How to bounce back from failure

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pressure1We all have our own definition of failure. For some of us, it’s not getting the job or promotion, or not getting the exam grades, or not managing to stick to the diet or exercise regime.

Failure can be the cake that doesn’t rise, the film script that nobody buys, the performance or presentation that falls flat.

We have what we call failed relationships. We have failures in communication. The possibilities for things to go wrong and for our hopes and expectations to be dashed are so vast that we might feel amazed that anything ever goes right.

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5 Body Language Rules to Break

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bodylanguage1Understanding how body language works is essential for effective communication.

Managing your non-verbal signals and reading other people’s is an integral part of the give and take of exchanging information.

At the same time, rigidly sticking to all the ‘rules’ about body language can be counter-productive.

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How parents can use silence to reduce exam stress

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don'tdisturb1The number of young people ringing the counselling service ChildLine for help with exam stress has risen by 200%.

That’s an awful lot of YPs buckling under the strain of coping with exams. Some of their anxieties can be eased by practical means, and there is loads of information available about planning and revising and the importance of taking breaks and exercising and having a healthy diet.

But with many students, the fear of failure, of not being good enough, of letting people down is a constant nagging at the back of their mind, a pressure, it seems, that all your care and concern can do nothing to ease.

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How to avoid stereotyping and labelling in the workplace

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wordtest1We are all pretty clued-up about the dangers of certain types of stereotyping. We know not to make assumptions about or discriminate against people because of their gender, race, age or cultural identity.

At the same time, we are fascinated by our psychological profiles. We find out if we are a driven Type A or a laid-back Type B. We discover our Myers-Biggs type, and love identifying how our colleagues fit in — ooh, I always knew he was an ENTJ (look it up), no wonder we don’t get on…

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How to get the best out of an introvert team member

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meerkats2The first thing is to hold back with the labels. Too much pondering whether your colleague is an introvert, or shy, or a highly sensitive person, or a mix of them all, or maybe just quieter than you, is not that helpful.

But good bosses and leaders are aware of people’s patterns and preferences, and are sensitive to their needs and responses. Understanding what makes someone tick is a key to bringing out the best in them.

Through playing to their strengths, and respecting and accommodating their different working styles, you enable people to flourish.

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How to find the time to nurture and maintain friendship

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friends2Robert Frost’s moving and thought-provoking poem The Death Of The Hired Man brings up the question of what is true friendship.

In the poem, we see a farmer and his wife talking about what to do with their former handyman, who has shown up again after walking out on them some time before.

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How To Be Assertive in Everyday Conversation

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lunch2The ability to engage with others is one of the characteristics of success and satisfaction in our professional and personal lives.

Relationships in and out of the workplace are formed and developed through communication. At the most basic level, you don’t need to speak in order to acknowledge and be acknowledged by those whose paths you cross as you go about your daily business.

A smile, a nod, an eyebrow flash as you pass, a little sound of recognition, all demonstrate polite awareness that we are in each other’s radar.

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