Workplace

Resilience is the ability to cope mentally or emotionally with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. Our attitude towards life and everything it can hurl at us has a significant impact on our whole experience. The ability to cope well with pressure, adversity and uncertainty relies on developing behaviors, thoughts, and actions. Anyone can learn these habits and create strategies to help increase their resilience.

Currently, a quarter of all employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization describes stress as the “global health epidemic of the 21st century”.

However, how can we deal with the ever-increasing level of stress at work? Are there simple, quick and easy strategies that we can use to make us more resilient at work?

Here are 4 Ways to Improve Your Resilience at Work;

1. Build Supportive Relationships at Work

Relationships based on respect and trust offer encouragement and support for resilience. Regardless of your role, you have the opportunity to build a bond with co-workers that empowers mutual growth in resilience.

2. Willingness to Provide and Seek Support

A growth mindset encourages receptivity to both offering and receiving feedback. Because no one is a one-man band, resilient employees see the importance of reaching out to others. This can assist them in overcoming obstacles and receiving crucial support during personal troubles that could otherwise have an impact at work.

3. Celebrate Your Successes

At the end of each day, take some time to reflect on what went well and congratulate yourself. This helps to teach the mind to focus on success, rather than negativity and failure.

Attributing even small successes to things you have done and choosing to see them as evidence of your ability or potential is what the world’s successful people do. Several studies have found that this approach to life brings significant benefits. It also has a cumulative effect that contributes to psychological well-being, happiness, and increased resilience.

4. Stay Healthy

In order to build resilience at work, staying active and having a balanced diet play important roles in providing you with the right head space to tackle upcoming barriers. Exercising is a great way toned-stress and  clear your mind, as well as releasing serotonin and endorphins needed for increased confidence and feelings of self-worth.  

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Customer service can make or break a business. But not everyone agrees on what it is or how to do it well.

Customer service is the act of supporting and advocating for customers in their discovery, use, optimization, as well as troubleshooting of a product or service. It’s also the processes that support the teams making good customer service happen. A successful customer service team is important for attracting new business, boosting retention, and increasing sales among your existing customers.

 Importance of Customer Service

Customer serviced is important to business because it retains customers and extracts more value from them. By producing top-notch customer service, businesses recoup customer acquisition costs and cultivate a loyal following that refers customers, serve as case studies, and provides testimonials and reviews.

Competitive Advantage

One foremost importance of customer support is the competitive advantage it gives you over other brands. Irrespective of the industry or environment you are operating, there are bound to be competitors who offer the same product and services as you. Hence, to stand out, you have prioritized your customers and give them the feeling of being valued.  

Referral

Every business aims to grow, expand and reach a more comprehensive audience day by day. Another importance of customer service is that happy customers are more likely to spread the good about the brand and how they are wonderfully treated to their friends, families, acquaintances, and even strangers.

A referral is a key to the growth and success of the business; it is a chain reaction; when your customers are pleased with your brand, they automatically advertise for you and refer others, and that way, the customer keeps expanding.

Improvement Through Feedbacks and Responses

As a business owner, you should be flexible and adjustable to render better service and satisfy your customers. Another importance of customer support is that they help generate feedback and gather responses from your customers and the general public, which guides you in improving the products and services you render

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Do you have a poor graduate or degree holder in your midst? I’m sure you have, because they’re all over the place.

Your degrees are intended to assist you in gaining the experience and expertise needed to realize your dreams; they are not your final destination.

Many graduates with degrees are stuck in poverty, looking for work that does not exist, while those with a keen eye for opportunities have reached the zenith of success.

The painful reality is that your degree is not the cure for poverty; the cure for poverty is your ability to recognize and capitalize on opportunities.

Here are 5 Reasons why Degree Holders are Poor:

1. They Don’t Think Beyond Their Degree

One of the main reasons why most degree holder are poor is that they cannot see or think beyond their degrees.

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.

Albert Einstein

The basic truth of life is that the skills required to be highly sought after and achieve greater success in life are not found within the walls of classrooms. Your degree simply proves that you are teachable; it does not indicate what you are completely capable of doing.

When you look beyond your degrees, you will see that you are full of possibilities.

2. They Value Their Degrees Over Their Gifts and Talents.

Everyone is gifted in some way, but our competitive edge stems from our ability to upskill our talents and use them to benefit humanity. The best way to grow as a person is to pursue your natural talents and interests. Find your gift, nurture it, and sell it. Don’t bury your talent along with your degrees.

