We’ve all begun to settle into a new normal. Leaders are now re-thinking their approach to management to maintain business as usual. But what does this mean for you?

In this webinar, we spoke with Professional Development Training (PDT) - experts in understanding how different people and teams respond to challenges and workplace training. 

Using the REACH profile, you can learn how to support your employees based on their specific needs so they remain in a positive state of mind, and engaged in their work.

Gaining insight into your REACH profile - how do we put the 'human' back into remote work? | Webinar

In this webinar, Go1’s Social Impact Manager Cam Cliff is joined by PD Training CEO Paul Findlay to discuss how different people respond to isolation from their team, and how you can thrive and stay engaged in the new world of work.

insights into communicating & managing remote teams 

how to be mindful, proactive and purposeful in working with teammates 

how to effectively engage and support people based on their different personalities and social needs

We'd like to thank Paul and all of our attendees for joining us in this interesting conversation. We hope to see you in our next webinar!

False

In this webinar, Go1’s Social Impact Manager Cam Cliff was joined by PD Training CEO Paul Findlay to discuss how different people respond to isolation from their team, and how you can thrive and stay engaged in the new world of work.

Gaining insight into your REACH profile - how do we put the 'human' back into remote work?

Go1 brings you the best training content from around the world to meet the unique and diverse needs of the learners in your organisation.

We are very pleased to introduce you to Nourish Baby, provider of nationally accredited antenatal and early parenting courses. 

Nourish Baby was established in 2012, and their classes are delivered by qualified antenatal and early parenting professionals. With a passion for supporting new parents and families through pregnancy, childbirth and the initial three years of a child’s life, Nourish Baby courses help prepare for healthy pregnancies, positive labour experiences and success during the early stages of parenting. Lessons are comprehensive, with interactive activities and graphics, engaging videos, knowledge tests and added resources.

Through our partnership with Nourish Baby, Go1 Premium customers will now be able to access industry recognised online courses which give your staff the ability to successfully help new families with pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.

Introducing Nourish Baby - accredited online antenatal training

Nourish Baby is the only provider of online antenatal classes that is also an Australian Council of Healthcare Services(ACHS) EQuIP6 accredited organisation. These resources support numerous maternity services and early parenting programs, and are already utilised in early childhood education services, hospitals, and child and family health centres. This training is suitable for maternity and early childcare providers.

Nourish Baby has 5 courses available on Go1 Premium, which are accessible for customers in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, North America, South America and the United Kingdom

Explore content from Nourish Baby here!

Introducing Nourish Baby – accredited online antenatal training

At Go1, we make it easy for businesses to train their staff, with the world’s largest online library of compliance and professional development training.

During this current period of uncertainty, economic challenges and changing work patterns, we believe it’s particularly important for small businesses to have the opportunity to train and upskill their workforce. 

In light of this, we’re very happy to be working with the Western Australia Government’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to support small businesses and their teams through the delivery of free online learning and professional development.

As Go1 co-founder Vu Tran says, “small business plays a crucial role in the state’s economic functioning and will play a pivotal role in Western Australia’s recovery post COVID-19.”

“With many employees now working from home, remote learning is an excellent way to keep team members engaged and focused on their ongoing growth and development.”

Through our work with SBDC, WA small businesses will now have free access to their own learning portal, preloaded with over 70,000 courses ranging from accounting and IT skills through to mental health and personal wellbeing training.

accessible 24/7 – take them at a time to suit to you

Interested to learn more and get started? 

Access your learning portal now from the SBDC website - portals are available free of charge to all Western Australian small businesses until June 30 2020.  

For more insights, 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.

Go1 offers free learning to businesses until June 30 - Go1

We’re very happy to be working with the Western Australia Government’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to support small businesses and their teams through the delivery of free online learning and professional development.

Go1 offers free online learning to all WA Small Businesses until June 30

In today’s rapidly changing marketplace, HR and compliance training professionals are looking for modern, behavior-focused training to improve workplace culture and reduce the risk of costly claims. We want to ensure our customers have a go-to solution, so we are delighted to welcome our latest content partner, Traliant — an industry leader who is “transforming compliance training from boring to brilliant.” 

