Anna Preston

In the business world, there is a huge misconception regarding what constitutes good leadership. For many, it is a promotion in rank within the company, something that gives you a higher profile and make you a figure of authority. But as the saying goes you are only as good as your team, so a great team leader should view themselves as someone who isn’t simply the boss but also an active member of the team. Here are our 6 steps to a happy project team. Listen A team whose opinion is valued and listened to will be much happier than one where they are not. As project manager, it is important that you put your project management skills into practice and really listen to what your team members have to say. Whether you are in the initial stages of planning the project or are trying to troubleshoot any issues that have come up, one of the members of the team may well have a suggestion that you haven’t considered that could really make a difference. Know your team Everyone in your team has different skills and whilst it is important to make sure that you are using those skills to the best advantage of your project, be aware of those team members who need a little nurturing or would like to gain more skills. You might be able to assign them to a part of the project that will help them develop those skills to help further their career. Helping team members move forward makes them more committed and happier when it comes to future projects. Be a team player Don’t just manage the project, get involved. Being an active member of the team will allow you to see what is really going on, it will make you more approachable and will also allow you to see when things might be heading for a problem. It’s good for you and great for the team; everyone is happier when they find the person in charge more approachable. Compliment When someone does a great piece of work on the project compliment them, each project that you tackle is made up of lots of stages, some will be harder than others, so take the time to show your team how much you value all their hard work, both on an individual basis and as a team effort. Educate Make sure that all the members of your team know how to use any project management software you will be using during the project. If they don’t then make sure they have the appropriate training, it will help them to complete the work and also offer them some valuable skills they will be able to use in the future. Monitor Keep an eye on what is going on with the project but remember there is no need to step in unless there are any major issues, you have a plan stick to it. This is a great opportunity to put those project management qualifications to good use and trust that the plan you have laid out can be completed by your team, and that they will come to you with issues.

Whether you live alone by choice or because of circumstances it can be lonely; it can also have its advantages as well. Unfortunately for many people the loneliness that is felt from living alone can sometimes out weight those advantages, and whilst a little loneliness is only natural it is important to make sure that you do not slip into a feeling constant loneliness. There are a number of ways in which you can avoid loneliness and we have put together a list of 4 ways in which you might be able to achieve this. 1.Make time to leave the house It is important to make sure that you socialise with other people, this will really help to keep the feelings of loneliness at bay, at least during the day. This is however not always very possible. If you are elderly or have low mobility then out and about can be incredibly difficult. If you have in home care, then it might be possible that they can help you arrange to get out, perhaps to a local senior’s club where you will be able to interact with others and get involved in activities. 2.Pets Pets can make great companions especially when you live alone, they give some degree of routine and structure to your day and someone to look after. For many older people a cat is the pet of choice as they are a little bit more independent and do not require walking but if you enjoy a gentle stroll then a dog can make a great pet as well. 3.Meet up with friends Make time for your friends, whether you find somewhere to meet up together in a cafe or visit each other’s homes keeping in touch with your friends is a great way to combat loneliness. It may be that you have friends who also live on their own and feel lonely and would welcome the company. 4.Let in the light It’s a very simple, but equally important, thing that you can do make sure you let the light into your home. If your home Is bright then you will feel happier – natural daylight is a real mood booster. It might be tempting to keep the curtains closed and shut yourself off from the world but don’t. Throw the curtains open and let the light in. Many older people find themselves living alone when their children leave home and their spouse has passed away. Often they don’t see anyone for several days and this can be incredibly lonely, it may be that they are struggling with normal everyday tasks but don’t want to burden anyone and don’t want to go into a home. If so, live in care is a very viable option that can allow them to keep their home and the life they have but with some extra help.

