Don’t let a long task list overwhelm you
Asking for more resources isn’t easy
How should you approach the conversation with your manager if you are asking for more or for something new?
You will need something to write on for this challenge!
How should you approach the conversation with your manager if you are asking for more or for something new?
You will need something to write on for this challenge!
Shared workspaces
Think about the different spaces where you work. How often are you with other people? Whether you are physically with others or virtually with colleagues online, you’re working in a shared workspace.
Think about how your actions and behaviour impact your surroundings and cause distractions for others. How do other people’s actions influence your ability to concentrate? A shared workspace requires us to plan ahead and anticipate the potential for distractions. How can we minimise them for ourselves and others? Wherever and whenever we are working in a shared space, we need to show respect for the people around us and the participants in our virtual meetings.
Think about the different spaces where you work. How often are you with other people? Whether you are physically with others or virtually with colleagues online, you’re working in a shared workspace.
Think about how your actions and behaviour impact your surroundings and cause distractions for others. How do other people’s actions influence your ability to concentrate? A shared workspace requires us to plan ahead and anticipate the potential for distractions. How can we minimise them for ourselves and others? Wherever and whenever we are working in a shared space, we need to show respect for the people around us and the participants in our virtual meetings.
The ins and outs
Money worries can affect how well you do your job and can also negatively impact your relationships with the people who care about you most. The situation is likely to deteriorate if you do nothing about it. To make informed financial decisions, you need to take time to assess your income and expenditure.
If you’re an employee and get paid through a payroll system, you should receive a payslip. Understanding the information on your payslip is important. It shows the money you earn, the allowances you are entitled to, and the taxes you pay. Armed with this information you are in a better position to make financial plans.
Money worries can affect how well you do your job and can also negatively impact your relationships with the people who care about you most. The situation is likely to deteriorate if you do nothing about it. To make informed financial decisions, you need to take time to assess your income and expenditure.
If you’re an employee and get paid through a payroll system, you should receive a payslip. Understanding the information on your payslip is important. It shows the money you earn, the allowances you are entitled to, and the taxes you pay. Armed with this information you are in a better position to make financial plans.
It’s more common than you think
Age discrimination can affect workers of all ages. Everyone is capable of having misleading preconceptions about a person’s ability and willingness to learn.
Personal financial circumstances sometimes result in people working for longer, or in returning to work after a break. The official pension age in the UK is also increasing. That means managers are managing teams with a diverse age range, often managing people older than themselves. Being able to take full advantage of the skills and experience of all team members, regardless of age, is key to ensuring everyone feels included and valued.
Age discrimination can affect workers of all ages. Everyone is capable of having misleading preconceptions about a person’s ability and willingness to learn.
Personal financial circumstances sometimes result in people working for longer, or in returning to work after a break. The official pension age in the UK is also increasing. That means managers are managing teams with a diverse age range, often managing people older than themselves. Being able to take full advantage of the skills and experience of all team members, regardless of age, is key to ensuring everyone feels included and valued.
Want to be a mentor?
Forming views about others
Turning everyday conversations into development opportunities
Creating a cycle of performance and renewal
Many workplaces reward constant effort – long hours, quick responses and visible busyness. But sustainable performance rarely comes from pushing harder all the time. People tend to perform best in two distinct cycles: periods of focused effort followed by periods of renewal.
When people recognise their energy patterns and allow time to reset, productivity and wellbeing are more likely to be sustained. Without this recovery, concentration drops, mistakes increase and motivation declines – potentially leading to burnout or disengagement over time. Creating healthier working rhythms is the responsibility of everyone: individuals, managers and leaders.
Many workplaces reward constant effort – long hours, quick responses and visible busyness. But sustainable performance rarely comes from pushing harder all the time. People tend to perform best in two distinct cycles: periods of focused effort followed by periods of renewal.
When people recognise their energy patterns and allow time to reset, productivity and wellbeing are more likely to be sustained. Without this recovery, concentration drops, mistakes increase and motivation declines – potentially leading to burnout or disengagement over time. Creating healthier working rhythms is the responsibility of everyone: individuals, managers and leaders.
How the way we work affects people, performance - and the planet
Environmental impact isn’t just shaped by policies or targets - it’s also influenced by how work is designed and carried out day to day. Reactive working, low trust and unsustainable workloads often lead to unnecessary meetings, tasks being done twice, extra travel and longer hours spent online. These behaviours don’t just increase energy use, they also waste time, resources and lead to lost productivity - all of which negatively impact the environment, as well as the business. The good news is, making better choices is something everyone in the workplace can contribute to - and benefit from.
Environmental impact isn’t just shaped by policies or targets - it’s also influenced by how work is designed and carried out day to day. Reactive working, low trust and unsustainable workloads often lead to unnecessary meetings, tasks being done twice, extra travel and longer hours spent online. These behaviours don’t just increase energy use, they also waste time, resources and lead to lost productivity - all of which negatively impact the environment, as well as the business. The good news is, making better choices is something everyone in the workplace can contribute to - and benefit from.
Why meaning and connection drive performance
Emotional engagement is what turns routine tasks into meaningful work. When people feel emotionally connected to what they do - and understand why it matters - they’re more likely to stay focused, put in discretionary effort and produce higher-quality work.
By contrast, when work feels disconnected, invisible or purely transactional, motivation often drops - even among capable and experienced people. Emotional engagement isn’t about constant enthusiasm or positivity; it’s about feeling a sense of purpose, impact and personal investment in day-to-day work. And when that’s present, productivity usually follows.
Emotional engagement is what turns routine tasks into meaningful work. When people feel emotionally connected to what they do - and understand why it matters - they’re more likely to stay focused, put in discretionary effort and produce higher-quality work.
By contrast, when work feels disconnected, invisible or purely transactional, motivation often drops - even among capable and experienced people. Emotional engagement isn’t about constant enthusiasm or positivity; it’s about feeling a sense of purpose, impact and personal investment in day-to-day work. And when that’s present, productivity usually follows.
From information to inspiration
Whether you’re introducing a new project, explaining organisational changes, or sharing long-term goals, the way you communicate is just as important as the message you’re conveying. It helps others understand why something matters and how they fit into it. By contrast, vague or inconsistent communication can cause confusion, mistrust or apathy.
Whether you’re introducing a new project, explaining organisational changes, or sharing long-term goals, the way you communicate is just as important as the message you’re conveying. It helps others understand why something matters and how they fit into it. By contrast, vague or inconsistent communication can cause confusion, mistrust or apathy.
