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Use your SUMMER Time Wisely!
My top tips:ROUTINE ROUTINE ROUTINE: Just because the kids aren’t in school, or you aren’t at work doesn’t mean we don’t crave routine, in fact, our brain CRAVES it! We love to know what to expect. Make the summer days just as routine based as you would your regular day, making more time for flexibility. When you have something to look forward to in the day, you are motivated to enjoy the rest of the day too!GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION FOR DOWN-TIME: Used to the everyday challenges and celebrations? You can incorporate that into your day too. Reading & Learning, Playing and Creativity, Physical Exercise, serving others – so many community events out there! Use your downtime well and you will have a fun packed and fulfilled summer!PLAN PLAN PLAN: Hands up, how many are thinking “summer is here and what’s the plan?”. Have a pow-wow with yourself, your friends, family and significant others on your bucket list for the summer. When you know what you would like to achieve, see and do over the summer, you can schedule it in! Or make a bucket list for next year!No regrets! Summer is ready for you, take advantage of the beauty of the outdoors, the learning opportunities, the reading opportunities, the opportunity to rest and recuperate!
Ella Bates – Master Trainer
Owner of Trainingx3 the patented formula for guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry. If you are looking for high impact training in your organization with long lasting results, we would love to talk with you. CLICK HERE
Why ‘WHY’ Is Important in the Workplace
They’ve said that stories sell….so should your internal marketing. People and key employes dont buy what you do, they buy into WHY you do it and WHY they should want it.
Simon Sinek believes it’s critical for employees to understand the “why” of the organization. Why did it start to begin with? What is the drive behind it? Why do the leaders in the organization do what they do? What drives them every day?
In organizations we get caught up in the ‘Busy-ness’ of the day to day, how often do we step back and look at the true purpose of the organization, how often as an employee do we step back and determine f our tasks are driven towards the strategic goals and the goals of the department, how often do we take a step back and look to see if the tasks and projects are aligned with our own personal values?
If our “why” is super clear then its super easy for our team to drive focus towards the why.
Make the difference between passion and a pay cheque.
As adults, we thrive in an environment where we can be highly productive, feel engaged and have accountability for our actions, when we know what impact we are having and the difference we are making, the motivation is higher and the productivity increases.
Do you remember “why” you joined the company, do you remember “why” your company was founded, do you remember “why” you have those projects and tasks on your list?
Everything starts with “why”
Ella Bates – Master Trainer
Owner of Trainingx3 the patented formula for guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry. If you are looking for high impact training in your organization with long lasting results, we would love to talk with you. CLICK HERE
Get a Difficult Conversation Back On Track
Frequently our conversations can into difficult conversations, frustrating, resentment and time and effort wasting.
There are many conversational tools we can become skilful at. Let’s look at our top 5:
TIP ONE: Shift to understanding and learning
In conversation, it can be challenging not to try to convince the other person to adopt our point of view. We ALWAYS have to see things from anothers’ perspective in order to communicate well. If we see a conversation about understanding and learning about another person, we can make space to take in their viewpoint. Each person will feel like the conversation is mutually an investment in time/ a partnership and not an opposition.
TIP TWO: No Assuming
When our opinion or our ego feels threatened, we like to guess what we believe the other to be thinking. The assumptions we make reveal a lot about what WE are thinking rather than the person we are communicating with. Assuming really does prevent us from really understanding the meaning to the challenge and being able to effectively come up with solutions. Drop the ego.
TIP THREE: Work together to problem solve
Not everyone can handle feedback with grace, and when we don’t, we don’t learn from the feedback. Have you heard of something called Feed Forward? Rather than tell the other what you hope can be a solution, ask them for suggestions. Our brain likes to perservere and protect our self-image, when there is a perception of working ‘together’, no-one feels targeted.
TIP FOUR: Be Friends with Silence
Sometimes, you may find yourself in a moment of silence in a conversation and all too often we rush to fill in the gap. Silence can very much be golden, allowing the words to be processed and calmly responded to.
