Simple ways to stem email stress June 17, 2015 Check your inbox less often but delaying responses could send out the wrong message For some, email is the bane of their digital existence. Indeed, email management takes up 28 per cent of the average working week, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. Common complaints include emails coming in faster than you can deal [...]
How to be more mindful: Some easy techniques June 17, 2015 You don’t need to set aside hours every day to take up meditation. Few will have missed the mindfulness zeitgeist. Employers from Google and Goldman Sachs to TfL are backing this Buddhist-inspired technique, which essentially promotes “awareness”, or the ability to focus on the present moment, as a way to reduce stress. But if your [...]
Perils of the amateur office lawyer June 15, 2015 If you’re making decisions that have a legal dimension, it pays to ensure you’re informed. Nearly 75 per cent of employees would rather not seek advice from their company lawyers about a serious business decision. The desire for ease and proximity means that turning to the person next to them is far more appealing [...]
Brainstorming: How to get that next bright idea June 14, 2015 In time-poor environments, there are simple steps to be followed. There's no such thing as a bad idea.” At some point, everyone who has ever participated in a creative thinking session has heard that saying. But is it true? Is every idea really a good idea? Alex Osborn, an advertising executive and one [...]
Three habits to secure a promotion June 11, 2015 Competence alone won’t cut it – you need to be comfortable discussing your success WHEN it comes to getting a promotion, it can be tough to distinguish yourself from the competition. Chances are you’re already working flat out and have taken on new responsibilities. But by making some changes to your daily routine and being [...]
Summer slump? How to maintain your productivity June 10, 2015 The holiday months are a chance to think more strategically. It's not easy to stay focused in the summer months. Your colleagues are on holiday, the weather may make your office uncomfortable, and you’ll no doubt be distracted by your own summer plans. But there are ways to ensure your productivity doesn’t slump in [...]
How to find success after a setback June 9, 2015 Make the most of your network and remember to take time out. Every high performer experiences painful setbacks during their career. While unwelcome and distressing, the big question is how you deal with them. Will you recover or fold? Recovery is not just about trying again, but bolstering your skills to become more resilient [...]
The secrets to having a highly engaged team June 8, 2015 Use internal talent to train and don’t forget old-fashioned thank yous. Only A third of UK employees are highly engaged at work. That’s according to our recent report, Employee Engagement: How British business measures up. It also revealed that line managers are the key to how engaged staff are at work. We all know [...]
How to become a good manager as you climb the career ladder June 7, 2015 Get it wrong, and it’ll irrevocably damage your reputation as you climb the career ladder. It's tough at the top, and even harder to get there. But before you plant a flag and celebrate your successful climb, pause and think how you would feel if your reputation and your value to the organisation had [...]
What the Tories mean for employees: From fewer strikes to more free childcare June 4, 2015 In the run-up to the Queen’s Speech, the suggested repeal of the Human Rights Act dominated the headlines. But now, it’s worth giving the government’s proposals for workers more time. The coalition made great play of reducing the number of costly, time-consuming and unwarranted employment claims that businesses were forced to deal with. Now, [...]