Six Sigma Blogs

Work stress management is an important facet of owning a commercial enterprise with thriving and happy employees. By attempting to lower the relative incidence and degree of tension materialising in and out the work, a business enterprise can be guaranteed of having employees that are satisfied with how their companies deal with them.

One of the primary ways of downplaying stress in the workplace is by learning how to supply inspiration for the staff and by honing your time management skills. Enthusiastic workers are more productive, are efficient in addition to being happier than those that aren’t, and normally find employment more of a pleasure than just a means to pay debts. The often feel more accomplished and empowered for what they do for the company which normally translates into fewer worker troubles, less worker shortage as well as less general Work tension. attempting to supply inspiration to employees demands more than just holding a general company motivational motto or sending invigorating e-mail to everyone because genuine enthusiasm originates from better action than merely that.

In order for enthusiasm to discover its way to the company front, it should start from the business bosses themselves because it is hard to convince or enthuse people below if the people at the top do not feel the identical way. A business owner, for example, should find motivation for himself to try and convince other workers even though this may need a complete review of the causes for what pushes the business to be prosperous and endeavor in the first place. Look at facets such as time management and workplace environment. A business owner finding inspiration motivation enough to stay successful, might have an easier time in trying to convince and urge on others.

It takes assorted things to enthuse workers so for you to know what they are, you may need to ask questions. Try to enquire what motivates and inspires your workers, peculiarly what is essential to them and then mange your resources accordingly. If the business concern proprietor is honest enough in this task, workers will feel favoured enough that an employer would like to know what makes them happy. By executing such a gesture, employees may feel that a boss tries to maintain their best interest, enough to ask what concerns and makes them content, plus happy employees are more motivated to work and may feel less stress while doing it. Adding some fun to a workplace may also to a lot to inspire and inspire employees because it can be fairly simple to make the work tedious and tiresome. Such a work environment does not prompt workers at all so varying all that can help to make workers happier and increasingly content.

Making work enjoyable can be sufficient to inspire employees and it also does well for effective workplace stress control. One of the methods to do it is by attempting to recognize their accomplishments, regardless of how small. Commending employees for doing tasks as plain as clearing the larder of trash or by helping to show a visitor around at the office without being requested, can be enough to keep employee spirits up. Repaying workers for tiny but positive tasks also works very well on the same facet. A luncheon treat for an worker who has made an outstanding study would mean a lot to motivate others to do even more.

If you can manage to set aside the time you need in the gym, treat it like the precious commodity it is. Don’t waste your time with these top 7 items most people get trapped doing.

1) Believe it or not, one of the first things that wastes your time in the gym, is spending too much time at the gym. I realize that may not make sense, but it’s true. You don’t necessarily need to do cardio for 90 minutes everyday. Once you go beyond what your body needs, you’re wasting time.

2 - No more long rest periods between exercises. Usually this happens when you see a friend and you spend 10 minutes chatting about fitness. Talking about getting fit isn’t going to help you get fit. Don’t take as many breaks and instead schedule some time over coffee when you’re both of you are away from the gym.

3) Plan, Plan, Plan. If you walk into the gym with no idea of what you’re going to do, I can promise you there will be a lot of time wasted. Figure out what you’re going to do before you even step foot into the gym.

4) Have a plan B. Unless you have the gym to yourself, there’s a good chance someone is going to be using the piece of equipment you need at some point. Make sure you know another way of working out that particular muscle. That way you can keep your plan in motion and not have to wait around.

5 - Get intense! Push yourself further than you thought you could go. Physical gains don’t happen when you’re barely pushing yourself. You need to be going to failure on almost every exercise. Even if you’re just building strength and have no interest in bulk, you should still work to failure, just at a higher level. Remember, bulk comes between 8 and 10 reps and strength comes when you’re doing between 12 and 15.

6 - No “cheat reps”. If you’re like me, you’ve had a few cheat reps when you’re starting to run out of steam. It happens and you don’t want to beat yourself up over it. But, you do need to realize it’s not helping you. You’re almost better off just not doing those reps. Fewer reps with perfect form is always better than more reps dong incorrectly.

7 - Get a check-up from a professional. If a regular meeting with a personal trainer isn’t in your budget, consider having a check up ever 90 days to make sure you’re maximizing your time in the gym. A professional trainer will know how to get you through that plateau and on to bigger gains.

