Women Empowerment – Workshop 3 (Values & Priorities)
The Appleton Greene Corporate Training Program (CTP) for Women Empowerment is provided by Ms. Tull Certified Learning Provider (CLP). Program Specifications: Monthly cost USD$2,500.00; Monthly Workshops 6 hours; Monthly Support 4 hours; Program Duration 12 months; Program orders subject to ongoing availability.
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Learning Provider Profile
Ms. Tull is a Certified Learning Provider (CLP) with Appleton Greene. She has over 25 years of experience in coaching, consulting and training CEO’s and executives. She specializes in the areas of personal and professional development and leadership. She is passionate about empowering women in the workplace equipping them with leadership skills and helping them to reveal their unique value, so they can reach their true potential and make a bigger impact. She has industry experience in the following sectors: Technology, Financial Services, Biomedical, Consultancy and Healthcare. She has commercial experience in the following countries: United States, Canada, England, Mexico and Sweden. More specifically within the following cities: Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York City NY; St. Louis, MS; Virginia Beach, VA; Chicago IL. Her personal achievements include 17 yrs. as Founder/CEO of Silverlining Concepts, LLC where she empowers business owners and leaders to own their value and earn their worth, Certified Money Breakthrough Method Coach, Best-selling Author of a book about owning your value, so you can earn your worth in the workplace, Executive Contributor to Huffington Post, Biz Journals and Brainz Magazine, featured on the Brainz 500 Global list 2021. She also is a co-host on a national TV show- that focuses on bringing more light and positivity to the world. Her service skills include; leadership development, executive coaching, business strategy, sales and marketing strategies, mindset shifting and advanced communications and presentation skills.
MOST Analysis
Mission Statement
Finding a balance between life and work can be extremely challenging. The only way to navigate this effectively is to be grounded in your values and have clarity around your priorities. During this workshop, we will guide you through a process of identifying your values and narrowing them down to your “core values” and how to get clear on your priorities, so you can live joyfully, be more productive and make a bigger impact. You will get to discover how you can be an inspiration to others, how you can make a meaningful, powerful, and lasting contribution to humanity by serving a greater cause than your own – this is the legacy you can leave others.
Objectives
1. Defining Values – Our values are the standards by which we live by – the things that you hold dear in your daily life and work. They (should) determine our priorities, and they’re probably the indicators we use to see if our life is going the way we want it to. When our actions and behaviors reflect our values, life is usually good – we’re satisfied and content. However, when these do not align with our personal values, things feel… off. This can be a major source of dissatisfaction. In this course we uncover how to define your values so that our decisions moving forward can align with them allowing for harmony and joy.
2. Your Why – Our why is what defines us. It is what drives us and motivates us every single day. d. It makes you the best person we can be. In this course we will clarify our why and how to use it as a guide for happiness.
3. Passion vs. Purpose – In this lesson we will take a look at the difference between passion and purpose. Our passion fuels us and is personal our purpose bigger than ourselves and is about serving others. Having a purpose in life is associated with all kinds of benefits. Research suggests that purpose is tied to having better health, longevity, and even financial success. It feels good to have a sense of purpose, knowing that you are using your skills to help others in a way that matters to you. This lesson allows you to reveal your purpose.
4. Prioritizing Priorities – Having a system in place to identify our priorities in our lives and at work is essential. For most people, their priorities are in a constant state of flux, shifting with the various demands that crop up on a daily basis. In order to prioritize your daily tasks effectively, you’ll need a clear picture of the bigger goals and values in your life. In this course we will go through a highly effective process to map out our priorities so we can be more productive and fulfilled.
5. Personal Boundaries – Once we have identified our values and priorities it is crucial to create boundaries to honor and protect them. In order to become an expert at setting and being comfortable with personal boundaries, you have to practice. Luckily, in this course we have 9 amazing ways for you to get started and to start reclaiming your own life with establishing clear personal boundaries.
6. Relationship Boundaries – Boundaries in relationships can help us by enhancing our sense of self. They enable us to separate our identity, feelings, and needs from those of our partners, family, friends, and colleagues. Boundaries aid in the development of healthy relationships by outlining needs and respecting limits. In this course we will take a deep dive into how to create boundaries in all of your relationships.
7. Workplace Boundaries – Many professional women especially millennials have found themselves in a precarious position as a result of corporate oppression, professional duress, and social anxiety. All we can do for the time being is maintain a healthy boundary so they can avoid overwork, burnout, and stress. Setting professional boundaries at work entails developing healthy professional practices for yourself. These boundaries can often help you stay productive and happy at work while also allowing you to better separate your work and personal lives. Learn exactly how to do this in this powerful course.
8. Yes or No – Knowing when to say Yes and when to say know can be difficult at times. In this course, we will reveal some guidelines you can follow to help make your decision easily and confidently.
9. Success Environment – Is your workplace designed for success? You may not realize it, but your surroundings play a significant role in your success. Your surroundings and what (or who) occupies those surroundings comprise your environment. Setting up your environment for success will make it much easier to embrace new opportunities and drive true success for yourself, your business, and your future. Find out exactly how in this riveting lesson.
10. Workplace Habits – Successful people frequently attribute their success to specific habits. Some actions, when practiced on a daily basis, can assist us in maintaining focus and completing workplace tasks. In this course, we will look at six examples of good workplace habits that we can cultivate in order to be more productive and advance in our careers.
11. Finding Fulfillment – Each individual has their own path, their own definition of happiness. Work is what we spend the majority of our adult lives doing. It is important to make sure that your work allows you to utilize your gifts and talents as well as meet your financial goals. In this course we will cover the 4 pillars to find fulfillment in life and the key steps to finding fulfillment at work.
12. Making a Difference – Many people believe that they lack the ability to make a difference in the world. The truth is that each of us has been placed in this world to contribute and make a difference in our own unique way. It doesn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary. It simply has to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good.’ In this course we reveal ways that you can make a difference in the world by being uniquely you!
Strategies
1. Learn and implement the steps to defining one’s values and then narrowing them down to 3 core values.
2. Process to discover our Why, what motivates us then, creating our Why Statement.
3. Discover 7 strategies to finding our purpose. Including an activity to build team cohesiveness and creative thinking.
4. Learn keys to prioritize our priorities.
5. Adopt tips in setting personal boundaries to honor and protect our priorities.
6. Learn powerful ways to identify and then separate our feelings and needs from our partner, family, friends, and colleagues by setting relationship boundaries.
7. Develop healthy professional practices by setting workplace boundaries.
8. Guidelines to knowing when to say Yes or No.
9. Steps to create our environment for success including selecting a business bestie.
10. Cultivating success habits to become more productive and advance our careers.
11. Implement the 4 pillars to find fulfillment life and 7 key steps to finding fulfillment at work.
12. Identify ways to give back and make an action plan to facilitate it.
Tasks
1. Go through the Study Guide and Distance Learning lessons first and make notes.
2. Identify the key relationships that need to be managed to ensure project success.
3. Determine needs, critical drivers, concerns, and interests for each relationship.
4. Ensure that these relationships are built and maintained on a regular basis, by soliciting ideas, comments, and assessing value.
5. Schedule a meeting for the participants to meet and discuss the workshop within 30 days
6. Participants to share expectations and feedback during the workshop.
7. Set a deadline for determining and analyzing the time commitment for each of the participants.
8. Participants to demonstrate personal presence, get feedback, and make a plan for further development.
9. Participants to experience the challenges of change and apply learnings to the philosophy of leading change.
10. Participants are to complete each exercise fully, actively participate in all of the group exercises and be willing to discuss the process and results with the group.
11. Participants to complete their project by identifying and implementing changes discussed throughout the workshop.
12. Participants to review resources for inspiration and identify at least one new tool for adoption from the provided list.
Introduction
In the Values and Priorities workshop we dive deep into how clarifying our values and establishing what our priorities are can change our life for the better. It allows us to live a life of integrity and fulfillment.
Values are words that embody what is important to us, providing an answer to the question “What do I value most in my life?” Here is a great definition:
Values are the characteristics of a fully lived life from the inside out.
Even if they are complex and intangible higher-level functions, they are our personal rules and standards. They frequently reflect our views on what is good and bad, right, and wrong. Similarly, they guide our every decision, and their satisfaction or violation can elicit strong emotional reactions.
According to Tony Robbins, values “are like a compass that directs your life.” They motivate and demotivate, and they justify behavior. They frequently refer to emotional states:
• happy
• satisfied
• successful
• compassionate
• loving
• fulfilled
These are our “must-haves” in life, because when we live according to what we most value, we can see that this is the foundation for our beliefs. When our choices are in sync, we experience congruence – “life is good” – and are fulfilled. If we do not meet this standard, we may become angry, fearful, or sad.
We can prioritize our values into core values by selecting our top 3 values. Having the right core values can help us make better decisions, be more productive, achieve more, and, perhaps most importantly, love and be loved. They’re quite significant. And studies have shown that core values have a slew of other advantages.
Priorities are the things that matter to us most. In this workshop, we uncover a powerful process to start identifying our priorities. To effectively manage our time and know what matters while progressing toward your goals, we must have a clear list of priorities. If we take on too many tasks on a regular basis, you may eventually become stressed.
History
Values are so deeply ingrained in our language, thought, and behavior patterns that philosophers have been fascinated by them for over a thousand years. Nonetheless, they have proven to be so quick-silvery” and complex that, despite their crucial role in human motivation, we are still horribly ignorant of the laws that govern them. (Toffler, 1969)
One of the most perplexing anomalies in the field of consumer research has been the lack of focus on human values. This is especially perplexing given that most serious students of human behavior have long argued that values play an important role in personal, social, and cultural activity. When attitude researchers have used the term “values,” it has frequently been confused with the concept of product attributes. While a few recent studies have found a significant relationship between values and consumer behavior (Scott and Lamont, 1972; Vinson and Munson, 1976; Henry, 1976; Vinson, Scott, and Lamont, 1977), consumer researchers have generally taken a hands-off approach to the value construct.
Marketing practitioners have become highly skilled at creating advertising and mass communication appeals that include allusions to important human values. Indeed, we would argue that marketing appeals have historically been highly value oriented. These individuals to understand what most marketing academics do not: human values play an important role in consumer behavior.
What could account for the disparity between what marketers do and what academics study? One plausible explanation is that academics have almost entirely focused their attention and technical skills on consumers’ more rational beliefs about tangible product attributes and marketing characteristics such as color, price, taste, and availability. A counterargument, but much less widely held, is that practitioners may have forged ahead for years. According to attitude studies, practitioners are appealing to deep, emotion-laden values and providing powerful stimulation to sales.
Maslow advanced his hierarchical groupings of needs in the mid-1950s into those concerned with safety, security, love, self-esteem, and self-actualization (Maslow, 1954). Morris (Handy, 1970) discussed value theory in depth and created a list of thirteen “ways to live,” which were conceptions of the good life that respondents were asked to rate in terms of liking.
If we go back in time, specifically to the 14th century, we can find the first use of the Middle French and Latin equivalent of priority word.
Late 14c., prioritie, “state of being earlier (than something else), prior occurrence or existence,” from Old French priorite (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prioritatem (nominative prioritas) “fact or condition of being prior” (source also of Spanish prioridad), from Latin prior (see prior (adj.).
From c. 1400 as “precedence in right, place, or rank.” In 1897 Century, Dictionary wrote “Priority is the state or fact of coming first in order of time; what little use it has beyond this meaning is only a figurative extension,” but in 20c. the sense shifted toward “fact or condition of coming first in importance or requiring immediate attention; thing regarded as more important than another or others.” Wyclif (early 15c.) renders prioritas into (Middle) English as furtherhead.
Current Position
Today, there has been a large emphasis on the importance of understanding our own personal values and identifying our priorities in order to live a happy life.
In marketing literature, there are numerous indications of a growing interest in personal values, as opposed to product and marketing attributes. The “Second Washington Social Indicators Conference to Explore Business Response to New Values” is one example (Marketing News, 1973). Furthermore, there appears to be a growing body of research on the subject.
Scott and Lamont (1972) demonstrated that global values, product evaluative and descriptive beliefs, and domain-specific values are three distinct but cognitively related variables. Along the Kluckhohn-Strodtbeck lines, Henry (1976) finds significant associations between automobile ownership and personal value orientations. Vinson, Scott, and Lamont (1977) extend Rokeach’s paradigm by seeing values as existing at two distinct levels.
The first level of values, known as “global” values, includes both instrumental and terminal values. The second level is concerned with values that refer to desired product attributes as well as market transactions and behaviors. They are cognitively separate but related to global values, as well as descriptive and evaluative beliefs, and are referred to as “market-specific” or “domain-specific” values.
Any object of interest to a consumer may be defined as a consumer value if it meets the criteria outlined above. It can include any generalized person-centered end-state of existence, mode of behavior, pattern of ideas, grouping of people, biological condition, or direct benefit that is highly valued by the consumer or perceived to be valued by others important to him. He employs it as a criterion for assessing a wide range of other values, objects, activities, and people. It is a long-lasting belief shared by the consumer and many, but not all, other members of his subculture or society. It is acquired and modified early in life through personal, social, and cultural learning, and it plays a critical role in his decision-making.
The concept of priorities is widely used in our day-to-day corporate world, and thus in our personal lives. The issue is that we are losing our ability to discern what is truly important and trying to bend reality as if we could handle more than one priority task at the same time, or perhaps we do not want to appear careless about a task that is currently not a priority. So, our brilliant idea is to label all of our activities as “priority xyz tasks.”
It turns out that it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to make trade-offs between options that appear to be all “priorities.” So, we unconsciously try to do everything, and the result is overwhelm. That is why it is essential to have a proven process to identify clear priorities one at time and develop a plan to accomplish each task.
Future Outlook
When we consider our values in all things especially in decision making, we can be sure to remain in integrity and be in alignment with what we know is right. We will approach decisions with clarity and confidence knowing that we’re making the best choice for our current situation.
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Ghandi
Making decisions based on our values is not always easy, but it is always right. Identifying and understanding our values is a challenging yet important exercise. Our values are a central part of who we are and who we want to become. Becoming more aware of these important factors in our life, will allow us to use them as a guide to make the best choice in any situation. Some of life’s most difficult decisions are really about determining what we value most. When many options seem reasonable, it’s helpful and comforting to rely on our values and to use them as a strong guiding force to point us in the right direction.
When we’re getting clear on who we want to work with and how we want to serve them, it is necessary to base this on our priorities and our values to remain in integrity and be fulfilled through our work.
Putting our priorities and values first, in everything you do, will allow us to live a life of joy, abundance and peace.
Creating boundaries in all areas of our lives will allow us to honor and protect what we hold dear.
Successful leaders must be passionate about what they do, what they want to do, and why they want to do it. This will propel us towards a goal even when it appears impossible, but this is only true for those who lack passion.
Making sure our values and priorities are considered in everything we do and having a system to identify honor and protect them is crucial to our success as a human and a professional.
Executive Summary
Clarifying our values and establishing what our priorities are can change our life for the better allowing us to live a life of integrity and fulfillment. Values are our personal rules and standards. They frequently reflect our views on what is good and bad, right, and wrong. Similarly, they guide our every decision, and their satisfaction or violation can elicit strong emotional reactions. When we get clear on what our values are we can use them to guide us in life and help in our decision making.
Priorities are the things that are most important to you. This workshop will teach a powerful process for identifying our priorities. We must have a clear list of priorities in order to effectively manage our time and know what matters while progressing toward our goals. It is common to become stressed if we take on too many tasks on a regular basis.
Setting boundaries in all aspects of our lives will allow us to honor and protect what is important to us.
When we are clear on our values, our passion, our why and our priorities we become unstoppable.
There are 12 courses (or focus areas) in the Values and Priorities Workshop.
Here they are:
1. Defining Values – Our values are the standards by which we live by – the things that you hold dear in your daily life and work. They (should) determine our priorities, and they’re probably the indicators we use to see if our life is going the way we want it to. When our actions and behaviors reflect our values, life is usually good – we’re satisfied and content. However, when these do not align with our personal values, things feel… off. This can be a major source of dissatisfaction. In this course we uncover how to define your values so that our decisions moving forward can align with them allowing for harmony and joy.
2. Your Why – Our why is what defines us. It is what drives us and motivates us every single day. d. It makes you the best person we can be. In this course we will clarify our why and how to use it as a guide for happiness.
3. Passion vs. Purpose – In this lesson we will take a look at the difference between passion and purpose. Our passion fuels us and is personal our purpose bigger than ourselves and is about serving others. Having a purpose in life is associated with all kinds of benefits. Research suggests that purpose is tied to having better health, longevity, and even financial success. It feels good to have a sense of purpose, knowing that you are using your skills to help others in a way that matters to you. This lesson allows you to reveal your purpose.
4. Prioritizing Priorities – Having a system in place to identify our priorities in our lives and at work is essential. For most people, their priorities are in a constant state of flux, shifting with the various demands that crop up on a daily basis. In order to prioritize your daily tasks effectively, you’ll need a clear picture of the bigger goals and values in your life. In this course we will go through a highly effective process to map out our priorities so we can be more productive and fulfilled.
5. Personal Boundaries – Once we have identified our values and priorities it is crucial to create boundaries to honor and protect them. In order to become an expert at setting and being comfortable with personal boundaries, you have to practice. Luckily, in this course we have 9 amazing ways for you to get started and to start reclaiming your own life with establishing clear personal boundaries.
6. Relationship Boundaries – Boundaries in relationships can help us by enhancing our sense of self. They enable us to separate our identity, feelings, and needs from those of our partners, family, friends, and colleagues. Boundaries aid in the development of healthy relationships by outlining needs and respecting limits. In this course we will take a deep dive into how to create boundaries in all of your relationships.
7. Workplace Boundaries – Many professional women especially millennials have found themselves in a precarious position as a result of corporate oppression, professional duress, and social anxiety. All we can do for the time being is maintain a healthy boundary so they can avoid overwork, burnout, and stress. Setting professional boundaries at work entails developing healthy professional practices for yourself. These boundaries can often help you stay productive and happy at work while also allowing you to better separate your work and personal lives. Learn exactly how to do this in this powerful course.
8. Yes or No – Knowing when to say Yes and when to say know can be difficult at times. In this course, we will reveal some guidelines you can follow to help make your decision easily and confidently.
9. Success Environment – Is your workplace designed for success? You may not realize it, but your surroundings play a significant role in your success. Your surroundings and what (or who) occupies those surroundings comprise your environment. Setting up your environment for success will make it much easier to embrace new opportunities and drive true success for yourself, your business, and your future. Find out exactly how in this riveting lesson.
10. Workplace Habits – Successful people frequently attribute their success to specific habits. Some actions, when practiced on a daily basis, can assist us in maintaining focus and completing workplace tasks. In this course, we will look at six examples of good workplace habits that we can cultivate in order to be more productive and advance in our careers.
11. Finding Fulfillment – Each individual has their own path, their own definition of happiness. Work is what we spend the majority of our adult lives doing. It is important to make sure that your work allows you to utilize your gifts and talents as well as meet your financial goals. In this course we will cover the 4 pillars to find fulfillment in life and the key steps to finding fulfillment at work.
12. Making a Difference – Many people believe that they lack the ability to make a difference in the world. The truth is that each of us has been placed in this world to contribute and make a difference in our own unique way. It doesn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary. It simply has to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good.’ In this course we reveal ways that you can make a difference in the world by being uniquely you!
Impact for Positive Change
At the conclusion of each workshop, we will focus our collective attention on how you, as a leader, will put what we’ve learned into practice in your business. Impact for positive change means putting what you’ve learned into practice and taking action to make a significant difference. That starts with a strong desire to change and reflection on what you’re going to do differently. It’s also crucial to consider how you’ll involve people in your organization in the discussion about what you’ve learnt and make requests for what you need from them in order to succeed. Not only will your formal team be involved, but so will your cross-functional colleagues. How will you be collaborating to ensure all the women in your company have everything they need to succeed?
Curriculum
Women Empowerment – Workshop 3 – Values & Priorities
- Defining Values
- Your Why
- Passion vs. Purpose
- Prioritizing Priorities
- Personal Boundaries
- Relationship Boundaries
- Workplace Boundaries
- Yes or No
- Success Environment
- Workplace Habits
- Finding Fulfillment
- Making a Difference
Distance Learning
Introduction
Welcome to Appleton Greene and thank you for enrolling on the Women Empowerment corporate training program. You will be learning through our unique facilitation via distance-learning method, which will enable you to practically implement everything that you learn academically. The methods and materials used in your program have been designed and developed to ensure that you derive the maximum benefits and enjoyment possible. We hope that you find the program challenging and fun to do. However, if you have never been a distance-learner before, you may be experiencing some trepidation at the task before you. So we will get you started by giving you some basic information and guidance on how you can make the best use of the modules, how you should manage the materials and what you should be doing as you work through them. This guide is designed to point you in the right direction and help you to become an effective distance-learner. Take a few hours or so to study this guide and your guide to tutorial support for students, while making notes, before you start to study in earnest.
Study environment
You will need to locate a quiet and private place to study, preferably a room where you can easily be isolated from external disturbances or distractions. Make sure the room is well-lit and incorporates a relaxed, pleasant feel. If you can spoil yourself within your study environment, you will have much more of a chance to ensure that you are always in the right frame of mind when you do devote time to study. For example, a nice fire, the ability to play soft soothing background music, soft but effective lighting, perhaps a nice view if possible and a good size desk with a comfortable chair. Make sure that your family know when you are studying and understand your study rules. Your study environment is very important. The ideal situation, if at all possible, is to have a separate study, which can be devoted to you. If this is not possible then you will need to pay a lot more attention to developing and managing your study schedule, because it will affect other people as well as yourself. The better your study environment, the more productive you will be.
Study tools & rules
Try and make sure that your study tools are sufficient and in good working order. You will need to have access to a computer, scanner and printer, with access to the internet. You will need a very comfortable chair, which supports your lower back, and you will need a good filing system. It can be very frustrating if you are spending valuable study time trying to fix study tools that are unreliable, or unsuitable for the task. Make sure that your study tools are up to date. You will also need to consider some study rules. Some of these rules will apply to you and will be intended to help you to be more disciplined about when and how you study. This distance-learning guide will help you and after you have read it you can put some thought into what your study rules should be. You will also need to negotiate some study rules for your family, friends or anyone who lives with you. They too will need to be disciplined in order to ensure that they can support you while you study. It is important to ensure that your family and friends are an integral part of your study team. Having their support and encouragement can prove to be a crucial contribution to your successful completion of the program. Involve them in as much as you can.
