Although communication is critical for all industries, it is particularly vital for the construction industry. Whether you’re working on a small remodeling job or building a skyscraper, people who work in construction must have a clear line of communication with everyone they deal with inside and outside of the company.

When you think about construction, a lack of or poor communication could have a negative impact in multiple ways. For instance, this could take a project completely out of budget, it could result in a finished project that does not meet the client’s specifications, or worse, it could create a dangerous if not life-threatening situation. Of course, these are just three of many examples.

Budget – Before even starting a construction project, a variety of internal and external professionals come together to determine the final cost. Once the client secures the required financing, the project begins. If different groups within a construction company fail to communicate or miscommunicate, they could easily blow the budget.

Scope – Within the construction industry, builders must obtain various permits to work on a specific project. To get the documentation required, they must lay out their plans. If there is an issue with communication where the scope of the project changes from what the permit allows, city or county officials could stop or seriously delay the process.

Risk – As for risk, one small miscommunication could prove disastrous. For instance, say a construction company built a bridge, but during the process, workers miscommunicated the size of rivets and bolts, choosing something significantly smaller than mandated. Inadvertently, that company just put anyone driving over the bridge at risk.

For the construction industry, there is zero tolerance for bad communication. If you have this type of business, online education is essential. With this, you can start new hires off on the right foot while helping your current workers develop better skills.

What it comes down to is that better communication leads to better construction management. For your company to complete any construction project successfully, regardless of size or type, you need a team that communicates well. In response to that, they will better collaborate on every aspect of the project.

Especially now that construction is booming, there is no time for workers to leave a job to attend school. Even night courses are not a viable solution considering that workers in this industry spend long, hard days on the job. Physically and mentally exhausted, the last thing they want to do is go home, clean up, and head to class.

Thanks to a reputable online source, you can still provide your construction team with incredible educational opportunities. Using an online forum, they can finish courses as needed on their day off or while in a relaxing home environment. Either way, they will retain the information without any problem, which they can then apply to current projects as well as project planning.

Since construction is complex and involves multiple players, excellent communication is crucial. Because there are so many factors and people involved, one slip-up could prove costly. Between manufacturers, inspectors, masons, electricians, drywallers, plumbers, architects, construction foreman, and everyone else involved in the construction process, you need to feel confident that your team can communicate with precision.

With the right online development videos, courses, and information, not only will your workers improve their oral and written communication skills but also their listening abilities. After all, each of these plays a vital role in construction. Even if have some workers who excel in one area or the other, you should require everyone to complete the same online education.

As an example, you could have all your managers or workers dealing with hazardous materials complete the same course on reducing risk by using protective gear. That ensures that all applicable parties have the same information and can communicate on the same level. As expected, that will dramatically reduce risk.

In addition to your full- and part-time employees, you should have any hired contractors also take courses online to improve their communication with your team. Fortunately, there are many excellent options available. For risk management, you could select a course that both the contractor and overseeing manager take specific to on-the-job contractor safety.

By using a trusted online source, there are endless possibilities. No matter what area you need to improve on, whether it’s safety, finance, motivation, planning, or even communication itself, this is the best way to keep your projects within budget, on scope, and void of risk.

Even your top management team can take advantage of online education, learning how to better communicate and oversee small to large teams. With the best online development courses, they will gain insight into innovative processes and strategies that realign their focus and communication. Through continued learning, you will have a highly efficient management team.

No matter what area within your construction company you need help with as far as communication, you have a viable source. Easy to access and affordable to take, online education will significantly decrease misunderstandings and improve on the quality of projects.

Because excellent communication skills are so critical for the construction industry, you cannot take a chance by assuming that everyone on your team is listening and talking in an effective manner. Online education will help you avoid confusing and costly scenarios.

Since this is such a fast-paced field, there is no time to repeat instructions and information constantly. By having your crew go through online development courses, they can relay or receive messages correctly the first time. As the owner of a construction company, the last thing you want is for poor communication to undo all your hard work. Online education helps protect your business and clients.

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Why communication in construction is critical

If you sat down with some of the most successful people on the planet, you would learn that they experienced a lot of failures along their journey. Through challenges and disappointments, they gained tremendous insight and knowledge. Instead of giving up, they turned their failures into incredible success stories. You can do the same thing. One of the best options is to take advantage of online education and training.

With easy access to a computer and the internet, combined with the dedication of time and focus, you will be on your way to turning failures into successes. No matter what field you currently work in or want to enter, there are thousands of online videos, courses, and articles to help you with your journey.

To learn from past mistakes and failures, start by adopting the right mindset. Instead of seeing unfortunate situations as a reason for giving up, use them to push you forward. Take all the negativity to challenge yourself. Having a positive mindset will allow you to prove to the world that you will not give up. Instead, you will use your hardships to make you and your career better.

Now that you have newfound determination, you need to set things in motion. Regardless of the work you currently do or want to do, online education and training is an excellent way to succeed. What makes that so exciting is that you can work on courses while on your lunch break or in the comfort and safety of your home. With this flexibility, you work toward your goal at a pace that works best for you and your lifestyle.

