self, Manager at Page Executive Digital and specialist in Agency and Digital Creative sectors, tells us that even in an industry where dress codes are more relaxed, dressing to impress is still important. Your employer may be dress-down, super smart, trendy; whatever their dress code, make sure that your attire is relevant and ensure you look like you have made an effort. First impressions count for everything; they linger past the first interview and if you get the role can even last throughout your probation.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: This is a seriously competitive market; don't let yourself down by making a simple mistake.
Fashion is another industry where traditional dress codes are almost non-existent. Nicola Wensley, Director at Page Executive is a specialist in the fashion sector and tells us that more often than not the internal dress reflects the company's product. For example, teams within a high street fashion retailer will be wearing next season's fashion items. In fashion, part of your job can be interacting with PR and attending industry events. Therefore, what you wear is important because it demonstrates that you live and breathe the brand.

In the fashion industry, your style is a reflection of taste and particularly if you are in a role that involves making product decisions, it is a key indicator of your ability to perform.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: First impressions count, so what you wear should play a part of your interview preparation.
One thing is clear, how you dress for work is important. Whatever you do, wherever you work, your attire is a significant part of your identity and a key factor in how you are perceived throughout your relationship with a company. Starting with your interview, make sure you get it right.

For our latest tips on interview preparation and career guidance, follow us on LinkedIn.

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Why dressing appropriately for work matters | Michael Page

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Work dress codes vary based on company and industry. To gauge how you should be dressing in the workplace

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I put on my jacket and immediately my shoulders went back and I stood up straight.

I think I need to practice in my suit. I feel more "on" when I do.

These comments, from participants in a recent class on presentation skills, demonstrate that your clothing choices can help you to project confidence and to come across as a credible person - one your audience wants to listen to. Yet attire is one of those little things that presenters often don't think about, or plan.

You don't want sloppy or inappropriate clothing to prevent people from really hearing and absorbing your message. Make sure to attend to the following 7 items as you prepare for your next presentation:

1. Dress slightly better than your audience. Think about who is going to be in the audience and what they are likely to be wearing, and then choose your clothing accordingly. Dressing slightly better than your audience adds to your credibility. And remember that wearing a jacket will usually elevate your appearance. (Additional information on the hierarchy of clothing can be found in my book, The Essentials of Business Etiquette. )

2. Make sure your clothing fits you properly. You can spend a fortune on an item, but if it is too big or too small, it is not going to look good. When you are in front of a group, all eyes are on you, and an ill-fitting item becomes a distraction. If your buttons are pulling, people will notice. If your pants are too short, people may fixate on them. When in doubt, take your clothing to a good tailor.

3. Pay attention to your color choices. Darker colors usually convey a stronger impression than lighter ones. Although lighter colors may not be as powerful, they can be very appropriate, especially in warmer climates. When possible, check the wall color in the meeting room before choosing your attire. You want to stand out from the background. Though most rooms have light-colored walls, that is not always the case. When I was presenting in Las Vegas, I checked the room ahead of time and saw that the stage had been draped in black. I had planned to wear a black suit. With my dark hair and black clothing, I would have looked like a talking head! I wore a suit of a lighter color.

4. Don't dress provocatively. Low-cut tops that expose cleavage draw attention to your chest, and are not suitable for a presentation (or in the office!). Do not show too much leg, either. Short skirts draw attention to your legs. Is that where you want people to look when you are giving a presentation? The general guideline is that skirts should fall to the top of your knees, or just slightly above.

5. Don't ignore your accessories. Accessories can complete the outfit, but they also can become distractions and overpower you or your clothes. Don't play with your accessories, including twirling rings or fiddling with neckties. Also, take your name tag off when you are making a presentation. It is not a fashion piece.

6. Attend to your grooming. You want people to focus on your presentation, not on distracting details. You don't want your audience noticing dandruff on your shirt, smudges on your glasses, lipstick on your teeth, or chipped nail polish. These flaws are especially noticeable when you are presenting to a small group. And remember that people notice shoes. Your shoes should be clean, polished, and in good condition.

7. Pay attention to your posture. Stand tall. Keep your shoulders comfortably back. You can be wearing a great outfit, but if you are slouching you are doing a disservice to your clothes.

--At LinkedIn, I post regularly on communication and etiquette. If you would like to read my posts, please click 'Follow' (at the top of the page) and send me a LinkedIn invite. We can also connect via , and my website:

About: Barbara Pachter is an internationally-renowned business etiquette and communications speaker, coach and author of 11 books. She helps individuals communicate more effectively and enhance their professional presence. Pachter is also adjunct faculty in the School of Business at Rutgers University.

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Dressing for a presentation? Choose your clothing wisely

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I put on my jacket and immediately my shoulders went back and I stood up straight. I think I need to practice in my suit.

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10 Skills You Need To Ace Your Next Interview

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10 Skills You Need To Ace Your Next Interview

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Learn how to improve your digital skills to help you in your daily life and your career.

Why digital skills are important

Essential digital skills are a step towards learning lots of other new things. They can improve your confidence to use technology for work, learning and daily life.

Many jobs today need digital skills. You need them even for jobs that do not ask for high levels of qualifications or experience. For example, if you work in a warehouse or a shop you may keep digital records of stock.

You also need digital skills every day for shopping, banking, and keeping in touch with family and friends.

Digital skills for daily life

Essential digital skills include being able to:

use devices like a computer, tablet or mobile phone for simple, personal and work tasks

find and use information on the internet

understand how to be safe and responsible online

communicate socially and professionally using email, messaging and social media

shop, bank, access services or apply for a job online

Build your confidence

Being more confident using the internet and communicating online can:

help you keep in touch with family and friends

make everyday life easier

increase your chances of getting and keeping a job

improve your access to information, advice and services

open up learning, training and career opportunities

Digital skills at work

As technology advances, most jobs are beginning to need some level of digital skill.

Technology is also creating lots of exciting new jobs. These jobs will need workers with the confidence to:

use the internet on a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or PC

communicate online using email and social media

work from home or a remote location. For example, using online tools like Zoom, Skype, Teams and Facetime to communicate

create online accounts to access information

search for reliable information online

behave safely and legally online

Learn digital skills for free

There are lots of ways to get help, and free courses to help you improve your digital skills. You could:

find an online course on essential digital skills in the Skills Toolkit

use Learn My Way or Lloyds Bank Academy to gain digital skills for daily life. For example, for online banking, shopping and helping children with schoolwork

use your local library - you can book time on a PC and use their learning resources

sign up for a course at your local college or adult education service

Going back into education can be a challenge. Not all learning has to take place in a classroom. There are lots of flexible ways to learn at your own pace, in your own time and in a place you feel comfortable.

If you do not like the idea of doing a course, you could start off by asking a friend or family member to help you get online.

Finding careers advice

Digital skills can help you research your ideas and find careers information online.

Career websites are great sources of useful information and advice where you can:

Applying for jobs

Digital skills can help you find and apply for jobs. They make it easier to prepare for an interview and help you succeed.

Many jobs are only advertised online. You'll often need to apply using an online application form or by emailing a CV.

The job selection process may also include online tests or a video interview. Knowing how to cope with these will improve your job chances.

Skills for jobs in the digital sector

If you're confident with basic digital skills, you may want to go on to learn something more specialist like:

how to code a website

using social media as a marketing tool

cyber security

designing digital products and services

This could open up new career opportunities or help you to do your current job better.

Learn more about digital careers including roles, salaries and experience required.

Digital skills in demand

Half of all employers say they cannot find candidates with advanced digital skills. Roles requiring digital skills often pay more than those that do not.

Free level 3 Digital and IT qualifications could help you get the digital skills employers want. Search free courses for jobs to explore opportunities in IT and the digital sector.

To help you develop the skills in demand in your local area and get a better job, you could take part in a Skills Bootcamp.

To get more help with your next steps for developing your digital skills, speak to an adviser.

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Improve your digital skills | National Careers Service

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Learn how to improve your digital skills to help you in your daily life and your career.

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Interpersonal skills are often referred to as people skills, social skills, or social intelligence. They involve reading the signals that others send and interpreting them accurately in order to form effective responses.
Individuals show their interpersonal skills all the time simply by interacting with others.

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Here are some definitions of enthusiasm:

"a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it"

Some examples might be:

Their enthusiasm more than compensates for their lack of experience.

Nothing you can say will dampen their enthusiasm.

They have boundless energy and enthusiasm.

It's strange, but I can't work up any enthusiasm for going on this trip.

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One definition of integrity is:

"the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles".

Source: Oxford dictionary

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Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Integrity can stand in opposition to hypocrisy, in that judging with the standards of integrity involves regarding internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding within themselves apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs. The word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective , meaning whole or complete. In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others "have integrity" to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.

In ethics when discussing behavior and morality, an individual is said to possess the virtue of integrity if the individual's actions are based upon an internally consistent framework of principles. These principles should uniformly adhere to sound logical axioms or postulates. One can describe a person as having ethical integrity to the extent that the individual's actions, beliefs, methods, measures and principles all derive from a single core group of values. An individual must therefore be flexible and willing to adjust these values to maintain consistency when these values are challenged-such as when an expected test result is not congruent with all observed outcomes. Because such flexibility is a form of accountability, it is regarded as a moral responsibility as well as a virtue.

An individual value system provides a framework within which the individual acts in ways which are consistent and expected. Integrity can be seen as the state or condition of having such a framework, and acting congruently within the given framework.

One essential aspect of a consistent framework is its avoidance of any unwarranted (arbitrary) exceptions for a particular person or group-especially the person or group that holds the framework. In law, this principle of universal application requires that even those in positions of official power can be subjected to the same laws as pertain to their fellow citizens. In personal ethics, this principle requires that one should not act according to any rule that one would not wish to see universally followed. For example, one should not steal unless one would want to live in a world in which everyone was a thief. The philosopher Immanuel Kant formally described the principle of universal application in his categorical imperative.

The concept of integrity implies a wholeness, a comprehensive corpus of beliefs, often referred to as a worldview. This concept of wholeness emphasizes honesty and authenticity, requiring that one act at all times in accordance with the individual's chosen worldview.

Ethical integrity is not synonymous with the good, as Zuckert and Zuckert show about Ted Bundy:

When caught, he defended his actions in terms of the fact-value distinction. He scoffed at those, like the professors from whom he learned the fact-value distinction, who still lived their lives as if there were truth-value to value claims. He thought they were fools and that he was one of the few who had the courage and integrity to live a consistent life in light of the truth that value judgments, including the command "Thou shalt not kill," are merely subjective assertions.

-  Zuckert and Zuckert, The truth about Leo Strauss: political philosophy and American democracy

Integrity is important for politicians because they are chosen, appointed, or elected to serve society. To be able to serve, politicians are given power to make, execute, or control policy. They have the power to influence something or someone. There is, however, a risk that politicians will not use this power to serve society.[citation needed ] Aristotle said that because rulers have power they will be tempted to use it for personal gain. It is important that politicians withstand this temptation, and that requires integrity.[citation needed ]

In the book The Servant of the People, Muel Kaptein describes that integrity starts with that politicians should know what their position entails, because integrity is related to their position. Integrity also demands knowledge and compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the written and unwritten rules. Integrity is also acting consistently not only with what is generally accepted as moral, what others think, but primarily with what is ethical, what politicians should do based on reasonable arguments.

Furthermore, integrity is not just about why a politician acts in a certain way, but also about who the politician is. Questions about a person's integrity cast doubt not only on their intentions but also on the source of those intentions, the person's character. So integrity is about having the right ethical virtues that become visible in a pattern of behavior.[citation needed ]

Important virtues of politicians are faithfulness, humility. and accountability. Furthermore, they should be authentic and a role model. Aristotle identified pride ( megalopsuchia, variously translated as proper pride, greatness of soul and magnanimity) as the crown of the virtues, distinguishing it from vanity, temperance, and humility.

Dworkin argues that moral principles that people hold dear are often wrong, even to the extent that certain crimes are acceptable if one's principles are skewed enough. To discover and apply these principles, courts interpret the legal data (legislation, cases etc.) with a view to articulating an interpretation that best explains and justifies past legal practice. All interpretation must follow, Dworkin argues, from the notion of " law as integrity" to make sense.

Out of the idea that law is 'interpretive' in this way, Dworkin argues that in every situation where people's legal rights are controversial, the best interpretation involves the right answer thesis, the thesis that there exists a right answer as a matter of law that the judge must discover. Dworkin opposes the notion that judges have a discretion in such difficult cases.

Dworkin's model of legal principles is also connected with Hart's notion of the Rule of Recognition. Dworkin rejects Hart's conception of a master rule in every legal system that identifies valid laws, on the basis that this would entail that the process of identifying law must be uncontroversial, whereas (Dworkin argues) people have legal rights even in cases where the correct legal outcome is open to reasonable dispute. Dworkin moves away from positivism's separation of law and morality, since constructive interpretation implicates moral judgments in every decision about what the law is.

Psychological/work-selection tests

The procedures known as "integrity tests" or (more confrontationally) as "honesty tests" aim to identify prospective employees who may hide perceived negative or derogatory aspects of their past, such as a criminal conviction, psychiatric treatment [according to whom? ] or drug abuse. Identifying unsuitable candidates can save the employer from problems that might otherwise arise during their term of employment. Integrity tests make certain assumptions, specifically:

that persons who have "low integrity" report more dishonest behaviour

that persons who have "low integrity" try to find reasons to justify such behaviour

that persons who have "low integrity" think others more likely to commit crimes-like theft, for example. (Since people seldom sincerely declare to prospective employers their past deviance, the "integrity" testers adopted an indirect approach: letting the work-candidates talk about what they think of the deviance of other people, considered in general, as a written answer demanded by the questions of the "integrity test".)

that persons who have "low integrity" exhibit impulsive behaviour

that persons who have "low integrity" tend to think that society should severely punish deviant behaviour (Specifically, "integrity tests" assume that people who have a history of deviance report within such tests that they support harsher measures applied to the deviance exhibited by other people.)

The claim that such tests can detect "fake" answers plays a crucial role in detecting people who have low integrity. Naive respondents really believe this pretense and behave accordingly, reporting some of their past deviance and their thoughts about the deviance of others, fearing that if they do not answer truthfully their untrue answers will reveal their "low integrity". These respondents believe that the more candid they are in their answers, the higher their "integrity score" will be.[clarification needed ]

Disciplines and fields with an interest in integrity include philosophy of action, philosophy of medicine, mathematics, the mind, cognition, consciousness, materials science, structural engineering, and politics. Popular psychology identifies personal integrity, professional integrity, artistic integrity, and intellectual integrity.

For example, a scientific investigation shouldn't determine the outcome in advance of the actual results. As an example of a breach of this principle, Public Health England, a UK Government agency, recently stated that they upheld a line of government policy in advance of the outcome of a study that they had commissioned.

The concept of integrity may also feature in business contexts that go beyond the issues of employee/employer honesty and ethical behavior, notably in marketing or branding contexts. The "integrity" of a brand is regarded by some as a desirable outcome for companies seeking to maintain a consistent, unambiguous position in the mind of their audience. This integrity of brand includes consistent messaging and often includes using a set of graphics standards to maintain visual integrity in marketing communications. Kaptein and Wempe have developed a theory of corporate integrity including criteria for businesses dealing with moral dilemmas.

Another use of the term, "integrity" appears in the work of Michael Jensen and Werner Erhard in their academic paper, "Integrity: A Positive Model that Incorporates the Normative Phenomenon of Morality, Ethics, and Legality". In this paper the authors explore a new model of integrity as the state of being whole and complete, unbroken, unimpaired, sound, and in perfect condition. They posit a new model of integrity that provides access to increased performance for individuals, groups, organizations, and societies. Their model "reveals the causal link between integrity and increased performance, quality of life, and value-creation for all entities, and provides access to that causal link." According to Muel Kaptein, integrity is not a one-dimensional concept. In his book he presents a multifaceted perspective of integrity. Integrity relates to, for example, compliance to the rules as well as to social expectations, with morality as well as ethics, and with actions as well as attitude.

Electronic signals are said to have integrity when there is no corruption of information between one domain and another, such as from a disk drive to a computer display. Such integrity is a fundamental principle of information assurance. Corrupted information is untrustworthy, yet uncorrupted information is of value.

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Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions.

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A work ethic is a personal set of values that determines how any employee approaches their work. Employees with strong work ethics are highly motivated and produce consistently high-quality results.

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What Are Work Ethic Skills? (With Examples and Tips)

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What Are Work Ethic Skills? (With Examples and Tips)

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"He who does not work, neither shall he eat" - Soviet poster issued in Uzbekistan, 1920

Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. It is a set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard. Social ingrainment of this value is considered to enhance character through hard work that is respective to an individual's field of work.

Proponents of a strong work ethic consider it to be important for achieving goals, that it gives strength to their orientation and the right mindset.[citation needed ] A work ethic is a set of moral principles a person uses in their job. People who possess a strong work ethic embody certain principles that guide their work behaviour; to develop and process a strong work ethic will inevitably result in the production of high-quality work which is consistent. The output motivates them to stay on track. A good work ethic fuels an individual's needs and goals, it is related to the initiative by a person for the objectives. It is considered as a source of self respect, satisfaction, and fulfillment.[citation needed ]

1. Goal-oriented actions: It is not about making plans or the next logical steps; it's about getting things done so that the work invested wouldn't be counter-productive.

2. Prioritized focus: Focusing on qualitative activities that a person is responsible for and in areas where they can make a difference or a high impact based on objectives.

3. Being available and reliable: Spending time on the work and building oneself up for the task.

4. Conscientiousness: A desire to do a task well, being vigilant and organized.

5. Creating a rewarding routine/system: Engaging in tasks that provide strength and energy which can be transferred to your ultimate goals, creating a habit and a habitat for success.

6. Embracing positivism: Shape a problem with the statement "good, (action) (problem)", e.g. "I'm tired and it is time for a workout" leads to "Good. Workout tired".

