Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?

Stress is an inevitable part of our daily lives, and living and working in a city can be particularly demanding. But when the expectations we place on ourselves and our work are so high, sometimes life can seem completely overwhelming.

No-one functions at their best when feeling anxious, tired or fraught. Work or business starts to suffer, mistakes happen and relationships with friends and colleagues become strained. The paradox being that when we are relaxed everything begins to flow more easily.

Although a little stress can give us the energy to complete a task or take action, if you start to feel that the demands of work or life are out of control and if you catch yourself saying, ‘I have far too much to do..’, ‘I need to work 24/7 to meet the deadlines…’, ‘I can’t cope with the hundreds of emails..’, it’s time to take positive action….

Know your Circle of Influence. In Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he writes about the Circle of Influence and the Circle of Concern. We each have a wide range of concerns at some time in our lives - our family, our relationships, problems at work and it is these that make up our Circle of Concern. Some things we have little or no real control over and others we can do something about. The latter are concerns that are within your Circle of Influence. People who focus their energy and efforts on the Circle of Influence work on things they can do something about and as a result the nature of their energy is positive and enlarging, causing their Circle of Influence to increase. As Stephen Covey says 'Be part of the solution, not part of the problem'.

Set your boundaries. A huge source of stress is over commitment and poor time management. Resist the temptation to schedule things back to back and build in enough flexibility to allow for planning, preparation time and dealing with the odd crisis.

Take care of your body. Well nourished and rested bodies are much better able to cope with the rigours of daily life. Physical exercise, such as running, swimming, or walking, is a great way to release tension and energise you.

Laugh out loud. Laughter like exercise releases tension and floods your body with 'feel good' chemicals. Whatever makes you laugh whether it is watching a funny movie, a comedy show on the television or spending time with someone who makes you see the silly side of life, seek out some fun during your working week on a regular basis.

Take a mini vacation. As part of your week try to plan ahead and allocate specific days or time of day for your stress reduction plan whether this is meditation, reading, listening to music, being with friends, taking the dog for a walk or running. Make sure to turn off the phone, switch off the TV, and close down the computer!

Finally, as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said, "there is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub".

To find out more about our career coaching and development programmes please contact Susan@careerinsights.co.uk and we can book you in for an initial consultation.

How to Win At Interviews, Thursday 30 April 2009

Our next Monthly Group Coaching Call is THURSDAY 30 April 2009 at 8:00pm UK Time

If you are making it to the interview stage but not getting the job offers you want, then join us for our next Monthly Coaching Call on How to Win at Interviews.

On this call you will find out how to

• avoid the most common mistakes interviewees make


• answer difficult questions with confidence


• to sell yourself effectively


• find out what interviewers are really looking for
  

This call is FREE for all Mastermind members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with out special FREE 2-month "Membership" trial.

Stand Out In The Job Market With These 4 Steps

If you are in the job market at the moment, you may have noticed that every position attracts many more qualified applicants. It is a buyer’s market and employers are able to be very choosy about who they call for interview and appoint to the role. I know from speaking with clients this can be very disheartening. Clearly many candidates are well qualified and yet are missing opportunities because they are not seen as a perfect match.


Don’t despair. The best way to tackle this issue whether you are job hunting, applying for a job internally in your current organisation or would like to work with more clients is to effectively market yourself with a strong brand. Not only will this position you for opportunities now but it will set you on the path for future career success.

Firstly you will need to start thinking of yourself as a product or service that will add value to a future employer. And by developing a compelling and attractive self image or personal brand, you will become much more memorable in your chosen market; naturally standing out from the competition.
There are numerous advantages to having a strong image or personal brand:

• Employers or clients will be much more aware of your expertise
• You will be able to communicate with confidence the benefits you bring to the role and the organisation
• You will find that more opportunities and referrals open up as others with a better understanding of your capabilities will more readily refer you on.

Try these four simple steps to create your own individual brand and stand out in the job market:

Step 1: Block out some time when you won’t be disturbed and write down everything about yourself – strengths, talents, skills, interests, likes and dislikes, what gives you energy, what drains your energy, your passions. Really get down to the essence of who you are.

Step 2: Capture all the advantages of working with you. This could be anything from your ability to create time saving systems, resolve staff issues, ability to deliver on time and within budget, your flexibility, your stamina, your drive and determination. If you get stuck ask previous work colleagues, employers or friends what they have noticed.

Step 3: You may need help with the next stage as you translate this information into your marketing document that truly reflects your unique abilities, talents and skills.

