H2 Blog
The articles in this blog are about asking 'how to' put personal effectiveness theory into practice. Feel free to browse through the various topics and let us know if you have any comments, questions or suggestions!
"As a trainer, coach and consultant, I am genuinely committed to finding practical advice and tips that really make a difference to our training and coaching participants and the organisations that they work for. There are thousands of books and websites about 'soft skills' in the workplace, but I aim to pick out the most interesting and useful bits that I come across, plus a few nuggets of my own that I've been sharing over the years..." Tina Halperin, Founder H2 Training, Coaching & Consultancy
What is "Method Learning"?
There are certain quotes that stick in the mind. I heard one at the start of a training course I attended several years ago:
"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when they're open!"
So how is it that I often forget the names of people who I've only just met, and yet I can recall certain quotes like this one, years later? Firstly, it's a very vivid and somewhat alarming analogy if you really think about it, and secondly, I still recall giggling to myself as I found it to be a particularly cheesy quote that was given in all seriousness!
Any kind of anecdote or quote which evokes an emotional response is far more likely to stick in the mind than an isolated fact or piece of information...
How can you 'manage' your manager?
I recently heard a television journalist describing one of their ex-colleagues as having a reputation for being particularly difficult to work with. He described this senior person as a controlling bully to people beneath him in the chain, but worst of all he bullied upwards too...
It's not inconceivable to come across a controlling boss - the type that abuse their own positional power to stay in control. However, the idea of someone who also asserts their power over those above them in the hierarchy is anathema to most of us.
So what is the concept of "managing your manager" all about? It's not about bullying or bossing your boss... And it's certainly not about manipulating or disrespecting your manager... To the contrary - it's about being proactive and regarding your relationship as an important partnership where both parties fully respect the boundaries and responsibilities of the other...
Is workplace Stress Inevitable?
Stress and its repercussions came to the medical forefront during the eighties, and has continued to be of great concern. We live in times when we are expected to perform multiple roles, often with seemingly superhuman abilities!
At one end of the employment ladder, the prevalence of zero hours contracts and people regularly committing to multiple jobs just to stay afloat is a big ask, let alone the stressful nature of the jobs themselves. But stress isn't just experienced by the workers. Middle managers often report the feeling of being pulled in several directions, and having to be accountable for results, whilst tackling all the day-to-day operational difficulties. There's also the phenomenon of "Executive Burnout" whereby those in higher positions shoulder the weight of responsibility, and often feel compelled to drive themselves way too hard to achieve success...
Is work-life balance possible to achieve?
Picture this: a typical Sunday morning in our house, back when we both worked as consultants. We always looked forward to a much needed lie in after a busy week supporting our numerous and demanding clients. We'd savour a delicious brunch and spend time together just unwinding and enjoying the peace.
One Sunday morning that I still remember well, one of the work phone lines rang in our home office just after 8am. It was back in the days when we had separate work landlines with no caller ID! He rushed off to the office to answer the phone, and I yelled after him "Leave it!!! - Don't they know it's Sunday?". He answered the phone anyway. After 20 minutes or so, he returned from the office and told me it was just as well he answered it, as it was an important new client on the brink of a huge new IT project for him... "Oh that's alright then" I said, secretly conflicted inside....