Work ethic also has been measured as a multidimensional variable composed of seven factors, including self-reliance, ethical behavior, valuing leisure time, hard work, giving importance/centrality of work, productive use of time, and delay of gratification.

A negative work ethic is a behavior of a single individual or a group that has led to a systematic lack of productivity, reliability, accountability and a growing sphere of unprofessional/unhealthy relationships (e.g., power politics, lack of social skills, etc.).

Assumptions

Assumptions about good work ethic, drawn out in the philosophical writings of Goldman, are:

1. The path to what you want is to take action.

2. The success of action plans depend upon how congruent one's worldview (Weltanschauung) is with the society's.

3. Many problems faced are only a temporary breakdown of self management.

4. Setting time limits for achieving goals helps to overcome the edge of discomforts that time can have on subjective needs.

5. A positive problem-solving or goal attainment experience improves one's ability to cope with the next difficulty.

6. Hardships in life is a normality, they become a problem when they are the same over and over.

7. A person is what s/he does, and feelings flow from behavior.

8. Feelings can be viewed as beliefs about one's wants.

9. How hard you work will determine how far you go.

The Puritans who settled in New England around the 17th and 18th centuries believed that working hard at one's call was a sign that one would be saved. They were followed by Calvinists who believed in predestination and had faith that they were chosen or had the call from God to fulfill their duty in the world. To both of them, accumulation of wealth was an indicator of working to their fullest capacity as a response to the call and assurance for earning salvation. These ideologies are the foundations of the Protestant work ethic.

Max Weber quotes the ethical writings of Benjamin Franklin:

Remember, that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labor, and goes abroad, or sits idle, one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.

Remember, that money is the prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six, turned again is seven and threepence, and so on, till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding sow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth generation. He that murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.

Weber notes that this is not a philosophy of mere greed, but a statement laden with moral language. It is in effect an ethical response to the natural desire for hedonic reward, a statement of the value of delayed gratification to achieve self-actualization. Franklin claims that Bible readings revealed to him the usefulness of virtue. Indeed, this reflects the then-Christian search for the ethic for living and the struggle to make a living.

Steven Malanga refers to "what was once understood as the work ethic-not just hard work but also a set of accompanying virtues, whose crucial role in the development and sustaining of free markets too few now recall".

Experimental studies have shown that people with fair work ethic are able to tolerate tedious jobs with equitable monetary rewards and benefits, are highly critical, and have a tendency for workaholism and a negative relation with leisure activity concepts. They valued meritocracy and egalitarianism.

In the 1940s, work ethic was considered very important and nonconformist ideals were dealt autocratically. It is recorded that, at the Ford Company, a worker named John Gallo was dismissed for, "...laughing with the other fellows, and slowing down the assembly line...".

Countercultural groups and communities have challenged these values in recent decades.

The French Leftist philosopher André Gorz (1923-2007) wrote:

"The work ethic has become obsolete. It is no longer true that producing more means working more, or that producing more will lead to a better way of life. The connection between more and better has been broken; our needs for many products and services are already more than adequately met, and many of our as-yet-unsatisfied needs will be met not by producing more, but by producing differently, producing other things, or even producing less. This is especially true as regards our needs for air, water, space, silence, beauty, time and human contact.

Neither is it true any longer that the more each individual works, the better off everyone will be. In a post-industrial society, not everyone has to work hard in order to survive, though may be forced to anyway due to the economic system. The present crisis has stimulated technological change of an unprecedented scale and speed: ' the micro-chip revolution'. The object and indeed the effect of this revolution has been to make rapidly increasing savings in labour, in the industrial, administrative and service sectors. Increasing production is secured in these sectors by decreasing amounts of labour. As a result, the social process of production no longer needs everyone to work in it on a full-time basis. The work ethic ceases to be viable in such a situation and workbased society is thrown into crisis."

Anti-capitalists believe that the concept of "hard work" is meant by capitalists to delude the working class into becoming loyal servants to the elite, and that working hard, in itself, is not automatically an honorable thing, but only a means to creating more wealth for the people at the top of the economic pyramid. In the Soviet Union, the regime portrayed work ethic as an ideal to strive for.

The recession is a contributing factor that holds back work ethic, because the generation that inherits economic decline lives in an economy that isn't ready to receive them. Without work there to do, the ethic that is attached to it fails to generate distinctive value. The negative work ethic and power structures that don't value or credit work done or unethically attribute work done as a service or with higher moral ideals have dissolved the ethic presented in the society and turned the focus onto self-centered perks and individualism. Further, urbanization and an emphasis on large-scale businesses has led to eliminating avenues for learning vital concepts about work. Millennials in a research identified what made them unique was consumerist trends like technology use, music/pop culture, liberal/tolerant beliefs, clothes, and individualistic ones like greater intelligence than work, they were not able to distinguish the concept in the traditional understandings of work ethic.

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Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. It is a set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.

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One definition of Professionalism is:

"the competence or skill expected of a professional person".

source: Oxford dictionary

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For most of us, job interviewing is the worst. It's like speed dating, but for work and the pressure on a first impression is extremely high.

"An interview is a performance to some degree. You're starring as yourself," says Pam Skillings in How to Rock an Interview.

If you are on the market for your next gig, check out Skillings six skills to nail your next interview-and get one step closer to landing your next big opportunity.

Learn more interviewing skills in the course "How to Rock an Interview."

6 skills to rock your next interview

#1 Plan your first impression

When up against the open-ended question of "so... tell me about yourself"-where should you begin? Definitely not at the beginning of your career.

Successful iinterviewers don't want a recap of your resume. They want to know why you're the most relevant and interesting person for this job.

So give them what they want and answer the question, keeping eye contact. You're in control. And you get to decide what parts of your story to emphasize-and in turn, what they will focus on.

Storytelling is your secret weapon. "If you can use storytelling techniques in interviewing, it really helps to connect with the interviewer and make you a much more memorable candidate," says Skillings.

#2 Sell your strengths

In an interview, talking about your strengths isn't obnoxious. It's not bragging or being too forward. It's an essential skill to master if you want the job.

Take advantage of the opportunity to highlight your strengths and experience and go into your interview prepared to discuss: "Here are the top three reasons why I would be awesome at this job."

Even if you're an introvert or a modest person by nature, there are ways to communicate your strengths without going against your personality.

First, state the facts of what you accomplished:
I "led a multi-million dollar project" that "we delivered two weeks ahead of deadline" and that "got amazing feedback from the client."
Second, quote others:
In my performance review, I got great feedback from my manager "about my ability to mentor junior associates and motivate my team."
And remember to practice aloud. With just a handful of practice responses, you can go from stumbling to polished.

#3 Prepare speaking points-not a script

How can you be prepared for the interview, but also authentic and spontaneous? Bullet points.

Don't script responses word for word. Simply capture a few bullet points that communicate the most important points for commonly asked questions.

Sometimes it can feel like you're at the mercy of the interviewer, says Skillings. "But if you go in feeling comfortable with your speaking points and the things that you want them to remember about you, it gives you an opportunity to be strategic and proactive."

This can be especially helpful if there's an area you're sensitive about, like a gap in your resume. Don't stick your head in the sand and hope they don't ask.

Prepare and practice so you'll be in control of your message no matter what the interview throws your way.

#4 Show enthusiasm for the role

It's a given that you will research the company and be able to discuss why you're a good fit, whether it's culture or values.

But even more importantly, you need to express-with sincere enthusiasm!-how you're a great fit for the job itself and why you'd be excited to do this work. Think about:

How am I uniquely qualified for this job?

Why would I be motivated to succeed if they hired me?

How does this job fit into my career goals and what I love to do?

Hiring managers are trying to get a feel for whether you would be a passionate, strong performer if you were hired, says Skillings.

#5 Tell a good (short) story

"You want to have a little bit of a story arc, you want to paint a picture, and you want to make sure that you're really sharing what you in particular did to contribute to the project or the situation," says Skillings.

But how?

1. Start with the backstory-just enough context to explain why the project was important.

2. Tick through your actions-the highlights of what happened, the obstacles you faced, and how you addressed them.

3. End with positive outcomes-either a concrete business improvement ("we increased revenue by 8%) or an anecdotal result ("we came in under budget and the customer renewed their contract.")

To make your story concise and engaging:

Keep it under two minutes.

Use "I" not "we"-e.g. "I came up with the solution" (if you did!)

Think of your story as the start of a dialogue, not a monologue. If they ask follow-up questions to dig deeper, you know you've succeeded!

#6 End on a positive note

There's plenty of advice out there that says to end the interview with something like "Do you have any concerns?"

Skillings thinks that's a bad idea.

One problem is that most interviewers and HR personnel, especially at big companies, are trained not to give feedback like that on the spot. Plus, why end the interview by inviting negativity?

Instead, end on a positive note by asking something like: "What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in this role?"

It may open up a final opportunity for you to talk about your experience in a different way and make a lasting impression.

For more interview tips and tricks, watch How to Rock an Interview with Pam Skillings.

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6 Interview Skills that Will Get You Hired

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If you are on the market for your next gig, check out Skillings six skills to nail your next interview-and get one step closer to landing your next big opportunity.

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How to improve your active listening skills (With steps)

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How to improve your active listening skills (With steps)

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Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process.

Listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated.

If there is one communication skill you should aim to master, then listening is it.

Listening is so important that many top employers provide listening skills training for their employees. This is not surprising when you consider that good listening skills can lead to better customer satisfaction, greater productivity with fewer mistakes, and increased sharing of information that in turn can lead to more creative and innovative work.

Many successful leaders and entrepreneurs credit their success to effective listening skills. Richard Branson frequently quotes listening as one of the main factors behind the success of Virgin.

Effective listening is a skill that underpins all positive human relationships.

Spend some time thinking about and developing your listening skills - they are the building blocks of success.

See our pages: Employability Skills and Customer Service Skills for more examples of the importance of listening in the workplace.
Good listening skills also have benefits in our personal lives, including:
A greater number of friends and social networks, improved self-esteem and confidence, higher grades at school and in academic work, and even better health and general well-being.

Studies have shown that, whereas speaking raises blood pressure, attentive listening can bring it down.

Listening is Not the Same as Hearing

Hearing refers to the sounds that enter your ears. It is a physical process that, provided you do not have any hearing problems, happens automatically.

Listening, however, requires more than that: it requires focus and concentrated effort, both mental and sometimes physical as well.

Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your ability to listen effectively depends on the degree to which you perceive and understand these messages.

Listening is not a passive process. In fact, the listener can, and should, be at least as engaged in the process as the speaker. The phrase 'active listening' is used to describe this process of being fully involved.

See our pages: Active Listening and Types of Listening for more information.
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.
Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

We Spend a lot of Time Listening
Adults spend an average of 70% of their time engaged in some sort of communication.
Of this, research shows that an average of 45% is spent listening compared to 30% speaking, 16% reading and 9% writing. (Adler, R. et al. 2001). That is, by any standards, a lot of time listening. It is worthwhile, therefore, taking a bit of extra time to ensure that you listen effectively.
Based on the research of: Adler, R., Rosenfeld, L. and Proctor, R. (2001)
Interplay: the process of interpersonal communicating (8th edn), Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt.
The Purpose of Listening
There is no doubt that effective listening is an extremely important life skill. Why is listening so important? Listening serves a number of possible purposes, and the purpose of listening will depend on the situation and the nature of the communication.

1. To specifically focus on the messages being communicated, avoiding distractions and preconceptions.

2. To gain a full and accurate understanding into the speakers point of view and ideas.

3. To critically assess what is being said. (See our page on Critical Thinking for more).

4. To observe the non-verbal signals accompanying what is being said to enhance understanding.

5. To show interest, concern and concentration.

6. To encourage the speaker to communicate fully, openly and honestly.

7. To develop an selflessness approach, putting the speaker first.

8. To arrive at a shared and agreed understanding and acceptance of both sides views.

Often our main concern while listening is to formulate ways to respond. This is not a function of listening. We should try to focus fully on what is being said and how it's being said in order to more fully understand the speaker.
Effective listening requires concentration and the use of your other senses - not just hearing the words spoken.

Listening is not the same as hearing and in order to listen effectively you need to use more than just your ears.
See our page: The Ten Principles of Listening.

Further Reading from Skills You Need
Our Communication Skills eBooks
Learn more about the key communication skills you need to be a more effective communicator.

Our eBooks are ideal for anyone who wants to learn about or develop their interpersonal skills and are full of easy-to-follow, practical information.

Barriers to Effective Listening
To improve the process of effective listening, it can be helpful to turn the problem on its head and look at barriers to effective listening, or ineffective listening.
For example, one common problem is that instead of listening closely to what someone is saying, we often get distracted after a sentence or two and instead start to think about what we are going to say in reply or think about unrelated things. This means that we do not fully listen to the rest of the speaker's message.

This problem is attributed, in part, to the difference between average speech rate and average processing rate. Average speech rates are between 125 and 175 words a minute whereas we can process on average between 400 and 800 words a minute. It is a common habit for the listener to use the spare time while listening to daydream or think about other things, rather than focusing on what the speaker is saying.

Of course the clarity of what the speaker is saying can also affect how well we listen. Generally we find it easier to focus if the speaker is fluent in their speech, has a familiar accent, and speaks at an appropriate loudness for the situation. It is more difficult, for example, to focus on somebody who is speaking very fast and very quietly, especially if they are conveying complex information.

We may also get distracted by the speaker's personal appearance or by what someone else is saying, which sounds more interesting.
These issues not only affect you, but you are likely to show your lack of attention in your body language.
Generally, we find it much harder to control our body language, and you are likely to show your distraction and/or lack of interest by lack of eye contact, or posture. The speaker will detect the problem, and probably stop talking at best. At worse, they may be very offended or upset.

Our page on Barriers to Effective Listening explains more about common listening problems, and our page Listening Misconceptions details some of the common myths and misconceptions about listening.

Finally, it is important not to jump to conclusions about what you see and hear. You should always seek clarification to ensure that your understanding is correct.
See our pages: Clarification and Reflection for more information.

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Listening skills are vital for interpersonal communication. How well do you listen? Learn more about listening and the skills required for effective listening.

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The Key to Self Motivation: Stay Driven and Meet Your Goals

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Having a tough time keeping yourself motivated? These tips can help you discover and cultivate genuine self-motivation that’s true to your goals.

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Self Motivation: Staying Motivated to Reach Your Goals

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Self-motivation is, in its simplest form, the force that drives you to do things.

The topic of self-motivation, however, is far from simple. People can be motivated by many things, both internal and external, such as desire to do something, love of someone, or need for money. Usually, motivation is a result of several factors.

The ability to motivate yourself-self-motivation-is an important skill. Self-motivation drives people to keep going even in the face of set-backs, to take up opportunities, and to show commitment to what they want to achieve.

This page explains more about this essential area, part of emotional intelligence.

What is Motivation?
Motivation is what pushes us to achieve our goals, feel more fulfilled and improve our overall quality of life.

Understanding and developing your self-motivation can help you to take control of many other aspects of your life.

Motivation is one of the three areas of personal skills that are integral to the concept of emotional intelligence.

Daniel Goleman, the author of several seminal books on Emotional Intelligence, identified four elements that make up motivation:

Personal drive to achieve, the desire to improve or to meet certain standards;

Commitment to personal or organisational goals;

Initiative, which he defined as 'readiness to act on opportunities'; and

Optimism, the ability to keep going and pursue goals in the face of setbacks. This is also known as resilience.

To improve self-motivation, it is therefore helpful to understand more about these individual elements.

The Elements of Self-Motivation

1. Personal drive to achieve

You could think of a personal drive to achieve as ambition, or perhaps personal empowerment. However, it is also worth thinking about it in terms of mindset.
There are two types of mindset, fixed and growth.

Those with a fixed mindset believe that talent is ingrained, and that we cannot change our level of ability.

Those with a growth mindset believe that they can improve their skills through hard work and effort.

Research shows that those who believe that they can improve-that is, who have a growth mindset -are far more likely to achieve in whatever sphere they choose. A growth mindset is therefore an important element in a personal drive to succeed.

For more about this, see our page on Mindsets.

Other elements of personal drive include being organised, particularly being good at time management, and avoiding distractions.

2. Commitment to goals
There is considerable evidence, even if much of it is anecdotal, that goal-setting is important to our general well-being. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.
Albert Einstein
You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.
Ted Turner
The greater danger for most of us isn't that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.
Michelangelo

It certainly makes sense that ' if you aim at nothing, it is easy to achieve it', and that most of us need something in our lives to aim towards. Having an awareness of where you wish to be, and an understanding of how you plan to get there, is a vital part of staying motivated.

For more about how to set good goals, see our page on Setting Personal Goals.

3. Initiative
Initiative is, effectively, the ability to take advantage of opportunities when they occur.
It is all too easy to hesitate, and then the opportunity may be gone. However, the old sayings ' look before you leap' and ' fools rush in where angels fear to tread' have a lot of truth in them. It is also important to think things through and ensure that you are making the right decision for you.
Initiative can therefore be considered as a combination of courage and good risk management:

Risk management is necessary to ensure that you identify the right opportunities to consider, and that they have the appropriate level of risk for you; and

Courage is necessary to overcome the fear of the unknown inherent in new opportunities.

4. Optimism or resilience
Optimism is the ability to look on the bright side, or think positively. Resilience is the ability to 'bounce back' after a setback, or keep positive in the face of challenges. The two are closely related, although not exactly the same.
Resilient people use their ability to think as a way to manage negative emotional responses to events. In other words, they use positive or rational thinking to examine, and if necessary, overcome reactions that they understand may not be entirely logical. They are also prepared to ask for help if necessary-as well as to offer their own help generously to others in need.

Types of Motivators: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivators
In thinking about self-motivation, it is helpful to understand what motivates you to do things.
There are two main types of motivators: 'intrinsic' and 'extrinsic'.

In their simplest form you can think about these two types of motivation as:

A more detailed definition is:

Intrinsic: To perform an action or task based on the expected or perceived satisfaction of performing the action or task. Intrinsic motivators include having fun, being interested and personal challenge.