Through our partnership with Traliant, Go1 Premium customers now have access to a range of interactive, online training solutions that are mobile-optimized for 24/7 access, on any device. Courses are available in multiple languages and can be easily tailored to your business and workforce.

Since it was founded in 2016, Traliant has quickly become the industry leader in online Preventing Discrimination and Harassment training. Their suite of anti-harassment courses is available in separate versions for employees and managers, as well as industry-specific and state/regional editions. Courses are updated regularly to keep the learning experience relevant and relatable to your diverse workforce.

Traliant's award-winning Sexual Harassment Training

Combining the best elements of video storytelling and eLearning tools and strategies, Traliant courses focus on raising awareness and influencing behaviors to create a respectful, inclusive workplace culture. Learners explore topics in a news show format, with bite-sized episodes and interactive video scenarios. As they interact with the story, learners are challenged to spot issues and choose from alternate endings, promoting active engagement and positive decision making.

Other Traliant courses available to Go1 Premium customers include:

Workplace Diversity, Inclusion & Sensitivity

Data Privacy, GDPR & Information Security

Traliant - Sexual-harassment prevention training - Go1

Introducing Traliant – award-winning provider of sexual-harassment prevention training 

With many people now working from home, both employers and staff members need to consider how to work safely and comfortably.  

Research conducted by the World Health Organization also states that lower back pain is among the top ten diseases and injuries that account for the highest number of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). This measurement assesses the number of years of productive life lost due to disability.

Various studies have also concluded that spending too many hours sitting is detrimental to your health. Inactivity for long periods raises the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome. 

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their staff members can complete their work safely and comfortably. While the rules and expectations vary in different countries, it should be a top priority for all managers to set their employees up for success. 

Here, we give a brief introduction to ergonomics and list some tips you can share with staff members to minimize injury, pain, or strain while working from home. 

In simple terms, ergonomics is the study of people in their working environment. The goal of an ergonomic assessment is to reduce or eliminate discomfort and risk of injury due to work. 

Ergonomists consider a job using three main criteria known as “Ergonomic Stressors”: the force required to complete a task, any awkward or static working postures adopted in completing a task, and the repetitiveness of a task. These factors, or a combination of these factors, can place an employee at high risk for discomfort. 

The University of Queensland has a thorough ergonomics self-assessment tool for working at a desk, which employees can use as a checklist to ensure they are sitting or standing in a comfortable position. It is surprising the difference a few simple adjustments can make to relieve tension. 

How to set up your home office ergonomically

If working from home is new to you, the aim is to set up your seat and desk to support your body, just as you would at the office. 

Many people will be working at kitchen tables on a laptop, as this might be the only option available. However, it is crucial to ensure you position your body correctly. 

If possible, invest in a larger screen to avoid putting unnecessary strain on your neck and back. Your employer might be able to contribute to the cost of this. 

Correct positioning will limit the negative health impacts of sitting for most of the day. Consider the following to make your workspace as ergonomic as possible: 

At first, working from home can feel quite informal. You might be wearing more casual clothes, and you are generally used to relaxing at home. In this mindset, it can be easy to slump and forget the position of your body.

Try to keep your spine in an upright position. Having the correct alignment goes beyond benefiting your posture. It can also help to prevent chronic pain.  

To help with this, think about creating right angles with your joints, at your elbows, knees, and ankles. If you can, adjust your chair to create better alignment. 

Keep your focus at eye level. Ideally, the top of the screen or monitor will be at or slightly below eye level. Your eyes should be looking slightly downward towards the middle of the screen to avoid putting pressure on the neck. 

Scroll as you work to ensure what you are looking at is roughly in the middle of the screen. 

The monitor should also be approximately 50cm away from your eyes, or arm’s length distance directly in front of your body.

