I thought I would share the article below which highlighs bullying in the workplace. Passive and subtle bullying is certianly prevalent which makes the workplace all the more uncomforatble and unpleasant. This can exacerbate mental health upheavel and result in days off work and subsequent underperformance. "Passive bullying in the workplace, also known as covert or indirect bullying, involves subtle and often unnoticed behaviors that can create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment. Unlike overt bullying, passive bullying may be challenging to identify, making it important for both employees and employers to be vigilant. Here are some common forms of passive bullying in the workplace: Exclusion: Deliberately leaving someone out of team activities, meetings, or social events can be a form of passive bullying. This behavior can make the targeted individual feel isolated and ignored. Withholding Information: Keeping important information from a colleague, intentionally excluding them from communication channels, or not sharing necessary details can be a subtle way of undermining their performance and creating a stressful work environment. Backhanded Compliments: Giving compliments with a hidden negative meaning or sarcasm can be a form of passive aggression. It can be confusing for the recipient, as they might not be sure whether the comment was meant to be positive or negative. Microaggressions: Subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or actions based on race, gender, or other characteristics can contribute to a hostile work environment. These microaggressions can be difficult to address, as they are often subtle and easily dismissed. Sabotage: Undermining a colleague's work or deliberately setting them up for failure without direct confrontation can be a form of passive bullying. This might involve spreading misinformation, withholding resources, or not providing necessary support. Ignoring or Interrupting: Consistently ignoring someone's contributions, ideas, or presence in meetings can make them feel undervalued. Interrupting or talking over them can also be a subtle way of asserting dominance or dismissing their input. Gossiping: Spreading rumors, gossip, or misinformation about a coworker can damage their reputation and create a toxic atmosphere. Passive bullies may engage in gossip without directly confronting the person they are targeting. Addressing passive bullying requires open communication, awareness, and a supportive workplace culture. Employees should feel empowered to report such behaviors, and employers need to take proactive measures to prevent and address passive bullying, promoting a respectful and inclusive work environment. Training programs, clear policies, and open communication channels can contribute to fostering a healthier workplace culture." User

Mental Health Week focuses on kindness. However, what does kindness effectively mean to us. It is defined as being “caring, generous and considerate”. Let’s look as these words used to describe kindness and see how they fit into our daily lives. Caring essentially means showing genuine concern for others. Enquiring about their well-being and therefore acting upon the feeling. Being generous could mean many thigs to different people. It does not always have to centre around money, just being generous with your love and sincerity can mean so much more to the person receiving it than a monetary value. Considerate acts of kindness means so much when it is given with thought, passion and feeling. It is time to think about acts of kindness however small or large and make it an everyday occurrence thought out the year. Not only this week! Take care and Stay Safe both physically and mentally.

Take stock of your current emotion

Taking stock of your current feelings and emotion is a given before you can set out to restore yourself to where you want to be. It is imperative that you always have a pen and notebook to hand to jot down those fluctuating states of mind so that you can deal with them. Reducing feelings to writing helps with creating a balance between understanding and resolution. It is going to take some inner soul searching and in-depth honesty to deal with it. It is of no personal value to yourself both mentally and physically to beat yourself up about all life’s difficulties. So often we create these situations ourselves without realising how much self -harm we cause and often irreparable damage that comes with it. The thing is that it is not only the harm we do ourselves but also to the people round us. That is something that we should never lose sight of in the future. After all, if they genuinely mean something to you then why do you want to hurt them physically or emotionally? The question is posed then why we seem to have that self-destruct button tucked away somewhere and cannot wait to press it at a moment’s notice. What is that “something” that invokes an emotion that suddenly overwhelms our internal thoughts and says “go on …. Press it now. “That demon that takes hold and will not let go no matter how hard you try.

Unsupported work related changes-effects on the employee

Case study- "Work-related stress in a 43 year old male local authority employee. Earlier this year all of his department were advised that they had to reapply for their posts, and he was retained but on a temporary contract in a different location. Surgery for keratoconus in 1992 left him sensitive to bright light and with difficulties driving at night. In his previous post the workstation had been adapted to meet his visual requirements and the location had meant he had little night driving in wintertime. Requests to his new line manager for occupational health input in view of his medical condition were declined. Over a period of a few weeks he developed sleeping difficulties and felt exhausted. He found it difficult to concentrate at work and was noted to be increasingly irritable at home. When initially seen he had a tachycardia and raised blood pressure. He was signed off work and on review after two weeks was feeling much better and his pulse and BP had returned to normal. After a further two weeks he was able to return to work with occupational health input. A constructive meeting with senior management took place and it was arranged for him to return to his original location and duties under new line management, with all adjustments to be undertaken and checked before his return. Job insecurity, insensitive management and low personal “control” are some of the factors involved in work related stress. A change in behaviour can often be the presenting symptom of stress. The abnormal physiological response associated with stress can be reversible on dealing with the background issues. He had always found his work to be enjoyable and is doing so once more."

