In the fast-paced world of management, maintaining peak performance is essential. While professional development and continuous learning are crucial, an often-overlooked factor in enhancing management skills is regular exercise. Beyond physical health, exercise offers numerous cognitive and psychological benefits that can significantly improve your ability to manage teams, make decisions, and lead effectively. Here’s how exercise can boost your management skills. 1. Enhanced Cognitive Function Improved Memory and Learning Exercise, whatever type you choose, stimulates the production of growth factors that enhance the health and survival of brain cells and growth of new blood vessels in the brain. This process improves memory and the ability to learn new tasks, which is vital for managers who need to adapt to new challenges and information rapidly. Better Decision-Making Regular physical activity has been known to increase the size of the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. A well-functioning hippocampus improves the brain’s ability to process information quickly and make informed decisions. 2. Stress Reduction Lowers Cortisol Levels Exercise effectively reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Lower cortisol levels help managers to remain calm under pressure, think clearly, and avoid the negative impacts of stress on decision-making and team interactions. Exercise such as swimming is a great stress reliever as you can exercise gently while still burning the same amount of calories. Of course, having your own pool at home makes this activity even more stress-free. Ensure you have the right supplies to keep your pool in the best condition, such as by speaking to pool chemical wholesalers. Enhanced Mood and Emotional Resilience Physical activity works to increase the production of endorphins, often referred to as “feel-good” hormones. This boost in mood can enhance a manager’s ability to handle stressful situations with a positive outlook and greater emotional resilience. 3. Increased Energy Levels Regular exercise especially improves cardiovascular health, which in turn enhances overall energy levels. Managers with higher energy levels are more productive, can work longer hours without fatigue, and maintain a high level of performance throughout the day. 4. Improved Focus and Concentration Enhanced Attention Span Exercise boosts the flow of blood to the brain, which helps to improve concentration and attention span. This is particularly beneficial for managers who need to juggle multiple tasks and maintain focus throughout long meetings and complex projects. Greater Mental Clarity Physical activity can lead to greater mental clarity, allowing managers to think more clearly and strategically. This clarity can improve problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex situations. 5. Better Time Management Discipline and Routine Incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine requires discipline and effective time management. These habits can translate into your professional life, helping you manage your time more efficiently and set priorities more effectively. Increased Productivity Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are more productive. This increased productivity can help managers to accomplish more tasks in less time, leaving more room for strategic thinking and team development. 6. Enhanced Leadership Skills Improved Self-Confidence Regular exercise can improve self-esteem and self-confidence. A confident manager is more likely to inspire and motivate their team, lead effectively, and make bold decisions. Better Communication Exercise often involves social interaction, whether in team sports, group fitness classes, or gym settings. These interactions can enhance a manager’s communication skills, making it easier to connect with team members and stakeholders. 7. Enhanced Creativity Aerobic activities like running or cycling have been shown to boost creativity. This boost is due to increased blood flow to the brain and the release of endorphins, which can lead to a more relaxed and open state of mind....

