Top tips
Below you'll find a selection of our Top 5 tips to help you in your daily work
Top 5
Communicate
Top 5
Personal impact
Top 5
Influence and negotiate
Find out the other person’s stance by listening, before you communicate
Allow enough time for discussion
Act relaxed, interested and positive
Pay attention to what they say and summarise appropriately “So if I understand this right, you want...” “I’m hearing that you....”
Speak slowly and clearly, with an even tone and volume
Get your body language right e.g. good eye contact, smile, open stance
Be assertive i.e. clear, direct, professional and approachable
Understand what makes you feel confident and use these things
Listen more than you talk, respond to show that you’ve heard the message
Always follow up promptly on actions, meetings and requests
Step into their shoes and see things from their side. Know their pressures
Understand where your agendas match up and where they don’t
Never get personal, avoid surprises, do share information and your view
Listen more than you talk
Aim for win-win solutions, where everyone gains something
Top 5
Manage people
Top 5
Manage time
Top 5
Manage stress
Give direction, set clear standards and allocate clear roles
Make enough time to listen to, understand and help your team
Create development opportunities through coaching, shadowing, training
Meet the team regularly. Encourage their feedback and act on it
Acknowledge and reward good performance, deal with underperformance swiftly
Create a “to do” list, the first thing you look at each day and the last thing you update before you leave
Prioritise and know the difference between urgent and important
Plan your time for the day / week / month, start tasks early if you can
Know what your distractions are and work to remove or avoid them
Take breaks and reward yourself for meeting deadlines
Pinpoint sources of stress in your life, write down how each makes you feel
Recognise negative thinking patterns (“I can’t...”, “No one cares....”) and replace them with positive thinking (“I can...”, “I will....”)
Regain control by clarifying your role, planning your time, learning to say no
Take regular breaks away from your desk, especially when you are busy
Sleep well, eat well, take exercise, talk things through with someone
Manage change
Build the team
Work from home
Create a compelling case for change and articulate the benefits
Update stakeholders clearly and frequently, so no one is left in the dark
Take staff emotions seriously, hear and respond to their concerns
Help individuals / teams understand how the change impacts on them
Identify change champions to boost people’s energy and encourage action
Get to know each others’ strengths, interests, passions, working styles
Show and tell team members that they are valued and why
Clarify roles and responsibilities, agree how you will work together
Celebrate successes, learn from your mistakes and don’t blame
Ask what support people need to work effectively and provide it
Create a dedicated workspace with the right tech / equipment for you
Practise self-care: take breaks, be kind to yourself, protect your time and space
Plan your day and do the hardest tasks when you are most alert
Stay connected, speak to colleagues and clients often, get feedback
Managers: guide your team, clarify your expectations, recognise their efforts