Work -related stress-HSE stats and information

The extract below makes one think about the stress and stressors in the work place.One of the most difficult environments to work in is the education sector.I have witnessed many colleagues breaking down due to the overwhelming daily tasks and stressors that present itself with little or no support. "Work-related stress, depression or anxiety is defined as a harmful reaction people have to undue pressures and demands placed on them at work. The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show: The total number of cases of work related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18 was 595,000, a prevalence rate of 1,800 per 100,000 workers. This was not statistically significantly different from the previous period. The rate of work related stress depression and anxiety was broadly flat but has shown signs of increasing in recent years. The number of new cases was 239,000, an incidence rate of 720 per 100,000 workers. The total number of working days lost due to this condition in 2017/18 was 15.4 million days. This equated to an average of 25.8 days lost per case. Working days lost per worker due to self reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety shows no clear long term trend. In 2017/18 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases and 57% of all working days lost due to ill health. Stress, depression or anxiety is more prevalent in public service industries, such as education; health and social care; and public administration and defence. By occupation, professional occupations that are common across public service industries (such as healthcare workers; teaching professionals and public service professionals) show higher levels of stress as compared to all jobs. The main work factors cited by respondents as causing work related stress, depression or anxiety were workload pressures, including tight deadlines and too much responsibility and a lack of managerial support (2009/10-2011/12)"

5 Ways Bosses Can Reduce the Stigma of Mental Health at Work

5 Ways Bosses Can Reduce the Stigma of Mental Health at Work Diana O'BrienJen Fisher FEBRUARY 19, 2019 Experts tell us that one in four adults will struggle with a mental health issue during his or her lifetime. At work, those suffering — from clinical conditions or more minor ones — often hide it for fear that they may face discrimination from peers or even bosses. These stigmas can and must be overcome. But it takes more than policies set at the top. It also requires empathetic action from managers on the ground. We count ourselves among those who have wrestled with mental health challenges. One morning a few years ago, in the midst of a successful year, Jen couldn’t get out of bed. As a driven professional, she had ignored all the warning signs that she was experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But her mentor, Diana, could see something was wrong, and when Jen couldn’t come to work, the gravity of the situation became even clearer. In the ensuing weeks, we worked together to get Jen the help she needed. Diana understood Jen’s struggles because she had been there, too — not with PTSD but with anxiety. As the mother of adult triplets with autism and a busy job, she’d often had difficulty managing things in her own life. Throughout both of our careers, we have moved across the spectrum of mental health from thriving to barely hanging on, and somewhere in between. What we’ve learned through our own experiences is how much managerial support matters. When bosses understand mental health issues — and how to respond to them — it can make all the difference for an employee professionally and personally. This involves taking notice, offering a helping hand, and saying “I’m here, I have your back, you are not alone.” That’s exactly what Jen said when a coworker told her that he was grappling with anxiety; it had gotten to the point where it was starting to impact his work and his relationships at home. He came to her because she’d been open about her own struggles. She listened to him, worked to understand what accommodations he needed, and told him about available resources, such as Employee Assistance Programs. Then she continued to check in to see he was getting support he needed and make it clear that she and others were there to help. How do you learn or teach the people on your team to address colleagues’ or direct reports’ mental health issues in the same way? Here are five ways managers can help drive a more empathetic culture: Pay attention to language. We all need to be aware of the words we use that can contribute to stigmatizing mental health issues: “Mr. OCD is at it again — organizing everything.” “She’s totally schizo today!” “He is being so bi-polar this week — one minute he’s up, the next he’s down.” We’ve heard comments like these, maybe even made them ourselves. But through the ears of a colleague who has a mental health challenge, they can sound like indictments. Would you open up about a disorder or tell your team leader you needed time to see a therapist after hearing these words? Rethink “sick days.” If you have cancer, no one says, “Let’s just push through” or “Can you learn to deal with it?” They recognize that it’s an illness and you’ll need to take time off to treat it. If you have the flu, your manager will tell you to go home and rest. But few people in business would react to emotional outbursts or other signs of stress, anxiety, or manic behavior in the same way. We need to get more comfortable with the idea of suggesting and requesting days to focus on improving mental as well as physical health. Encourage open and honest conversations. It’s important to create safe spaces for people to talk about their own challenges, past and present, without fear of being called “unstable” or passed up for the next big project or promotion. Employees shouldn’t fear that they will be judged or excluded if they open up in this way. Leaders can set the tone for this by sharing their own experiences, as we’ve done, or stories of other people who have struggled with mental health issues, gotten help and resumed successful careers. They should also explicitly encourage everyone to speak up when feeling overwhelmed or in need. Be proactive. Not all stress is bad, and people in high-pressure careers often grow accustomed to it or develop coping mechanisms. However, prolonged unmanageable stress can contribute to worsening symptoms of mental illness. How can managers ensure their employees are finding the right balance? By offering access to programs, resources, and education on stress management and resilience-building. In our marketplace survey on employee burnout, nearly 70 percent of respondents said that their employers were not doing enough to prevent or alleviate burnout. Bosses need to do a better job of helping their employees connect to resources before stress leads to more serious problems. Train people to notice and respond. Most offices keep a medical kit around in case someone needs a bandage or an aspirin. We’ve also begun to train our people in Mental Health First Aid, a national program proven to increase people’s ability to recognize the signs of someone who may be struggling with a mental health challenge and connect them to support resources. Through role plays and other activities, they offer guidance in how to listen non-judgmentally, offer reassurance, and assess the risk of suicide or self-harm when, for example, a colleague is suffering a panic attack or reacting to a traumatic event. These can be difficult, emotionally charged conversations, and they can come at unexpected times, so it’s important to be ready for them. When your people are struggling, you want them to be able to open up and ask for help. These five strategies can help any boss or organization create a culture that ceases to stigmatize mental illness.