Winter can bring some real challenges with it, the nights get darker sooner, the weather is colder, and the roads and pavements are a little icier. Winter can be especially difficult for the elderly, especially as the cold can really affect them and bad weather can often make it difficult for them to leave the house to meet up with friends or attend social clubs leaving them lonely and isolated. A

Find out useful tips to get you started in the world of vlogging, the latest way to share your thoughts and feelings on social media. Blogging was the hot ticket in social media not so long ago. Even now blogging is extremely popular and people love blogs. However, consumers now love visual stimulus, which is why Instagram has become so popular. Because of this, blogging has taken second place to vlogging in the hearts of social media followers. Vlogging is basically video blogging and vloggers will record a video and place it on their social media sites for the world to see. It is as easy as that, the only thing you need to know now is how to get yourself started so that you can share what you have to say with the world: Who Is Your Competition? Check out the competition so you can see how other vloggers are doing it. What do they use to vlog? How long are their vlogs? How do they connect with you when you watch their video? Plan Vlogs are rarely just filmed without some planning first. What is it you want to say? Plan the video out so that you get all the key points you want to make met. Invest In Basic Equipment You don't have to spend a lot of money to set yourself set up vlogging. Consider getting a good second hand camera that creates good video quality. You should also have a tripod for stability and you will need something to edit your videos on. But you don't have to spend money on the latest equipment, even second hand goods can work fine for a primary setup. Check Out Penalisation Sites like Youtube penalise things like swearing so it is worth checking what will get you penalised when you upload. Lots of vlogging guides tell you to be yourself but that doesn't always work if the site you upload to has strict rules on content. Engage Engagement is key when it comes to building a vlogging community. The more your community engages with your content the more you will be rewarded by the site you are on when it comes to exposure and in some cases, monetisation. Instagram's algorithm this year was heavily based on content engagement and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Not only do people need to be viewing your videos but they need to be commenting underneath it and actively subscribing. You should try to reply to comments and make your followers feel like you care and notice them, that is how you build a brand. Need Somewhere To Vlog? If you find that your house doesn't have the space for your vlogging equipment, or your actual filming, why not consider cheap self storage? A cheap self storage unit (e.g. from Storing.com) can provide you with the space to film, set up backgrounds and demonstrations. It can also provide you with the security to keep your camera and vlogging equipment safe and free from harm inbetween your filming sessions. It could be exactly what you need to get your new vlogging hobby off the ground.

Most of us dread interviews but when you’re the one conducting the interview and the person you’re interviewing is going to be responsible for the daily care of a loved one it can be even more daunting. How do you assess if someone is going to be a good fit for your family? Can you be sure that they will provide good care? What should you ask? According to the Live in Care Hub many people are asking the wrong questions or forgetting to ask about the important issues. This might seem like a daunting list, but not all of the questions will be relevant to all families. Don’t be afraid to ask about specific scenarios either. For example, if you know your elderly relative is likely to wander off then ask your prospective carer how they would handle the situation so you can determine if they would provide the right level of care. Make sure they understand their duties What a live-in carer is expected to do can vary from placement to placement so make sure you ask: • Are you happy to clean? (and how much!) • Are you able to cook? (and how often, can they deal with dietary requirements) • Are you willing to provide personal care? (such as assisting with toileting and bathing) • Will you be able to get up in the night? • Can you walk the dog/empty the cat’s litter tray or other pet care? Get to know them as a person A good live in carer will have similar interests to you or your relative so that they can provide a degree of companionship. They only way to find out is to ask: • What attracts you to being a live in carer? • What are your hobbies and interests? • Can you drive? Are you willing and able to use your car to transport your client? • Would you be happy to travel with your client? Learn about their work experience Many carers have decided to become live in carers after a career in similar jobs such as childcare or nursing. Explore their experience to ensure you think they are able to cope with you or your relative. It is important to ask about specific issues – for example if your loved one has dementia then you need to quiz prospective carers on their understanding of the condition. • What experience do you have of live in care? • Do you have any formal training? • What is your understanding of …. (e.g. dementia)? • Do you know how to use a … (e.g. a hoist)? Check the qualifications Always ask to see evidence of qualifications and certifications – a genuine carer will have no difficulty in providing the paperwork! • Do you have an up-to-date DBS check? • Can you provide a reference from your last position? (Ideally, they should be able to provide two or more references).

