Stress: It's The Little Things That Get You
June 1, 2008
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Leadership in business management is not of epic proportions most of the time. Movies would have us think of business leaders doing heroic and super-human feats of courage. In fact, the very best of business leaders grow right out of the ranks of management, tending to the everyday humdrum gnitty-gritties that make up the bulk of most business days.
Good leaders are almost always aware of the stresses being experienced by the people they lead and whose work they manage. What are those stresses these days? How can the business leader be helpful without compromising productivity and profit? Here are a few items to consider. There are many more.
The stress of schedule. Consider: workers today have children to be picked up or taken to school and everywhere else. Workers also have spouses, parents, relatives and friends who sometimes need looking after, who sometimes throw parties and do celebrations, who often enough engage in shared projects such as building, painting or remodeling and who sometimes provide after-hours part time employment for your workers.
You can help reduce the stress of schedule by encouraging a flexible approach. When workers need to be late, miss half a day because of a school event, or leave early they should know in advance that they have your blessing.
The stress of money woes. Very few workers have too much money! Most can barely make ends meet. With gasoline prices inching towards $4 per gallon half of our country is approaching nervous breakdowns. Anger is rising. People feel helpless and angry as they get ripped off. Yes, it is only a few dollars. But yes, it is the little things that make for stress. The little things hit so close to home.
You can help by encouraging your workers to talk it over. Who could share rides? Who could pick up a needed item for a co worker on the way to or from school or the store? How could the miles travelled collectively be pared down by teaming up and thinking strategically?
The stress of credit. Without credit ANY minor emergency becomes major. It might be a medication, a dental emergency, a minor traffic accident, a broken window, a tax bill. It might be any unexpected expense, any necessary purchase, any financial surprise. Credit at this point in time is tightening. Money is not so easy to come by. Credit cards are expensive. Even a small financial worry constitutes a large stress because it never goes away. Some of your employees might also have large financial worries such as foreclosure, divorce or bankruptcy staring at them.
You can help. Help your employees get credit. Encourage and provide for financial management discussions that focus on where employees are, be that a need for understanding, a need for skills, a need for encouragement or a need to say out loud what is stressful, just to get the feedback and relief of knowing they are not the only ones. More significantly, never miss a chance to develop savings, bonus incentives, profit sharing, 401-K plans and any other type of financial advancement that would benefit your workers.
Medicine, gasoline, utility bills, house payments and mortgages, health care, insurance, credit, food and the future: it is a fairly safe bet that many if not all of the people in your company are VERY stressed about these things. There may be some who have lost loved ones in the ongoing military actions, others whose loved one is serving overseas.
Nobody expects you to solve their problems. But you can make it easier or more difficult for those you lead. Make it easier by thinking up ways to support and encourage your people as they search for solutions. No acting or pretending: be genuine, use some imagination and encourage others to do the same. And keep your word. There is more to business than production and maximum profit. Remember, you are a leader, not a slave driver.
Losoncy is a licensed therapist, an executive coach and president of three corporations. To learn more about his availability for trainings and for a schedule of his open seminars go to http://www.mvpseminars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Losoncy
Live for Today, Play for Today
May 28, 2008
The Power of Play to Exploit the Present
Constant worry about what’s around the corner is a waste of energy and can cause stress and anxiety. Your quality of life will improve a great deal when you take time to live in the present moment. You do that best when you play.
Recently I walked into a meeting of
Imagine you got up right now and played a game for the next 30 minutes with your colleagues. You laughed joked, poked fun at each other and were really engaged in the activity- what would be the result?
Decreased Tension
Expressed Emotion
Increased “feel good” endorphins
Increased Oxygen (increasing energy and focus)
Increased rapport and comrade
Have better social skills to relate to others
Elevated trust
Increased creativity…. Just to name a few benefits.
The sum result of all of this is when you go back to work you would have more energy, better teamwork and be more productive. No I’m not kidding.
This is not a program but a philosophy. Fun is spontaneous- it doesn’t necessarily happen on schedule; it grows in a culture that fosters its existence. You can’t plan to have fun you just have it.
The definition of play is, ‘a physical or mental leisure activity that is undertaken purely for enjoyment or amusement and has no other objective’. (Play Therapy International)
The use of play engages people in the moment. Time flies when you’re having fun because fun is in the present moment. It is positive, healthy, and vibrant and it is right here right now. When you play you usually laugh -Laughing heightens the experience of being in the present moment because it involves the emotions, the body, and the intellect, all at the same time.
The Power of Now.
