http://www.stridingout.co.uk/ 2013-05-24T10:28:57Z Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management 2011-06-06T10:19:21Z 2011-06-06T10:19:21Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/managers-need-to-do-more-to-promote-work-life-balance.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p>Managers' performance appraisals should include their effectiveness in helping employees achieve a good work-life balance, according to a recent research paper.</p> <p>The study, carried out by Alexandra Beauregard of the Department of Management, School of Economics and Political Science, found that flexible working hours and help with childcare do little to reduce stress, unless there is positive input from managers.</p> <p>"I found a strong link between work-home interference and stress despite controlling for the use of options such as flexible hours, home working and the provision of childcare,” explained Dr Beauregard. “This stress results in increased absenteeism and reduced productivity so it is clearly in management's interest to address this."</p> <p>She added:  "The development of an organisational culture supportive of work-home balance is necessary for organisations to fully reap the benefits of their work-home options and alleviate work-home interference.”</p> <p>With UK companies and other organisations losing £11 billion a year as a result of stress and health-related absenteeism, managers are under even more pressure to balance productivity issues with the well-being of employees.</p> <p>An effective way to manage this pressure is through <a href="http://www.stridingout.co.uk/coaching-skills/coaching-in-the-workplace.html">coaching</a>. An independent study by Michigan-based Triad Performance Technologies showed that coaching has a positive impact on employees and their performance. It also revealed that coaching dramatically improves working relationships between managers and their teams.</p> <p>No surprises there, since managers who are involved in coaching tend to use coaching skills when dealing with their colleagues, which helps to create a more positive and proactive environment. And happier and engaged employees are crucial for organisations that want to be more productive and profitable.</p> <p>If you want to find out more about how coaching can take you and your organisation to the next level, <a href="mailto:[email protected]">get in touch</a>.</p> <p>Ana Paula Nacif is a coach with Striding Out. You can contact her at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or on 07951204999.</p>

<p>Managers' performance appraisals should include their effectiveness in helping employees achieve a good work-life balance, according to a recent research paper.</p> <p>The study, carried out by Alexandra Beauregard of the Department of Management, School of Economics and Political Science, found that flexible working hours and help with childcare do little to reduce stress, unless there is positive input from managers.</p> <p>"I found a strong link between work-home interference and stress despite controlling for the use of options such as flexible hours, home working and the provision of childcare,” explained Dr Beauregard. “This stress results in increased absenteeism and reduced productivity so it is clearly in management's interest to address this."</p> <p>She added:  "The development of an organisational culture supportive of work-home balance is necessary for organisations to fully reap the benefits of their work-home options and alleviate work-home interference.”</p> <p>With UK companies and other organisations losing £11 billion a year as a result of stress and health-related absenteeism, managers are under even more pressure to balance productivity issues with the well-being of employees.</p> <p>An effective way to manage this pressure is through <a href="http://www.stridingout.co.uk/coaching-skills/coaching-in-the-workplace.html">coaching</a>. An independent study by Michigan-based Triad Performance Technologies showed that coaching has a positive impact on employees and their performance. It also revealed that coaching dramatically improves working relationships between managers and their teams.</p> <p>No surprises there, since managers who are involved in coaching tend to use coaching skills when dealing with their colleagues, which helps to create a more positive and proactive environment. And happier and engaged employees are crucial for organisations that want to be more productive and profitable.</p> <p>If you want to find out more about how coaching can take you and your organisation to the next level, <a href="mailto:[email protected]">get in touch</a>.</p> <p>Ana Paula Nacif is a coach with Striding Out. You can contact her at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or on 07951204999.</p> 2011-05-23T09:15:42Z 2011-05-23T09:15:42Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/what-do-your-team-really-want.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p>If you are a small business owner and there is just you then you will know just how much many things that you have to fit into one day. You are probably clear about what you doing and where you want to take your business. So what happens when you have staff? How do you get them engaged and buying into your dream?</p> <p>What do you really know about your team? Are they happy? Do they feel part of your business? Do they know where business is heading?  Do they know how important they are in shaping that? Getting your people on board is the key to the success of your business.</p> <p />

