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The No. 1 mistake ‘even smart people make’ when creating to-do lists, according to a productivity guru

The No. 1 mistake ‘even smart people make’ when creating to-do lists, according to a productivity guru

The biggest waste of time and source of stress in the workplace is chasing our to-do lists. How often have you found yourself chasing after 14 different tasks that keep scurrying down 25 rabbit holes? Every day, most likely. (It’s a lot like that “whack-a-mole” game we used to play as kids. The adult version is not fun.) When it comes to productivity and creating to-do lists, the biggest mistake that even smart people make is focusing too much on their goals and not giving themselves the freedom to take a step back to recalibrate their focus. And those who do attempt to do this often get distracted and allow their thoughts to scatter. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
September 12, 2019
The Managing Stress Practice Manual

The Managing Stress Practice Manual

Stress is increasingly being recognized as a serious problem in the modern workplace. In this practice manual, Neil Thompson uses his decades of experience of helping people tackle stress to provide a clear and helpful guide to the key issues and lays the foundations for a positive and constructive response to the challenges involved. This is an essential guide for anyone wanting to keep pressures within manageable limits. Available for purchase along with many other books by Neil here or from the Avenue Learning Centre here.
Dr Neil Thompson
August 29, 2019
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – You don’t know how I feel

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – You don’t know how I feel

Many people confuse sympathy (sharing the same feelings as someone else) and empathy (being able to recognize someone else’s feelings and being able to respond appropriately, but without necessarily having those feelings ourselves), while others settle for apathy, in a state of semi-burnout. But clearly empathy is what we need to aim for: being able to be supportive of others who are wrestling with emotional issues, but without facing the same emotional challenges ourselves. However, what is very clear is that this is not simply a matter of saying: ‘I know how you feel’. This is a very unhelpful and potentially quite counterproductive way to respond, partly because: (i) we do not know how someone else feels (for example, if…
Dr Neil Thompson
August 29, 2019
How a new technology is fighting workplace discrimination in Germany

How a new technology is fighting workplace discrimination in Germany

More than half of all harassment in German workplaces goes unreported due to fear of repercussions and being disadvantaged against in career progression, according to a report published last year by the Forsa Institut. This 56% includes incidents involving sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying. These statistics were one of the driving factors behind the launch of Lytt, an app aimed at fighting social injustice in Germany’s workplaces. After experiencing workplace discrimination herself, co-founder Lara von Petersdorff-Campen, 24, decided to take action. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
August 29, 2019
G7 leaders told to scrap discriminatory gender laws from statute books

G7 leaders told to scrap discriminatory gender laws from statute books

The G7 leaders have been told to get rid of discriminatory gender laws that still exist on their statute books and begin enshrining equal rights in the legal system. All G7 countries, including the UK, still have discriminatory laws on their statute books or substantial loopholes that allow discrimination, the G7’s gender equality advisory council said at a key summit session attended by all leaders, including the US president, Donald Trump. Discriminatory laws range from the UK’s legal position on child marriage, with children as young as 16 allowed to marry if their parents give consent, to limits on free contraception in Germany, or regressive laws on abortion in certain US states and a lack of federal law guaranteeing paid maternity leave. Click here to…
Dr Neil Thompson
August 29, 2019
The Managing Stress Practice Manual

The Managing Stress Practice Manual

Stress is increasingly being recognized as a serious problem in the modern workplace. In this practice manual, Neil Thompson uses his decades of experience of helping people tackle stress to provide a clear and helpful guide to the key issues and lays the foundations for a positive and constructive response to the challenges involved. This is an essential guide for anyone wanting to keep pressures within manageable limits. Available for purchase along with many other books by Neil here or from the Avenue Learning Centre here.
Dr Neil Thompson
August 15, 2019
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Tolerate silence

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Tolerate silence

In working with people emotions are never very far away. Being able to tune in to other people’s emotions, to be aware of our own and get the balance of head and heart right is often referred to as ‘emotional intelligence’. A key part of this is being able to tolerate silences. When someone is distressed or otherwise in the grip of strong emotions, they may fall silent, and that silence can feel very uncomfortable for us. We can be very tempted to jump in and ask a question or just fill the gap in some way. Understandable though this may be, it can be quite problematic because we are, in effect, giving the person concerned the message that dealing…
Dr Neil Thompson
August 15, 2019