How to Excel as a First Time Manager

Receiving a promotion or stepping up in your role is a great achievement. However, becoming a respected and effective manager is a challenge unto its own. New managers often feel a sense of unease surrounding increased expectation to perform, along with adjusting to the responsibility of managing those who may have previously been their peers. Managers are generally the subject of scrutiny by frustrated employees in a workplace. Building good rapport is an important first step for any good manager. These are 5 steps a new manager can take to excel in their position.

1)    Training: 

Whilst some people are intrinsically good managers whether it be through their openness, communication (especially listening) skills, confidence or their general manner, it is always worthwhile to build on your current skill set. Taking up the opportunity to undertake a course in management either within your company if it is offered or externally can have lasting profitability in the long run. You may like to consider finding a good training program and getting all of the managers in your company on board!

2)    Effective mentoring: 

A manager who is able to mentor their team effectively is able to highlight an employee’s strengths and coach them in improving their weaknesses, in an engaging and respectful manner. Besides increasing employee productivity, this will also enable employees to reach their full potential.

3)    Character Judgement: 

One size doesn’t fit all and a good manager knows it. A manager should be able to tailor their managing strategy to each individual under their instruction in a way that promotes their best performance. This is achieved by acknowledging and respecting individual differences and is reflected in an employee’s work performance as a result of increased job satisfaction.

4)    Effective delegation:

A good manager knows they can’t do everything and is aware that another employee may have more knowledge and expertise in a particular area than themselves. To delegate effectively means to lose total control. This takes trust, respect and confidence in an employee’s abilities. By using effective delegation skills, a good manager can assign the right tasks to the right employee based on what they know about each individual’s strengths, knowledge and skills.

5)    Outstanding communication:

This doesn’t just mean telling. It means listening with intent and genuine consideration, and keeping an open forum with all employees. Creating a respectful and committed communicative environment increases employee self-worth, and confidence within their manager. Again leading to increased workplace satisfaction and productivity.

The way in which a manger conducts themselves can have a significant impact on the overall morale of a team and the productivity of a company. By using our five tips to tackling a management role, you are on your way to excelling in your new position. 

Mindfulness - reducing stress and improving communication in the workplace

As a society our overall wellbeing is decreasing. Findings by the Australian Psychology Society detailed that in 2013, the rate of stress, depression, and anxiety reported among people had risen compared to the previous two years of research. In particular, younger people are seen to be reporting the negative symptoms of depression and anxiety at a higher rate than their older peers. Furthermore, workplace wellbeing was also reported as lower compared with previous years.

With the rate of mental health issues rising, large companies such as Google and Apple have begun utilising Mindfulness in the workplace to ensure they give their employees the best possible chance to be resilient and self-sufficient in neutralising the daily stressors that they encounter.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is non-judgemental, open and curious awareness of oneself in the present moment; such as awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Research shows that developing this level of introspection has positive effects for reducing stress levels, regulating emotions and emotional reactions, promoting enhanced decision making, and decreasing negative thought patterns which can interrupt positive functioning throughout the day.

Mindfulness in the Workplace

There are great Mindfulness at Work websites that will give you tips on how you can practice Mindfulness while going about your daily work-related routine. Some of these tips are listed below:

• When you walk to the car or the train station, walk a little slower. Feel the footpath on the soles of your feet. If you notice any tension in your body, try to relax it.
• When walking try to breath in and out with every third step you take.
• When you sit at your desk, take a few controlled breaths in and out before you start your computer.
• Eat your lunch a little slower, take the time to chew your food and taste all the different flavours you can.
• When you are going to communicate something, take the time to think about what you are saying and how you will say it.
• Before you put your key in the front door upon returning home, stop and take a few breaths before proceeding.

No matter what industry you are in or what stage of your working life you are at, increasing your wellbeing is beneficial to you and those around you. Through the techniques of mindfulness, the added development of increased emotional stability and positive thought patterns will only improve morale and the company environment.

Mindfulness - reducing stress and improving communication in the workplace

As a society our overall wellbeing is decreasing. Findings by the Australian Psychology Society
detailed that in 2013, the rate of stress, depression, and anxiety reported among people had risen compared to the previous two years of research. In particular, younger people are seen to be reporting the negative symptoms of depression and anxiety at a higher rate than their older peers. Furthermore, workplace wellbeing was also reported as lower compared with previous years.

With the rate of mental health issues rising, large companies have begun utilising Mindfulness in the workplace to ensure they give their employees the best possible chance to be resilient and self-sufficient in neutralising the daily stressors that they encounter.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is non-judgemental, open and curious awareness of oneself in the present moment; such as awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Research shows that developing this level of introspection has positive effects for reducing stress levels, regulating emotions and emotional reactions, promoting enhanced decision making, and decreasing negative thought patterns which can interrupt positive functioning throughout the day.