After you have adjusted your chair, and your body is in the correct position, your feet should be flat on the floor. If they aren’t, you may need a footrest to relieve pressure on the spine. 

You can either buy a specially designed footrest, use an empty box, or a few books. The goal is to ensure your feet are flat when you are in position.

If you have positioned your chair correctly, your elbows will be at right angles. They will be at the same height as your desk, not higher or lower.  This alignment can prevent strain in your shoulders and neck. 

Position your keyboard close to the edge of the desk, so you aren’t reaching out towards it, but far enough away so that your forearms and wrists can rest when you have a break from typing. Position the mouse at the same level as the keyboard, either to the right or left. 

Ergonomics is also concerned with work practices. Taking regular breaks is considered part of an ergonomic approach to desk work, as long periods spent sitting or working at a screen can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. 

The Pomodoro technique can help you to take regular breaks and remind you to check-in with yourself. This video from Trello explains how to use the method effectively. The idea is to take a short break every 25 minutes, followed by a more extended break after two hours, as this is proven to make you more focused and productive. 

You can use your short breaks to walk into another room and move around, or maybe even do a few simple yoga poses to get your spine moving. Your upper body is an area to focus on, as this gets very little attention when you are sitting for long periods.

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.

Sophia is a freelance writer who specialises in thought leadership, opinion pieces and content creation for learning publications. Her work focuses on the latest research in learning theory and practice. She regularly contributes articles on workplace learning and personal development to the Go1 blog. You can connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Thinking about ergonomics in your home office

At Go1, we aim to bring you the best training content from around the world to meet the unique and diverse requirements of your learners. 

We are very pleased to introduce you to The Big Canvas, developer and provider of engaging online training solutions for more than 25 years.

The Big Canvas brings learning to life, with a portfolio of over 200 courses expertly crafted by developers, educators, instructional designers and filmmakers. With a strong emphasis on visual content, storytelling and digital design, training materials cover compliance, skill development and behavioural change, as well as product and process training.

These courses are specifically developed for public and private clients in numerous sectors, including:

Through our partnership with The Big Canvas, Go1 Premium customers will now be able to access a range of cutting edge online courses to help fulfil all HR Compliance and Health and Safety training needs in an engaging and ingenious way.

Introducing The Big Canvas - interactive training in HR compliance and health & safety

Content from The Big Canvas is both a technical and a creative solution to your learning needs.

Incorporating short film and digital storytelling, these online courses are bite sized and highly interactive to heighten user engagement. Innovative learning materials allow you to make your team’s onboarding, compliance and professional development training easy, flexible and effective.

The Big Canvas has 10 courses available on Go1 Premium, accessible for customers in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK, Asia, North America, South America and Africa

Explore content from The Big Canvas here!

The Big Canvas - Interactive HR compliance training - Go1

With a significant increase in the number of people working from home, it is now more crucial than ever that employees understand how to make the most of their time. Most importantly, leaders need to communicate this without applying unnecessary pressure. 

When employees feel motivated to work, they will inherently become more productive. The good news is, it is possible to create both a desire to achieve goals and immersion in a task. In this article, we explore what your team can do to improve their motivation to boost productivity. 

While it may seem like a random occurrence, we can create moments of complete immersion and motivation. In the 1970s, psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihályi referred to this experience as ‘flow state.’

Csíkszentmihályi defines ‘flow state’ as an “optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best.” 

He adds that the experience involves “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away—time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.” 

In a McKinsey study, executives reported being five times more productive when in flow. However, most of us spend around five percent of our working life in this state. According to the study, if leaders could increase this number to twenty percent, overall productivity would double. 

How to boost motivation and reach ‘flow state’

So how do we get into a flow state and boost productivity? Here are our top tips to help your employees get in the zone: 

When left unchecked, procrastination can become a chronic problem. When we don’t feel like completing a task, we are unable to see the impact of avoiding it long term, or how failing to do the work will stop us from reaching our goals. This thought pattern can create a negative downward spiral, which becomes difficult to reset.  

