WorkStyle Tip - 8 Great WorkStyle Myths

This January issue of WorkStyle by design is our 55th issue, we have been publishing every second month continuously for 9 years now. As our celebration (8 is Belinda's favourite number) we are thrilled to share with you our research on 8 Great WorkStyle Myths . We start by examining what exactly is a MYTH (we de-mythdify myths!) and define and discuss the 8 Great WorkStyle Myths:

1. Work/Life Balance is a myth itself!
2. My Work/Life Balance has to be the same as everyone else’s
3. It depends on what I do
4. Work/Life Balance is too complicated
5. Working Mothers ≠ WorkStyle
6. WorkStyle doesn’t really matter
7. I’m too old/young; busy/tired
8. I thrive on Adrenaline

You can dowload your copy here.  Enjoy!
 

Spotlight on... Carmen Parnos

Carmen Parnos, single mother of 2 adorable girls, author of 2 business books, speaker, online entrepreneur and personal branding expert. I was recently a contestant on the first season of The Apprentice Australia, an experience that changed me forever.

How would you define your WorkStyle? (work + lifestyle = WorkStyle®)
I have worked in my own business for over a decade, this meant I had flexibility to bring up my girls and earn a living. There are times when you get carried away and over commit yourself and then you are back doing ridiculous hours...it is then I need to remind myself why I wanted to work from home...the girls! My WorkStyle is being very clear about my goals and priorities and then learning to let go of the rest.

How did you discover your WorkStyle?
I knew when I decided to have a family that I didn’t want to be a mum that dropped her kids off to the nearest crèche or baby sitter first thing in the morning and picked them up in the early evening, I was adamant nobody was bringing up my children but me and their father. It took some discipline and structure working from home and juggling a family, I got myself a life coach (Belinda) to make sure that I was on track and living the lifestyle or should I say WorkStyle that I truly wanted to have.

Has it changed over the last few years? Why?
My WorkStyle has changed dramatically over the past 3 years, I started looking into online businesses with the goal that I could have even more time working from home and not about and about in meetings as often. I have never looked back and now have 2 amazing online businesses that generate a fabulous income and I have even more time up sleeve for ME!

What has been your biggest shift?
My biggest shift was when I lost everything late 2008, I had to go bankrupt we lost our home and everything else that we came to rely on, starting again from basics was humbling and in some ways humiliating. Early this year I was a contestant on The Apprentice Australia, a truly confronting experience in a good way, it enabled me to appreciate what I had and embrace in a very holistic way, I didn’t focus on what I didn’t have anymore...from then on my life was easier, less complicated and fuller.

What one WorkStyle practice has had the most impact? Why?
Online businesses were an amazing way to generate an income and remove myself from the corporate rat race, not entirely but enough not to have to depend on one source of income and now have multiple streams of income.

What are or have been the biggest issues for you around WorkStyle?
The biggest issues I faced around my WorkStyle were focussing on things that didn’t generate money and getting determined to make them work! Because I thought they were a good idea, not because it would actually work...some great lessons in that journey.

What tips would you give others to improve their WorkStyle?
Be true to yourself, DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO not what you think you have to do, society doesn’t always get it right. Learn to appreciate what you have in life and don’t get hooked on what you don’t have, life is too short! 

Smile

In November I attended a workshop on using our Strengths presented by Postive Leadership's Jan Elsner & Barbara Heilemann. You may have taken the VIA (Values in Action) Strengths assessment developed by Drs Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson. (If you haven’t or want to update yourself, visit www.viastrengths.com and do so. You will receive a listing of your top 24 strengths.) During the workshop Jan and Barb shared this video clip which shows how our FILTERS influence us.Perfect if you are managing Gen Y or if you are a Gen Y and have to manage older staff (see below).  It is called the Lost Generation.

Update from Belinda

Here in Australia it is summer. One of my favourite times of the year. AND it brings fire danger, drought and sunburn! I've enjoyed a wonderful few weeks with my boyfriend Don, celebrating Christmas with his 3 boys, and also his mother's 80th birthday. I am blessed to be included in this 'ready-made' family.

Don lives on a small farm Brooklyn north of Ballarat, smack bang in the middle of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria - about 3 hours away from merrymentality headquarters at the beach. Towards the end of 2009, I fell in love with the garden at Brooklyn, it was in full spring bloom and the view from my desk (photo right) was simply stunning. In fact, those WorkStyle by design readers that have been with us for the last 6 years will remember when Warwick and I moved to Maleny in Queensland and I believed I had the worlds' best view from my office. Well, I'm thrilled to tell you that I can now say at the view from my desk at Brooklyn is even better !  For weeks I was surrounded by roses - both roses in vases and growing on the mulitude of rose bushes in my direct view.

Coaching (both as a coach and being coached) has given me the freedom to move between my beach house and Don's farm and thanks to Mark's technology set up, I can do this seemlessly. What a sensational gift I have been given. Thank you.

How to Manage Your Staff - a simple solution

Gen Y managers are hungry for knowledge and expertise but how do they manage older staff?  Older managers are struggling to understand how to manage Gen Y. If  you resonate with either of these scenarios, then How To Manage Your Staff is for you.

We know that when we introduce new managers to the concept that good management includes having good coaching skills, they can develop their team. Set new managers up for success early in their career by giving them a coaching attitude and practical coaching skills that becomes a big part of their management style. How To Manage Your Staff teaches very practical coaching concepts and techniques that they can begin using same day with their staff. All in only 60 minutes!

Begin that journey to build the confidence and skills to coach your staff right here with this introductory coach training online absolutely free and available 24/7. Click here to watch a 60 minute video which give you instant skills and how-to tips (at no cost to you).

Why struggle with challenging staff when you could have the confidence to be coaching your team in just 6 weeks, and be trained by Executive Coaches with business backgroundsall via your computer! Check out Module 1 of this on-line coach training for new managers – remember it is absolutely free and available 24/7 .  This program is practical, affordable and convenient. Watch the training on-line, coach your staff then and join the live weekly group tutorial online with your Faculty Coach (which may be Belinda). You’ll be coaching your staff in just 6 weeks.