Mindfulness in the Workplace

Seeing the positive effects mindfulness training can provide, it is no wonder that large companies such as Apple and Google (among many others) are arming their employees with the skills mindfulness can provide. Increasing effectiveness at work, the ability to handle conflict better through emotional regulation, and decreased workplace tension are just some of the benefits that implementing mindfulness practices offer. A prime example of mindfulness implementation within the workplace is Google; who run seven-week long classes for employees to focus on developing mindfulness skills useful for dealing with the stressful corporate world. Although smaller companies won’t have the resources for a seven week long course, introducing simple mindfulness techniques to employees can still have resounding results in helping reduce stress and improve the wellbeing of employees.

In any industry, increasing the wellbeing of employees is always of benefit to a company. Through the techniques of mindfulness, the added development of increased emotional stability and positive thought patterns will only improve morale and the company environment.

Simple Strategies to Prevent Workplace Anxiety

Workplace anxiety is more common than you might think. The ‘2014 Stress and Wellbeing in Australia Survey’ conducted by the Australian Psychological Society found ‘issues in the workplace’ was one of the top five sources of stress among Australians aged between 26-45 years, with a massive 44% of Australians identifying work as a key cause of stress. Work related sources of stress can include things like; starting a new job, lack of autonomy, heavy workloads, poor resources and limited support. Constant anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear, and feelings of impending doom can arise from stress and be long-lasting, even when the original stressor is gone.

With the fast-paced environments and pressures of meeting client demands, deadlines, and keeping on top of your game, it’s easy to develop work related anxieties. Struggling with anxiety at work can be debilitating; even the simplest tasks can become difficult to complete. Stress is often unavoidable in the working world, but it is helpful to identify key sources of stress, and have some strategies at hand to prevent it developing into a more serious problem.

Here are six simple ways to prevent stress and anxiety in the workplace.

1. Slow down. Close your eyes and focus on slow, deep breathing for several minutes until you feel yourself physically relax. This will make it easier to focus and gather your thoughts for the task at hand.
2.  Break it up. Sometimes when faced with a difficult situation, rather than tackling it head on, break it down into smaller tasks. That way, you can set goals for getting each part done. Reward yourself by taking a break in between set tasks; go for a quick walk to clear your head. 
3. Exercise. We’ve all heard that exercise plays an important role in keeping mentally healthy, and it’s true. Find and join a gym close by and go before, after or even during work. If you think you can’t handle those spin classes, make an effort to walk to and from work. Not only does being physically active improve mental health, just being outside with some natural greenery has been shown to have positive impacts to emotions and self-esteem. Every bit counts!
4.  Enjoy your social life.  Don’t forget you have a life outside of work. Catch up with friends and family to keep yourself socially active. Organise things for after work, so you have something to look forward to and keep you going throughout the day. 
5. Face your anxiety. That feeling of frustration, anger or nervousness might seem normal at first, but when it lasts a little longer than it should, it can be a good idea to talk it out to yourself, write your worries down, and actually stop and think about what is worrying you and accept the stress or anxiety might be more serious than you thought. Self-understanding is important to finding a resolution. If you think it’s weird talking it out to yourself…
6. Talk to someone else. Find a co-worker, friend, family member or a mental health professional that you are comfortable talking with. Sometimes just saying what you’re going through out loud can bring an immense amount of relief.

Stress is a normal reaction when something at work is a little more demanding or challenging. However, it’s good to learn to recognise the signs when it’s getting a bit too much for you. Many organisations have an Employee Assistance Program available to help employees enhance their health and wellbeing, and some even accommodate leave of absence from work so you can have a day away to mentally recharge. If you’re finding anxiety is getting the better of you, take a minute to discuss your options with your manager or supervisor, or contact a medical professional for extra support.

6 simple ways to manage email overload

Email has forever changed the way ideas, schedules and updates are communicated in the office. Now, it is commonplace to receive a barrage of hundreds of emails a day into your inbox. As busy people, it should be making our lives easier, right? Yet somehow one of the most common excuses of not getting things done often revolves around having too many emails to respond to and not enough time. Here are seven simple ways to cope with these constant demands without compromising productivity and quality, to make sure things can run more smoothly in your business!

      Use priority labels

Mark incoming emails according to importance/urgency – establish a system where you aim to respond to all “highly”-important emails, some “moderately”-important emails, and no “un”-important emails. Otherwise you will be more prone to running into ‘switch-tasking’ rather than multi-tasking where you are viewing many emails but not answering as many as you could.