Being someone’s enemy isn’t exactly what you want to deal with in the workplace. Having a conflict, misunderstanding, or just even rubbing someone the wrong way can put even more stress into your work life. Although this is something every working company is going to experience at some stage, you just need to hope that you are not a part of it. If you are a manager, however, then you may be a top contender for this. Being overly disciplined can lead to staff members resenting or disliking you. This can then lead to a lack of cooperation or respect. It is not a good idea to just counteract your discipline with friendliness. Many, usually new, managers are too afraid to apply discipline for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. Although you might be everyone’s’ friend, it could harm the business. A lack of discipline is something that causes lots of cracks and issues throughout any business. Employees start taking things for granted and their working mentality might be affected. Finding a balance between the two is hard. However, it is something you should strive for in your manager role. Acting in the following manners can help you to apply this. Setting Rules and Protocols From the first day that you are the manager, it is time to get started on this balance. One of the best early decisions you could make is setting rules and protocols within the company. Having a strict list of rules means that you won’t have to make too many disciplinary judgement calls. If someone breaks the rule and the discipline has already been stated, then no one can judge you for being too harsh – you are just abiding by the rules. This can also be the case for the likes of routine checks. You don’t want to feel as if you are targeting employees, so having a scheduled check for everyone can help to avoid this. An example of this could be routine drug and alcohol testing. Start each week by using mobile drug testing that comes to you in your business. Being consistent with this means no one will feel targeted. Hearing Employees Out Employees are not going to agree with everything you say. Although these disagreements are common, you shouldn’t presume they are wrong just because you are the manager. Doing this will bridge a gap between employee equality, and your workers may feel belittled. So, in any instance from appealing a dispute or even just a suggestion, make sure you are hearing people out with open ears. Being Friendly When you are not disciplining someone or needing to act at your most professional, try to be as friendly as you can. Making small talk in the canteen is not going to affect the productivity of your business. What it might do instead is show employees that you are not such a bad person, even if you have had to apply discipline in the past....

If you want to run a successful business and retain a team of dedicated staff members who are competent and who you can trust, then you need to make sure that you’re acting as a good manager as well. What makes a good manager? This is a question which sparks a large amount of debate amongst different people in different industries, which is understandable. However, the fact of the matter is that the elements which make a good manager at the surface level, remain relatively universal. This article is going to discuss in more detail some of the best things that you can do for your staff and your business to show that you’re a good manager. Allow For the Essentials The whole point of being a good manager is to make it so that your employees are happy working for you, and you can trust that they’ll do their jobs efficiently. It becomes harder to guarantee this if you’re not doing your bit too, in the sense that you need to make sure all your employees have access to the essentials in order to do their job. If they’re working from home, then set them up with the right equipment such as phones and laptops that will allow them carry out their roles to a high degree. If the job is office based, then make sure that you create a pleasant office environment which is comfortable and has all the necessities. A lot of business owners struggle with office space given the costs involved, so be sure to reach out to organisations who can provide electricity for small- to mid-size companies at the best price. Get to Know Your Employees Better It’s important that your employees have a voice, which means that you need to be taking the time to speak to them to work out how they feel about their role, the working environment, and your business, allowing them the chance to voice anything that they believe could be done better. You should set time aside for employee evaluations which will give them a chance to communicate effectively with you. You’ll likely learn something from them and be able to do your job better as a result. Even if the criticism is out of your control and there isn’t anything that you can do about it, you can still listen to your employees and acknowledge their comments. This will make them feel a part of the team and like they are a fundamental component to the business rather than just an employee. Be Motivational People don’t want to work for an employer who doesn’t motivate them and inspire them. As such, you need to have passion for your business, and you need to portray that passion in a way that people are going to be able to resonate with. Once you’re someone who people look up to and are proud to work for, you’re going to see much better results from your employees and you’ll cement yourself as a good...