Successful distance-learning
Distance-learners are freed from the necessity of attending regular classes or workshops, since they can study in their own way, at their own pace and for their own purposes. But unlike traditional internal training courses, it is the student’s responsibility, with a distance-learning program, to ensure that they manage their own study contribution. This requires strong self-discipline and self-motivation skills and there must be a clear will to succeed. Those students who are used to managing themselves, are good at managing others and who enjoy working in isolation, are more likely to be good distance-learners. It is also important to be aware of the main reasons why you are studying and of the main objectives that you are hoping to achieve as a result. You will need to remind yourself of these objectives at times when you need to motivate yourself. Never lose sight of your long-term goals and your short-term objectives. There is nobody available here to pamper you, or to look after you, or to spoon-feed you with information, so you will need to find ways to encourage and appreciate yourself while you are studying. Make sure that you chart your study progress, so that you can be sure of your achievements and re-evaluate your goals and objectives regularly.
Self-assessment
Appleton Greene training programs are in all cases post-graduate programs. Consequently, you should already have obtained a business-related degree and be an experienced learner. You should therefore already be aware of your study strengths and weaknesses. For example, which time of the day are you at your most productive? Are you a lark or an owl? What study methods do you respond to the most? Are you a consistent learner? How do you discipline yourself? How do you ensure that you enjoy yourself while studying? It is important to understand yourself as a learner and so some self-assessment early on will be necessary if you are to apply yourself correctly. Perform a SWOT analysis on yourself as a student. List your internal strengths and weaknesses as a student and your external opportunities and threats. This will help you later on when you are creating a study plan. You can then incorporate features within your study plan that can ensure that you are playing to your strengths, while compensating for your weaknesses. You can also ensure that you make the most of your opportunities, while avoiding the potential threats to your success.
Accepting responsibility as a student
Training programs invariably require a significant investment, both in terms of what they cost and in the time that you need to contribute to study and the responsibility for successful completion of training programs rests entirely with the student. This is never more apparent than when a student is learning via distance-learning. Accepting responsibility as a student is an important step towards ensuring that you can successfully complete your training program. It is easy to instantly blame other people or factors when things go wrong. But the fact of the matter is that if a failure is your failure, then you have the power to do something about it, it is entirely in your own hands. If it is always someone else’s failure, then you are powerless to do anything about it. All students study in entirely different ways, this is because we are all individuals and what is right for one student, is not necessarily right for another. In order to succeed, you will have to accept personal responsibility for finding a way to plan, implement and manage a personal study plan that works for you. If you do not succeed, you only have yourself to blame.
Planning
By far the most critical contribution to stress, is the feeling of not being in control. In the absence of planning we tend to be reactive and can stumble from pillar to post in the hope that things will turn out fine in the end. Invariably they don’t! In order to be in control, we need to have firm ideas about how and when we want to do things. We also need to consider as many possible eventualities as we can, so that we are prepared for them when they happen. Prescriptive Change, is far easier to manage and control, than Emergent Change. The same is true with distance-learning. It is much easier and much more enjoyable, if you feel that you are in control and that things are going to plan. Even when things do go wrong, you are prepared for them and can act accordingly without any unnecessary stress. It is important therefore that you do take time to plan your studies properly.
Management
Once you have developed a clear study plan, it is of equal importance to ensure that you manage the implementation of it. Most of us usually enjoy planning, but it is usually during implementation when things go wrong. Targets are not met and we do not understand why. Sometimes we do not even know if targets are being met. It is not enough for us to conclude that the study plan just failed. If it is failing, you will need to understand what you can do about it. Similarly if your study plan is succeeding, it is still important to understand why, so that you can improve upon your success. You therefore need to have guidelines for self-assessment so that you can be consistent with performance improvement throughout the program. If you manage things correctly, then your performance should constantly improve throughout the program.
Study objectives & tasks
The first place to start is developing your program objectives. These should feature your reasons for undertaking the training program in order of priority. Keep them succinct and to the point in order to avoid confusion. Do not just write the first things that come into your head because they are likely to be too similar to each other. Make a list of possible departmental headings, such as: Customer Service; E-business; Finance; Globalization; Human Resources; Technology; Legal; Management; Marketing and Production. Then brainstorm for ideas by listing as many things that you want to achieve under each heading and later re-arrange these things in order of priority. Finally, select the top item from each department heading and choose these as your program objectives. Try and restrict yourself to five because it will enable you to focus clearly. It is likely that the other things that you listed will be achieved if each of the top objectives are achieved. If this does not prove to be the case, then simply work through the process again.
Study forecast
As a guide, the Appleton Greene Women Empowerment corporate training program should take 12-18 months to complete, depending upon your availability and current commitments. The reason why there is such a variance in time estimates is because every student is an individual, with differing productivity levels and different commitments. These differentiations are then exaggerated by the fact that this is a distance-learning program, which incorporates the practical integration of academic theory as an as a part of the training program. Consequently all of the project studies are real, which means that important decisions and compromises need to be made. You will want to get things right and will need to be patient with your expectations in order to ensure that they are. We would always recommend that you are prudent with your own task and time forecasts, but you still need to develop them and have a clear indication of what are realistic expectations in your case. With reference to your time planning: consider the time that you can realistically dedicate towards study with the program every week; calculate how long it should take you to complete the program, using the guidelines featured here; then break the program down into logical modules and allocate a suitable proportion of time to each of them, these will be your milestones; you can create a time plan by using a spreadsheet on your computer, or a personal organizer such as MS Outlook, you could also use a financial forecasting software; break your time forecasts down into manageable chunks of time, the more specific you can be, the more productive and accurate your time management will be; finally, use formulas where possible to do your time calculations for you, because this will help later on when your forecasts need to change in line with actual performance. With reference to your task planning: refer to your list of tasks that need to be undertaken in order to achieve your program objectives; with reference to your time plan, calculate when each task should be implemented; remember that you are not estimating when your objectives will be achieved, but when you will need to focus upon implementing the corresponding tasks; you also need to ensure that each task is implemented in conjunction with the associated training modules which are relevant; then break each single task down into a list of specific to do’s, say approximately ten to do’s for each task and enter these into your study plan; once again you could use MS Outlook to incorporate both your time and task planning and this could constitute your study plan; you could also use a project management software like MS Project. You should now have a clear and realistic forecast detailing when you can expect to be able to do something about undertaking the tasks to achieve your program objectives.
Performance management
It is one thing to develop your study forecast, it is quite another to monitor your progress. Ultimately it is less important whether you achieve your original study forecast and more important that you update it so that it constantly remains realistic in line with your performance. As you begin to work through the program, you will begin to have more of an idea about your own personal performance and productivity levels as a distance-learner. Once you have completed your first study module, you should re-evaluate your study forecast for both time and tasks, so that they reflect your actual performance level achieved. In order to achieve this you must first time yourself while training by using an alarm clock. Set the alarm for hourly intervals and make a note of how far you have come within that time. You can then make a note of your actual performance on your study plan and then compare your performance against your forecast. Then consider the reasons that have contributed towards your performance level, whether they are positive or negative and make a considered adjustment to your future forecasts as a result. Given time, you should start achieving your forecasts regularly.
With reference to time management: time yourself while you are studying and make a note of the actual time taken in your study plan; consider your successes with time-efficiency and the reasons for the success in each case and take this into consideration when reviewing future time planning; consider your failures with time-efficiency and the reasons for the failures in each case and take this into consideration when reviewing future time planning; re-evaluate your study forecast in relation to time planning for the remainder of your training program to ensure that you continue to be realistic about your time expectations. You need to be consistent with your time management, otherwise you will never complete your studies. This will either be because you are not contributing enough time to your studies, or you will become less efficient with the time that you do allocate to your studies. Remember, if you are not in control of your studies, they can just become yet another cause of stress for you.
With reference to your task management: time yourself while you are studying and make a note of the actual tasks that you have undertaken in your study plan; consider your successes with task-efficiency and the reasons for the success in each case; take this into consideration when reviewing future task planning; consider your failures with task-efficiency and the reasons for the failures in each case and take this into consideration when reviewing future task planning; re-evaluate your study forecast in relation to task planning for the remainder of your training program to ensure that you continue to be realistic about your task expectations. You need to be consistent with your task management, otherwise you will never know whether you are achieving your program objectives or not.
Keeping in touch
You will have access to qualified and experienced professors and tutors who are responsible for providing tutorial support for your particular training program. So don’t be shy about letting them know how you are getting on. We keep electronic records of all tutorial support emails so that professors and tutors can review previous correspondence before considering an individual response. It also means that there is a record of all communications between you and your professors and tutors and this helps to avoid any unnecessary duplication, misunderstanding, or misinterpretation. If you have a problem relating to the program, share it with them via email. It is likely that they have come across the same problem before and are usually able to make helpful suggestions and steer you in the right direction. To learn more about when and how to use tutorial support, please refer to the Tutorial Support section of this student information guide. This will help you to ensure that you are making the most of tutorial support that is available to you and will ultimately contribute towards your success and enjoyment with your training program.
Work colleagues and family
You should certainly discuss your program study progress with your colleagues, friends and your family. Appleton Greene training programs are very practical. They require you to seek information from other people, to plan, develop and implement processes with other people and to achieve feedback from other people in relation to viability and productivity. You will therefore have plenty of opportunities to test your ideas and enlist the views of others. People tend to be sympathetic towards distance-learners, so don’t bottle it all up in yourself. Get out there and share it! It is also likely that your family and colleagues are going to benefit from your labors with the program, so they are likely to be much more interested in being involved than you might think. Be bold about delegating work to those who might benefit themselves. This is a great way to achieve understanding and commitment from people who you may later rely upon for process implementation. Share your experiences with your friends and family.
Making it relevant
The key to successful learning is to make it relevant to your own individual circumstances. At all times you should be trying to make bridges between the content of the program and your own situation. Whether you achieve this through quiet reflection or through interactive discussion with your colleagues, client partners or your family, remember that it is the most important and rewarding aspect of translating your studies into real self-improvement. You should be clear about how you want the program to benefit you. This involves setting clear study objectives in relation to the content of the course in terms of understanding, concepts, completing research or reviewing activities and relating the content of the modules to your own situation. Your objectives may understandably change as you work through the program, in which case you should enter the revised objectives on your study plan so that you have a permanent reminder of what you are trying to achieve, when and why.
Distance-learning check-list
Prepare your study environment, your study tools and rules.
Undertake detailed self-assessment in terms of your ability as a learner.
Create a format for your study plan.
Consider your study objectives and tasks.
Create a study forecast.
Assess your study performance.
Re-evaluate your study forecast.
Be consistent when managing your study plan.
Use your Appleton Greene Certified Learning Provider (CLP) for tutorial support.
Make sure you keep in touch with those around you.
Tutorial Support
Programs
Appleton Greene uses standard and bespoke corporate training programs as vessels to transfer business process improvement knowledge into the heart of our clients’ organizations. Each individual program focuses upon the implementation of a specific business process, which enables clients to easily quantify their return on investment. There are hundreds of established Appleton Greene corporate training products now available to clients within customer services, e-business, finance, globalization, human resources, information technology, legal, management, marketing and production. It does not matter whether a client’s employees are located within one office, or an unlimited number of international offices, we can still bring them together to learn and implement specific business processes collectively. Our approach to global localization enables us to provide clients with a truly international service with that all important personal touch. Appleton Greene corporate training programs can be provided virtually or locally and they are all unique in that they individually focus upon a specific business function. They are implemented over a sustainable period of time and professional support is consistently provided by qualified learning providers and specialist consultants.
Support available
You will have a designated Certified Learning Provider (CLP) and an Accredited Consultant and we encourage you to communicate with them as much as possible. In all cases tutorial support is provided online because we can then keep a record of all communications to ensure that tutorial support remains consistent. You would also be forwarding your work to the tutorial support unit for evaluation and assessment. You will receive individual feedback on all of the work that you undertake on a one-to-one basis, together with specific recommendations for anything that may need to be changed in order to achieve a pass with merit or a pass with distinction and you then have as many opportunities as you may need to re-submit project studies until they meet with the required standard. Consequently the only reason that you should really fail (CLP) is if you do not do the work. It makes no difference to us whether a student takes 12 months or 18 months to complete the program, what matters is that in all cases the same quality standard will have been achieved.
Support Process
Please forward all of your future emails to the designated (CLP) Tutorial Support Unit email address that has been provided and please do not duplicate or copy your emails to other AGC email accounts as this will just cause unnecessary administration. Please note that emails are always answered as quickly as possible but you will need to allow a period of up to 20 business days for responses to general tutorial support emails during busy periods, because emails are answered strictly within the order in which they are received. You will also need to allow a period of up to 30 business days for the evaluation and assessment of project studies. This does not include weekends or public holidays. Please therefore kindly allow for this within your time planning. All communications are managed online via email because it enables tutorial service support managers to review other communications which have been received before responding and it ensures that there is a copy of all communications retained on file for future reference. All communications will be stored within your personal (CLP) study file here at Appleton Greene throughout your designated study period. If you need any assistance or clarification at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us by forwarding an email and remember that we are here to help. If you have any questions, please list and number your questions succinctly and you can then be sure of receiving specific answers to each and every query.
Time Management
It takes approximately 1 Year to complete the Women Empowerment corporate training program, incorporating 12 x 6-hour monthly workshops. Each student will also need to contribute approximately 4 hours per week over 1 Year of their personal time. Students can study from home or work at their own pace and are responsible for managing their own study plan. There are no formal examinations and students are evaluated and assessed based upon their project study submissions, together with the quality of their internal analysis and supporting documents. They can contribute more time towards study when they have the time to do so and can contribute less time when they are busy. All students tend to be in full time employment while studying and the Women Empowerment program is purposely designed to accommodate this, so there is plenty of flexibility in terms of time management. It makes no difference to us at Appleton Greene, whether individuals take 12-18 months to complete this program. What matters is that in all cases the same standard of quality will have been achieved with the standard and bespoke programs that have been developed.
Distance Learning Guide
The distance learning guide should be your first port of call when starting your training program. It will help you when you are planning how and when to study, how to create the right environment and how to establish the right frame of mind. If you can lay the foundations properly during the planning stage, then it will contribute to your enjoyment and productivity while training later. The guide helps to change your lifestyle in order to accommodate time for study and to cultivate good study habits. It helps you to chart your progress so that you can measure your performance and achieve your goals. It explains the tools that you will need for study and how to make them work. It also explains how to translate academic theory into practical reality. Spend some time now working through your distance learning guide and make sure that you have firm foundations in place so that you can make the most of your distance learning program. There is no requirement for you to attend training workshops or classes at Appleton Greene offices. The entire program is undertaken online, program course manuals and project studies are administered via the Appleton Greene web site and via email, so you are able to study at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home or office as long as you have a computer and access to the internet.
How To Study
The how to study guide provides students with a clear understanding of the Appleton Greene facilitation via distance learning training methods and enables students to obtain a clear overview of the training program content. It enables students to understand the step-by-step training methods used by Appleton Greene and how course manuals are integrated with project studies. It explains the research and development that is required and the need to provide evidence and references to support your statements. It also enables students to understand precisely what will be required of them in order to achieve a pass with merit and a pass with distinction for individual project studies and provides useful guidance on how to be innovative and creative when developing your Unique Program Proposition (UPP).
Tutorial Support
Tutorial support for the Appleton Greene Women Empowerment corporate training program is provided online either through the Appleton Greene Client Support Portal (CSP), or via email. All tutorial support requests are facilitated by a designated Program Administration Manager (PAM). They are responsible for deciding which professor or tutor is the most appropriate option relating to the support required and then the tutorial support request is forwarded onto them. Once the professor or tutor has completed the tutorial support request and answered any questions that have been asked, this communication is then returned to the student via email by the designated Program Administration Manager (PAM). This enables all tutorial support, between students, professors and tutors, to be facilitated by the designated Program Administration Manager (PAM) efficiently and securely through the email account. You will therefore need to allow a period of up to 20 business days for responses to general support queries and up to 30 business days for the evaluation and assessment of project studies, because all tutorial support requests are answered strictly within the order in which they are received. This does not include weekends or public holidays. Consequently you need to put some thought into the management of your tutorial support procedure in order to ensure that your study plan is feasible and to obtain the maximum possible benefit from tutorial support during your period of study. Please retain copies of your tutorial support emails for future reference. Please ensure that ALL of your tutorial support emails are set out using the format as suggested within your guide to tutorial support. Your tutorial support emails need to be referenced clearly to the specific part of the course manual or project study which you are working on at any given time. You also need to list and number any questions that you would like to ask, up to a maximum of five questions within each tutorial support email. Remember the more specific you can be with your questions the more specific your answers will be too and this will help you to avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding, misinterpretation, or duplication. The guide to tutorial support is intended to help you to understand how and when to use support in order to ensure that you get the most out of your training program. Appleton Greene training programs are designed to enable you to do things for yourself. They provide you with a structure or a framework and we use tutorial support to facilitate students while they practically implement what they learn. In other words, we are enabling students to do things for themselves. The benefits of distance learning via facilitation are considerable and are much more sustainable in the long-term than traditional short-term knowledge sharing programs. Consequently you should learn how and when to use tutorial support so that you can maximize the benefits from your learning experience with Appleton Greene. This guide describes the purpose of each training function and how to use them and how to use tutorial support in relation to each aspect of the training program. It also provides useful tips and guidance with regard to best practice.
Tutorial Support Tips
Students are often unsure about how and when to use tutorial support with Appleton Greene. This Tip List will help you to understand more about how to achieve the most from using tutorial support. Refer to it regularly to ensure that you are continuing to use the service properly. Tutorial support is critical to the success of your training experience, but it is important to understand when and how to use it in order to maximize the benefit that you receive. It is no coincidence that those students who succeed are those that learn how to be positive, proactive and productive when using tutorial support.
Be positive and friendly with your tutorial support emails
Remember that if you forward an email to the tutorial support unit, you are dealing with real people. “Do unto others as you would expect others to do unto you”. If you are positive, complimentary and generally friendly in your emails, you will generate a similar response in return. This will be more enjoyable, productive and rewarding for you in the long-term.
Think about the impression that you want to create
Every time that you communicate, you create an impression, which can be either positive or negative, so put some thought into the impression that you want to create. Remember that copies of all tutorial support emails are stored electronically and tutors will always refer to prior correspondence before responding to any current emails. Over a period of time, a general opinion will be arrived at in relation to your character, attitude and ability. Try to manage your own frustrations, mood swings and temperament professionally, without involving the tutorial support team. Demonstrating frustration or a lack of patience is a weakness and will be interpreted as such. The good thing about communicating in writing, is that you will have the time to consider your content carefully, you can review it and proof-read it before sending your email to Appleton Greene and this should help you to communicate more professionally, consistently and to avoid any unnecessary knee-jerk reactions to individual situations as and when they may arise. Please also remember that the CLP Tutorial Support Unit will not just be responsible for evaluating and assessing the quality of your work, they will also be responsible for providing recommendations to other learning providers and to client contacts within the Appleton Greene global client network, so do be in control of your own emotions and try to create a good impression.
Remember that quality is preferred to quantity
Please remember that when you send an email to the tutorial support team, you are not using Twitter or Text Messaging. Try not to forward an email every time that you have a thought. This will not prove to be productive either for you or for the tutorial support team. Take time to prepare your communications properly, as if you were writing a professional letter to a business colleague and make a list of queries that you are likely to have and then incorporate them within one email, say once every month, so that the tutorial support team can understand more about context, application and your methodology for study. Get yourself into a consistent routine with your tutorial support requests and use the tutorial support template provided with ALL of your emails. The (CLP) Tutorial Support Unit will not spoon-feed you with information. They need to be able to evaluate and assess your tutorial support requests carefully and professionally.
Be specific about your questions in order to receive specific answers
Try not to write essays by thinking as you are writing tutorial support emails. The tutorial support unit can be unclear about what in fact you are asking, or what you are looking to achieve. Be specific about asking questions that you want answers to. Number your questions. You will then receive specific answers to each and every question. This is the main purpose of tutorial support via email.
Keep a record of your tutorial support emails
It is important that you keep a record of all tutorial support emails that are forwarded to you. You can then refer to them when necessary and it avoids any unnecessary duplication, misunderstanding, or misinterpretation.
Individual training workshops or telephone support
Please be advised that Appleton Greene does not provide separate or individual tutorial support meetings, workshops, or provide telephone support for individual students. Appleton Greene is an equal opportunities learning and service provider and we are therefore understandably bound to treat all students equally. We cannot therefore broker special financial or study arrangements with individual students regardless of the circumstances. All tutorial support is provided online and this enables Appleton Greene to keep a record of all communications between students, professors and tutors on file for future reference, in accordance with our quality management procedure and your terms and conditions of enrolment. All tutorial support is provided online via email because it enables us to have time to consider support content carefully, it ensures that you receive a considered and detailed response to your queries. You can number questions that you would like to ask, which relate to things that you do not understand or where clarification may be required. You can then be sure of receiving specific answers to each individual query. You will also then have a record of these communications and of all tutorial support, which has been provided to you. This makes tutorial support administration more productive by avoiding any unnecessary duplication, misunderstanding, or misinterpretation.
Tutorial Support Email Format
You should use this tutorial support format if you need to request clarification or assistance while studying with your training program. Please note that ALL of your tutorial support request emails should use the same format. You should therefore set up a standard email template, which you can then use as and when you need to. Emails that are forwarded to Appleton Greene, which do not use the following format, may be rejected and returned to you by the (CLP) Program Administration Manager. A detailed response will then be forwarded to you via email usually within 20 business days of receipt for general support queries and 30 business days for the evaluation and assessment of project studies. This does not include weekends or public holidays. Your tutorial support request, together with the corresponding TSU reply, will then be saved and stored within your electronic TSU file at Appleton Greene for future reference.
Subject line of your email
Please insert: Appleton Greene (CLP) Tutorial Support Request: (Your Full Name) (Date), within the subject line of your email.
Main body of your email
Please insert:
1. Appleton Greene Certified Learning Provider (CLP) Tutorial Support Request
2. Your Full Name
3. Date of TS request
4. Preferred email address
5. Backup email address
6. Course manual page name or number (reference)
7. Project study page name or number (reference)
Subject of enquiry
Please insert a maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Briefly outline the subject matter of your inquiry, or what your questions relate to.