Stats from Leonard Cheshire website

These statistics make you think_nothing further to say There are more than 11 million disabled people in the UK. One in five of us will be affected by disability at some point in our lives. For many of us, it will be the hardest thing we ever have to face. Eight out of 10 people with a disability weren’t born with it. The vast majority become disabled through an injury, accident, heart attack, stroke or conditions like MS and motor neurone disease. Disabled people are far less likely to be employed than non-disabled people. Fewer than 50% of working-age disabled people are in work, compared to 75% of non-disabled people. Disabled people’s day to day living costs are 25% higher than those of non-disabled people. Disabled people are around three times as likely not to hold any qualifications compared to non-disabled people. A third of disabled people have never used the internet, compared to just 8% of non-disabled people — a ‘digital divide’ of 25%. Disabled people are significantly more likely to be victims of crime than non-disabled people. One in three households with a disabled person still live in ‘non-decent accommodation’. Worldwide There are 1 billion disabled people worldwide. That's 15% of the world’s population. 80% of disabled people live in developing countries. Over 400 million disabled people live below the poverty line. Roughly one in three of the children around the world who do not have access to primary education have a disability. 90% of disabled children in developing countries do not attend school. Health and rehabilitation services are unaffordable for over 50% of disabled people in developing countries

"Working in a toxic environment can be dangerous to your physical and mental health"