If your relative is struggling with memory loss, mobility issues or other health problems this will dictate and limit what you can get for them. Generally speaking some of the best gifts you can give are those which remind them of past times and family members and which are easy to handle. A Big Colouring Book Colouring is not just for children anymore. There are lots of colouring books for adults on the market now, some of which will depict certain themes or reflect favourite TV shows and others will be a collection of simple images like flowers or butterflies. Colouring in, providing the book contains no difficult or complicated pictures, is a way to help the person feel calm and relaxed. Give them a set of large, brightly coloured pens or pencils to go with the book. Automatic Pill Dispenser A gift like this, preferably one that has an automated timer built in, is invaluable for dementia sufferers who can easily forget dosages and time spans. A battery operated dispenser which issues alerts when it’s time for a pill protects against accidental overdose or missed doses. It can also be of great assistance to a live-in carer for the same reasons. A Soft Blanket A brightly coloured blanket or throw in luxurious cashmere, fleece, velvet or chenille provides essential sensory stimulation which helps promote calmness and comfort. And of course it helps to keep the recipient warm which is something many elderly people have an issue with. A Twiddle Muff Research has shown that people with dementia or Alzheimer’s have a need to constantly wring their hands and twist their fingers as a sign of anxiety and confusion. Twiddle muffs are usually knitted from wools of different textures and decorated with things like buttons and bows, small soft toys, tassels and pom-poms. A twiddle muff is useful because it gives a sufferer something to do with their hands which helps to calm and soothe them. They are put together exactly like the hand-warming muffs that fashionable ladies used to carry in cold weather. A moderately experienced knitter could make one of these in a weekend. Alternatively, any kind of soft, tactile fidget toy will serve the same purpose. A Doll or Stuffed Toy These may seem like odd things to give an adult but many dementia sufferers find comfort in cuddling a doll or stuffed animal. Give the Gift of Music Music helps people with dementia-related memory loss by stimulating the brain and helping to remember times gone by. It can also help them to re-connect with family and friends in a way that nothing else can. Buy a cheap standalone turntable and scour the internet or vinyl record shops for old albums full of music from their favourite era. Or make up a few mixed CDs with their favourite tunes and present them with a portable CD player. As research by the Live-in Care Hub has found there is as yet no cure for dementia but anything you can do to make it easier for your loved ones to cope with it is welcome.

Hard power is a term that most are familiar with, it is the use of economic power and force as both a reward and a penalty, the problem is it can be hard to work with others effectively when there are no incentives. Soft power, a term coined by Joseph S. Nye, refers to a gentler form of persuasion, one that has at least an equally valuable use in the organisational setting. The role of a project manager is always to get tasks done in a timely manner and bring them in on budget and to the appropriate specification. Yet they are often given little formal power in order to do this. Soft power, learnt in some project management courses, can therefore be a vital tool in any project managers arsenal. What is soft power? Soft power is a great tool which offers a number of different negotiating techniques. In order to use it to your advantage you need to have integrity in what you do, if you carry out your role with integrity you will see long-term results. It also means being helpful, without expecting anything in return; in time you will receive as you have given. It's everything that you would essentially want in a good team member, getting to know other team members, listening, being polite and personable, and sharing your knowledge where you have information that can help someone else. Soft power will really help a team to work together more effectively sharing their knowledge and expertise to work towards a common goal – it’s what great teamwork is made of. Don’t underestimate it Soft power sounds so simple – and to some extent it is – but it is important that you don’t underestimate it, it is a very strong form of power. If you use hard power, you always run the risk of running into someone who wields a greater power than you do. Economic power is another approach that you may prefer, and it might work, until you meet the person with more financial power than you have. Soft power is completely different, using your project management skills to organise your project workload and the team members is one thing but in order to make this work so that your project can achieve its best results you need to make friends with your team members. In turn, they will trust you that little bit more, ideas will be more readily shared, workloads spread more evenly, and the end result will be the creation a more positive working environment which will yield great results. As a project manager it is worth remembering that you still need to be able to drive your project, ensuring all those important deadlines are met and any unexpected issues resolved. Friendships with your team are great but you need to make sure that work is still being completed.