Step 4: Finally look for all the opportunities to communicate this to the right people. Become known and recognised in your chosen market by attending meetings, speaking at events, joining professional associations, writing, volunteering, working on high profile assignments or contributing constructive ideas. It is still the case that the best way to get another job is through a referral via your network. To do this others need to know you and feel confident about recommending you.

Personal branding and marketing is an ongoing process as you naturally develop and grow. So continue to strengthen your expertise and refine who you are and what you offer. By investing in these steps you will soon be attracting rather than chasing after those opportunities.

If you would like help understanding your strengths and preferences the Insights Personal Discovery Profile helps you to gain a detailed understanding of your working style. Please click here for further information.

The Psychology of Colour, 19 March 2009

Our next Monthly Group Coaching Call is THURSDAY, 19 March 2009 at 8:00pm UK time

Would you like to find out how to make yourself more attractive to prospective clients, customers, and employers?

Then join us for this call on The Psychology of Colour with image consultant Keely Buston, who will share with you how the right colours, not only can make you feel wonderful but will help you project your personality and personal branding in a more confident way.

Colour is visual and bombards our senses, evokes memories, feelings, impressions, tastes and emotions. Colour influences everything we eat, drink and touch. Colour affects our moods and emotions, it colours our personalities – we speak of having the ‘blues’, a ‘golden’ opportunity or seeing ‘red’.

In this call you will learn the psychology behind colours - why do weightlifters lift heavier weights in blue gyms? - and discover how to strengthen your image by the colours you wear.

Keely Buston is Director of New Perspectives image consultancy. She teaches individuals the secrets to looking fabulous – whether you want to lose 10lbs without dieting, or want to know how to dress to impress. Keely can help you work wonders with your wardrobe!

This call is FREE for all Mastermind members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with our special FREE 2-month "Membership" trial.

Want to Make A Career Change? Follow These Steps to Re-Invent Yourself

After many years of working hard in my corporate career I woke up one morning with the realisation that I had my ladder up against the wrong wall. It took some soul searching, planning and experimentation to find meaningful work and re-establish myself but it was so worth the effort, even though there were sacrifices, doubts and challenges along the way.

Interestingly during my search for a different path I found that many friends and colleagues felt, like me, unhappy and trapped in unfulfilling jobs yet had resigned themselves to not changing. Often due to fear, family expectation and financial concerns.

There is no doubt that it can be frightening to follow your heart and it doesn’t come without some hard work and patience but it is worth the effort if you have dreamed of

* Becoming a solo-entrepreneur or running your own business
* Moving to significantly different work with a different type of organisation
* Continuing with your current work but with an organisation that matches your values
* A portfolio role of contract/consultancy work, entrepreneurship, board positions
* Retraining or studying to move into a new profession

Although career change is never a straight path, (there will certainly be unexpected twists and turns), if you follow these steps you can map out a route to a new and brighter future.

1.Self exploration. The first step is to take some time out to really get to know yourself and not just your skills and experience. Dig deep and find out about your personality preferences, your values and interests and the environments that bring out the best in you.

2, Identify options. At this stage I encourage my clients to think as broadly and creatively as possible about the options for future work. This is not about finding solutions but opening up and getting excited about the full range of possibilities.

3. Research and testing. Having identified all available options the purpose of this step is to conduct research and do some reality testing. There are lots of ways to achieve this through informational interviews, volunteering, research, reading, networking and evaluation. By taking an indepth approach to research and testing you can make considered decisions about your future

4. Transition planning. All good projects have a transition plan which maps out the steps to get you from where you are to where you want to be. A well thought through plan which includes everything from physical and financial resources to training, communication and timescales will give you the confidence to make your career change a reality.

5. Implementation. Once you have your plan in place you can start the process of achieving your dreams. Even though you may make some adjustments during the implementation phase you will do this with the reassurance of having a blue print in place.

10 Ways to Deal with Job Loss

It is very easy to get swept away by the news of thousands of job losses and you won’t be alone if you experience running anxiety about what the future might hold. Yet even though there may be worse economic news still to come, a number of employers are doing what they can to avoid redundancies and retain talent.

KPMG has asked staff to accept temporary contracts if the need arises and in Japan public and private sector firms are seeking to emulate the Island of Himeshima. In an attempt to keep everyone in work the island’s inhabitants sacrifice wages and regular working hours to keep everyone in work, and as a result have not been as hard hit by the global economy. In the US Obama’s message to the American people is that ‘we’re in this together’ and companies such as the car firm Avis Budget Group will freeze management pay to keep job losses down.

If job loss does become inevitable then finding work after redundancy is a full time job. Try these 10 tips to get you on back on track.

