Addicted to the Internet?

Remember when there were all those articles about being addicted to the internet?

No one is talking about that now, are they?

Why? Because most people have gotten over the novelty of being so connected by internet and realize we have to interact in real life too.

Touching people in a real way includes the internet. It’s not offline or online, it’s both.

How can you do more to stay connected both ways?

How does your business stay connected  without over-communication?

I want to hear your ideas!

Improve Your Life Skills with London Acting Courses

Photo source: Acting In London

When you mention acting courses to someone, they will immediately think about Hollywood celebrities. Even though that maybe the top rung of the ladder that many actors wish to reach, in truth, many people take acting courses for various reasons. It is not all about learning how to act on the stage and film, there are a number of aspects associated with acting.  

The capital city of UK has a long history of stage and film production, and even these days, London acting courses offered by Method Acting are regarded as the best in the world. Not only do you learn many new life skills, it is likely that you will make many friends that will remain with you for years to come.

A course in acting is a great way to improve your future prospects in life. A number of these benefits are listed below.

Confidence Building – If you are of a shy nature or hate to stand up in front of people and talk, then acting classes are for you. Learning to act also means building up your own confidence, and this helps you in your professional and personal life. Over time, talking in front of others starts to become the norm. Of course, most people will always be anxious or nervous before giving a speech in front of others, but acting teaches how to control it, and having more confidence makes it more enjoyable.

Strengthen Weaknesses – Being involved in an acting course will help you learn what your own strengths are.  You will also discover many of your weaknesses, but as time goes by, you will learn how to improve yourself and in turn become a much better person. Everyone has some kind of weakness, and working to improve them also helps you to go through life feeling more in control.

Communication – We all need to communicate with other people in our lives, but for many it is becoming a lost art thanks to all of the technology that we use today. Acting allows you to communicate with people in many different scenarios. Also, by acting out a character, it allows you to see things from another person’s viewpoint.

Out Of The Box – These courses will help to you to think from outside of the box. You get to watch how actors interact with each other, and how roles evolve over time. By playing other people, it can open your eyes to things you would not normally see in normal life.

Teamwork – Many companies nowadays set aside times when team building takes place. This helps people to work together, and depend on each other, as they do in the armed forces. Acting in groups gets you used to working with other people without actually realizing that you are doing it. Then when you need to work as a team elsewhere, you will do so automatically, and may even be confident enough to take the leadership role.

Top 5 Most Effective Business Leadership Development Methods

Top 5 Most Effective Business Leadership Development Methods

Few people are born leaders. In most cases, leadership skills and qualities are developed through hard work and persistence, but there’s no point putting in all that effort if you’re not must utilizing the most effective learning and development methods.

Leading a team is about more than simply achieving milestones and goals. It is about inspiring, problem-solving, and ultimately leading a group of people towards a common goal.

There are many different ways of turning an ordinary employee into a great leader, but here are five of the most effective methods.

1. Workplace developmental assignments

As a new generation of leaders prepares to take their places as managers, more time and effort is being directed at training leaders, mentors and managers within organizations, from global corporations to local businesses.

One of the most effective methods for developing leadership potential within any sized organization is by giving aspiring managers on-the-job assignments that allow them to experience key challenges they will continue to face as professionals.

In an interview conducted by GovLeaders, Cynthia McCauley suggests that as many as 70% of the experiences that they felt contributed to their development as leaders were work-based challenges.

Developmental assignments allow professionals to learn key skills before they become a formal part of their regular workplace responsibilities. Giving your senior team members developmental assignments will also help you to identify your emerging leaders.

Those who are ready to step up and lead will adapt their skills to various situations throughout the assignment, showing they can put two key leadership qualities into practice – flexibility and initiative.

2. Formal Training Courses

Formal training courses are effective for disseminating knowledge and motivating groups of people, as well as providing individuals with the opportunity to receive a qualification or certificate upon completion. The information offered in a formal course should be up-to-date and relevant to the participant’s work challenges, so they have the chance to benefit in a professional capacity while contributing to their organization’s success.

Organizations will get the best return on their investment by choosing a management training provider, such as Leadership Directions, that is willing to work in a face to face environment and offer post-course support to their employees.

3. Coaching from the current manager

There are few people who understand the unique challenges and needs within a professional setting more than the current managers. This insight makes them perfectly suited to coaching up-and-coming leaders.

According to the Institute of Leadership and Management, as many as 80% of organizations now use coaching as a training tool. The likelihood that coaching will be utilized increases with the number of individuals within an organization.

While managers tend to receive the majority of coaching opportunities within organizations, team members can benefit too. Currently, it is rare for companies to provide internal-based coaching opportunities to non-managers, which is something that could be hindering many organizations – after all, who knows a business better than the management?

4. Coaching from external mentors and coaches

One of the greatest benefits of utilizing the resources of an external coach or mentor is that these professionals have been trained specifically to coach or mentor. It is one thing having the knowledge to share with others, but having the skill to share the information in the most beneficial way is an entirely different story.

Effective coaching is not about instructing or teaching – it is about guiding, questioning and facilitating the learning process. It is a skill that needs to be learned, just like leadership itself.

Furthermore, while most organizations focus on coaching as a method of improving professional skills, they often overlook the benefits that come from focusing on the personal development of qualities such as self-awareness and confidence.

5. Mentoring from other internal sources (not their direct manager)

Coaching from a direct manager is a common way organizations develop their people. However, a company can increase the sharing of knowledge and experience further by allowing other mentors from within the organization to provide input.

The mentoring relationship requires a sensitive power balance and, according to Forbes, it should be mentee-driven, with the mentee becoming the driving force in terms of the direction and focus of the relationship.

Leadership is something that can and must be developed. Opting for the most appropriate development strategy is not only sensible but ensures that organizations and the individuals that make up their ranks will continue to benefit long after training has been completed.

Next Page »