That’s it. The top 7 things that could be wasting your time in the gym. Maybe all 7 didn’t apply to you directly, but there’s something there you can do to improve the quality of your workouts. Pick one item and focus on that for a week. Then pick another one. Pretty soon you’ll be maximizing your time in the gym.

These 10 time management tips will put more time in your day.

1. Take Time to Plan

Just 15 minutes of daily planning can dramatically improve your productivity. The next time you’re tempted to rush right into doing something, pause to plan. You’ll also reduce stress and avoid crisis management.

2. What Do You Want?

Before you can get anything done, you need to know what you want to accomplish. Goals will provide a direction on where to spend your time.

3. Flexibility Rules

Allow time for interruptions, distractions and opportunities. Life happens.

4. Five-Minute Power Breaks for Energy

Five minute power breaks can invigorate and boost energy levels. Take plenty of during day. You can stretch, daydream, get out of the office, motivate yourself by reading quotes or browse through a catalog. The important thing is to disconnect and unplug for what you where doing.

5. Join Perfectionist Anonymous

Hey, I like my ducks in a row, too, but I finally realized that the row doesn’t need to be perfectly straight.

6. Learn to Say NO

When you plan your day and focus on your goals, you’ll have a realistic look at your available time. This makes it easier for you to say NO when an unimportant task comes up.

7. Know Your Biological Prime Time

Do you know the time of day where you perform at your best? Perhaps it’s the morning. Maybe you like the nights better. Do your higher priority task during your peak

8. Your Top Tasks

Put the 80/20 rule into effect. Identify that valuable 20 percent that will bring you the highest reward. Prioritize your time to work on those items.

9. Join Procrastination Anonymous

Often procrastination occurs because of overwhelm from not knowing where to start. Take your larger project and break it down into smaller 15 minute tasks. (this takes planning) Keep doing those 15 minute tasks and eventually you’ll make a big dent in that larger project.

10. Give Yourself a High Five

Even the smallest wins deserve a celebration. Before you begin a task, promise yourself a reward when you finish. Then keep that promise. You earned it.

You mastered this powerful word many years ago. In fact, every two year old makes a career out of saying this: NO!

You would think with our busy jammed pack days, wed easily go back to reviving the skill of saying no. Saying No gives you control and eliminates other people enacting their agenda on you. It creates an invisible boundary around you so you can stay on track.

Using a system of positive and negative rewards, the two year old learns saying yes is far better than saying no. No often created unpleasant experience and children learn agreeing and people pleasing will make their life much easier.

Manipulative people are masters at this. They realize you are more comfortable with saying yes and capitalize on it.

No does not mean you don’t like the person or equals rejection. No is a credible and laudable response. When you say NO it simply means the current request doesn’t work for you right now.

When you say, “Yes,” when you want to say, “No” you will feel resentful throughout whatever you agreed to do. This causes stress that can show in many ways, lost energy, discomfort, headaches, shoulder tension and restless sleep. You could avoid these symptoms saying “No” in the first place. Life creates enough stress. Why add more?

5 Easy Ways to Say No

1. Let The Word No Start Your Sentences

You’ll find it easier to follow through and refuse the task, if you utter the word no in the beginning of your sentence,

No I’m sorry, my plate is full right now and I wouldn’t do a good job for you.

No, I’m not available (no need for details)

2. Think It Over

Maybe the request is something you want or need to do but you need time to make sure it will fit your schedule. Perhaps you’re not strong enough to say no right now. Ask for time to think it over. That way you can have time to mentally prepare yourself to say No. Remember, the decision is totally yours.

3. Just Saying No

Go ahead and say it. NO.” You are not obligated to give any further explanation. Add “No, thank you,” if it fits the situation.

We are so conditioned to give out information without thinking. You do not need to give the cashier or clerk your phone number or email address at checkout point. You can say NO

When a telemarketer disturbs your dinner, say no. Or better yet, let the phone ring unanswered.

Twenty years ago in the war on Drugs, you say Just Say No To Drugs all over the place, schools, billboard, commercials, subways, everyplace. Start your own No campaign. Using bright colored paper, you can print your own signs and put them up where you will see and read them.