TIP FIVE: Learn how to Handle Difficult Conversations
There are a myraid of excellent books produced on this topic, conflict is inevitable in the workplace with so many creative people and people wanting to share their ideas. Be open to reading, learning and observing how others deal with these type of challenges. Also think about how more knowledge on the art of challenging conversations can have on you, your team and your organization. Check out our Difficult Conversations Program fill the gap!
Ella Bates – Master Trainer
Found of the Trainingx3™ the patented formula for guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry. If you are looking to fill your knowledge gaps in your organization, we would love to talk with you. CLICK HERE
5 Ways to Sneak in Exercise
Some of your colleagues right now may be exercising, look around, can you tell? Probably not.
There are a number of ‘movements’ that you can do during your work day to exercise within the office and still maintain your excellent productivity record!
SHOULDER BLADE SQUEEZES
Pretend you are holding a pencil in between your shoulder blades and squeeze in and release 10 times
STANDING CALF RAISES
Stand behind your chair holding on to it. Raise your foot onto your tiptoes and hold 2 seconds and release repeats 10 times
PHONE EXERCISE
Get yourself a wireless headset so when you have to answer the phone, you can get your steps in
SOCIAL FITNESS
Need to speak to a colleague who you share the same office with? Don’t use email and the phone its too easy. You can be walking to their desk and asking them the question (builds strong relationships too!)
WALKING MEETINGS
Why should all meetings be sedentary, especially when there are two of you? If its informal and no major notes are to be taken, the get outside, get the fresh air, the exercise and the Vitamin D. Plus the movement will set for a great creative meeting
DDon’tlet the office become the reason you become sedentary by trying some of these steps, keep your day ‘moving’.
Ella Bates – Master Trainer
Owner of Trainingx3 the patented formula for guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry. If you are looking for high impact training in your organization with long lasting results, we would love to talk with you. CLICK HERE
5 Steps to Blissful Sleep to wake up Vibrant, Energized & Ready
Wouldnt it be lovely to wake up feeling super energized, quick and vibrant? Its a huge necessity, sleeping, it is required for your body to be rested so you can take on another day. Some days, people wake up still feeling sleepy even after 8 hours!
It IS possible to wake up feeling very much alive even after less than 7 hours sleep.
Tip One: Drink More Water
If you sip on a nice tall glad of iced water, it will help your body to rehydrate itself, help your digestive system and detox itself while you are asleep!
Tip Two: Write It Out
More than likely (especially if you are reading this) you have had a highly energetic day so winding down at night is tough. Get a notepad or a journal and write when you have accomplished and the things you plan to do the next day, make space in your mind for restful sleep not for re-playing your day or preparing for the next one.
Tip Three: Don’t hit the Snooze Button
Have you heard the phrase “You Snooze, you Lose”? You know that your alarm will go off again in just a few minutes, so there is no time to allow for a deep restful sleep. Usually producing a groggy feeling and being more tired than when the original alarm went off!
Tip Four: Turn off Electronics
Sounds obvious right? Your body needs time to shift into your sleep mode, the last hour before bedtime should be spent doing something mindful, reading or meditating or conversation. The light that is emitted from our electronica activate the brain instead of winding it down.
Tip Five: Cut out the Caffeine
Caffeine is designed to enhance your focus and energy. It can affect you up to 8 hours after your drink still stimulating the body at bedtime. If you crave it at night, stick with the decaffeinated kind.
Each day is a gift and our time is a gift, we don’t get it back and we cant return to it. Let’s use it wisely! Sleep is just one aspect of having a great day, check out our Productivity Bootcamp™ for more tips and tools.
Procrastination – Stop the Madness
Its the biggest killer of productivity, many things get put off in our work and lives, like difficult conversations, goal setting, not going to the doctors/dentist/banking app.
There are 4 reasons….
1.A fear of failure 2.Not knowing where to start 3.Allowing distractions that interfere with focus 4.Avoidance of unpleasant tasks
FEAR OF FAILURE The surest way to achieve success and not failure is to model someone who is already successful. If you don’t have good models, find someone who is the best in your chosen field and emulate them. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel – simply learn from the best. Someone has already discovered how to get it — and you want to figure out what they are doing right. Saving you the time and pain with their knowledge they have gained. Success leaves clues. Follow their strategy and you sow the same seeds, then you’ll reap the same rewards. Failure is about learning!
