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Project Mapping Provides These Opportunities to Save Time

2008-08-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

The key to this time management training idea is to quickly get everything that’s important for the project down on paper. Begin by writing a project name in the center of your horizontally placed paper. Please recognize that this isn’t an exercise that requires neatness or beauty. Rather it’s an exercise that gets all your important thoughts down in one place for quick reference and easy organization.

Now that the project is in the center of the page you want to start filling in around the project. You may want to put the project name in a circle or box to make it stand out on the page. Next make another box labeled “the big benefit”. Draw arrows from this box and write out the big benefit that results from the completion of this project. You will find that occasionally when you evaluate the potential benefits of a project before you even start, that you find the project isn’t even worth doing, and then you save yourself a whole lot of wasted time, effort, and resources.

It’s always a good time management training practice to evaluate the bad consequences of not doing something. Make another box labeled “bad consequences” some where on the page. Now draw arrows from the box and write out the things that would happen if this project doesn’t get completed or completed on time. The funny thing is that most of the time you are more motivated to avoid the really bad things than you are to enjoy the really good things.

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Basic functions of management

2008-07-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

Management operates through various functions, often classified as planning, organizing, leading/motivating and controlling.

* Planning: deciding what needs to happen in the future (today, next week, next month, next year, over the next 5 years, etc.) and generating plans for action.(What to do?)
* Organizing: (Implementation) making optimum use of the resources required to enable the successful carrying out of plans.
* Staffing: Job Analyzing, recruitment, and hiring individual for appropriate job.
* Leading/Motivating: exhibiting skills in these areas for getting others to play an effective part in achieving plans.(To make individual work willingly in the organization)
* Controlling: monitoring -- checking progress against plans, which may need modification based on feedback.

[edit] Formation of the business policy

* The mission of the business is its most obvious purpose -- which may be, for example, to make soap.
* The vision of the business reflects its aspirations and specifies its intended direction or future destination.
* The objectives of the business refers to the ends or activity at which a certain task is aimed.
* The business's policy is a guide that stipulates rules, regulations and objectives, and may be used in the managers' decision-making. It must be flexible and easily interpreted and understood by all employees.
* The business's strategy refers to the coordinated plan of action that it is going to take, as well as the resources that it will use, to realize its vision and long-term objectives. It is a guideline to managers, stipulating how they ought to allocate and utilize the factors of production to the business's advantage. Initially, it could help the managers decide on what type of business they want to form.
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Source:wikipedia

Leadership and Management Courses UK

2008-07-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Motivation and control are also two other differences between leadership and management. A leader should provide motivation - after all, the leader is setting new directions. He or she must be ready to motivate by explaining why changes are occurring and what the desired results will bring. Motivation should also come from "kudos" for jobs well done and for improvements - this also means that encouragement must be the motivation for underperformance. A manager may have to take control after a leadership motivation occurs. This doesn't mean that a manager must be controlling or micromanage people or processes. It means that a manager must exercise a firm grip on the processes and ensure that people are getting their assigned tasks completed.

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stress management for nursing - stress management techniques for children - stress management for kids

2008-07-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

19. Shake It Up
This quick exercise helps loosen the muscles in your neck and upper back, says Dr. Sobel: Stand or sit, stretch your arms out from your sides and shake your hands vigorously for about 10 seconds. Combine this with a little deep breathing, Dr. Sobel says, and you'll do yourself twice as much good.

20. Munch Some Snacks
Foods that are high in carbohydrates stimulate the release of serotonin, feel-good brain chemicals that help induce calm, says Dr. Cooper. Crackers, pretzels, or a bagel should do the trick.

21. Boost Your Vitamin Intake
Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Food and Mood (Owl Books, 1999), in Salem, OR, recommends that women take a daily multivitamin and mineral formula that contains between 100% and 300% of the recommended dietary allowances of vitamin B, as well as the minerals calcium, magnesium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. Avoid stress formulas, which often contain large amounts of randomly formulated nutrients, such as the B vitamins, but little or nothing else, Somer says.

22. Get Horizontal
If sex has been on the bottom of your to-do list for too long, move it to the top. Sex increases levels of endorphins, those mood-boosting chemicals in the brain, and it's one of the best total-body relaxers around, says Louanne Cole Weston, Ph.D., a sex therapist in Sacramento, CA. Make a date with your mate, and don't let anything get in the way.