Persistence – When it comes to turning failures into successes, persistence is among the most critical aspects. Not only will it help you reach your goal of learning, it will also teach you how to push through challenges along the way, the very things that caused you to fail in the first place.

Time Management – Although you can work at a comfortable pace while learning online, you still need good time management skills. You cannot procrastinate nor try to learn without focusing. For you to fully use online training videos and courses, it is essential to set up a schedule so that you can dedicate your time to working toward success

Communication Skills – While you might not think that you need good communication skills when using online resources, you do. There will be times throughout the process that you come upon something you need help with, which means you need to reach out to the right person. Perhaps not communicating well was one of your failures. Make it a point to have mentors or trusted individuals you can turn to when you feel stuck or even unmotivated.

Motivation – If you want to succeed rather than keep failing, you need to stay motivated. Conduct online research or read biographies of other people just like you, those who had to work through issues to get where they are today. Along with feeling motivated, you will more than likely pick up some important pointers.

No Distractions – As a parent, choose a time of the day when your partner, grandparent, friend, or neighbor can take care of your kids, or wait to study while they sleep. Also, make sure you have a quiet environment, void of music, television, and so on. The more you focus on the course, the easier you will learn.

A great example is a website called The Point that launched in 2016. This site served as a “meeting space” where people could come together to solve a variety of problems. Although the concept was excellent and the endeavor had incredible support, it lost nearly $1 million within the first year.

Most people would see that as a failure, but not Andrew Mason, the person who created the site. Instead of giving up, he switched gears by providing people committed to buying with discounts and deals. The result is the now-successful website called Groupon.

While turning failures into successes, it is also crucial that you work on building your confidence. After all, failures can do a lot to a person’s mind and will. You need to accept that failures are part of life. How they affect you and your career is up to the decisions you make. Like Mason, you must accept what happened, learn from it, and then move on to bigger and better things.

Thanks to online education and training, you can spin a positive outcome regardless of the earlier failure. In addition to bettering yourself and your career, you can take your newfound knowledge and pass it on to others. The bottom line is that failure puts you one step closer to success if you let it.

When you consider that the latest studies show that approximately 5 percent of interviewers reach a decision within the first minute about whether to hire a candidate or not and close to 30 percent decide in just five minutes, it is essential that you come up with ways to stand out from the crowd.

All companies, big and small, want to hire the best talent available. “Talent” does not automatically mean experience, although that is important. The one thing that most companies look for on a resume is the type and quality of training an individual has completed. Why? In addition to a candidate having in-depth knowledge and understanding of a specific type of job, training shows drive and initiative.

When someone walks into an interview with a resume that showcases the completion of various online training courses, it means that individual invested personal time, effort, and money to better him or herself and become more efficient. If you plan to seek employment soon, either complete several training courses before going through interviews or create of list of courses you have signed up to take. Then, list them on your resume.

Respect – Even to the front desk receptionist who greets you, always show respect. Remember, it is common for interviewers to ask other people who came into contact with a candidate about their impression.

Business Attire – Wear the appropriate business attire. Regardless of whether you plan to interview for a janitorial or a director position, men should wear a suit and tie and women a suit jacket and skirt or slacks. The goal is to look professional regardless of the job.

Arrival Time – Make sure you arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled interview. Not only will that give you a few minutes to pull yourself together, but it will also show the potential employer that you respect the company and the interviewer’s time.

Advanced Research – Before going on any job interview, take time to learn as much as you can about the company, what products or services it offers, its philosophy, leadership team, and so on. That way, you walk in educated, making it easier to connect with the interviewer.

The Importance of Online Training on Your Resume

Better Interview – Potential employers will gauge your value by your accomplishments and drive. Adding superior quality education to your resume will help you stand out and open the door to in-depth conversations with the interviewer. That gives you the chance to share what you learned, what you want to learn, your interests, goals, and more. Overall, you end up with a much better interview.

Relevant Skillset – Another benefit of having completed online training courses on your resume is that you get to showcase a relevant set of skills. As mentioned, if you decide to complete courses before interviewing, choose those that align with a specific company, industry, or position. To the interviewer, you will have a unique skill set compared to other candidates.

Integrity and Character – When it comes to personality traits, employers look for two characteristics: integrity and character. They want to hire people who demonstrate drive, maturity, discipline, willingness, and even curiosity. Showcasing your training lets interviewers see that you possess those two critical traits.

How to stand out from the crowd in an interview

Want to give your employees the staff training they need, but worried you don’t have the funds?

Many companies, particularly small business, find traditional training programs too costly for their budget. Booking reputable trainers and speakers, hiring conference rooms or venues, and catering for travel and meals can certainly be expensive.

But rather than neglect your staff’s professional development, it’s important to look for other ways to provide training for your employees. These days, we’re seeing training managers adopting more diverse and creative methods to deliver their learning and development programs. One of the most popular (and cost-effective!) ways to do this is through online learning.