I read this article recently and thought I would share it. Working in a toxic environment can be dangerous to your physical and mental health Don't Let a Toxic Workplace Kill For many people the office feels like our second home. We spend most of our waking hours there, and we probably spend more time with co-workers than with family. If you wake up dreading having to go to work, chances are a toxic work environment has created this anxiety and apprehension for you. If you’re not happy at work, that dissatisfaction can carry over into your personal life, damaging everything from your self-esteem to your friendships. In a toxic workplace, there is passive-aggressive leadership, back-stabbing, politics, tearing others down, destructive gossip and tons of negativity. When you are surrounded by this every day, it’s no wonder that it affects your self-esteem and sense of worth. Toxic workplaces can also have an impact on your health: increased stress can lead to burnout and depression. Signs of a Toxic Work Environment 1. Lack of Communication. Do you feel like you’re left out of the loop regarding important information? Is there little communication about objectives? A lack of communication characterizes most toxic workplaces. You may get little to no feedback about your performance, and when you do, it’s negative and not helpful. 2. You’re Overworked. In a hostile workplace, employees are often overloaded with job responsibilities. You may be doing the work of two, three, or four people. Being overworked can lead to burnout and cause resentment. 3. Lack of Opportunity. If you’ve had discussions with your boss several times regarding a lack of growth opportunities, such as promotions and raises, yet have seen no changes, you’re in a toxic environment. 4. Everyone Has a Bad Attitude. If you walk into work and everyone around you is miserable, there is no enthusiasm, and no one ever says “I enjoy working here,” you’re in a hostile environment. 5. High Turnover Rate. Good people leave, questionable people stay: a high turnover rate among employees is a sign of their unhappiness and poor morale at the office. 6. Gossip, Gossip, gossip. When the rumor mill is more productive than your office, you are definitely in a toxic workplace. 7. Dysfunction. Toxic workplaces are full of confusion, lack of focus and an attitude of “this is the way it’s always been done.” Meetings feel like a waste of time where nothing is accomplished. The company’s operations are disjointed, possibly even failing. Misunderstanding, favoritism, and infighting are normal. 8. Your Boss is Toxic. Your boss tries to control your every move. He is unwilling to listen and feels his way is always the right way. “It’s my way or the highway.” He consistently hurts your self-esteem and undermines your ability to put out good work. 9. You’re Stressed. A poll by Monster found that 42% of U.S. workers have left a job due to an overly stressful environment. High levels of stress are bad for your body, leading to digestive problems and increased risk of heart attack. Pay attention to any symptoms you experience, such as sleepless nights, sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat — your body could be signaling a red flag of danger. 11. Inconsistencies. When the boss lays down rules and doesn’t bother following them himself, it’s more about commanding obedience, exerting power, and maintaining a sense of control. When someone gets scolded for behavior that gets another employee promoted, that’s toxic. 12. Your boss is a narcissist. Does your boss think he can do no wrong? Chances are he’s a narcissist. Narcissists believe the rules don’t apply to them yet demand near-perfection from others. They love having their behavior affirmed and being told they’re correct. They see disagreement as defection; you’re either with them, or you’re against them. How to Cope After reading this list, have you determined you’re in a toxic work environment? If you’re not, be thankful. If you are and you haven’t yet made the decision to quit, consider the following ways to cope: Recognize that your toxic workplace is NOT a reflection of who you are. Separate the daily negativity from the reality of who you truly are. Make time each workday for a short walk by yourself. Get away from your job for a half hour and exercise some positive self-talk to remind yourself of the qualities you possess that make you amazing. Find ways to remind yourself of who you truly are. Realize that you cannot control what other people say and do, you can only control your own actions and reactions. This realization allows you to let go of other people’s negative behavior and then you can focus on improving yourself. Always conduct yourself with integrity. It is easy to think about giving up, but as long as you’re collecting a paycheck, you have an obligation to give an honest day’s work. Don’t justify personal bad behavior on the toxicity that exists in your office. As difficult as it may be, don’t become less than who you are meant to be out of anger or spite for your current employer. Your reputation will continue beyond the company you are working for today, and nothing is worth trading your integrity over. Continue to search for a better place to work and let others know you are interested in new job opportunities. Give your best up to the day when you can happily hand in your resignation letter and move on to better things. Not Every Workplace is Toxic Not every workplace is toxic -- some leaders just “get it”. To end on a positive note, here’s a company where employees are valued, thus they’re happy and fulfilled. Check out some of their comments regarding their experience working for a company that has consistently been named among the best places to work in Pennsylvania. Https://Www.Webpagefx.Com/Employee-Reviews.Html Additional Reading | Resources Here’s a list of additional reading on what constitutes a toxic workplace, how to avoid going to work in a toxic workplace in the first place, and how to cope if you’re in a toxic workplace. Https://Www.Forbes.Com/Sites/Amyanderson/2013/06/17/Coping-In-A-Toxic-Work-Environment/#777d695e7461 https://medium.com/the-mission/its-not-you-it-s-your-job-7-signs-of-a-toxic-workplace-b7ce564f082d http://www.bravelyblooming.com/toxic-workplace.html https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/workplace-checklist-how-toxic-is-yours-hot-jobs https://www.forbes.com/sites/emiliearies/2017/03/07/5-signs-youre-in-a-toxic-workplace/#73b3ff445134 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_workplace