4. Play the Blame Game

We love to blame other people for our problems so why not blame saying “No” on somebody else…

No, my doctor said I need to cut back on my workload. (use this to preserve your personal time).

No, my accountant said if I did that one more time (great for unreasonable customer demands)

Warning: don’t use actual names, unless you really are quoting somebody. Your blame person must remain anonymous

5. Act like a Parrot

This technique works well when a manipulator puts you on a guilt trip or tries to wear down your resolve.

Example: A Request to go for a cup of coffee

“No, I can’t have coffee with you”

“We won’t be gone long”

“No, I can’t have coffee with you”

You deserve it. Look how many hours you worked already

“No, I can’t have coffee with you”

My Treat

“No, I can’t have coffee with you”

Learning to say “No” naturally takes practice. Start with saying “No” to something everyday.

If you have trouble finding enough time to read through an entire book, study the numerous reports you must read for your job, concentrate on research material for school, or simply keep abreast of the news, then you might easily benefit from an Evelyn Wood speed reading course.

By the time you have completed a speed reading course, you will have dramatically improved your reading speed and comprehension levels. You will finally be able to finish those books you haven’t been able to get around to reading for lack of time.

Many people think that the Evelyn Wood speed reading program is only for people who need to read academic material. True, it does help you to read through complex articles found in academic journals and textbooks, but it can also benefit a casual reader greatly.

When you take a speed reading course you are introduced to the different ways to approach a variety of reading material. Reading an academic paper, reading a magazine, and reading literary books require different approaches.

While you study an academic report, you’re mostly scanning for selective information. You might look for particular kinds of information by running through titles and subheads and skimming for pertinent data. Magazine and news articles are by and large simple to glance over, but you will want to savor each page of a fine novel.

A speed reading course can teach you the skills to navigate these different reading materials. You will not only be able to read academic texts quickly with good comprehension, you will also be able to read fiction far more quickly while still enjoying the meaning and atmosphere created by the author.

Speed reading does not diminish the impact of the books you read. Instead, it is able to heighten the effect. You might be reading rapidly, but you’re also reading intensely, traveling along with the characters as they move through the story.

It’s also a fantastic research tool to have. You can cut the time that you would normally spend researching something and get right down to what you need to do with a speed reading course. You will also learn effective note taking, something many people cannot do.

By utilizing the skills learned through this course, you’ll be able to glean what you need from any type of reading material.

We all work very hard trying to achieve our goals. Lots of effort goes into creating the goals, and then even more effort goes into trying to bring these to fruition. But if you just work tirelessly with no break then you are very likely to suffer from burn-out, which is the successful persons worst nightmare. But relaxation should not be something you should feel guilty about.

Some people view relaxation as a reason to feel very cautious. They worry that being relaxing, and unplugging from the daily hard work we all endure means that they are lazy, unmotivated, and unproductive. They become tense at the very mention of the word relaxation. These people believe intense and unrelenting hard work is the only way to get to our goals. However relaxation is very important part of our quest to become more successful.

For the sporting fans you may watch MMA or mixed martial arts. These fighters have an incredible level of intensity due to the nature of their sport. They are carefully trained and an important part of this training is not to do too much. They can lose power, and timing if they try too hard. Desire can sometimes cause us to be unrelenting in our pursuit of our goals.

Whether we are sports or business people, relaxing holds importance to us all. By slowing down and allowing ourselves recovery time we can maximise what effort we can give the next day. We will not suffer from a slow down as a result of overwork. The effort we need to succeed demands a combination of rest and hard work. Working too hard for too long does not help you.

The optimul method of relaxation is not to simply sit quietly. People who are stressed out can sit quietly their minds awash with what is stressing them out. On the outside they seem relaxed, but they are suffering turmoil inside and are not relaxed in any way. Some people are so stressed out all the time that they have been that way for years. Some people do not even notice it because it is almost a part of them.

I find the best way to relax is to indulge in my favourite hobby, Pool. I find this therapeutic because this is something I do well, something I enjoy and something that makes me move my effort into something that I do purely for myself, under no pressure from anyone. I also use relaxation tapes to help intensify my relaxation to levels I could not have otherwise.

If you are not used to relaxing, then using a relaxation CD will probably work well for you. You can choose when you use the material, therefore you are in control and can give your all to putting that time to good use. The benefits will surprise you, and it will likely become an important part of your life as you enjoy the benefits. Hopefully you should see yourself become calmer, and better at carrying out your daily tasks.

