Happy New year

Celynn Erasmus

Celynn, a qualified dietician, specialises in keynote presentations and wellness workshops. Celynn’s message is not just about food but about lifestyle balance, getting more energy and feeling immediate vitality.

The media loves her, using her frequently for interviews and innovative, proactive programmes.  Celynn was invited as the first nutritionist to present at the PSA (Professional Speakers Association ) UK annual conference and presents regularly at international forums.

Celynn is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA). She is also a member of the Professional Speakers Association of South Africa (PSASA).

Have a look at her website here for great tips on Healthy Holiday eating.

Power Etiquette

According to Dana May Casperson;" business etiquette is the art of knowing how to behave in a given situation and knowing how to interact with people. Good manners make good business. It is not enough to know your company and product well, you must also know how best to meet people and make introductions, how to dress for the occasion, how to use your business cards properly and your behaviour in different business settings. Learning the “rules” of business etiquette is easy – they are 80% common sense and 20% kindness.”

Start 2012 on a high!

Here is an INFO-TAINING way to uplift yourself, your colleagues and new employees to new heights.

Choose from our menu of exciting presentations:

“Be the NextChief Breakthrough Employee”

“Are you packaged for success?”

“Power Etiquette”

10 Tips for Successful Work/ Life balance

We all go through it at one stage in our work life - perhaps some of us go through it on a weekly basis - the work/life juggling act! Trying to balance everything at work with everything outside of work can become somewhat of an ordeal. It often ends up with work related items being the main priorirty on your list of things to do and your "life" tasks being overlooked or forgotten which as a result causes us to become tired, anxious, stressed, angry, frustrated all because there has been no "Me" time to reflect and rejuvenate. Take a look at these 10 tips and suggestions for work/life balance and start gaining control over your priorities.

1. Set goals – yes, all those years of teachers asking us to write down our goals and dreams for what we want to be when we “grow up” are still relevant even at the age of 30 odd. “Written goals help you establish clarity of purpose and provide accountability” according to Leadership Coach Mike Hawkins. Get into the routine of reviewing your goals and reminding yourself of what it is you want to achieve.

2. Focus. Focus. Focus. Just like your mum used to say when you were trying to study for an exam or had an important recital coming up. Staying focused is a constant challenge in today’s lifestyles. We are easily distracted by technology and day-to-day life challenges. “Don’t let the urgent, the convenient and the immediate distract you from the important. Stay focused on reaching the milestones that support your goals. Be proactive. Create the habit of working intentionally. Minimize your distractions. Make a “not to-do” list and adhere to it.”

3. It is very easy to become one with the crowd and “baa” like the rest of the sheep. Don’t be sucked into following social and cultural norms – follow your own values, goals and ideals. “Define the few principles by which you will operate your business and your life. Let them guide you instead of following the latest fads and over-hyped products.”

4. Saying NO is the hardest word to say and it is only two letters short. It is humanly IMpossible to do everything all at once for everyone all the time. Sometimes we do have to miss out on a social function, family gathering, school sports match, ballet exam, training seminar because there really are only 24 hours in a day and we have to come to terms with prioritising the VERY important things that need doing before the “OK, sure I will do that for you – because I cannot say no” things.

5. Delegate – as women, we are often the most to fall victim to the; ”NO means NO virus.” This is because we battle to delegate. In case you hadn’t noticed by now, most CEO’s are Men – why? -  Because men are professionals at delegating to others. No one is successful on their own so start handing out that extra workload, if you have a teenager sitting around the house playing on his PSP all day – why not delegate a bit of the household chores to him/her. Offer a bit of pocket money if it helps to ease the workload. If tomorrow you were suddenly struck down with a terrible virus and had to lay in bed for two weeks – who would you pass your work onto?

6. Time really is of the essence so practice being productive. For those activities that you and yourself can only do then find ways to be as efficient as possible. “Your time is your most valuable resource—don’t squander it. Create reusable templates for anything that you do repeatedly. Employ tools and computer applications to automate your tasks as much as possible.”

7. When we were asked by our mum’s to clean our rooms when we were younger and we would deny her request to the upmost – she was asking us  for a very good reason; (honestly.) By cleaning and tidying our rooms we were also organising our space and our possessions. This lends itself to our lives as we get older, the paperwork and bills that stack up over the month, the documents that needed signing two days ago that are still sitting on your desk because you have actually covered them under a pile of documents from this morning’s meeting. Start a filing system at home and at work. “Utilize the “Do, Delegate, Delete or File” principle” and see the difference in productivity.

8. Energy – zzzz – If you are tired, you will not be motivated to do much during your day – whether it be at work or at home so ensure you get a decent night’s sleep (7 hours a night is recommended) eat a healthy diet – if you cannot eat healthily everyday then try to have at least 3 healthy meals per week during the week when you need your energy the most. Do take vitamins recommended for you and try to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

9. It is hard to NOT worry when someone tells you to stop worrying because if you are a worrier then worrying you shall do but try your best to think outside of the worry box and close that box up for the day. Worrying and stress are bad for your health and will not provide any benefit to you or to others. “Studies show that 92 percent of what people worry about has already happened, won’t change a thing or is completely unfounded. Channel your energy into more productive uses. Go exercise instead.”

10.Open up some space on your calendar – or if need be fill it in with “Me time” so you do not end up filling it up with something else later on. “Pretend there isn’t as much availability on your calendar as it affords. Take a break. Carve out some time for reflection. The cliché that your best ideas come to you in the shower is more fact than fiction. When relaxed, your brain is free to unleash its power.”

