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3 Tricks for Improving Your Body Language in the Office

Posted by Anonymous

Up to 93 percent of our communication is non-verbal. This means that our body language, facial expressions and other non-verbal behaviour is even more important than our verbal content. Yet most people don't even think about what their body language is saying to others.

As a result, many business people don't ever realize how much their body language is holding them back at work. I recently did body language coaching with a woman who was having a lot of trouble advancing in her career. She had all the right things going for her — great education, awesome performance reviews, successful sales, you name it — but still was not getting the promotions and upward mobility opportunities she deserved.

Within the first five seconds of meeting her, I knew what was holding her back: her body language. Her non-verbal behaviour was timid, weak and disorganized, which was completely opposite of her quiet confidence and intelligence. I taught her a few of the tips below and as she adapted them, she started to get invited to sit in more high-level meetings. Then she got to represent her company at a big conference. Finally, she got an offer to head up a department in their new offices — a major promotion.

Here are a few tips you can use right now to start to improve your body language in the workplace:

Assertive Body Language

Sometimes people need to show confidence and assertiveness in their opinions and points. There are a few body language techniques that are universal signs of strength:

Take Up More Space: Those who are timid tend to keep their arms close by their side and tuck their feet under their chair, taking up as little space as possible. If you want to show confidence, you have to claim space by firmly planting your feet shoulder width apart, or if you are sitting, leaning back in your chair and using the armrests during meetings.
Steep-ling: Steep-ling is when you press the tips of your fingers together with palms facing each other in front of your torso. This move (which looks like a steeple) is the universal sign of confidence. You can do this at a business meeting on the table or even when speaking and trying to emphasize a point.

Rapport-Building Body Language

Building rapport is important for both men and women. It's great for interviewing, networking and getting along with office colleagues. There are a few specific things you can do with your body language to help make connections.

Point Your Feet: Our brains actually subconsciously pay attention to a person's feet. You will notice our feet tend to point in the direction we want to go. For example, at a networking event, someone who is itching to leave might be talking to someone but have their feet pointed towards the door. So, if you want to show you are actively engaged, point your feet and angle your body towards the person you are speaking with.
Mirroring: When we really get along with someone, we subtly mirror their body posture and movements. You can use this to your advantage when trying to bond with someone. Subtly (very subtly), mimic their body posture or try to speak at the same voice cadence as they do. Our brains register this as "friend," not "foe."

Calming Body Language

Negotiating, interviewing and tense situations in business are never easy. People need non-verbal ways to calm themselves down if they are nervous. They also need to make sure they're non-threatening to others who might be nervous in their presence. If you are a manager or leader in your organization, these tips are great for calming a hostile employee:

Uncrossed Arms: When we cross our arms, we are protecting our vital organs. This is a naturally defensive position. If you want to stay calm and open-minded, be sure to leave your arms loose at your side. If someone else is crossing their arms, give them papers, coffee or even a pencil to hold. As soon as they get out of that position they will feel less close-minded.
Supra sternal Notch: The supra sternal notch, the space in between your collar bones, is actually touched when people are nervous as a way of self-soothing. Lightly massaging this area or the back of your neck can help lower your heart rate and make you feel more calm.

Body language is a fascinating science that can only be applied artfully. The best tip I can give is to be genuine. People do pick up on inauthenticity.

1:36 PM | 0 Comments

Suriviving the Office Politics

Posted by Anonymous

An organization, which has more than one person working in it, is bound to have office politics. The frowns, the dislikes and the scowls become inevitable. It might not be possible to stay out of it but it is often wise to stay as far as possible from the whirlpool of office politics because it can effectively harm your career!

The Inevitable Office Politics

Office Politics often becomes inevitable due to the following reasons.

Due to the hierarchy of an organization or a company, some people naturally enjoy more power than the others. Many times, deterrent power can disrupt the office environment.
Getting ahead and making progress in career is almost everyone's prior goal. This creates competition between people or groups and a ground for politics.
Decisions at office are affected by both work-oriented objectives and personal reasons, so there is additional capacity for clashes.
Like any other social group, personal likes and dislikes assist to make groups. A sense of competition or 'Politics' can develop, especially if the goals for various parties are mutual.