When you are in the moment you have an infinite source of energy, it’s a state of flow where things are easy. You are in the present, and it’s the most dynamic, fluid awareness.
Play is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, and boosts our ego (Landreth, 2002). In addition, play allows us to practice skills and roles needed for survival. Learning and development are best fostered through play (Russ, 2004)
More Fun = More Energy
Think of fun as something like electricity that can be accessed in different wattages. When you play more you learn to use higher energy levels for a sustained time. You can learn to plug into more power and use it without burning yourself out. Some people can use only very small amounts of power and some have developed and earned the ability to use very large amounts of it.
Manage your Time and your Energy
Managing time often involves setting goals to be reached within a set timeframe. Goals that won’t be accomplished immediately but hours, a month or a year down the road. To be most productive we have to also manage our energy. It’s our energy that we give to the present moment where we actually get the work done. There are numerous ways to increase energy like exercise, nutrition, sleep, etc and they all involve leaving the activity (the work that achieves the goal), get energized and come back to the work.
Fun also increases energy and it’s in the moment, so it doesn’t require time away from your present activity. If you can have fun while working, by experiencing the work you are doing as playful, light hearted and fun than you increase energy, accomplish goals, and stay in the moment. In essence with fun we can manage our energy and our time.
Play Therapy
So often in modern life we never seem to have enough time to spend with our children - just playing, just being there for them.
Play is now widely recognized as being beneficial in the emotional development of children. It has a therapeutic value. Play therapists are licensed professionals who use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. (Association for Play Therapy)
Techniques used by play therapists range from Therapeutic Story Telling, Drama and Role Playing, Puppets and Masks.
Some studies indicate that 70% of children who have psychological problems are helped through the use of psychological based therapies such as play and creative arts.
Nuero science research confirms the importance of play for infants in developing children’s brains and minds. It has also been shown that exposure to metaphor and symbols, as used in play, has a beneficial effect upon the development of the brain.
Jody Urquhart is a professional speaker who compels stressed-out and fed-up professionals to rediscover their passion, purpose & sense of play. To discuss having Jody speak at your next meeting please call us at 1(877)
Get More Business Results By Having A Little Fun!
May 24, 2008
Do you think it's appropriate or professional to have fun in the workplace?
Research has shown that fun at work generally results in an increase of productivity, creativity, loyalty, and morale. Appropriate workplace fun is a key method for energizing workers and putting some life back into their routines.
Here are some additional benefits of having fun at work:
Fun fulfills the basic human need to be social
Fun can instill a sense of teamwork
Fun usually improves communication
Fun breaks up boredom that comes from doing repetitive work
Fun can dissolve conflict and tension
Fun can foster a positive company culture
Fun creates an opportunity for networking
The best type of workplace fun creates congratulations and "high fives" among coworkers. It might be a non-competitive ice breaker event scheduled in the office before a company meeting. Or it could be a sporting event that takes place after work with departmental teams that compete at the bowling alley or on the ball field. Lots of different activities can teach employees how working as a team can be fun as well as productive.
Social interaction among coworkers allows for an opportunity to improve one's "Soft Skills", or people skills. Soft skills are the compliment to Hard skills, which are the technical requirements of a job.
When having fun, we get to see our coworkers and managers in a more casual light. This glimpse into their non-business personality may make them seem more human and foster an improved, genuine relationship.
Matt Weinstein, author of the book, Managing to Have Fun, says that many bosses and entrepreneurs find it difficult to have fun at work. He feels they need to learn how to build more fun into the workday and to celebrate successes. If that doesn't happen, Weinstein warns that bosses can drive away the top employees who are responsible for those company successes.
But management can't just mandate that everyone else celebrate and enjoy themselves. The boss must participate, especially in smaller companies. Top management always sets the tone for the entire company, so if their fun isn't genuine or sincere it'll be obvious to everyone else.
Let's be clear that the following behavior should not be considered fun:
Telling inappropriate jokes
Being deceptive or playing pranks
Making fun of or teasing coworkers
Mocking or mimicking management
Play that intentionally excludes someone
Having fun at work should result in a renewed feeling of cooperation and a shared mission. If it doesn't accomplish this goal, in my opinion it's not a good use of company time and resources.
"A smile is the shortest distance between people." – Victor Borge (1909-2000)
Laura Adams is the host of the popular MBA Working Girl Podcast.The content combines brainy business school theory with real-world business practice from her career as a business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. Subscribe for FREE to this top-rated show and get the useful MBA Essential Tip athttp://www.mbaworkinggirl.com
Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People
May 6, 2008
Martin Haworth
Motivating people is a sure way to get the best from them - yet it is not something for a to-do list. Motivation comes from consistent cultural shifts from within.