Extrinsic: To perform an action or task in order to attain some sort of external reward, including money, power and good marks or grades.

Different people are motivated by different things and at different times in their lives. The same task may have more intrinsic motivators at certain times and more extrinsic motivators at others, and most tasks have a combination of the two types of motivation.

Example:

John works because he has to pay his mortgage and feed himself and his family. He gets no satisfaction from his job and there is no chance of promotion. John's motivators are purely extrinsic.

Sally works because she loves what she does, she gets enormous satisfaction and self-fulfilment from her work. Sally has enough money put away that she does not need to work, she owns her house outright and can afford to buy what she wants when she wants it. Sally's motivators are purely intrinsic.

Clearly Sally and John are at different ends of the self-motivation spectrum. Most people, however, fall somewhere in the middle.

Most people do have to work in order to earn money, but at the same time they also find their day-to-day work life rewarding or satisfying in other intrinsic ways-job satisfaction and the chance to socialise with colleagues, for example.

We all have a tendency to work better when we love what we are doing.
It's easier to get out of bed in the morning, we are happier in our work, and happier in general.
Research shows that this is particularly important when we're under stress. It's much easier to cope with stress and long hours if we generally enjoy the work. Intrinsic motivators therefore plays a big part in self-motivation for most of us.

The Importance of Obligation
What about if a task has neither intrinsic nor extrinsic motivators?
The obvious conclusion is that we are unlikely to do it, because it will be pointless.

We all know it doesn't always work like that. There is a further issue: feelings of obligation.

Obligation motivators are not strictly either intrinsic or extrinsic but can still be very powerful. Obligation comes from our personal ethics and sense of duty, what is right and what is wrong.

For more about this, you may want to read our page about Goodness: learning to use your 'moral compass'.

You may feel obliged to go to a party because you were invited by somebody you know - there will be no obvious extrinsic or intrinsic benefit to you attending but you may worry that you will offend or upset your friend if you don't go. You are more likely to enjoy the party, however, if you go with a positive and open attitude, expecting it to be fun. This adds an intrinsic motivator: fun and enjoyment.

Further Reading from Skills You Need
The Skills You Need Guide to Personal Development
Learn how to set yourself effective personal goals and find the motivation you need to achieve them. This is the essence of personal development, a set of skills designed to help you reach your full potential, at work, in study and in your personal life.

The second edition of or bestselling eBook is ideal for anyone who wants to improve their skills and learning potential, and it is full of easy-to-follow, practical information.

One Step at a Time...
Becoming self-motivated, or even just improving your self-motivation a little, will not happen overnight.
There are many skills involved, and you cannot expect to develop them all instantly. However, a better understanding of the elements of motivation, and particularly how they fit together, should help to increase your skills. Just remember, Rome was not built in a day: think about making progress over a long period of time and in small steps.

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Self-motivation is, in its simplest form, the force that drives you to do things. Learn how to develop this essential skill, and the main types of motivators.

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And by feeling happier, more relaxed, and better able to think, you're in a great place to help others reach their targets, too.

How to Improve Your Time Management Skills

Start by assessing your existing approach. How good are you at organizing your time so that you get the important things done well? Can you balance your time between different activities? And when you do make time to do something, are you able to focus - and get it finished?

General Time-Management Tools

Mind Tools has a range of resources designed to improve your time management overall. These offer practical solutions to common time-management challenges, as well as ways to change key habits for the better.

And, since good time management relies on planning, recording and reflecting on your activities, we explain some of the best-known tools for doing this, including Activity Logs, To-Do Lists and Action Programs.

Prioritization

You can achieve more when you start dedicating time to the right things. But how do you know what those things are?

Scheduling

You may know what you need to do - but when should you do it? Timing is everything.

Goal Setting

Treasure Mapping is a powerful way to see your goals clearly - so that you're motivated to give them the time they need. Personal Mission Statements are also helpful for being organized and staying committed to your plans.

Concentration and Focus

It's no good just making the time to pursue your priorities. You have to use that time well, too. We have a collection of resources devoted to doing just that, including advice on minimizing distractions, and getting into a focused state of " flow."

There's also detailed guidance on using your time well when you're working from home, and when you're doing your job on the move.

Help With Better Time Management

Even with the best intentions, and plenty of powerful tactics, it's all too easy to fall back into bad time-management habits. So Mind Tools offers a number of resources that will help you to stay on track.

Quick Tips for Time Management

The resources mentioned above cover a wide range of tried and true time management strategies. But if you need a few quick pointers, here's a list of 10 practical time management tips:

Prioritize Your Tasks: Differentiate between what's important and urgent, versus what's not. Focus on tasks that are both important and urgent first.

Use Tools and Apps: Utilize productivity tools and apps to help manage your tasks, schedule your day, set reminders, etc.

Set SMART Goals: Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This provides clear direction and makes tasks more manageable.

Time Blocking: Dedicate specific blocks of time to different tasks or types of work throughout your day. This can help reduce context switching and improve focus.

Delegate When Possible: If there are tasks that can be done by someone else, delegate them. This allows you to focus on the tasks that require your specific skillset.

Avoid Multitasking: Multitasking often leads to mistakes and decreased productivity. Instead, focus on one task at a time until it's completed.

Create a Structured Daily Routine: Having a set routine can help ensure that you're making the most of your day and not wasting time deciding what to do next.

Minimize Interruptions: Try to create an environment where you're not constantly being interrupted. This might involve setting office hours, using "do not disturb" mode on your phone, or setting boundaries with colleagues.

Take Care of Your Health: Remember to get regular exercise, eat healthily, and get plenty of sleep. These factors can have a significant impact on your energy levels and overall productivity.

Regularly Review and Reflect on Your Work: Take time at the end of each week to review what you've accomplished and identify any challenges you faced. This can help you continually improve your productivity strategies and make necessary adjustments for the upcoming week. This process of self-reflection can help you identify time sinks, and efficiency gaps, or prioritize tasks better for future planning.

Remember, different strategies work for different people. It can be helpful to experiment with different approaches to see what works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is time management and why is it important? Time management is the process of organizing and planning how to allocate your time between different tasks and activities. It allows you to work smarter, not harder, leading to greater productivity and reduced stress.

How can I assess my current time management skills? Our quiz, How Good Is Your Time Management, can provide insights into areas you excel in and where you may need improvement.

Is being busy the same as being productive? No. Good time management is about shifting focus from mere activities to actual results. It's possible to be busy and still not achieve meaningful outcomes.

What tools I can use to improve my time management? Some tools to help you manage your time better include Activity Logs, To-Do Lists, and Action Programs.

How do I prioritize tasks when everything seems important? Eisenhower's Urgent/Important Principle can help you to categorize and prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance.

How can I minimize distractions and maintain focus? Create an environment free from unnecessary distractions. This might include setting boundaries with colleagues, using "do not disturb" modes on electronic devices, and committing to a single task rather than multitasking. It's also beneficial to understand your peak productivity times during the day and schedule challenging tasks accordingly.

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What Is Time Management? - Working Smarter to Enhance Productivity

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Learn how to get the most from your day using prioritization, scheduling, goal setting, and other key time-management skills, tools and techniques.

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Have you ever wondered how it is that some people seem to have enough time to do everything that they want to, whereas others are always rushing from task to task, and never seem to finish anything?

It cannot just be that some people have less to do. It's much more likely that they are using their time more effectively: in other words, showing good time management skills.

Time management is the ability to use your time productively and efficiently. You could also think of it as the art of having time to do everything that you need, without feeling stressed about it. It sounds simple, but it is much harder in practice.

This page explains some of the principles behind good time management.

The Importance of Time Management
Time management skills are essential because few, if any, of us ever have enough time to do everything that is asked of us, or that we want to do.
Time management is defined as using your time productively and efficiently-but what about when you are working as productively as possible, and you still can't get everything done? It may be better to think about time management as a combination of working productively and prioritising your time.

In other words, people who are good at time management are good at getting on and doing things. They are also, however, better at prioritising, and working out what really needs doing-and then discarding the other things.
They can do this because they understand the difference between urgent and important.

'Urgent' tasks demand your immediate attention, but whether you actually give them that attention may or may not matter.

'Important' tasks matter, and not doing them may have serious consequences for you or others.

For example:

Answering the phone is urgent. If you don't do it, the caller will ring off, and you won't know why they called-and it might be important. It may also, however, be an automated voice telling you that you may be eligible for compensation for having been mis-sold insurance. That's not important.

Going to the dentist regularly is important (or so we're told). If you don't, you may get gum disease, or other problems. But it's not urgent. If you leave it too long, however, it may become urgent because you may get toothache.

Picking your children up from school is both urgent and important. If you are not there at the right time, they will be waiting in the playground or the classroom, worrying about where you are. You may also inconvenience others such as teachers who are waiting with your children for you to arrive.

Reading funny emails or checking Facebook is neither urgent nor important. So why is it the first thing that you do each day? See our page minimising distractions to help you recognise and avoid other things that may distract you from getting your urgent and important tasks done.

This distinction between urgent and important is the key to prioritising your time and your workload, whether at work, at home or when studying.

It enables you to work out what to do first, and what can be left either until later, or not done at all. For example, if you leave an urgent but unimportant task, you may find that it becomes unnecessary.

Using a grid like the priority matrix below can help you to organise your tasks into their appropriate categories:

Using the Priority Matrix
To use the priority matrix, it is best to review your tasks on a daily basis. Each day, ask yourself:

Which of my tasks needs doing within the next 48 hours? Those are the 'Urgent' tasks.

Of the urgent tasks, which ones are more important?
It is a good idea to list your tasks in order of importance, rather than giving them an absolute 'important/not important' distinction.

Of the non-urgent tasks, which ones are more important?
Again, it is a good idea to list them in order, rather than giving them an absolute distinction.

Now use the answers to these questions to allocate your tasks to the boxes in the priority matrix, following these rules:

Each box should contain no more than about seven or eight tasks.

Start with the 'Do Now' box.

Crucially, don't put off urgent or important things just because they are unpleasant. They won't get any better for procrastinating.

If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the BIGGEST one first.
Mark Twain

Next, look at the less urgent but still important tasks. Decide what you are going to do about them, and then schedule time into your diary to do them, or consider delegating them to someone else.

Delegate the urgent but easier/less important tasks.

Now eliminate the non-urgent and non-important tasks.

Finally, do the work. Start your 'Do Now' list. When you finish it, move onto the scheduled work or tasks.

If there are more tasks that you can manage in any quadrant, it is time to a) do some, b) delegate some or c) eliminate some.
Regular pruning of your matrix in this way will ensure that you can focus on what really matters, and keep work flowing.

An individual judgement
The urgency and/or importance of a task is not absolute. Only you can decide what you really think is important or urgent.
Some people, for example, prefer to wait until they are asked a second time for a piece of work before they start to do it. If they are never asked again, they never start the work-they simply decide that it is not important enough to anyone for them to spend the time.

Remember, too, that you and your health are important. Just because you have lots to do doesn't mean that doing some exercise, going for a 10-minute walk or making time to eat properly is not important. You should not ignore your physical or mental health in favour of more 'urgent' activities.

Warning!

Urgency and/or importance is not a fixed status. You should review your task list regularly to make sure that nothing should be moved up because it has become more urgent and/or important.
What can you do if an important task continually gets bumped down the list by more urgent, but still important tasks?
First, consider whether it is genuinely important. Does it actually need doing at all, or have you just been telling yourself that you ought to do it?

If it really is important, then consider delegating it. See our page on Delegating Skills for more.

Case Study:
A Win-Win Situation from Delegating

Jenny was the leader of a busy, highly reactive team, with constant and urgent demands on her time. She knew that she needed to think about the longer-term strategy for her team , but it was very hard to set aside the time.

In a development discussion, Sara, one of her team, expressed her desire to do some more strategic work to build up her skills. Jenny saw an opportunity for both of them, and offered Sara the opportunity to map out the strategy for the team.

Sara jumped at the chance and produced a carefully-considered plan which was a great foundation for further work.

Personal vs. Professional

What about the balance between personal and professional priorities? There are two ways to manage this:

1. Include both in the same matrix
Advantages: your personal items do not get lost.

Disadvantages: you will need to find a balance between work and personal items.

2. Use two separate matrices, and allocate separate time slots for dealing with each
Advantages: means that you can deal with both, with a realistic view about urgency.

Disadvantages: can get quite complicated.

It is really up to you which you choose-the key is to make it work for you.
Further Principles of Good Time Management
The priority matrix is therefore key to prioritising your workload. However, time management is more than just prioritisation: it is also about being able to work more productively. There are a number of other ways in which you can improve your efficiency and productivity.

Keep Tidy For some of us, clutter can be both a real distraction and genuinely depressing.
Tidying up can improve both self-esteem and motivation. You will also find it easier to stay on top of things if your workspace is tidy, and you keep your systems up to date.

Top Tip for Tidying:

Create three piles of your stuff: Keep, Give Away, and Throw Away.

Keep, if you need to keep it for your records, or do something with it. If it needs action, add it to your task list.

Give away, if you don't want it, but someone else might be able to use it, and/or it is work that can and should be delegated.

Throw away (or recycle) for things that have no value to you or anyone else.

Use A 'To Do' List Whether electronic or paper, lists are a good way to remember what you've got to do, and to see at a glance what you've forgotten.
Consider highlighting the most important items in some way, and remember to take things off your list when they are complete and/or no longer need doing.

Pick Your Moment All of us have times of day that we work better. It's best to schedule the difficult tasks for those times.
However, you also need to schedule in things that need doing at particular times, like meetings, or a trip to the post office.

Another useful option is to have a list of important but non-urgent small tasks that can be done in that odd ten minutes between meetings: might it be the ideal time to send that email confirming your holiday dates?

Top Tip: Using Scheduling Technology

Some people still prefer to use a paper diary and to-do list-and that's fine.

However, for those who like technology, there are now plenty of tools available to help you with scheduling. Apps like Doodle, Calendly, Microsoft Bookings and Google Calendar can help you to schedule your work, and also make appointments with others.

You can also provide pre-set appointment slots for others to book meetings with you, keeping the rest of your diary hidden. This means you can schedule in 'me-time' or family time without worrying what anyone will think, or whether they will try to override your priorities.

This allows you to automate your meetings, without handing over control of your time to anyone else.

Don't Procrastinate, but Do Ask Why You're Tempted If a task is genuinely urgent and important, get on with it.
If, however, you find yourself making excuses about not doing something, ask yourself why.

You may be doubtful about whether you should be doing the task at all. Perhaps you're concerned about the ethics, or you don't think it's the best option. If so, you may find that others agree. Talk it over with colleagues or your manager, if at work, and family or friends at home, and see if there is an alternative that might be better.

Don't Try to Multi-task Generally, people aren't very good at multi-tasking, because it takes our brains time to refocus.
It's much better to finish off one job before moving onto another. If you do have to do lots of different tasks, try to group them together, and do similar tasks consecutively.

Stay Calm and Keep Things in Perspective

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to stay calm. Feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks can be very stressful. Remember that the world will probably not end if you fail to achieve your last task of the day, or leave it until tomorrow, especially if you have prioritised sensibly.
Going home or getting an early night, so that you are fit for tomorrow, may be a much better option than meeting a self-imposed or external deadline that may not even matter that much.
Take a moment to pause and get your life and priorities into perspective, and you may find that the view changes quite substantially!

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Time management is the art of having time to do everything you need, without getting stressed about it. Learn more about this essential skill.

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Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities - especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It involves of various demands upon a person relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments with the finite nature of time. Using time effectively gives the person " choice" on spending or managing activities at their own time and expediency. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects, and goals complying with a due date. Initially, time management referred to just business or work activities, but eventually, the term broadened to include personal activities as well. A time management system is a designed combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. Time management is usually a necessity in any project management as it determines the project completion time and scope.

The major themes arising from the literature on time management include creating an environment conducive to effectiveness (in terms of cost-benefit, quality of results, and time to complete tasks or project), setting of priorities, the related process of reduction of time spent on non-priorities, and implementation of goals.

Differences in the way a culture views time can affect the way their time is managed. For example, a linear time view is a way of conceiving time as flowing from one moment to the next in a linear fashion. This linear perception of time is predominant in America along with most Northern European countries, such as Germany, Switzerland, and England. People in these cultures tend to place a large value on productive time management, and tend to avoid decisions or actions that would result in wasted time. This linear view of time correlates to these cultures being more "monochronic", or preferring to do only one thing at a time. Generally speaking, this cultural view leads to a better focus on accomplishing a singular task and hence, more productive time management.

Another cultural time view is multi-active time view. In multi-active cultures, most people feel that the more activities or tasks being done at once the better. This creates a sense of happiness. Multi-active cultures are "polychronic" or prefer to do multiple tasks at once. This multi-active time view is prominent in most Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy. In these cultures, the people often tend to spend time on things they deem to be more important such as placing a high importance on finishing social conversations. In business environments, they often pay little attention to how long meetings last, rather the focus is on having high quality meetings. In general, the cultural focus tends to be on synergy and creativity over efficiency.

A final cultural time view is a cyclical time view. In cyclical cultures, time is considered neither linear nor event related. Because days, months, years, seasons, and events happen in regular repetitive occurrences, time is viewed as cyclical. In this view, time is not seen as wasted because it will always come back later, hence there is an unlimited amount of it. This cyclical time view is prevalent throughout most countries in Asia, including Japan and China. It is more important in cultures with cyclical concepts of time to complete tasks correctly, therefore most people will spend more time thinking about decisions and the impact they will have, before acting on their plans. Most people in cyclical cultures tend to understand that other cultures have different perspectives of time and are cognizant of this when acting on a global stage.

Some time-management literature stresses tasks related to creating an environment conducive to "real" effectiveness. These strategies include principles such as:

"get organized" - the triage of paperwork and of tasks,

"protecting one's time" by insulation, isolation, and delegation,

"achievement through goal-management and through goal-focus" - motivational emphasis,

"recovering from bad time-habits" - recovery from underlying psychological problems, e.g. procrastination.