Understand The People

If you are new to the workplace, be alert but be quite! See how things work over here. Gather the following important information about your colleagues.

See what motivates them.
What do they aim to become?
What they actually think about the organization?

These things are never said directly. Instead, you would need to be real smart to deduce the results from general conversations you have with them. Be tactful and a very good listener. If you manage to listen to what the people want to say, you will get their confidence. As a newbie, don't give your opinions especially if you disagree with someone, keep quiet as you would not want to earn people's diffidence.

Gossip…a No No!

Say NO to gossip. It is true that newsletters get only a puny part of the story and the real tale is around the water coolers and during the lunch breaks! But it would be healthy to stay away from the tattlers. Obviously, you would not want to become main part of gossips someday! Don't contribute to the stories that are already in the air. You don't need to tell the world that you disagree with your colleague on certain matters.

Never Whine

Even if you feel that you have been the victim of prejudice, do not whine about it. If you were previously entrusted with a project and suddenly it was passed over to someone else, instead of complaining about it unnecessarily and for no good, find out the reasons for this decision. Analyse your past record; have you been slack or have you started behaving incompetent or is it the irresponsible attitude that you have adapted lately? Solve the problems that you have been facing. It is enviable being called a 'problem solver' rather than being a problem yourself!

Focus on Your Deeds

Office politics often targets the weakest of the people. Improve your following areas to become a strong and inviolable part of the game.

Personal Conduct:

Be formal and reasonable at the workplace. Never coquet with those under you. Don't show an over-friendly attitude or display favouritism in any sort of matter.

Work Ethics:

If your work ethics are estimable, nobody is going to break you! Don't be the one who shows up late and leaves the office early each day. Instead, strive to meet the level of expectations! Once in a while, go the extra mile to impress the people around you.

Be Reasonable

Whenever there is a dispute at the office, step forward and try to resolve the issue. Instead of fueling the fire, be a fire extinguisher. Never take sides. Be neutral and let the higher authorities make the formal decision. Do not show your opinion as it might earn you some enemies!

If you are being chafed by someone, it is advisable to stay calm. Never shout or holler. If you do so, not only you will lose your good reputation but you would become susceptible to future botheration. If you always act sanely, it is very unlikely that you become the subject of politics!

Never Say These Words

Avoid saying the following words.

That's Not My Job

Delete this phrase from your office dictionary. Form your reputation as a team player and a logical problem solver. Once approached to look into a problem, it becomes your 'job' to do so.

I Didn't Have Time to Finish That

You are being paid to do your work, never take it for granted. What makes a boss see red is the unreliability of an employee. Take your work seriously.

Do it, or Else…

Nobody likes being threatened. Such risky statements can effectively abridge your friends' list and you can get the reputation of being an arduous coworker. These statements could make you an undesirable colleague and hence you become prone to the ugly office politics!

What to Say and When to Say

You can't possibly stay silent all the time. It is important to learn when to stay quiet and when to say it all! Everyone can identify the 'Gossip Girl' in an office. Never discuss issues of vital importance with him. Instead look for a confidant in the workplace, share your insecurities, problems and issues with him.

Respect Counts, Especially Downwards

Generally people are courteous to those above them but they can easily forget the nice manners when dealing with their subordinates. Don't show discriminatory dealing or look down upon a co-worker you think 'won't be of use to you'.
Respect others and earn respect in return; this will help you stay far from politics.

Don't Let it Distract You

Whether it is about the new boss or an unsuccessful project, office politics can be really distracting. It can take your mind off from work. Don't let that happen. It can require real concentration and effort, but focus on your work. Never give others a chance to discover defects in your work. Most people only care about the outcome and not the circumstances!

Manage the Negative Play

As it is said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer".

Your natural ability of mapping spheres of influence will reveal such groups or individuals who merely pursue their own interests and occasionally sabotage others for their benefit. You would definitely want to stay at an arm's length from them but doing the opposite can be a beneficial tactic. However, act smart or it can become real dangerous.

Be very polite and courteous with them. But think twice before you utter a word in front of them as they can artfully distort anything to their advantage. Analyze the goals of these people and what prompts them. In this way, you will learn how to avoid their unsympathetic tactics and manage their negative politicking. Identify the weak areas (possibly weak work ethics) for these people because often insecure people rely on ugly schemes to get ahead.