3. Degrees Have the Potential to Narrow initiatives.

Degrees can close your mind to new ideas, whereas initiatives can open it. If you are not careful, your degrees can cause you to lose your mind. The goal of education is to keep your mind constantly open to limitless possibilities.

4. Degree Train You to Look for Jobs Rather Than Opportunities.

Degrees prepare graduates for job searches but do not expose them to life-changing opportunities.

Not having a job doesn’t make one poor; but not seeing and taking advantage of opportunities makes one poor.

Jobs may be scarce, but opportunities are not. There will always be opportunities as long as there is a problem to be solved.

5. Degrees Train People to Seek Security and Avoid Taking Risks.

Taking risks and learning from mistakes can help you figure out what works and what doesn’t. Many degree holders are becoming increasingly poor as the skills needed to succeed in the modern world are not taught in institutions.

Future jobs will involve knowledge creation and innovation, and people who are only equipped with classroom skills will be out of place in an ever-changing world.

It is important for graduates in institutions to think broadly, deeply, and creatively. Volunteer and don’t be afraid to venture into fields that aren’t directly related to your field of study.

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Understanding your employees’ strengths and weaknesses is very crucial in the workplace. We hear a lot about accepting their weaknesses and working on them until they become strong in those areas.

Unfortunately, trying to turn weaknesses into strengths might not be the best or most efficient use of your time.

However, all of your employees will bring something different to the table, which is a good thing. Having a dynamic and collaborative workplace means you can approach and also solve your problems differently. With a dynamic team that understands their own and each other’s strengths and weaknesses, employees can support each other and also offer alternatives ideas.

Therefore, as an employer, its essential to understand each of your employees’ main strengths and weaknesses and how you can assist their development and guide their activities in the workplace.

Strengths and weaknesses of your employees can range depending on experience and character and will develop over time. Therefore, understanding your team’s core strengths and weaknesses, you will help them realize their potential and achieve substantial growth.

Here are easy ways to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team;

1. Past Experience

You may have already done this when interviewing your employee for the position but exploring them will be insightful.

You will be able to understand their achievements and failures in their career and find out why. What are the critical skills they have learnt? You can then use this information to drive their development and push them to the next level.

2. Listen and Observe

It may look easy, but ensure that as an employer you are carefully observing and listening to your staff. You can work to uncover certain traits or behaviors that might be considered a key strength or weakness.

3. Ask Directly

Being direct will give you answers straight away, and can be more insightful. Open conversations that allow your employees to self-reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. Staff can understand what they are good at and also areas they can improve.

4. Show Your Human Side

Start regular meetings or catch-ups with your employees and determine their career aspirations, goals, and motivations. Allow staff to make mistakes and offer your support. By knowing this, you will allow your team to grow and learn new skills.

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A great leader isn’t one who runs their own company or department. They aren’t great because they excelled early in their careers or because they have a team that meets all of the company’s needs. Of course, all of this helps, but it does not make someone a leader.

What is it that distinguishes the great?

Effective leadership distinguishes between an average and a great leader. Strong leadership breeds a strong workforce. According to research, one of the most common reasons employees are dissatisfied with their jobs is due to poor management.

“When your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a true leader,” said John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States.

There are many habits that distinguish average leaders from great leaders; here are four of the most common

1. They work to improve their Emotional Intelligence (EI)

High EI is the foundation of strong leadership. This is a reference to emotional intelligence, which is the ability to recognize and comprehend emotions in yourself and others. This is then used to manage people’s behavior and communication.

Leadership development in today’s world requires intentional practice and awareness, and the best leaders among us make time to invest in their own and others’ emotions. This entails dissecting why employees may act or respond in different ways and attempting to understand the reasons for this.

2. They openly admit their errors.

We all make mistakes, and making one isn’t a sign of poor leadership. When a leader makes a mistake, the worst thing he or she can do is ignore it or pretend it never happened. This sends a message to their team that they either don’t care about what happened or that looking good is more important than taking responsibility. Employees will lose trust in that leader as a result, and they will eventually lose respect for him or her.

A great leader, on the other hand, will do the opposite.

3. They communicate well

Employees naturally look to a leader for a vision, direction and clarity. If a leader can’t communicate well, their employees’ performance and understanding of the company will falter. Ultimately, the business will suffer.

4. They plan a lot

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail

Benjamin Franklin

Great leaders know this well and would never risk their chances of success by ignoring the need to plan. This means they proactively plan and organize strategies before making and implementing decisions.