No room for negotiation with your child-energize yourself

Here’s a piece of coaching advice I often find myself giving to parents: Explain yourself once to your child and then move on. Don't stand there and get battered! You can’t solve an argument or make a child do something by trying to make them understand and agree with you. It is really simple. They are still a child! The fact is, they don’t understand you! They’re going to see things differently. Children and adults have totally different perspectives. Parents can spend a lot of time and energy trying to make a child accept their logic. It’s just not going to happen. It is likely never to happen. Why? Well they don't have your experience and life skills.The child will use manipulation to gain the upper hand and what does the parent do from this point? Yes! Enter into a negotiation process. Why do you want to strike a deal with your child. You know all too well that isn't what you want to happen. We all feel like things would be easier if only our children understood why we want them to do certain things. Refrain from thinking that you have to offer a reason every time. You don't! Managers dont offer a reason every time they make a decision. When your child argues about a decision you’ve made or a limit you have set, listen to them. Tell them you admire them for sharing their opinions and fighting for their cause. You don’t have to give in and you don’t have to keep explaining your reasons. The crux is that when you set the limits in place, you keep to your word. All too often we back off, and regretfully at this point we find we have gone a full circle. That's right! Back to square one. I am sure we have all been there at some stage. It is important to remember that even at times of high stress, no matter how reprehensible your child’s behaviour might be, you must remain a calm, steady leader. This can be tough for a while, however the more you repeat this action the better chance of success. It can be very empowering to walk away from an unresolved argument. Silence is golden as the saying goes, so removing yourself from the situation is vital. Different perspectives don’t have to be reconciled. It’s fine for your child to be unhappy or disappointed as they will soon find out that by always trying to get the upper hand this process will not work for them. We all want to be understood, and we’re sure we can make others understand if only they would listen. My advice is to take the time you would have spent arguing and instead spend a few minutes on self-care. Parental time-out is valuable at this stage. This is fundamental strategy for you as the parents. These situations wear you down and eventually lead to further family conflicts and an unpleasant atmosphere. The objective is to avoid this occurrence. These situations can wear you down significantly during the day and by the evening what do we do. Yes that's right, we just give in to the demands for peace sake. Don't! Be strong! Stay true to your decision. Till next time...... Solutioncoach

Looking to the future

About ten years ago I met a client who was about thirty two years of age . He was dynamic , smart and extremely well versed with worldly cultures.He had started his career as a sixteen year old in an office environment, making the teas and coffees ,shredding paper and so on.However , his astute eye and quest for knowledge was insurmountable.He sucked up every bit of information that he could like the proverbial sponge , making notes when he went home so that he could study these concepts that he was taking on board.Day after day he repeated his actions and as the year passed on he became more engrossed in the mechanics of the operation. Soon after his eighteenth birthday he approached the manager with a view to changing his job role and working in the administration department. Up till his point he had always been viewed as the tea boy come office helper, however little did anyone suspect that he had accumulated this vast knowledge and quest for advancement of his future.After some deliberation the manager decided to interview him for the role.He arrived that day in a suit and tie , shining shoes and a broad grin on his face. The rest , as they is history as ten years later this person is the CEO of this company.He had the fire in his belly and the determination to succeed. Successful yes! Deliberate in his focus yes! Determined to achieve yes!Does he hold every degree available-NO!Then what does he have in his armour. He has the people recognition factor.The ability to discover what makes staff perform to their own capability.He is a visionary with a penchant for leading in the right direction. A great listener, a superb listener.He uses both ears and speaks with one mouth!!

Re-jiggle your work strategy!

I realise that we go to work and think "Do I still want to work there?"Has that ever crossed your mind? I am sure it has entered your train of thought at some time in your career. The thing is what you do about it. The fact is no one’s job is perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Whether it is the physical side of the job or the daily intensity that makes you think about change. The important aspect to note is not to resign from your role until you have explored all avenues that could help you re-develop your role and stay where you are currently employed. All too often we make that irrational decision, resign and say "Oh dear, now what?" So how can you improve your current disposition and re-jiggle your work strategy? That is indeed the question you could ask yourself. A good starting strategy would be take a pen and paper and review your own current performance. Maybe think about are you doing justice to the role itself. Could it possibly be your own integration with your manager and co-workers. How focused have you been in ensuring that the role becomes your own. It could be time to step back, and not mingle with negative people and their nuances. This is just a brief outline of how you can improve your feelings about your current role. I have no doubt you can and will come up with more good and positive thoughts. Till next time... Solutioncoach