In short:

By careful observation, you would see what works in your company's culture and what does not. Observe others at work and recognize winning behaviors that you can adapt. There are also some broad-spectrum principles to observe that will stop harmful politics.
Don't fuel the gossip, doubtful issues, spread hearsay – when you listen to something heretic or outrageously interesting, take a few days to decide whether it is reliable or not.
Never get indulged in interpersonal conflicts – do not get engaged into useless debates.
Maintain your integrity at all times – always stay formal and professional, and try to keep in mind the interests of your company.
Be optimistic and helpful – keep away from whining.
Be confident and self-assured but never be belligerent.
When articulating criticism, base it on an organizational standpoint not a personal one.
Don't depend on secrecy – know that things will be revealed eventually and so choose what you should disclose accordingly.

1:46 PM | 0 Comments

Top 10 best dressed celebrities

Posted by Anonymous

Rachel McAdams Roksanda Ilincic London August 2013

Rachel McAdams wowed in her futuristic floor-sweeping Roksanda Ilincic gown on the About Time red carpet.

Lily Collins was showstopping in a neon green ruched bodycon mesh dress which she offset with red lips and her auburn locks as she promoted The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones in New York.

Heidi Klum worked the monochrome trend with aplomb as she strolled around New York in a black and white patterned shift tee and skirt. Top fashy points went to the supermodel for teaming the look with a yolk-yellow tote.

Sharon Stone defied her years in a slim-fitting black tunic dress with side zip detailing at a photocall for new movie Lovelace in New York.

Miley Cyrus Liam Hemsworth Proenza Schouler Celine

Miley Cyrus teamed THAT edgy pixie crop with a fun Proenza Schouler A-line skirted dress at the Paranoia premiere, which was complete with red and black rocker panelling and a contrast print.

Chloe Moretz cemented her edgy, fun young style in this quirky grey and black pinstripe suit, teaming it with a classic white shirt, Mary Janes and a burnt-pink lips.

Ever the style duo, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were on trend in opposing monochrome looks as they launched their BIK BOK range. Note the AW13 trend for pointed, low-rise courts and heavy duty bracelets.

'It Was Nerve Wracking': Amanda Seyfried Admits Fears Over Playing Linda Lovelace

Amanda Seyfried came over all sultry at the Lovelace premiere, opting for a halterneck, metallic dress which gave a cheeky glimpse of sideboob.

Millie Mackintosh showed off her trademark luxe street style this week in an embellished flapper-style dress in rich, autumnal hues, teaming her look with mesh shoe boots.

Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael wowed us with her fun take on the monochrome trend this week, showing off a chic shift with piano key trim.

8:20 AM | 0 Comments

Women are better than men at work

Posted by Anonymous

If you want to get ahead in business, you need to employ more women. This is why.

Women are on the rise in the work place. More than two million working mothers in the UK are now their family's main breadwinner, according to a recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research. This represents an 80% rise in the last 15 years. Women workers have become a vital part of the UK economy.

This is not just a UK phenomenon. Four in 10 American households with children under age 18 now include a mother who is either the sole or primary earner for her family, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census and polling data. This share, the highest on record, has quadrupled since 1960.

Assumptions that women have been harder hit by the recent recession also appear to be wide of the mark. Since 2008 the number of UK women in work has increased by more than a quarter of a million, a 1.2% net rise, while the number of men in work has dropped by 70,000, a 0.4% net fall according to a recent study of official labour market data.

But are women better bosses, employees or colleagues? Is the rise in women in the work place a real step forward for business? Are businesses mad to turn their back on potentially the best resource they have?

Let's take a harder look at the growing body of research that suggests women can work wonders.

1. Live and learn

There are plenty of studies showing women do better at men in the classroom, but recent research by the University of Georgia and Columbia University shines some more light on the subject. It suggests that behaviour and approaches to learning helps girls outdo the boys when it comes to education. In other words, females appear to come across much better when it comes to attentiveness, task persistence, eagerness to learn, learning independence, flexibility and organization - all prized assets for any business.

2. Bright prospects

Intelligence has never been far away from the frontline of the battle of the sexes - and, in the past, IQ tests have consistently shown that men have the edge, but recent research from IQ expert James Flynn suggests women's IQs are growing faster than men and that they are closing the gap.