Here, we look at how eLearning can help you provide effective and engaging staff training for your team – on a budget.

It’s easy to see why more organisations, from SMBs to large multinationals, are making the switch to eLearning for staff training needs.

With online learning, you’ll find you can give employees the flexibility, autonomy, customisation and engagement they want and need – at a fraction of the cost of traditional training.

This growing learning trend has seen a huge influx in the training options available online, with a vast selection of online courses, MOOCs, podcasts and webinars developed by experts in different fields.

eLearning – a Cost-Effective Training Solution

So what makes online learning such a cost-effective training solution?

eLearning tools such as online courses and live webinars are incredibly useful and practical, as they recreate the interactive element of traditional classroom learning, without the costs. Team members (even remote workers) can interact and network with each other just as well as in the ‘real world’ – without the need for expensive travel or overheads. What’s more, you can find many online courses being offered completely free!

eLearning goes much further than professional development. You can also create your own online courses for employee onboarding and compliance testing, quickly and easily putting together the exact courses you need for your staff, with fully customised content. Team members can access these eLearning materials as many times as they need, helping to improve the learning experience.

The Many Benefits of eLearning for Staff Training

As well as being cost-effective, eLearning tools and online courses bring a number of additional benefits to your business, including flexibility, consistency, customization and improved knowledge retention. 

The flexibility of online training appeals to many employees, as it allows individuals to work at their own pace and from the comfort of their desired location. It’s an effective training solution for all generations, as eLearning courses can be designed to perfectly fit your target audience, allowing you to tailor online courses specifically to your business and workforce.

Soft Skills Courses Everyone Should Complete

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All of us have to-do lists that we work through each day for personal reasons or work. The tasks on the list can range from the more benign house chores or preparing slides for meetings to potentially trickier ones such as planning for holidays or fulfilling your professional development requirements. We often enlist specialised products or services to help us complete the tasks. They can be either physical or digital, e.g., the Dyson hand-held for cleaning, HelloFresh for meal sourcing and preparation, the productivity applications of Office365, TripAdvisor and Airbnb for reviews and accommodations, Go1 for your professional and compliance training needs.

The best products or services are the ones that help us accomplish the tasks within certain constraints. These constraints can be about cost, effort, time, and so on. For instance, I need to renew my first aid qualification as cost-effectively as possible. I can enlist Google Web search to help with the task or I can hop onto Go1 for that. Both would likely yield the outcome I want but the best choice would depend on whatever constraints that accompany the task. If I want to be able to find cheap, quality providers and at the same time, not have to scour through dozens of websites, then the latter option would deliver much more efficiently.

Problems occur when undesirable situations arise during the use of the products or services which slow down or worse, prevent the completion of the tasks. Since the first things that the people encounter in an undesirable situation are the more tangible signs, we are often stuck with those and attempt to solve for them. These are just the symptoms and addressing them does not guarantee that the problems will not re-occur. The focus should always be on the things that actually led to the problems.

The root causes to many of the problems in our context of product and service usage can be traced back to three broad groups. The first one is the product or service enlisted is not being used for what it was designed for. It could be as simple as  a person filling a non-tempered glass (with clear instructions advising against it) with hot water and finding that it cracks. The problem now is the person is unable to drink (from it) because the glass is not usable anymore. If I try to solve for the symptom of the glass cracking, I would just replace the glass with another (potentially non-tempered) glass. The problem will re-occur unless I realise that the root cause is the misuse of the glass.

The second one is the product or service genuinely lacks the necessary features to effectively help with a task. Consider an e-commerce website that allows customers to search and buy kitchenware. If the search functionality does not offer the customers the ability to sort the results by price, then it becomes a problem for those who are more price-conscious. The third is the product or service does not operate the way it was intended to. An example would be a vacuum cleaner stopped working after the third use despite the unit being new and the battery being fully charged.

In the following sections, we will look a scenario and unpack two potentially intertwined but distinct topics: the right product for the task and problem solving associated with product usage. For the first one, we discuss the importance of selecting the right product for the task; the lack of which could potentially give rise to problems with the use of the product. This brings us to the second topic of separating the root causes from the symptoms in solving problems associated with the use of products. Together, the ability to build or recommend products that are best suited for the users and to identify root causes for problem solving along the way are the two most critical skills to have in areas such as customer service and product development.

It was a long weekend. Luke visited a hardware store with a broken drill bit on Saturday. As he walk through the entrance, he was greeted by a customer service person. He asked how he could help. He showed him the broken drill bit and was pointed to aisle 18 for replacement. Luke went to the aisle and walked away with a replacement, two of them in fact.

The next day, Luke went back to the same store with two broken drill bits. He went straight to aisle 18. He saw a staff member standing near the electric drill section. Luke showed her the broken drill bit and told her this is the third one in two days. She had a look and asked him what surface was he drilling on. He said concrete and she told Luke that he has been using the wrong drill bits. She pointed him to the right ones and he walked out this time feeling reassured.