Question 1
Maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Question 3
Maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Question 4
Maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Question 5
Maximum of 50 words (please be succinct)
Please note that a maximum of 5 questions is permitted with each individual tutorial support request email.
Procedure
* List the questions that you want to ask first, then re-arrange them in order of priority. Make sure that you reference them, where necessary, to the course manuals or project studies.
* Make sure that you are specific about your questions and number them. Try to plan the content within your emails to make sure that it is relevant.
* Make sure that your tutorial support emails are set out correctly, using the Tutorial Support Email Format provided here.
* Save a copy of your email and incorporate the date sent after the subject title. Keep your tutorial support emails within the same file and in date order for easy reference.
* Allow up to 20 business days for a response to general tutorial support emails and up to 30 business days for the evaluation and assessment of project studies, because detailed individual responses will be made in all cases and tutorial support emails are answered strictly within the order in which they are received.
* Emails can and do get lost. So if you have not received a reply within the appropriate time, forward another copy or a reminder to the tutorial support unit to be sure that it has been received but do not forward reminders unless the appropriate time has elapsed.
* When you receive a reply, save it immediately featuring the date of receipt after the subject heading for easy reference. In most cases the tutorial support unit replies to your questions individually, so you will have a record of the questions that you asked as well as the answers offered. With project studies however, separate emails are usually forwarded by the tutorial support unit, so do keep a record of your own original emails as well.
* Remember to be positive and friendly in your emails. You are dealing with real people who will respond to the same things that you respond to.
* Try not to repeat questions that have already been asked in previous emails. If this happens the tutorial support unit will probably just refer you to the appropriate answers that have already been provided within previous emails.
* If you lose your tutorial support email records you can write to Appleton Greene to receive a copy of your tutorial support file, but a separate administration charge may be levied for this service.
How To Study
Your Certified Learning Provider (CLP) and Accredited Consultant can help you to plan a task list for getting started so that you can be clear about your direction and your priorities in relation to your training program. It is also a good way to introduce yourself to the tutorial support team.
Planning your study environment
Your study conditions are of great importance and will have a direct effect on how much you enjoy your training program. Consider how much space you will have, whether it is comfortable and private and whether you are likely to be disturbed. The study tools and facilities at your disposal are also important to the success of your distance-learning experience. Your tutorial support unit can help with useful tips and guidance, regardless of your starting position. It is important to get this right before you start working on your training program.
Planning your program objectives
It is important that you have a clear list of study objectives, in order of priority, before you start working on your training program. Your tutorial support unit can offer assistance here to ensure that your study objectives have been afforded due consideration and priority.
Planning how and when to study
Distance-learners are freed from the necessity of attending regular classes, since they can study in their own way, at their own pace and for their own purposes. This approach is designed to let you study efficiently away from the traditional classroom environment. It is important however, that you plan how and when to study, so that you are making the most of your natural attributes, strengths and opportunities. Your tutorial support unit can offer assistance and useful tips to ensure that you are playing to your strengths.
Planning your study tasks
You should have a clear understanding of the study tasks that you should be undertaking and the priority associated with each task. These tasks should also be integrated with your program objectives. The distance learning guide and the guide to tutorial support for students should help you here, but if you need any clarification or assistance, please contact your tutorial support unit.
Planning your time
You will need to allocate specific times during your calendar when you intend to study if you are to have a realistic chance of completing your program on time. You are responsible for planning and managing your own study time, so it is important that you are successful with this. Your tutorial support unit can help you with this if your time plan is not working.
Keeping in touch
Consistency is the key here. If you communicate too frequently in short bursts, or too infrequently with no pattern, then your management ability with your studies will be questioned, both by you and by your tutorial support unit. It is obvious when a student is in control and when one is not and this will depend how able you are at sticking with your study plan. Inconsistency invariably leads to in-completion.
Charting your progress
Your tutorial support team can help you to chart your own study progress. Refer to your distance learning guide for further details.
Making it work
To succeed, all that you will need to do is apply yourself to undertaking your training program and interpreting it correctly. Success or failure lies in your hands and your hands alone, so be sure that you have a strategy for making it work. Your Certified Learning Provider (CLP) and Accredited Consultant can guide you through the process of program planning, development and implementation.
Reading methods
Interpretation is often unique to the individual but it can be improved and even quantified by implementing consistent interpretation methods. Interpretation can be affected by outside interference such as family members, TV, or the Internet, or simply by other thoughts which are demanding priority in our minds. One thing that can improve our productivity is using recognized reading methods. This helps us to focus and to be more structured when reading information for reasons of importance, rather than relaxation.
Speed reading
When reading through course manuals for the first time, subconsciously set your reading speed to be just fast enough that you cannot dwell on individual words or tables. With practice, you should be able to read an A4 sheet of paper in one minute. You will not achieve much in the way of a detailed understanding, but your brain will retain a useful overview. This overview will be important later on and will enable you to keep individual issues in perspective with a more generic picture because speed reading appeals to the memory part of the brain. Do not worry about what you do or do not remember at this stage.
Content reading
Once you have speed read everything, you can then start work in earnest. You now need to read a particular section of your course manual thoroughly, by making detailed notes while you read. This process is called Content Reading and it will help to consolidate your understanding and interpretation of the information that has been provided.
Making structured notes on the course manuals
When you are content reading, you should be making detailed notes, which are both structured and informative. Make these notes in a MS Word document on your computer, because you can then amend and update these as and when you deem it to be necessary. List your notes under three headings: 1. Interpretation – 2. Questions – 3. Tasks. The purpose of the 1st section is to clarify your interpretation by writing it down. The purpose of the 2nd section is to list any questions that the issue raises for you. The purpose of the 3rd section is to list any tasks that you should undertake as a result. Anyone who has graduated with a business-related degree should already be familiar with this process.
Organizing structured notes separately
You should then transfer your notes to a separate study notebook, preferably one that enables easy referencing, such as a MS Word Document, a MS Excel Spreadsheet, a MS Access Database, or a personal organizer on your cell phone. Transferring your notes allows you to have the opportunity of cross-checking and verifying them, which assists considerably with understanding and interpretation. You will also find that the better you are at doing this, the more chance you will have of ensuring that you achieve your study objectives.
Question your understanding
Do challenge your understanding. Explain things to yourself in your own words by writing things down.
Clarifying your understanding
If you are at all unsure, forward an email to your tutorial support unit and they will help to clarify your understanding.
Question your interpretation
Do challenge your interpretation. Qualify your interpretation by writing it down.
Clarifying your interpretation
If you are at all unsure, forward an email to your tutorial support unit and they will help to clarify your interpretation.
Qualification Requirements
The student will need to successfully complete the project study and all of the exercises relating to the Women Empowerment corporate training program, achieving a pass with merit or distinction in each case, in order to qualify as an Accredited Women Empowerment Specialist (AWES). All monthly workshops need to be tried and tested within your company. These project studies can be completed in your own time and at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home or office. There are no formal examinations, assessment is based upon the successful completion of the project studies. They are called project studies because, unlike case studies, these projects are not theoretical, they incorporate real program processes that need to be properly researched and developed. The project studies assist us in measuring your understanding and interpretation of the training program and enable us to assess qualification merits. All of the project studies are based entirely upon the content within the training program and they enable you to integrate what you have learnt into your corporate training practice.
Women Empowerment – Grading Contribution
Project Study – Grading Contribution
Customer Service – 10%
E-business – 05%
Finance – 10%
Globalization – 10%
Human Resources – 10%
Information Technology – 10%
Legal – 05%
Management – 10%
Marketing – 10%
Production – 10%
Education – 05%
Logistics – 05%
TOTAL GRADING – 100%
Qualification grades
A mark of 90% = Pass with Distinction.
A mark of 75% = Pass with Merit.
A mark of less than 75% = Fail.
If you fail to achieve a mark of 75% with a project study, you will receive detailed feedback from the Certified Learning Provider (CLP) and/or Accredited Consultant, together with a list of tasks which you will need to complete, in order to ensure that your project study meets with the minimum quality standard that is required by Appleton Greene. You can then re-submit your project study for further evaluation and assessment. Indeed you can re-submit as many drafts of your project studies as you need to, until such a time as they eventually meet with the required standard by Appleton Greene, so you need not worry about this, it is all part of the learning process.
When marking project studies, Appleton Greene is looking for sufficient evidence of the following:
Pass with merit
A satisfactory level of program understanding
A satisfactory level of program interpretation
A satisfactory level of project study content presentation
A satisfactory level of Unique Program Proposition (UPP) quality
A satisfactory level of the practical integration of academic theory
Pass with distinction
An exceptional level of program understanding
An exceptional level of program interpretation
An exceptional level of project study content presentation
An exceptional level of Unique Program Proposition (UPP) quality
An exceptional level of the practical integration of academic theory
Preliminary Analysis
Empowering your company’s female employees is critical for creating a positive work environment as well as organizational development and growth. Helping these women, clarify their core values and define their priorities is a critical element to developing an empowered mindset. This will require considerable changes to the company’s culture, systems, and processes. As a result, this empowerment strategy encourages transformation. Positive activities are enabled by a supportive infrastructure, which also serves as an efficient and strategic business foundation.
Opportunity for Change
As women begin to step into more and more leadership roles, they must possess a positive mindset that is set with a solid foundation based on core values and key priorities.
The Women Empowerment Leadership Program is a process of accelerating women’s professional development in the workplace. Women have made significant strides in the workplace, but there is no doubt that they continue to struggle to advance up the corporate ladder. This program provides the proper support and tools to equip these women with everything they require to succeed. This will in turn benefit the overall growth and profitability of the company. Workshop 3- Values and Priorities continues to focus on developing a success mindset.
Preparing for the Workshop
Participants are encouraged to continue to show up with an open mind and be ready for a transformation from the inside out. Once again, there will be a lot of mindset work that involves being open to change.
Be sure to assess your organizations current stance on mindset development this will be helpful before you start making significant changes to its structure.
Take a look at your current processes and infrastructure.
Participants should also ensure that they are familiar with the major people-related processes of the company. All participants should be familiar with the processes of performance management, recruitment, talent assessment, and talent development. The workshop’s goal is not to change these processes, but rather to supplement them with the 5 Step Women’s Empowerment Business Transformation Process (Mindset Shift, Leadership Development, Personal Presence, Advanced Communications Skills and Creating and Implementing an Action Plan) to improve their effectiveness. Participants compile a list of their most recent successes and failures in each of these processes. The list will be useful later on when discussing how to integrate the process into the existing model.
It may be advantageous to the participants if these processes are also examined from the perspective of the employees. One or two of the participants should meet with a few key employees to discuss the success of the processes. The effectiveness of these processes, rather than the method itself, should be the focal point of these discussions. When discussing the efficacy of the process, it is critical to consider the outcomes from the perspective of the people it is supposed to help. Ineffective processes, regardless of their efficiency, fail to meet the expectations of the customer. The Women’s Empowerment Business Transformation Process will be able to fill in the gaps discovered by identifying flaws in these procedures.
The third workshop in our Women Empowerment Program – Values and Priorities continues to work on developing a positive shift in our mindset.
Making sure our values and priorities are considered in everything we do and having a system to identify honor and protect them is crucial to our success as a human and a professional.
In the Values and Priorities workshop, we dive deep into how clarifying our values and establishing what our priorities are can change our life for the better allowing us to live a life of integrity and fulfillment.
How this will be achieved, is by implementation of the following strategies:
1. Learn and implement the steps to defining one’s values and then narrowing them down to 3 core values.
2. Process to discover our Why, what motivates us then, creating our Why Statement.
3. Discover 7 strategies to finding our purpose. Including an activity to build team cohesiveness and creative thinking.
4. Learn keys to prioritize our priorities.
5. Adopt tips in setting personal boundaries to honor and protect our priorities.
6. Learn powerful ways to identify and then separate our feelings and needs from our partner, family, friends, and colleagues by setting relationship boundaries.
7. Develop healthy professional practices by setting workplace boundaries.
8. Guidelines to knowing when to say Yes or No.
9. Steps to create our environment for success including selecting a business bestie.
10. Cultivating success habits to become more productive and advance our careers.
11. Implement the 4 pillars to find fulfillment life and 7 key steps to finding fulfillment at work.
12. Identify ways to give back or making a difference and make an action plan to facilitate it.
Sources/Resources
Great resource on Values: https://doi.org/
Core Value Benefits – Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96 (4), 770-782
Finding Your Why- Start with Why by Simon Sinek https://www.shortform.com/
Group Exercises: 35 Team Building Activities Your Team Will Actually Love (workamajig.com)
Preliminary Plan
It’s important to have a plan to start implementing the processes learned throughout the workshop. Here are the steps to get this “project” started.
• Define the scope and objectives. Why is this project being initiated?…
• Define the roles and responsibilities.
• Next, you need to identify the project stakeholders – the ones who are responsible for its success. …
• Set milestones and create a timeline.
• Then, it’s time to break down the work that needs to be done into manageable blocks. …
• Hold regular meetings to check in on the progress.
Course Manuals 1-12
Course Manual 1: Defining Values
Your values are the things that you hold dear in your daily life and work.
They (should) determine your priorities, and they’re probably the indicators you use to see if your life is going the way you want it to.
When your actions and behaviors reflect your values, life is usually good – you’re satisfied and content. However, when these do not align with your personal values, things feel… off. This can be a major source of dissatisfaction. In this lesson, we will uncover exactly how to define our values.
How Values Can Assist You
Whether you recognize them or not, values exist. When you recognize your values – and make plans and decisions that reflect them – life can be much easier.
Will you experience internal stress and conflict if you value family but have to work 70-hour weeks at work? And are you likely to be satisfied with your job if you don’t value competition and work in a highly competitive sales environment?
Understanding your values can be extremely beneficial in these situations. When you understand your own values, you can use them to make decisions about how to live your life and answer questions like,
• What job should I pursue?
• Should I take this position?
• How can I start giving back to my community?
• Should I make a concession or stick to my guns?
• Should I stick to tradition or forge a new path?
So, take the time to understand your true priorities in life, and you’ll be able to determine the best path for you and your life objectives.
Pro Tip:
Although values are typically fairly stable, they do not have strict limits or boundaries. Furthermore, your values may shift as you progress through life. For example, when you first start out in your career, success – as measured by money and status – may be your top priority. However, once you have a family, work-life balance may be more important to you.
Your personal values shift as your definition of success shifts. This is why staying connected to your values is a lifelong endeavor. You should revisit this on a regular basis, especially if you begin to feel unbalanced… and you can’t figure out why.
Remember that values that were important in the past may not be relevant now as you go through the exercise below.
6 Steps to Defining Your Core Values
Step 1: Think about the times when you were the happiest.
Find examples from your professional and personal lives. This will ensure that your responses are balanced.
What were you up to?
Were you accompanied by others? Who?
What other factors influenced your happiness?
Step 2: Think about the times when you were most proud of yourself.
Use examples from your professional and personal life.
• What made you so proud?
• Did others share your sense of accomplishment? Who?
Step 3: Think about the times when you felt the most fulfilled and satisfied.
Again, use both professional and personal examples.
• What need or desire was met?
• How and why did the experience give meaning to your life?
• What other factors contributed to your sense of accomplishment?
Step 4: Determine your top values based on your happiness, pride, and fulfillment experiences.
Why is each experience so meaningful and memorable? To get started, consider the following list of common personal values – and aim for about ten top values. (As you progress, you may notice that some of these naturally combine.) For example, if you value philanthropy, community, and generosity, you might list service to others as a top value.)
Step 5: Rank your top values in order of importance.
This is probably the most difficult step because it requires you to look deep within yourself. It’s also the most crucial step because, when making a decision, you’ll have to choose between solutions that may satisfy different values. This is the point at which you must decide which value is more important to you.
Make a list of your top values in no particular order.
Consider the first two values and ask yourself, “If I could only satisfy one of these, which would it be?” It might help to imagine yourself in a situation where you would have to make that decision. For example, if you compare the values of service and stability, consider whether you should sell your house and relocate to another country to do valuable foreign aid work, or whether you should keep your house and volunteer to do charity work closer to home. Continue working your way through the list, comparing each value to the next, until your list is in the correct order.
Step 6: Reaffirm your values.
Examine your top priorities and make sure they align with your life and your vision for yourself.
• Do you feel good about yourself when you live by these values?
• Are you pleased with your top three values?
• Would you be comfortable and proud to tell people you respect and admire about your values?
When you consider your values when making decisions, you can be certain that you will maintain your sense of integrity and what you know is right, and that you will approach decisions with confidence and clarity. You’ll also know that what you’re doing is best for your current and future happiness and fulfillment.
Key Point: Making value-based decisions is not always simple. Making a choice that you know is right, on the other hand, is much easier in the long run.
Identifying and comprehending your values is a difficult and important task. Personal values are an essential component of who you are – and who you want to be. You can use these important factors in your life as a guide to make the best decision in any situation if you become more aware of them.
Some of life’s most important decisions are about determining what you value the most. When many options appear reasonable, it’s helpful and reassuring to rely on your values – and use them as a powerful guiding force to point you in the right direction.
Why Are Company Core Values important
A company’s values can have a significant impact on internal workplace culture and employee engagement, in addition to improving brand perception and assisting customers in developing trust in your company. Employees and team members who strongly identify with the company’s core values are more likely to remain satisfied and engaged with the company, increasing overall performance and providing your company with a competitive advantage.
5 Ways to Develop Core Values for a Successful Business
Companies and departments within companies, often use mission statements they should define culture, drive performance, and be supported by the company’s core values. Departmental mission statements can be more specific than the company’s overall mission statement and can be used as a blueprint for action.
Here is an example:
“Our mission is to support the corporate sales and profit goals in a consistent and predictable manner through efficient sales and servicing efforts while providing the highest level of customer satisfaction.”
When it comes to developing a list of core values for your company as a business owner, there is no hard and fast rule. Core values of a company can range from skillfulness and decisiveness to social justice and environmental sustainability. Here are some strategies and methods for developing a set of values:
1. Brainstorm with team members: Assemble a trusted group of employees to generate a list of company values. If you’re the boss or co-founder, show self-control by remaining open-minded and encouraging the rest of your team to speak candidly. Consider everyone in the room to be one team and narrow down your list of core values to a few areas of agreement, such as “dependability” or “resourcefulness.” Then, set aside the list of values and return to it in a few weeks or a month. You’re in good shape if the team still agrees on the value statements.
2. Allow your mission to naturally define your values: Your core values can occasionally emerge as a natural extension of your company’s overall mission. The founders of the Patagonia clothing brand, for example, aimed to create clothing with a low environmental impact, and their core values of eco-friendly sustainability came to reflect that mission statement. Examine and own your mission statement to see what core values emerge naturally.
3. Ask yourself the important questions: Asking yourself fundamental questions about your company can help clarify your core values. One of these questions might be: “What behaviors or actions would the company value over profit?” Maybe your values are hard work, open-mindedness, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Maybe you emphasize a desire to drive change by shaking up the status quo. Or maybe your priorities are a healthy work-life balance and high standards of well-being for employees. Determining the specific answer to this question is likely to elucidate your company’s core values.
4. Be specific: In an ideal world, a company’s core values are so clearly defined that all decisions, including hiring, are made through the lens of those values. Your core values should serve as the framework for hiring entry-level employees and managing human resources, and they should be specific enough to attract the right people. For example, if your core value is seeking continuous improvement through risk-taking, you would probably avoid hiring people who value frugality and conservatism. If your company’s values are more aligned with poise and timeliness, you might hire someone who prefers poise and timeliness over playfulness. To be the best company, you must have clear, unified values.
5. Consider your customers: Customer feedback is frequently the key to developing core values that will ensure your company’s future success. Most customers value qualities other than good work and superior products—they want a wow factor to set your company apart from the competition. Perhaps they want continuous improvement in customer service, a people-first approach, or overall dependability and friendliness. Consider your customers’ feedback and reviews and try to incorporate their suggestions into your company’s core values.
12 Types of Values
There are values of various kinds. Some key categories are universal, human, personal, family, sociocultural, moral, ethical, aesthetic, spiritual, material, economic, and pragmatic.
Values are principles that guide human behavior and serve as a guide for the development of an organization or society.
Each individual, with his or her own unique characteristics, must interact with the others in order for the relationships to be as balanced as possible.
It is here that sharing values is important because it means that members of a community understand, accept, and share codes that will ensure harmonious coexistence and mutual respect.
Values are thus a set of beliefs that we have incorporated in order to live with dignity; they serve as a guideline for developing individual and collective goals and purposes that are consistent with our personal feelings and convictions. Human values are passed down from generation to generation via education and example.
Children learn what they are taught at home and at school, but they also imitate what older people see, so there must be consistency between what is said and what is done in a home with strong values.
In the organizational sphere, a company’s values are the result of extensive prior analysis and are communicated to each employee from the moment of its incorporation. Not only should these values be accepted, but they should also be communicated with in order to ensure their adaptation and good performance within the company.
Values lay the groundwork for regulating our behavior and, as a result, ensuring collective well-being. They always have a positive connotation; those that have a negative connotation are referred to as “anti-values.”
Axiology is the study of values in philosophy.
Human values come in various forms.
Values are subjective interpretations of pleasure or dislike; these interpretations become values when they are exercised by the individual.
There are many different types of values, ranging from those that are universally accepted by most people, regardless of race, religion, or where they live, to those that are very personal and intimate to each individual.
Here’s a rundown of the most important types of values.
Universal values
They are the set of norms of coexistence that are valid, accepted by a community at a certain time, but also shared by the vast majority of people around the world.
They are the basic principles around which the basic rules of respect, acceptance and good behavior of human beings are established. Among these universal values are:
– True: Agreement or agreement between what is thought, what is said, what is felt and what is done.
– Responsibility: It is the moral obligation to respond for our actions, without anyone obliging us, but for the “must be”.
– Justice: Know and accept which part is right and give it by right.
– Freedom: A fundamental principle and an inalienable human right to be able to act and to think according to our own criterion and will, without nothing or nobody to curtail us.
– Goodness: An inborn quality of man in which the good triumphs over all other feelings.
– Honesty: A human quality that binds your actions to integrity, truth, justice, and righteousness. – Love: Virtue that enables one to feel and express feelings of kindness, affection, and compassion.
– Solidarity: It is the moral commitment that people develop to help and support one another, as well as to commit to common causes.
– Understanding: The ability of an individual to put himself in the shoes of another and comprehend his point of view.
