Newsletter 14 - 14 December 2004

Coaching and the Holiday Season This is the newsletter for www.mindtools.com. You have received this newsletter because you have subscribed to our double opt-in newsletter.

This newsletter is published by James Manktelow of Mind Tools Ltd, Hardwick House, Prospect Place, Swindon, SN1 3LJ, United Kingdom. To contact us, please email Newsletter@mindtools.com .

Contents: Introduction New: Mind Tools Coaching Beat Holiday Stress Global Happy Holidays! Workplace Stress

For all of the fun and joys of the festive season, we recognize that this time of year can also be one of great stress for many people. Because of this, we have dedicated this issue to providing you with useful information and tools that will help you combat holiday stress so that you can fully enjoy this special time of year.

In this holiday edition, you will also find information on Mind Tools’ new career and life coaching network. You may recall that in our last issue, we talked in-depth about the many benefits offered through coaching. We will highlight just a few of these again in this issue.

You will also find a short article on holiday planning, aimed at helping you beat festive stress and have a truly enjoyable holiday!

And, it is in the true spirit of the holidays that we take this time to also provide you with a special section in this edition, one that shows you where, when and what holidays are being celebrated in December across our globe.

We hope you find the information in this newsletter useful. Please share with us any products, services or books you wish to see reviewed, as well as tools you wish to see added to the Mind Tools sites. Please contact us at Suggestions@mindtools.com.

In the meantime, enjoy using http://www.mindtools.com, and Happy Holidays to you and your family!

---

New on Mind Tools: Coaching
Essential Skills for an Excellent Career
By: Kellie Fowler

Mind Tools exists to help you learn the essential skills necessary for an excellent career. Over the past decade, the Mind Tools team has worked intensely hard to bring together into one place the important skills needed for a happy, successful and fulfilling career.

Some of these skills are the proven, “battle-hardened” techniques used by successful achievers throughout history. Others are techniques developed by some of the world’s most respected self-development gurus. And still others are techniques that Mind Tools has developed based on a mixture of seasoned experience and the latest academic research.

These essential skills are brought to you on the Mind Tools site, and are explained in more detail in our e-books. Mind Tools focuses totally on helping you short-cut the normal trial and error learning process by giving you skills that you can put to work immediately. This is why we use the tagline: “Essential Skills for an Excellent Career!”

Now Mind Tools can help you take this even further: We are very proud to announce the launch of Mind Tools Coaching Services. We have handpicked a strong global coaching team (with experts now located in North America, Europe and Australia), focused on coaching Mind Tools clients on a one-to-one basis and accelerating them on their path to career success.

Mind Tools coaches help you find your way to success with a minimum of trial and error, helping you learn from other people's trials and tribulations and follow a much smoother path to success.

More than just a push in the right direction, Mind Tools coaches help you to understand and sort out even the most complex and challenging situations and support this with feedback that validates your thoughts and actions as appropriate and reasonable.

Mind Tools coaches can help you turn theory into daily practice, helping you to identify your goals and then to learn the skills you need to achieve them.

Just as importantly, Mind Tools coaches help bring balance back to your life. So, if you’ve hit your glass ceiling, pushing and pushing and working 50-60 hours each week, yet yielding the same results, our coaches can show you how to achieve everything you need to achieve in a more reasonable amount of time, freeing you up to do other important things in your life such as exercising, spending time with family, socializing and more. Now, that’s the true meaning of success!

A Mind Tools coach can help you develop a well-balanced, well- integrated vision of your future, help you develop this vision into realistic goal statements and support you as you build achievement of these goals into your life, so that success finally becomes a habit.

Your coach will also help you understand your own unique values, beliefs and needs, as well as help you analyze your current situation and inventory the resources you can draw on. From here, you can develop the big picture of a career and life that you will truly find fulfilling.

A Mind Tools Coach will also help you through the transitions that you encounter in your career, helping you at every level to learn new skills that ensure you break through that glass ceiling every time you feel yourself approaching it.

Coaching can help you:

• Develop interpersonal and communication skills;
• Manage time;
• Balance work and life issues;
• Deal with conflict;
• Think strategically for business planning; and
• Improve customer service.

In fact, A 2001 study by Manchester Inc. showed that coaching brings about major changes in developing leadership and management skills. Coaching also fosters personal growth, business agility, and enhanced communication skills, all of which can significantly impact your company’s bottom line - and your career!

So that you can be completely confident in our service, your first Mind Tools coaching session is offered free-of-charge. And like all Mind Tools products and services, the Mind Tools Coaching services are backed by our iron-clad guarantee: if you are not completely satisfied with a coaching session, all you have to do is let us know and we will issue a refund for that session and for all future ones.

We feel confident that through the dedicated Mind Tools Coaches you will be able to apply renewed clarity and a proper understanding of the challenges you face and that our coaches will support you in identifying the direction of your life, and help you turn your dreams into a reality.