The next day, Luke paid the store another visit. He bumped into the same person who introduced him to the masonry drill bit the day before. He told her that the drill bit did not break this time but he cannot seem to get a hole in the concrete wall. She asked him what kind of drill he was using. It was then that Luke found out his regular cordless drill was not fit for the task. He needed a hammer drill and he went to get one. He did not have to go back to the store after that.

It was Saturday the week after and Luke had some friends over for dinner. He showed them to his living area and the photo frames that he have put up recently. He told them about his bad experience with the drill. It was only then that Luke found out there is a new product by 3M that allows him to reliably hang pictures without nails.

Let us first unpack the scenario above from the perspective of tasks and products. As they say, there are many ways to skin a cat. It is important that we first understand the task and the constraints within which the customers want the task to be done before building or recommending products for them. The actual products or services should always come second. In our scenario, the customer was fixated on a particular product to accomplish the task of hanging pictures on the wall. During his repeated visits to the store, the staff members whom he interacted with just went with his choice without questioning what the product was being used for. If the constraint is about being hassle-free, most of us would agree that there are better ways to get the task done. Let us be clear that whilst the “hole in the wall with a drill” approach may not be ideal for that particular customer, it does not constitute a problem.

There is a saying in the innovation community that goes “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill, they want a quarter-inch hole”. I would go further by saying most people do not want holes in their walls, they just want to hang stuff off them. The trick here is to recognise and cut through the intermediate outcomes that sometimes exist with these sorts of task. What would have been excellent customer service is the store assistants talking to Luke about what he was trying to do with having holes in the wall. That would have saved him the effort of running around and the cost associated with purchasing new drill products just to arrive at the same outcome that the use of 3M strips would have.

What causes the problems with the product?

The other important skill that we can unpick from the scenario is root causes versus symptoms for problem solving. The scenario above can be complicated as there are two layers of hiccups associated with completing the task of hanging the pictures. The first layer has been discussed above, which is the hassle from the use of a product when a better-suited alternative approach exists. This may be an inconvenience but it does not qualify to be a problem. The real problems exist in the second layer from the inappropriate use of the product.

Let us assume that Luke really needed the holes in his wall for some reasons. The inability to create those holes using the drill then becomes a problem. Isn’t the drill bit breaking causing the problem you may ask? In reality, the staff member was just helping Luke address the symptom when he points Luke to the aisle to get drill bit replacement. Did replacing the drill bits fixed the problem and helped Luke get the holes he wanted? No, that is not the root cause.

The next time when it was pointed out to Luke that he was using the wrong type of drill bit, the store assistant just drilled into, pun intended, one of the two root causes. In other words, the drill bit breaking was not the root cause, the use of the wrong type of drill bit is. It took Luke another trip to the store to find out the other root cause – he was using the wrong drill. All in all, the incorrect use of the product was the thing preventing Luke from creating the holes, hence the problem. This fits into the first group of root causes as mentioned initially in the article.

We discussed about the importance of helping customers find the most appropriate products or services for their tasks. The use of products that are less suited for the tasks can give rise to all sorts of problems. When problems do occur from the use of products or services to perform tasks, the ability to get to the root of a problem is critical. Addressing symptoms instead of tackling the real problem can be costly for a business. However, getting to the root of the problem can sometimes be challenging, especially if there are multiple causes or the tasks are complicated. Some of the techniques such as the jobs-to-be-done framework which have been discussed in another article can help us build or customise products to solve unmet needs, and the “5 whys” to help us get to the bottom of things. And if anyone ever needs training in these areas, we know that Go1 is the right tool for the job!

Employers looking for ways to increase employee productivity may find that encouraging employees to take creative breaks could be an effective solution. Studies have shown that scheduled breaks can have a significant improvement on the physical and mental health of employees.

Taking a break not only boosts physical health but can also improve emotional and mental health. As most of us are aware, job-related stress can take a heavy toll on productivity. Even just taking a five-minute break each hour can help employees return to work feeling more refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

Overworked employees are much more likely to become ill. Even missing one day of work can create serious delays, which is why it’s important to support a healthy workplace. Allowing and even encouraging employees to take breaks on a regular basis can create a more positive and relaxed work environment.

The long-term physical and mental health benefits in the workplace cannot be denied. While some employees will willingly take breaks, others will push themselves until they are exhausted. For this reason, employers might wish to consider instituting a policy of required scheduled breaks.

It’s entirely possible for employees to work too hard. This is particularly true for employees who can set their own schedule. The issue is that continual stimulation can have a negative effect on the brain.

Taking a break for even a few minutes can help employees feel more revitalized and come back to work with renewed sharpness and clarity. Physical movement can also help get oxygen and blood flowing to the brain, which allows employees to work to their full ability.

Regardless of the type of business you run, the work environment can affect the overall productivity of your company. Scheduling regular breaks shows employees that you appreciate them.

This type of policy will ensure employees know they a part of an organization that cares about them, their health, and their happiness. When employees are happy where they work, they naturally tend to be more productive.

Many employees are shy about asking for breaks even when they need them. As a result, they often work up to and past the point of exhaustion.