When you don’t enjoy a particular task and find yourself putting it off, it can be helpful to find a way to motivate yourself to do it extrinsically. To do this, start by building in a reward for completing the task, or a section of it. The reward then becomes the motivation, and you have created an incentive for getting the work done. Getting started is often the hardest part. 

Csíkszentmihályi explains that “flow also happens when a person’s skills are fully involved in overcoming a challenge that is just about manageable, so it acts as a magnet for learning new skills and increasing challenges. If challenges are too low, one gets back to flow by increasing them. If challenges are too great, one can return to the flow state by learning new skills.”

There are some tasks we are not interested in doing. Some are too easy and some too challenging. The most common problem is that they just aren’t that interesting, or they have become repetitive. 

If this applies to a task you are trying to complete, think about how you could make it more challenging. Find out if there is something additional you could be doing, or set yourself a personal goal within the task. If the task is too difficult, you could break it down into more manageable steps or ask for further clarification.

If you do find yourself drifting into a distracted state, it can be helpful to work on self-awareness. If you can identify the moment you start getting lost in thought, you have a far better chance of rescuing yourself when you need to return to the task at hand. 

Distraction could also signal that it’s time for a break. Continuing to work when your brain needs a rest is about the most unproductive thing you can do. Even if you take five minutes away from your desk to walk around, this can quickly replenish your energy and ability to focus.

Meditation can also help with awareness. The fundamental aim of the practice is to notice when you are getting distracted, and this can help you to know when you are no longer engaged in your work. 

4. Understand your strengths and weaknesses

If you already know what you are good at, you can use this information to reach flow. For example, if you are completing a writing task and you find writing fairly easy, you’ll need to find a way to challenge yourself to become fully immersed in the task. There is always something you can work on. Find out what you need to do to improve, and focus on that.  

Equally, if you know the areas you struggle with, you can decide whether it is easier to delegate the task and more efficient to avoid it altogether. Alternatively, you could break the task down into smaller parts to become more engaged with it. 

Thinking about the enormity of a task before starting it can also trigger procrastination and anxiety. These thoughts are the enemy of flow. To avoid overthinking, break the task down into smaller chunks. 

For example, if you have to write a report, aim to write the first 100 words and then have a short break. It might also be helpful to plan out the task first, with headings and bullet points to guide you through each step. 

Take a look at our Go1 Optimising Productivity pathway. You'll find a wide range of courses to help you boost motivation and stay productive when working remotely.

Using motivation to become more productive

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, productivity was the holy grail for employees and businesses. Everyone wanted to do more, in less time, and achieve optimal results.  

Now, for many companies, the focus is on survival. Those who are still able to work are doing so from home and may find themselves with a lot more time on their hands. There is time to reflect and to consider whether continually striving to achieve more is the best approach. While aiming high is crucial, it is equally important to maintain a balanced mindset. 

One of the best ways to improve productivity sustainably is to improve focus on the task at hand. Mastering attention can quickly improve both the quality and quantity of work produced.

In the modern workplace, the ability to hold attention on a task is becoming increasingly challenging. Author, Mark Manson, explains that we now live in an ‘attention economy.’ With endless knowledge now available at the click of a button, our attention is of high value to advertisers, companies, and organizations. 

While technology connects us to friends, family, and colleagues across the world, instant messaging is also making it difficult to remain focused.  

Unlike a computer, the brain is incapable of running too many complex tasks at once. It is impossible to chat to your colleagues and focus on work at the same time. Mental overload at work can also seriously affect productivity, wellbeing, and safety. 

26th president of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt, is said to have worked at the same time in the same place every day. He would work ignoring all other distractions that came his way. Although he would only spend a quarter of the average day working, he completed all of the tasks he needed to by using his time effectively.

In the 2016 book, Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success in a Distracted World, Georgetown professor and author, Cal Newport, explores Roosevelt’s ‘deep work’ ethic. He defines ‘deep work’ as:

“Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.” 