These universal values, fundamental principles for coexistence, are assumed and applied by people in various fields, earning them various names such as human, personal, or family values.
Human values
Norms and principles that are instilled in us from birth and become an inseparable part of our being. These values can be supplemented with:
– Graciousness
– Disloyalty
– Sensitivity
– Prudence
– Will
Personal values
Beyond the values instilled in us throughout our lives, each individual adapts them in a unique and personal way based on their beliefs, experiences, and way of thinking and being.
This is also heavily influenced by each individual’s personal experiences. As a result, the terms “good” and “bad,” as well as “right” and “wrong,” can have many shades of gray depending on the individual’s point of view.
This will determine their behavior and how well they adapt in interpersonal, labor, and social relationships. Among these values are:
– Faithfulness
– Gratitude
– Discipline
– Patience
– Constancy
– Empathy
Family Values
They are the set of beliefs accepted and practiced within the family as a result of tradition and personal experiences. Some examples of family values are:
-Union
-Respect
-Joy
-Sincerity
Values in Society
Sociocultural values are broader sets of beliefs that are accepted by a society that shares common codes.
They enable the establishment of relationships of respect and harmony among many people who may think differently and have different histories, but who understand and respect general norms.
In addition to the aforementioned, these values can also be:
– Patriotism
– Cultural Identity
– Self-discipline
– Punctuality
-Service Vocation
-Generosity
Moral Values
Moral values are used to help people make ethical decisions. Morality instructs us on how to act in specific situations and enables us to answer the question “what should we do?” In the face of any given situation.
Moral values seek happiness and self-actualization through kindness, honesty, and other human virtues, with a predominance of freedom guided by reason.
Ethical Values
Ethics directs actions based on an individual’s moral beliefs. Essentially, they are the same moral values, but in a more pragmatic context.
Moral values operate in a more philosophical, internal realm of the individual, and the decisions and actions taken as a result of their reflection determine their ethical values.
However, because they bear a heavy moral burden, all universal, human, or personal values are, in a sense, ethical values.
Aesthetic values
They have the ultimate goal of beauty, and to achieve it, other aspects such as harmony and balance are involved. It refers to physical characteristics that provide aesthetic pleasure.
Religious and spiritual values
They are beliefs that are given by faith rather than by specific norms or laws enacted by men to ensure order.
They are associated with immaterial and intangible aspects, but they can become very profound and govern the human being’s behavior in other aspects of his life. Essentially, we find Faith and Holiness here.
Material Values
As the name implies, these values are not philosophical, moral, or thinking aspects, but concrete elements that coexist with people and help them subsist and live more comfortably.
As the name implies, these values are not philosophical, moral, or thinking aspects, but concrete elements that coexist with people and help them subsist and live more comfortably.
These values are associated with material goods that meet basic needs such as clothing, food, health, and recreation.
Economic Values
When we talk about economic value, we usually mean the material, commercial, or monetary worth of a good or physical object.
It is a term that is mostly used in relation to wealth generation or material growth.
Pragmatic values
It is the usefulness or usability of things, the characteristics that make an object useful or facilitate some sort of task.
What purpose do values serve?
Values are stable beliefs that something is good or bad; they determine whether something is preferable to its opposite and assist us in making decisions that are considered correct by our belief system.
Based on this, the values can be applied to:
– Create a hierarchy of what is truly important and what isn’t.
– Choose the most appropriate behavior from a set of options.
– Conducting ourselves in accordance with our ideas and principles.
– To be able to take a stand on contentious or difficult issues.
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Course Manual 2: Your Why
In order to live a life of meaning and purpose you must discover and define your personal “Why” in life. In the grand scheme of things, everyone has a deep motivation that fuels their life. If you keep asking yourself why you do what you do, you will eventually discover your own personal “Why” in life. When you do, you can be happy and live a life of passion.
What is a WHY in life?
What is your life’s “Why?”
This is a common question, but it forces you to consider what you truly want out of life. How do you figure out what your “Why” is in life? By asking as many questions as you can think of:
• What motivates me to do this?
• Why do I prefer this to that?
• Why am I unhappy when X occurs?
• Why am I so stressed right now?
• Why?
If you keep asking these questions, you’ll almost certainly get the same answer. That answer is almost always your life’s “Why.” That is the motivation that propels you forward in life. That is what causes you to be unhappy if your current situation does not correspond to your “Why.”
The most common responses to these “Why” questions are a variation or combination of the following:
• Taking care of my family
• Success
• Leaving a Legacy
• Being loved
• Making a difference in the lives of others
• Fortune
It’s not uncommon to feel inclined to want all of those things we just listed. And, without further thought, you may plan your life to be a successful and wealthy individual with a significant positive impact on the world.
Because that seems like a good reason to be alive, doesn’t it?
To discover your personal “Why” in life, you must first dig deep within your conscious mind with a shovel. What is the best way to begin digging? By asking yourself the above-mentioned questions.
Here’s an example:
Q: Why do I work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day?
A: Because I need money to do the things I care about the most.
What does this response teach me? That my “career” has nothing to do with my life’s “Why.” I only work because the money allows me to do the things that are more important to me. Let’s keep going.
Q: What is the most important thing to me?
A: To live a happy life and to be surrounded by people whose lives I can improve.
So, this is already becoming more existential, right? In most cases, your “Why” in life is not linked to a single factor in your life (like a career, a hobby, or a single good cause). It is usually much bigger than that.
Let’s keep going.
Q: What motivates me to have a positive impact on the world?
A: Because I’ve been given a chance in life that not many other people have (good upbringing, basic needs, family, health, education). I don’t want to take these things for granted. I want to take advantage of this opportunity to give back to the world.
What this boils down to is that everything you do – whether you’re a business or an individual – should be motivated by the same fundamental reason. So, if someone began to question your actions (why are you doing that? Why this? Why that?), you’d have to be able to circle back to your main “Why” statement at some point.
Because “Why” statements are already very common in business, I’ve decided to include a few well-known examples here. Personal “Why” statements are still uncommon but reading these examples may inspire you to reconsider your own!
What this boils down to is that everything you do – whether you’re a business or an individual – should be motivated by the same fundamental reason. So, if someone began to question your actions (why are you doing that? Why this? Why that?), you’d have to be able to circle back to your main “Why” statement at some point.
Because “Why” statements are already very common in business, I’ve decided to include a few well-known examples here. Personal “Why” statements are still uncommon but reading these examples may inspire you to reconsider your own!
• We aim to challenge the status quo. We aim to think differently. – Apple
• To connect millions of people in real life all over the world, through a community marketplace– so that you can belong anywhere. – Airbnb
• To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. – Microsoft
• To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. – Google
Why it’s critical to discover your personal “Why”
A “Why” statement is frequently used in business, but why is it also important to determine your own “Why” statement?
Because living a life that is aligned with your life’s purpose is more likely to make you happy. Trackinghappiness.com recently conducted a large-scale survey on this topic and discovered that 34% of people associate their life’s purpose with their happiness.
Another fascinating study followed 136,000 people for about 7 years and came to the following surprising conclusion:
The analysis showed a lower risk of death for participants with a high sense of purpose in life. After adjusting for other factors, mortality was about one-fifth lower for participants reporting a strong sense of purpose.
Source: Purpose in Life and Its Relationship to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis
Identifying your personal “Why” in life
You can’t go around copying and pasting other people’s “Why” statements and expect to be happy doing the same things.
No, you must discover your own personal “Why” in life.
The “Why” differs from person to person, just as happiness is unique to each individual.
Richard Branson’s “Why” in life may be “to have fun in my journey through life and learn from my mistakes,” whereas your personal “Why” may simply be to provide the best life possible for your family and children.
Examples of Personal Why’s
“My why is to help people be more connected in their life, career, and business.”
This “Why” statement comes from Beth Bridges and shows how a life event can solidify your purpose in life. Beth is an author and specializes in the power of networking. She also runs The Networking Motivator, which is a website about sharing networking strategies with others.
Here’s how she defines her “Why” in life.
My why is to help people be more connected in their life, career, and business. A year and a half ago, my husband of 17 years had a massive heart attack and was gone in minutes. What saved my sanity? The friends and business connections who gladly helped me with things small and large. Without that community, I would have been lost in despair and sadness. Now, I want to make sure that everyone has the tools and knowledge to build their own community so that they can survive whatever life throws at them.
“To leave the world better than I found it and be remembered by the people whose lives I touched as a force for good in their lives.”
This one comes from Paige, which I find a really inspiring example. “To leave the world better than I found it” is such a simple but powerful purpose. Paige started a global branding and marketing firm – called Mavens & Moguls – 18 years ago. She’s been happily married for 27 years, has a close circle of friends, nieces, nephews, and god kids.
She says:
Quite simply I want to leave the world better than I found it and be remembered by the people whose lives I touched as a force for good in their lives.
I lost 7 people very close to me in 6 years and know firsthand no one on their deathbed wishes they worked more, made more money or won more awards. They just want to be with the ones they love most and to tell them they mattered. I think of those people often and the roles they played in my life. I want to be remembered for passing along the very best in me to others, so their lives are better and happier in some ways because I was part of it.
Tracking Your Happiness in Order to Find Your “Why”
Tracking your happiness daily can be very powerful and insightful. What exactly does this mean? It means that every day, you spend two – five minutes reflecting on your day. Simple questions to ask yourself:
1. On a scale of 1 to 100, how happy was I?
2. What factors had the greatest influence on my rating?
3. I clear my mind by writing down everything that comes to mind in my happiness journal.
This enables us to continuously learn from our changing life. It’s also how we can determine whether daily activities are serving our primary motivation in life. It’s typical to be ‘m usually the most unhappy when you’re doing something that doesn’t align with your personal “Why” statement.
Crafting Your Why Statement and Communicating Your Purpose in Business
Every business, organization, and career operates on three levels: (1) WHAT we do, (2) HOW we do it, and (3) WHY we do it. We’re all familiar with WHAT we do: the products we sell, the services we provide, and the jobs we do. Only a few of us know HOW we do it—what we believe distinguishes or distinguishes us from the rest of the crowd or our competition. However, only a few of us can clearly articulate WHY we do what we do…
Again, our WHY is the purpose, cause, or belief that motivates every organization and every individual’s career. Here are some powerful questions to ask:
• WHY IS YOUR COMPANY EXISTING?
• WHAT MADE YOU GET OUT OF YOUR BED THIS MORNING?
• And WHY should anyone be concerned?
Your WHY is what distinguishes you from the crowd. It’s your goal. It is what motivates you to act. Your WHY is also what motivates others to act, spread your ideas, or purchase your products.
Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why explains this concept of WHY in detail. Simon explains in that book how some of the world’s greatest leaders inspire themselves as well as others to take action, buy their products, or champion their cause…
They accomplish this by first clarifying, comprehending, and communicating their purpose—their WHY—before communicating anything else. They begin with WHY, sell with WHY, and lead with WHY.
Find Your Why, Sinek’s most recent book, is a follow-up to Start With Why… While Start With Why explains why it’s important to begin with WHY, Find Your Why explains how to do so.
Your WHY Statement is the most effective way for you to articulate your WHY—your purpose… Not only to others, but also to yourself.
Your WHY statement should be as follows:
• simple and straightforward
• actionable
• concentrated on how you will help others, and
• expressed in affirmative language that is meaningful to you
Your WHY statement should be able to encompass all of the qualities we just discussed—and it can be stated in a simple sentence.
It should also be “evergreen,” which means that it should apply to everything you do, both personally and professionally, without separation.
In Find Your Why, Simon Sinek and his co-authors explain that your WHY Statement is “a statement of your value at work as much as it is the reason your friends love you. We don’t have a professional WHY and personal WHY. We are who we are wherever we are. Your contribution is not a product or a service. It’s the thing around which everything you do— the decisions you make, the tasks you perform, the products you sell— aligns to bring about the impact you envision.”
Simon and his team provide us with a simple format to use as we draft our WHY Statement:
TO ____ SO THAT ____.
The first blank represents your contribution — the contribution you make to the lives others through your WHY. And the second blank represents the impact of your contribution.
The first blank represents your contribution — the contribution you make to the lives others through your WHY. And the second blank represents the impact of your contribution.
Your job is to plug-in the blanks to create your own unique WHY Statement.
But before you start creating one, it might be helpful to have some examples to reference…
Now it’s our turn:
The” TO ____ SO THAT ____” format was designed to be simple and straight-forward enough such that anyone can draft a meaningful WHY by using it. You can use it to create an individual WHY, or you can use it to create an organizational WHY. It’s a powerful tool that can pull your thoughts and actions towards doing what matters most to you.
Grab a pen and pad and use the “TO ____ SO THAT ____” template to start drafting your own WHY Statement.
Take as long as you need to do this, and keep in mind that you can modify your WHY as you evolve as an individual—none of this is set in stone unless you want it to be.
Draft as many WHY Statements as you need to until you find the one that resonates with you on an emotional level.
Once you’ve chosen a meaningful WHY Statement, take a second to congratulate yourself — you now have your very own WHY!
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Niedzsche
Course Manual 3: Passion vs. Purpose
It is helpful in understanding that your WHY and your PURPOSE are not the same thing. Your WHY is the reason you do the things you do (Maybe for your family, to prove something to someone or yourself) – Your PASSION or PURPOSE is your mission in life. It might be your work, your contribution to others, your art or creations.
Your Life’s Purpose
Your life purpose is made up of the central motivating goals of your life—the reasons you get out of bed in the morning.
Purpose can guide life decisions, influence behavior, shape goals, provide direction, and create meaning. For some, purpose is linked to vocation—meaningful, satisfying work. Others find their meaning in their obligations to family or friends. Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people may find their life’s purpose clearly expressed in all of these areas.
When considering your life purpose, the following questions may arise:
• Who am I?
• Where do I belong?
• When do I feel fulfilled?
Your life’s purpose is your contribution.
Some people are hesitant to pursue their life purpose because they are concerned that it will appear self-serving or selfish. True purpose, on the other hand, is about recognizing your own gifts and using them to make a difference in the world, whether that means playing beautiful music for others to enjoy, assisting friends with problems, or simply bringing more joy into the lives of those around you.
Richard Leider, a nationally ranked coach, and purpose expert, says that “genuine purpose points to the end of a self-absorbed, self-serving relationship to life.” When your authentic purpose becomes clear, you will be able to share it with the whole world.
How does one’s life purpose evolve?
Questions about life purpose can arise at any time, but they are more common during times of transition or crisis, such as a career or educational change, a personal loss, or a long-distance move. (Sharon Daloz Parks refers to these occurrences as “life’s shipwrecks.”)
Our lives can be compared to a nautilus that expands its shell by adding new chambers as it grows and requires more space. Similarly, as people progress through life, their old quarters can become cramped. They begin to wonder what they can do to increase their available space.
Moving into new chambers allows for the emergence of new possibilities, allowing our life purpose to evolve. However, this can cause physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual transitions, as well as a chaotic period as we begin to ask new questions.
This is the key to living a fully alive life: repeatedly reframe our life questions.
As we progress through our lives, we encounter various questions and opportunities.
Each of us has a unique purpose – here are some examples:
Jackie:
I have always felt that my purpose is to take care of others. Now I have the opportunity to do that every day with my children.
Susan:
I have a job as a legal aide, which is pretty interesting and pays fairly well. But my real love is music. I love to play my cello, and I practice a few hours a day. I especially love to perform for others and bring beauty to a special occasion, like a wedding.
Randall:
A few years ago, my father was very sick in the hospital. I was so impressed by the nurses there and how they made such a difference to my father and our family that I decided that I wanted to have a job like that. So, I went to nursing school, and now I work as an RN in a local clinic.
What’s the difference between passion and purpose?
Most people associate passion and purpose as if they were two peas in a pod.
They’re so similar that they’re frequently used interchangeably.
But passion and purpose are more like PB&J.
They’re so different from one another (not to mention incredibly tasty on their own) but combining the two creates magic.
Whether you’re looking for passion or purpose, having both buckets filled can provide you with the most life satisfaction and fulfillment.
So, let’s look at passion vs. purpose from four different perspectives.
4 Ways to Define Passion vs. Purpose
#1. Your passion is for you, while your purpose is for others
The inward vs. outward outlook is probably my favorite distinction between passion and purpose, where passion is what the world gives you and purpose is what you give to the world.
The world has bestowed upon you the gift of passion. Your gift to the world is your purpose.
If you’re curious about the relationship between passion and purpose, consider author, former monk, and public speaker Jay Shetty’s definition of passion vs. purpose:
“Your passion is for you and your purpose is for others. When you use your passion in the service of others, it becomes your purpose.”
So, by using one of your passions to serve the greater good, you can turn it into your purpose.
If you dig deeper into Jay’s philosophy, you’ll discover that passion is only one of four ingredients required to create your purpose. Your purpose is the point at which your passion, mission, profession, and vocation intersect.
Passion, among other ingredients, make up your purpose. Source: Pinterest
While this format may be applicable to people who are still working, the main takeaway for achieving your ideal retirement lifestyle is that passion is something you do for yourself, whereas purpose is something you do to help others.
While passion is one component of your purpose, other ingredients include outward forms of giving back, such as volunteerism, leaving a legacy, or another form of your “work.”
You’re probably passionate about animals if you’re a pet lover.
However, if you’re an animal rescuer, you’re probably also passionate about animals and achieving your goal of saving them.
To put it another way, both an animal rescuer and a pet owner may care deeply about animals. However, only the animal rescuer may have the intention of saving animals.
#2. Passion is about emotions, while purpose is the reason behind your emotions
Another take on passion vs. purpose is based on emotions.
While passion is something that excites you and lights a fire of emotions inside of you, purpose is the driving reason behind emotions.
It is all about your emotions when it comes to passion. The reason for your emotions is referred to as your purpose.
The following is the definition from the dictionary:
“Passion is defined as any strong or compelling emotion or feeling.”
It’s a feeling, whether it’s love or hate. Emotions can also be expressed as energy.
Oprah says:
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
It’s cool to think of passion as energy because it implies that it can be generated from within. It’s fluid, and you can work on increasing your enthusiasm for it.
Take, for example, music. I’m sure you’ve had a passionate experience with music that excited your emotions, whether it was listening to or playing a heartwarming tune.
Was it, however, always present? No, not always.
Your interest in playing or performing music has most likely grown. For example, if you’ve only learned three chords on the piano, you’re probably not passionate about it. It’s difficult to get excited about something before you’ve learned everything there is to know about it or mastered it.
Similarly, once you’ve developed a taste or ear for certain songs, they may arouse greater passion and emotion in you. Or perhaps you’ve developed a new appreciation for a song after hearing it in a specific context, such as a dramatic movie scene.
In either case, your passion and emotions for music come from within and can be developed.
Purpose, on the other hand, is the reason for your emotions and is more prevalent.
To return to the music example, while listening to or performing it may bring you happiness or joy, it is not your purpose.
Perhaps your goal is to enthrall others by writing melodies, orchestrating songs, and performing them as gifts to the world. Perhaps your goal with your music is to heal people. After all, studies show that music has a variety of healing effects on a variety of patients and ailments.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, philosopher, and poet, has a purpose definition that fits the bill in this scenario:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
#3. Your “what” is your passion, and your “why” is your purpose
This one, like the emotional take on passion vs. purpose, outlines each according to your “what” and “why,” with your passion serving as your “what” and your purpose serving as your “why.”
Passions in this sense of “what” can be developed in the same way that emotions can. This definition of passion, however, is based on a skill level or topic of interest rather than an emotion.
When your passion is fixed, you are less likely to explore new topics. As a result, it’s a good idea to think of your interests as something you can cultivate, explore, and grow into.
Take, for example, cooking. You can develop an interest in learning new recipes, cooking meals, and concocting your own concoctions. It’s a malleable skill and interest that evolves and changes as you hone it.
Purpose, on the other hand, is the “why” of your life.
The following is a definition of purpose from the dictionary:
“Purpose is the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.”
Essentially, your purpose is the reason you were put on this planet, and your passions are the various paths you can take to achieve it.
Speaking of multiple paths, this brings us to the final point of passion vs. purpose.
#4. There are multiple passions and a single purpose
Finally, another way to look at the distinction between passion and purpose is in terms of quantity.
It’s common to have multiple interests but only one purpose.
Which makes sense if you think of your passions as things that make you happy. You can develop a strong interest and passion in a variety of activities and topics.
Furthermore, having multiple passions means that they can change and grow with you over time.
A purpose, on the other hand, is unique in terms of the reason you were put on this planet.
The manner in which you approach your “why” may evolve, but your actual “why” remains singular and unwavering.
Now that you know how to distinguish between passion and purpose, let’s look at why the distinction is important.
Why Passion vs. Purpose Matters
The first and most obvious reason for distinguishing between passion and purpose is so that you can easily identify each and incorporate it into your life.
While each one improves your life, having both passion and purpose can do wonders for you. Having a clear perspective on whether an activity brings you passion or purpose can help you decide how much you want to participate in it.
Of course, if you want to be happy and thrive, you must do so.
Take, for example, the job market.
One study of 5,000 employees conducted over a five-year period discovered that people who had both purpose and passion performed in the 80th percentile.
The study also discovered that passion and purpose, on their own, do not hold as well. People who only had a purpose fell to the 64th percentile in performance, while those who only had a passion fell all the way to the 20th percentile.
So, what is the takeaway?
It is not always the case that purpose is more important than passion. In fact, another study led by Jon Jachimowicz discovered that when combined with perseverance (aka grit), passion leads to a significant increase in job performance.
The main takeaway is marrying passion and purpose together can really allow you to prosper.
“Givers need to set limits because takers rarely do.” ― Rachel Wolchin
7 Strategies to Finding Your Purpose in Life
1. Donate your time money and talents – If there is only one habit you can develop to help you find your purpose, it is to help others. It could be as simple as volunteering for a nonprofit organization, donating money to causes you care about, or simply assisting those around you on a daily basis. Whether you volunteer to drive your elderly neighbor to the grocery store once a week or spend two Saturdays a month serving meals in a soup kitchen, doing something kind for others can make you feel as if your life has meaning.
2. Listen to Feedback – It can be difficult to recognize the things you are passionate about at times. After all, you probably enjoy a variety of activities, and those activities may have become so ingrained in your life that you are unaware of their significance. Fortunately, others may be able to provide you with some guidance. You may already be displaying your passion and purpose to those around you without even realizing it. You could reach out to people and ask them what reminds them of you or what comes to mind when they think of you. You could also take note when someone compliments you or makes an observation about you. Make a note of your observations and return to them later.