Effectively Manage your Career

Too many professionals allow others to manage their career instead of taking control themselves. We tend to get caught up in the process of the actual work instead of managing the career. It is imperative that you actually know what you want by setting goals and re-visiting them on a regular basis. They need to be visible at all times and measured against achievement. Probably a good way is to incorporate your performance reviews and check whether they complement each other. Feedback can be positive or negative, however it is what you do with it from that point, that is most important. Open your mind to these at all times which, in turn, will elevate your career. Keep focused on industry articles and books and make comments on them. This way you could develop into the “go to person" for advice. Team members are always looking to someone to help them with a problem. By becoming this person it will definitely enhance your career within the company. Do not be afraid to put yourself forward for new projects that may arise even if you think you don’t quite have the expertise. Make it known that you want to gain new skill and are prepared to go for new advanced experiences. Spend valuable spare time updating your professional and personal profile. This creates activity within the media, lets people know that you're around and your profile becomes more visible. Only you can manage your career and create a solution to promoting yourself for the future. Till next time… Solutioncoach

Embracing Diversity

"The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences." A true and direct definition of diversity in a straightforward expression.I would,however,like to share my experiences of diversity and the practical application in a training environment.In my current role I am priveledged to lead classes of students from virtually every corner of the world.A more multi-culturally and language diverse group of people would in the true sense be very difficult to find.The class often attracts around thirty students on a weekly basis who attend with the focus of building confidence and creating and resourcing a new and meaningful future .These students take up their seats on a random first come first served basis so have no pre-conceived ideas of each other.What a refreshing thought. No labels whatsoever. I,as the lead trainer,have no idea who is in the room either. So what a perfect match! Sobering,delightful and mentally invigorating. Diversity in its natural form. Within minutes the banter starts and self-introduction commences. The common language is English which makes me think back where two students sat next to each other and only discovered after four days that they both were natural Portuguese speakers. In fact when they found out they had a good laugh about it. So back to diversity then. It is up to us as individuals to manage cultural intelligence by ensuring that we align ourselves and embrace it on a daily basis. After all, it is people who can and must make the difference within all communities. Make yourself authentic and believable and refrain from hiding behind others.Work together just as I experience every week. I know it can be done! Till next time. Stay focused! Solutioncoach

Why didn't I get hired or called for an interview?

A common question across the spectrum of the jobsearch sector."Why didnt I get hired or called for an interview?". There are many reasons, however let us focus on just a one for now which I think has the most profound effect on the question.Intially when you apply for a particualr role it is mostly assumed that you have some sort of qualification or experience to do the job effectively.Well,otherwise why did you then apply knowing that you don't really have the correct profile to be a successful candidate.It is your attitude that carries the most weight in all aspects of the journey to success. What I mean is two-fold. Your attitude to the application and your attitude in the interview. Your demeanour will always determine the result that you achieve and at the end of the day who can answer the question. Only you and no one else. Till next time Solutioncoach

Do you need a personal vision statement?

I pose this question to you in my final blog for 2013.DO YOU NEED A PERSONAL VISION STATEMENT? It is the time of year when we tend to consider our New Year Resolutions!In the majority of case these resolutions do not last more than a week, if that.The most common being "I want to lose weight" or "I want to stop smoking". I would suggest that the reason for failure is that none of these or in very rare cases are they written down. In other words are these resolutions committed to paper. It is like creating a contract with yourself , signed and sealed.The fact remains though why don't we do it.It is not a bad idea to share your personal vision statement with someone who cares about you,someone who can support your quest for success. Your statement can guide your life and help you achieve. It can be equated to you using a personal navigation instrument. A document you can refer to when you feel lost and directionless. These are some questions you can ask yourself to help you formulate your personal vision. What are the 3 or 4 things you need to do everyday to feel content? What are the 4 or 5 life values that are most important to you? People comment on your strengths.Develop them further. Work on your weaknesses.Convert them to strengths. Consider what 5 of your friends would say about you if asked. Think about these questions and answers and combine them in to your personal vision statement.Remember this will always be a work in progress and will require re-visiting regularly.And of course don't forget to write it down.I cannot stress enough the fact that getting started is the most important positive action you can undertake. Picking up that pen and paper is your commitment to change and personal development.Only you can change your path to success, no one else, just you. Look forward to 2014.Make it your year! Till next time Solutioncoach