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Diversity and inclusion are indispensable in organizations. A diverse and inclusive workplace allows different ideas and creativity which will improve performance, processes, and productivity.  

What Does Gender Equality Mean?

First, we need to understand what gender equality means. In a general view, gender equality in the workplace happens when everyone has equal rights, opportunities, responsibilities, and access in the organization. Specifically, this also means that:

• Everyone feels safe to pursue the same job without fearing discrimination.
• People across teams work together and collaborate equally
• Everyone is treated with fairness and respect
• Everyone has access to education and training within the organization

The Importance of Gender Equality at Work

Ensuring that gender equality is taking place in the organization will not only benefit the individuals but also the organization. Here are some benefits of gender equality:

Increase the talent pool for leadership

According to a study by SHL, out of 27 challenges, women excelled in 21 challenges compared to men. Hence, promoting diversity and inclusion along with leadership helps boost company performance.

Creates a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

Companies that implement gender equality at work create a safe and secure environment for every employee, especially women and gender minorities. Collaboration is more fluid as people are not afraid to be discriminated against when they share their ideas.

Improve overall businesses

Without any doubt, companies that provide equal opportunities to their people allow for more diverse insights and creativity. This help improve and also productivity which contribute to a better business.

How to Promote Gender Equality in the Workplace

1. Create a Discrimination-Free Company Culture

It is a known fact; women have and are still facing workplace harassment at work. Many senior-level women workers also go through sexual harassment, but they remain silent due to stigmas attached. You must create a company culture that is bereft of stigmas and taboos.

2. Fair Play, Fair Pay

According to the Gender Pay Gap 2020 report, women earn 19% less than their male counterparts for the same job.

While there can be many reasons for the gender pay gap, it is mostly discrimination that plays a major role. As a leader, you have the authority to put an end to such stereotypical and gender-biased practices. Regardless of gender, pay everyone the same wage for the same job responsibilities.

3. Focus on the results, not on the person

For women to be taken seriously, they need to deliver much more than men. This is a reality that happens a lot without us knowing consciously, which is not supposed to be. We need to put more focus on the target achieved, not the identity of who achieves it. This does not mean we neglect to credit whoever delivers the result. But what this means is that we need to credit the achievers fairly regardless of their gender, as what matters, in the end, is the delivered results benefit the whole organization.

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Graduate unemployment in Nigeria is increasing as the country’s population grows. The problem’s complexity is highlighted by the lack of synergy between graduate production and job opportunities. Corruption is to blame for the rise in unemployment because it prevents the country from investing in genuine development projects that create jobs.

In Nigeria, the high rate of unemployment among graduates poses a serious threat to the country’s economic growth and development. It limits people’s ability to live above the poverty line. There’s also the issue of economic and human resource waste. Unemployed people engage in criminal behaviour out of frustration, creating an unfavourable environment for investment and tourism.

Is the grow rich quick syndrome replacing hard work?

The world is currently dealing with a societal rot dilemma, one that, if not handled with care, will bring society as we know it to its knees. We are constantly bombarded with reports of ritual killings committed by young Nigerians who aspire to the great things in life but are unwilling to put in the effort.

When society is on autopilot, who is to blame?

The rich are celebrated and accolades are not spared either for those who can spread their wealth around. There is nothing bad in celebrating wealth. However, the yahoo and yahoo plus (cybercrime) pandemic is eating deep into the very fabric of society. The values which we were once taught have been washed ashore by the waves of poverty; which have gradually encouraged vices such as drug abuse and ritual killing.

Is there hope for the world we live in?

It is unfortunate that a once vibrant age is gradually becoming fearless and valueless; it is a shame that the voices of social vices have overpowered consciences. Nigeria, which way?

The Nigerian youth must brace themselves for the challenge of self-refining; we must consciously develop ourselves and use our skills for the development of our community.

Employability skills that matter in today’s world

1. Technological skills

At the hallmark of the cybercrime pandemic in Nigeria is a high population of skilled Nigerians and technological skills stand tallest. With these skills transformed into something beneficial much more like preventing hacking and safeguarding cyberspace, much more jobs will be created. The world is faced with increased digitization and basic digital skills such as Digital marketing, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word are not for a selected group of professionals but are essential skills for every applicant and employee.

2. Communication. 

Communication is different from just talking. It has written, verbal and non-verbal forms. The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defined communication as the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviours to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else.