Also, the timing of tackling tasks is important. As tasks requiring high levels of concentration and mental energy are often done at the beginning of the day when a person is more refreshed. Literature[which? ] also focuses on overcoming chronic psychological issues such as procrastination.

Excessive and chronic inability to manage time effectively may result from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Diagnostic criteria include a sense of underachievement, difficulty getting organized, trouble getting started, trouble managing many simultaneous projects, and trouble with follow-through. Daniel Amen focuses on the prefrontal cortex which is the most recently evolved part of the brain. It manages the functions of attention span, impulse management, organization, learning from experience, and self-monitoring, among others. Some authors[quantify ] argue that changing the way the prefrontal cortex works is possible and offer a solution.

Time management strategies are often associated with the recommendation to set personal goals. The literature stresses themes such as:

These goals are recorded and may be broken down into a project, an action plan, or a simple task list. For individual tasks or for goals, an importance rating may be established, deadlines may be set, and priorities assigned. This process results in a plan with a task list, schedule, or calendar of activities. Authors may recommend a daily, weekly, monthly, or other planning periods, associated with different scope of planning or review. This is done in various ways, as follows:

A technique that has been used in business management for a long time is the categorization of large data into groups. These groups are often marked A, B, C and D-hence the name. Activities are ranked by these general criteria:

A - Tasks that are perceived as being urgent and important,

B - Tasks that are important but not urgent,

C - Tasks that are unimportant but urgent,

D - Tasks that are unimportant and not urgent.

Each group is then rank-ordered by priority - to further refine the prioritization, some individuals choose to then force-rank all "B" items as either "A" or "C". ABC analysis can incorporate more than three groups.

The Pareto principle is the idea that 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. Applied to productivity, it means that 80% of results can be achieved by doing 20% of tasks. If productivity is the aim of time management, then these tasks should be prioritized higher.

A basic "Eisenhower box" to help evaluate urgency and importance. Items may be placed at more precise points within each quadrant.

The "Eisenhower Method" or "Eisenhower Principle" is a method that utilizes the principles of importance and urgency to organize priorities and workload. This method stems from a quote attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower: "I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." Eisenhower did not claim this insight for his own, but attributed it to an (unnamed) "former college president."

Using the Eisenhower Decision Principle, tasks are evaluated using the criteria important/unimportant and urgent/not urgent, and then placed in according quadrants in an Eisenhower Matrix (also known as an "Eisenhower Box" or "Eisenhower Decision Matrix"). Tasks in the quadrants are then handled as follows.

1. Important/Urgent quadrant tasks are done immediately and personally, e.g. crises, deadlines, problems.

2. Important/Not Urgent quadrant tasks get an end date and are done personally, e.g. relationships, planning, recreation.

3. Unimportant/Urgent quadrant tasks are delegated, e.g. interruptions, meetings, activities.

4. Unimportant/Not Urgent quadrant tasks are dropped, e.g. time wasters, pleasant activities, trivia.

POSEC is an acronym for "Prioritize by Organizing, Streamlining, Economizing and Contributing". The method dictates a template which emphasizes an average individual's immediate sense of emotional and monetary security. It suggests that by attending to one's personal responsibilities first, an individual is better positioned to shoulder collective responsibilities.

Inherent in the acronym is a hierarchy of self-realization, which mirrors Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

1. Prioritize your time and define your life by goals.

2. Organize things you have to accomplish regularly to be successful (family and finances).

3. Streamline things you may not like to do, but must do (work and chores).

4. Economize things you should do or may even like to do, but they're not pressingly urgent (pastimes and socializing).

5. Contribute by paying attention to the few remaining things that make a difference (social obligations).

Time management also covers how to eliminate tasks that do not provide value to the individual or organization.

The software executive Elisabeth Hendrickson asserts that rigid adherence to task lists can create a "tyranny of the to-do list" that forces one to "waste time on unimportant activities".

Part of setting priorities and goals is the emotion "worry," and its function is to ignore the present to fixate on a future that never arrives, which leads to the fruitless expense of one's time and energy. It is an unnecessary cost or a false aspect that can interfere with plans due to human factors. The Eisenhower Method is a strategy used to compete with worry and dull-imperative tasks. Worry as stress is a reaction to a set of environmental factors; understanding this is not a part of the person gives the person possibilities to manage them. Athletes under a coach call this management as "putting on the game face."

Change is hard, and daily life patterns are the most deeply ingrained habits of all. To eliminate non-priorities in study time, it is suggested to divide the tasks, capture the moments, review task handling method, postpone unimportant tasks (understanding that a task's current relevancy and sense of urgency reflect the wants of the person rather than the task's importance), manage life balance (rest, sleep, leisure), and cheat leisure and nonproductive time (hearing audio taping of lectures, going through presentations of lectures when in a queue, etc.).

Certain unnecessary factors that affect time management are habits, lack of task definition (lack of clarity), over-protectiveness of the work, the guilt of not meeting objectives and subsequent avoidance of present tasks, defining tasks with higher expectations than their worth (over-qualifying), focusing on matters that have an apparent positive outlook without assessing their importance to personal needs, tasks that require support and time, sectional interests, and conflicts, etc. A habituated systematic process becomes a device that the person can use with ownership for effective time management.

A task list (also called a to-do list or "things-to-do") is a list of tasks to be completed, such as chores or steps toward completing a project. It is an inventory tool which serves as an alternative or supplement to memory.

Task lists are used in self-management, business management, project management, and software development. It may involve more than one list.

When one of the items on a task list is accomplished, the task is checked or crossed off. The traditional method is to write these on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil, usually on a note pad or clip-board. Task lists can also have the form of paper or software checklists.

Writer Julie Morgenstern suggests "do's and don'ts" of time management that include:

Map out everything that is important, by making a task list.

Create "an oasis of time" for one to manage.

Say "No".

Set priorities.

Don't drop everything.

Don't think a critical task will get done in one's spare time.

Numerous digital equivalents are now available, including personal information management (PIM) applications and most PDAs. There are also several web-based task list applications, many of which are free.

Task lists are often diarized and tiered. The simplest tiered system includes a general to-do list (or task-holding file) to record all the tasks the person needs to accomplish and a daily to-do list which is created each day by transferring tasks from the general to-do list. An alternative is to create a "not-to-do list", to avoid unnecessary tasks.

Task lists are often prioritized in the following ways.

A daily list of things to do, numbered in the order of their importance and done in that order one at a time as daily time allows, is attributed to consultant Ivy Lee (1877-1934) as the most profitable advice received by Charles M. Schwab (1862-1939), president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation.

An early advocate of "ABC" prioritization was Alan Lakein, in 1973. In his system "A" items were the most important ("A-1" the most important within that group), "B" next most important, "C" least important.

A particular method of applying the ABC method assigns "A" to tasks to be done within a day, "B" a week, and "C" a month.

To prioritize a daily task list, one either records the tasks in the order of highest priority, or assigns them a number after they are listed ("1" for highest priority, "2" for second highest priority, etc.) which indicates in which order to execute the tasks. The latter method is generally faster, allowing the tasks to be recorded more quickly.

Another way of prioritizing compulsory tasks (group A) is to put the most unpleasant one first. When it's done, the rest of the list feels easier. Groups B and C can benefit from the same idea, but instead of doing the first task (which is the most unpleasant) right away, it gives motivation to do other tasks from the list to avoid the first one.

A completely different approach which argues against prioritizing altogether was put forward by British author Mark Forster in his book "Do It Tomorrow and Other Secrets of Time Management". This is based on the idea of operating "closed" to-do lists, instead of the traditional "open" to-do list. He argues that the traditional never-ending to-do lists virtually guarantees that some of your work will be left undone. This approach advocates getting all your work done, every day, and if you are unable to achieve it, that helps you diagnose where you are going wrong and what needs to change.

Various writers have stressed potential difficulties with to-do lists such as the following.

Management of the list can take over from implementing it. This could be caused by procrastination by prolonging the planning activity. This is akin to analysis paralysis. As with any activity, there's a point of diminishing returns.

To remain flexible, a task system must allow for disaster. A company must be ready for a disaster. Even if it is a small disaster, if no one made time for this situation, it can metastasize, potentially causing damage to the company.

To avoid getting stuck in a wasteful pattern, the task system should also include regular (monthly, semi-annual, and annual) planning and system-evaluation sessions, to weed out inefficiencies and ensure the user is headed in the direction he or she truly desires.

If some time is not regularly spent on achieving long-range goals, the individual may get stuck in a perpetual holding pattern on short-term plans, like staying at a particular job much longer than originally planned.

Many companies use time tracking software to track an employee's working time, billable hours, etc., e.g. law practice management software.

Many software products for time management support multiple users. They allow the person to give tasks to other users and use the software for communication and to prioritize tasks.

Task-list applications may be thought of as lightweight personal information manager or project management software.

Modern task list applications may have built-in task hierarchy (tasks are composed of subtasks which again may contain subtasks), may support multiple methods of filtering and ordering the list of tasks, and may allow one to associate arbitrarily long notes for each task.[citation needed ]

In contrast to the concept of allowing the person to use multiple filtering methods, at least one software product additionally contains a mode where the software will attempt to dynamically determine the best tasks for any given moment.

Time management systems often include a time clock or web-based application used to track an employee's work hours. Time management systems give employers insights into their workforce, allowing them to see, plan and manage employees' time. Doing so allows employers to manage labor costs and increase productivity. A time management system automates processes, which eliminates paperwork and tedious tasks.

GTD (Getting Things Done)

Getting Things Done was created by David Allen. The basic idea behind this method is to finish all the small tasks immediately and a big task is to be divided into smaller tasks to start completing now. The reasoning behind this is to avoid the information overload or "brain freeze" which is likely to occur when there are hundreds of tasks. The thrust of GTD is to encourage the user to get their tasks and ideas out and on paper and organized as quickly as possible so they're easy to manage and see.

Francesco Cirillo's " Pomodoro Technique" was originally conceived in the late 1980s and gradually refined until it was later defined in 1992. The technique is the namesake of a Pomodoro (Italian for tomato) shaped kitchen timer initially used by Cirillo during his time at university. The "Pomodoro" is described as the fundamental metric of time within the technique and is traditionally defined as being 30 minutes long, consisting of 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of break time. Cirillo also recommends a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes after every four Pomodoros. Through experimentation involving various workgroups and mentoring activities, Cirillo determined the "ideal Pomodoro" to be 20-35 minutes long.[self-published source? ]

Time management is related to the following concepts.

Project management: Time management can be considered to be a project management subset and is more commonly known as project planning and project scheduling. Time management has also been identified as one of the core functions identified in project management.

Attention management relates to the management of cognitive resources, and in particular, the time that humans allocate their mind (and organize the minds of their employees) to conduct some activities.

Timeblocking is a time management strategy that specifically advocates for allocating chunks of time to dedicated tasks in order to promote deeper focus and productivity.

Organizational time management is the science of identifying, valuing and reducing time cost wastage within organizations. It identifies, reports and financially values sustainable time, wasted time, and effective time within an organization and develops the business case to convert wasted time into productive time through the funding of products, services, projects, or initiatives as a positive return on investment.

Psychology/Neuroscience/Psychiatry

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Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities - especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It involves of various demands upon a person relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments with the finite nature of time.

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In this section are resources to help you to understand the following topics:

Interview Skills

Employer Expectations

Work Dress Code

Communication

Listening Skills

Attendance and Punctuality

Time Management

Inter-personal Skills

Intra-personal Skills

Professionalism

Work Ethic

Enthusiasm

Integrity

Self Motivation

Self Management

Resilience

Digital Skills

Support for Digital Skills

Support for Online Meetings

Hybrid Working / Working from Home (WFH)

Workplace Culture

Getting Started at Work

Contracts and Probationary Periods

There are also sections where you can hear from real employers and Human Resources professionals to see what they look for when recruiting new members of staff.

All of these skills are highly valued by employers, and displaying these skills and behaviours might be what makes the difference between you and someone else.

They are also skills and behaviours which are likely to keep you in employment.

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Useful information about how to set up your online meeting as well as good practice during the meeting.

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PS06 - Guidance for Online Meetings - V1.1

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It's important to make sure you know what to expect from an interview and to prepare as best as you can.

What to expect in an interview

Whether you're interviewing for a job, training or a qualification, the interview experience will be similar.

A potential employer may not be expecting you to have done the job before, but they'll be looking for relevant experience or strengths.

This is the same for interviews for qualifications or training. They'll be looking at your education, experience and interests.

Check the details of the interview

After you have been invited to an interview, make sure the date works for you. It's important you have enough time to prepare and can manage it around your other commitments.

Before your interview, make sure to find out if it's an in-person interview, a phone interview or a video interview.

If you have a disability you might need adjustments to make the interview accessible. You can get advice from Scope on how to ask for adjustments at an interview.

Prepare for the interview

Make sure you have time to prepare for your interview. This will help you to feel more confident.

To prepare for an interview, it's important to:

read the job description carefully and understand what skills and experience the employer is looking for

do some research on the company's website

look over your CV or application form and think about what the interviewer might ask you

prepare some examples from your past experience to refer to in the interview

Practise your answers

You'll usually have some time towards the end of the interview to ask some of your own questions.

These might be about the role or company. You could think of some questions when researching the company. It's important to write these down before the interview.

Get ready for an assessment centre or presentation

You might be asked to attend an assessment centre or do a presentation.

An assessment centre usually involves completing tasks and taking part in activities.

Remember the employer is looking to see how you:

work with other people

deal with problems

communicate and contribute

If you're being asked to present or take part in an assessment centre, make sure to read any instructions carefully.

Researching the employers website will also help you to get a feel for what the employer might be looking for.

On the day of the interview

It's normal to be a bit nervous on the day of an interview.

To feel prepared for an interview, you'll find it useful to:

give yourself plenty of time to arrive

turn off your phone so you're not distracted

check your computer and internet connection is working if your interview is online

be ready to start the interview 5 to 10 minutes before

know how to contact the interviewer in case you're running late or having technical issues

During the interview

Your interview will usually start with the interviewers introducing themselves and explaining what the role or training is.

You might be told about the structure of the interview and the types of questions they're going to ask.

Once the interview starts, you'll be asked a series of questions related to the role. Remember to answer questions using the STAR method.

Before answering a question you might want to:

ask the interviewer to repeat the question or explain further if you do not understand

write down the question or refer to your notes if you need to

think about your prepared examples and choose the best example to give

Make sure you're ready to ask your own questions that you prepared earlier.

At the end of the interview, you might want to ask when you'll hear back from them.

After the interview

You might want to follow up after the interview with an email or phone call unless you know when you'll hear back.

If you were successful and you're offered the role, congratulations!

Before accepting the role, you might want to:

ask for confirmation of the offer in writing

confirm a start date and let them know if you have a notice period

ask about work patterns or arrangements

let them know your salary expectations if you've not already discussed it

What to do if you do not get the role

It's normal to feel disappointed if you do not get the role after an interview. Remember that it's common to attend a few interviews before being offered a role.

It might be useful to reflect on some of the harder questions you were asked. This can help you improve for next time.

You can also ask the interviewer for feedback on how it went and where you could have done better.

You might find it useful to speak to a careers adviser about how to improve in interviews and secure a role.
Speak to a careers adviser

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Interview advice | National Careers Service

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It's important to make sure you know what to expect from an interview and to prepare as best as you can. Whether you're interviewing for a job, training or a qualification, the interview experience will be similar. A potential employer may not be expecting you to have done the job before, but they'll be looking for relevant experience or strengths.

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It is likely that your contract contains a "probationary period".

A probationary period is a period at the beginning of an employment contract which allows your employer to determine if they made the right choice in employing you. It also allows you the employee to decide if you made the right choice too.

It is expected that you receive guidance and support from your employer during this period to help you get settled in.

Typically a probationary period is set at an appropriate length to your contract. Commonly this could be between 1 to 6 months.

Usually you will have an appraisal or review with your employer at the end of your probationary period. This is where a decision will be made on whether your employment will become permanent or not.

If any set targets or objectives have not been met during your probationary period, the period can be extended to allow more time for objectives to be met or in the worst cases your employment could be terminated.

So your probationary period is critical to you remaining in employment and being able to complete your apprenticeship.

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A sound, unimpaired or perfect condition.

Although the definition is sound, it can be a bit more complex to define integrity in our everyday lives.

You could say that integrity is always doing the right thing, even when no one is looking, and even when the choice isn't easy. Or, you might see integrity as staying true to yourself and your word, even when you're faced with serious consequences for the choices that you're making.

Alternatively, look at the second and third of these definitions. These were likely meant for structures, such as the integrity of a building. But we can just as easily apply this definition to ourselves. When we have integrity, we're whole and in perfect condition, and we're not compromised by awkward "inconsistencies."

When we live our lives with integrity, it means that we're always honest, and we let our actions speak for who we are and what we believe in. Integrity is a choice we make, and it's a choice we must keep making, every moment of our lives.

Why Is Integrity Important?

There are several reasons why integrity is so important.

First, living a life of integrity means that we never have to spend time or energy questioning ourselves. When we listen to our hearts and do the right thing, life becomes simple. Our life, and our actions, are open for everyone to see, and we don't have to worry about hiding anything.

When we have integrity, we gain the trust of our leaders, our colleagues and our team. We're dependable, and, when we hold ourselves accountable for our actions, we become role models for others to follow.

All of this, in turn, directly impacts our success in life. People who live and work with integrity are more likely to be considered for promotions. Why? Because integrity is a hallmark of ethical leadership - organizations want leaders that they can trust, and when you demonstrate integrity, you show everyone you can be trusted.

How to Develop and Preserve Integrity

Your integrity is what determines your reputation, and, just as this proverb states, all it can take is a single bad choice to destroy a lifetime's worth of integrity.

So, how can you work on developing and preserving your own integrity?