By scheduling regular breaks, employers can remove some of the burden on employees who might be nervous about speaking up when they need rest. When people feel more comfortable about communicating, the workplace will naturally function better.

How Often Should You Schedule Breaks for Employees?

According to experts, the longest employees should work before taking a break is 90 minutes. In an ideal situation, employees should work for one hour or less before taking a short break.

With that said, the way you choose to schedule breaks for employees may be determined by your workflow patterns and corporate culture. Below are a few popular ways to schedule breaks for your employees to help boost productivity.

Pomodoro Technique – Also known as the 25/5 split, this strategy allows employees to work 25 minutes at a time before taking a short 5-minute break. After four 25-minute work sessions, employees then take a longer 15-minute break. The goal of this strategy is to maximize an employee’s attention span.

50 On and 10 Off – With this strategy, employees work for 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. This strategy works well for employees who have longer attention spans.

Exercising at their desks, such as yoga or stretching

Courses to Facilitate Scheduling Breaks and Boosting Employee Productivity

Rethinking Motivation and Productivity in the Workplace

This course offers scientific research and an innovative model for increasing motivation levels in the workplace.

Reduce Your Stress and Anxiety: Practicing a Simple Meditation

This course can help employees to dramatically reduce their anxiety and stress levels. The lectures contained in this course shows employees an easy-to-learn way to practice effective, yet powerful meditation techniques that will provide physical and mental relief.

Although many people have a fairly good idea of what’s good for them and what’s not when it comes to eating, it can still be a struggle to eat healthy at work. Even so, learning how to maintain a healthy diet in the workplace, including snacking on breaks, can go a long way toward helping employees feel more productive.

This course shows employees how to stay healthy at work by making better food and beverage choices. Employees can eat smarter by choosing healthier places and times to eat.

Employers are not completely responsible for employee productivity, but making the effort to encourage employees to take regular breaks can help employees feel more comfortable about stepping away for a few minutes. That alone can aid in boosting employee morale and productivity.

How you can schedule breaks to increase employee productivity

When you’re looking for your next job, you always want to show yourself in a good light. Many people believe they’ve got the experience on their resume that will do all the talking for them.

At the other end of the spectrum, others write themselves off before they get to the interview stage and say that they aren’t employable because they don’t have a formal education or a long resume.

But it doesn’t really matter which one of these people you are - it’s important to know that you can change your employability for the better.

This is especially true when it comes to retail. In this sector, employers look for certain skillsets that will make you the perfect candidate for the job. Most of these will involve interacting with customers.

For example, retail often involves serving customers and meeting their needs and demands. This is the case no matter what the situation is. In other words, whether they are happy or disgruntled about something, it’s your job to deal with it properly.

Of course, the real question you’ll have is how you can build and improve on the customer service skills that you need for your next retail job.

One of the best ways to become more employable is to choose online e-learning courses. This is a fantastic and innovative way to learn new skills and train for your next job, no matter what role you’re thinking of applying to.

Training courses will increase your retail knowledge and give you something to add to your resume and talk about in your next interview. Choosing to enroll in online courses also shows initiative to your new employer, as well as the desire to learn yourself.

So let’s find out a bit more about online training and the benefits that it offers you.

Online learning is becoming the most popular way to complete training inside and outside of the office. For job seekers, it’s a way of gaining new skills that will allow you to remain competitive in the job market and land your dream job in retail.

Not only will new skills help you to get a job successfully, but it will also mean that you can perform better at your future job immediately.

The great thing is that there are hundreds of courses that you can choose from that will benefit you in retail. From learning about the best ways to deal with angry customers to improving your listening skills, there’s a course for everything.

But, one of the most important factors that can affect any training is motivation. Thankfully, online learning courses can be accessed anytime and from anywhere. This means that you can choose when you learn and at a time and place that is best for you and when you’re motivated to learn.

All you need is your own device and you can access lots of online courses. Whether you learn best relaxing on your couch in the evening or when you are heading somewhere on the bus, you can take your training anywhere with you to improve your chances of landing a retail job.

Everyone has a different learning style. So while some people assume you have to be tech savvy to enjoy online courses, this is definitely not the case. The truth is that anyone can use e-learning courses!

E-learning courses are designed to be easy. This means that it’s simple to work them and learn all of the information that you need to gain the skills you want.

Plus, online training takes many different shapes and forms. What we mean by this is that there’s a format that everyone loves to learn with. If you’re a visual learner, there are animated training videos that you can watch or if you are a gamer there are plenty of courses that use gaming to teach you. Doesn’t that sound great?

All of the e-learning courses are created by professionals and some are even accredited, which means that you can rely on this training for your retail job. You can gain certifications and really gain useful qualifications for your resume.

So, what are you waiting for? Online learning is the best way to make sure that you have the skills you need for your next job in retail. You can finally stand out from the crowd in a good way and become the perfect candidate for the job.

In fact, it’s never been easier to build your resume and become the best in retail. All you’ve got to do is choose the online courses that you want and get started right away. You’ll become employable for life with your new, useful skills.