      Assign a designated time for checking and responding to emails

If your workplace does not rely on constant email contact, compartmentalising time for emails can help stop the constant ‘stop-start’ nature of responding to emails as they come through. Only responding to emails at specific times during the day helps to stop distractions and can also improve productivity. 

      Offer one reply per project/person

You may find that some colleagues send you multiple, shorter emails, almost in a conversational style. While it can be easy to fall into the trap of spending time on each individual email, why not respond to related projects/people in one email? This may also aid communication between project officers and ensure that you have provided a consistent answer. One method of shortening times to respond that works well with familiar contacts or clients is providing answers next to their original text in a different colour, making future reference easier.

      Proof read before sending

Proof reading is important in all types of written communication, and email is no exception to this. Given that physical aspects of communication like tone and body language are absent in email, try to imagine how the other person would interpret what you have said. Communicate clearly enough that they cannot misunderstand you.

      Only write what you would say in a court of law

Workplace emails are considered the property of the workplace. Avoid gossip, angry emails or misinformation, and keep it simple. Assume that whatever you have written could be made public and used against you. This will keep you safe and even foster better quality communication between colleagues.

      Consider your email signature as a marketing opportunity

Rather than simply signing off an email, don’t miss this opportunity to market your brand. Under your name and title, consider placing a quote or visionary statement that helps capture what you do. This will also make it easier for people to contact you via phone or find your address if need be.

Poor email management can make email communication seem never-ending and messy. Smart email management starts with clearer thinking before leaping into activity, and can lead to greater productivity and clearer communication.  Try out some of the above and let us know if they have given you more opportunity to focus on your core value activities!

Job Interviews: The Dos and Don’ts of Confidence

For most of us, job interviews are an essential (though sometimes terrifying) part of life. Most people realise that presenting yourself confidently in interviews is often necessary to land the job… but it’s a lot easier said than done! Here are a few ideas to get you looking (and feeling) more confident for your next interview.

DO	DON’T
Start with an assuring handshake Don’t be afraid to initiate the handshake. This is probably the easiest way to show your interviewer that you are comfortable interacting with them. It also demonstrates that you know basic social skills… bonus!	Scare them! All the rumours you may have heard about making sure you’re not the one to end a handshake or holding eye contact forever won’t help here. Just a crisp, friendly greeting and a “great to meet you!” will do.
Dress for the job you want Finding out what the dress code is and planning your job-winning outfit accordingly is a great idea, and even if their staff wear t-shirts and jeans, be sure to still arrive in a suit. An interview and a standard day at work are two very different things.	Dress for a fashion show Try not to stun people with your fanciest suit if the workplace is quite casual, as you want to look like you’ll fit in. Ladies, save the nightclub attire for Friday night, as it won’t score you any points in an interview.
Use body language It's well known that body language goes a long way in first impressions, so in a job-interview your body language should convey to the interviewer just how right you are for the job! Sit upright and lean forward, make eye contact, and avoid fidgeting.	Overpower or slouch Don’t overdo your hand movements to a point where it looks like you might knock your interviewer out! On the other hand, it is important to avoid looking too comfortable. The aim is to look like you’re comfortable being interviewed, not like you’re relaxing on the couch watching TV.
Listen and communicate openly Whilst you might feel like the entire world can hear just how nervous you are from your shaking voice, in reality you probably sound perfectly normal. Speak clearly and take your time answering questions, but most importantly be sure to listen carefully before blurting things out. Most of us have a tendency to speed talk when we’re under pressure, so just take a deep breath and think about what you’re going to say… before you say it!	Try to take control of the conversation If you’re going to be working for this person, make sure that the relationship starts early. Don’t interrupt or give them irrelevant answers they didn’t ask for. The interviewer will have several things they need to know from you, so make sure that you're actually giving them what they asked for and not just pre-prepared answers.
Practice and research Read over their About Us web page and find out what the business is up to. Be sure to note their values and culture. Once done, think of some questions that might pop up in the interview, and prepare your answers for these. Even though you’ll feel silly, practice in front of the mirror. Then when the question arises, you’ll come across as cool, calm, collected… and confident!	Become a stalker or a know it all Being able to tell your interviewer details about their staff who aren’t the managing director or founder won’t let them know how suitable you are to work there. And trying to show that you know more than them about the company’s current affairs without adding some experiential value is going to make you look obsessive rather than interested. Research, but don’t try to force the idea that you already work there.

When all else fails, follow the law of ‘fake it til you make it’. Find out for yourself what you think confidence means in the particular industry or role you’re applying for, and then practice using that presence. Being comfortable and being confident do not have to be the same thing, so use the assertive body language and communication that makes you stand out and then any little jitters or slips won’t phase your interviewer at all.

Good luck and happy hunting!