Furthermore, the Mind Tools Coaches help you bring your work and life into balance, so that you control stress and find the deep fulfillment that your career can offer, while assisting you through transitions in your career with balance and self-confidence.

For more information or to talk with one of our coaches, please go to: http://www.mindtools.com/rs/CoachingNL and fill out the quick form. A Mind Tools coach will contact you for a free, no commitment, introductory session during which he or she will answer your questions.

And remember that if you are a coach yourself, there are several ways you can benefit from the Mind Tools Coaching Network. To receive a fact sheet on these, just send a blank email to coach.info@mindtools.com.

---

Success Tools: Planning Helps Combat Holiday Stress

With the holiday season only days away, most of us are now scrambling to get our homes decorated, gifts purchased, parties planned, etc. With just a little bit of time and dedication, you can make this holiday season one of joy and not stress, even if you have waited until now to get your first dose of holiday spirit.

Today, create a list of everyone you need to buy for and start penciling in ideas by their names. Don't forget the mail delivery person, teachers, paper delivery person, hairdresser, etc.

From this list, decide TODAY how much of your shopping can be done online. Keep in mind that many retail sites are now offering special holiday rates on merchandise and on shipping. But, be sure to check out each site’s individual holiday shipping times, to make you’re your gifts arrive on time (this is highly important with less than two weeks to go!) And, don’t forget that many online stores offer gift-wrapping, so take advantage of this and have the gift delivered directly to your recipient, ready to go under their tree.

Start this week by making an extra batch of your family dinners to freeze. Many dinners, such as lasagna, hearty soups, casseroles and stews, freeze well. These will be great for last minute meals and can help you sail through the holiday season with great ease. You can even freeze your favorite cookie dough and other sweet treats and tasty appetizers for any unexpected holiday guests who may stop-in.

Hang your holiday lights NOW. Involve the whole family and make it a fun, festive time for the entire family. Get your tree up and other decorations in place, delegating appropriate tasks to family members, even friends.

Start a separate holiday gift-wrap center in your home. Get supplies — extra tape, ribbon, gift tags, and scissors — ready to go. Encourage everyone in your family to wrap their own gifts.

If you have not mailed out your Christmas cards, you may consider sending online greetings. This can be done through a number of sites, including http://www.hallmark.com. And, for those who are less Internet savvy, a holiday call is a must, especially if you didn’t get the cards in the mail on time.

So, don’t sweat those forgotten Christmas cards. You can use them next year. For this year, rely on technology to help pull you through and when that doesn’t work, pick up the phone!

Now, if you must step foot in a shopping mall or other retail outlet, do your very best to shop on Monday or Tuesday mornings, typically the least busy days in retail. Remember to bring your shopping list (which should only include those things you cannot find online).

And, if you can, plan a shopping trip without the kids. Make a list of everything you need and then stick to it. If possible, try to work in a nice lunch and coffee breaks to keep up your energy levels - it might even turn a chore into an enjoyable day!

---

Advertorial: Workplace Stress - Expensive Stuff
By Dale Collie
http://www.couragebuilders.com

Workplace stress can cut productivity and can cost your company thousands of dollars annually. In fact, Harvard Business Review writer A. Perkins, advises that 60-90 percent of medical problems are associated with stress and Princeton, NJ insurance company Foster Higgins Co., reports that 45 percent of corporate after
tax profits are spent on health benefits.

CEOs and stockholders across America would be excited by a jump of 45 percent in annual earnings, but this calculation only reveals the costs associated with healthcare costs.

To get a true analysis of the cost of stress in your company, you need to include the expenses associated with absenteeism and temporary replacement employees or the over-staffing that fills in for absent workers. You also have to calculate the cost of on- the-job accidents and workplace injury deaths (3.7 per 100,000 workers according to the National Safety Council).

Forty-six percent of workers report that their job is very stressful, according to Northwestern Life Insurance Company. And a 20-year study from the University of London reveals that unmanaged reactions to stress are more dangerous risk factors for cancer and heart disease than either cigarette smoking or high cholesterol foods.

Forty percent of job turnover is related to stress (Bureau of National Affairs). When you add-in the stress related costs associated with quality control, customer service, sales, and administration, you'll find that stress is taking a healthy bite out of your bottom line.

Bill Wilkerson, CEO of Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, conducted a survey to find the top 10 workplace stressors. In a report to the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, Wilkerson listed the following:

The Treadmill Syndrome
Employees have too much or too little to do. Some have too many responsibilities and work around the clock, even when away from the workplace. Others fill their days with unproductive busy work, feeling the stress of knowing they could be more productive.

Random Interruptions
Telephones, walk-in visits, demands from supervisors. Goal setting and time management strategies can increase productivity and alleviate the stressfulness of incomplete projects.

Pervasive Uncertainty
Market conditions, company problems, unsatisfactorily explained and announced change. Economic fluctuations, offshore job displacement, terrorist attacks, and market conditions all affect stress levels and productivity.