When you train using online e-learning courses today, you gain your next retail job tomorrow.

Get the right training for your next job in retail

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘work-life balance’ more times than you can count. But how often do you stop to consider what work-life balance really means and how it applies to your life? After all, this shouldn’t just be a catchy phrase, but rather, a way of life. Setting healthy and distinct boundaries between your work life and personal life has many benefits, from improved career prospects to better interpersonal relationships. 

Unfortunately, while most of us understand the importance of setting boundaries, this is often easier said than done. Despite their best intentions, many people struggle to separate their work life and personal life, with one-third of employees saying it is harder to achieve a work-life balance than ever before. 

It can be all too easy to find yourself checking work emails on your day off, calling a client after hours, or working through your lunch break to finish a project. Failure to separate your work life and personal life might seem innocuous at first. However, over time, it can lead to disastrous results, including poor mental and physical health. You also could find yourself overworked due to your inability to unplug. What was once an active and thriving personal life has now made way for work, work, and more work. 

To help avoid these issues, we’ll offer actionable strategies to set healthy work-life boundaries and separate your work life and personal life once and for all. 

While work-life boundaries have always been important, the widespread move to remote working due to COVID-19 has highlighted this issue. Some people find it easier to achieve a healthy work-life balance while working from home, whereas others think it blurs the lines between your work life and personal life.

To demonstrate this, Fingerprint for Success found that the average workday lengthened by 48.5 minutes following the initial lockdowns in March 2020. Additionally, 51% of employees say they experience burnout while working from home, while 67% feel pressure to be available at all hours of the day. Further, 40% say that unplugging after hours is their biggest challenge. 

On the other hand, 67% of people say their work-life balance improved when they started working remotely. 

While this is a positive trend for some, 66% of full-time employees in the US say they have a poor work-life balance, and 52% of UK employees say that boundaries between their work and personal life have become increasingly blurred.

Why employees must prioritise their personal life

Poor work-life boundaries can have far-reaching consequences, adversely affecting everything from employee motivation and relationship satisfaction to mental and physical health.

For example, employees who neglect their personal life and work more than 55 hours per week have a 1.66 times higher risk of depression, 1.74 times higher risk of anxiety, and 1.3 times higher risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.  

Similarly, women with male partners who work more than 50 hours per week are less satisfied with their relationship than those whose partners worked less. A survey by Grand Canyon University backs this up, finding that family relationships (48%) and friendships (47%) suffered significantly for people with a poor work-life balance. 

These findings should send a resounding message to all workers: a poor work-life balance can have lasting real-world consequences. Addressing these issues should be a top priority for employees and organisations alike. 

Poor work-life balance harms organisations too

A poor work-life balance doesn’t just harm employees, it can also harm organisations. For instance, 72% of employees consider work-life balance very important when looking for a new job, while 33% say work-life balance is the most important benefit a job can provide. 68% of employees also say poor work-life balance negatively impacts their morale and motivation at work.

A majority of people (60%) say that bad bosses that are overbearing, demanding, or mean are the factor that harmed work-life balance the most, followed by frequent overtime, inflexible hours, incompetent co-workers, and long commutes. 

In contrast, a company culture that encourages healthy work-life balance can improve productivity and retention while reducing healthcare costs. 85% of companies that offer work-life balance programs report an increase in productivity, while 33% of employees with a good work-life balance say they plan to stay longer in their current role. Finally, companies with good work-life balance programs have 50% fewer healthcare costs. 

As such, employers must show a genuine interest in their employees’ work-life balance to create a happier, healthier, and more motivated workforce. 

With these statistics in mind, the question becomes: ‘how do I prioritise my personal life and establish healthy work-life boundaries?’

Once you learn to set boundaries based on your obligations and priorities, you will feel more in control, leaving you free to make decisions that allow you to lead a productive life both at home and at work.

While there are many strategies to establish healthy work-life boundaries, a good place to start is ensuring you take regular time off to avoid burnout. A study by Roy Morgan found that, on average, Australians have 16 days of unused personal leave. Further research revealed that 2.4 million full-time working Australians have gone over a year without taking leave, with 86% experiencing some level of burnout as a result. It should go without saying, but this advice also includes taking time off for sick leave when you need to. 

Additionally, employees should discuss flexible working arrangements with their employers. According to one survey, 69% of employees agree that companies should offer flexible working to foster a better work-life balance. Normalising remote working has been one of the few benefits of COVID-19, opening a whole new world of possibilities for flexible working arrangements. Many employees can benefit from a hybrid working model or even working from home full time. 

67% of people say their work-life balance improved when they started working remotely, while 86% say that working remotely reduces their stress levels. Plus, 97% of people say a job with flexibility has positive impacts on their overall quality of life.

Once you have committed to setting work-life boundaries, it’s a good idea to put pen to paper and write those boundaries down. Writing down your goals and commitments will help you take them more seriously.