<p>If you are a small business owner and there is just you then you will know just how much many things that you have to fit into one day. You are probably clear about what you doing and where you want to take your business. So what happens when you have staff? How do you get them engaged and buying into your dream?</p> <p>What do you really know about your team? Are they happy? Do they feel part of your business? Do they know where business is heading?  Do they know how important they are in shaping that? Getting your people on board is the key to the success of your business.</p> <p /> 2011-02-07T00:00:00Z 2011-02-07T00:00:00Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/the-3-cs-of-coaching.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p>Coaching has become a buzz word in recent years. It's the in way to work with staff, to work with clients or service users and the in way for schools to work with pupils, particularly the behaviourally challenged pupils.</p> <p>At Striding Out, we believe that coaching is an ongoing relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives. Through the process of coaching, clients or coachees deepen their learning, improve their performance and enhance their quality of life. It's a non-directive relationship. Rather than instruct, advise or problem solve, the job of the coach is to ask questions, listen and empower.</p> <p>The relationship between coach and client is key to the process.</p> <p><strong>What makes a great coach?</strong></p>

<p>Coaching has become a buzz word in recent years. It's the in way to work with staff, to work with clients or service users and the in way for schools to work with pupils, particularly the behaviourally challenged pupils.</p> <p>At Striding Out, we believe that coaching is an ongoing relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives. Through the process of coaching, clients or coachees deepen their learning, improve their performance and enhance their quality of life. It's a non-directive relationship. Rather than instruct, advise or problem solve, the job of the coach is to ask questions, listen and empower.</p> <p>The relationship between coach and client is key to the process.</p> <p><strong>What makes a great coach?</strong></p> 2011-02-07T00:00:00Z 2011-02-07T00:00:00Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/the-5-most-important-leadership-qualities.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p><img width="100" src="http://www.stridingout.co.uk/images/stories/coachesphotosupdate/rosalyn.jpg" alt="rosalyn" height="150" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" /></p> <p class="pink-bold">Article written by Rosalyn Clare, Striding Out Business Coach</p> <h6>What are the qualities most looked for in a leader?</h6> <p>The 4 most leadership qualities or traits which are most prized are:</p> <ul> <li>Honesty</li> <li>Forward-looking</li> <li>Competent</li> <li>Inspiring </li> </ul>

<p><img width="100" src="http://www.stridingout.co.uk/images/stories/coachesphotosupdate/rosalyn.jpg" alt="rosalyn" height="150" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" /></p> <p class="pink-bold">Article written by Rosalyn Clare, Striding Out Business Coach</p> <h6>What are the qualities most looked for in a leader?</h6> <p>The 4 most leadership qualities or traits which are most prized are:</p> <ul> <li>Honesty</li> <li>Forward-looking</li> <li>Competent</li> <li>Inspiring </li> </ul> 2010-08-06T14:54:02Z 2010-08-06T14:54:02Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/motivate-your-employees.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p><strong class="green-bold">Motivate Your Employees – One Mile at a Time</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>You don’t need me to tell you your employees are one of your greatest assets. With the average cost of recruiting, hiring and training a new employee at close to £2,500, you want to make sure that once you’ve found the right person, you keep him. Sound easier than it is? You’re not alone.</p> <p>30% of executives say motivating their employees is their toughest challenge.
<em>--The Creative Group</em></p> <p>So what does it take to motivate your employees?</p>

