by ctadmin | Jan 20, 2017 | Uncategorised
Two steps forward, one step back; if you’ve ever tried to help someone else to make positive changes to their lives, you’ll know that progress can be painfully slow. Just when you see that things are moving in the right direction, they revert to old ways which jeopardise all the effort they have put in so far. You might be a debt counsellor who is gradually helping someone to manage their finances, but just as things are moving out of the red, the individual splashes out on some unnecessary purchase. You could be leading a diet and fitness programme and after weeks of following a strict diet plan, your clients regularly indulge in a fat and sugar feast. These impulsive moments may be short-lived, but they can lead to feelings of guilt and disappointment. You might both be thinking ‘what’s the point?’ It takes more than a deep breath to find the energy and motivation to get back on track. Taking Action The majority of people would like to improve some aspect of their life and feel a greater sense of fulfilment. Yet even when we have the desire to change, it can be so difficult to initiate and sustain the changes that we need to undertake. We often turn to others to help us and this can be beneficial; it holds us accountable. A friend, a community leader or a professional, asking for help is a major first step in taking action. These people often provide practical advice on the actions to be taken. They might suggest small steps in the right direction and offer support at each...
by ctadmin | Jun 1, 2016 | Uncategorised
Every organisation wants a productive, positive and committed team, who support each other to get the job done. They want every employee to make a valuable contribution to the organisation and use their initiative to solve problems, spot opportunities and keep everything running smoothly. When they have found ideal candidates, they want them to be loyal and stay. In order to achieve these goals, you need strong managers. Any leadership role requires a diverse range of skills, yet many leaders aren’t given sufficient training to effectively take responsibility for a team. Individuals often end up in management roles because they have a wealth of experience in their field, but sharing this knowledge and empowering others is a completely different requirement. A strong manager has to both earn and give respect. They need to build trust within the team, encourage and reward, whilst also tackling problems when they arise. They need to understand the skills, expertise and potential within their team, which may not be completely evident in the job role that individuals undertake. They then need to use these individual strengths to best effect for the benefit of everyone. A good manager understands that a degree of flexibility and adaptability can be all it takes to help someone to fully engage and commit to the team. They know that feedback and appreciation can really motivate and develop the skills and confidence of others. They are willing to invest in training and development to build on existing skills. Effective Communication Skills All of these requirements are achievable if you learn, understand and implement effective communication skills. Learning to ask the...
by ctadmin | Mar 1, 2016 | Uncategorised
On each and every day, we rely on our interpersonal skills. Every encounter with another requires us to communicate. From a polite exchange with a stranger, to an in-depth chat with a friend or an attempt to resolve a problem at work, we need effective communication skills to get through the day. In the majority of cases, we don’t have time to plan and prepare a conversation. We speak, listen and respond to what’s been said. You may be well aware that our state of mind at the time can have a noticeable impact on how the conversation develops and the conclusion. If we are tired, angry or resentful the exchange is likely to be more difficult, even if we believe we’ve said the same thing as we always say. Our state of mind is also likely to be affected by past interactions with the same person or a specific situation that you are in. If we’ve been able to open up and be honest with someone in the past and our confidence has been kept and an issue has been resolved, we are likely to feel able to trust them again. If every previous conversation has ended in an argument, we probably act defensively and may be quick to interpret what’s said in a negative way. Enhancing your Interpersonal Skills In our formative years we learnt to listen, speak and pick up on other signals such as body language. We grasped the basics of communication, yet we may not feel that we’ve really learnt how to control our thoughts, words and non-verbal communication in ways that will improve...
by ctadmin | Feb 9, 2016 | Uncategorised
This year could bring the opportunity of promotion. Working for an expanding company and in recognition of your achievements, you could be given the chance to progress your career. A promotion brings excitement, self-development, challenges and rewards. Your new position means a new job title, which can come with a sense of status and a higher salary. It can also mean that you are given responsibility for other members of the team. Becoming a team leader, a manager, a coach or a mentor is more than taking a step up in the organisational hierarchy. It is about discovering how to motivate others, encourage them to do a good job and keep them working effectively as a team. It is about recognising their individual priorities, skills, experience and aspirations, so you can use them effectively within the team. Becoming a leader is about building trust, mutual respect and a positive work environment. It is taking responsibility for those you are working with, helping them to achieve, tackling issues, being open to ideas and rewarding success. You need to find ways of empowering the others in your team, yet being willing to step in to help out when necessary. A leader has to be flexible, reliable, understanding and an inspiration to others. If you have never previously taken a leadership role, these requirements can seem daunting. There is no doubt that the role is demanding. No matter how experienced you are, there is a good chance that new challenges will continue to present themselves. Lessons will be learned along the way and what works for one person may not for another,...
by ctadmin | Jan 5, 2016 | Uncategorised
At school we are pushed to achieve academic success. We are told that working hard and doing well in our exams is what’s needed in order to get a good job, be well paid and live the life we want to lead. We are told that going to university and gaining higher level qualifications will be rewarded out in the workplace. So how come we all know of successful individuals who struggled through school and left with little to show for their school years? The reality is that a higher level of education can open more doors for you. It can give you the opportunity to apply for a certain calibre of employment. It can help make things easier to understand when you first start work. However, when you are out in the real world it is clear that your attitude and approach play a huge role in your personal success. With the right attitude and approach anyone can work their way up. Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal skills aren’t taught as part of the curriculum, but we do learn them in school and other group environments. They are all about how we conduct ourselves and engage with other people. It relates to how we think and communicate in social interactions. Being able to work well in a team and communicate effectively with colleagues, customers, friends and strangers is the route to positive and rewarding life. There are many examples of multi-millionaires who left school without qualifications, but what they did have was the right attitude. They had drive and a determination to achieve. They were able to approach things in...
by ctadmin | Dec 8, 2015 | Uncategorised
Neuro Linguistic Programming is a training method that helps you to understand how your brain works and how you communicate. It can be used to improve your interpersonal skills, so you are better prepared to tackle challenges, deal with life situations, build rapport, motivate others and negotiate. Let’s Take a Look at Negotiation. Whether we realise it or not we all negotiate. It might be with our children ‘tidy your room and then you can invite your friend for a sleepover’, with your boss ‘if I come in early tomorrow, could I take a longer lunch break?’ or with a friend ‘help me sort this out so I can come to the party with you’. Some people perceive negotiation as one person’s power to convince you to do something you don’t want to. From this perspective it might be seen as sly or manipulative. In reality, good negotiation skills are part of effective communication. They should lead to favourable outcomes for all involved. Benefits of Negotiation Negotiation skills can help us to avoid arguments, diffuse anger and get results. Whether we want to get a more harmonious home life, build a strong working team, deal with customer enquiries and complaints or plan a social event, being able to negotiate is beneficial. Negotiation isn’t about persuading people to do what you want. It involves listening and understanding the motivations, needs and desires of others, as well as challenges or barriers they may face. It combines these with an acknowledgment of your own needs and then works to find a creative solution that everyone is in agreement with. Negotiation skills can...