NOT KNOWING WHERE TO START Schedule milestones, chunk out the information. Simply begin with the deadline, then work backwards to block off time periods on your calendar to work on the project pieces. Set deadlines on every milestone. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time…dipped in chocolate. What does this mean? It means splitting big projects into small parts and making them more enjoyable. Perhaps playing lively music will help motivate you to tackle the project. Or, promise yourself some other treat after each small part of the task is complete.
ALLOWING DISTRACTIONS We are factually our biggest distractor…….Let me make a case for this with just this one question…..Do you randomly check email/social media, your banking etc?
Schedule specific times for checking or making a drink for you. Remember if you want to have that laser vision focus, you have to own it and protect that time. Our brains are finely attuned to distraction, so today’s digital environment makes it especially hard to focus. “Distractions signal that something has changed,” A great tool learnt at the Productivity Bootcamp™ is to have a list of areas of work that you can do in times of low energy, recharging, high energy etc.
AVOIDANCE Why are you spending your time doing tasks you hate? Is it something you can delegate?
I’ll give you an example, I LOVE cleaning, now I have a cleaner! I don’t feel the guilt of not having a clean house anymore and I certainly don’t feel guilty about the time that I have saved and can now provide more time to my clients.
Secondly, you need to ask yourself why it is so unpleasant! What is it you don’t like about it, why do you do it? Do you understand the value it brings? If you are doing a task that isn’t of high impact or value to you or your work or your business, then DITCH IT! In a Productivity Bootcamp™, we talk about the 4 D’s, Do It, Delay It, Delegate or Ditch It! If you are doing a task that is NOT of high impact or value to you, your work or your organization then DITCH IT!
Ella Bates Master Trainer & founder of the patented formula for Guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry within Corporate and Higher Education. If you want to have a conversation with a training expert who has access to the latest learning knowledge, we would LOVE to chat more with you CLICK HERE to get in touch. Read more at www.ellabates.com
Summer is Coming!
Ok its not here yet, but…….Summer is just around the corner, AND we know if we dare to blink, it’s over before you know it!
Have no regrets and start off efficiently planning for YOUR best Summer Yet with my top tips
Get your Home Ready Just one of your summer maintenance plans MUST be to check your Air Conditioner. Maybe even replace your air filter (we always do in the summer) Don’t get stuck on the first sticky day with a house full of dusty debris and a potential HVAC visit!
Get your Skin Ready Start buying the sun cream whilst it is on sale! Not only that, your poor feet have been hiding in socks all winter. Now’s the time to give them a big soaking and moisturizing treatment or even book yourself into the Nail Salon! You only have one set of feet to walk on, let’s look after them
Prepare your Garden It’s super easy, like me, to get carried away at your nearby Plant Centre. Be sure to save money and make a plan for your garden. Get out the notebook and make a plan for anything new you would like vegetables to start, mulch, plants, areas for maintenance. Get green fingered and get going!
Prepare your Closet Time to dig into your summer clothes box and see what needs to be donated and kept. Find your sunglasses (don’t get caught out on the first squinty day!) Flip flops and summer sneakers always go on sale at the end of spring. Put your winter coat into storage (just make sure to give it a good clean up first!)
Try Something New Summer is a great excuse to try something new as generally, the weather isn’t a great reason to procrastinate! So many outdoor activities not available to us the other half of the year thai chi, outdoor yoga, archery, tree-top trekking. Doing something new can be super invigorating! Get it scheduled in and revitalize yourself.
Make Plans with Family and Friends We all so often go into hibernation over the colder months, make plans now to have days out with family and friends, having fun plans in your diary can give you milestones to work towards
Get ready for summer now, it’s coming!
Ella Bates – Master Trainer
Owner of Trainingx3 the patented formula for guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry. If you are looking for high impact training in your organization with long lasting results, we would love to talk with you. CLICK HERE