Granted, Roosevelt lived in a world where fewer distractions were competing for his attention, but with discipline, it is possible to train your mind. 

When trying to improve productivity, many people focus on the outcome rather than the process. 

For example, you might set yourself the goal of responding to more emails in a certain amount of time. 

While this strategy creates a sense of urgency, it is outcome-based and, therefore, limited. Perhaps you are wasting time sifting through fifty junk emails every time you check your inbox. This part of the process needs to be streamlined if you are to see real results. 

Focusing on the task at hand can make it easier to improve your processes, save time, and get more done with less. 

Everyone is distracted by different things. It might be your thoughts, notifications, or particular people! You will know straight away what takes you away from your work. Finding a way to block out and manage these temptations isn’t easy, but the rewards will speak for themselves. 

Research also shows that every time your phone goes off, the distraction takes you away from the task. If possible, set aside specific times during the day to respond to emails and messages. 

Write a to-do list, but only for the day ahead. An endless list without any consideration for the time you have will not be useful. 

Try writing out what you aim to do for the day, and mark your top three priorities. If you manage to complete everything, you will have a greater sense of accomplishment, so make it achievable. Using a traditional to-do list can lead to procrastination and make you feel as though there is a vast, unmanageable mountain of work to do.

4. Use the Pomodoro technique to track your progress

This is a time management strategy developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The idea is to tackle a piece of work you need to get done in 25-minute intervals, followed by a short break.  

Why does it work? It fires up our reward circuits. If we promise ourselves a reward (or break) at the end of completing a section of work, we are extrinsically motivated to complete the task. This approach can help with getting started, particularly with tasks you are not intrinsically motivated to do.

The brain is plastic, meaning that at any point in life, we can teach it new things or learn healthier habits. Focus is a skill that we all can develop, and meditation is a fantastic way to practice it. 

Meditation involves training the mind to focus on the breath, and this focus can translate to your daily life long after you stop practicing. You will also be able to catch yourself when you are thinking about how cute your dog is or what you ate for breakfast, instead of writing up the report due at the end of the day. 

Why focus is the key to productivity in the attention economy 

Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the Go1 Learning app for Microsoft Teams! 

We have heard many requests to be able to more easily access learning content within Microsoft Teams, where learners are spending a lot of their time. The new Go1 Learning app brings learning content directly into Microsoft Teams, enabling individuals to find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from within Teams.

We’ve seen a tremendous amount of excitement when previewing this new app to our customers. We hope that in these times where remote learning has become a necessity for many, that you enjoy this new app to improve ease of access and learner engagement for learning content!

GO1 Microsoft Teams app, for businesses

The app can pull in learning resources from Teams files, your computer, web links, your learning management system, and Go1’s extensive library of learning resources. The Go1 app also supports interactive content formats like SCORM, AICC, and xAPI.

Organizations can tailor the learning resources that are visible in different teams. With learning resources easily accessible and conversations around learning resources only a click away, organizations can deliver an amazing learning experience, whatever that learning might be.

To learn more about the Go1 app for Teams, visit go1.com/teams-corporate (for businesses) or go1.com/teams-edu (for educational institutions). Questions can be directed to support@go1.com.

If you are a learning management system or content provider, Go1 would love to speak with you about being a part of this new learning experience. Please reach out to theteamsteam@go1.com for more information. 

Announcing the launch of the Go1 Learning app for Microsoft Teams

Across the globe, social distancing measures are now in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. With these changes comes a substantial increase in the number of people working remotely. Leaders are now re-thinking their approach to management to maintain business as usual and minimize disruption.

To offer leadership teams support, we have explored the research on leading remote workers, and offer some tips to keep teams on board and engaged. 

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, one study found that 70% of workers globally were working remotely at least once per week. 

Leadership in a remote work setting was also a concern for many organizations. In the Deloitte Human Global Capital Trends 2019 report, “the ability to manage on a remote basis” was believed by 50 percent of respondents to be a unique requirement for 21st-century leaders. 