Step 1: Define Your Values

You can't live by values if you don't know what you truly believe in. So, start by defining your core values. These are the values that, no matter what the consequence, you're not going to compromise on.

Step 2: Analyze Every Choice You Make

Often, people cut corners or make bad choices when they think no one is watching. Having integrity means that, no matter what, you make the right choice - especially when no one is watching!

You'll usually know what's right and wrong, although sometimes you might need some quiet time to figure it out. If you're not sure what the right choice is, ask yourself these two questions:

1. "If my choice was printed on the front page of the newspaper for everyone to see, would I feel OK about it?"

2. "If I make this choice, will I feel OK with myself afterward?"

Remember, honesty and integrity aren't values that you should live by when it's convenient; they're values that you should live by all the time. This includes the big choices and the little choices - the choices everyone sees, and the choices that no one sees.

Step 3: Encourage Integrity

People with integrity often have the same characteristics: they're humble, they have a strong sense of self, they have high self-esteem, and they're self-confident. These characteristics are important, because, sometimes, you'll be under intense pressure from others to make the wrong choice.

Work on building and improving these characteristics within yourself, so that you have the strength and courage to do the right thing when the time comes. Build your self-confidence and self-esteem. Spend time getting to know yourself, and what you believe in. Develop friendships and work relationships with others who demonstrate integrity, and who will support your decisions.

Further Tips:

Learn how to be assertive, so that you can defend an ethical position from an adult point of view, without whining or being aggressive.

Avoid white lies. They may seem harmless, but tiny lies are still lies. Always tell the truth.

Learn to take responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, own up to it immediately and do whatever it takes to right the situation.

Keep your word, and don't make promises that you know you can't keep.

Keep in mind that in times of fear, disaster and chaos, the temptation is even greater to make a wrong choice. Use these opportunities to demonstrate your true character.

Avoid seeming self-satisfied or priggish when you're acting with integrity: stay humble and down-to-earth, don't look for approval, and, where you sensibly can, try to let people save face.

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How to Preserve Your Integrity - Consistently Making the Right Choices

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Integrity means sticking by your morals, being honest and making the right, ethical decisions. Discover how you can keep this essential trait intact.

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Workhuman.com - Why is it important in 2023?

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Workhuman.com - Why is it important in 2023?

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The culture around us influences everything we do. On a global scale, it influences the food we eat, the languages we speak, and the social norms that are expected. On a smaller scale, the culture of a company can speak volumes to its mission, values, and ideals.

What is workplace culture?

Even though culture is all around us, even at work, it is likely defined by different people differently. On the most basic level, Forbes defines workplace culture as: "The shared values, belief systems, attitudes, and the set of assumptions that people in a workplace share."

Why is workplace culture important?

Employees want to feel connected to their colleagues and to the company's mission and core values. Put another way, employees want a positive culture. And it seems like companies want that as well. In fact, research by Deloitte shows 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct corporate culture is important to business success.

What is it about a positive culture that allows for both employees and the businesses they work for to thrive? Here are two of the most important side effects of a healthy workplace culture.

1. It attracts and retains employees.

A positive workplace culture is one that is built on meaningful work, open communication, and core values. And lucky for employers who have one, once an employee is embraced by a strong workplace culture like this, they don't have many reasons to leave.

To attract top job candidates and retain them, organizations need to immerse new hires in this positive company culture that truly embodies their core values from day one. This helps employees to quickly start connecting with the overall business as well as their unique role within it.

That being said, reciting core values once during onboarding isn't going to retain employees. If the company's leadership team has employee growth and shared values in mind, however, employees are more likely to do their best work.

Workhuman ® iQ data found the higher an employee rates their company culture, the lower the chances are they will leave the organization. When organizations put company policies in place that elevate an employee's experience, such as employee recognition and flexible hours, it allows employees to feel secure and supported in their role.

2. It increases employee engagement.

A true positive workplace culture is one that shifts and evolves based on the different needs and attitudes of employees, as well as has mechanisms in place to solve problems that may lead to a toxic culture. With these mechanisms in place, employees are better able to engage in their work.

Quantum Workplace has identified six main organization-wide drivers of employee engagement. Spoiler alert, they all have to do with the importance of a positive culture in the workplace.
1. The leaders of the organization are committed to making it a great place to work.
A healthy culture is the key to creating a great place to work, but without the dedication of the organization's leadership team, it is nearly impossible to build a sustainable positive work culture.
2. Trust in the leaders of the organization to set the right course.
Workplace culture starts at the top. Leaders who prioritize work-life balance, a positive attitude, and mutual respect with employees can actively encourage employees to feel empowered to do their best work.
3. Belief that the organization will be successful in the future.
Toxic workplace culture isn't just bad for engagement, it's also bad for business. Why? Because those two things go hand in hand. To prevent toxicity from seeping into a company, leaders should look at improving engagement and employee happiness as a way to ensure organizational success.
4. Understanding of how I fit into the organization's future plans.
Workplace culture is all encompassing, but unless employees are aware of how their day-to-day work impacts the business, it can be hard to maintain engagement.

Having a culture that makes an employee feel secure and appreciated in their role can help prevent that. Gallup found when recognition is embedded in the organization's culture, they are ​​5x as likely to see a path to grow at their organization.
5. The leaders of the organization value people as their most important resource.
There are few things more powerful for employee engagement than appreciation. A healthy workplace culture with a foundation of recognition shows employees they are valued and has the power to lift employees to new heights.
6. The organization makes investments to make employees more successful.
Building workplace cultures on a foundation of continuous performance management and learning and development shows employees how valuable they are to the company, boosting job satisfaction and employee happiness.

Gallup also found employees who feel their organization encourages their development were those that experience authentic, equitable, and fulfilling employee recognition embedded into the company's culture.

What words do we use to describe good workplace culture?

Something as far-reaching as culture can be hard to describe; every company has a different mission and set of core values that shape the norms in the workplace.

There are, however, a number of words that are often used to describe positive cultures including these words pulled from Quantum's Great Place to Work Surveys:

Quantum ranked these words from most frequently cited in their survey to least cited, but it's worth noting that some of these may not fit in all cultures and that in many cases, moderation is key.

The top response from those surveyed, "fun," can tell us a great deal about organizational culture. Employees want to enjoy the time they spend at work - both in their role and with their colleagues. And when done effectively, having fun can certainly help with creating a positive culture, and can have a significant impact on things like work-life balance, retaining top talent, and the comfortability to share new ideas.

What does a positive workplace culture look like?

Again, like most things, a positive work culture may look different from one organization to another. What these words have in common, however, is the focus on employee experience.

Here are four examples of what a positive work environment looks like, as explained by speakers from Workhuman ® Live 2022 as well as a longtime Workhuman customer.

1. Emotional fitness to prevent burnout

For Nataly Kogan, founder and CEO of Happier, only once she was taking care of her own needs and emotions was she able to sustainably create a positive work culture for her employees. She explained:

"It is so essential to practice emotional openness, and not just for other people... it is actually so helpful for us." She spoke about "surface acting," explaining: "Surface acting is a term, an official psychology term, for pretending to feel good when you don't. It's one of the leading causes of burnout; it's a huge form of emotional labor; it drains you tremendously..."

She continued: "I thought, as a leader, especially at work, my job was to put on a smile. Well, guess what? I was causing myself a tremendous amount of struggle surface acting, but I was also lying to no one because everyone could sense what was actually on my emotional whiteboard." Nataly's advice? "Practicing emotional openness is essential for you to prevent burnout, but also to create trust and openness in your team. "

2. Psychological safety and love at work

Dr. Patrick Malone has been researching workplace dynamics for more than two decades, and has continually found: "It's not about productivity. It's not even about financial planning. It's not about IT support. All those things matter, but the number one factor in the workforce for a 'mission accomplished' is psychological safety, and we're seeing a lot less of that in recent years."

His counterpart at the Workhuman Live session, Dr. Zina Sutch, added to this notion by citing psychological safety expert, Amy Edmondson:

"If you create that workspace [of love and respect], what studies show you is that emotional exhaustion goes down, absenteeism goes down. Employee teamwork goes up and employee satisfaction goes up...

"This is not just about feeling good, or 'oh, I want to make sure I feel good and my employees feel good.' It really is about productivity and being able to get the job done. And we know we can do it if we create this kind of space."

3. Building hope and gratitude into processes

Dan Tamasulo spent much of his career observing something that can't be seen: hope. And while you can't physically see hope, he found its effects are powerful and far reaching.

At Workhuman Live he explained:

"There's something known as psychological capital ... And there are four elements that are really important for business and work, right? They're hope, confidence - sometimes called self-efficacy - resilience, and optimism. If you want people to feel really good at work, these are the four things to focus on."

But, Dan explained, "in my research I found that the number one thing was hope."

A sustainable workplace culture is one that provides employees the support and resources to build up their psychological capital so that they can do their best work. Building the space for employees to openly feel these things in a work environment - especially hope - increases well-being and the ability to thrive.

4. Embracing humanity at work

Organizations across all industries - and especially healthcare - could stand to add more humanity into their workplace culture. We are all human with unique wants and needs, yet when healthcare professionals spend their days providing selfless care for others, it's easy for them to forget about their own needs.

This can be extremely draining, so it's important to recognize these people for the work they do. Workhuman customer and healthcare pioneer Baystate Health has seen the power appreciation can have on humanity and employee morale at work since partnering with Workhuman on an employee recognition program. SVP and CHRO, Kristin Morales-Lemieux knows:

"The physical, mental, and emotional health of our employees has to be at the core of everything we do. If they're not taken care of, they cannot take care of others." And like it did for Baystate, the benefits gained from building thanks into the culture will surely speak for themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Workplace culture is something we talk about often as a concept, rather than something that can be built with intentionality, data, and agility. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions for people ready to take workplace culture from intention to impact.

1. What are different types of work cultures?

There are four main categories that most organizational cultures fall into. Developed by Robert Quinn and Kim Cameron, the " competing values framework " categorizes culture by perspective (inward vs. outward looking) and focus (stability/control vs flexibility and responsiveness).

No two companies have the same goals or value proposition, meaning no two cultures are the same. Broadly, a positive workplace culture is one that is created with the business's mission and core values in mind, and is sustained by employee input, shifting priorities, and diversity of thought.

3. What is the most important part of a company culture?

Workplace cultures are important as a whole, but what is the most important aspect of the culture itself? The people. Without the engagement, productivity, and output of employees, there is no business or need for a positive workplace culture, meaning their opinions and needs should be top of mind at all times.

4. How do employees learn culture?

Stronger cultures are cultivated when more of the community buys into the values the culture is built on. Leading by example - whether it's promoting diversity, embracing flexibility, taking PTO, or so many other things - can have a significant impact on workers. If leaders are living the company's values, employees are more encouraged to take them on, too.

Conclusion

Creating a positive work environment is the basis for every other initiative in the workplace, and is crucial for an organization's success. Considering the uncertainty in today's economic climate, now is the time to ensure employees are invested in their work and feel valued by their employers. And a good workplace culture can make that happen.

It's time to change the way we work.

That starts with equipping employees with the skills and resources they need to do their best work. Check out the free whitepaper "Easing Employee Burnout" today.

About the Author

Sarah Bloznalis

Sarah Bloznalis is a content marketing specialist at Workhuman from Dorchester, Mass.

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Workplace Culture: What Is It and Why Is It Important in 2023? | Workhuman

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Even though culture is all around us, even at work, it is likely defined by different people differently. On the most basic level, Forbes defines workplace

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Whether you frequently give presentations or are only required to do so occasionally in your line of work, you've probably wondered how you can ensure that every part of your presentation goes off without a hitch. While the content of your presentation, your confidence levels, and how you hold yourself can all contribute to your success, there's also the matter of your outfit choice.

Because everyone's attention is on you during a company presentation, take the time to consider the following 'dress to impress' tips.

Identify Your Weaknesses

Even before you contemplate your outfit choices, it can be a good idea to identify the things you know you might do or experience that might be distracting for yourself and those you're presenting to.

For example, if you know you're prone to sweating when you're nervous, premium nose pads for your glasses might be how you stop them from slipping off your face. You might also refrain from wearing colors that show up sweat patches or materials that retain heat or don't promote superior breathability. By solving some of these problems before your presentation, you might be more comfortable and confident in yourself as you present in front of your peers.

Wear Clothing That Makes You Feel Good

You might assume that the best way to feel confident during a presentation is to dress in the sharpest, most well-tailored outfit you can find. While dressing nicely can be crucial, it shouldn't come at the expense of your comfort. It's essential to strike a balance between feeling good and looking good.

Wear clothing that feels comfortable against your body, fits snugly in all the right places, and doesn't irritate your skin. Many business people have a go-to outfit for important meetings, and if you have such an outfit, there's no reason why you can't use it for an upcoming presentation.

Get Help If You Need It

If you're rarely called upon to lead a presentation or even give a speech in front of your colleagues or business clients, you may not feel confident in making the right clothing choices. You likely have more skills than you think you do, but you might see the value in asking for help if you need it.

You might have a co-worker you can rely on for helpful advice, or you may even like to visit a local professional clothing store and have a shop assistant help you pick out an outfit. Both are suitable solutions for your wardrobe woes.

Dress for Your Audience

Most business professionals used to have no issues deciding what to wear for an important presentation or meeting. A business suit and tie or an office-appropriate dress was almost guaranteed to be suitable for any occasion. However, workplace dynamics are changing, and the people or organization you're presenting for may not have a strict dress code as they might have done in the past. As a result, if you were to dress in a smart suit and tie in a room full of casually dressed employees, you might feel largely overdressed.

If you're presenting for your own company, you'll likely know exactly what dress code is required, which can make choosing your outfit a much easier process. However, if you'll be presenting for another business, research can be necessary. Don't be afraid to view company websites and talk with employees you already have connections with. You can then make sure you stand out for what you're presenting, not for what you're wearing.

Let Your Outfit Reflect Your Brand

Alongside ensuring that your outfit suits your audience and confidence levels, there's also value in ensuring that it reflects your own brand, especially when presenting to prospective business partners, clients, and colleagues. While you'll still want to look professional, making sure you're able to tell a story about your company while presenting information about it can be crucial.

For example, delivering a speech on behalf of a law firm might see you wearing a tailored, sharp-looking, and commanding suit, but you might feel more at home in semi-casual trousers and a shirt if you work for an edgy marketing company.

Be Careful with Accessories

When you're delivering a presentation, you want the focus to be on what you're talking about and showing, rather than what you're wearing. However, if you were to over-accessorize, you run the risk of your shiny gold Rolex watch or oversized cufflinks becoming more important to your audience than the message you're trying to get across. Generally, conservative cufflinks, a simple necklace, and a pair of earrings are all suitable accessory options for any sex to pair with their outfit.

Don't Wear Brand New Clothing

While there's nothing wrong with going clothes shopping before delivering an important presentation, you might see the value in wearing your new outfit at least once or twice before your big event. By doing so, you can establish any weaknesses and areas that might pose problems. You're also able to create a small amount of wear that gets rid of that 'new' look.

Most importantly, wearing new clothing before your presentation can mean you're aware of any features that might cause irritation, such as a tag that scratches your skin or an in-seam that causes itchiness.

Don't Neglect Your Footwear

You might put a lot of thought into the color of your suit or dress, the best tie to match your shirt, and accessories to tie the look together, but don't forget your footwear. You might have the smartest tailor-made suit, but all eyes can be drawn to footwear that's dirty or imperfect in another way. If you're purchasing a new outfit for an important presentation, consider purchasing shoes to match. You can then be sure they're fresh, polished, and ready to tie in with your flawless look.
Preparing for a presentation or speech can be about more than making sure you've written informative notes and have all your slides in order. What you wear can be equally crucial. Take the time to think about your audience, what's currently in your wardrobe, and the outfit that will make the most impact without distracting from the content of your presentation. You can then be ready to present to your colleagues or clients with confidence.

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Dress to Impress for Your Presentation | SkillsYouNeed

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You need to feel confident when giving a presentation. You can prepare well in advance but do not forget to also think about how you can dress to impress.

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Advantages and disadvantages of employees working at home | nibusinessinfo.co.uk

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Key advantages and disadvantages of home working - from productivity boosts to problems monitoring performance.

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Who needs Tony Robbins when you can motivate yourself? Overcoming the emotional hurdle to getting stuff done when you'd rather sit on the couch isn't always easy. But unless calling in sick and waking up at noon has no consequences for you, it's often a must.

For those of you who never procrastinate, distract yourself or drag your feet when you should be doing something important, well done so far! But for the rest of you, it's good to have a library of motivational boosters to move along.

Passion, habits, and a flow-producing environment can fail despite your best efforts. In that case, it's time to find whatever emotional pump-up you can use to get started. Whether you're starting a business, trying to lose weight, or breaking a bad habit, learning self motivation is important for success.

Ways to Work Towards Self Motivation

Here are the top twenty-five techniques of learning that you can motivate yourself down the road to success.

1. Go Back to "Why"

Focusing on a dull task doesn't make it any more attractive. Zooming out and asking yourself why you are bothering in the first place will make it more appealing.

If you can't figure out why, then there's a good chance you shouldn't bother with it in the first place.

2. Adopt Five Minutes Strategy

Instead of exhausting yourself with work all at once, you can work towards your goals by adopting a five minutes strategy.

Start working for five minutes, then take a short break. Often that little push will be enough to get you going.

3. Move Around

Exercise brings levels of mental clarity like nothing else. If you can't go to the gym, follow home workout videos on YouTube or stream fitness classes on apps like Peloton. If you prefer doing cardio outdoors, go for a run.

To build muscle, buy a pull-up bar or kettle bells and get to work. If you have bad joints, go for a swim in your nearest lake or ocean.

The bottom line is that there are so many fun ways to stay in shape and get endorphins flowing, and it can help you learn how to increase motivation.

Get your body moving as if you were extremely motivated to do something. This 'faking it' approach to motivation may seem silly or crude, but it works.