In continuation with “Top 25 Quotes from Womenpreneurs“, we thought of bringing you more awe-inspiring quotes and sayings from successful women in their respective careers, namely “39 Inspirational Quotes from Womenpreneurs.“ Not only these quotes are inspiring, but very practical that have born out of their life experiences. Definitely women who want to get inspired shall utilise these totally relatable and applicable pearls of wisdom in their life changing moments. We present to you “Meryl Streep” first who is legendary and iconic in her own way who has captured millions of women’s hearts not only through her versatile acting but also through her courageous words. Insta – @merylstreep Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook CEO, Author “Knowing that things could be worse should not stop us from trying to make them better.” Insta – @sherylsandeberg Hillary Clinton “Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you’re knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.” “The worst thing that can happen in a democracy–as well as in an individual’s life–is to become cynical about the future and lose hope: that is the end, and we cannot let that happen.” “I think that if you live long enough, you realize that so much of what happens in life is out of your control, but how you respond to it is in your control. That’s what I try to remember.” “Every moment wasted looking back, keeps us from moving forward…In this world and the world of tomorrow, we must go forward together or not at all.” “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can.” “You know, everybody has setbacks in their life, and everybody falls short of whatever goals they might set for themselves. That’s part of living and coming to terms with who you are as a person.” “We need to be as fearless as the women whose stories you have applauded, as committed as the dissidents and the activists you have heard from, as audacious as those who start movements for peace when all seems lost.” “We need to understand that there is no formula for how women should lead their lives. That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and her family. Every woman deserves the chance to realize her God-given potential.” “To every little girl who dreams big: Yes, you can be anything you want — even president.” “Whether I am meant to or not, I challenge assumptions about women. I do make some people uncomfortable, which I’m well aware of, but that’s just part of coming to grips with what I believe is still one of the most important pieces of unfinished business in human history—empowering women to be able to stand up for themselves.” “You have just one life to live. It is yours. Own it, claim it, live it, do the best you can with it.” Insta – @hillaryclinton Eileen Fisher, Clothing designer and founder of Eileen Fisher Inc. “Life-fulfilling work is never about the money- when you feel true passion for something you instinctively find ways to nurture it.” Insta – @aileenfisherny Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Hostess, Producer, Philanthropist “On my own I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, I’ll create something else. I don’t have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.” Insta – @oprahwinfreynetwork Amy Poehler “I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To...

One of the greatest assets of any commercial organization is to be found in its employees. Regardless of business scale or complexity, this remains a fundamental truth. It can also be observed that, throughout each of the past decades, the commercial sector has had to embrace significant social and cultural issues which have quite literally transformed the workplace. From issues of gender and race equality in the 1950s, to the introduction of new technology through subsequent decades, which impacted and replaced parts of the labor force, the employer/employee relationship has been tested with successive challenges. Similarly, the present business environment finds itself challenged by questions of worker health and safety, and rapidly changing business practices, during a once in a lifetime health pandemic. The question becomes: Are there some universal considerations which can assist management in dealing with human issues as they arise? Listen! A conflict left unattended will escalate There is a simple notion that remains constant throughout the years – we each feel the need to be recognized. The simple fact is that every single person, both employers and employees alike, view the world in a different way. Sometimes, it is that simple acknowledgment which diffuses potential conflict. When a problem arises – Listen. Really listen. It is surprising the number of managers who take pride in their listening skills, yet find themselves with an escalating staffing problem. Referral to a local specialized website provides a telling insight into the scale and depth of the industrial dispute issue. In short, a conflict left unattended will invariably escalate. The first step in conflict resolution is putting aside personal thoughts and feelings on a matter, and focusing on hearing and understanding an individual’s problem or concern. Agree on a solution! A conflict left unresolved will escalate If listening is the first step, then the next step is to seek a solution which will reconcile the matter. Clarify with the worker (or workers in a larger industrial dispute) whether you have understood their concerns and correctly ascertained the extent of the problem. Once the problem is understood by both parties, the next step is find a solution or a course of action which removes the concern for the employee, and is mutually acceptable to the employer. The solution may be a simple and straightforward one in the majority of cases. Ensure that talk is supported by action – words are generally not enough to finalize a matter. Quite often the matter is not simply addressed and may require a longer term ‘fix’ which may necessitate procedural, behavioral or cultural change. In this case, ensure that any commitment is honored – set progress milestones and regular meetings if needed. Mediation by a third party In more complex cases, the involvement of a third party may be warranted. This might be a ‘neutral’ party, perhaps chosen by the employee or a senior level manager. If the conflict cannot be resolved in-house, the employment of an external consultant or legal firm may become the next logical step towards mediation and reconciliation. Summary Regardless of employment position or level, people respond best when they are treated as individuals and feel they are being listened to with interest. Taking some time to remind ourselves of these basic understandings often goes a long way to resolving human issues before they compound and...