23. Admit It
Each of us has uniquely individual stress signals -- neck or shoulder pain, shallow breathing, stammering, teeth gritting, queasiness, loss of temper. Learn to identify yours, then say out loud, "I'm feeling stressed," when they crop up, recommends Dr. Rosch. Recognizing your personal stress signals helps slow the buildup of negativity and anxiety.

24. Space Out
Look out the window and find something natural that captures your imagination, advises Dr. Sobel. Notice the clouds rolling by or the wind in the trees.

25. Try Tea
By now most of us know about the calming properties of chamomile tea. But a steaming cup of catnip, passionflower, skullcap or kava kava also work, according to Dr. Duke. Whether you use tea bags or loose tea (one teaspoon of tea per cup of boiling water), steep for about 10 minutes to get the full benefits of the herbs.

26. Take a Walk
It forces you to breathe more deeply and improves circulation, says Dr. Cooper. Step outside if you can; if that's not possible, you can gain many of the same benefits simply by walking to the bathroom or water cooler, or by pacing back and forth. "The key is to get up and move," Dr. Cooper says.

27. Soak it Up
"When I have the time, nothing is more stress relieving for me than a hot bath," Dr. Weston says. "But when I don't have time, I do the next-best thing: I wash my face or even just my hands and arms with hot water. The key is to imagine that I'm taking a hot bath. It's basically a visualization exercise, but the hot water makes it feel real."

28. Play a Few Bars
A number of recent studies have shown that music can do everything from slow heart rate to increase endorphins. Good bets: Bach's "Air on the G-String," Beethoven's Pastorale symphony, Chopin's Nocturne in G, Handel's Water Music, or pianist George Winston's CDs Autumn or December..

29. Fall for Puppy Love
In a study of 100 women conducted last year at the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that those who owned a dog had lower blood pressure than those who didn't. If you don't have a pooch, visit a friend's: Petting an animal for just a couple of minutes helps relieve stress, researchers have found.

30. Practice Mindfulness
Heighten your awareness of the moment by focusing intently on an object. Notice a pencil's shape, color, weight and feel. Or slowly savor a raisin or a piece of chocolate. Mindfulness leads to relaxation.

31. Dial a Friend
Sharing your troubles can give you perspective, help you feel cared for and relieve your burden.

32. Stretch
Muscles tighten during the course of the day, and when we feel stressed out, the process accelerates. Stretching loosens muscles and encourages deep breathing. Molly Fox, creative fitness director at the Equinox Fitness Center in New York City, says one of the greatest stress-relieving stretches is a yoga position called the child pose, which stretches the back muscles. On a rug or mat, kneel, sit back on your heels, then lean forward and put your forehead on the floor and your arms alongside your legs, palms up. Hold for one to three minutes.

33. Say a Little Prayer
Studies show that compared with those who profess no faith, religious and spiritual people are calmer and healthier.

34. Make Plans
"Looking forward to something provides calming perspective," Dr. Elkin says. Buy concert tickets, schedule a weekend getaway, or make an appointment for a massage.

35. Goof Off
It temporarily removes you from a potentially stressful situations. Esther Orioli, president of Essi Systems, a San Francisco consultant company that organizes stress-management programs, keeps a harmonica in the drawer for when she's feeling stressed out. Bonus: Playing it promotes deep breathing.

36. Straighten Up
When people are under stress, they slump over as if they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. "Slumping restricts breathing and reduces blood and oxygen flow to the brain, adding to muscle tension and magnifying feelings of panic and helplessness," Dr. Cooper explains. Straightening your spine has just the opposite effect. It promotes circulation, increases oxygen levels in your blood and helps lessen muscle tension, all of which promote relaxation.
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stress management tips - stress management techniques

2008-07-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

18 Management Tips

Alternatives to Anxiety

Stress is a fact of life, but being stressed out is not. We don't always have control over what happens to us, says Allen Elkin, Ph.D., director of the Stress Management Counseling Center in New York City, and yet, that doesn't mean we have to react to a difficult, challenging situation by becoming frazzled or feeling overwhelmed or distraught. Being overly anxious is not just a mental hazard; it's a physical one too. The more stressed out we are the more vulnerable we are to colds, flu, and a host of chronic or life-threatening illnesses. And the less open we are to the beauty and pleasure of life. For your emotional and bodily benefit, we've consulted experts and come up with 37 easy, natural alternatives to anxiety. Enjoy!

