Effective Strategies for Achieving a Good Work/Life Balance. Myriad factors both on and off the job affect an employee's perfomance and productivity. The complexion of the workplace has changed dramatically over the last half century. During the 1950's the average person got a job and made a career of it. Today, individuals in the workforce may change careers three or four times before they retire. This dramatic shift in work philosophy is due in part to the employee's inability to juggle work and life responsibilities effectively. More moms are in the workplace than ever before, but their responsibilities at home are still there. Likewise, in situations where both moms and dads work, there is more pressure on the dads to help out at home. These factors have a definitive impact on both employers and employees.
Please click on the workshops listed below to learn more about each of them:
Managing Stress: The Power of the Mind-Body Connection
Stress and anxiety (e.g., work stress, family stress, unexpected crises), are for the most part unavoidable, yet interestingly, in and of themselves, are not problematic. How we react to stress, how we manage it and how we allow it to affect our mind and body are really the primary areas of concern.
Periods of extreme or extended stress can be debilitating (even dangerous) both physically and mentally. They can manifest in the form of physical, emotional or behavioral problems. Therefore, it is critical that participants in this workshop learn how to approach stress in a healthy, positive way to avoid the risk of chronic, long-term illness. Participants are taught to recognize such symptoms as headaches, lethargy, insomnia, palpitations, heartburn and over- or under-rating that can lead to increased alcohol consumption or smoking, skin problems, depression, irritability and loss of a sense of humor. All of these factors must be addressed. Through personal coaching and education, participants learn effective ways to identify stressors and gain increased control over their mind-body response to stress.
This workshop offers a relaxed and accessible way to learn about and mange stress. Participants learn the psychology and physiology of the stress response. Through experiential exercises, participants are taught how to induce the relaxation response, a simple, safe and effective method used to quiet the mind and body. Practicing this form of relaxation on a regular basis can lead to an improved sense of well-being, boost the immune system and help to relieve anxiety and depression.
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The Working Mother
It is likely that many of your female employees are working mothers who juggle family and career. Time management, relationship issues, single parenting, exhaustion, communicating effectively with nannies or day-care centers, setting boundaries and limits, and feelings of guilt associated with not being home with their children are just some of the complex and challenging issues working mothers must manage. This workshop addresses these concerns and also provides a forum from which participants can learn and support one another.
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Accessing the Power of Your Mind Using Self-Hypnosis
In a supportive, non-threatening atmosphere, participants learn to use self-hypnosis to control cravings. A brief overview educates participants about what hypnosis and self-hypnosis can and cannot do. Participants as a group are led through a hypnotic induction to experience going into a relaxed but alert state (trance), and then are given an opportunity to practice self-hypnosis. The workshop also covers how to: identify and set specific and attainable goals; use personalized suggestions, images, metaphors and symbols; engage all the senses to add power to images and suggestions, and; use post-hypnotic cues to extend the effects beyond the trance experience. Time is allotted at the end of the session for comments and questions.
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Guided Relaxation
Guided relaxation promotes stress relief and stimulates the body's immune system and its ability to heal. By listening to my voice, with or without music, the participant is guided to progressively deeper states of relaxation. During this process, the heart and breathing rates slow down, muscles release, and the mind becomes quiet. Visualization (e.g., comforting images, symbols, colors, smells), can be used to further deepen the relaxation experience. Personalized tapes that participants may listen to at home can be provided.
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Breath Meditation
The regular practice of mindful breathing can help participants make calmness and inner balance a part of their everyday life. Regular practice can also play an important role in helping to manage stress and anxiety, preventing or reducing symptoms of medical conditions, improving concentration and generally increasing a participant's self-esteem, self-confidence, sense of well-being and optimism.
Participants are first introduced to diaphragmatic breathing and then taught the breath meditation technique. Next, they are instructed about how to sustain their attention on the breath and how to handle distracting thoughts and body sensations in a non-judgmental way. Based on individual need, participants may learn to do breath meditation seated or lying down on the floor, and may also be introduced to the body scan. Personalized tapes that partticipants may listen to at home can be provided.
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Lifestyle Evaluation and Coaching
To assist in optimizing their physical and emotional health, each participant begins this workshop with a comprehensive assessment of his or her lifestyle. Based on the results, and with the participant's collaboration, an individually tailored Personal Lifestyle Plan is created. This plan includes the participant's identified needs, concerns and goals, as well as the tools to empower him or her to begin to eliminate the barriers to personal and professional fulfillment. Issues that can be addressed might include: managing stress, improving concentration, managing weight and other nutrition-related concerns, increasing motivation, overcoming procrastination and controlling cravings. Each coaching session is one hour long and is offered both on and off-site.
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For more information about Effective Strategies for Achieving a Good Work/Life Balance, please click to contact: Jeff Fine.
How We Do What We Do
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As polished speakers we
enjoy sharing our expertise and our fee is the most competitive: travel expenses. If you would like us to speak at a function for your organization, please give us a call at: (919) 369-2373, or send e-mail to: Kim Parker, Chairman & President
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We Define...
Process Renovations
We specialize in identifying recommendations and opportunities to cut costs and increase revenues in a short time period without disrupting the business.
Position Descriptions
and Competency Modeling
Once needs are clarified, Position Descriptions and Competency Skills focus the expectations of employee success.
We Develop...
Assessment Design
Accurately reveal what the staff knows and what they should know through:
- Competency Surveys and Analysis
- Development Feedback Initiatives
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Develop Programs
Create a development plan that will deliver the right knowledge to the right people.
Team members have a clear skill set resulting in:
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Design and produce customized training materials.
Implement...
Plan Implementation
The most expensive part of all programs is the lack of maintenance. To ensure continuation and money well spent we create:
- Mentoring
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All of these are intended to assure a self-sustaining organization.
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