Ensure that you always prepare the correct conditions for using a relaxation product. Certainly you should never use a relaxation CD whilst driving or in any area where you could subject yourself to danger. I only use them in the house where I can lie down and know I am safe. As you begin to put maximum effort into relaxing in the right conditions, you will see the benefits.

You will be far more productive if you stop worrying, relax and let the positive effects transfer into real self development.

You might now know it, but whether or not you have date reminder software could have a high impact on your business. There are all kinds of important times and dates for you to remember, from domain name renewals and lease renewal dates to option periods.

With everything that goes on in the average day, it can be pretty easy to accidentally miss some of those dates, and missing them could spell disaster. Let’s have a look at some things that really happened to companies that missed important calendar dates of their own.

A national retailer occupying multiple sites had a long term lease on a store around a hundred sixty square meters in a recently improved shopping center. This tenant had been leasing their shop for nearly five years, with a five year option period on the lease.

Option periods are common in retailer lease situations, and this one allowed the tenant to choose to extend their lease for an addition five years. However, this could only happen during a particular window of opportunity, three months before the end of the lease to one month before the end of the lease.

The retailer could have kept their low lease rate in an improved building if they’d paid attention. However, they missed their option and had to pay a much higher rate on the next lease. The only other option was to get out.

Another case involved an international airline that missed its option period and lost more than six hundred fifty square meters of office space on favorable terms. It cost them a lot of money to move their offices and they lost a prime location.

Their ten year lease had a five year option, and was negotiated in a market where tenants had a much more favorable chance. The rent was never to be subject to open market review, and low rates with minimal increases were locked in. However, failing to exercise their option caused the airline to have to move in under three months, in a less favorable market and at a huge cost.

Of course, those are just two examples of the problems you could deal with, even if you’re a well established business. Missing an important deadline could spell disaster, and all kinds of dates have to be remembered, even if they’re far in the future.

That’s where date reminder software can help you. This inexpensive type of program is easy to use and incredibly helpful. Just put the dates into it - as far ahead as you need to - and you’ll be reminded of important information when it’s needed.

That could save your business’s office space, the domain for your website, and many other important features of your business. You’ll save money and can rest easy knowing that you don’t have to worry about it. Just get a high quality date reminder software package and move on to other things.

Anyone who runs a business, no matter how big or small, can be negatively affected by missing important dates. Don’t take this risk. Instead, pick software that’ll help you make sure you have it all taken care of.

You already own the greatest reading acceleration device that has ever been developed. It is simply your hand. People have spent thousands of dollars attempting to increase their reading speed. But no inventions or machines can do what your hand and your pacing finger can do for you to improve your reading speed — once you?ve been trained in our 4 special techniques.

What do your eyes do while you are “trying” to read? If you’re like most people, your eyes are jerking around, looking, searching, and bouncing here and there. Then they will fixate for a second or two and maybe move on again causing your brain to wonder what you’re doing. Sound familiar? Untrained readers go through this often.

Untrained readers experience this al lot. By learning speed reading, which includes the speed-pacing movement, you’ll learn how to control and then accelerate your coordination related to reading. A pacing technique, from the Evelyn Wood collection, is taught in Speed Reading in Only One Hour - and it’s going to increase your reading speed 50% in less than 10 minutes.

Aim for the best results for the type of reading material you read, but creating the best person environments: arrange your study area: textbooks, research material, and even a hi-lighter. Remove or unplug: magazines, unless study material, stereo, radio- just turn them off. If you wise, you’ll have an ipod with studio music without works, nature sounds or the like. Pachelbel Canon in D minor is one of the best. Get privacy, no brothers, sisters, friends, etc. And also remove you mate, spouse, lovers - they can easily distract you. Food can break your focus and reading patterns. Alcohol and drugs - don’t even go there, being stoned and studying is a sure fire failure. Cigarettes fog your thinking. Nicotine is a drug. Marijuana, cocaine, speed - don’t got there because your foggy brain is useless during an exam. Set your voice mail. Set the mood with relaxing baroque music, get your reading and studying materials together - and get ready for a study experience.

The stage is now set for you to have a successful reading experience; use the tools provided and enjoy your new found advantage to reading, retaining, and learning.