Is the Olympic Games playing havoc with work?

Events like the Olympics really capture the imagination and have a nation on the edge of their seats as their athletes compete for those precious gold, silver and bronze medals.

Although, there aren't many sports I watch, the Olympics is one of those events that gets me hooked - especially those events where we can expect medals and all the events you don't know much about and don't normally get a chance to see.

So how do you keep yourself and your employees focused on work, while still managing to get involved with some of the triumphs and inevitable disappointments of the games?

Stay focused - plan out your activities for the day before you get sucked in to endless viewing and watching updates to see how your team is doing.

Use regular breaks to catch up on events - it might inspire you to be even more focused and productive when you get back to work, so you can get to the next break having completed at least one task on your list.

Set time limits - if you're going to catch up on the Olympics for a 'few minutes' - make sure it is just a few minutes and not hours on end.

Be selective.  You could spend every day watching back-to-back Olympic events but then you really wouldn't get any work done.  Decide on what you absolutely can't miss and schedule it in.

Work flexibly - if you're able to work flexibly, you can still get the same number of productive hours of work done but spread through the day.

Catch up on the highlights - if you're not able to keep up-to-date during the day - updates happen at regular intervals throughout the day, an end of day summary and as a major part of the news.

Social media has come in to it's own - again you could get sucked in to an endless stream of tweets and updates.  Watch your Team's Twitter feed - @TeamGB in my case or #London2012 to keep up to date with the action.

Enjoy the games but make sure you still get work done.  Don't allow priorities to slip, deadlines to be missed and make sure business doesn't suffer!

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Networking Tips #31 Be Selective

People will tell you that you need to be out networking in order to gain more business.  If you've been reading the Networking Tips blog posts - you'll have picked up a few tips on how to get the most from your networking.

One temptation is to attend every networking event going - taking a scattergun approach to getting your message out there.  You'll no doubt have come across people who seem to attend every networking event in their area.  Either they have too much time on their hands, or they aren't using networking effectively.

It's all very well attending every networking event if you've got time to handle all the follow-ups and it's your target group of potential clients or it relates to an industry that you work in.

Many of the networking groups are either free or low cost - so guess who they attract, small businesses, sole traders and people who are short on budget and looking for low-cost ways of marketing.  It's a great way to get started but as you'll quickly realise most people are selling and few are looking to give you business.

Some people even go along just for the social chit-chat.  That's great if you can afford the time to do this.  The evening networking events tend to be more popular for this.  It's a good way of ending a day and a great way to meet other like-minded business people, especially if you work on your own or work from home.

I've also heard from many people who are attracted by the large numbers that attend some of the networking events but then become frustrated that they never actually get to meet many people or they all seem very cliquey and it's difficult to break in.

Think about the ROI on your investment in networking.  Do you track and measure your networking or know what returns you're getting from all your networking time?  Which one's work better for you?

While the results of networking can be long-term, so less easy to measure, it's useful to know how many people you meet, how many you contact and how many take up any offers or subscribe to your list?

If you get one small piece of business from attending the same networking group year after year - would your time have been better spent focusing on another networking group that is more suited to your business?

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Networking Tip: #29 Speed Networking (Blog post)
• Networking Tip: #28 It's Not Who You Are ... (Blog post)
• Networking Tip #26 Time To Network (Blog post)

When teamwork works!

Watching the final stage of the Tour de France this weekend and it's amazing to see how much of a team event it really is - at least to those of us who just casual viewers and not avid fans.

There's very little going for the glory and individual wins but it's very much about working as a team to get your man safely through the stages, to win it for the team and it's not all about winning - at least not every stage.

This year it was Bradley Wiggins and a great first ever win for a British rider but he couldn't have done it without the team working hard around him - both on and off the road.

The whole Sky team were there to support him in getting through and he in turn supported and helped other riders in his team - even leading out Mark Cavendish in the final few hundred metres to enable him to win the sprint finish on the final stage.

Rival teams work as part of a bigger team effort in the peloton to chase down break-away groups, take the lead, set the pace and get riders in the right position.

Collaboration and co-operation helps everyone to win.

The peloton of the Tour de France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How to get to the top of your game

The Olympic games are due to start in under two weeks. Years of hard work, determination, planning and preparation will culminate in athletes at the peak of their performance competing for those gold medals.

It takes years of focus, dedication and commitment to get them to this point. Their reward is standing on the podium, as well as the financial benefits.

Although I only have a passing interest in sport as such and only tend to watch the big events, I can appreciate the dedication and commitment they make to get them to the top of their game and it's impressive to see.

Not only do these people have great talent and a passion for their sport, that has been nurtured from an early age but they also have the support, motivation and accountability of the team around them, including their coaches, to enable them to achieve their full potential and they've put in the hours to get them where they want to be ...

Read the full article: 'How to get to the top of your game' in this month's newsletter - here.

Each month's newsletter gives you tips, information and resources to help grow your business and improve your work life balance - direct to your inbox.

You can get the latest issue and a Free Report - "7 Essential Time Tips" by entering your details in the box on the right.

  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Give yourself an MOT

It might be something to do with having passed a significant birthday but I seem to be indulging in a bit of a health MOT - which can only be a good thing.

We MOT and service our cars regularly and they're only lumps of metal and plastic - so why not MOT yourself.

While my health isn't perfect, it's not drastic either.  I eat reasonably healthily most of the time - although, not fanatical and I'm partial to cake and chocolate!  I exercise fairly regularly and I'm reasonably active in general.

Sitting at a computer for hours on end (as many of us do) does result in a certain tightness to shoulders, back, and neck, as well as potentially more serious problems, if your screen and keyboard aren't at the right angle and your seat doesn't allow for adjustment.

Make sure you have regular check-ups to keep on top of your health.  Your health is the most important asset you have and unfortunately years of abuse, poor diet and lack of exercise lead to longer term problems.  While living for today is a commendable maxim - you owe it to yourself to be fit and healthy.  We all know that poor health in later life costs - and it might not be as late you think.  Health problems can start to creep in during your 40's.

"Prevention is better than cure."

• When did you last get your eyes checked?
• When did you last visit the dentist or hygenist?
• Do you know your BMI and your resting heart rate? 
• Do you need to get your blood pressure, cholesterol checked?
• Have you thought about your general diet - what impact does it have?
• Are you aware of what you eat - how much sugar, salt, fat is in the food you eat?

What could you do, starting this week, to improve your health?  Do it now before it's too late.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

15 Minutes of exercise for better health
Working long hours increases risk of heart attack

Babies in the office

Sounds like a great idea for Mums worrying about childcare - taking your baby or toddler to work with you but is it?

Well, knowing the impact that young children have on Mums who work from home and are juggling their business around looking after small children - the idea of bring babies and toddlers into an office environment sounds like a recipe for disaster and disruption.

Young children crawling around your feet, getting sticky fingers everywhere, investigating places they shouldn't, being dragged away from shiny objects, buttons, switches and hazardous office equipment, emptying out the waste-paper bin, dropping crumbs and probably worse on the keyboard, demanding constant attention, having a tantrum while you're on the phone, trying to keep half an eye on them while attempting to do your work, needing to be fed, changed and entertained at frequent intervals.  To say nothing of the disruption, distraction and annoyance to your fellow workers - even if they are a very cute distraction to be cooed over.

Still think it sounds like a good idea?

It's bad enough trying to have a conversation with a Mum with young children around, when you're not in the office environment.  They're constantly interrupted by demanding youngsters or they're not really listening as they have half an eye on what their child is up to and will dash off to see to their needs while ignoring everything else.

Unless you happen to have a creche facilities at your office where you know they'll be looked after and entertained while you work but give you the opportunity to see them during breaks and your lunch hour - now that might work.

Do you think this would work in your office environment?  Would you want to take your young baby or toddler to work with you?

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles:

Babies in the office BBC Two
Bringing in baby (guardian.co.uk)

Book Review: Eat That Frog

Another great little book.

It really is little - with just over 120 pages but it's got bite-sized tips to tackling your time management challenges, particularly when it comes to procrastination.

It provides all the principles you need to be able to get those important things done.  Great as a reminder to get you back on track or to pick up a few new tips.

Get your copy today - Eat That Frog

Read my other Book Reviews.