1. Breathe Easily
"Breathing from your diaphragm oxygenates your blood, which helps you relax almost instantly," says Robert Cooper, Ph.D., the San Francisco coauthor of The Power of 5 (Rodale Press, 1996), a book of five-second and five-minute health tips. Shallow chest breathing, by contrast, can cause your heart to beat faster and your muscles to tense up, exacerbating feelings of stress. To breathe deeply, begin by putting your hand on your abdomen just below the navel. Inhale slowly through your nose and watch your hand move out as your belly expands. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times.

2. Visualize Calm
It sounds New Age-y, but at least one study, done at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, has found that it's highly effective in reducing stress. Dr. Cooper recommends imagining you're in a hot shower and a wave of relaxation is washing your stress down the drain. Gerald Epstein, M.D., the New York City author of Healing Visualizations (Bantam Doubleday Dell Press, 1989), suggests the following routine: Close your eyes, take three long, slow breaths, and spend a few seconds picturing a relaxing scene, such as walking in a meadow, kneeling by a brook, or lying on the beach. Focus on the details -- the sights, the sounds, the smells.

3. Make Time for a Mini Self-Massage
Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, recommends simply massaging the palm of one hand by making a circular motion with the thumb of the other. Or use a massage gadget. The SelfCare catalog offers several, such as the S-shaped Tamm unit, that allow you to massage hard-to-reach spots on your back. For a free catalog,

4. Try a Tonic
A study at Duke University in Durham, NC, found homeopathy effective in quelling anxiety disorders. Look for stress formulas such as Nerve Tonic (from Hyland) or Sedalia (from Boiron) in your health food store, or consult a licensed homeopath.

5. Say Cheese
Smiling is a two-way mechanism. We do it when we're relaxed and happy, but doing it can also make us feel relaxed and happy. "Smiling transmits nerve impulses from the facial muscles to the limbic system, a key emotional center in the brain, tilting the neurochemical balance toward calm," Dr. Cooper explains. Go ahead and grin. Don't you feel better already?

6. Do Some Math
Using a scale of one to 10, with one being the equivalent of a minor hassle and 10 being a true catastrophe, assign a number to whatever it is that's making you feel anxious. "You'll find that most problems we encounter rate somewhere in the two to five range -- in other words, they're really not such a big deal," says Dr. Elkin.

7. Stop Gritting Your Teeth
Stress tends to settle in certain parts of our bodies, the jaw being one of them. When things get hectic, try this tip from Dr. Cooper: Place your index fingertips on your jaw joints, just in front of your ears; clench your teeth and inhale deeply. Hold the breath for a moment, and as you exhale say, "Ah-h-h-h," then unclench your teeth. Repeat a few times.

8. Compose a Mantra
Devise an affirmation -- a short, clear, positive statement that focuses on your coping abilities. "Affirmations are a good way to silence the self-critical voice we all carry with us that only adds to our stress," Dr. Elkin says. The next time you feel as if your life is one disaster after another, repeat 10 times, "I feel calm. I can handle this."

9. Check Your Chi
Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is a 5,000-year-old Chinese practice designed to promote the flow of chi, the vital life force that flows throughout the body, regulating its functions. Qigong master Ching-Tse Lee, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Brooklyn College in New York, recommends this calming exercise: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel. Bend your knees to a quarter-squat position (about 45 degrees) while keeping your upper body straight. Observe your breathing for a couple of breaths. Inhale and bring your arms slowly up in front of you to shoulder height with your elbows slightly bent. Exhale, stretching your arms straight out. Inhale again, bend your elbows slightly and drop your arms down slowly until your thumbs touch the sides of your legs. Exhale one more time, then stand up straight.

10. Be a Fighter
"At the first sign of stress, you often hear people complain, 'What did I do to deserve this?'" says Dr. Cooper. The trouble is, feeling like a victim only increases feelings of stress and helplessness. Instead, focus on being proactive. If your flight gets canceled, don't wallow in self-pity. Find another one. If your office is too hot or too cold, don't suffer in silence. Call the building manager and ask what can be done to make things more comfortable.