3. Passing the stress test

Women are apparently better at coping with stress than men, which US scientists believe is down to the protective effect of oestrogen, which appears to 'block' the negative effects of stress on the brain.

In a US study, scientists put male and female rats through tasks that mimicked challenging experiences humans often face, such as those causing frustration and feelings of being under pressure. Unlike some of the male rats, the female rats showed no impairment in their ability to recognise objects they had previously been shown. An inability to remember a familiar object indicates a disturbance in the part of the brain that controls working memory, attention, decision-making and other high-level 'executive' processes.

Other research from the University of Western Ontario looked at how men and women handled the stresses of job interviews. Their findings showed that women, although typically more stressed about interviewing, performed better than their male counterparts in interviews, thanks in large part to the way in which they coped with stress.

4. Hard at work

A recent study, by independent research consultancy the Ponemon Institute, suggests women work harder than men. Among the subjects that took part in trials across the US, females consistently worked for a longer period of time during a ten-minute experiment than their male colleagues.

In fact there is evidence to suggest women already appear to work harder than men across society. In most of the developed world, women spend more time working each day than men do, if you include unpaid work, according to the latest report on gender and employment from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

5. An engaging possibility

Of course, no debate on women in business can fail to mention children and the problems employers, especially within small businesses, can face covering the costs and practicalities of maternity leave. Despite the growth in paternity leave this remains a significant barrier to employment and career progression.

However, it is worth looking at the results of a recent Gallup poll entitled "2013 State of the American Workforce", which found that more than 70% of full time workers (both male and female) are emotionally disconnected at work. In other words they only "go through the motions" to perform their jobs or worse: They do things to weaken an enterprise.

The same poll found that women report more work engagement than men do. It suggests that some flexibility in the work place can actually breed loyalty, commitment, hard work and improved productivity - a point any business should stand up and take notice of.

Yet businesses do not appear to be listening. A survey by legal firm Slater and Gordon suggests that more than a quarter of mothers in the UK feel discriminated against at work. A third of 1,975 women questioned for said they found it impossible to climb the career ladder and 54% said their employer could do more to support working mums. Yet 35% thought they worked harder since having children.

Of course, none of this is perfect science and there could well be unintended side effects of more women in the work place. For example, the same Ponemon Institute study that showed that women work longer and harder than men also showed that men are even less productive when women are around. And a recent study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the National University of Singapore found that couples in which the wife earns more, report less satisfaction with their marriage and higher rates of divorce. Although, thankfully, attitudes appear to be changing with newly weds more accepting.

Whatever individuals choose to believe, the hard facts are that there are more women than ever before in the work place and this trend is only set to continue.

Women's contribution in the work place has been under-rated in the past but it should not, and cannot, be ignored in the future. Businesses should do all they can to be as flexible as possible in terms of working hours and career structure and play to the strengths of both men and women if they want to get the best and most talented people on board and maximise their chance of success.

8:15 AM | 0 Comments

Spectulat Ballon Show

Posted by Anonymous

8:14 AM | 0 Comments

Top 10 low sugar healthy drink alternatives

Posted by Anonymous

Obesity experts fear fizzy drinks may be more to blame for our expanding waistlines than fat or anything else in our diets. Cut the sugar with these healthy alternatives.

Adding fruit to water is common but try this alternative. Herbs are a strong-tasting and calorie-free way to jazz up water. Mix a bouquet together or try roughly tearing mint, basil or rosemary and stirring into water before serving over ice.

Tumeric is a spice touted with health benefits from cancer prevention to reducing bloating. Mix a teaspoon into a glass of almond milk for a brightly-coloured healthy beverage.

Matcha tea is considered the most antioxidant packed of the green teas. It's ground into a fine, bright green powder and can be drunk as a hot tea or over ice, whisked into either water, milk or almond milk. Remember that it does contain caffeine, though, so don't go overboard.

Whizz up chunks of watermelon in a juicer or food processer and freeze in ice cube trays. Then pop out a few melon-cubes to add to water for a refreshing touch to your drink.

One thing we love about fizzy drinks is that tongue-tingling sparkle. Make your own carbonated drink using soda or sparkling water and a squeeze of natural lemon or lime juice.