3. Surround yourself with positive people – You are, as the saying goes, the company you keep. What do you have in common with the people you choose to spend your time with? Don’t consider coworkers or family members who you feel obligated to see. Consider the people you choose to spend time with outside of work and family functions. The people you associate with reveal something about you. If you’re surrounded by people who are making a difference, you might be inspired by them.
4. Start conversations with new people – It’s easy to check social media while riding the subway alone or waiting for a friend at a bar. Refuse that urge. Instead, make an effort to converse with those around you. Inquire if they are working on any projects or what they enjoy doing for fun. Ask them about any organizations in which they are involved or if they would like to donate to a specific cause. Even if striking up a conversation with a stranger feels awkward at first, talking to people outside of your immediate social circle can introduce you to activities, causes, or career opportunities that you were previously unaware of. You might come across new activities to try or new places to visit. And those activities may help you figure put your purpose.
5. Explore your interests – Is there a topic that you frequently discuss in a Facebook status update or a Tweet? Do you share articles about climate change or refugees on a regular basis? Are there photos of you on Instagram doing the same thing over and over, such as gardening or performing? Consider the types of conversations you enjoy having with people when you meet them in person. Do you enjoy discussing history? Or do you prefer to share the most recent money-saving tips you’ve discovered?
6. Consider injustices that bother you – Many people have pet causes or passion projects that revolve around a global injustice. Is there anything that makes you so sad to think about that it bothers you to your core? It could be animal welfare, a specific civil rights issue, or organizations fighting childhood obesity. Perhaps the thought of elderly people spending the holidays alone makes you cry, or you believe that substance abusers require more rehabilitation opportunities—the organizations are out there, and they need your help.
7. Discover what you love to do – On the other hand, simply thinking about what you truly enjoy doing can help you discover your purpose. Do you have a strong preference for musical theater? Your talents could be best utilized by bringing live performances to children who would benefit from exposure to the arts. Is it possible for you to have fun while analyzing data? That skill could be extremely useful to a variety of groups.
Finding your purpose is not something that can be accomplished in a matter of days, weeks, or months. It can be a life-long journey that must be taken one step at a time.
You may also discover that your purpose evolves over time. Perhaps you used to enjoy working with animals, but now you want to join forces with a cause that combats human trafficking. You can definitely have more than one purpose, too.
Keep in mind that changing your purpose does not necessitate a change what you’re doing now.
You might want to take a break from time to time to reflect and then to consider whether the path you’re on is leading you in the right direction. If it isn’t, you can change your mind. The path to discovering your purpose can be fraught with curves, forks, and stop signs. However, the reward out ways the challenges allowing you to live a life of joyfulness and fulfillment.
2. Divide players into small teams of 3-4 people each. You can make the team composition the same as your real-life office teams to focus more on the team identity aspects of this activity.
3. Give each team enough time to plan, draw and paint an emblem for their teams. The emblem must represent something the identifies the team and its values. They get 10 minutes for inspiration (they can look up ideas online if they want to), 20-80 minutes to make the emblem.
4. Once the time is up, ask each team to display their emblem. Invite all other teams to give their own interpretation of the emblem. Then the creating team gives their actual interpretation. Repeat the process for all other teams.
Course Manual 4: Prioritizing Priorities
“The first step to success is knowing your priorities.” Aspesh
Do you try to complete all of your tasks each day because you believe each item on your to-do list is critical? Do you have enough time to complete all of those tasks? If you answered yes, it is possible that you do not have a clear list of priorities in your life.
To effectively manage your time and know what matters while progressing toward your goals, you must have a clear list of priorities. If you take on too many tasks on a regular basis, you may eventually become stressed.
Priority is defined as something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things.
If you’re not sure if you’re overburdened with too many responsibilities in life, take the free Life Assessment found in the resources section of this course to find out. This assessment will assist you in analyzing your various aspects of life and will then provide you with an overview of your life’s satisfaction level.
Remember that your goal is a target that you hope to achieve in the future. Priorities are the things you must establish and focus on in order to achieve your goal. When you have a list of priorities, you will have a better chance of making changes and making decisions that are in line with your life mission.
Everyone is unique, and everyone has different priorities. However, there are some common threads that unite us all. You may not find that every item on this list of priorities speaks to you, but at least a few of them will. If you’re not sure what your priorities are, these may help you figure out where you should focus your thoughts and energy.
7 Most Common Priorities
1. Your Life Mission
Your life missions are priorities that provide meaning and happiness to your life. These are the things that motivate you to go beyond success and work on something meaningful in your life. What do you hope to get out of life? You will always achieve your goals if you prioritize those things without compromising your commitment to them.
Create a mission statement and a vision statement.
Define your mission statement and the steps you must take to achieve your life’s purpose.
Once you’ve determined your life missions, organize your tasks and make sure that every item on your to-do list reflects those missions. Refuse to work on an item if it does not align with your life’s purpose. Go ahead and lose weight if you want to. If your life mission necessitates oratory skills, commit to honing them. The bottom line is that your to-do list should reflect your personal and professional objectives.
2. Physical Fitness
Your health is extremely important and should be at the top of your priority list. It determines your financial well-being, comfort, and overall attitude.
Here are some reasons why your physical well-being should be high on your priority list:
• When you are healthy, you can only be more productive and focused.
• Your sleep quality will improve.
• When you interact with other people, you will be in a better mood.
• You will be more motivated to complete your life’s mission.
• You will have a high sense of self-esteem. Sickness saps your self-esteem.
To improve your health, try the following:
Eat a well-balanced diet, get into a regular exercise routine, and don’t sleep too much.
3. Spending Time With Family
When things aren’t going well at work, the first line of defense is always your family. Spending time with family improves your self-esteem, promotes positive habits, and creates memories.
Make spending time with your immediate family a priority and make that time count. Work out or exercise together, go for a walk after dinner, choose a book to read together, cook or eat a meal together. Make togetherness a priority!
4. Healthy Relationships
Relationships play an important role in determining one’s life’s meaning and purpose. After your family, your friends, colleagues, or community members play significant roles in your life that you cannot imagine.
Prioritizing healthy relationships, according to Northwestern Medicine, can reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for stress. According to one study, married people are less likely to experience psychological stress. This is due to the fact that the emotional and social support that relationships provide can be an excellent stress reliever.
5. Mental Health
Are you constantly preoccupied with work, social obligations, studies, family, and daily activities? If you answered yes, you must prioritize your mental health. Create a routine for investigating how you feel when you are stressed or overworked.
To keep yourself in check, try the following.
**Conduct a Mental Audit
Take note of how you feel, think, or say things and how they affect your mood, whether positively or negatively.
**Recognize Red Flags
Red flags are warning signs that indicate when your thoughts, feelings, and habits are changing. They may also notify you if you are experiencing burnout or stress. The sooner you recognize what’s wrong with you and devise coping strategies to address the issues, the faster and easier it will be to get back on track.
**Determine Your Trigger
If you notice that certain tasks, events, habits, or experiences, such as health issues, increased workloads, or relationship challenges, have an impact on your mental well-being, practice self-care during those times.
6. Finances
Money is not inconsequential. While money cannot buy happiness, it is necessary to earn enough to live happily ever after. When you’re struggling to pay your bills or feed yourself, life can be miserable, so prioritize your finances!
In his book Cashflow Quadrant, Robert Kiyosaki suggests:
“Make money work for you rather than working all your life for money.”
Simply put, Robert is advising you to work on your savings and investment goals.
So, how do you prioritize and improve your financial situation?
Determine your income-producing assets and income-depleting liabilities. Then, increase your assets while decreasing your liabilities. Also, save as much as you can to make your life easier in the future. You can also invest your savings in any low-risk project that will provide you with passive income in the short and long term. Finally, try to avoid debt as much as possible and save for emergencies.
7. Personal Development
“You are either growing or dying,” – Lou Holtz
Only by rejecting mediocrity and complacency can you become the person of your dreams.
There are simple things you can do to better yourself. You can watch TED Talks that will positively impact your life, read personal development books, or learn new skills. Learning something outside of your field isn’t even a bad idea. Learning keeps you alive!
Use these steps to develop a self-improvement strategy that works for you.
1. Establish Your Objectives
Define your goals (general list) and become more specific by breaking them down into specific items: lose 20 pounds, earn a certificate, train for a new role, and so on. More information on how to set SMART GOALS can be found in Course Manual 1:1.
2. Concentrate on Your Strengths
Highlight your strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve the specific goals. Then explain why you want them to become a reality. How will they help you?
3. Imagination
Visualize yourself accomplishing your objectives. You can create a vision board to see what success will look like. It could include images of a happier and healthier you!
4. Outline Your Strategy
Create your game plan. How are you going to get there? What will it entail? Are you learning a new skill? Are you learning a new skill? Do you want to take an online course? You must define the specific steps you must take to improve.
Don’t forget to set small milestones along the way so you can reward yourself when you achieve small victories.
“To change your life, you need to change your priorities.” Mark Twain
Prioritizing Your Tasks at Work
Consider the following steps when prioritizing tasks at work:
1. Decide which tasks are the most important
First, decide which tasks on your to-do list are the most critical. This could be determined by the week’s deadlines, client expectations, or coworker requests. For example, before moving on to other tasks, you may concentrate on a marketing report due at the end of the day.
2. Put Your Tasks on a Calendar
Schedule the most important tasks in your calendar once you’ve determined which are the most important. When you see your to-do list every day, it can be easier to prioritize your time. You may find that having a visual reminder of each task you need to complete helps you focus better on them. Completing them can also give you a sense of accomplishment.
3. Establish boundaries
Once you’ve completed your tasks for the day, you can further prioritize by designating specific times to work on your projects. You may have coworkers who call, email, or walk over to your desk on a regular basis to discuss non-urgent issues. It is appropriate to inform them that you are working on a project and will contact them later. You can tell them not to bother you in the morning, but that you’d be happy to talk later.
Setting your email away message to let people know which hours of the day you respond to emails is another way to prioritize your time. When you set aside specific times to work without interruptions, you may find that you can focus better and complete more tasks.
Tips for Prioritizing in the Workplace
Here are a few ways to prioritize your responsibilities at work in order to be a more productive employee:
Consider distractions.
Distractions are common throughout the day, whether you’ve switched your focus to another task or are responding to a coworker. You may also require breaks throughout the day to relax and refocus. When you accept that distractions will occur, you may find it easier to incorporate them into your schedule. You can even plan your breaks, such as a 10-minute coffee break in the middle of the day and a 15-minute walk in the late afternoon.
Utilize technology to your advantage.
With technological advancements, there are many productivity tools available to help you prioritize and stay on task. Keeping track of your time on a specific task with a computer application allows you to see how efficiently you’re working. A timer can also help you focus on tasks and plan breaks. For example, you could set your timer for an hour of work and then take a five-minute break.
One task at a time should be prioritized.
While it may be tempting to multitask in order to accomplish more, it is often preferable to focus on one task at a time. This strategy ensures that your full attention is focused on that assignment, allowing you to complete it efficiently before moving on to the next item on your list. When you are not distracted by other tasks, you may have a better chance of producing high-quality work.
Make use of a scheduling tool.
Prioritize tasks by writing down everything that is due in the next month. Determine what needs to be done on a daily basis, by the end of each week, and by the end of the month. This can be done on a spreadsheet, and then the tasks can be organized in a calendar. Setting deadlines for your tasks can help you stay focused and work more efficiently.
Delegate tasks/responsibilities.
You could make a list of everything you need to complete by the end of the week and delegate specific tasks to others if you can assign duties or share responsibilities with coworkers. Determine which tasks others can complete without your supervision and delegate them to coworkers so you can focus on issues that require your immediate attention. This allows you to prioritize the tasks that must be completed as soon as possible.
Make a calendar of your tasks.
Define Your Priorities
Take a moment and think about what’s most important to you in your life. The things that are coming up for you are your priorities. The people you love the most in the world and the things you enjoy doing. Finding a balance between life and work, family and other obligations can be extremely challenging.
For instance, if you are burnt out and it’s taking a toll on your health, then you will need to prioritize your health. There’s no way you can focus and be productive if you are not healthy.
With technology so readily available and constant demands from everyone around us, it gets harder and harder to focus on what’s truly important, which are your priorities. Priorities get clouded as we navigate through our busy days. Deadlines, commitments, and to-do lists are never-ending and before we know it, we are pushing what may be most important at the bottom of our lists.
2 Step Process to Identify your priorities
1. Make a list of the 10 things that are most important to you. (use the list above to help guide you)
2. Rank them in order of importance
Remember, priorities should be the things in your life you love and enjoy. Also, the activities that are going to allow you to reach your goals.
The key is to be committed to your priorities no matter what!
Course Manual 5: Personal Boundaries
“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.” ― Brené Brown
According to Wikipedia, Personal boundaries or the act of setting boundaries is a life skill that has been popularized by self-help authors and support groups since the mid-1980s. It is the practice of openly communicating and asserting personal values as way to preserve and protect against having them compromised or violated The term “boundary” is a metaphor – with in-bounds meaning acceptable and out-of-bounds meaning unacceptable. Without values and boundaries our identities become diffused and often controlled by the definitions offered by others. The concept of boundaries has been widely adopted by the counseling profession.
Personal boundaries serve as a safeguard for our time, space, and energy. Usually, we set boundaries between ourselves and others, but it’s useful to set boundaries for yourself as well so, that you can honor and protect your priorities.
What Exactly Are Personal Boundaries?
Personal boundaries are limits that assist us in honoring our values and priorities, and they are arguably more important than ever.
Expectations are slowly but steadily rising. We feel compelled to do more, be more, own more, and purchase more—and it’s all too much. As we struggle to keep our heads above water, the important things fall by the wayside.
Strong personal boundaries help to filter out some of the noise. We are not being difficult, selfish, or unkind when we make intentional decisions about our time, money, environment, and relationships.
Instead, we’re simply drawing a line in the sand, deciding what’s important, and aligning our lives accordingly.
Why Setting Personal Boundaries is Important
The primary reason people set boundaries is to try to build stronger relationships with themselves and others. Personal boundaries are an essential component of any healthy relationship and should never be ignored.
Personal boundaries determine how far others can go before crossing the line, just as fences and walls in the physical world determine where you can and cannot go, what is yours and what isn’t yours.
They keep people from trampling on you. They prevent others from manipulating you. They keep people from getting too involved in your personal affairs.
What is the significance of this? Because what you have is yours. You are unique, and like every other human on the planet, you have things that make you feel at ease and things that make you extremely uncomfortable. You have preferences, stumbling blocks, and challenges that are unique to you. They are only for you to deal with.
That is why personal boundaries are essential. They indicate to others where they can and cannot walk. Boundaries change all the time, expanding and contracting — all you have to do is let people know.
All of this serves as a reminder to accept and respect other people’s personal boundaries. This is especially important in couples because partners share the most intimate spaces of each other, including physical, emotional, and sexual areas.
As a result, Relationships that are healthy thrive on mutual respect, trust, and happiness.
That’s something to strive for, isn’t it?
Let’s go over four different types of personal boundaries that we can established in our life (physical, mental, time, and financial) and why they’re important.
Personal Boundaries: 4 Types and Why They Matter
There are many different types of personal boundaries and classifications for them. The list that follows is not exhaustive, but it is a common one.
These four kinds of boundaries have had a significant impact on my life, and I hope they inspire you to be curious and experiment with establishing limits for yourself.
Physical Boundaries
Physical boundaries are limits related to space and our surroundings. They can be quite personal at times. For example, you may need to inform someone that you prefer shaking hands rather than hugging when greeting them.
I believe these types of boundaries are non-negotiable, but fortunately, I haven’t had to enforce them in many situations. If that is not the case for you, I hope you are able to obtain the assistance you require.
But I’d also like to point out that there are other ways we can establish physical boundaries with others and with ourselves. Here are a couple of examples:
• Limits on how many things we own – this could be as simple as making an intentional decision about how many towels to keep or limiting toys to what fits easily in the playroom.
• Limits on the types of things we own – if your values align with this, you may choose not to buy fast fashion or single-use plastics.
• Limits on what people can bring into your home – for example, you could ask someone not to smoke in your home or not to bring unhealthy snacks for your children.
These are just a few examples, and please understand that I am not here to judge your boundaries. What is important is that you consider what is most important to you and then ask yourself, “How can I best protect my space and environment?”
Mental Boundaries
Mental boundaries are more difficult to define because we can’t always see when a line has been crossed—but we all know how it feels. There’s a tightening in the chest and thoughts that won’t leave you alone.
Of course, difficult emotions are sometimes healthy and unavoidable. But, as with everything else, we have limitations. You should reserve your emotional and mental strength for things that are important, rather than frivolous drama.
For example, if reading certain magazines or browsing social media sends you into a downward spiral of insecurity and self-doubt, you may need to limit your media consumption.
Similarly, if you have a friend who is always talking about weight loss and dieting and this makes you feel anxious about your eating habits, you may want to ask them to avoid the topic around you.
Here are some examples of how you can set mental boundaries for yourself:
If you’re not sure what mental boundaries you require, start paying attention.
Time Boundaries
Time boundaries are limits on how you spend your time, and this is one of the most difficult for me to enforce. There are several reasons for this, including:
Pleasing to others – We say ‘yes’ to helping others even when we’re already stretched to our limits because we’re afraid of disappointing others.
The planning fallacy – is a cognitive bias that causes people to underestimate how long it will take to complete tasks. To put it another way, we have a natural proclivity to bite off more than we can chew.
Busyness culture – In today’s world, it’s easy to conflate productivity with self-worth. There is both internal and external pressure to always do more.
What would your life be like if you were able to set personal boundaries? This includes both preventing people from invading your personal space and adhering to the personal boundaries you set for yourself later on.
This ideal world is a reality. It only takes a little know-how and practice. Self-awareness, values, and assertiveness are qualities that contribute to strong boundaries, which we will discuss further.
Here you will find an explanation of personal boundaries, why you need them in your life, and 9 expert tips to help you get started.
9 Steps to Set Personal Boundaries
To become an expert at setting and being comfortable with personal boundaries, you must practice, just like anything else in life. Fortunately, we have 9 fantastic ways for you to get started and begin reclaiming your own life.
Are you ready?
1. Establish Your Boundaries
When you don’t even know what your personal boundaries are or where they are, it’s impossible to start setting them. This is why, for anyone who believes they need more or fewer boundaries, the first step is to assess where they currently stand.
Do you find yourself being pushed around a lot? Or are you completely opposed to any kind of change?
Do you find yourself frequently arguing with others? Or do you struggle to speak up when you know you should?
When it comes to personal boundaries, everyone has a different starting point, and those boundaries will inevitably change over time. The first step, however, should be to determine your starting point.
2. Determine Your Personal Values
Identifying your values in life is one of the best ways to determine what your boundaries are and how you want them to change.
Consider creating a strong boundary around your personal space and free time if you value creative freedom and thinking time.
If you value the small things in life over the big, extravagant things, you might want to consider loosening your boundaries a little to allow for more serendipity.
Whatever your unique personal values are, the personal boundaries you establish will be what help you maintain them.
3. Begin with the basics
As previously stated, any skill in life necessitates not only practice to reach a desired level, but also regular reviews and maintenance to ensure that skill does not fade away. Setting personal boundaries is no exception.
Rather than completely opposing people who are overstepping, abandoning every aspect of your old beliefs, or selling everything to live in a remote forest, there are small steps you can and should take first.
If you have a friend who constantly calls you to make plans and you feel pressured to do so, politely tell them you don’t want to this week. What will occur? Probably not much. This small step will give you the confidence to say no again when you don’t feel like going out in the coming weeks.
If you’re getting too much input and information from your phone, my favorite hack is to delete the problematic apps for a day. Are you missing them? Tomorrow, download them again. Did you miss them as much as you thought you would? See how another day goes without them.
Setting boundaries with yourself and your own routines is just as important as setting boundaries with others.
4. Pay Attention to Your Emotions
If you’re not sure where your personal boundaries should be, it’s a good idea to check in with your feelings and bodily sensations every now and then. These will usually provide you with a good indication.
Increased heart rate, sweating, chest or stomach tightness, and other general feelings of discomfort are all warning signs. Of course, just because you are experiencing these feelings does not mean that you should isolate yourself from the rest of the world — doing so will not benefit you in any way.
Your emotions are like signs on the side of the road. They will advise you on which areas you should probably look into further.
5. Master the Art of Saying No
The fact that people who struggle with setting personal boundaries find it extremely difficult to say no is possibly the most significant impediment.
This comes in a variety of forms. Fear of Missing Out may make it difficult for you to say no to social gatherings (FOMO). You might find yourself doing a lot of favors for people who ask you, even if they could have done them themselves.
Most likely not. Most people are hesitant to say no because they are concerned about how it will affect the other person. Maybe it’s time to take a breather and consider how you’re feeling for a change.
You are free to decline without explanation. It’s unlikely to have as much of an impact on the other person as you believe. According to a Healthline article.
In most cases, people will understand if you say no. Even more surprisingly, you may discover that people respect you more because you have personal boundaries.
If, on the other hand, the person reacts negatively to your personal boundaries, that is their problem, not yours. In fact, they’ve only made it easier for you to realize that you don’t need them in your life.
6. Be Assertive
This is closely related to the previous point about saying no. The importance of being assertive when setting personal boundaries — whether with yourself or with others — cannot be overstated.
If you aren’t assertive with people when trying to set boundaries, especially if you’ve had trouble setting them in the past, expect them to dismiss you and life to go on as usual.
7. Define the Consequences
Setting consequences is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your personal boundaries are not crossed.
What is it that prevents people from breaking the law? Consequences. What keeps kids from misbehaving? Consequences. What is going to prevent people from infringing on your personal boundaries?
People will try to get away with anything. Your boundaries will not be taken seriously if you do not put your foot down. The consequences do not have to be severe; a firm rebuke is usually sufficient.
Make certain that you not only set consequences but also follow through on them; otherwise, they will not be taken seriously.
8. Develop Self-Awareness
You’ve probably been advised to engage in some form of self-awareness or mindfulness practice at some point in your life, and setting boundaries is no exception. The advantages of self-awareness affect every aspect of your being and life.
When you are aware of your thoughts and feelings and what they are doing for you (or to you), you can start to work out where specific boundaries need to be set.