11. Put It on Paper
Writing provides perspective, says Paul J. Rosch, M.D., president of the American Institute of Stress in Yonkers, NY. Divide a piece of paper into two parts. On the left side, list the stressors you may be able to change, and on the right, list the ones you can't. "Change what you can," Dr. Rosch suggests, "and stop fretting over what you can't."

12. Count to 10
Before you say or do something you'll regret, step away from the stressor and collect yourself, advises Dr. Cooper. You can also look away for a moment or put the caller on hold. Use your time-out to take a few deep breaths, stretch, or recite an affirmation.

13. Switch to Decaf
Wean yourself slowly, or you might get a caffeine-withdrawal headache that could last for several days, cautions James Duke, Ph.D., the Fulton, MD, author of The Green Pharmacy (Rodale Press, 1997). Subtract a little regular coffee and add some decaf to your morning cup. Over the next couple of weeks, gradually increase the proportion of decaf to regular until you're drinking all decaf. You should also consider switching from regular soft drinks to caffeine-free ones or sparkling mineral water.

14. Just Say No
Trying to do everything is a one-way ticket to serious stress. Be clear about your limits, and stop trying to please everyone all the time.

15. Take a Whiff
Oils of anise, basil, bay, chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rose, and thyme are all soothing, say Kathy Keville and Mindy Green, coauthors of Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art (Crossing Press, 1995). Place a few pieces of rock salt in a small vial, then add a couple of drops of the oil of your choice (the rock salt absorbs the oil and is much less risky to carry around in your purse than a bottle of oil). Open the vial and breathe in the scent whenever you need a quick stress release.

16. Warm Up
Try this tip from David Sobel, M.D., in San Jose, CA, author of The Healthy Mind, Healthy Body Handbook (I S H K Book Service, 1997) : Rub your hands together vigorously until they feel warm. Then cup them over your closed eyes for five seconds while you breathe deeply. The warmth and darkness are comforting.

17. Say Yes to Pressure
Acupressure stimulates the same points as acupuncture, but with fingers instead of needles. Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA, recommends pressing on the following three points:

The Third Eye, located between the eyebrows, in the indentation where the bridge of the nose meets the forehead.

The Heavenly Pillar, on the back of the neck slightly below the base of the skull, about half an inch to the left or right of the spine.

The Heavenly Rejuvenation, half an inch below the top of each shoulder, midway between the base of the neck and the outside of the shoulder blade.

Breathe deeply and apply firm, steady pressure on each point for two to three minutes. The pressure should cause a mild aching sensation, but not pain.

18. Schedule Worry Time
Some stressors demand immediate attention -- a smoke alarm siren or a police car's whirling red light. But many low-grade stressors can be dealt with at a later time, when it's more convenient. "File them away in a little mental compartment, or make a note," Dr. Elkin says, "then deal with them when the time is right. Don't let them control you."

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Management Development

2008-07-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

Management Development is best described as the process from which managers learn and improve their skills not only to benefit themselves but also their employing organisations.

In organisational development (OD), the effectiveness of management is recognised as one of the determinants of organisational success. Therefore, investment in management development UK can have a direct economic benefit to the organisation.

Managers are exposed to learning opportunities whilst doing their jobs, if this informal learning is used as a formal process then it is regarded as management development.

In 2004 the spend per annum per manager on management and leadership development was £1,035, an average of 6.3 days per manager.

What management development includes:

structured informal learning: work-based methods aimed at structuring the informal learning which will always take place
formal training courses of various kinds: from very specific courses on technical aspects of jobs to courses on wider management skills
education: which might range from courses for (perhaps prospective) junior managers or team leaders
- Level 2 Teamleading (ILM)
- NVQ Level 3
- Certificate in Management /Studies
- Diploma in Management /Studies
- MSc/MA in management or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.

The term 'leadership' is often used almost interchangeably with 'management' Leadership which deals with emotions is an important component of management which is about rational thinking..^[3]

The Management Charter Intiative (MCI) originally set out management competencies for management S/NVQ’s, these competencies are now part of the National Qualification Framework (NQF), it is from these competencies that managers can be assessed and development needs determined. http://www.mast.co.uk/

Source: wikipedia

What is Leadership Training?