<p><strong class="green-bold">Motivate Your Employees – One Mile at a Time</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>You don’t need me to tell you your employees are one of your greatest assets. With the average cost of recruiting, hiring and training a new employee at close to £2,500, you want to make sure that once you’ve found the right person, you keep him. Sound easier than it is? You’re not alone.</p> <p>30% of executives say motivating their employees is their toughest challenge.
<em>--The Creative Group</em></p> <p>So what does it take to motivate your employees?</p> 2010-08-02T11:20:00Z 2010-08-02T11:20:00Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/think-different-the-power-of-mind-mapping.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<p>Mind mapping is the "art" of capturing and exploring your thoughts in a diagrammatic form, without necessarily using a linear path. Developed by popular psychology author Tony Buzzan, you may have seen these spider web looking structures online or in reference books and pondered what they might be. For something that can appear vastly complicated, mind maps are surprisingly easy to construct and a highly potent personal development tool.</p> <h5><strong class="green-bold">How's it done?</strong></h5> <p />You start with the problem or idea "bubble" at the centre and begin by drawing a branch out from that idea, which is a thought that you have associated with this centre starting point, i.e. (SUCCESS)--(FULFILMENT) Then, split that branch endpoint into multiple lines and associate a new thought or idea with that individual strand and so on and so on.

<p>Mind mapping is the "art" of capturing and exploring your thoughts in a diagrammatic form, without necessarily using a linear path. Developed by popular psychology author Tony Buzzan, you may have seen these spider web looking structures online or in reference books and pondered what they might be. For something that can appear vastly complicated, mind maps are surprisingly easy to construct and a highly potent personal development tool.</p> <h5><strong class="green-bold">How's it done?</strong></h5> <p />You start with the problem or idea "bubble" at the centre and begin by drawing a branch out from that idea, which is a thought that you have associated with this centre starting point, i.e. (SUCCESS)--(FULFILMENT) Then, split that branch endpoint into multiple lines and associate a new thought or idea with that individual strand and so on and so on. 2010-05-10T11:01:44Z 2010-05-10T11:01:44Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/discover-one-of-the-best-kept-secrets-of-successful-teams.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<div> When asking what is the major factor in making one team more successful than another the answer is always <b>communication, communication, communication.</b> </div> <div> &nbsp; </div> <div> Whilst this is common knowledge it is far from common practise. Common problems caused by poor communication are reduced productivity, misunderstandings, ineffectiveness, unnecessary stress and conflict between staff, increased staff absence and turnover and also the potential loss of new and existing business. </div> <div> &nbsp; </div> <h2 class="pink-bold">Positive and Productive Team Working</h2> <div> The<b> DISC Personality Profiling </b>system is widely regarded as the ultimate coaching tool as it enables management and individual team members to understand why others behave in a particular way, what motivates and de-motivates them; what their strengths and challenges are. When there is a lack of understanding, comments and actions are often taken personally. By including all the team in becoming aware of self and others can dramatically improve communication throughout your organisation. </div>

<div> When asking what is the major factor in making one team more successful than another the answer is always <b>communication, communication, communication.</b> </div> <div> &nbsp; </div> <div> Whilst this is common knowledge it is far from common practise. Common problems caused by poor communication are reduced productivity, misunderstandings, ineffectiveness, unnecessary stress and conflict between staff, increased staff absence and turnover and also the potential loss of new and existing business. </div> <div> &nbsp; </div> <h2 class="pink-bold">Positive and Productive Team Working</h2> <div> The<b> DISC Personality Profiling </b>system is widely regarded as the ultimate coaching tool as it enables management and individual team members to understand why others behave in a particular way, what motivates and de-motivates them; what their strengths and challenges are. When there is a lack of understanding, comments and actions are often taken personally. By including all the team in becoming aware of self and others can dramatically improve communication throughout your organisation. </div> 2008-08-29T18:39:50Z 2008-08-29T18:39:50Z http://www.stridingout.co.uk/managing-staff/how-to-handle-disagreements.html Heather Wilkinson [email protected]

<span style="font-size: 10pt">How to handle disagreements that occur in a team or in a work base relationship </span> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp; </p> <h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt" lang="EN-GB">

<span style="font-size: 10pt">How to handle disagreements that occur in a team or in a work base relationship </span> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp; </p> <h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt" lang="EN-GB">