For example, if you are an overthinker, and your thoughts begin to race whenever you are in a situation, be aware of this. Set a boundary with yourself that whenever a negative thought pops into your mind, you will let it go. No matter what. It won’t have anything useful to say, so don’t fall for it.
Of course, this can apply to other people, too. However, self-awareness and boundaries with yourself not only go hand-in-hand but are essential to a life of peace and joy.
9. Seek Assistance
When attempting to set personal boundaries, it is common to believe that you must do so alone. You must plan everything yourself, enforce everything yourself, and figure out what works and what doesn’t work for you. That is simply not true.
If you’re having trouble or simply want a smoother ride, talk to your friends, family, or spouse about the boundaries you’ll set and why. You might think that opening up will result in arguments and resistance, but most of the time, people appreciate you informing them.
Practice, like everything else in life, makes perfect. Don’t worry if you make a mistake on the path. Simply get back up and keep moving!
“Being a nice person is about courtesy: you’re friendly, polite, agreeable, and accommodating. When people believe they have to be nice in order to give, they fail to set boundaries, rarely say no, and become pushovers, letting others walk all over them.” – Adam Grant
Course Manual 6: Relationship Boundaries
Boundaries in relationships can help us by enhancing our sense of self. They enable us to separate our identity, feelings, and needs from those of our partners, family, friends, and colleagues. Boundaries aid in the development of healthy relationships by outlining needs and respecting limits. In this course we will take a deep dive into how to set healthy boundaries in all of our relationships.
Setting boundaries in our relationships can help us by enhancing our sense of self. They enable is to separate our identity, feelings, and needs from those of our partner, family, friends, and colleagues. Boundaries aid in the development of healthy relationships by outlining needs and respecting limits. When establishing boundaries in a relationship, it is also critical to consider the consequences of a boundary violation, or a deal breaker, in order to avoid abuse caused by a lack of respect, a lack of responsibility, or a desire for control.
A lack of boundaries can frequently lead to emotional manipulation from your significant other, whether intentional or not.
You may struggle to say no when someone asks you for a favor.
You might also have a problem with the way someone is speaking to you.
It’s important to learn to spot the signs that someone has crossed your line. Anger, resentment, or guilt are examples of such emotions.
What are the characteristics of a healthy relationship boundary?
Boundaries are personal limits you set for yourself in order to maintain your sense of self. Setting boundaries holds each member of the relationship accountable. Setting healthy boundaries can also lead to mutual understanding and appreciation for differences, while avoiding resentment and feelings of neglect or invalidation as a result of unspoken and unmet needs. Although asserting your needs and compromising can be intimidating, taking this risk can help you build a happy relationship in which you are both satisfied.
Why are personal boundaries important in a relationship?
Personal boundaries help you accept responsibility for your own emotions and behaviors in the relationship. Building boundaries in relationships can increase empowerment and reduce burnout or distress caused by neglecting one’s own needs and values. Consider your values and the factors that shape your identity. How does it feel to consider the factors that the relationship allows for? What about the variables that don’t get as much attention in the relationship? What effect does this have on your perception of the other person or the quality of the relationship?
Boundary types and how to establish them
Boundaries can be classified into various dimensions depending on the type of need. The following list illustrates the various areas to consider when determining whether you are satisfied with the current relationship dynamics and how boundaries operate within them. Setting boundaries may appear to be a simple request or may necessitate multiple conversations to maintain or reinforce. A discussion about the consequences of breaching these boundaries can also help reinforce and spread the importance of maintaining the boundary. The examples below show how to start conversations about healthy boundaries in each of the dimensions listed below.
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Physical
• Material
• Intellectual
• Time
Emotional Boundaries
Emotional boundaries are associated with emotional availability and emotional responsibility for one’s feelings. These boundaries may be based on the level of safety you feel in the relationship and your partner’s willingness to support you when you are in distress.
Examples:
• Before we talk, I need some time to process my thoughts and emotions. Can you give me 30 minutes so we can discuss it?
• I enjoy it when we can be silly and tease each other, but please don’t make fun of my weight.
• It’s difficult to be vulnerable with you because people have previously dismissed me. I recognize that it is my responsibility to work through these difficult experiences, and you are welcome to encourage me if you so desire.
• I see you’re going through a difficult time right now; I’d like to be there for you, but now isn’t the time. Can we agree on a time to talk so that I can better listen to you?
• If you continue to minimize my experiences, I won’t be able to tell you how I truly feel. Please be considerate of my feelings.
Sexual Boundaries
Boundaries around sex and intimacy may prevent unwanted touch and are influenced by previous sex experiences and values in relationships. Although sexual boundaries are most common in romantic relationships, you may also want to set consent, privacy, and respect boundaries in other relationships.
Examples:
• I’m not a fan of (specific action) during sex. Can we try something different?
• I’m fine with us having an open relationship as long as you agree to only date women and not men.
• Let’s talk about how to initiate sex more effectively. When you grab me when I’m not expecting it, it makes me feel uneasy.
• Because of my past trauma, I’m feeling triggered. I need to take a break.
• I had a good time on our date. I’d like to see you again so I can get to know you better before we get intimate.
Physical Boundaries
A physical boundary protects against the neglect, abuse, and poor health that can result from ignoring basic needs in relationships such as rest, food, and drink. When developing this boundary with someone else, consider their needs for physical space and touch.
Examples:
• I need a break from touch right now.
• I’d like to share more of our living space with you.
• I require a private area to de-stress after work.
• I need to eat something and take a break.
• I won’t let you slap or hit me.
Material Boundaries
Boundaries around material possessions can outline how you prefer the item to be used and set limits on how often it is used. Abuse may occur if your partner, family, or friend restricts your access to your belongings in order to manipulate you.
Examples:
• I need you to let me know if you want to borrow the car.
• Please return my keys and glasses to their original locations. When I can’t find them, I get stressed.
• I’m concerned because I believe we’ve been spending more than usual. Can we make some cuts this week?
• Can’t you just look through my closet without asking? It reminds me of my mother invading my personal space.
• I really value my appliances; could you please use them with care?
Intellectual Boundaries
Respect for each other’s thoughts, opinions, and values is promoted by healthy intellectual boundaries. This can create space for fruitful discussions. Not all discussions can be tolerated, and it is acceptable to draw a line around topics that are harmful to certain groups of people, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and so on.
Examples:
• Right now, I’d like to avoid political discussions. I’m already feeling a lot of pressure.
• I respect your point of view; can you respect mine without trying to change it, even if you disagree?
• I’d rather not watch or listen to violent topics at home.
• I understand you disagree with me, but I can’t let you criticize me like that.
• When racist jokes are made, I feel uneasy. If this continues, I won’t be able to be around you. If you want to know why this bothers me, I can point you in the right direction.
Time Boundaries
A time limit can assist you in balancing your priorities and commitments. They can help you avoid burnout in your professional life and share responsibilities with your partner.
Examples:
• I don’t think I’ve spent enough time with my family and friends. I’d like to collaborate with you to figure out how I can spend more time with them on weekends.
• I require assistance with the children. I haven’t been able to take a break, and it’s costing me.
• I’d love to hang out, but I’m only available for an hour.
• I can definitely assist you; here are my rates…
• This semester has been extremely busy for me. Let’s brainstorm some other ways I can assist without
Setting boundaries with difficult people
We are all aware that speaking up and setting boundaries in our relationships can be difficult. Trying to assert yourself in the presence of difficult people can be doubly difficult.
No matter how carefully you choose your words, difficult people will find something to criticize. It may appear that no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to give or do enough.
These people are classified as “boundary bullies” from the standpoint of boundaries. They are also known as “Repeat Offenders” or, in the most extreme cases, “Boundary Destroyers.”
These people are intrusive, demanding, have unrealistic expectations, and routinely disregard your boundaries. When you have people in your life like this, it can feel like it’s not even worth the effort to assert yourself. Have you ever felt like this?
If you’re nodding in agreement, this episode is for you. I’m going to show you how to shift your focus to yourself (because the only person’s behavior you can change is your own), so you can become empowered to effectively set boundaries, even with impossible people.
The first step in changing anything is to become more aware of your relationship with boundary setting. Communicating your boundaries entails clearly expressing your preferences, desires, limits, and non-negotiables or deal-breakers to others. Simply put, it is letting the people in your life know what is and is not acceptable to you.
Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries requires effective communication skills, which many of us were never taught. Unhealthy boundary patterns are frequently caused by a misunderstanding of what is and is not your responsibility. Have you ever felt compelled to do something you don’t want to do? Or agreeing to say yes when you really want to say no? What about being overly generous or overly functional?
All of these are symptoms of a lack of clarity about which side of the street you are on and which side of the street the other person is on. It may be difficult for you to establish boundaries with everyone in your life. As a result, asserting yourself in the presence of difficult or toxic people can feel nearly impossible.
Boundary destroyers may also be emotional predators in extreme cases, which means they know exactly which buttons to push. As a result, setting boundaries with difficult people requires a unique skill set. Boundary bullies and destroyers know how to use conflict to their advantage if you are conflict-averse and avoid confrontation at all costs.
When it comes to impossible people, your personal history, past experiences, and unique sensitivities and boundary style can all contribute to your vulnerability.
For example, if you had an explosive or difficult family member as a child, it can be difficult to set boundaries as an adult because the little kid in you still feels the old fear.
Discovering this information will assist you in determining how your dysfunctional boundary patterns developed and what may be holding you back in the present. This data set is referred to as your Boundary Blueprint. It is not your fault that you have learned a behavior, but understanding it now is your responsibility, especially if you want to make a change!
Where are my empaths and high-functioning personalities? If you are an empath or a highly sensitive individual, you may naturally avoid conflict or confrontation because it is too taxing on your system. This can have an impact on your ability to set boundaries, especially when dealing with difficult or toxic people. It may feel easier to give in than to confront someone who is notoriously intense, intrusive, or abusive.
Knowing who your worst offenders are and bringing mindful awareness to the issue when you’re not in the heat of the moment is a great place to start when it comes to developing boundary resilience and confidence. Make a list of everything:
• Who are the most challenging people in your life?
• Which relationships drain you the most?
• Do you ever experience dread or anxiety before interacting with someone? It may also manifest physically as a constriction in your chest or throat, or as an unsettled feeling in your stomach.
• Consider who that person is and why they are important to you. You can take an observer’s stance by pulling out your journal.
• What is so difficult about interacting with this person?
• Do you believe you are unable to speak up? Why?
• Are they easily enraged?
• Is this person similar to someone you knew as a child? What are the specifics?
• What about this situation reminds you of something or someone from your past?
Examine your history, patterns, and any limiting beliefs or experiences that may be interfering with your ability to set appropriate boundaries with difficult people. You can do so while remaining calm, kind, and clear. And, when necessary, with more assertiveness.
If confrontation and conflict make you uncomfortable, keep in mind that you have the right to end any conversation that becomes too intense or heated. You have the authority to say what you need to say and to set boundaries. You have the right to refuse.
Have you ever had an encounter with someone who tries to wear down your “No”? This is a boundary issue, and if you’ve had it before but weren’t sure how to handle it, you can say something like,
“You inquired, and I responded. “The discussion is over.”
If the respondent says, “Why can’t we talk about it?”
“Because I made a decision, and I’m asking you to respect it,” you can say.
Maybe they won’t but start practicing expressing yourself clearly with words that express how you feel and what you want. Nobody has the authority to tell you how to feel or that you shouldn’t feel the way you do. Communication your boundaries takes practice, just like any other skill, but you can do it!
In the end, you are your own boss. You have the right to control what happens in all aspects of your life. You have the authority to set your own emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, material, and mental boundaries.
It is our responsibility to express our preferences and request what we desire using actual words. If people do not listen or respect you, you may need to remind them and re-state your boundaries. That is appropriate for people who add value to your life, but you shouldn’t have to say the same thing over and over again, as may be the case with your most difficult relationships.
There must be a time when you reassess your relationships with repeat offenders in your life, but you won’t know how to strike a balance until you start verbalizing your boundary requests. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.
5 guidelines for establishing healthy boundaries
Reflection, communication, consistency, and consequences can all be used to create healthy boundaries. Follow the steps below to create personal boundaries in order to promote a balance between your personal life and your interactions with others.
1. Highlight the needs that you discovered through self-reflection.
2. Investigate any areas of flexibility and how rigid the boundary is.
3. Consistently practice setting and maintaining limits.
4. When a violation occurs, draw the line, and follow through with appropriate consequences.
5. Discuss how to proceed following a violation and the consequences.
Course Manual 7: Workplace Boundaries
Many professional women especially millennials have found themselves in a precarious position as a result of corporate oppression, professional duress, and social anxiety. All we can do for the time being is maintain a healthy boundary so they can avoid overwork, burnout, and stress.
Setting professional boundaries at work entails developing healthy professional practices for ourselves. These boundaries can often help us stay productive and happy at work while also allowing us to better separate our work and personal lives. If you’re having trouble setting limits and communicating our needs at work, it’s critical to understand how to set boundaries.
Boundaries can be extremely beneficial in maintaining one’s sense of self, as well as in supporting one’s self-esteem. There is a barrier between the professional and the personal, and we must find and reinforce it if our careers are to run smoothly during this critical period in our lives. But is it even possible to maintain boundaries in a place where you spend more than 45 hours per week?
Let’s hope it is, because if it isn’t, we’re in big trouble. Professional boundaries, as you will discover in this course, give way to safe spaces — safe spaces that promise better emotional and mental health. Safe spaces are the foundation of the positive work culture that is sorely lacking in today’s workplace.
ProofHub’s Chief Marketing Officer Vartika Kashyap explains, “I’ve seen people emotionally deteriorate solely as a result of a lack of boundaries. As well-intentioned adults, we want to assist other well-intentioned adults, and in the process, we find ourselves doing things we had no intention of doing.”
Case Study about Rachel:
Rachel began her professional career at ProofHub. She was (and continues to be) as bright as she is tenacious. She was always willing to go above and beyond. It didn’t matter to her whether the task was hers or someone else’s; all that mattered was “is this going to benefit the tool in any way?” This was all she could think about as she delved into the wide range of tasks she wanted to complete. Tasks became opportunities, and opportunities became projects. When she was asked what inspired her to become this steam engine come to life, she always had a different response. Harvey Specter from Suits, Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, or Beth Boland from Good Girls.
Aside from all of the tasks she took on and the responsibilities she wanted to burden herself with, she was also a total hoot in our office. This girl was entertaining, optimistic, and when she spoke, she had the ability to hold everyone’s attention.
But then things started to fall apart. She began to lose her sense of priorities; some days she would do everything that was asked of her, but the quality wasn’t the same. Despite this, she would deliver high-quality work two weeks after the deadline on some days. The other team members all saw her fall into a vicious cycle of hating herself for not being able to deliver results. She was a dissatisfied, demotivated mess on the verge of burnout.
She was invited to meet with her manager. When she walked in the office, it was clear she was exhausted. She didn’t exude the same air of charm. She appeared to have shed everything that had given her that edge. When she was asked what was going on, she said that she was getting a variety of tasks from all of the high-ranking managers here. Everyone wanted her to be a part of their project not only because they knew she was that good, but also because they trusted her to handle work as if it were her own.
She told her manager that these are her tasks, that they have become her niche, and that no one can keep up with her, and that she is frustrated that she can’t seem to impress anyone anymore, especially herself.
She expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of challenge in her life. She stated that she has lost motivation to add her own spin to her tasks because she simply has too many of them. She couldn’t say no because who else would they entrust those tasks to? But there was another factor keeping her from saying no. She had established a precedent for herself. One she couldn’t stand up to any longer. It was the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint her superiors. She was getting to the point where she was starting to look ill.
She immediately was granted a week’s leave. She deserved it wholeheartedly. And after their discussion, her manager was delighted to do it for her.
The following questions: “What to say?” “When to say it?” “Am I contributing enough?” and “Did I do my best?” will consume us. It almost makes you wish that everything in life was scripted, doesn’t it?
If we let things happen as they will, we will quickly feel underappreciated, overworked, and exhausted.
By establishing boundaries, we will be able to make rational decisions rather than emotional ones. Great decisions, as well as the people who make them, are always respected. Furthermore, workplace boundaries will earn you your team’s trust because your coworkers will know how you will react to anything they throw at you.
These appear to be fantastic outcomes, but the path to achieving them entails practices that are easier said than done.
Setting boundaries for how you want to be, how you want to be talked to, and how much work you can comfortably do is a must. This is especially important given the impact these things have on our emotional and mental health.
For example, did you know that since 2013, there has been a 43 percent increase in major depression diagnoses among millennials? According to the Blue Cross Shield Health Index, the overall increase in these diagnoses among 18–34-year-olds has risen from 3% to 4.4 percent.
These alarming statistics only serve to emphasize the importance of containing stress and anxiety disorders as soon as possible. Now, I’m not a mental health expert, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that everyone right now is in desperate need of a healthy headspace.
We all deserve a healthy environment. But how do we go about doing it? What steps do you think we can take to establish boundaries and welcome some “me-space” where things are more likely to go our way?
So, here are some suggestions that have been proven to be useful:
#1 Defining Your Comfort Zone – Saying No
There are many people who are stressed out at work. They all appear to have one thing in common: they are overachievers who can never pass up an opportunity. Whatever task they are working on, if their bosses think it’s a good idea for them to try something new, they will seize the opportunity and run with it.
If you want to break free from this cycle, start by saying “no” to the smallest of tasks that you know won’t make much of a difference if you don’t do them.
Responding with a flat “no” may be perceived as insulting by some. As a result, it is best to back it up with some suggestions for how the other person can attempt the task on their own.
Here’s how you can implement this practice and empower your team to take a stand and say “no”:
– As an example,
Sheila approaches me and requests that I review four files as soon as possible.
Now I have a lot on my plate, but I know those four files are critical as well. Instead of worrying about when I’d get to do this specific task, I’d try to find a solution for them. I’d advise Sheila to ask the stakeholders to change their deadline, or to have someone else on my team review those specific files.
If you are an employee attempting to decline your manager’s request, you can always provide them with a list of high-priority tasks that you have in front of you.
– Not only will this help you ask them for advice on untangling the web of tasks that has you down, but it will also help your boss understand that you have a lot on your plate and know how to prioritize it.
Here are all the things you and I can do as managers to empower the team so that they can say “no” to their coworkers and superiors more easily:
• Recognize your team’s viewpoints.
• Thank people for giving you their time and space.
• Employees who understand the concept of work priority should be praised.
• Listen to your employees, acknowledge, and address their concerns.
All of these things may appear insignificant, but they are essential to the foundation of a team with strong self-respecting values.
#2 Regularly Practicing Transparency
Expect only what you give out, and nothing more. If you say yes to everything, you risk losing the respect of your teammates. It would demonstrate to them that you have no sense of what ideas and tasks have weight, and that you are unable to distinguish between what deserves more attention and what does not. Furthermore, if you think about it, the same thing will happen if you are scarcely available, if you are not available at all, and if you keep them miles away to come and sit atop my ivory tower.
So, where are you going to draw the line? What can you do to ensure that there are workplace boundaries in place to protect both yourself and your team?
Here are some suggestions to help you create a more professional work environment where everyone understands their work assignments, responsibilities, and limits.
• Maintain a company directory to assist your team in keeping track of reference contacts.
• Declare project goals from the start.
• Create a company wiki so that everyone is on the same page about the policies and guidelines that all employees must follow.
• Set ground rules and communicate them to your team via notes or memos.
• Use a project management tool to keep track of what everyone is up to so you don’t have to bother people for updates and you don’t get the same treatment.
• Record discussions using brainstorming tools that can assist you in documenting every idea and making better decisions.
There are, however, some more extensive methods of maintaining team transparency. Among these are:
• Investing time in running agenda-driven meetings that are guided by actionable goals and conclude with productive outcomes.
• Using Kanban boards to keep track of all the tasks and ideas in the pipeline, every ongoing task, and every stage the tasks are in.
• Using a project management tool to keep track of your work, your teammates’ roles in ongoing projects, and their progress.
#3 Learning to Set Limiting Boundaries
Boundaries are frequently, if not always, demolished in response to requests. People may breach your fences and come to you for assistance if they are backed into a corner and see no way out. When your coworkers come to you for assistance, the butterflies in your stomach can be incredible. It demonstrates that they are at ease with you and find it easy to be honest with you. Taking help, on the other hand, should be discouraged beyond a certain point because it can easily become a habit.
As a result, you must limit the reasons why they require your assistance in the first place. Here’s how you can go about it:
Set attainable goals: It is always a good idea to set goals that can be met within the time and resources available. This will also ensure job satisfaction and drive team motivation.
– A task management software platform can be used to define both short-term and long-term goals. This way, your team will only see these goals, and every step they take will be to get closer to achieving them.
Define attainable deadlines: There may be times when your superiors do not give enough thought to coming up with an appropriate deadline for you to complete your tasks. You may either finish your assignment days before or after the deadline.
Both scenarios can be unacceptably dangerous. You can lose your bearings after the deadline had passed and still have work to do, and this can lead to frustration and devolving into an aimless struggle.
As a result, be mindful of deadlines. Examine how long it takes employees to complete their assignments when they produce the best results, and then set a deadline for that task.
#4 Create An Easy-to-Use System
Another step a manager should take to address the transparency issue, boost productivity, and promote boundary setting is to develop an easy-to-follow system. This system encourages team members to set boundaries because it assists the manager in doing so.
If you want to define workplace boundaries, all you need to do is make the processes of planning, executing, discussing, and reviewing more systematic. When everything is systemized, no one looks to the other for assistance, clarity, or understanding; instead, everyone can work independently and in complete harmony.
Here are some steps you can take to create a simple system:
The Scrum Process
This is how scrum works: less disruption = more clarification.
Create a project management technique that incorporates Scrum practices. Certain aspects of workplace boundaries are handled correctly by Scrum. Everything is meticulously timed and planned. With proper planning, no one will have even the slightest intention of breaching anyone’s walls with questions, requests, or any other disruptive activity that comes to mind. So here we go:
Sprint planning: Scrum works well because of the rigorous planning practices that go into project management. The team’s success is due to careful planning. Schedule your meetings for effective planning and ensure that they produce productive results. Intentional planning practices will assist you in organizing ideas and creating a comprehensive blueprint for your project. As a result, put pen to paper and make an actionable plan. Following that, keep a backlog of what your team is working on.
Sprint review: The purpose of a Sprint review is to go over everything that the team has accomplished in a specific amount of time. The first step in this process is to specify a specific time frame. The second step is to cross items off your product backlog as they are completed.