1. Recognise that losing your job is an emotional experience which can make you feel sad, happy, elated, frightened and anxious, so don’t be afraid to ask for personal, practical, financial and professional help. That way you will be in a good place to make wise decisions about your next opportunity

2. Create a vision for your future. This is often the perfect opportunity to take a step back and get in touch with long buried hopes and dreams. Create a vision board of inspiring pictures, words and photographs to keep you motivated.

3. Take time out to review your transferrable skills, interests, achievements, values and ambitions. It will give you a strong foundation for your job search and applications.

4. Seek professional help for your CV and covering letters. As these are the first documents employers receive you will need to ensure your details match the criteria and stand out from potentially hundreds of others. From my own experience of recruiting it was not uncommon to receive over 200 applications for one post.

5. Get plenty of interview practice. There will likely be more good quality candidates on the market for jobs so you will need to really be adept and standout at the interview stage

6. Creatively brainstorm all the possibilities for your future. Could you retrain, work abroad, sign up for Voluntary Work Overseas (VSO), set up a business, become a consultant or specialist in your field, work as an interim, take on projects, work part-time, volunteer to get new experience?

7. Get active with professional, social and online networks and increase your visibility. Don’t be afraid to let your contacts know exactly what work you are looking for as others are usually very willing to help.

8. Establish a routine and set yourself targets to achieve; such as numbers of job applications, phone calls, meetings. You will feel that you are making progress with a sense of purpose and direction.

9. Practice extreme self care which means regular exercise, plenty of sleep plus relaxation and fun

10. Outsource administrative and research activities. There are a number of organizations where you can hire virtual assistants by the hour. By outsourcing time consuming administrative and research tasks you will free up time and energy to focus on contacting companies, meetings, interviews and networking.

If you have experienced job loss or you are just making mental contingency plans, keep in mind that there is light at the end of the tunnel and many go on to lead dream lives.

How to Maximise Your Impact Through Personal Branding, 19 February 2009

Our Next Monthly Group Coaching Call is THURSDAY, 19 February 2009 at 8:00 pm UK time

How to Maximise Your Impact through Personal Branding

In these testing financial times it can be tempting to keep your head down and to hide away until the 'credit crunch' blows over. Yet this is the just the time to be visible, and to make sure others know who you are and what makes you different. In this call you will learn why the key to your success in this market is to be able to clearly convey your value to people in your workplace and industry, so that you are their first choice (the person they need for the job in hand).

In this call you will come away with the key aspects of Personal Branding and how to make it work for you.Our guest speaker will be Dawn Winder. Dawn is a certified professional coach with a background in marketing and business development. She runs a business that specialises in credible impact training using Personal Branding. Dawn works with her clients to help maximise personal credibility within their own organisation and in their marketplace. Dawn's clients include; Friends Provident, BBC, Diageo.

This call is FREE for all Mastermind members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with our special FREE 2-month "Membership" trial.

Alternative Redundancy Measures to 'Limit Damage'

With every day bringing news of more job losses there are some employers who are adopting alternative approaches to redundancy. KPMG in preparation for the downturn has launched an innovative programme called Flexible Futures. Having invested heavily to create a highly talented and engaged workforce, partners and staff can volunteer to reduce their working week or to take 4 and 12 week's leave at reduced pay. On the Island of Himeshima, Japan, the island's inhabitants sacrifice wages and regular hours to keep everyone in jobs. As a result they haven't been as hard hit by the global economic situation.

The Likeability Factor by Tim Sanders

Tim Sanders is the author of The Likeability Factor, which he defines as the ability to create positive attitudes in other people through the delivery of emotional and physical benefits. A low L-factor shows up when doors close, meetings get cancelled. A high L-factor shows up when you have more than one job offer and people want to spend extra time with you. Based on research it seems that job candidates are more successful if they are likeable. They get second interviews, onto short lists and are more likely to keep their jobs, both in good and bad times.

What To Do When Change Happens

As Carol Adrienne writes in her book When Life Changes - Or You Wish it Would, 'Life is not quite the same as it was. But then, it never really is. The pace of change seems to be picking up'. If at the start of the New Year instead of feeling hopeful and optimistic, life is starting to resemble shifting sands and the familiar comfort of your known world is in danger of becoming unpredictable and chaotic then don't panic too soon.

Change in life is inevitable, whether it is starting or leaving education, getting married, experiencing loss, or changing jobs. Nothing stays the same for ever. However, the fear of the unknown makes us resist change and want to hold onto the comfort of what we know. Ultimately this paralyses our ability to make choices, take decisions and spot opportunities or possibilities.

Being prepared for change involves flexibility, self belief and strength of purpose. Here are some ideas we have devised at Real Coaching Solutions to help you manage change powerfully and purposefully. continue to read