4. Find the Next Step

If it seems impossible to work on a project for you, you can try to focus on the next immediate step.

Fighting an amorphous blob of work will only cause procrastination. Chunk it up so that it becomes manageable. Learn how to stop procrastinating in this guide.

5. Find Your Itch

What is keeping you from working? Don't let the itch continue without isolating it and removing the problem.

Are you unmotivated because you feel overwhelmed, tired, afraid, restless, or angry? Maybe it is because you aren't sure you have time or you haven't finished your delegated tasks yet.

6. Deconstruct Your Fears

I'm sure you don't have a phobia about getting stuff done. At the same time, hidden fears or anxieties can keep you from getting real work completed.

Isolate the unknowns and make yourself confident; you can handle the worst-case scenario.

7. Reframe Your Questions

Let's say a problem that seems impossible to solve has you demotivated. Then, you can invest a lot of time upfront to frame the right questions.

In the Tribe of Mentors, author Timothy Ferriss encourages his readers to ask, "How would it look if this [endeavor, goal, etc.] were easy?"

In The One Thing, author Gary Keller suggests you ask yourself, "What is one thing I can do that would make everything else less important or unnecessary?"

Think about the problem you want to solve and ensure you ask the right questions. Also, consider if you have assumptions baked into your line of thinking. Remember: it's always better to ask (the right) questions than to assume. These methods can turn a frustrating problem into an inspiring solution.

8. Get a Partner

Find someone who will motivate you when you're feeling lazy. I have a friend I go to the gym with. Besides spotting weight, having a friend can help motivate you to work hard when you'd normally quit.

9. Kickstart Your Day

Plan out tomorrow. Get up early and place all the important things early in the morning. Building momentum early in the day can usually carry you forward far later.

Having a morning routine is a good idea for you to stay motivated!

10. Read Books

Read, not just for self-help or motivational books but, any book with new ideas. New ideas get your mental gears turning and can build motivation. Here are more reasons to read every day.

Learning new ideas puts your brain in motion, requiring less time to speed up your tasks.

11. Get the Right Tools

Your environment can have a profound effect on your enthusiasm. Computers that are too slow, inefficient applications, or a vehicle that breaks down constantly can kill your motivation.

Building motivation is almost as important as avoiding the traps that can stop it. The free Worksheet For Instant Motivation Boost is a useful tool to help you clear your mind and regain motivation.

12. Be Careful with the Small Problems

The worst motivation killer is facing a seemingly small problem that creates endless frustration. Reframe little problems that must be fixed as bigger ones, or they will kill any drive you have.

13. Develop a Mantra

Find a few statements that focus your mind and motivate you. It doesn't matter whether you pulled them from a tacky motivational poster or just a few words to tell you what to do.

If you aren't sure where to start, a good personal mantra is "Do it now!" You can find more here too: 7 Empowering Affirmations That Will Help You Be Mentally Strong

14. Build on Success

Success creates success.

When you've just won, it is easy to feel motivated about almost anything. Emotions tend not to be situation specific, so a small win, whether a compliment from a colleague or finishing two-thirds of your tasks before noon, can turn you into a juggernaut.

There are many ways you can place small successes earlier on to spur motivation later. Structuring your to-do lists, placing straightforward tasks such as exercising early in the day, or giving yourself an affirmation can do the trick.

15. Put Some Motivation in Your Ear

If you're stuck in a slump, I've found that all it takes is one rousing speech to change your mindset. Changing your mindset is a great way to learn how to increase motivation.

The right motivational content at the right time can transform your attitude. Pop in your headphones, and do a Google search for "motivation." There are thousands of speeches on YouTube, even mega-mixes of motivational speakers like Joel Osteen, Wayne Dyer, Les Brown, etc.

Here is a motivational talk that you can check out to improve your self-motivation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqknb0S7ctk
16. Give Back to Others

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." -Mahatma Gandhi

When you're hurting, the best thing you can do for yourself is to help others. It's counterintuitive, but it's true.

Focusing externally on making a difference in the lives of others provides you immense satisfaction, which can also improve motivation. These acts of service make your problems look and feel smaller. Most importantly, you feel more empowered to overcome any challenges you face.

17. Call Your Most Positive Friend

We've all heard the adage, "You are the sum of your five closest friends." It's true because what our peers say, affects us.

If you suffer from negative family members or peers, their cynicism will slowly infect you. Instead, drown them out. If your mother is pessimist-in-chief, tell her you love her, and then draw some boundaries. Spend more time with people that are always searching for the silver lining.

It doesn't matter if it's your best friend or that acquaintance you haven't spoken to since high school. If you don't have anyone like that in your community, join Facebook or LinkedIn Groups for positive thinkers. Attend a virtual Meetup of like-minded individuals. Don't overlook the importance of your inner circle as you learn how to improve motivation.

18. Find Your Creative Side

Creativity is an essential skill and will gain more importance in the future. It's one of the few things that can't be automated, outsourced, or offshored.

Have you ever wanted to write poetry, play an instrument, or paint? Stop talking about it and start doing it. Pull out a piece of paper, buy a starter kit online, and unleash your artistic side to break through your slump.

19. Listen to Music That Moves You

There's never been a better time to go deeper into your favorite music genres or branch out and explore something new. Start with a "Best of" list, like the Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Use websites like SoundCloud and Spotify's Discover feature for finding new artists. Most importantly, they can help you get out of a funk and back to being productive as you learn how to increase motivation. Achieving your goal will feel much easier with inspirational music in the background.

20. Start a Gratitude Journal

"The struggle ends when gratitude begins." -Neale Donald Walsch

Let's take some lessons from the horrible pandemic-a simple but profound one: just appreciate everything we have.

It wasn't our first crisis, and it won't be the last, so let's take heart in gratitude for the simple pleasures in life. Appreciate that satisfying meal, the roof over your head, loving friends, and family.

It's easy to fall into the cycle of wanting more. Instead, build the habit of writing down three things you're grateful for in your journal every day. You don't need to list a million items. Instead, go deep into why you cherish a few people and things that mean the most to you.

21. Cherish Past Victories

Most people don't chase their dreams because of fear. They don't think they have what it takes-talent, resources, connections-to accomplish their goals. The best antidote is to relive your own victory story.

Think back to a time when you did something you previously hadn't thought possible. Maybe you earned a promotion, got an A in a class, or traveled solo. If it's been a while since you stepped out of your comfort zone, go back to your childhood.

Remember how you learned to ride a bike when you were scared, made a new friend, or asked someone out even though you were shy? We've all overcome fear in the past, so keep it in your mind as you learn how to improve your motivation each day.

22. Jot Great Ideas Down

You likely have dozens of great ideas each day, but life is a constant stream of distractions. We often forget about these ideas before we can give them a second thought or use them to create measurable goals.

Many comedians and artists get their best ideas in random moments-on the bus or waiting in line at the store. When a motivating idea or thought enters your mind, or you hear it outside, write it down immediately. This way, you can refer to and build on them later, rather than let them fall into the quicksand of time.

23. Disable the Distractions

The average person gets interrupted once every 8 minutes. It's no wonder that people struggle to stay focused.

Put your phone on do-not-disturb, or shut it off completely. Do the same for your desktop apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or email. If you're in a noisy environment, get noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. Follow the Pomodoro Method and set a timer for 25 minutes.

By reducing distractions and scheduling regular breaks, you will find yourself getting more done and going deeper into your work. You'll thus get better results, creating a virtuous cycle of motivation.

24. Learn From History

If you're unsure how to become your best version, follow those who inspire you. Maybe your idol is a parent or mentor-ask them about their past and discover how they grew into who they are today. Investigate the lives of famous people and find where their success left clues. Start with biographies or autobiographies.

Finding inspiration will help you learn how to increase motivation in the long run.

25. Just Breathe

The most important part of your daily morning routine should be meditation. You're probably familiar with some of the benefits of mindfulness, such as feeling calmer and better able to handle stress by reducing negative thoughts. Through consistent practice, I also improved my mental clarity and focus.

We all have a "monkey mind" that's always on the move, like a monkey swinging from branch to branch. All of life's distractions consume our thoughts, even when it's unproductive.

By meditating, we can consciously choose which thoughts to interact with. This practice gives you the mental space to operate at peak motivation and inspiration.

Final Thoughts

With all these tips I've shared, now you know what to do when you're feeling unmotivated.

Find your passion and develop a positive mantra so that when the next time negativity hits you again, you know how to stay positive and motivated!

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

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How to Motivate Yourself: 25 Ways to Increase Motivation - LifeHack

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Who needs Tony Robbins when you can motivate yourself? Overcoming the emotional hurdle to getting stuff done when you'd rather sit on the couch isn't always easy. But unless calling in sick and waking up at noon has no consequences for you, it's often a must.

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Communication Skills for Workplace Success

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Communication Skills for Workplace Success

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The ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and staff is essential, no matter what industry you work in. Workers in the digital age must know how to effectively convey and receive messages in person as well as via phone, email, and social media.

These communication skills will help you get hired, land promotions, and be a success throughout your career.

Top 10 Communication Skills

Want to stand out from the competition? These are some of the top communication skills that recruiters and hiring managers want to see in your resume and cover letter. Highlight these skills and demonstrate them during job interviews, and you'll make a solid first impression. Continue to develop these skills once you're hired, and you'll impress your boss, teammates, and clients.

1. Listening

Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who cares only about putting in her two cents and does not take the time to listen to the other person. If you're not a good listener, it's going to be hard to comprehend what you're being asked to do.

Take the time to practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding ("So, what you're saying is..."). Through active listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately.

2. Nonverbal Communication

Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice all color the message you are trying to convey.

Note

Eye contact is also important; you want to look the person in the eye to demonstrate that you are focused on them and the conversation. (However, be sure not to stare at the person, which can make him or her uncomfortable.)

Also, pay attention to other people's nonverbal signals while you are talking. Often, nonverbal cues convey how a person is really feeling. For example, if the person is not looking you in the eye, he or she might be uncomfortable or hiding the truth.

3. Clarity and Concision

Good verbal communication means saying just enough-don't talk too much or too little. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you're speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want.

Note

4. Friendliness

Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile, you will encourage your co-workers to engage in open and honest communication with you. It's important to be polite in all your workplace communications.

This is important in both face-to-face and written communication. When you can, personalize your emails to co-workers and/or employees - a quick "I hope you all had a good weekend" at the start of an email can personalize a message and make the recipient feel more appreciated.

5. Confidence

It is important to be confident in your interactions with others. Confidence shows your co-workers that you believe in what you're saying and will follow through.

Exuding confidence can be as simple as making eye contact or using a firm but friendly tone. Avoid making statements sound like questions. Of course, be careful not to sound arrogant or aggressive. Be sure you are always listening to and empathizing with the other person.

Using phrases as simple as "I understand where you are coming from" demonstrate that you have been listening to the other person and respect their opinions. Active listening can help you tune in to what your conversational partner is thinking and feeling, which will, in turn, make it easier to display empathy.

Note

7. Open-Mindedness

A good communicator should enter into any conversation with a flexible, open mind. Be open to listening to and understanding the other person's point of view, rather than simply getting your message across.

By being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with people with whom you disagree, you will be able to have more honest, productive conversations.

People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey respect for them and their ideas. Simple actions like using a person's name, making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. On the phone, avoid distractions and stay focused on the conversation.

Convey respect through email by taking the time to edit your message. If you send a sloppily written, confusing email, the recipient will think that you do not respect her enough to think through your communication with her.

Being able to give and receive feedback appropriately is an important communication skill. Managers and supervisors should continuously look for ways to provide employees with constructive feedback, be it through email, phone calls, or weekly status updates.

Note

Similarly, you should be able to accept and even encourage feedback from others. Listen to the feedback you are given, ask clarifying questions if you are unsure of the issue, and make efforts to implement the feedback.

10. Picking the Right Medium

An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use. For example, some serious conversations (layoffs, resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost always best done in person.

You should also think about the person with whom you wish to speak. If they are a very busy person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might want to convey your message through email. People will appreciate your thoughtful means of communication and will be more likely to respond positively to you.

How to Make Your Skills Stand Out

1. Match your skills to the job. Analyze the job listing, paying special attention to the hard and soft skills that are highlighted in the job description. Then, personalize your resume and cover letter to match their requirements.

2. Familiarize yourself with other in-demand skills. Soft skills like communication may not get a direct nod in a job description, but they're still highly desired by hiring managers.

3. Use job interviews to your advantage. Job interviews provide an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you have the verbal communication skills necessary to succeed in a job, rather than just telling them that you do. Prepare for your interview, practice beforehand, and don't be afraid to pause before answering their questions - or to ask for clarification if you need it.

4. Don't stop when you get the job. Want to make a lasting impression on your colleagues after you're hired? Use your communication skills at work. Whether it's participating in a company meeting or talking with a client, you'll have many opportunities to show how well you communicate.

Key Takeaways

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These Are the Communication Skills Employers Look for in Employees

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Here are the top 10 communication skills that employers look for, how to show you have them, and tips for how to communicate effectively in the workplace.

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While the lines have blurred between work and home in recent years, being professional is still an important part of getting on in your career.
Adopting a professional attitude at work helps you to earn respect from colleagues, and make strong connections within your industry.

What is meant by professionalism?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines professionalism as 'the combination of all the qualities that are connected with trained and skilled people.'

Professionalism is measured not only by your competency in your role but also by how you conduct yourself within the workplace. To build a professional reputation, you must hold yourself to a high standard, and meet the expectations of those around you.

That could look like sticking to your workplace's dress code, avoiding office politics, and projecting confidence in your abilities.

What are the career advantages of being more professional?

Conveying a professional image and making a good impression with your colleagues can help you to make strong connections within your sector, fuelling you on to great career success.

Not only can it help you climb the corporate ladder within your current workplace, but professionalism is also a crucial component of a job interview when you're applying for a new role. In a 2012 study, 96% of HR respondents stated that a person's professionalism affects the likelihood of that person being hired, showing the importance of maintaining a professional tone.

What are the workplace advantages of being more professional?

Within the workplace, being more professional can help you earn the trust of your colleagues. By showing that you're a professional person who can stay calm in tense situations, and deal with any conflict within your workplace, your team will know what to expect when they work alongside you.

A professional person brings a positive attitude to a workplace, and looks for solutions, rather than focusing on problems. It's a skill to remain professional at work, especially when there are frustrations to be handled.

How can you be and act more professional at work?

There are a few things you can do to start being more professional at work straightaway. Here are our top 10 tips:

#1. Stick to your company's rules and regulations

When you first start your job, you should be given a copy of the company policy, as well as an employee handbook. These will tell you what's expected of you while you're at work or representing the company when you're at trade shows, for example. You'll find details of dress codes, gift giving and receiving, and appropriate behaviour. Abiding by these can help you secure a professional image within your company.

#2. Show that you're a hard-working employee

It's down to you to show that you work hard, and get the job done to the best of your ability. Employers want to know that you're dedicated and you take great pride in your work, so showing this level of professionalism is key. Show up to meetings prepared, and deliver work on time to show your colleagues that you're a true professional.

#3. Stay out of office politics

When you want to fit in, it can be tempting to get involved in office gossip or take sides in an argument. Staying out of office politics can serve you better in the long run, as it shows that you have a level of professionalism that employers respect. Try to avoid it as much as you can, and stay neutral instead.

#4. Keep a calm composure

Although you can have your patience tested within any job, it's important to keep a calm composure and show that you can remain professional. Losing your temper can result in arguments with colleagues, as well as repercussions such as formal warnings, and even dismissal. Staying calm is vital to maintaining a professional image.

#5. Don't engage in inappropriate behaviour

No matter what job you're working in, you'll need to show the utmost respect for your colleagues or clients. Being aware of the topics you're discussing, and the language you're using is crucial, otherwise, you might find yourself in hot water.

#6. Be empathetic

It's really important that you can relate to the people around you, and show a level of empathy within the workplace. It helps you to connect to your colleagues and let them know their concerns are heard. If you haven't worked on your emotional intelligence before, it's worth seeing how you can improve to build a more professional image

#7. Hold your hands up if you make mistakes

It's okay to eat humble pie now and again. Everyone makes mistakes and being able to admit this can be a sign of strength among your team. It also shows that you take accountability and hold yourself responsible for any errors in your work. Having a professional attitude and seeing how you can improve will stand you in good stead.

#8. Don't be afraid to ask for help

Part of being a professional is asking for help and seeking feedback on the work that you produce. Trying to do it all yourself can be difficult and shows others that you're not willing to work with them for the greater good of the business.

#9. Focus on your professional development

Your professional development will be important for carrying you through your career, so continuing to build your skills and knowledge in your industry can be invaluable. Take the initiative to get booked on to training courses, read industry magazines, or attend events that can help you network and expand your knowledge.

#10. Carry professionalism into every communication

Remember that it's not just in-person communication that needs to be professional - you should carry it through to your emails and messaging channels too. For instance, being over-friendly with someone you've only just met is considered unprofessional, as is discussing personal topics with clients.

What shouldn't you do if you want to be more professional?

Acting inappropriately at work is a sure-fire way of being seen as unprofessional. Working within a team, you'll need to collaborate in a professional manner, contributing to group discussions, as well as allowing everyone to have a voice.

For example, let's imagine Winnie is participating in a group project that requires everyone to give feedback on design ideas for the company website.

If Winnie talks over other people in her group and is rude to the designer, that unprofessional behaviour will be noted by her colleagues, and she could be called into a meeting with HR. Offering constructive feedback, and taking the time to listen to other people's opinions would help her to be seen as a more professional colleague.

How can being more professional make you a better leader?

In any industry, a leader needs to hold themselves to a certain level of professionalism in order to show they're respected and trusted within the organisation.

It shows they treat everyone equally and don't have favourites among the team, instead giving each person the time and space they need to do their job effectively. Promoting your team's professional development can also help them to progress, bringing more skills and experience to your workforce.

Need to develop your Leadership and Management skills?