Mistrust, Unfairness, and Vicious Office Politics
This keeps everyone on edge and uncertain about the future. Poor morale and esprit de corps increase stress levels and consume energy that could otherwise be directed at job related activities.

Unclear Policies and No Sense of Direction in the Company
This undermines confidence in management. Development of sound policies is the first step. Management must then keep these policies updated and follow through to insure compliance throughout the ranks. Employees are easily stressed when it appears that management is out of touch.

Career and Job Ambiguity
A feeling of helplessness and lack of control. "How can I succeed if I don't know what's expected of me or if my job here is uncertain?" Stress levels are affected by far reaching market conditions, challenges by competitors, life-cycle of products, and societal influences as well as vagueness within management.

No feedback - Good or Bad
A lack of feedback prevents people from knowing how they are doing and whether they are meeting expectations. Stress related to this issue is typically one of management misperception as to the amount, importance, and effectiveness of feedback to employees. Whatever the cause, employees are easily stressed by lack of communication in this area.

No appreciation
A lack of recognition generates stress that endangers future efforts. Human nature requires that we demonstrate appreciation for jobs well done. Inadequate demonstration of appreciation results in lowered productivity.

Lack of communications
Having to go up and down the chain of command leads to decreased performance and increased stress. As with feedback, leaders sometimes misunderstand the adequacy and effectiveness of their own communications. There are dozens of ways to improve communications, and employees will usually tell you of shortcomings – but only if they are asked.

Lack of control
This represents the greatest stressor in the workplace because employees feel that they have no control over their participation or the outcome of their work. Employees recognize their lack of control when they are held responsible without authority. Stress levels are reduced when employees are involved in setting the
course of the organization, developing policies and strategies, and creating workplace expectations.

Leaders who recognize the high cost of workplace stress can tackle each of these problems. Good stress control gives employees a more pleasant and healthier place to work and puts money on the bottom line.

An informal, conversational survey of your own employees can help you identify the major stressors in your organization. Professional assistance is available to target all of these issues and develop a strategy to overcome the top 10 work-place stressors.

Start with the information you can gather on your own, and work your way forward. Employees will appreciate your efforts and stockholders will thank you with increased investments.

Dale Collie (http://www.couragebuilders.com) is a speaker, author, coach, and former US Army Ranger, CEO, teacher at West Point. Selected by "Fast Company" as one of America's Fast 50 innovative leaders, he is the Author of "Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom," and "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success the US Army Way" (McGraw-Hill).

---

Happy Holidays Around the Globe!

As the Mind Tools family continues to expand, we are pleased to welcome members from every corner of the world! It is with this in mind that we have provided you with the following international holiday schedule. We hope this will assist you as you reach out to your own friends and family, employees and clients, across the world this holiday season. Happy holidays to all!

Dec. 8 - 15: Chanukah/Festival of Lights (Jewish)
Dec. 21: Forefather’s Day (U.S.A.), Yule/Winter Solstice
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve (Christian)
Dec. 25: Christmas (Christian)
Dec. 26: Christmas (Second Day), Boxing Day (Europe) (Christian)
Dec. 28: Holy Innocent’s Day (Christian)
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 6: Epiphany (Christian)
Jan. 11-14: Makra Sankrant (India)
Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Day (United States)
Jan. 26: Australia Day(Australia)

A Final Note from James

As always, I hope you have found the information we have included in this newsletter helpful. We have worked hard to provide you with information particularly applicable for this time of year, paired with some strong tips and skills that will help you move through the holidays with greater ease and less stress. We hope you are ready to face the New Year with renewed focus and vigor and a sense of happiness that is no longer overshadowed by stress!

And if you have enjoyed this issue, we would really appreciate it if you emailed it on to your friends and co-workers. If you think they would benefit from the skills we teach, please pass this on! And if you have your own website, please feel welcome to post this newsletter to it (see the bottom of this email for more information).

In our next newsletter we will let you know about our new, down-loadable relaxation MP3s. We will also preview one of the new tools from our forthcoming Leadership Masterclass, which will debut in the first quarter of next year.

Best wishes, happy holidays, and until next time!

James & Kellie

James & Kellie

Click here to email
Mind Tools
Essential Skills for an Excellent Career!

Privacy Policy:
Mind Tools will treat your email address with complete respect and will not circulate it to any third party.

To unsubscribe, please click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email we sent you.

IIf you are not already a member and you would like to subscribe, please visit the mindtools.com site and subscribe using the form on the right hand side bar.

© Mind Tools Ltd, 2004.
If you have enjoyed this issue, please feel free to email it on to your friends and co-workers. If you think they would benefit from the skills we teach, please pass this newsletter on!

Also, you are very welcome to post this issue of the newsletter to your own web site. If you do, you must leave it completely intact, include copyright information, and include both the URL of the mindtools site (http://www.mindtools.com) and the subscription email address for the newsletter (http://www.mindtools.com/subscribe.htm).

---

Where to go from here: