MindToolsVideos

To learn more about Professional Networking, see our article at https://www.mindtools.com/professional-networking Do you shudder at the thought of networking? If the answer is yes, chances are that you’re simply out of practice. A strong professional network has the power to boost your personal brand and improve your ways of working. In this video, we’ll show you how to plan and build an effective professional network that benefits everyone involved. Join the Mind Tools Club today to access the full video.

How can people with conflicting priorities, or different levels of power, work together effectively? In this video, you'll see how Eldred's Power Strategies can help you to redress any damaging power imbalances and secure outcomes that are beneficial to all. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

Stories are powerful things. They fire our imaginations and stir our emotions. They can move us to action, but just as easily reduce us to tears. In the business world, stories help you communicate more effectively, build rapport with customers, and gain buy-in for your ideas. With this simple structure, you'll be able to create stories that engage and inspire your audience. Chapter 1: The Hook All good stories begin with a hook: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." With this famous opener, Jane Austen sets the scene for "Pride and Prejudice." It tells the reader what to expect from the book whilst hinting at Austen's subversive intent. In business storytelling, the first question you need to ask yourself is, "What do you want your story to achieve?" Are you trying to sell an idea to a prospective client, or do you want your team members to buy into a new initiative? Consider the wants and needs of your audience, and how you can tailor your delivery to appeal to them. Chapter 2: The Opportunity You've convinced your audience to listen to what you have to say. But they'll quickly lose interest if you don't give them a reason to stick around. Using clear, unequivocal language, explain what they stand to gain by investing in your story, or what they stand to lose by ignoring it. Commercially speaking, this could translate into anything from improved sales to more efficient working practices, but it's crucial that your audience understands what's at stake. Use facts and figures to help get your message across, and explain in concrete terms what's going to happen next. Chapter 3: The Close The final chapter of your story is where you tie up loose ends. Just as Elizabeth Bennet marries Mr Darcy at the close of "Pride and Prejudice," your story needs to conclude in a way that doesn't leave any questions unanswered. Wrap things up by reinforcing the points you raised in the previous chapter. This will make your story memorable, reminding your audience why they were interested in the first place. If you've told your story well, they'll want to return to it again and again.

For many leaders, leading ethically isn't always easy. When budget or time is restricted, it can be tempting to "fudge the numbers" or tell the odd white lie in order to get the job done. But unethical leadership is a slippery slope, and can quickly land you in hot water with your team and your boss. In this video, we look at how defining your values and preparing for crises can help you to lead an ethically minded team to be proud of.

If you want to learn more about how to motivate yourself, read the article at https://mindtools.com/motivate-yourself Motivation comes in two different forms: extrinsic and intrinsic. Being paid a salary is extrinsically motivating. Meanwhile, enjoying your job is intrinsically motivating. No matter how much we love our jobs, it's likely there are some tasks that we don't enjoy. Use these five intrinsic and extrinsic motivational strategies to tackle undesirable tasks. 1. Change your perspective. Admin or filing may not be motivating in itself. But, what if you saw it as an opportunity to prove your organization skills to your boss? 2. Ask yourself “why?” If you start to question your work’s purpose, think about why you do what you do. Listing the positive outcomes of your job can help to invigorate you. 3. Develop accountability. Inform your colleagues or boss that you will complete your task by a certain day or time, and use their expectations to motivate you to get the job done. 4. Master time management. Create a schedule to manage your workload efficiently, and don’t procrastinate – it will only prolong the process! 5. Set goals and rewards. Make mundane tasks more fulfilling by setting yourself goals and rewarding yourself at the end. You can also make daunting tasks more manageable by breaking them down into smaller “easy wins.” With these tactics, you'll motivate yourself to get those undesirable tasks done. Then you can get on with the parts of your job that you really enjoy!

When faced with a big decision in a limited amount of time, it’s common for people to freeze or to rush into a bad choice. The TDODAR Decision Model is a simple process that helps you to make the best possible decisions in high-pressure situations. In this video, we’ll outline how you can use TDODAR to solve time-sensitive problems. Join the Mind Tools Club today to access the full video.

Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, interpret and process emotions in yourself and others. While genetics, upbringing and environment all play a role, there are steps you can take to develop your emotional intelligence over time. Get to know yourself. Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware. They have a realistic appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses, and how they come across to others. Peer feedback is one way of improving your self-awareness and may uncover a few emotional blind spots. Learn your triggers. Linked to the notion of self-awareness is knowing how you are likely to respond in particular situations. Think about how you felt last time you were under pressure. Did these feelings help or hinder you? Recognizing emotions, and the source of these emotions, can shift your emotional state. Empathize. Seeing things from someone else's perspective will help you understand their values and beliefs. This is important when it comes to motivating and engaging others. Make a conscious effort to get to know your colleagues. Ask open questions and actively listen to what they have to say rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak. Be on the lookout for body language and other nonverbal signs as these may tell you more than someone is willing to express out loud. Own your emotions. Part of being emotionally intelligent is about taking responsibility for the way you act around others. If someone upsets you, pause and reflect on why their actions led you to feel this way instead of reacting impulsively. Recognize that a conversation is a two-way interaction and it takes two people to make you angry, sad or frustrated. Go with your gut. Finally, listen to your body. If your stomach starts doing backflips every time you speak to a senior manager, or your muscles tense up before you go into a meeting, what does this tell you? Counterintuitive as it might seem, emotions can be a valuable source of information when making rational decisions at work. Remember, emotional intelligence isn't about suppressing emotions. It's about learning how to recognize, process and channel them in a way that benefits you and your team. Enhancing your emotional intelligence requires effort but it can be achieved with sustained practice. To discover how emotionally intelligent you are, take the quiz at Mind Tools.

If you’re a manager, you may find that your busy schedule prevents you from keeping in touch with your team. Watch this video to learn how simply wandering around and chatting face-to-face with your colleagues can help you stay in the loop. To learn more about Management by Wandering Around, join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

It’s important to develop good relationships at work. They improve happiness, trust and engagement. Here are five ways to build strong, positive relationships at work! 1. Schedule time to build relationships. Pop over to a colleague’s desk, offer a coffee, or reply to a social media post. Devote time to building relationships, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. 2. Develop your emotional intelligence. Understanding your own emotional needs can help you to empathize with others. 3. Appreciate others. Everyone wants to feel appreciated. Whether it’s the CEO or the janitor, show your appreciation by complimenting a job well done. 4. Manage your boundaries. Building friendships is important. But if a relationship becomes distracting, it’s important to take action. Set clear boundaries around when and where it’s acceptable to socialize. 5. Avoid gossiping. If you are experiencing conflict with a colleague, gossiping will only exacerbate the problem. Instead, talk directly to the person involved and find a way to work together amicably. Good relationships can improve all aspects of your working life and open doors to career progression.

To learn more about the McKinsey 7-S Framework, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/7s How effective is your organization or team? If you're struggling to run a tight ship, chances are there is an inconsistency that you've not spotted yet. Watch this video to learn how McKinsey's 7-S Framework can help you to identify the seven key elements of any organization or team and spot areas for improvement. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

If you want to learn more about breaking bad habits, read the article at https://mindtools.com/breaking-bad-habits Bad habits can hold you back from achieving your true potential. Breaking a bad habit can seem daunting. But with time, patience and the right tools – you can break free. 1. Identify the causes. What short-term gain does your habit give you? Who did you learn it from? Understanding why a habit formed will help you to tackle it in the best way for you. 2. Increase your self-awareness. How do you tend to respond to challenges? Do you like to follow or fight rules? The more you know about yourself, the better you can prepare for breaking your habit. 3. Choose your approach. Do you prefer to “jump in the deep end” and quit the habit all at once. Or are you motivated by the thought of starting something new in its place? 4. Make a plan. Set yourself achievable goals with realistic milestones. This is the moment you start your journey and begin to take action! 5. Monitor your actions and emotions. Keeping a journal of your progress can be highly motivating and instructive. It may shine a light on the behaviors or situations that trigger your habit. 6. Use obstacles and replacements. For some people, it can be helpful to set up barriers to block the behavior. For example, if you spend too much time on social media, download apps that limit your online time. You can also switch the negative behavior for a positive one. Replace lunchtime gossip with a daily walk; smoking with knitting; criticisms with compliments. 7. Find a role model. Seek out someone who has already succeeded on this journey. Learn from their experience and find inspiration in their results. 8. Reward yourself. Maintain motivation by rewarding yourself. Make sure it's something that you truly want – and that you won't regret later! 9. Involve others. We can't always keep going on our own. Share your goals with people who will understand and encourage you.

To learn more about Asking for a Pay Raise, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/pay-raise It's not always easy to talk about money at work. Emotions may be running high due to personal financial issues, or organizational budget cuts. This can quickly escalate into heated debates that not only hinder your chances of getting a pay raise but could also damage your reputation. Watch this video to learn how objective data and a level head can help you to lead a calm and successful salary negotiation. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

To learn more about Finding Your Allies, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/work-allies We all need someone on our side. Allies provide encouragement, advice and practical help. Use these five tips to build and cultivate alliances at work. 1. Be supportive. Lend a helping hand to a colleague in need. Positivity and encouragement are the foundations of a strong alliance. 2. Nurture your allies. The occasional favor isn’t enough for a long-lasting bond. Engage with your allies regularly to develop trust and loyalty. 3. Communicate effectively. Prevent potential misunderstandings by communicating openly and clearly. 4. Don’t ask too much of them. After all, your ally has their own work to do. 5. Don’t take offense. Remember that you’re still on the same side, even if your ally can’t help you.

To learn more about Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats technique, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/six-thinking-hats

To learn more about Schein's Career Anchors, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/career-anchors They say that "change is the only constant in life." But when working environments are constantly shifting, it can be difficult to maintain a happy and healthy career path. With the help of Schein's Career Anchors, you can identify the parts of your work that you enjoy most, and use these to guide you in uncertain times. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

Working from home might seem ideal, but it can have its downsides, too. The benefits are a flexible schedule, better work-life balance, and saving time and money on your commute. But the challenges include home-life distractions, managing your time effectively, and feeling isolated. Here are three ways to become a successful home worker! 1. Deal with distractions. It’s important to maintain focus. Are you being distracted by the television, household chores, or by your family? Create a dedicated office space, with a good chair, a large desk, and a door you can close to avoid distractions. 2. Stay organized. Devote time and effort to organization. Make a To-Do List and a timesheet, establish a routine, and keep a tidy desk. 3. Keep in touch. Working remotely can leave you feeling isolated. Use instant messaging platforms to check in with your colleagues, stop by the office regularly, and attend social events to stay connected. To learn more about how to work from home, read the article at www.mindtools.com/working-from-home

To learn more about Managing the 4Ps of Delegates, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/4Ps-delegates Chairing a meeting can be difficult at the best of times. But add a disengaged or even disruptive attendee to the mix and it can seem almost impossible. In this video, learn how to identify the 4Ps of delegates, and how to turn passengers, prisoners, and protestors into valuable participants. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

To learn more about the DO IT technique, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/do-it How good are your problem-solving skills? The four simple steps in Robert Olson’s DO IT model help you to solve problems by strengthening your creative thinking. 1. Define the problem. It’s important to truly understand what you’re facing. Then, summarize it as concisely as possible. 2. Open your mind. Now you can start to come up with possible solutions. Involve as many people as you can to get a wide array of ideas. Don't rule anything out at this stage – even bad ideas can lead to better ones down the road. 3. Identify the best solution. Now it's time to choose the best idea. Make sure you’ve examined all the options first. 4. Transform. The final stage is to take action! For many, fear of failure, procrastination or insecurity make this the hardest part. So come up with an action plan to make sure things run smoothly.

To learn more about living authentically, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/authenticity Do you change your personality in order to be accepted by your bosses and peers? Putting on a front might seem like a good idea, but it can quickly damage your reputation and professional relationships. Being authentic is vital to gaining the trust and respect of your colleagues. Watch this video to learn how being your authentic self can pay off in the long run. Join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.