Welcome to the Spring edition of In Equilibrium, I am afraid we couldn’t help ourselves when we learnt that our scheduled day for sending this edition out fell on April Fool’s day.  We’ve dropped a little untruth into the content and will be delighted to send out a £15 voucher (from a choice of 3 retailers) to the first two readers who correctly point out our “error”.  Further details will be apparent when you click the correct link!

In this edition, as well as all our regular features, we are delighted to announce our new series of one-day open courses taking place around the country; have a fascinating response from Andy Mason as he tackles the subject of conflict resolution in the second of our new Ask the Expert spots; have news of how you can apply for some financial assistance to help set up a well-being initiative at your workplace; and  have an interesting article from a business psychologist regarding information overload.

In Equilibrium News

New Open Course Dates
We are running two of our one-day courses on an open basis at three locations around the country during the next few months. In the past we have found these courses to be of interest both to decision makers, in order to appraise a course with a view to taking it in-house, as well as to organisations who have insufficient employees to make an in-house course viable but who have perhaps 1 or 2 employees looking to develop new skills.  Read more about the courses here http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/2010-open-courses 

Drama and Active Learning : The Experiential Approach
We are now partnering one of the UK’s leading consultancies who specialize in drama-based experiential learning.  There are many reasons why you may consider an experiential rather than a knowledge-based approach.  For example, your managers may know about your organisation’s employment policies and procedures but don’t implement them effectively, or you may find it an effective way to provide training for lone workers to handle violent and aggressive situations.  Read more here
http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/training-courses/drama-based-training

Bespoke Training
We are often asked if we can run a particular course but with a certain element added or omitted which may pertain to a specific business/industry; or whether we can run a course to fit in with certain time constraints; or even if we can design a unique training course to help reach certain business goals.  Our answer is that none of our courses are set in stone and we are always delighted to work with our customers to help achieve their learning outcomes.  If you would like to have an informal discussion regarding your training needs, please call Alastair Taylor on 0800 622 6932.
 

Stress Tip

Our latest tip is for anyone who suffers from that upsetting and potentially damaging problem of not being able to get to sleep at night.  Read our suggestion here ... http://in-equilibrium.co.uk/resources/hints-and-tips

Ask the Expert

In our new section we plan to feature a question from one of our readers, which we feel may be of interest to others, together with an answer from one of our consultants.

Question
“Conflict resolution depends on all parties involved volunteering to take part. Do you have any advice on what to do when one party will not engage?"

Answer
Our consultant Andy Mason who has extensive experience of conflict issues both at home and abroad has provided an enlightened response.  Read his answer and expert tips here http://in-equilibrium.co.uk/news/articles/ask-the-expert

Andy Mason can deliver Conflict Resolution consultancy and training anywhere in the UK.
View his profile and further details here ...
 http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/about/our-consultants/andy-mason

If you would like to have a question answered in a future edition, please email it to us at training@in-equilibrium.co.uk

Resources

Information Overload
Ian Price is a Chief Executive turned Business Psychologist who helps organisations reduce the impact of information overload.  This is the sensation that hits us when we receive too many emails or when we are constantly being interrupted by digital alerts or news-feeds.  He has contributed this article to show what can be done about it.  Read more here http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/resources/articles/information-overload

Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace
Shift is the Department of Health’s anti-stigma initiative.  They have been working with employers to help them promote mental health in the workplace and to support employees with mental health problems.  They have produced 3 videos as part of their manager training resource which focus on situations in office life where mental health may lead to stigma and discrimination.  View the videos here http://www.shift.org.uk/employers/videos/lifeintheoffice/index.html

Fitnote Employer Guide
A 24 page booklet has been produced by the Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with six other organisations.  It gives further explanation of the new Fit Note system, has a Q&A section, a page on where to go for more information/support and illustrates different scenarios by the use of case studies.  View the booklet here http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/fitnote-employer-guide.pdf

Opportunity

We thought you may be interested to hear about the Well-being Challenge Fund.  There is apparently £4 million available, over 2 years, from Health, Work and Well-being, a Government-led initiative sponsored by 5 Government partners to help improve the health and well-being of working age people.  They are looking to fund innovative projects to improve employees’ health and welfare at work. The first round of bidding is complete but details of the deadline for the second round will be available soon.  So you may like to get your thinking caps on and read more here http://www.workingforhealth.gov.uk/initiatives/ChallengeFund/default.aspx

Amanda's Column

Some landmarks have the ability of illustrating the famous John Lennon quote “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans” than others.  Amanda experienced one, or perhaps two, such landmarks just a couple of weeks ago.  Read her column here ... http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/subscribe/newsletter-back-issues/amandas-column

Stress in the News

Research shows flexible work is good for your health
A recent review suggests that flexible working may be beneficial to employees’ health if they are allowed some input into their own working patterns. 
www.durham.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=9570

Employee engagement matters
“ … if employee engagement and the principles that lie behind it were more widely understood, if good practice was more widely shared, if the potential that resides in the country’s workforce was more fully unleashed, we could see a step change in workplace performance and in employee well-being, for the considerable benefit of the UK.”  So argue The Macleod Review authors who were commissioned by the Department of Business (BIS) to take an in-depth look at employee engagement.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/employment-matters/strategies/employee-engagement

Is your work making you sick?
An interesting article which explains why having a Type A personality may be good for business but may also be damaging your health.  It also explains two terms which are becoming more common in our vocabulary “bruxism” and “hostility-related heart attacks”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7481246/Is-your-work-making-you-sick.html

Scientists have found that shape matters
A recent study has concluded that the shape of a chocolate is the most important element when it comes to the feel good factor people experience from eating chocolate.  To find out the most beneficial shape for you, read more here … http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/resources/in-equilibrium-our-free-e-newsletter/shape-matters

… and finally …

True Grit: What is it, and how can you get it?
A humorous resilience article which includes, amongst others, the story of how a  throw away comment by Gerald Ratner to lift the mood at a meeting led to the demise of his jewellery empire but now offers his tips, many years on, for becoming more resilient.
http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/channel/Leadership/news/978754/true-grit-it-it/

Quotations

"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.”
Thomas Carlyle Scottish author, essayist & historian (1795 – 1881)

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
SiddhÄrtha Gautama (Buddha) Spiritual Teacher and founder of Buddhism

Direct to your Inbox
If this newsletter has been passed on to you and you would like to receive it directly in future, or if you know of someone who might be interested in receiving the next edition, please go to our website or click here to complete the form.
http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/subscribe

Missed a Newsletter?
If you missed any of our past few editions, you can catch up on them here: In Equilibrium newsletter back issues http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/subscribe/newsletter-back-issues

You may also be interested in the following courses we have available:

Prevent Bullying: Training for Managers
http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/assets/files/Bullying-FfM.pdf

Developing Personal Resilience
http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/assets/files/Developing-Personal-Resilience.pdf

Personal Approaches to Handling Pressure
http://www.in-equilibrium.co.uk/assets/files/Practical-Approaches-to-Handling-Pressure.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter, your comments and suggestions are always welcome.