Technology and Working Styles

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke

Remember when Flash Drives were the latest cool gadget? Thanks to Cloud Computing, they may soon become obsolete, as more and more data becomes available online via the Internet. (A flash drive is the stick you insert into the side of your computer, or, to quote the movie Date Night, it’s a computer sticky thing.)

Technology progresses at an impressive rate, with the amount of new information doubling every two years. Blink, and you’re left behind. Take a year off work to have a baby and when you come back they are using different software. Become a stay-at-home mum and, before you know it, your child’s school project involves technology you’ve only ever heard of.

Just as an example, a project my 8-year old did at school had the option to present the research in Power Point form or as a phone app. And while some colleges ban mobile phones, others (Albany Senior High) embrace them as a fun learning tool. Well done, those schools, for keeping up with leading-edge technology, but I can’t help wondering: what’s next? Roll-up computers? Internet implants?

We can’t predict the future. What we can do, is keep up with the present. Hoe well you do it depends on your working style. Are you good at playing catch-up with technology? Find out.

Success, holidays and working styles

We don't need researches to tell us that taking a holiday will improve our work performance. We don't need researches to tell us how it takes a week to shift gears and stop thinking about work, and therefore it's imperative to make your holidays at least 10 days long in order to reap the benefits. We do need researches to tell us whether we're the type of person who can successfully enjoy a holiday, and why.

Enter Working Styles and the Working Style Analysis tool (WSA). The WSA report will tell you almost 50 things you may not have realised about yourself. Among others, it'll predict whether you're the type of person who truly enjoys a holiday.

Although it may be difficult to understand, some people get stressed at a prospect of going away on holiday. Typically, those are the people who have a non-preference in the Variety element of the WSA pyramid. Those with a preference for responsibility might also worry about the work and domestic tasks they're leaving behind. Those with a preference for structure may fear unstructured days ahead.

Are you someone who can truly relax when away on holiday? Find out.

Striving For Excellence

Excellence is not perfection. It's the result of putting quality into everything you do. It's the gradual result of always trying to do better. It's being the best you can be.

Some of the tools that can help you along the way:

• Enthusiasm for your job;
• A can-do attitude;
• A sense of responsibility and pride in your work;
• Taking initiative and owning problems;
• Going the extra mile;
• Understanding your working style.

Do you know the optimal conditions under which you concentrate best? Is the office light too bright? Would you operate better in a smaller team? Find out.

The Coolest Job Ever?

This video claims computer programming is the coolest job ever. For many people, it is indeed their dream job. What about your child? Do they have what it takes to become the next Bill Gates? It may all depend on their Learning Style....

Here is an excerpt from our Learning Style Analysis (LSA) report:

"If you have a preference or a strong preference in 4 or more of the below elements of the LSA Pyramid:


· VISUAL (external)

· VISUAL (words)

· TACTILE (touching)

· MOBILITY (stationary)

· SOCIAL GROUPINGS: ALONE

· TIME OF DAY: evening

· KINESTHETIC (internal),

then you are probably good with computers!"

Is your child a future IT programmer? Find out.

Procrastination, working less and fluorescent lights

Procrastination, working less and fluorescent lights at the office - what do they have in common? They've all been discussed online by Drake Baer, a business writer capable of causing a stir in the workplace.

Among others, he claims that:

• If you work less, you actually achieve more.
• Procrastination can lead to productivity, if you know how to channel it.
• Fluorescent light decreases your work output.

At Creative Learning Systems, we definitely know about office lights. We also understand that some people need more light than others, some people need a warmer office, and some people need a quiet place to work. Our Working Style Analysis tools can pinpoint what time of day is optimal for your productivity, and whether you'll achieve better results working alone or with a friend.

Working Style Analysis - what is your working style? Check it out.

Less Stress + Better Environment = Productivity

The sad reality is that in the current economic climate employees are expected to do more per hour with fewer resources. The result?

• Stress
• Burnout
• Skewed life-work balance
• No productivity gains

Research indicates that true productivity gains can only be achieved through better organisation in the workplace and a kinder atmosphere. This includes:

• Flexible work hours - not only for convenience, but also in recognition of the fact that people concentrate best at different times of day;
• Office light (some people need it bright, others dim);
• The chance to work alone or in groups;
• The opportunity to structure your own tasks.

Imagine if you could save two hours a day by working in an environment optimised to your specific needs.

You can. Working Style Analysis will show you and your boss how you can work smarter, faster, better.
How do you work best? Find out.

Speaking Up In A Meeting

"If you are quiet in a group setting, it doesn't necessarily mean you are shy, but it does mean you might be an introvert," says Michael Woodward, an organizational psychologist in New York. To use Working Style terminology, if your style is Reflective rather than Impulsive, and you're asked a question you haven't considered before, you may experience a lot of activity in your amygdala, the part of the brain that registers fear and processes emotion.

To overcome this biological reaction, it helps if you:

1. Prepare as many ideas, angles and scenarios before the meeting.
2. Practice the words you might say in the meeting. Speak them out loud, repeat them several times until they feel familiar in your mouth.
3. Get to the point as succinctly as possible, but don't rush your words.
4. Sit up straight and speak in a confident manner - often people don't notice what you say, but how.
5. Belly-breathe before the meeting. This will calm you and help you find a deeper timbre to your voice.
6. If you want to introduce your idea in a low-key manner, you might like to use words like "Have we thought about...."
7. If you disagree with something but aren't comfortable with confrontation, say, "Just to play devil's advocate..."

P.S. What is your Working Style?