I hope you are keeping well as we leap through February :o)
I’ve missed blogging so much and I’m delighted to be writing one at last, after far too long a gap!
After much deliberation I’ve chosen to share my experiences and tips for recognising, sourcing and creating a pool of resources for you to access, when needed.
We all have our own set of resources that we can tap into, that are readily accessible `in our back pocket’ (depending to a certain extent on what you’re doing that day!).
These resource(s), can provide us with a dose of focus, calm and happiness, to keep us on track, and are generally, within our influence and control! (read more about this http://kcsunshine.co.uk/time-think/).
Our resources are also a fantastic tool to help us….. 
Taking time to stop and consider what Your Resources are, is key, to appreciate the value they can bring, to help them stay `front of mind’, and to give a boost, when needed. We can keep adding to our pool of resources, as we continue to develop our self-awareness, and an appreciation of how we best manage our ourselves, and others.
For example, on my Influencing course, I invite participants during the introductions to share something from their bag/wallet that makes them feel happy. This, as you can imagine, creates interest and smiles as people start to share their items. These have included photos, a driving license, a certificate of achievement, a phone and a note from a loved one. As people share their item and their story, I often notice physiological changes as facial expressions show smiles and laughter, as a spark of happiness is created. I explain to my group that this item (our `resource’), can create an instant positive feeling in us, one of happiness. Feeling happy can then impact on how confident we feel to be able to do something, which in this context, I link to the confidence to influence others.
Another client shared how the power of music gave him the boost to stay focused and positive with customers throughout the day. He recognised that for him, introducing a proper break at lunch for some `me time’ was creating such a difference to his wellbeing, and his interaction with colleagues and customers throughout the day. His `mad music’ (his words!) has become his resource that’s making such a difference.
So, in essence, we each have our own pool of resources that we may tap into, to help us with our focus, happiness, motivation and well-being. It’s important to remind ourselves at this point that we are all different, so we will have different resources that work for us. Our resources also provide an opportunity for one of more of our senses to be used; whether it be touch, taste, sound, sight or smell.
During the courses I deliver, I have learned to appreciate that at break-times not everyone wants to stop and talk, for some, a quiet corner, is their `resource’; an opportunity to pause, think, reflect, without all of the noise! For others, talking to others and exchanging ideas and experiences is their preferred resource at that time.
A fun favourite of mine, which gets me in the mood to `step into my working from home day’, is this track, https://youtu.be/5dhSdnDb3tk
Whether you are working for an organisation, leading a team, or running your own business, taking time to stop and consider your own `pool of resources’ is invaluable.
So, over a break, with a cuppa (and a cake if it helps!), take some time to consider your pool of resources, and jot down your answers to the following…
- What resources are at your disposal, to give you a boost, to help you focus, or to create a surge of energy when you need it?
- What senses, do you notice, you utilise the most? Are you drawn in particular to touch, taste, sound, sight or smell?
- Are there any resources missing, that you’d like to add to your resource pool?
- How can you create more opportunities for this, for yourself?
- What’s your motivation for doing this? What would it give you, and others?
Please do share your thoughts and ideas on what resources you use to give you the `boost’ you need,
Look forward to being in touch again soon :o)
Karen
Karen Chamberlain
Director, KC Learning & Development Limited
07764 942531
uk.linkedin.com/in/karenachamberlain
www.facebook.com/KCLearningandDevelopment
Developing skills, behaviours and confidence to improve capability, and to deliver even better customer service and results