A Handful of Tips 74 – Creativity   The five best tips to stimulate creativity Creative people often see familiar things as old-fashioned and out-of-date and want to create something new and worth-while. 1. Provide working conditions where creativity can flourish Encourage workers to think about the future. Use brain-storming, mind-mapping and other innovative techniques…

A Handful of Tips 73 – Feedback The five best tips to stimulate feedback All organisations should aim for continuous improvement in their services. Feedback is essential to find out what people are thinking about your organisation. It can also serve as an early warning sign of problems and grievances. 1. Use social and informal…

A Handful of Tips 72 –                             Competitive Advantage The five best tips on ways to create a competitive advantage Aim to exceed your rivals in all facets of activity. It’s the ability to deliver a consistently high quality product or service every time that brings clients back. 1. Establish explicit goals that are agreed…

A Handful of Tips 71 – Audience Analysis Five of the best tips when you plan to communicate with a mass audience  Before you start to prepare a presentation, a report, an article or any other form of mass communication, find out as much as possible about the audience you are aiming to reach. The…

A Handful of Tips 69 – Delegation Five of the best delegation tips The ability to delegate is the mark of a good manager and indicates trust and faith in workers. Good delegators are always in demand and get the top jobs.   1. Tell people what you want done, by when, and leave them…

A Handful of Tips 70 – How to Delegate Five of the best tips on ways to delegate work If you delegate some of your time-consuming activities you will have more time for priority work such as talking to staff and to clients. 1. List your activities and tasks and mark the ones you don’t…

A Handful of Tips 68 –                                      Returning to Work The five best tips if you are returning to work after a lengthy absence.   Confidence and self-esteem can be as important as retraining so make a self- revival plan. 1. Improve your image Smarten up your appearance. Make sure you are well groomed. Get…

A Handful of Tips 67 –                         Mentoring and Coaching The five best tips when mentoring staff Mentoring is a form of training using an experienced and trusted adviser to help others organise their work and careers more efficiently and effectively. 1. Mentors must be compatible with the person or persons they are mentoring or…

A Handful of Tips 65 –                              Television Interviews The five best tips before you are interviewed on television   The essence of television is visual entertainment. If you are seeking publicity ensure your message is news, not propaganda or free advertising. 1. Do your homework before an interview How much time will you have?…

A Handful of Tips 66 –                              Television Interviews Five of the best tips during an interview   When you are being interviewed the way you dress, the way you sit, the way you respond to questions are all important. 1. Sit up straight in your chair  – don’t slump If you are interviewed in…