How to overcome procrastination

I have no doubt that most people tend to put something off that really needs resolving , yet tend to put it off, and then put it off again.Psychologist Professor Cally Lay says procrastination occurs when there is "a temporal gap between intended behaviour and enacted behaviour".Therefore a significant time between intention to do it and when the task is really done. The essential fact about this problem is to recognise when you are in the procrastination mode.Most of us tend to fall into this trap and then realise with a startle that the job has not been done.It causes unnecessary avoidable stress which is really self-inflicted. The crux of the matter is how to deal with this universal problem and take effective steps to combat this demon that many people tend to experience. I believe to prioritise tasks is an effective way to deal with procrastination.This, however,can pose a problem if you tend to only focus on the things that you enjoy most and find easiest to do.It's about being honest with yourself and making sure that you can indentify which task need urgent attention.Take a pen and paper and write them down , then rank them in order of importance and urgency.However, here's the crux of the issue. You need to know and be honest with yourself as to which task is urgent and which is important....... “...the best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future.” ― Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Till next time .... Solutioncoach

Interview question fascination!

I am always fascinated by the two interview questions that seem to be used very often ." What is your biggest weakness or what is your biggest strength"?I think it is often thought of as a trick to try and catch interviewees off guard or to really observe their reaction to these nebulous questions.Having experienced the usage of these ad nauseam ad infinitum, I am beginning to think that they are frivilous and certainly no value to either party.I think asking the weakness question is a trap to extrapilate useless and intimidating information from the interviewee.It forces the situation into sharing personal information in the process which is not required at this stage of the interview. I know that sharing a weakness can be extremely detrimental to the outcome of the interview and the possibilty of not being appointed to the role certainly increases.Therefore if you are prepared and think the question might be asked, try not to bring in any emotional viewpoint at all.An example would be " I get cross very easily if the work doesn't get completed" or "I get bored when people speak too much". It is always best to keep it simple . The strengths question could give you a chance to re-iterate your capiblity , however it is boring for the interviewer to hear " I have the experience" or " I am a quick learner". Try and think of something unique and exciting about yourself. The main issue is always be prepared because you just never know when these questions might arise. Till next time.... Solutioncoach

I am not getting responses to my applications.

I frequently get asked why don't I get a response to my job applications.If this is happening on a regular basis, then there has to be something wrong with the CV match to the actual job specifications. In other words does your CV have those all encompassing KEY Words. I am aware that this issue gets bandied around on a regular basis ,however it is up to you to make sure everytime that you submit your CV that you check, cross-match and cross-reference them. I know it is painful and laborious however it will make a huge difference to your success rate.It becomes a fruitless excercise to submit the same CV to every job that you apply for.That extra attention to detail will make a significant difference and no doubt attain a positive result. So here are some useful tips to increase your chances of finding suitable employment: 1)Select keywords from job application/adverts and mimic on your CV each and every time 2)Write a short and punchy cover letter 3)Make sure your headline summary/personal profile is convincing and accurate 4)Search in the right places 5)Apply for the right job suited to you-read the advert carefully Make your jobsearch and responses more frequent by following some basic rules. Till next time Solutioncoach

Jobsearch Power-How to create a winning formula

How can you energize yourself everyday to find the job role that you have been searching for over the last few months?Doing focused research is a balance between daily preparation and personal time management. Dedication to the task will produce the result that you want sooner than you think.So lets look at a few practical tips to make it happen: 1)Get out of bed at a time same as if you were going to work 2)Dress smart and in the same way as if you were going for an interview or off to your employment.Poodling around in your night apparel is a definite No No ! 3)Take the regulation breaks during the day such as tea and lunch breaks.This will help you keep in a routine mode 4)Keep a spreadsheet or record of your applications so that you can refer back to them for follow up I know this takes strict discipline however the turn around time will be quicker.Your confidence and self-worth will treble in value and with it your road to success will be attained. Till next time... Solutioncoach

Every second counts

So you sit in front of the telly and ponder what to do next.Your mind is in in a total quandary as how to box yourself out of this rut.You start feeling pressure build within and feel in a complete state of limbo.Your legs are heavy and just will not move.Come on.Speak to yourself.Feed your mind with focused thoughts. You are doing yourself a total misjustice. it just isn't fair to the people around you. The ones that love and care for you. Make a move now as every second counts. Pick yourself up and GO GO GO!! So now you are on the path to personal success and happiness. Keep that chin up and keep going and going !!! You will get there ... no doubt.Create your own SOLUTIONBOX to future success. Till next time... Solutioncoach