Studies have shown that people who take the time to write down their goals are more likely to achieve those goals. For example, one study found that people who vividly describe or picture their goals are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to accomplish their goals. 

Therefore, if you have decided that you will disconnect from work every evening by 5 pm to focus on your personal life, make a note of it on your calendar. Create a schedule that works for you, then stick to it.

Today, most people are bombarded by technology. As a result, most of us never truly unplug from technology, with one survey finding that 38% of people never unplug from technology, while only 20% say they unplug from technology regularly. This constant connection has blurred the lines between our work life and personal life. 

Simply turning off your phone and going for a walk, taking time to connect with your loved ones, or spending a few minutes working on another activity is a terrific way to relax and unwind. 

It can also be a good idea to unplug entirely on weekends or when you take personal leave by uninstalling apps such as Slack from your phone to remove any temptation to check them. 

Many people find themselves stuck at the office far later than they should be. Whether you’re so focused that time gets away from you, or you have too much on your plate and not enough hours in the day to get it all done, working long hours is a problem. Globally, 11% of employees say they work more than 50 hours per week. 

Not only is this not healthy for you physically, but it also eats into your personal life and negatively affects those who care about you. As mentioned, working more than 55 hours a week significantly increases your risk of depression, anxiety, and heart attack, while also reducing relationship satisfaction. 

One simple change can alter that. It’s as easy as committing to leaving the office on time, regardless of your workload. No excuses. If necessary, let others know about your commitment, so they can help hold you accountable.

Meditation is an excellent way to decompress and disconnect mentally from work once you arrive home. Regular meditation is a fantastic option for people who have trouble unwinding once they get home because they are still caught up in the day’s events.

Disconnecting from work once you arrive home can also help you be more creative. To get started, Go1’s Daily Meditation Collection is an online course designed to help people get into the daily habit of meditation.

Reserve time in your schedule for personal activities that add value to your life and allow you to recharge. These activities could include a weekly social night, daily exercise, a regular date night, or family activities. It is also important to set aside time by yourself where you can relax and unwind. This simple change will give you something to look forward to while also helping you manage your time more effectively.

On a related note, it is also vital to take time for your personal life during the workday. This means not working through your lunch break and taking regular breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout.

One of the most common problems that people encounter when trying to separate their work life from their personal life is that others continually tempt them to stray from their goals. 

Co-workers or even your supervisor might ask you to work later when you should be spending quality time with family and friends, or even just some time on your own relaxing.

To combat this problem, make sure you communicate your boundaries with friends, family, and work colleagues to ensure everyone understands the lines you have drawn to establish healthy boundaries. 

If you have decided you will no longer be available to work on the weekends, give your team at work a heads-up. You could also set up an out-of-office response for your email. 

If your manager is unwilling to respect these boundaries or your workplace culture is too demanding, it might be time to look elsewhere for a company that encourages healthier work-life boundaries. 

Juggling your work life and personal life is rarely an easy task. Yet, it’s imperative that you strike that balance to avoid burning yourself out. Remember, striking an appropriate balance between your personal life and work life is important not only for your physical health and mental wellbeing, but also for other people in your life.

Need some support to establish a better work-life balance? Go1 can help. Start your free trial today to access dedicated courses on Creating a more balanced workplace, Work-life balance tips for employees, and many more.

For more insights, be sure to subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. Or, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help with your team’s learning needs.

We’ll offer actionable strategies to set healthy work-life boundaries and separate your work life and personal life once and for all.

Work-life boundaries: how to separate your work and personal life

We’ll offer actionable strategies to set healthy work-life boundaries and separate your work life and personal life once and for all. 

Individuals interested in landing a job in the accounting field will find that earning accounting and finance certifications can help them boost their marketability and advance their careers. Of the various certifications available in the accounting and finance fields, each certification has its own requirements regarding education, examination, and work experience. Additionally, there are specific skills that can be gained by attaining each certification. These skills could certainly benefit your career, which is why so many employers are looking for these certifications when recruiting new employees.

Continuing education to obtain accounting certifications does require an investment of money and time, but this investment can certainly pay off. Not only can obtaining these certifications make you more attractive to potential employers, but you might also find that continuing education can position you to climb the career ladder with your current employer.

The key is to choose the right certification. This will vary based on your resources, career goals, and eligibility. At a minimum, it’s important to understand the various accounting and finance certifications that employers value the most and which can help you advance your career.

The Certified Public Accountant or CPA license has long been regarded as the premier accounting and finance certification in the United States. This certification confirms a candidate’s expertise in a variety of sub-fields, including risk management, compliance, tax, and forensic accounting. This certification is granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA. To obtain this certification, candidates are required to have a minimum of five years of higher education as well as a minimum number of continuing education credits in accounting and business. This is usually about 150 hours. Candidates must also have verified relevant experience.

The exam consists of four parts, which can be taken in any order and most people take about one year to pass the CPA exam. Once an individual has passed the CPA exam, he or she will need to maintain continuing professional education credit requirements. Certified Public Accountants may work in a variety of fields, including management accounting, public accounting, governmental accounting, compliance, taxation, financial advisory, etc.