In an article for the MIT Sloan Management Review, Whitney Johnson explains that managers of remote teams need to be aware of the challenges involved. She summarises the potential pitfalls into the following categories:  

When members of your team work in different countries, communication can become complicated. Employees share information at a slower rate, and managers need to be aware of how this affects productivity. 

Text-based communications also limit the meaning we can derive from a conversation. According to research, 93 percent of communication occurs nonverbally through body language and tone of voice. We only receive seven percent of understanding through words. Managers need to be aware of the moments where a phone or video call would be more appropriate. 

There are many tools to support project management, but it can still be difficult for managers to know who is doing what. When workers are in the office, managers can wander through the room and check-in with employees, which isn’t possible remotely. 

In this case, leaders need to encourage employees to reach out to them more often and to highlight their achievements. 

When building a remote team, it can be tempting to seek out employees who are experienced and can deliver with little guidance or instruction. This approach has its benefits when employees are working remotely, but leaders do miss out on the energy and creativity of less experienced, but perhaps more enthusiastic employees. 

It is essential to keep a balance here and to accept that you may be in contact with new hires who work remotely more often than seasoned professionals. You will also need to develop a robust training system. 

When it comes to technology, managers must understand that not all employees have access to a high-speed internet connection or the latest technology. Even those who do might have technical difficulties. Be patient and understanding in these circumstances, and support your team members as best you can. 

Reflecting on this information, the following tips will help you to get your remote team operating successfully:

Working with others face-to-face has many benefits. We can collaborate more efficiently, connect with others, and their intentions become more transparent.

Instant messaging is undoubtedly useful, but it is crucial to be aware that much of what is said is lost when we communicate in this way. If there is conflict or tension, misunderstandings can happen quickly.

When communicating with your team, be aware that sometimes a call would be better to avoid misinterpretation. 

While it is relatively easy with modern technology to connect with a team member or a small group of people on a conference call, it can be harder to get the whole team together. Team members might be used to after-work drinks on a Friday night, or regular dinners with colleagues.

In this case, it might be worth putting it to a vote and seeing whether your staff would like to do an end of week call. Using video call software, everyone can dial in when they are ready. Employees who feel comfortable could take it in turns to lead the call. This strategy works well to connect the remote members of the team at Go1! 

Before employees can work efficiently in a remote setting, organization leaders need to develop the appropriate culture. This process includes building trust between team members at all levels.

Doing so can be challenging when you don’t see your employees on a day-to-day basis, but the work they deliver will give you an idea of how well they are performing. 

Focus on monitoring which team member is delivering what, and only chase up if they fail to meet their targets. 

Linked to building a culture of trust is encouraging your team members to become more autonomous. As a manager of a remote team, it can be hard to keep track of the different projects happening. The more employees can lead themselves and keep you informed, the better.

On a systemic level, independent thought can be challenging to manage, particularly in a large organization. Nevertheless, autonomous work is a necessary part of progress, and organizations need to embrace it to keep up with the pace of change. 

Autonomy also gives employees the headspace and confidence they need to make creative contributions - an essential skill in today’s work landscape. 

5. Ask your team for regular feedback on their experience

Although there is a growing bank of research on remote work, managing a team offsite is a relatively new concept. COVID-19 has also forced many unprepared organizations into remote settings. 

If your team is new to remote work, it is crucial to check in with them regularly at the beginning. Ask them about team cohesion, and whether they know what projects they are assigned to. If there are problems with communication, project management, or IT support, they will let you know, and you can make adjustments accordingly. 

Take a look at our Go1 Leading Remote Workers pathway, a curated pathway of courses to equip yourself to work comfortably from home, while maintaining productivity and supporting your team successfully.	

What to look out for when leading your team virtually

Welcome to the Go1 blog. Helping you to achieve your L&D goals through the latest learning and development insights, trends, and technology.

Blog

petrol_green

Have you caught the latest episode of L&D in 20? Don't miss an episode. Subscribe now!