Your moving experience could be less stressful and more convenient with cheap self storage. Read on to find out how this amazing service could benefit you. Moving can be so stressful, and having a cheap self storage provider who doesn't meet your needs can add to that stress even more. Because you deserve the least possible stress on your moving day, it makes sense to consider your self storage long before you move. There are many things to consider, and lots of questions to ask, but with the right amount of research you can get an excellent deal. Take a look at these tips to help you get the best value self storage for your needs: Ask For Reviews Whether you ask somebody you know who has used the unit for their honest opinion, or you look online, the truth will be out there. A businesses reputation always precedes them, so doing your research in this way will help you find out exactly how the company treats people. Look For Financial Issues Sometimes if a unit has struggled with their finances they may have begun to give out bad service to their customers to try and survive. This can be a red flag unless the company has recently been taken over. Are They Offering Everything They Should Be? Although every unit will be different, most will have some basic points you can compare such as: ● Insurance ● Keyholder rules ● Unit condition ● Security of your unit and the whole facility ● Access ● Location ● Advice from customer service representatives ● Contracts Do You Prefer Bigger Or Smaller Facilities? Huge facilities with bells and whistles can suit some people who want a faceless experience with a business. A practical experience where you get a good unit that is secure and you can come and go as you please. Storing.com is a well-known and reliable storage company. Some prefer a more family-run unit which is more personal and where staff will likely get to know you as you come and go. Although you may not get bells and whistles with these units you may get a more personal experience with dedicated staff who genuinely care about the experience you have. Which is best for you depends on your preference and it is worth visiting both types of unit. How Do You need To Use The Unit? It may be that you are moving house soon and need the unit for a short period to help with keeping space to redecorate or renovate. Or to help with somewhere to keep items until you have settled in. It may be that you need a long term unit to help with the initial move, and then to store items for extra space. How you use the unit will determine on the type of unit you need. There might be a good deal on a unit five minutes from home with 24/7 reception and lots of other features. But if you just need to place items in self storage once, and then get them out again at a later date, you don't necessarily need to pay for all those extra services. Research Well In Advance In all cases, the earlier you can research your units the better so you don't end up choosing a unit from desperation. If you are forced to choose quickly you could choose a unit way more expensive, and less of a good deal than you would get if you started looking early. Storing.com area tried and trusted provider, see their website for more options here. This facility will be caring for your beloved belongings so it is worth it to do your research well in advance of your move. At the very least, by planning in advance, it is one less thing to worry about come moving day!

What to wear when you are working as a live-in carer is not something you may consider at first but as the time is approaching for you to begin work in your new homecare role, you may find yourself suddenly stuck as to what clothes are and aren’t appropriate for you to take with you in to your new role. As a live-in carer, it is unlikely that you will have any kind of official uniform as that idea can be very off putting for clients who want to feel more at home with their carer. Therefore you will need to think about the clothes you wear during your working hours very carefully. Comfort over style The day of a live-in carer is a busy one and you will not want to spend your days in tight or uncomfortable clothing as this will distract you from your actual duties. Choose clothes that you will be comfortable in for an entire day. Wearing clothes which you can layer is a good idea as you may find yourself getting warmer doing certain tasks such as cleaning, and you won’t want to be getting changed several times a day as that will leave you with less time to get all of your tasks completed. Be practical Practicality in the clothes you choose to wear is essential in what can often be quite a physical job. You need clothes that you can move freely in, but at the same time are not so loose and baggy that they pose a risk from catching on furniture of mobility equipment you may be working with. If your duties will include household chores then you will need to wear clothes which you don’t mind getting dirty. It is also a good idea to invest in clothes which wash well and dry quickly so that you always have a selection of clean clothes available should you need them. Keep it simple It is important to remember that everyone’s personal style is different, and while that is perfectly acceptable, it is important to remember that overly garish or clothes with large slogans on may not be appropriate to wear in your client’s home. Your role is to help your client remain comfortable in their own home and clothing which may be offensive or wildly different to the client’s own personal style may not make them feel comfortable. Keep colours and patterns simple and save your more vibrant outfits for your days off. Shoes Flat shoes are essential for any role in care. According to Live-in Care Hub, carers may spend anywhere up to 10 hours a day on their feet, so comfortable, practical shoes are essential. As you will be in someone else’s home, it is a good idea to have outdoor and indoor shoes to ensure that you keep the floors and carpets of the home clean. You may be able to wear slippers in the home, but if you are working with any kind of mobility equipment, this is not practical and may be against the health and safety policies of your home care agency.