Sprint retrospective: This may appear to be a little technical, but a retrospective simply means looking back. When a retrospective is scheduled, all that is required is a review of job performance. This is the section where you evaluate everyone’s progress and provide appropriate feedback.
Every team should have a condensed tried and tested process for working on solutions in a repetitive manner. This is how the system should look:
Receive new project specifications
• Create a workflow.
• Examine the client’s requirements.
• Priorities and tasks should be broken down.
• Delegate effectively while maintaining transparency.
• Give actionable feedback to your team in the hopes that they will use it
#5. To communicate, use tools.
They are four very important reasons why our teams require a variety of communication channels.
We occasionally need to distribute official information within the team, which must go through secure channels. We usually prefer to use emails for this.
Another reason could be that a team requires a medium for quick back and forth. It could be used to clear up any doubts while on the go, share files, or send out important links.
Third, a communication tool would assist the team in preparing notes that could be recorded as well as discussion points that could be documented.
Finally, communication tools are required to conduct the type of feedback that can lead to positive outcomes. This is absolutely necessary because the team must be able to course-correct as they go.
As a result, collaboration, and communication, which are essential components of a productive team, can only be effective with the presence of a tool that can assist you in facilitating the same.
Get your team on the same page and encourage them to follow your lead in establishing some much-needed boundaries so that we can all stay focused and productive. Are you prepared? Let us establish these boundaries, promote better emotional and mental health, and, most importantly, be willing to make the changes discussed in this course.
Let’s get started!
“As soon as you question a situation not working for you the sooner you can change it.” – Stephanie Sterner
Course Manual 8: Yes or No?
“Success comes from saying No to 1000 things to make sure we don’t get on the wrong track or try to do too much.” – Steve Jobs
Knowing when to say Yes and when to say know can be difficult at times. In this course, we will reveal some guidelines you can follow to help make your decision easily and confidently.
When to Say No
First and foremost, “No.” Is a complete sentence. Say no if someone asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable or unsafe. This takes practice because we usually want to explain why we are saying no. You owe no explanation to anyone. No is a complete sentence that does not require further explanation.
You have the right to say no, and you do not need to elaborate, especially if someone is being aggressive, rude, or making you uncomfortable.
When Should You Say NO?
“No,” first and foremost. Is a full sentence. Say no if someone asks you to do something that makes you feel uneasy or unsafe. This will take practice because we usually want to explain why we are saying no. You owe no one an explanation. No is a complete sentence that requires no further explanation.
You have the right to refuse and do not need to elaborate, especially if someone is being aggressive, rude, or making you uncomfortable.
Because the core of the issue is usually entangled in a web of emotions, saying no is an art.
We say no out of fear at times. Fear of the unknown, rejection, and failure are all possibilities. Fear that you will not or will not be able to complete the task.
Sometimes we can’t say no because we’re afraid. Fear of disappointing someone, disappointing ourselves, or admitting a flaw. We all want to be able to rely on someone.
But, in order to get unstuck, finish what you’ve started, and make an impact, you’ll have to say no to something or someone. There comes a time when saying no is unavoidable.
The art is in separating your current emotions from the journey you’re on.
Also, It is acceptable to say no in order to protect your time, heart, and energy. It’s especially important if you’re an introvert to make time for yourself to recharge. You can do this politely again and offer an alternative.
But once you’ve figured out your path, it’s time to start saying no.
No is about concentration and depth.
The Science of Saying Yes
There’s science to back up why we should say yes to more things. The science encompasses both mathematics and psychology.
The math of saying yes is about experimenting to find the right opportunities.
Furthermore, because of opportunity chains, saying yes multiplies the number of opportunities for experimentation (one opportunity leading to another).
The psychology of saying yes is about personal development and expanding your mind.
The more times you say yes, the more confident you will become, the more experiences you will gain, the more opportunities you will see, and the more connections you will make.
Yes, is about potential and breadth.
“Say yes to invitations to a new country, say yes to meet new friends, say yes to learn something new. Yes, is how you get your first job, and your next job, and your spouse, and even your kids. Even if it’s a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means that you will do something new, meet someone new, and make a difference. Yes, let’s you stand out in a crowd, be the optimist, see the glass full, be the one everyone comes to. Yes, is what keeps us all young.” – Eric Schmidt
You’ll need to do both. Success will come when you continue to say yes UNTIL you find your opportunity, voice, direction, and thing. You never give yourself a chance if you never say yes.
How to Know When to say Yes or No
Simply ask yourself, “Which is harder for me (in this situation)?” to determine whether you should say yes or no.
As a guide, use your fear and comfort zone.
When it comes to knowing what I should be doing, our comfort zone can be a great guide. The answer that threatens to take us out of our comfort zone is most likely the better option.
The best part about this method is that it works for both big and small things…
Life and career direction issues, as well as day-to-day living issues, are all addressed.
If you’re struggling with a yes/no decision right now, it’s okay to throw away your vision board and core principles worksheets and simply ask yourself, “Which is harder?”
Say Yes to New Experiences
New experiences, such as events or classes, can be very intimidating or overwhelming, and it’s tempting to stay at home rather than go, at least for the average person. Saying no out of the blue can stifle our growth and opportunities.
Let’s say you want to go to a party or an event but don’t know many people. Try telling yourself, “I’m going to go out there and be really engaging and friendly for just twenty minutes.” Then I’ll return home.” Once you get into the groove of the event, twenty minutes will fly by, and you may end up staying longer.
“I’m going to go have real, genuine conversations with five people, then I’m going to leave,” you could say. In these situations, you never know who you’ll meet: new friends, potential bosses, great connections, and so on. Putting yourself out there can be so rewarding and giving yourself a solid out can help you feel in control while also giving you space to grow.
Say Yes to Feeling Silly
Accept the fact that you will appear foolish.
It can be intimidating to try something new in front of others at times. You might be interested in taking a class or attending a workshop, but you’re afraid of looking foolish or *gasp* not good in front of strangers.
What if you’re not up to the task? That’s why you’re attending the class or workshop, isn’t it? Everyone else is probably so preoccupied with themselves and doing it correctly (whatever it is, dance, poetry, painting, yoga, etc.) that they aren’t even looking at you. Knowing that no one is watching can help to relieve stress!
Also, if you go and hate it—if every minute is agony—you can just leave! That’s a liberating thought, isn’t it?
Have you ever taken classes where you were afraid, that you’d be the worst person in the room, for example, an art class? Chance are it all worked out fine. Better than good. You may have even had a fantastic time.
And, no, you may not be a master potter, poet laureate, or yogini, but that’s ok. If you had said no out of the blue, you would have missed out on a wonderful, enjoyable experience. Most often the joy will out way the temporary discomfort of feeling as if people were staring at or judging you.
Remember, you have the right to refuse anything that makes you feel uneasy. You have the ability to say no to things that tax your spirit. You can say no politely, humbly, and tactfully and still feel good and keep your friendships.
You can also say YES to things that appear intimidating or nerve-racking. Even if you are nervous, you can say YES to things that stretch you and allow you to grow.
The Power of Yes – Why the Yes Mindset Leads to Innovation and Can Create Great Leaders
While it’s easy to say no and avoid any consequences, saying yes can open you and your organization up to new opportunities. Saying yes requires you to be bold, and I believe this mindset can change your business — and your career — for the better.
Here’s why:
1. Saying yes improves your listening skills.
Saying yes forces you to give an idea your full attention. It enables you to assess the idea’s merits as well as its drawbacks. It allows you to swap places with the person who proposed the idea and gain a new perspective. Even if you eventually dismiss the idea, you will have learned something new and gained another perspective for the future. You have grown as a thinker.
2. Saying yes fosters originality.
Not all original ideas are valuable, but all original thinking pushes the envelope. When a team member receives a positive response, they are encouraged to continue pushing their thinking. They seek out superior solutions and strive to exceed their own expectations. A quick no, on the other hand, communicates that the idea is unworthy of consideration. It’s discouraging, and it discourages many people from seeking out unconventional ideas.
For example, when software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription businesses were in their infancy and there was no playbook, my team and I were attempting to figure out how freemium models could work. That’s when a member of my team suggested that we let our customers choose how long their subscriptions would last. Despite the fact that we had never done anything like it before, an experiment based on that original thought led to the discovery of the concept of “subscriber life cycle management.” It’s now fairly common in the industry, but it was novel to us back in 2001.
3. Saying yes gives teams more power.
“No” terminates a conversation. You can lean in if you say “Yes.” Saying yes forces you to pay attention to what others are thinking and communicating. When you pay attention, you communicate to others that their viewpoint is important. It’s liberating.
Case Study: When an international consulting companies’ Japanese team proposed spending twice as much on marketing as they did in the US market, it made little financial sense. After all, their business in the United States was five times the size of our business in Japan. When they said, “Yes, tell me more,” they realized the true potential of this strategy. It made sense not only for their Japanese business, but also for their American business. Three years after launching their increased marketing budget in Japan, they moved from sixth to second place in Japan market share, made it more expensive for their US competitors to compete with them, and won over 20 new global partnerships. They realized that their yes gave the team the ability to not only have a radical idea, but also to achieve the results.
4. Saying yes is dangerous. Saying no is more dangerous.
If you dig deeper, you may discover that many successful people have been open to new ideas and risk-taking that others would not be. The irony is that successful people, who are often extremely focused on their vision, are also aware that there is much greater risk when you don’t stray from the chosen path and don’t take risks on occasion. They’ve realized that in order to achieve incredible results, they must say yes to new ideas, push boundaries, and discover possibilities that would otherwise be “black swans.”
As an owner of multiple businesses over the past 20 years, I’ve been using the “yes mindset” and it’s worked well for me.
Here are some pointers to help you get into the mindset:
First, shift your focus away from decision-making and toward learning. “What can I learn from this conversation?” you might ask.
Second, instead of raising objections, ask more questions like, “What will I need to do to make this successful?”
Finally, take a breather. Request time to consider something and report back to your team.
Saying yes, even to unconventional ideas, has taught me that there is power in doing so. Realizing this was a watershed moment for me. In my experience, most people mistakenly believe that saying no is the quickest and most efficient way to stay focused and move faster. While it is critical to prioritize where we spend our time and resources, which often necessitates saying no, it is also critical to maintain a yes mindset. Without a yes mindset, your initial reaction is to dismiss new ideas. You conditioned yourself to be risk averse. Good ideas can come from anywhere or from anyone; be open to receiving them.
Course Manual 9: Success Environment
“Everyone deserves to work in a respectful professional environment that values who you are and what you bring.” – Tamara S Raymond
Many business professional are striving for balance in their lives. The truth is focusing on balance can lead to frustration and disappointment as there are so many circumstances in this world that are out of our control. Many people use “will power” to attempt to navigate through their day seeking some sort of balance. Instead of attempting to create balance in their lives, successful business professionals instead choose to create their very own environment for success.
Is your workplace designed for success? You may not realize it, but your surroundings play a significant role in your success. Your surroundings and what (or who) occupies those surroundings comprise your environment. Setting up your environment for success will make it much easier to embrace new opportunities and drive true success for yourself, your business, and your future.
Creating a successful environment may appear strange at first because it is not traditionally associated with mindset. Your environment, on the other hand, has a direct impact on your mindset. Your environment consists of the places you visit, the people you associate with, and everything around you.
It is not conducive to achieving your goals if your environment is not conducive. Staying in the wrong environment for an extended period of time can lead to procrastination, overwhelm, and difficulty taking action and following through on plans. So, how do you ensure that your environment is conducive to success?
In this course, we share some practical tips to help you create a successful environment. We’ll address some of the steps and decisions you can make to ensure that your surroundings fully support your goals and desires.
The goals is for these suggestions to assist you in creating an environment that stimulates your mind and empowers you to achieve your most ambitious goals!
De Clutter Your Physical Environment
A cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind, which is why it is critical to declutter your physical environment. A chaotic environment can be a significant distraction, reducing attention and focus.
So, how can you declutter your surroundings?
I recommend that you begin by getting rid of anything that no longer serves you or your coaching business. Perhaps you acquired items that once aided you but have since accumulated dust. Get rid of anything that no longer serves a purpose!
It is just as important to declutter other areas of your life as it is to tidy your desk. If you’ve been putting off chores around the house, they can clog your mind because they’re nagging you. When you are aware that there is clutter in your car’s glove box or in the corner of your office, it can draw your attention away from what you should be focusing on. So, roll up your sleeves and get to work on decluttering!
If you’re prone to procrastination, decluttering will help you eliminate distractions that make it difficult to focus on achieving your goals.
Organize Your Office or Workspace
Whether you work from a city office or from home, it’s critical to set up a workspace that is conducive to productivity. I’m not saying you need the most expensive table, the most advanced computer technology, or a slew of house plants. However, segmenting your workspace and transforming it into a productive work environment is critical because you require a quiet place to work.
Cleaning up your inbox is part of organizing your workspace. I’m sure you’ve accumulated a mountain of unread emails, unsent drafts, and junk mail over the course of weeks, months, or even years. A cluttered inbox, on the other hand, can unconsciously distract you from success because you always have that inner voice reminding you that it’s there.
Consider how you can declutter your email. Do you have an email system that you like? Do you organize your emails into folders? Checking your emails twice a day is an excellent way to stay on top of them. You could double-check them in the morning and afternoon. Then, within that time frame, respond to the emails that require your attention. When you’re finished, close your inbox and move on with your day.
Return to your office or workspace now. How does it feel? Is it a place where you like to spend your time? If not, consider how you can make your workplace more enjoyable.
Perhaps you could purchase a comfortable chair or add a few personal touches here and there to make it feel more welcoming.
Consider what you can do to transform your workspace into a place where you can embody your future self.
Consider your office furniture, as well as the systems and equipment you use in your business. What systems are required to ensure the smooth operation of your company? How can you boost your productivity and make better use of your time at work? The goal is to create an environment that encourages you to achieve your objectives.
Build a Support Network
Surround yourself with positive, like-minded, and other successful people. You probably heard of the saying by Jim Rohn — “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This is so true!
People around you should encourage and support you to keep going even when you feel like giving up. It is extremely beneficial to have a community of people around you who truly understand what it is like to run your own business. Being a part of a community of people who understand what you’re going through can help alleviate some of the burden you may feel at times.
Consider who you want to build relationships with and make an active effort to reach out to those people. In terms of social media, are your interactions beneficial to you and your objectives? You can interact meaningfully with social media. However, if you’re not careful, it can act like a white rabbit, sending you spiraling down a rabbit hole of distraction and further procrastination. Maintain a positive mindset while using social media and make strategic decisions about how you intend to use those platforms in the future.
Finally, think about finding a “business bestie.” This is someone who is also involved in business and understands how it operates. You can help each other in a variety of ways, such as holding each other accountable, running ideas by them, and assisting each other in remaining focused and productive. Connecting with people who “get it” is an excellent way to stay motivated and to foster a positive and supportive environment.
So, there you have it – 3 key steps to creating your own successful environment!
“A good work culture and work environment is very crucial in helping your employees to put their best foot forward.” – Pooja Agnihotri
Course Manual 10: Workplace Habits
Successful people frequently attribute their success to specific habits. Some actions, when practiced on a daily basis, can assist you in maintaining focus and completing workplace tasks. In this course, we will look at six examples of good workplace habits that you can cultivate in order to be more productive and advance in your career.
What exactly are workplace habits?
A habit is an action that has been repeated frequently enough to become a routine. Developing positive workplace habits can help you achieve career goals, maximize productivity, and stay focused on the task at hand.
You can train yourself to have positive habits because habits are repeated actions. You could, for example, set a reminder on your phone or laptop to remind you to perform a specific action every day.
Another method for developing a habit is to mark a “X” on a calendar for each day you successfully perform the action you want to make a habit of. This visual reminder can help you stay motivated. The more you do something, the easier it is to make it a habit.
Habits to cultivate for a prosperous career
Begin by focusing on one or two things you’d like to start doing on a regular basis to develop positive habits. Once you’ve established one habit, you can try to incorporate another. Here are six workplace habits to consider cultivating to help you succeed at work:
• Maintain a consistent routine.
• Be punctual.
• Build on your strengths.
• Minimize distractions.
• Manage your stress.
• Reflect on your day.
1. Maintain a Consistent Routine
A routine is a predetermined sequence of actions. Having a work routine, such as always starting the day by planning three major goals to achieve, can help you stay productive.
A routine is a predetermined sequence of actions. Having a work routine, such as always starting the day by planning three major goals to achieve, can help you stay productive.
Consider creating a workday routine to help you complete your daily tasks. You could, for example, write out the routine you want to establish and post it on your wall or desk. You will be more likely to take action if you have frequent visual reminders of what you want to accomplish.
2. Be Punctual
Punctuality entails completing tasks on time and arriving on time for work. Make being punctual a habit to help you succeed in your career.
Maintaining a regular schedule can also help you wake up on time every day. To begin developing this habit, move your phone or alarm clock away from your bed so that you must walk over to it to turn it off. Forcing your body to move can assist you in starting your day on time.
Here are some pointers on how to be on time:
• Make a plan for your day the night before. Make any arrangements you can to make the next day easier, such as leaving out the files you’ll need for a meeting or deciding what you’ll wear the next day.
• Set up regular reminders ahead of time. Create timelines for all projects and set reminders at regular intervals, such as one or two days before a task is due. You could also set an alarm 10 minutes before you need to leave the house to get to work on time as a reminder to leave soon.
• Make use of a countdown timer. You can install a countdown timer app on your computer or phone to see how much time you have until a project is due.
• Keep track of how long it usually takes you to complete specific tasks. Make a schedule based on this information to ensure you have enough time to meet deadlines.
• Prioritize the most important tasks first to increase your chances of finishing them on time.
3. Build on Your Strengths
Identify your strengths and develop a habit of honing them to help you succeed at work. Focusing on your strengths will help you maintain a positive attitude, which will allow you to see challenges as opportunities.
You can use your strengths to help you achieve your workplace objectives on a consistent basis. To develop your strengths, take the following steps:
• Consider your most proud accomplishments, the tasks you can complete well and easily, your interests, and the positive feedback you’ve received.
• Make a list of your strengths using this information.
• Seek out roles or projects that will allow you to put those skills to use on a regular basis. You could inform your boss that you want to expand in these areas and request related tasks.
• Consider whether you can change a workplace process, procedure, or workflow to better utilize your skills.
• Investigate how people with similar abilities use their abilities to achieve success.
• Set goals related to developing your strengths, such as taking a class or obtaining a certification in a specific field.
4. Minimize distractions
You will be more focused, task-oriented, and capable of achieving your goals if you can limit distractions during the workday. Consider how you normally spend your workdays and identify anything that distracts you or prevents you from working to your full potential. Make a list of those things, and then devise a strategy to eliminate or avoid them.
Here are some suggestions for limiting distractions:
• Put your phone somewhere less accessible than your desk so you can focus on work rather than notifications.
• During business hours, set your personal phone to “do not disturb.”
• Plan and limit your breaks by using a timer.
• Make use of a checklist to help you focus on completing specific tasks.
• Determine when you are most focused during the day, and then schedule difficult tasks during that time.
• Make a list of reminders to help you stay focused.
• Make changes to your physical environment to make it more conducive to work. This could imply organizing your desk, moving your chair to change your perspective, or working in a low-distraction area.
5. Manage stress
It’s normal to feel stressed at work. Workload, deadlines, coworkers, and supervisors can all be sources of annoyance. Developing a healthy stress management habit can help you maintain a positive attitude and focus on achieving your goals.
Consider making a plan for dealing with any workplace stress. Here are some stress-management habits you can cultivate:
• Maintain a journal. Writing down your concerns, frustrations, and challenges can help you work through them and release your emotions.
• Breathing exercises can help. Because breathing affects your entire body, practicing a few simple breathing techniques can help you relax. You can, for example, breathe in deeply and slowly while counting from one to four. Hold your breath for one count of one to five, then slowly exhale for one count of one to six. This exercise can help you relax if you repeat it several times.
• Regular exercise is essential. Physical activity, in addition to helping you maintain your health, releases endorphins and increases your sense of well-being. To help relieve stress, consider starting a daily exercise routine or going for a short walk during the workday.
• Play some music. Slow, calm, or classical music, in particular, can be relaxing. Use headphones to listen to music at work (if permitted) or choose relaxing music to listen to on your way to and from the office.
6. Reflect on your day
Consider making a habit of reflecting on your day to achieve success at work. Take a few minutes each evening before leaving work to reflect on the day. To identify successful actions and ways to improve, make a list of things you could have done better and things you did well. Use your reflection time to keep track of your progress and to motivate you to do better the next time.
To reflect on your day, follow these steps or devise your own:
• Use a notebook or make a document on your computer or phone to record your daily reflections.
• At the top, write the day of the week and the date.
• Spend three minutes reflecting on what you did well. Make a short list or explanation.
• Spend three minutes reflecting on how you could have done better. Make a short list or explanation.
• Read over your reflections, then pick one or two areas to work on improving tomorrow.
• Fill out your calendar, to-do list, or planner with the items you’ll be focusing on. You could set a reminder in your phone to remind you in the morning, or you could leave a sticky note on your desk so it’s the first thing you see when you arrive at work the next day.
How to get motivated at work
While motivation can help you succeed at work, it is not always easy to find or keep. In fact, feeling unmotivated is a normal state in any type of professional work. Knowing what tactics and methods to employ to re-establish your motivation can assist you in feeling positive and driven to complete tasks.
Let’s look at different types of motivation, why they are important, and how you can get motivated at work.
Positive vs. Negative Motivation
Positive and negative motivation are the two main types. Positive motivation assists you in focusing on the positive outcomes that result from completing a task or reaching a specific goal.
Here are a few statements you might think or say when you’re feeling motivated:
• Completing this task at work will allow me to advance in my career.
• Participating in this workshop will assist me in developing important technical skills in my industry.
• Applying for this position could lead to a career change.
Negative motivation, on the other hand, focuses on the negative outcomes that may occur if you make a mistake or do not complete a specific task or goal. Here are some examples of statements you might think or say when you are motivated negatively:
• If my presentation is poorly received, it may jeopardize my chances of advancement.
• My coworkers will be disappointed if I do not complete this task.
• If I don’t get this job, I’ll miss out on a fantastic opportunity to work in a field I’m passionate about.