Employers place a high value on communication skills. You will need to communicate with your supervisors, coworkers, and customers no matter what you do (if any). You’ll need to be able to both express yourself and listen in order to communicate effectively. These are the fundamentals of communication, and they may be the most crucial skill you can learn.

3. Teamwork skills

The ability to work in a team structure is highly valued in today’s workplace. Teamwork encourages the exchange of knowledge and ideas; it fosters innovation, unity, and friendship in the workplace. Nowadays, the ability to collaborate effectively is a highly sought-after skill. With a diverse workforce spread across the globe, technological advancements have enabled businesses to be more connected and collaborative than ever before.

4. Analytical and problem-solving skills 

Employers seek people who can effectively recognize and solve problems using their creativity, reasoning, and prior experiences.

When faced with a dilemma, effective problem solvers are able to think outside the box. Rather than dwelling on the negative consequences, they maintain their composure and assist their team in finding a solution. This method aids in the discovery of blockages or inefficiencies that are impeding the team’s progress, allowing you to work to improve those procedures in the future.

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Having more women in the workplace is very important and also makes an organization a better place to work, for people of all genders.

Organizations that don’t realize the importance of women in the workplace are missing out. Besides doubling your talent pool, more women may also improve your company’s performance.  

Organizations who have a higher number of women in their workforce have gained high financial profits and productivity as their output, when compared to the organizations which have fewer women employees.

Being in this 21st century, where women have been equally capable and successful as men, gender diversity at the workplace should be made a mandatory rule. Moreover, the companies which have a diverse workforce are more successful when compared to other companies which are mostly male-dominated.

Research has shown that women in the workplace and gender diversity is key for organizations’ bottom lines:

• A recent Gallup study found that gender-diverse business units have higher average revenue than less diverse business units.
• Gender-diverse teams have higher sales and profits compared to male-dominated teams.
• Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women on boards financially outperform companies with the lowest representation of women on boards.

However, benefits of having more women in the workplace are not just limited to financial gains.

Women in the workplace and workplace well-being

Results showed that having a higher percentage of women in the workplace predicted;

• Better job satisfaction
• More organizational dedication
• More meaningful work
• Less burnout.
• Better opportunities to succeed

But that’s not all anyway, having more women is also positively related to employee engagement and retention. Statistics shows that people from organizations with a high percentage of women are more likely to cite positive and meaningful organizational culture, including having:

• Enjoyable work;
• A job that fits well with other areas of their life; and
• Opportunities to make a difference

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When we hear the term ‘team building’ our attention is immediately drawn to the word ‘team’; followed by what can be done to help this ‘team’ improve or grow.

To me, it is about understanding, appreciating, developing; and maximizing the individuals on your team, as well as the team as a whole.

If this occurs, you will almost always have a productive, efficient, motivated, and also a happy team.

Team building is crucial for any company and will contribute to the team’s overall high performance.

Here are eight advantages that any business or organization will gain by implementing a team building program:

1. Collaboration

Team building events provide an opportunity to focus on the importance of teamwork; and also what it takes to become a better team. Learning how to work effectively with others; will result in increased efficiency and knowledge hence, how to manage each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

2. Communication

A high-performing team requires effective communication. It can help break down communication barriers and teach employees how to use both verbal and nonverbal communication effectively.

3. Leadership

All teams require leadership from one or more team members. However, structured team building activities will identify individuals with leadership qualities; and also highlight areas where all staff members can contribute as leaders.

4. Fun

This benefit is frequently overlooked, but it is one of the most important to have in any workplace, in my opinion. Team building events will reinforce the importance of having fun at work; and the significant results that can be achieved when having fun is involved.

5. Bonding

Bonding is important because it fosters a sense of concern for one another; and aids in the development of trust within your team. Team building allows people to get to know one another and respect one another in a non-threatening and enjoyable setting.

6. Confidence

Confidence applies to every task that someone undertakes, and having it will result in significant improvements in results. Participating in team building exercises in a safe, non-threatening environment will help you and others develop confidence in yourself and others.

7. Trust

Participants in a team building program will learn more about each other through tasks and exercises. They will discover their own strengths and weaknesses; as well as their own capabilities and fears, and these discoveries will contribute to a deeper relationship; and trust among team members.

8. Respect

Through a team building program, participants can gain greater respect for not only each other, but also for the company and its direction. This frequently boils down to communication and knowledge, which, when delivered in a fun and relaxed environment, will result in greater respect.

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