CPAs working in government and business may wish to consider obtaining the Chartered Global Management Accountant financial certification. The CGMA certification demonstrates a candidate’s management accounting competency and skills. This certification is granted by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants as well as the AICPA.

To be eligible for this certification, candidates must be an AICPA member and have three years of relevant work experience or be a CIMA member. This certification is obtained by taking a computerized case study examination. CGMA exams are offered four times annually. Individuals with a desire to have their accounting skills and experience recognized globally should consider obtaining this certification.

The Certified Management Accountant certification is awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants. This certification is recognized around the world, as certificate holders have demonstrated their mastery of financial management and accounting skills. To qualify for this certification, candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree and possess two consecutive years in management accounting or financial management experience.

The exam consists of two levels and takes a total of eight hours to complete. It typically takes one to two years to complete the exam. Once candidates have obtained this certification, they must maintain 30 hours of CPE credits. Individuals who are interested in working in the corporate sector, especially for multinational companies, should consider obtaining this certification.

The Chartered Finance Analyst certification demonstrates a candidate’s competence and knowledge regarding investment analysis, portfolio management, and economics. This designation is granted by the CFA Institute. Candidates are required to have a bachelor’s degree along with four years of relevant work experience. The exam is comprised of three levels and takes a total of 18 hours to complete.

One level must be passed before candidates are allowed to move to the next level of the exam. The exam can be completed over an 18-month period; however, most people take more than two years to complete the exam. Once you have obtained this designation, it is recommended that you obtain 20 hours of CPE credits. At least two of those hours should be related to regulatory, ethics, and standards education. Individuals who are interested in working as asset managers or security analysts should consider obtaining this certification.

Individuals working in the accounting and finance field, or those who have aspirations of entering this field, will find that preparation is the key to passing the necessary exams to obtain the required certifications. For many busy professionals, it’s often difficult to take time away from work and family responsibilities to take courses. Enrolling in online courses can present a flexible and time-efficient method to prepare for exams and advance one’s career.

Accounting: Get Hired Without Work Experience

One of the most common conundrums that people face when trying to enter the accounting field is that they cannot get the job without experience, and of course, one cannot accrue experience without landing a job first. This course teaches you basic accounting, including how to prepare a budget and cash flow forecast, how to identify key performance indicators, analyze financial performance, and use various resources to land a job.

For individuals interested in passing the CA CPT exam, which is offered by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, this course is a must. In this course, you learn inventories, depreciation accounting, accounting for special transactions, accounting for sale of goods, and more.

Accounting certifications employers really want to see

In a world in which it has become increasingly challenging for companies to remain relevant while still delivering value, customer engagement is now at the forefront of sales efficiency. Sales experience has shown that customers who are engaged tend to purchase more. Furthermore, engaged customers are more likely to be satisfied and loyal customers. They are also more likely to tell others about your company. If you’re looking for ways to improve your sales efficiency, the best way to do so is with customer engagement.

Customer engagement focuses on encouraging current customers to not only interact with your brand but also share their experiences with your business. When a customer engagement strategy is executed well, it can assist your brand in fostering loyalty and growth. Customer engagement strategies focus on creating value for customers by providing great content, a superior end-to-end customer experience, and customer support in real time.

When you take the time to make sure customers are highly engaged, you can actually spend fewer resources on marketing to new customers. This is because highly engaged customers will actually spend more of their own effort and time on behalf of your brand. Those companies that invest in a customer engagement program that is well-thought-out can benefit immensely from grassroots publicity and user-generated content.

In order to obtain these benefits, however, you need to ensure your company has a well-designed customer engagement strategy, rather than simply a series of hit-and-miss tactics.

Unfortunately, many brands focus all of their engagement and sales efforts on attracting new customers by offering amazing deals. There is actually nothing wrong with trying to bring in new sales by targeting your marketing efforts toward a specific audience. This cannot be the thrust of your entire marketing strategy, however.

Ultimately, you run the risk of driving away your customers. In the end, you will lose more sales than you gain. Even worse, some brands have made the critical mistake of investing too much in automation in an effort to make things run smoothly. Such companies have underestimated the value of human touch when it comes to sales.

At the cornerstone of attracting new customers is the ability to engage customers in a way that not only attracts their interest in your brand and your products but also encourages their willingness to spend money on those products.

Customer engagement is excellent for getting the word about your brand and products out there. However, customer engagement should not be limited solely to new customers. It is crucial that brands also work to foster engagement with existing customers.

The following tips can help you to improve your sales efficiency through customer engagement.

Focus on the Level of Engagement Your Brand’s Customers Prefer

Brands should avoid trying to second-guess their customers by offering forms of engagement they think their customers will like. It’s important for companies to review the strategies that have worked in the past to attract customers and ensure they retain those strategies moving forward. Taking the time to do this demonstrates to customers that the brand cares about the same things they do. This is what keeps customers returning.

Only Use Technology When It Enhances the Human Touch Rather Than Eliminates It