When you consider the negative consequences of an action, you often begin to dread the tasks associated with it. While both types of motivation are effective at motivating you to complete tasks, positive motivation is more energizing and inspiring. Negative motivation can lead to fatigue and is rarely effective for long-term career advancement. You could rephrase the first negative statement above, for example, as “If my presentation is well received, it may strengthen my case for a promotion.”
Recognize that motivation can ebb and flow.
We, as humans, cannot always perform at our best. As we face challenges, deal with unexpected situations, and care for our emotional and physical health, our motivation levels can fluctuate. It is natural to experience fluctuations in your motivation levels as you progress through life.
Disappointment, for example, can make it difficult to stay motivated. If you want to work in a new industry but were passed over for a job, you may find that your motivation wanes for a while. Self-care and focusing on your needs can assist you in overcoming those feelings. When you’re ready, you can begin implementing some of the above motivational tips to devote more energy to your goal.
Put in the effort
Investing time and energy is one of the most effective ways to begin gaining motivation. For example, if you want to motivate yourself to complete your education, you must study, attend class, and complete assignments on time. When you want to change careers, you may need to revise your resume as well as spend time researching and applying for jobs. Completing these types of milestones will often provide motivation as you work towards a goal.
Create your own motivational practices.
When approaching an interview, presentation, or other difficult task, it can be beneficial to come up with unique motivators that work best for you. When you’re interviewing for a new job, for example, your motivational practices could include reviewing your resume, going over common interview questions, or practicing your body language in front of a mirror. Here are some additional suggestions that may be useful to you:
• Playing a motivational song or podcast.
• Examining how the positive outcomes of your goals would add value to your life.
• Making connections with people who share your goals or who make you feel at ease or inspired.
• Standing up straight with your shoulders back, chin up, and fists on your waist is an example of confident body language.
• Assuring yourself that the task, project, or challenge at hand will yield positive results.
Reward yourself.
Because most goals aren’t accomplished overnight, staying motivated can be difficult when working toward long-term goals. After you’ve set goals and put in the effort, it’s important to reward yourself as you reach key milestones. For example, if you set and met a weekly job application goal, reward yourself in a meaningful way based on your interests. This could include going for a walk, reading a book, or watching an episode of your favorite show.
Small rewards throughout the process can assist you in maintaining motivation. This strategy also gives you something to look forward to, even if you aren’t particularly motivated to tackle the task at hand.
No matter where you are in your career, practicing motivation can help you achieve success. Make use of the resources and tools at your disposal, such as setting SMART goals, rewarding yourself, and identifying what makes you feel motivated in a positive way.
Course Manual 11: Finding Fulfillment
Each individual has their own path, their own definition of happiness. Work is what we spend the majority of our adult lives doing. It is important to make sure that your work allows you to utilize your gifts and talents as well as meet your financial goals. In this course we will cover the 4 pillars to find fulfillment in life and 7 key steps to finding fulfillment at work.
4 Pillars to Living Fulfilled Life
The question of living a fulfilled life fascinates an increasing number of people.
Unfortunately, even today, finding concrete answers to this question is extremely difficult.
However, when answers do come up, they frequently range from “earning a lot of money to drive expensive cars” to “living as a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas and meditating every day.”
The truth is, neither of these is a long-term solution to living a truly fulfilling life.
Instead, let’s look at the key areas of life that have the biggest impact.
There are 4 key areas or pillars we will cover.
Pillar #1: Relationships
We have our happiest moments in life when we are with other people. At the same time, our relationships are frequently the source of our greatest pain.
As a result, healthy relationships are a fundamental requirement for living a fulfilled life.
Our most important relationships fall into three categories: friends, family, and partners.
Friends
Friendship is an important part of living a happy life. We have the most intense highs in our lives because of them. At the same time, they are there for us when we are down.
It is not important to have as many friends as possible. It’s about having good friends on whom you can always count.
“Can I rely on all of my friends at all times?” ask yourself from time to time.
If the answer is yes, that’s great. If not, you may want to distance yourself from one or two people.
Family
Even after we’ve grown up, we’ve always had a place to call home with our family. When everything appears to be falling apart, the family sticks together and perseveres even in the most trying of circumstances.
This is why it is critical that you maintain a positive relationship with your family.
Even if you no longer live at home, you should keep in touch with your parents and siblings on a regular basis.
Partner
Beautiful moments are so much more valuable when they can be shared with someone. As a result, in order to find true fulfillment, you must find someone with whom you can share your experiences.
If you’re single right now, that’s not a bad thing – take this time to work on yourself and get clear on what you want. However, in the long run, you should look for the right partner because your experiences will be much more valuable through him/her.
Pillar #2 Physical Health
You can change your address, move to another country, or even change continents. You will, however, have to live in your body for the rest of your life.
That is why having a healthy body is so important for living a happy life.
Physical health can be divided into two categories: nutrition and fitness.
Nutrition
What you eat makes you who you are.
Because our bodies are entirely made up of food, this adage is all too true.
Unfortunately, in today’s society, a healthy diet is written in small print. A large portion of all diseases can be avoided if we focus on proper nutrition.
Fitness
Regular exercise not only helps us live longer lives, but it also makes us happier!
Exercise reduces stress, prevents disease, and increases happiness hormones. Exercise is therefore necessary for a fulfilled life.
Many people are aware of all of these advantages, but only a small percentage of them are able to effectively motivate themselves to exercise.
Are you one of these people, or will you start taking care of your health now?
Pillar#3 Mental Health
It all comes down to this in the end.
When we ignore our inner world, our outer world becomes unimportant.
This is precisely why there are so many dissatisfied millionaires!
From the outside, they appear to have everything, but when you look behind the facades, they appear to have nothing. Because, in their pursuit of wealth, the majority of them have completely neglected their inner world.
Our mental health is critical because it determines whether we feel good or bad right now. And, because there is nothing more important in life than the present moment (the now), our mental health ultimately determines whether or not we will live fulfilled lives (and no amount of money in the world can change that).
Thoughts
Thoughts are the key to achieving all of our life goals because what we focus on is what we get.
You can’t expect anything positive if you only focus on the negative aspects of your life.
However, if you focus on the positive aspects of your life and are grateful for what you have, you will live an incredibly fulfilling life.
Emotions
Our emotions determine the quality of our lives. As a result, positive emotions are required for a fulfilling life.
This is why it is critical to deal with your emotions and understand where they come from, what triggers them, and how to control them.
Behaviors
Our thoughts and emotions have a strong influence on our behavior.
We behave differently depending on how strong our negative thoughts and emotions are.
Our behavior then influences our relationships, which in turn influence how fulfilled we live.
As a result, actively working on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors is worthwhile!
Pillar #4: Vocation
Our profession can be divided into three categories: work, finance, and legacy (or leaving a better world).
Discover how these areas enable us to live a fulfilling life.
Work
We spend the majority of our waking hours at work. Yet, time and again, I see people who choose the wrong career path.
Whether it’s for financial reasons or because their own parents put pressure on them, being stuck for years in a job you don’t even want to be in makes living a fulfilling life impossible.
As a result, we must carefully consider what is important to us and what we would like to spend 5 days a week, 8 hours a day doing.
Finances
Money does not make you happy, but a lack of money frequently makes you unhappy. That is why it is beneficial to work on your financial situation.
Unfortunately, most people do not pursue their vocation because they believe they will not make enough money.
This, however, does not have to be the case. There are numerous examples of people who make a living doing what they love.
Most of the time, it’s just a matter of perseverance and discipline. Even if it takes another 5 years to earn a living from your dream job, the journey is well worth it!
Leave a better world in your wake
When are we the happiest?
Not when we take something, but when we give it away.
As a result, we should view each moment as an opportunity to give something back to the world and make it a better place.
Now that you know what the four pillars to finding fulfillment, it’s time to incorporate them into your life.
John’s Story:
Let’s look at John’s story. When he was struggling to find fulfillment in his life – part of his path to finding a different way involved leaving everything behind at the age of thirty-two to go backpack around the world for a year. The general perspective on that plan from practically everyone was, “That’s crazy.” And he sort of understood where they were coming from. He didn’t know anyone who had every done anything like that. Plus, as a general rule, it seemed like he was the only one feeling like there had to be more to life than the colossal train wreck of a plan he was in the midst of.
He did the trip anyway. And here’s the thing. Once he got out there on the road, he realized there are thousands of people backpacking around the world. Fascinating people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and life experiences. All with their own stories and amazingly different strategies for living a fulfilled life. Strategies which DID NOT look anything like the path he’d been on. And here was a big AHA! The reason he’d never met any of them or been exposed to their strategies, was because THEY WERE OUT BACKPACKING AROUND THE WORLD, and he WAS IN HIS CUBICLE! How incredibly obvious once he realized it.
After coming back from his adventures, he head a stream of conscious experience which lasted for 21 days, where he would sit down and type. Long story short, it ended up being a book called The Cafe on the Edge of the World. And over the years that he’s been doing media tours and interviews and interacting with fans, one of the most common things readers told him is, “I thought I was the only one feeling this way, until I read that book.
“From the greatest scientists, business icons, philanthropists, artists, athletes, parents, entrepreneurs, mathematicians, bakers, teachers, philosophers, illusionists…. They all started at zero. A point of no knowledge, no experience, nothing. Yet they went on to attain everything became known for anyway.” – John Strelecky
7 Steps to Finding Fulfillment in Work
Work. We spend the majority of our adult lives doing it. We all want jobs that are both personally rewarding and financially secure, and sometimes we have to change careers to find that satisfaction.
Whether we are currently in a job we enjoy or we’re seeking a new opportunity, there are a number of strategies that, if we make them a habit, will help us feel more fulfilled no matter where we are.
So, take a look at these “7 Steps to Finding Fulfillment in Work” and see how we can apply them to our current situation. Even if you are aware that the job you are currently in is not a long-term fit for you, I can assure you that these strategies will make the time between now and when you pursue your dream full-time more fulfilling.
1. Create a personal mission statement and live it every day.
As discussed earlier in this workshop; What are your core beliefs? What characterizes you as a person? Make a note of them.
Create a personal mission statement that defines how you will act in the face of any external circumstances. Then put it into practice every day at work, no matter what you’re doing or where you are.
This will result in inner-congruence and the feeling that you are living with integrity. This will make you more satisfied with your work.
2. Set and re-set goals on a regular basis.
Growth exists where there is fulfillment, and there is no growth without goals. Establish long-term, short-term, and, most importantly, daily goals. Even if you aren’t working in your “dream job,” you can still benefit from consistent goal setting behavior, and I promise you that if you do it enough, you will feel more fulfilled than you would without setting goals.
3. Set a specific goal for yourself to improve on a daily basis.
Even if it is a minor improvement, it feels great. Don’t hold yourself to the same standards as others. You are competing against yourself. Your personal satisfaction in a career is something you must determine for yourself. Look for ways to improve yourself.
4. Be thankful – things could be a lot worse.
This is the reality. If you ever find yourself feeling sorry for yourself, find someone else who is in a worse situation than you (and there are many). A lack of gratitude is a sure way to become discouraged and depressed in life, but the opposite is also true. A person who feels an abundance of gratitude, regardless of the circumstances of his or her life, will also feel an abundance of fulfillment.
5. Don’t be a bystander; instead, take the initiative.
The amount of emotional energy you invest in an activity directly correlates to your enjoyment of it. So, jump right in.
Don’t just stand on the sidelines. That is not how you will feel fulfilled. Look for ways to be proactive. Volunteer to do tasks. Again, even if your current job isn’t ideal, you’ll feel more fulfilled if you invest emotional energy in it and are proactive about it.
6. Look for opportunities to learn something new.
Education is a rewarding experience. It’s exciting to learn new things. Make a self-evaluation. What area would you like to improve, and how can your current job provide a setting for that type of improvement? You may need to push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone for growth to occur, but if you do, you will feel more fulfilled.
7. Establish positive relationships.
It feels good to be surrounded by positive people. The more positive relationships you cultivate in your current work environment, the more fulfilled you will feel. Take the time to listen to others; demonstrate genuine concern and interest (the key here is being genuine; everyone can tell a faker). People will take an interest in you if you show an interest in them. Build positive relationships by being a good person.
Course Manual 12: Making a Difference
Many people believe that they lack the ability to make a difference in the world. The truth is that each of us has been placed in this world to contribute and make a difference in our own unique way. It doesn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary. It simply has to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good.’ In this course we reveal ways that you can make a difference in the world by being uniquely you!
Giving Back Makes You Happier
We now have scientific evidence that the more we care about our fellow humans’ happiness and wellbeing, the happier we become. One positive side effect of making such a difference is that we change ourselves as a result of changing the world around us. Likewise, vice versa. It’s called a “virtuous cycle.” So, let’s get right to work and discuss three ways we can make a difference.
Learning more about the new science of happiness and sharing insights with your loved ones is one of the most enjoyable ways to make a meaningful difference. You will discover, or perhaps you already have discovered, that depression and unhappiness are caused by more than just “wrong” DNA. Out of sheer ignorance, many people are digging their own “unhappiness hole.” They have no idea how much their actions or life skills affect their mood.
The best way to teach others about happiness is, of course, to lead by example, and there are many ways to experience greater happiness (AKA psychological well-being) by reading up on the latest discoveries.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ― Jane Goodall
We Can Make a Difference
Many people believe that they lack the ability to make a difference in the world. They believe that only Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and others can make a difference.
The truth is that each of us has been placed in this world to contribute and make a difference in our own unique way. It doesn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary. It simply has to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good.’
The following are some suggestions for how ordinary people like us can make a positive difference in the world.
8 Simple Ways To Make a Difference
Here are eight things you can do to make a difference in the world:
1. It Doesn’t Have to Be a Massive Task
You already have the skills necessary to make the world a better place. Making a difference in the world may appear to be a monumental task, but it is actually the collective effort of everyone to make small contributions with great heart.
The size of the contribution is not the most important factor. The key here is to do it from the bottom of your heart.
You can do this by volunteering your time to a local non-profit or charity that you are passionate about.
If you are too busy to volunteer or are looking for simpler ways to help, small acts of kindness can go a long way…and they are contagious! Acts of kindness not only make those you help happy, but science shows that they can also improve your mood.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people then just feed one.” – Mother Teresa
2. Start Now
There is no single best time to begin making a difference in the world. You don’t have to wait until you have more time to share some love, or until you have more money to share a slice of bread. Little efforts add up, and you can begin making small contributions right away.
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
3. Your contribution is never too small.
If you believe that everything has been taken care of and that your contribution will not make a significant difference, you are mistaken. What if everyone else starts thinking the same way?
In fact, it is our responsibility to look for ways to contribute, no matter how big or small. You don’t have to be concerned that you can only make minor contributions. What matters is the effort.
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.” – Author Unknown
4. The most precious gifts of all
The two greatest gifts you can give to the world are happiness and love. Too often, we are so preoccupied with our own desires that we forget there are people in this world who can be made a little happier and feel more loved by us.
“To receive, you must first give,” as the saying goes. The more you give, the more you get. Let us remember that in order to receive more happiness and love, we must first spread more of them.
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
5. Help others by empowering them.
You can make a difference in the world by assisting one person at a time. Empowering someone is one method of assisting them. But how does one go about empowering someone? One method is to be generous with praise and encouragement rather than criticism.
By praising and encouraging the person, you will have assisted him/her in becoming who he/she is meant to be, which will result in more value being added to the world.
“Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.” – Dale Carnegie
6. Make an effort to have a long-lasting impact.
This is Mr. Disraeli’s take on the adage “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.” Teach him to fish, and he will be fed for the rest of his life.’
The good that we seek to do will make a greater difference when it has a long-term impact rather than a short-term impact. For example, if we contribute to the construction of a school, it will benefit many people for many years to come.
And as more people become educated, they will add more value to the world.
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” – Benjamin Disraeli
7. Stop Whining and Start Shining
All of the whining and complaining in the world will not make a difference. It will only sap your precious energy away from things that do make a difference. Instead of whining and complaining, try to make better use of your time by engaging in activities that matter. Use your unique gifts to be of service to others. Nothing matters more than taking action when it comes to making a difference.
“If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
8. Lead by example
Aside from doing things that make a difference, we should try to persuade others to start doing things that make a difference as well. And the best way to persuade others is to set a good example.
Begin doing whatever you are capable of doing right now. Begin to show more concern and love to those around you. Begin making monthly contributions to your favorite charity. Begin putting in more effort at work to increase the value output.
Every effort counts, no matter how insignificant it may appear. Simply do something and do it well.
“A good example has twice the value of good advice.” – Albert Schweitzer
Powerful Story about Making a Difference: (Mindset story: Making a difference even if others don’t see the meaning (purposefocuscommitment.com)
Every Sunday morning a jogger went for a run around the park near his home. Each time the jogger ran by the lake in the park he saw the same elderly woman sitting at the water’s edge with a small metal cage beside her doing something, but he never got close enough to see what. Finally, one Sunday the curiosity got the best of the jogger, so he stopped jogging and walked over to the elderly woman. As he got closer, he realized that the metal cage was, in fact, a small trap. There were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around the base of the trap. She had a fourth turtle in her lap that she was carefully scrubbing with a brush. “Hello,” said the jogger. “I see you here every Sunday morning. If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to know what you’re doing with these turtles.” The elderly women looked up at the young man and said, “I’m making a difference for these turtles that were abandoned in this lake.”
The jogger looked shocked at the elderly woman, “How are you making a difference? I don’t understand.” The elderly woman smiled back and said “I’m cleaning off their shells, Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and impedes its ability to swim. It can also corrode and weaken the shell over time and so they lose their protection.” “Wow! That’s really nice of you!” said the jogger and sat down next to her. The elderly lady then explained to the jogger: “I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out. It’s my own strange way of making a difference and meditation. By helping them I am helping myself as I find peace and meaning in my work.”
“But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum hanging from their shells?” asked the jogger. “Yep, sadly, they do,” the elderly lady replied. The jogger was confused “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent? I mean, I think your efforts are kind and all, but there are freshwater turtles living in lakes all around the world. And 99% of these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells. So, no offense… but how exactly are your efforts here truly making a difference?” The woman giggled. She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world for him. Can anyone say the same about you?”
Moral of the Story:
In business, as in life, we have the ability to make a significant difference in the lives of those around us. Everything is dependent on our actions. We can make a negative difference by making it difficult for people to be around us, or we can make a positive difference by attracting people because we “lift them up.”
Some people recognize that doing something in a certain way leaves an imprint and sets an example of integrity, even if it requires more energy and willpower. While others are only concerned with the bottom line and use it as an excuse to take shortcuts and avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
5 Women Leading in Science and Making a Difference
Ozlem Türeci, co-founder of the biotechnology company BioNTech, is not only a scientist but also a physician, entrepreneur, and global health leader. Her company developed the first approved RNA-based vaccine against COVID-19 in 2020, providing much-needed hope in a year of unprecedented crisis.
BioNTech employs over 1,300 people from over 60 countries, with more than half of them being women. According to Türeci, researchers should concentrate on the things they want to change and the problems they want to solve, while thinking broadly and dreaming big.
Katalin Karikó
Many discoveries contributed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, and one of the most important was that of Katalin Karikó, who focused on the therapeutic potential of mRNA. However, her concept of using mRNA to fight disease was deemed too radical and financially risky to fund at the time. She applied for grant after grant, but she was always turned down. Even worse, she was demoted from her position. Despite this, she persisted.
Eventually, Karikó and her former colleague Drew Weissman devised a method for combating disease by using synthetic mRNA. The Covid-19 vaccine is now based on that discovery.
Fairuz Ahmed and Megs Shah
While COVID-19 containment measures resulted in long periods of isolation and stay-at-home orders, many people were trapped in dangerous relationships or violent environments. Megs Shah and Fairuz Ahmed recognized the need for new technology to better reach those in need, as well as to allow service provider organizations to connect with domestic violence survivors and manage cases virtually.
Shah and Fairuz founded the Parasol Cooperative to educate and connect survivors, those in need, and service providers. Their ground-breaking technology, inspired by their own experiences and informed by their work with survivors, aims to provide the comfort and education of support groups to the most vulnerable populations affected by domestic violence.
Ramida “Jennie” Juengpaisal, 24, worked in Thailand to create a national COVID-19 tracker that compiles all available information about the virus and aids in the prevention of misinformation as COVID-19 spread. Jennie’s work on the “COVID Tracker by 5Lab” shared information about outbreaks and cleaning procedures, as well as critical information about where testing is available and how much it costs.
“For far too long, gender biases in STEM fields have excluded women and girls,” Jennie says. “There are a lot of women working in technology, but they don’t have platforms to showcase their abilities.” Despite this, women and girls are constantly pushing the boundaries.”
When we focus on making a difference, we not only can change the world, but we change ourselves for the better! That is what women empowerment is all about!
Project Studies
Project Study (Part 1) – Customer Service
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 2) – E-Business
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 3) – Finance
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 4) – Globalization
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 5) – Human Resources
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 6) – Information Technology
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 7) – Legal
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 8) – Management
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 9) – Marketing
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 10) – Production
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 11) – Logistics
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Project Study (Part 12) – Education
The Head of this Department is to provide a detailed report relating to the Values & Priorities process that has been implemented within their department, together with all key stakeholders, as a result of conducting this workshop, incorporating process: planning; development; implementation; management; and review. Your process should feature the following 12 parts:
01. Defining Values
02. Your Why
03. Passion vs. Purpose
04. Prioritizing Priorities
05. Personal Boundaries
06. Relationship Boundaries
07. Workplace Boundaries
08. Yes or No
09. Success Environment
10. Workplace Habits
11. Finding Fulfillment
12. Making a Difference
Please include the results of the initial evaluation and assessment.
Program Benefits
Marketing
- Customer experience
- Sales support
- Effective communication
- Positioning power
- Market growth
- Increased ROI
- Increased productivity
- Competitive advantage
- Improved image
- Accelerated growth
- Cutting edge
Management
- Increased collaboration
- Leadership excellence
- Improved communication
- Happier team
- Empowered employees
- Positive environment
- Innovation
- Augmented skills
- Valued skills
- Increased productivity
- Increased engagement
Human resources
- Improved culture
- Happier workplace
- Greater retention
- High-impact teams
- Growth mindset
- Increased engagement
- Improved management
- Leadership excellence
- Improved skills
- Strong Communication
- Empowered employees
Client Telephone Conference (CTC)
If you have any questions or if you would like to arrange a Client Telephone Conference (CTC) to discuss this particular Unique Consulting Service Proposition (UCSP) in more detail, please CLICK HERE.