In today’s ever changing workplaces with increased remote working so prevalent, IT security teams and organisations as a whole simply cannot easily afford to ignore such security threats.
Getting ahead of Cyber Security threats
You probably made new year’s resolutions, but did you think to add improve cyber security …
What’s on your wellbeing checklist?
10 tips for wellbeing to help see you through the challenging winter months…
As we all face the ongoing challenges resulting from the pandemic and the transitions it brings as lockdown eases, we thought that sharing our ten tips for wellbeing may be useful this mental health awareness week:
- Keep in contact – even though teams may be working remotely, try to find new ways for social conversations to keep connected with your colleagues, as routines change. It can become very easy to just focus on the work at hand but make sure you are finding time for that ‘chat at the water cooler’ too!
- Keep your steps small to achieve your goals – our Wellbeing Videos offer guidance on breaking down your goals into smaller steps. Your workload may seem more challenging when having to operate in different working environments and uncertain times. Small steps always help.
- Get plenty of sleep – remember to switch to decaff in the afternoons and keep an eye on the thermostat – did you know that the best temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit?
- Keep active – take a break from your desk and where possible enjoy the outdoors for exercise that you enjoy and feels right for you.
- Try a new hobby – learn a new hobby or restart an old one, perhaps a new language or something creative? It’s important to do things that make you happy – make time for yourself and create habits for your hobbies.
- Learn a new skill – many used lockdown as a time to learn a new skill. Think about how you want to carry these on/add to your skills as lockdown eases – keep your energy for learning going!
- Work to your strengths – do something you’re good at to build self-confidence, then tackle a tougher task.
- Lose yourself in a good book – when you have a moment to spare –begin an inspiring autobiography of someone you admire. Or why not even think about writing your own?
- Enrich your diet – nuts, beans & seeds, fish rich in omega-3, fruit vegetables and dark green vegetables are all on the menu. Eating all the colours of the rainbow on your plate and trying new recipes. Don’t forget coffee and chocolate too; all in moderation to improve concentration levels.
- Work together on wellbeing – what programmes or workshops does your organisation currently run? Join with colleagues and friends to focus on your wellbeing collectively.
We are all familiar with all on this list for sure but our challenge to you (and ourselves) is to create your own wellbeing checklist and take the time to review what’s working/needs more attention each week. Why not start it off this mental health awareness week?
Think oxygen mask first!
After the Appraisal Tsunami
No time following appraisal meetings to think about training – we can do that for you..
We know lots of you are climbing the PDP mountain with your teams – reviewing, planning, and identifying training to take things forward. Did you know that if you share your team goals with our experts, we will be able to provide you with the best training at great prices to take meet these learning goals. You probably don’t have time following appraisal meetings to think about training – we can do that for you.
One of the main purposes cited for carrying out appraisal is employee motivation, which in pandemic times has never been a higher priority. From coaching for underperforming employees to training that enables further workplace development, see how we can take training forward. We will help you to identify the right IT training and solutions even if you’re not an IT technical person.
Take advantage of our IT learning and development experts to get great training at fantastic prices without losing your precious time.
Just get in touch or call one of our team today on 0845 519 7408
A new normal – are we there yet?
Globally businesses have been on an unparalleled journey of change due to COVID_19 restrictions and lockdowns.
As many of these are relaxed, is September 2020 a time when we start to ask – are we there yet?
Many companies are working through their re-opening phase, with pandemic safety still firmly at the core of activity. When we do reach the new normal, what will it look like for you and your company, and is there an informed development strategy to take you there?
So, what’s the plan?
Millions of staff continue to work from home rather than the office, but this is only one business transformation that is taking place. Many businesses are reviewing Pre-COVID_19 business plans and strategies. Identifying where these remain on-point and where there are now challenges and opportunities resulting from the pandemic.
In a recent survey carried out by the Business Growth Hub, over 4000 firms shared insights into the impact of COVID_19on the local business landscape.
When considering business challenges and opportunities, the need for a clear plan to take the business forward during the start-up and post pandemic phases was given the highest importance.
A quarter of firms surveyed said that workforce development was the key area of business support that they were interested in.
The significant changes to workforces resulting from the pandemic are wide ranging. Ill health and furlough concerns have been replaced by re-structuring and skills gaps.
Only 19% of businesses surveyed were recruiting new staff, but 28% of firms said they only partially had the right skills to match business plans. 4% said they did not have the right skills they need.
Prior to the pandemic only 12% of those surveyed would have given high importance to workplace training, now this has more than doubled to 25.5%
15% of firms recognised that one of the main future challenges facing business, was getting the right workforce and skills.
Business critical mandatory training remains essential alongside the need to train for the future. To equip teams with the knowledge and confidence that future business growth requires, strategic learning is a priority.
The final four months of the 2020 could be an opportunity to deliver training to take your business forward. What does that look like for your company?
More than ever, the selection of the right external training provider to support your business is vital. Optimus Learning Services will help you identify and partner with the best training provider for your requirements.
Call us on 0845 519 7480 or email info@optimuslearningservices.com or blake@optimuslearningservices.com
5 metrics to measure for effective learning & development management
Measuring the learning metrics that matter
There was a time when the Learning & Development department was only accountable for the number of people that were put through training and the cost, in other words, basic effectiveness and efficiency. Continue reading “5 metrics to measure for effective learning & development management”
The 5 keys to successful learning and development planning
When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people. -Old Chinese Proverb
Working in learning and development can be a challenging role. The company looks to you to understand the business, the people and then create solutions to the problems that arise. Often this is in a reactive manner, fixing a problem after the event.
Continue reading “The 5 keys to successful learning and development planning”
What is a bigger motivator – rewarding successes or punishing failures?
Our recent blog ‘What would be the one piece of advice you would give to yourself when you were 20 which you wish you had received’ looked at a LinkedIn discussion we started that recorded some fantastic answers. Another discussion we started called ‘What is a bigger motivator – rewarding successes or punishing failures?’ also attracted a lot of attention and here is a summary of the answers we got given from the L&D community.
Continue reading “What is a bigger motivator – rewarding successes or punishing failures?”