Learning Alliances Company

Training Tidbits

Topic Tidbits

"Tid-bit = n: also tit-bit(variant) - A choice morsel, as of gossip or food, a small tasty bit of food (syn: choice morsel, titbit)" - The American Heritage Dictionary, 4^th Edition

This section of our web page will provide just that - a choice morsel of food for thought (and maybe a bit of gossip pertaining to training trends). This feature will be updated quarterly to reflect current topics, as well as, to supplement some of the resources provided in LAC keynote speeches or conference concurrent sessions. This is not meant to be all inclusive coverage of a topic but just a "tidbit" for you to consider and chew on. If the topic interests you, feel free to contact us for more information.

Stretched Resources Call For Resourceful Strategies

By all accounts, 2008 looks to be a challenging year for organizations, professionals and the common man and woman! The economy has all of us looking into our wallets and asking where it all went. Employers continue to respond to tight economic times by introducing new products and services, holding the line on employment by not replacing those who leave and asking employees to do more. The workplace is stressed and stretched, as are many families and homes.

During these stretched and tight times, we find ourselves wondering how to survive with change in our pocket and a healthy attitude. During times of stretched resources, we each are required to become more resourceful and creative in our survival strategies. Just when we are most stressed, we are asked to be most open and creative. Here are a few tidbits on how to stay flexible, resourceful and creative during these tight times:

Begin by sorting wants and needs. This can help to prioritize both expenditures and time.

Ask questions at work to clarify goals, roles and rules. This too will help you to prioritize projects and tasks. Watch assuming!

Consider creating a "not-to-do" list that helps you to focus both on and off the job. Staying focused on key goals or projects.

As a leader, begin to ask questions about what staff knows about customer needs (not wants!) and what is getting in the way of responding to the needs.

As a leader, ask staff about how the process is taking time and where efforts are getting bogged down. Be careful! You may need to leave your ego behind to hear the answers.

Identify what you really want professionally and personally within the next year.

Reward yourself and others with low cost and no cost ways to recognize efforts. Consider sharing humor with others (appropriately so, please!), introducing others to contacts that can help them in work and life, spend time with someone and just listen….and countless other ways to recognize others.

Create a "wish list" for expenditures (home and work) and time. Make the list bold, colorful and visible so that you will come back to it in "better" times.

Be present in the "now"! Despite the times, there are some very interesting things going on. Stop thinking about yesterday or tomorrow or when it will get better and focus on now!

As a leader, use people's skills and experiences when expanding their roles. This helps them to feel confident and valued even when getting more work.

Practice "counter balance". Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. If home is tense, hook up with a co-worker and laugh at work. If work is tense, take a walk with a family member who can make you forget about work.

Take a small risk or experiment with the new - like a new radio station, try a new hobby or take a new route to work. New and small risks help us to adapt when the big risk or change comes our way!

Finally, take time to assess who you are and why you are here. We are more than our work or job. We are more than our possessions and roles. It is time to identify how we are "more" - knowing this costs very little but can keep us healthy when things are tense.


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