Make your own cordial by mixing togther fruits such as berries or mango in a pulp. Keep refridgerated and add a small amount to a bottle of water before giving it a good shake. Add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup if it's too bitter.

Teas are packed with health benefits but if you don't fancy a hot drink make a batch of your favourite tea - green, black, fruit or herbal - and keep it refrigerated for homemade ice tea. Drink with a slice of lemon over ice.

Milk as a healthy drink goes in and out of fashion but certainly it's better for you than a can of coke. Full fat milk is packed with nutrients and calcium but if you're drinking more than a glass, opt for skimmed or semi-skimmed, which still delivers calcium without the fat.

Not just for when you're feeling poorly, ginger is a great drink to give a punch of flavour without the need for sugars. Grate a little and add to cold water with a squeeze of lemon and dash of honey to wake you up for elevenses.

8:11 AM | 0 Comments

10 stunning snaps of the most photographed beaches in the UK

Posted by Anonymous

Beaches are the perfect backdrop to holiday snaps but you don't have to be on pristine white sands thousands of miles from home to take a stunning seaside shot.Flickr has looked into the most photographed beaches in the UK and found some rather surprising top spots. Here are 10 of the most beautiful pictures by users.

1. Brighton Beach

This has long been one of Britain's favourite coastal destinations, with the pier attracting around five million visitors each year. Super trendy, with live music, niche boutiques, some retro deck chairs and almost 25,000 geotags, it tops the list of most photographed UK beach on Flickr.

2. Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The most popular tourist attraction in the UK, with an estimated 5.5 million visitors each year, Pleasure Beach ranked in second place for most geotagged beach in the UK

3. Studland Beach, Dorset

This glorious four-mile stretch of golden sand is situated on Britain's south coast. This photo captures the contrast between the stormy skies overhead and the calming evening tide.

best beaches in the UK bournemouth beach

4. Bournemouth Beach

Another stretch of Britain's golden sandy coastline, Bournemouth has often been voted one of the UK's best city beaches. Soft sand, funky bars and only a short walk from the high street, it was fourth most photographed UK beach on Flickr.

5. Durdle Door, Dorset

One of the most photographed landmarks along the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door is a picturesque site of white sand and crystal clear sea. With over-hanging cliffs and clear blue seas this could be the Caribbean.

6 . Rhossili Bay, Gower Coast

Regularly voted the best beach in the UK, and this year, the third most popular beach in Europe, Rhossili Bay is certainly one of the finest places on Earth - and the pictures speak volumes, securing it sixth place on Flickr's most photographed UK beach list.

best beaches in the UK weston super mare

7. Weston Super-Mare

With the return of Weston's pier, which has been rebuilt following a fire that burnt it down in 2008, this beach has everything there is to offer any seaside destination (including a helicopter museum and donkey rides) snagging seventh place.

8. Watergate Bay Cornwall

Two miles north of Newquay, Watergate Bay is Cornwall's trendiest beach. Here, photographer Chris Marshall captures the beach in a moment of calm, at low tide.

9. Southend-On-Sea

Dubbed "London's local", Southend-On-Sea boasts seven miles of glorious beach, a short distance from the capital. A combination of sandy shorelines and pebbled beaches, local commuters fled their offices to swap their laptop for a 99 on the shore.

best beaches in the UK west wittering beach huts

10. West Wittering

Offering expansive stretches of sand and a favourite for those who like to sail, West Wittering scores 10th place on the league table and from the beautiful pics. The bright coloured beach huts captured in this image are a perfect representation of the quirky atmosphere of West Wittering beach.

8:02 AM | 0 Comments

All About Technology That You Need

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3 Tricks for Improving Your Body Language in the Office

Assertive Body Language

Rapport-Building Body Language

Calming Body Language

Suriviving the Office Politics

Top 10 best dressed celebrities

Women are better than men at work

If you want to get ahead in business, you need to employ more women. This is why.

Spectulat Ballon Show

Top 10 low sugar healthy drink alternatives

Obesity experts fear fizzy drinks may be more to blame for our expanding waistlines than fat or anything else in our diets. Cut the sugar with these healthy alternatives.

10 stunning snaps of the most photographed beaches in the UK

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