Managers are the ones who can show behaviors which will make the difference and lead to a team of highly motivated individuals developing your business forward.
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten top ways to get your people motivated. Ten small steps for you to start with.
- Recognize them
Recognize your people as people, by saying 'Good Morning', checking that they're OK and taking a little time with them. - Challenge them
People need stimulation at work, so to encourage growth, build on their achievement of one skill, with the introduction of another. Instruct, coach and then delegate the new task. - Encourage fun
whilst it is a fine line between having fun and anarchy, it is worthwhile spending the time to understand, define and explore that boundary. Having fun is a great way to build team spirit. Checkout where everyone's 'fun' threshold is, respect it and then have a lot of laughs. - Listen - a LOT!
Listening to your people builds rapport and a bond which in itself is powerfully motivational. - Encourage mistakes
By stretching themselves, people sometimes get it wrong - and sometimes make gloriously powerful 'inventions' to move your business forward. By creating an environment where mistakes are not wrong but encouraged, you will find creativity soars. Even mistakes where things go wrong and cost money should not be wasted. Create value from these by really learning for the future…as Henry Ford once said "Bring me people who make mistakes" Make it a safe place! - Say Thank You
It is surprising how much reward we all get from being recognized. The humble (if rare in some organizations), "Thank You" is a simple, yet very powerful way to recognize the efforts every one of your team puts in every day. Think of the last time someone said thank you to you and how great that made you feel. - Be Understanding
This tip needs careful and skilful management and great managers can do it. Understand that your people are real people with emotions and experiences which impact on them. Being sympathetic to their needs, occasionally and not so often that it impacts your business, will bring great rewards and commitment. Do set ground rules for yourself which allow 'understanding', yet enable you to draw the line clearly and firmly when you need to. Be consistent and fair. - Get Out of Their Way
By allowing your people to carry out 'the boss's work', you strongly build self-belief in your people. Be fair and don't just delegate the 'rubbish' jobs, but some of your fun jobs as well (and remember to choose individuals whose strengths match the task). - Share How You are Feeling
By being a partner with your people and showing that you are a real person too, you will encourage others to take big steps with you. This works because understanding that you share hopes, fears and challenges in common with your people makes them feel a committed part of you, as well as your business - this is a powerful message which they share. - Reward
Last but not least, pay appropriately. Whilst if you pay brilliantly, yet miss out 1-9 you may get short-term gain, it is unlikely to maintain motivation for more than a while. Conversely, if you pay badly, you may lose people because they simply can't afford to stay with you, however great it is. Striking a balance is the ideal. Don't forget to recognize with some fun rewards and as in No. 6, say thank you a lot. It will pay dividends and is free!
Copyright 2006 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com.…helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow…
"Used by permission of www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com"
Fed Up? Lighten Up!
May 3, 2008
Enjoy this Play on Words from Jody Urquhart
Having fun increases energy and enthusiasm for your job
Don’t be grumpy and stressed out or you’ll be the office knob
Roger Von Oech, author of “A Whack On The Side Of the Head”
Presents “being too serious is harmful”, so lighten up instead
It’s easy to get along when people have a good sense of humor
Poke fun at stressful situations, not at people and workplace rumors
Humor builds self confidence; it’s good to laugh at yourself
Take responsibility for your mistakes, not blame somebody else
Don’t be a troublemaker, or a let-down filled with cynicism
As laughter defuses tension, well placed humor softens criticism
You’ll be creative and productive as it ignites whole brain thinking
So tell a joke, do something silly and not just because you’ve been drinking
The average person spends eight hours at the place of their employ
If you are working with difficult people it’s not something to enjoy
Today there’s so much grumbling, that we are doing more with less
It‘s with a negative response that people deal with the stress
Some say “leave me alone, I’m busy”, or “I’ve got too much to do”
It’s that they’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s not to do with you
Everyone finds at least part of their job to be quite irritating
Files, forms and paperwork plus all the government’s dictating
People have different work principles; we can’t all do things the same way
It’s alright if just once in a while, you let your opinion sway
Everyone wants to feel important, significant and unique
Compliment them for a job well done, don’t always be a critique
This might not work for everyone, it’s only a proposal
You can come up with other ideas to use at your disposal
Just don’t wait for service milestones to show appreciation
Do something different each chance you get, be an inspiration
Jody Urquhart helps professionals create meaningful and fun work environments.
For more information call us at (877) 750-1900 or see our website at www.idoinspire.com