Here are just some of courses we offer at TSW:

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10 Ways on How to be More Professional in the Workplace

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Here's a guide on how to be more professional in the workplace and tips on how to progress your career.

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Resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks. People who remain calm in the face of disaster have resilience.

A resilient person is someone who has strong coping skills and is able to marshall their available resources, ask for help when needed, and find ways to manage the situation they are facing. People with psychological resilience are able to use their skills and strengths to respond to life's challenges, which can include those related to:

Instead of falling into despair or hiding from issues by using unhealthy coping strategies, resilient people face life's difficulties head-on.

People with resilience do not experience less distress, grief, or anxiety than other people do. Instead, they use healthy coping skills to handle such difficulties in ways that foster strength and growth, often emerging stronger than they were before.

This article discusses the signs, types, and causes of resilience. It also covers some of the strategies that people can use to become more resilient.

Signs of Resilience

Resilient people often have a number of different characteristics that help them weather life's challenges. Some of the signs of resilience include:

A survivor mentality: When people are resilient, they view themselves as survivors. They know that even when things are difficult, they can keep going until they make it through.

Effective emotional regulation: Resilience is marked by an ability to manage emotions in the face of stress. This doesn't mean that resilient people don't experience strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or fear. It means that they recognize those feelings are temporary and can be managed until they pass.

Feeling in control: Resilient people tend to have a strong internal locus of control and feel that their actions can play a part in determining the outcome of events.

Problem-solving skills: When problems arise, resilient people look at the situation rationally and try to come up with solutions that will make a difference.

Self-compassion: Another sign of resilience is showing self-acceptance and self-compassion. Resilient people treat themselves with kindness, especially when things are hard.

Social support: Having a solid network of supportive people is another sign of resilience. Resilient people recognize the importance of support and knowing when they need to ask for help.

Recap

Signs of resilience include the ability to regulate emotions, a sense of confidence and control, effective coping skills, and leaning on social support when needed.

Types of Resilience

Resilience represents an ability to handle life's setbacks and is an overall representation of adaptability. However, there are also different types of resilience, each of which can influence a person's ability to cope with various forms of stress.

Physical Resilience

Physical resilience refers to how the body deals with change and recovers from physical demands, illnesses, and injuries. Research suggests that this type of resilience plays an important role in health. It affects how people age as well as how they respond and recover from physical stress and medical issues.

Physical resilience is something that people can improve-to a certain extent-by making healthy lifestyle choices. Getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular exercise are just a few ways to strengthen this type of resilience.

Mental Resilience

Mental resilience refers to a person's ability to adapt to change and uncertainty. People who possess this type of resilience are flexible and calm during times of crisis. They use mental strength to solve problems, move forward, and remain hopeful even when they are facing setbacks.

Emotional Resilience

Emotional resilience involves being able to regulate emotions during times of stress. Resilient people are aware of their emotional reactions and tend to be in touch with their inner life. Because of this, they are also able to calm their mind and manage their emotions when they are dealing with negative experiences.

This type of resilience also helps people maintain a sense of optimism when times are tough. Because they are emotionally resilient, they understand that adversity and difficult emotions won't last forever.

Social Resilience

Social resilience, which may also be called community resilience, involves the ability of groups to recover from difficult situations. It involves people connecting with others and working together to solve problems that affect people both individually and collectively.

Aspects of social resilience include coming together after disasters, supporting each other socially, becoming aware of the risks that the community faces, and building a sense of community. Such responses can be important during challenges such as natural disasters that affect communities or large groups of people.

What are the four types of resilience?

Resilience can come in different forms. The four main types of resilience are physical resilience, mental resilience, emotional resilience, and social resilience.

Causes of Resilience

Some people are naturally resilient, with personality traits that help them remain unflappable in the face of challenge. However, these behaviors are not just inborn traits found in a select few. Resilience is the result of a complex series of internal and external characteristics, including genetics, physical fitness, mental health, and environment.

Social support is another critical variable that contributes to resilience. Mentally strong people tend to have the support of family and friends to help bolster them up in times of trouble.

Resilient people also tend to have characteristics like:

Being a good communicator

Having an internal locus of control

Having high emotional intelligence and managing emotions effectively

Holding positive views of themselves and their abilities

Possessing the capacity to make realistic plans and stick to them

Viewing themselves as fighters rather than victims of circumstance

Impact of Resilience

Resilience is what gives people the psychological strength to cope with stress and hardship. It is the mental reservoir of strength that people are able to call on in times of need to carry them through without falling apart. Psychologists believe that resilient individuals are better able to handle adversity and rebuild their lives after a struggle.

Dealing with change or loss is an inevitable part of life. At some point, everyone experiences varying degrees of setbacks. Some of these challenges might be relatively minor (not getting into a class or being turned down for a promotion at work), while others are disastrous on a much larger scale (hurricanes and terrorist attacks).

Those who lack resilience may become overwhelmed by such experiences. They may dwell on problems and use unhelpful coping mechanisms to deal with them.

Disappointment or failure might drive them to unhealthy, destructive, or even dangerous behaviors. These individuals are slower to recover from setbacks and may experience more psychological distress as a result.

How people deal with these problems can play a significant role in not only the immediate outcome but also the long-term psychological consequences.

Resilience does not eliminate stress or erase life's difficulties. People who possess this quality don't see life through rose-colored lenses. They understand that setbacks happen and that sometimes life is hard and painful. They still experience the negative emotions that come after a tragedy, but their mental outlook allows them to work through these feelings and recover.

Resilience gives people the strength to tackle problems head-on, overcome adversity, and move on with their lives. In the wake of large-scale traumas such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals demonstrated the behaviors that typify resilience-and they experienced fewer symptoms of depression as a result.

Even in the face of events that seem utterly unimaginable, resilience allows people to marshal the strength to not just survive but to prosper.

How to Become More Resilient

Fortunately, resilience is something that people can build in themselves. Parents can also help their children become resilient. There are distinct steps that can lead to greater resilience.

Reframe Negative Thoughts

Resilient people are able to look at negative situations realistically, but in a way that doesn't center on blame or brooding over what cannot be changed. Instead of viewing adversity as insurmountable, reframe thoughts to look for small ways to tackle the problem and make changes that will help.

Focusing on the positive things you can do is a great way to get out of a negative mindset.

This approach can also be used to help children learn how to better cope with challenges. Encourage them to think about challenges in more positive, hopeful ways. This way, instead of getting stuck in a loop of negative emotions, a child can learn to see these events as opportunities to challenge themselves and develop new skills.

Seek Support

Talking about life's difficulties doesn't make them go away, but sharing with a supportive friend or loved one can make people feel like they have someone in their corner. That can support the development of resilience. Discussing things with others can also help people gain insight on the challenges they are facing, or even come up with new ideas for managing them.

To help a child develop a support network, adults should try modeling good social skills like sharing feelings, being empathetic, cooperating with and helping others, and expressing gratitude-and remember to reinforce a child's good behavior.

Focus On What Is Within Control

When faced with a crisis or problem, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by things that feel far beyond our control. Instead of wishing there was some way to go back in time or change things, it can be helpful to try focusing on what we can directly impact. Adults can also encourage children to develop this skill by talking about their situation and helping them make a plan for how they can react.

Even when the situation seems dire, taking realistic steps can help improve it. No matter how small these steps may be, they can improve your sense of control and resilience.

Manage Stress

Building healthy stress management habits is an effective way to increase overall resilience. These habits could include behaviors that help overall health, like getting enough sleep and exercise, as well as specific actions to take during moments of stress, like:

With some practice, adults and children alike can learn and master these skills. Eventually, they then tend to feel prepared to face stressful situations and resilient enough to bounce back quickly. For those struggling to keep stress levels under control, it may be helpful to consider enlisting the support of a cognitive therapist.

Recap

While some people tend to be more naturally resilient, it is also a skill that can be strengthened. Looking at situations in more positive ways, getting support from others, and focusing on what can be controlled are helpful strategies. Good stress management skills can also foster greater resilience.

A Word From Verywell

While previous findings suggested that most people tend to be resilient, one 2016 study found that resilience in the face of events such as the death of a spouse, divorce, and unemployment is less common than previously believed. Such findings indicate a need for interventions and support following stressful or traumatic life events.

If you are struggling to cope with challenges, don't be afraid to talk to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Even resilient people need help and part of being resilient is knowing when to ask for support and assistance.

Press Play for Advice On Building Resilience

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how you can build inner strength and resilience.

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Frequently Asked Questions

The true meaning of resilience is that you are able to respond to the challenges you face in a way that not just helps you survive the adversity, but also bounce back. When you are a resilient person, you're able to recover from setbacks while remaining calm and in control in the process.

If you are faced with the loss of a relationship or the death of someone you love and respond in a way that fosters your growth-such as by focusing on what you can control versus what you can't-this is an example of resilience. Another example is being involved in a natural disaster and coming up with solutions to the problems the disaster created while also regulating your emotional response.

The impact of trauma can depend on a variety of factors, including a person's age, existing resources, and the nature of the trauma. People with strong support and existing emotional resources are likely to emerge from trauma with an even greater sense of resilience. Children are often resilient to trauma, but ongoing or cumulative traumas can significantly affect a child's ability to recover and may impact future resilience.

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How Resilience Helps You Cope With Challenges

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Resilience involves the ability to handle life's setbacks. Learn more about the true meaning of resilience and what you can do to become a more resilient person.

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CMD Recruitment | Southwest Jobs & Recruitment

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When you're looking for a new role, you know that showing enthusiasm in the interview is essential. You need to show that you are excited to take the next step in your career, and you also need to find a way to stand out from the competition.

But enthusiasm doesn't come naturally to everyone. And some people worry that their enthusiasm could be interpreted in the wrong way. If you are naturally introverted, you might find it challenging to show your enthusiasm.

Why is enthusiasm important?

Employers don't want to hire people who aren't really interested in working for them. And one of the simplest ways to determine if someone is really interested in working for a company is to see how enthusiastic they are about the role.

If you're not enthusiastic about the role, it will be difficult to convince an employer that you're the right person for the job. On the other hand, if you can show that you're excited about the opportunity, it will go a long way in helping you land the job.

The good news is that there are ways to show your enthusiasm without being too over the top. Here are 4 ways to show your enthusiasm in an interview:

1. Make sure you do your research

The first step is to make sure that you have done your research on the company and the role. This will help you to understand what they are looking for and why you are a good fit. When you know more about the company, you can be more enthusiastic about the role.

To show that you've done your research, make sure that you take the opportunity to ask questions at the end. This is your opportunity to turn the tables on the interviewer and ask questions about the role and what you can expect.

2. Be positive

In an interview, it is important to be positive. This doesn't mean that you should be fake or try to act like someone you're not. But it does mean that you should focus on the positive aspects of the role and the company

For example, if you are asked what made you want to apply for the role, don't make negative comparisons to your current job. So, instead of saying "I am interested in the role because I wouldn't have to work with clients anymore", you could say "I am interested in the role as it would be an opportunity to strengthen my skills in account management."

3. Think about your body language

Making eye contact and smiling are two of the simplest ways to show enthusiasm. When you look into the interviewer's eyes, you signal that you're interested in what they have to say. And when you smile, you show that you're happy and excited about the opportunity.

It's not only eye contact and smiling that demonstrates enthusiasm; your whole body is saying a lot about your motivation. Focus on good posture, avoid crossing your arms, and try to relax.

4. Use enthusiastic language

The way that you speak can also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role. Avoid using phrases like "I think" or "maybe", which sound tentative and uncertain. Instead, use phrases that show that you are confident and excited about the role

For example, instead of saying "I think I would be a good fit for the role", you could say "I am confident that I have the skills and experience that would make me a valuable asset to the team."

When you use enthusiastic language, it will help to boost your confidence and make you more likely to land the job.

You should also speak passionately about your own interests and motivations. This will help the interviewer to see that you have passions outside of work.

Closing thoughts

If you want to set yourself apart from the competition, you need to find a way to share your enthusiasm and passion for the role, without coming across as insincere. To achieve this, you need to speak confidently, make eye contact, smile, and use enthusiastic language. These simple tips will help you to show your enthusiasm in an interview and give you the best chance of landing the job.

Back to Blog

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4 Ways To Show Enthusiasm in an Interview | CMD Recruitment

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Here are 4 ways to show enthusiasm in an interview and set yourself apart from the competition with your positive outlook.

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The list of qualities below was provided by the Deputy Manager of a local Day Nursery. These are the things that they would look for in apprentices;

Qualities we look for:

﻿﻿Happy and smiling with a positive attitude

﻿﻿Have strong verbal, non-verbal communication skills

﻿﻿Warm, caring and approachable

﻿﻿Flexible and practical

﻿﻿Enthusiastic, innovative and energetic

﻿﻿Motivated

﻿﻿Be creative and imaginative

﻿﻿Enjoy being with children

﻿﻿Be open to constructive criticism and developing your skills

﻿﻿High standards of personal hygiene

The Deputy Manager said "I'm aware that once the learner starts, they may not have all of these qualities, but hopefully they are willing to learn". "The main ones we are looking for are; Happy, Enthusiastic, Happy being with children and motivated".

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Source: TalentLyft

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Whilst it is correct that an employer has expectations of it's employees, sometimes those expectations might be unrealistic. This website is to help people manage those expectations correctly, and not to react too quickly when things aren't going as you would like them to.

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It's not unheard of for managers to ask a lot from their employees. Often employees do their best to accommodate what is asked of them, but that's not always enough.

But at times, managers cross the line and start asking a little too much of their direct reports. This is the beginning of a world filled with dangerous, unrealistic expectations. If corrective actions are not taken from your end, it'll only get worse from here on.

We've written this article, to help employees in these tricky situations. Effective techniques and strategies for handling unreasonable expectations? Those are worth their weight in gold.

Expectations: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Both manager and employee enter the workplace with certain expectations. Much of what goes into the manager-employee relationships revolves around these expectations.

No one can dispute that managers need to see a certain level of performance from the employees. All too often, yet, managers tend to go overboard (often without knowing) and demand more from them than is reasonable or realistic. And we see this in teams of all sizes.

Honest Expectations

First off, it's important to note the importance of honesty in the "expectations" game. Honesty toward your manager, and even more importantly, to yourself.

For some folks, it can be all too tempting to raise the flag of "immaturely high expectations." This is where honest self-criticism comes into play. Ask yourself (and honestly try to answer) whether what's being asked of you is actually out of the world of possibility. If it is an unrealistic expectation, you have to set the records straight - more on that below.

Setting the Stage: Why Do Unrealistic Expectations Happen?

Yes, some managers are draconian and expect too much from their employees. There's no denying that horrible bosses exist - it's a fact of life.

But, more often than not, expectations that are not feasible stem from a lack of honest as well as clear communication. Think back to the best manager you've ever had - were you and him on the same page? Did your relationship allow you to voice when you felt overwhelmed?

The effective managers are the ones that encourage an open, transparent workplace. Where the employee feels comfortable saying, "Hey, this doesn't seem like something we can handle right now. Can we reassess?"

But there is a common element in all those managers that consistently demand the impossible. Almost all of them ignore the inputs from their employees or direct reports.

As an employee, here are 6 techniques to handle not so reasonable expectations at work.

1: Don't Be a "Yes Man"

Unrealistic expectations occur when managers and employees are not on the same page. With that in mind, it's crucial that you think before you answer. It takes a serious amount of bravery to say "no" (or something more diplomatic) to your manager, but that bravery may work wonders.

Often managers are disconnected from the day-to-day operations that frontline employees thrive in. If you blindly accept extra tasks (knowing full well they are unreasonable), you are supporting that disconnect. Taking that not so reasonable expectation, bottling it up, and expecting it to end well is not a recipe for success.

Tip: Limit your plate to what you know you can do well. Managers are often disconnected from what you do on a daily basis. Do your best to communicate your timelines to your manager as quickly as possible.

2: Ask Yourself: Is This Task "That" Bad (Seriously)?

An "unrealistic" task can take on very different meanings for managers or employees. As an employee, it's vital that you ask yourself-and answer honestly-whether a task is truly not reasonable. It's equally important to determine why you feel this way.

Do you lack the time to handle the new task?

Any necessary training or knowledge to deal with a new topic is missing from your skillset?

Is there a need of additional resources-staff, software, and so on-to perform?

If you can check the box on one or more of the above items, it's a solid indicator that the fault of this unreasonable expectation is not on you.

The key element here is determining why a task feels unrealistic. Remember, the workplace is all about solutions - the more practical, actionable information you have, the better.

Tip: There's a difference between unrealistic and inconvenient. Reserve unrealistic for the realm of "not going to happen; if it does, it's a miracle." Inconvenient? Think of inconvenient as difficult, awkward, and problematic - but not impossible.

3: Ask Yourself: Why Is My Manager Doing This?

Chances are that your manager is a normal person doing normal things. No, your manager probably doesn't have it "out" for you (though it may feel that way!). Take the time to sit down and see if there's an obvious reason why your manager is asking the world of you.

Loaded down with a new, seemingly impossible task? Assigned a duty that you just don't see happening?

It's a managerial tactic as old as time - stoke the fire and see what happens. Some managers love to see how their employees adapt to new, difficult situations. The philosophy is simple: force someone out of their daily routine and see how they adapt. Maybe they are trying to see if you are fit for the promotion.

Now, is this happening every time your manager tasks with you something difficult? Not necessarily, but it ties into Step 1: is this task actually not feasible in the given deadline or is merely inconvenient?

4: Ask Around: Can Your Coworkers Help?

If your manager is breathing down your neck, you're probably not the only one. Unrealistic expectations come in sets: chances are that your peers are experiencing something similar.

The workplace is no place to bottle up. You're surrounded (well, hopefully) by like-minded professionals. Use them!

Ask your coworkers for advice on the issue you're facing. See if they have insight or recommendations on how to move forward.

Tip: Be precise and quiet. Reach out to whatever qualified coworker you feel is most appropriate and work from there. Make your request quietly and praise your coworker loudly: it pays off!