Credit: Leadership coach Mike Hawkins

Secrets of Success by Sarah Ivens

A Modern girl's Guide to Etiquette - How to get it right in every situation by Sarah Ivens

The Secrets of Success:

• A little goes a long way. A smile costs nothing.
• Not everyone will like you, so don't worry about pleasing all the people all of the time. Just act in a way that makes you proud.
• Once you have been introduced to someone, acknowledge them whenever you meet. even if you can't quite place them, say "hello". If someone you've met before doesn't respond to your greeting, take the moral high ground and move on.
• Don't let a door swing in someone else's face - in fact, hold it open for them. If you get to a door at the same time as someone else, let them go first.
• Don't stroke a pregnant woman's stomach without asking.

•  If you do happen to trip and fall, laugh it off. Pick yourself up, check for any grazes or broken heels, laddered tights and have a giggle. You've just brightened up someone elses's day.

• learning to bite your tongue is very useful. Yes, you're probably right, but the world isn't ready for your philosophy yet. keep it to close friends.
• in short, treat everyone with respect - until they've proven to you they're not worth it. Let manners speak for you and hopefully you will get the same in return.

 *All content is from Sarak Ivens book mentioned above.

For more info regarding how Professional Impressions can help you and your staff with power Etiquette and creating Lasting First Impressions click here

Being the NEW person in the Office

As the year comes to an end, we often start to re-evaluate our positions and roles in our jobs. You could be someone who has been lucky enough to have been promoted within the company in a new division or perhaps you have found a job in an entirely new company all together.  Are you petrified/nervous/anxious of being the NEW person.

“What if everyone hates me? What if I can’t do this job?” "What if I am not as good as the last employee?"

 

Just remember:

• Competence equals confidence. Do your homework about the company/division you are joining and you will feel more assured as to what will be expected of you; and what you can expect in return.

• Do make an effort to remember names and places on your first day. Use association techniques to secure names in your memory.

• Strangers often mistake shyness for rudeness or snootiness. If you are shy, be honest, and tell colleagues that you are a little nervous and you will find that most people will gladly help you with anything you need.

• First impressions count so do spend time on your image and grooming and be consistent with these. Be careful of being too flashy–you don’t want to be labeled as the “Bling Queen” on your first day.

• Do not spend your first day sucking up to the boss, flirting outrageously, painting your nails or taking an extended lunch break!

• Try to project a positive attitude and convey an air of professionalism no matter how lost you may feel.

• Never be afraid to ask questions. It is better to ask a hundred questions and get it right than to assume and get it horribly wrong.

• Do not speak negatively of your previous company or employers as this creates a negative impression.

• Always avoid gossip and try to steer away from office politics in a business environment.

Remember that all changes take time to get used to. Hang in there, you’ll soon feel part of the furniture.

Open Plan Office Etiquette

 Most of us spend more time within our office walls and in the company of our colleagues than we do with our families. So ensuring your work environment is a pleasant place to spend time in, is vital to the success of your role and to that of the company you work for. The open plan system was introduced to increase productivity and team work. At the same time we are now permanently visible and open to constant distractions and interruptions.

So how do you make the most of your experience? Read on to ensure you are adhering to the 3 S’s of
open plan office courtesies.


“Building and maintaining strong business relationships is the key to success. While keys are designed to unlock doors, in the modern workplace, doors are about as scarce as good manners”
Aviva Shariff

Working in an open plan office setup is very challenging as space is limited and privacy is almost non-existent. Be aware of any signs that your colleagues may be giving you–it could be something you are doing is annoying them.

The 3 S's of Open Plan Office Etiquette

Office distractions fall under the following 3 S’s:

1.Sound
•Keep your voice low when talking to others.
•Ensure your mobile phone is on silent or on low volume.
•Avoid irritating ring tones e.g. a baby crying
•Don’t use the speakerphone/speaker dial when you have others around you.
•If you want to listen to music-use headphones-don’t hum to the tune.
•Be aware of distracting noises such as popping your chewing gum, slurping your coffee,
chomping on food, constant clicking of a pen.
•Stop spreading gossip or even listening to it.
•Don’t discuss your break-up with your boyfriend or awful mother-in-law for all to hear.

 

 2.Space
•When entering a colleague’s work area-announce yourself and ask if you may “come in”.
•“Prairie Dogging” or peeking over the divider to chat to your colleague is unprofessional and a
distraction to others around you. Don’t hang a tie, jacket, bag over the cubicle wall.
•Ensure your desk is respectfully decorated. Don’t display potentially offensive pictures/slogans/coffee mugs. Keep family pics to a minimum and leave the fluffy toys at home.
•Maintain your workspace neat and tidy-its an extension of your personal brand. The excuse of “I know where everything is”-does not cut it anymore.

3.Smell
•Keep fragrances to a minimum. Don’t be known as the “Aramis” guy or the “Red Door girl”.
•Practise great personal hygiene-especially if you are a smoker or suffer from excessive sweating.
•Avoid eating smelly foods at your desk e.g. slap chips, curry, garlic bread.
Always keep breath mints on you.
•Beware of taking your shoes off under your desk-even though you may think that nobody can see you, -those around you will definitely smell sweaty feet.

At all times remember that when working in an open plan area you need to create a balance between being accessible to your colleagues and maintaining boundaries when you need to focus on work. It’s about treating others with the same respect and consideration you’d like to be treated with–this is a sure way to maintain a harmonious workspace.

Start 2012 on a high!

Here is an INFO-TAINING way to uplift yourself, your colleagues and new employees to new heights.
Choose from our menu of exciting presentations:

“Be the Next
Chief Breakthrough Employee”

“Are you packaged for success?”

“Power Etiquette”

For more information Contact us on:
Tel: 011 469 1396 or
email: info@profimpressions.co.za www.profimpressions.co.za