2008-06-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

The introduction of a successful leader into a management team is a good investment for any organization. Leaders visualize plans, inspire subordinates and plan the required course. Leadership skills comprise of various qualities such as optimism, commitment and the ability to use power effectively.

Leadership training is significant, not only in the world of business, but even in the worlds of sports and medicine. Leadership training is essential for the social and economical set-up of any business. Leadership skills in managers are important ingredients in company's expansion. These skills are best acquired with the help leadership training. Democratic, autocratic and laissez-faire are the different approaches to leadership training. Each of these is unique and inculcates leadership skills based upon distinct operational patterns.

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What not to do in your first management job

2008-06-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

Being promoted to a management position is great – but beware of pitfallsCarly Chynoweth
MANY ambitious professionals spend the first part of their career getting very good at their jobs so that they are first in line when a management position opens up. Such a promotion is undoubtedly a great opportunity; it’s also strewn with pitfalls. Here are some examples of what not to do when you take on your first management position:

Overreach yourself. Gary Morris, the chief executive of iLoaded.com, a video download site, was once part of a smallish department at a much bigger company when his employer took on a new project manager. Although it wasn’t part of her remit, one of the first things she did was look at the department’s budget and decide that it could cut costs. Rather than tell her boss, she went straight over his head. "The business looked at the figures, realised how much [the department was] spending on staffing – and got rid of her," Morris says. Best to stick to your own tasks and respect the chain of command.

Think that management means more of the same. Gareth English, a senior consultant at business psychologists OPP, once worked with a new sales manager who thought that managing a sales team meant that he had to hit all his team’s targets himself. He ended up incredibly stressed. "It’s that classic thing of people thinking that what got them that far will get them to the next stage," English says. "But he was no longer supposed to be making sales, he was supposed to be making sales people."

Try to stay everyone’s best pal. This is a classic mistake, says Piers Hollier, a business psychologist at Getfeedback, a talent management company. "I was brought into a situation where the organisation had a team of people with a new manager who until recently had been . . . one of the lads – everyone loved him," he says. But the new manager was so keen on staying friends with his former peers that when their performance slumped he was unable to tell them to pull their socks up. Then his bosses started to ask why targets were being missed, leaving the manager stressed and unhappy as he tried to protect his mates from criticism. Hollier suggests that managers promoted above their peers should spend their first weeks thinking about what the new relationship means and how it will work. "You have to realise that you cannot be everyone’s mate. Accept that things will be different and plan for it."

Be arrogant. Richard Kemp, the director of the executive development programme at Henley Management College, once had a colleague who went into her first management job confident that she knew the best way for her team to do their jobs – the way that she had done things before being promoted. Understandably, this riled the team, who made life so hard for her that she left. "Her error was [to say] that her way was the best and only way for them to do things rather than asking ‘what is the best practice among us’," he says. "She says now that she thinks she lost [the team’s respect] in her first two or three days."

Be afraid to stretch your people. In 1991 Greg Searle, a practice director at the consultancy Lane4, was a top–level rower. He’d just won a bronze medal at the world championships when his relatively new coach sat him down for a motivational chat. "He told us that he’d worked out that, as we’d won bronze this time, we could get a silver medal next time," Searle says. It was one of the most deflating things he could have said; Searle and his teammates needed a manager who believed in their potential and recognised their need to be challenged. "I think it was a bit of fear about putting his own neck on the line," he says. Searle’s advice to others in this position? Get to know what motivates your team and don’t be afraid to set them ambitious goals. Consider another of his coaches who, when the world champions beat Searle by 11 seconds, told him that he was within touching distance and could go on to become the best in the world." He did – Olympic gold.

Assume that your team members think like you. When Jonathan Chalstrey, a consultant at MaST, a training company, worked in marketing, he was motivated by the thrill of a good campaign with strong results for the client. In his first management role, he assumed that everyone else was too. "I learnt later that one of our very good people was actually motivated by opportunities to grow her own skills and knowledge," he says. All his motivational efforts had fallen on deaf ears; she moved to a company that recognised what drove her. Better, he says, to have assumed less and questioned more.
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