5: Reach Out to Your Manager

Reaching out to your manager is, without doubt, the best way to manage differences in expectations.

It's also the most difficult.

There is nothing easy about talking with your boss about workplace expectations. It's difficult-there's no getting around that-so don't feel discouraged if the mere idea seems intimidating.

As a general rule, if you feel your manager is loading you up with too much work, you should follow the following principles:

Develop an action plan. Managers respond well to action plans, even if those plans fall through. Navigating the world of unrealistic expectations is often an exercise in stating solutions. If you feel overwhelmed, take the time to jot down an action plan that shows your timeline to success. Ignore (or craft) the specifics if need be. Important thing is to give an actionable plan to your manager that outlines the best way to move forward.

Speak from a position of authority. All too often, your manager will act from a position of supreme authority. The more confidence and expertise you exude, the better. Show your manager why they hired you - don't be afraid to offer alternative solutions to a specific problem. All too often managers tend to act like they are the only ones with any experience in your industry - show them wrong!

Speed is everything. Seriously - the earlier you communicate your needs, the better. If your manager is someone who is (innocently) oblivious, a simple email may be all you need. This can guarantee extra time, resources, or training to complete a given task. Speak up now, not later: the longer you put it off, the worse it'll be.

6: Follow the Timeline

In the end, it's really, really, hard for any manager to argue with a well-defined timeline. This is where a proactive approach really pays off. The more you force your manager to agree to your timeline, the better.

Take the time to sit down and establish a tangible action plan that your manager will sign off on. The goal here is to establish a timeline that will keep both you and your manager accountable. If you can present a timeline that was met with approval from both you and your manager, you're that much better off.

It's hard to say no to your manager. But take a sensible approach, offer solutions & follow the above steps. And you'll find that managing unrealistic expectations at work becomes a lot easier.

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6 Tactics To Handle Unrealistic Expectations At Work - UpRaise

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Unrealistic expectations at work are not unheard of. In fact they tend to be more common than we think. Here we provide 6 ways employees can handle them.

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Source: BetterUp

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Traditionally speaking, dressing for the workplace is pretty cut and dry. Business attire, the suit and tie, seem to be the convention when dressing for work.
But not everyone subscribes to these traditional ideals and many companies, and even entire industries, are moving away from the suit and tie in favour of a less formal approach.

Perhaps this is to reflect the way they like to do business or to create a more comfortable environment for their employees. Whatever the reason for the change and whatever the new ideas are, it remains as important as ever to dress appropriately for work.

According to XpertHR's latest research into dress codes, there is a clear shift from traditional business attire. Of the near 600 businesses they surveyed, three quarters operate a dress code policy. Among those businesses, 40% operate a 'smart casual' policy while only 17% require that their employees dress in 'business attire'. Very few workplaces allow their employees to dress as they please. We spoke with our consultants from a cross section of industries, about why it remains important to dress correctly in the workplace.

How and why do dress codes vary by industry?

Some industries do still employ a smart dress code. Consultancy is a sector where businesses need to project a smart, professional appearance. Kyra Cordrey, Director at Michael Page Finance & Consultancy, tells us that in her sector everyone is suited and it is pretty much industry wide. The exception is boutique consultancies where they will mirror the client's approach. She says it is important to separate work and play; you can tell a lot about someone by the way they dress for different situations.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: I always tell candidates to dress as if they care.
You might have expected that much of the legal profession adhere to a business/professional dress code. This can be the case, especially in top tier practices, but as David Forsdyke, Managing Director at Michael Page Legal explains, many legal teams and law firms are trying to demonstrate a more flexible approach to the working environment. This is often reflected in a dress code, which is smart casual rather than a formal/professional approach. In the case of in-house legal teams in creative industry sectors, such as digital or media, the legal team usually adopt a more casual approach, appropriate for that business environment. David notes that while people should judge you on your skills, experience and competencies, human nature is such that judgements are made, rightly or wrongly, on attire and personal presentation. While smart means different things to different people, he suggests that regardless of dress code if you make a real effort, it will be appreciated.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: You spend more time in work gear than in casual attire - budget accordingly!
Logistics varies from many working environments in that it is often based around depots, warehouses and transport offices. It is a hands-on environment so formal suits and smart attire are unusual. Ben Lyons, Operating Director at Michael Page Logistics, tells us that even in an industry where formal attire is not the norm, you rarely meet senior level people who are dressed in scruffy and ill-fitting attire. It is important to dress in line with the organisation's dress code and represent the company correctly.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: Dress for the job you want to be doing! Look at the senior people in your company; how do they dress and present themselves? Follow their lead.
Not every industry subscribes to these traditional dress codes though. Creative sectors such as digital and fashion are much more likely to snub standard dress codes. Katie Self, Manager at Page Executive Digital and specialist in Agency and Digital Creative sectors, tells us that even in an industry where dress codes are more relaxed, dressing to impress is still important. Your employer may be dress-down, super smart, trendy; whatever their dress code, make sure that your attire is relevant and ensure you look like you have made an effort. First impressions count for everything; they linger past the first interview and if you get the role can even last throughout your probation.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: This is a seriously competitive market; don't let yourself down by making a simple mistake.
Fashion is another industry where traditional dress codes are almost non-existent. Nicola Wensley, Director at Page Executive is a specialist in the fashion sector and tells us that more often than not the internal dress reflects the company's product. For example, teams within a high street fashion retailer will be wearing next season's fashion items. In fashion, part of your job can be interacting with PR and attending industry events. Therefore, what you wear is important because it demonstrates that you live and breathe the brand.

In the fashion industry, your style is a reflection of taste and particularly if you are in a role that involves making product decisions, it is a key indicator of your ability to perform.
One piece of advice on dressing for work: First impressions count, so what you wear should play a part of your interview preparation.
One thing is clear, how you dress for work is important. Whatever you do, wherever you work, your attire is a significant part of your identity and a key factor in how you are perceived throughout your relationship with a company. Starting with your interview, make sure you get it right.

For our latest tips on interview preparation and career guidance, follow us on LinkedIn.

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Why dressing appropriately for work matters | Michael Page

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Work dress codes vary based on company and industry. To gauge how you should be dressing in the workplace

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Positive Body Language | How to look confident | Barclays LifeSkills

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From presentations to interviews, make sure your body language is saying what you want it to.

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Whether in an interview, meeting or even one-on-one with someone at work, you may find it difficult to get your opinion across. This can have as much to do with your own personality as it does the situation in which you find yourself. The trick is not to give up. Voicing your opinion confidently is a skill you can develop over time, so here are a few tips to get you started:
Match their volume
Try to speak at the same volume as the person or people you're talking to. If you're really trying to make a point, it's okay to speak a little louder, but don't overdo it. Raised voices tend to come across as aggressive and can lead to arguments and defensive behaviour.
Be patient
In a conversation, few things cause friction faster than someone who constantly interrupts, so make sure you try to allow people to finish making their point before you make yours - and you can expect the same courtesy from others. If you're in a long meeting, a good idea is to make a note of your questions and wait until a natural break in the conversation to ask them.
Cut out words
Dropping a single word from a sentence can help to remove uncertainty and make you sound more assured. Imagine these examples with the words in bold removed.

· 'I'm just an apprentice'

· 'I'll try and get it to you tomorrow'

· ' I think it'll take me about an hour'

It's not about being blunt, which can bring with it a perception of rudeness, it's about getting to the point quicker. Your audience will appreciate your directness.
Sentence starters
Finding the right way to offer your thoughts can sometimes be tricky. Think about these introductions to frame your opinion.

· 'In my view...'

· 'I would say...'

· 'Here's my take on it...'

And don't forget to recognise other people's opinions too.

· 'You have a point, but have you considered...'

· 'I see what you mean. Why don't we compromise and...'

· 'I hadn't thought of it that way. In which case we could...'

Think about the sorts of questions you could be asked, but also the kinds of answers you would give. Planning ahead and arming yourself with these things will help give you the confidence to make your opinions heard.

Assertiveness is just one of many useful skills for the work environment. Get advice on building up lots of others here.

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How to Improve Communication Skills | Find your voice | LifeSkills

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Discover how to improve your communication skills with Barclays LifeSkills tips to help you speak confidently and make your voice heard.

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Chris has the following advice when sharing your CV.

Make it clear and concise, no more than 2 pages.

Any employment gaps justified e.g. travelling, maternity leave, looking after a relative, looking for next opportunity.

Ensure that any previous experience which is relevant to the role being applied for is clear.

There is seldom point taking up much of the 2-page CV, talking about tasks and responsibilities that are irrelevant to the role being applied for.

The "sifter" (person reading the CV) will simply lose interest.

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At interview, I like to see the following demonstrated:

Personable

Resilient

Self-driven; able to work on own initiative

Able to work as a team and a willingness to help out when required (doesn’t shy away from a “all hands on deck” situation)

A willingness to listen and learn if there are any elements of the role applied for that the candidate would need to develop on if successful

Subordinate; ability to be tasked with something / be easily delegated to (may not be as relevant for higher level positions)

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The attached resource has some useful time management tips.

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.

"Shyamli, I'm sorry, but we have to ask you to drop this assignment. The clients found you very wooden. They said you have no presence."

This feedback was shared with me via a phone call back in 2011. I had just led a virtual training session for the employees of a company - my very first time moderating remotely.

Mortified, I thought that my career had ended before it even began. I had already established a good reputation for moderating face-to-face events and had transitioned into this new role after a long and grueling selection process. Hearing that feedback broke me but I didn't back down.

I put my ego aside and decided to try again. I observed other virtual sessions, read up on how to improve my communication in remote environments, and diligently practiced what I learned.

Now, around a decade later, I've led more than 1,000 webinars, training sessions, and meetings for more than 25 senior leadership teams. When I think back to that first assignment, it still brings a wry smile to my face.

Managing virtual meetings is a skill that takes time and practice to master. In our face-to-face interactions, it's easy to read body language: a raised eyebrow, a shift in facial expressions, an arm crossed over the chest. However, on a video call, especially where people may or may not be visible, it's much harder. Combine this with shorter attention spans and distractions, and leading a productive virtual meeting can feel impossible.

Still, it's more pertinent than ever. In the past two years, the majority of our work conversations have moved online - and while meeting times have increased by 10%, research shows that most of them actually decrease the productivity of employees. Research also shows that the onus most often falls on first-time managers, who tend to hold too many - and typically, unproductive - meetings.

If you find yourself in this situation, what are some steps you can take to improve? How do you make your virtual interactions more meaningful and engaging?

Here's a checklist that has helped me over the years. Give it a try before your next meeting.

Pre-Meeting Checks

Define the agenda.

Before each meeting, take some time to think about what you want to accomplish during the meeting. Think through some of these questions:

What is the purpose of the meeting?

What would a successful outcome look like?

Who needs to be in the room to reach that outcome?

What do the participants need from you?

What do you need from the participants?

What is going to be your contribution during the call?

Answering these questions will allow you to structure your thoughts and prepare a well-defined agenda. For instance, if you're setting up a call to review the goals for the next fiscal year with your team, make an agenda that reflects what you wish to discuss. You may wish to discuss how the team performed last year, your achievements as well as areas of improvement, share the new goals and leave room for any questions or feedback.

In this case, your agenda might look like this:

FY23 marketing team goals

Review marketing performance of FY22

Present new goals for FY23

Q/A and feedback

Once you're ready, circulate the agenda and any pre-work, along with the virtual invite, well before the date of the meeting.

Check your technology.

While this may seem like a hygiene check, learning to use technology in ways that make you feel empowered and confident is important to run a smooth meeting. The more seamless the technological snaps on your end, the more prepared, present, and engaged you'll be during the meeting.

Usually, I log in 10 minutes before a call starts to prepare for it. Use this time to test out the microphone and camera to ensure that everything's working correctly. Frame yourself with an uncluttered background, or if you plan to use a virtual background, set and preview it before the meeting starts.

Lastly, check your internet bandwidth. Personally, I prefer to log in from both my computer and my phone through different internet connections. My computer is connected to my WiFi whereas I usually have mobile internet on my phone. I'm logged into my phone but don't connect my audio or video - it's just my backup. Over the years, I've learned that this trick is a life-saver, especially when handling external clients or during important (and sensitive) meetings with my team. Even if a situation arises where you have to drop off your main device, you'll still be available on your phone to reconnect as soon as possible.

During the meeting

Show your human side.

If everyone is not familiar with each other or your team is meeting with some stakeholder for the first time, use the first few minutes for introductions. You could say something like, "Let's do a brief introduction. Can everyone share their name and their role? Then you can pass the mic to another person on the call."

If it's a more casual internal team meeting, start with a simple check in. You can say, "Hello everyone, I wanted to begin this call with a one-word check in. How has this past week been for you?" If the nature of the meeting is more sensitive, lead with something that shows your team that you care: "I know all of you must have questions about the recent change in leadership at the company. I wanted to do a quick round of check ins to see how you're feeling today."

As the host, you can take the lead on these conversations and start with yourself. This will instill trust and confidence in you and bring out your more humane side. It also sets the tone for people to be more open and share freely.

Pro tip: When you're leading a meeting, it's a good practice to keep your camera on. While you don't have to, it can be difficult for others on the call to establish rapport with a blank screen. If possible, show yourself on camera. If you're someone who finds your own image distracting, you can turn off the "mirror image" option on the app. When you speak, focus on the web camera - this will help you make "virtual eye contact" with others, and engage with them better.

Establish a protocol for all speakers in the meeting.

Start the call with one or two ground rules for all attendees so that everybody gets a chance to share their views without interrupting or speaking over each other.

You could say, "Let's use the 'raise-hand' icon if anyone wants to speak and then unmute ourselves." Or "Let's each share our thoughts in under two minutes and then pass to another person on the call. I can start.'' Or "Please use the chat functionality to post your thoughts."

Creating specific rules will set clear expectations for everyone, help them articulate their thoughts, and move forward with a discussion without interruptions. The goal of this exercise is to allow for a collaborative and safe environment where everyone can participate and share their views.

Pro tip: Encourage your meeting attendees to generously use the chat functionality to ask questions, post links, and comment on the discussion. This is especially helpful for those who are quieter or prefer to write out their thoughts. Building a strategy that addresses your team's diverse needs will create a more open and psychologically safe space for everyone to share their ideas.

Structure your thoughts.

In virtual meetings, attention spans are considerably shorter.To make a lasting impact you need to be prepared for your message to land.

For instance, if I ask you to look at 500000 for a brief second and tell me what the figure is, are you be able to do it? What if I replace the figure with 500,000 or 500k? That's likely much easier to recall. The use of commas creates a manageable structure that helps you read and understand the information more easily.

To deliver information more effectively, you similarly need to build mental pauses into your speech or presentation to allow listeners to digest your words and better understand your meaning. Say you want to give a project update. You can create a structure of past outcomes, present outcomes, and future outcomes. You can also create a structure where you lead with the client's needs, how your project has fulfilled these needs, and what insights you've gained from the project. Creating these mental commas to space out your main talking points will help you analyze and organize your thoughts in a focused manner.

One trick I use is a method I call, "tweet followed by a Facebook post." For every idea that I want to share, I write one sentence about it. This is my tweet or an annotated version of my idea in a few words. Then, I follow it up with a more comprehensive explanation about why my idea matters, how it will impact the team/goals/business, and how I plan to implement this idea.

As you speak, ensure that your talking points are actionable and leave everyone with a clear sense of what you expect from them. In the last two minutes of the meeting, share a concise summary of the next steps and how you plan to track the outcomes or deliverables discussed in the meeting.

Pro tip: When you speak, your voice and pace of your speech can create a powerful impact on your audience. Slowing down creates time for people to process what is being said and for information to be absorbed in a better way. On average, when you speak around 180 words per minute, you're likely to be understood more easily. One way to control your pacing is to write out what you want to say and break it into paragraphs with 150 to 180 words. Then practice timing yourself.

After the Meeting

Share next steps.

During the meeting, either you or a colleague should have taken notes or written down the most important insights or feedback, including those "next steps" or any tasks you've decided to delegate among the group. Once the meeting has ended, take a few minutes to organize your notes and send them to your team via email or Slack so that your next steps are documented.

Practice self-reflection.

For your own introspection, reflect on how the meeting went. Ask yourself:

What went well?

What did not go well?

What was the key learning for me as a meeting host?

What would I like to do differently next time?

This will help you improve yourself, become a more productive presenter, and bring more direction and clarity to everyone present in the meetings you lead.

Running a meeting may seem like a small and often insignificant part of your job as a manager. However, when you lead meetings with the right intention, they can bring forth meaningful change for yourself as well as everyone on your team.

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Leading productive meetings is an essential skill for first-time managers, especially while managing a remote or hybrid team. If you find yourself in the situation, here are some strategies to follow: Before the meeting, prepare a detailed agenda.

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Whilst all of the topics in the Padlet are important there are some which are perhaps more important that others.

You will see these marked with the "Important" stamp as above.

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Top Tip - Always communicate any absence with your employer. 

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Top Tip - Always communicate any absence with your employer. 

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Ideally your employer will want you to call and speak to them to explain your absence. Alternatively your employer might allow you to send a message. The phone call might be more difficult for you to do but is the right thing to do for your employer.

You are expected to inform your employer well before your work start time to give them as much notice as possible and enough time to make any alternative arrangements.

No employer would be happy with someone calling in sick, 5 minutes before they are due to start!

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Being late each day by only 10 minutes can add up over the course of a year.

A full-time employee might work 40 hours per week and work 48 weeks per year.

Question - If you were 10 minutes late each day, how many hours does that add up to over the course of a year?

Answer - The total amount of missed work would be a staggering 5 whole days!

See how that is calculated below:

10 minutes per day

50 minutes per week (10mins x 5 days)

2400 minutes per year (50 mins x 48 weeks)

40 hours per year (2400 mins / 60 mins)

1 week or 5 days (equivalent to 40 hours)

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Punctuality and Attendance at Work: Definition and Tips

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Punctuality and Attendance at Work: Definition and Tips