Tag: Stress & Resilience

You might have read about Elon Musk’s working style, right? He is a renowned inspiration to many aspiring CEOs and junior staff. Did you know that Elon works very hard, at least 100 hours a week? In fact, many times, he goes long hours for weeks without leaving work to rest instead he would sleep on the floor in the factory. From a common man’s boss or worker, this sounds quite impressive that every company would rush for such a hard-working individual, but wait a minute, think of it this way, Not trying to say that being invested in your job is a bad idea, but it’s worth noting that it has both good and bad sides to it. On one hand, your passion propels you to perform and succeed. On the other, being overly attached to work can drag you down, drain your energy and affect your confidence.

Here are some signs to watch out for and what to do about them;

1. You let workflow into your personal life or home.

When the urge to over deliver and impress your employer overrides your off-work time and emotional wellbeing. This is when working more makes you feel good about yourself thus you try to prove your worth by working more even when you need a break at home. This sometimes goes unnoticeable but hugely impacts your health and work life balance.

2. You get offended by criticism or negative feedback against your work

When you find yourself feeling angry, sidelined, demoralized and insecure upon receiving feedback that seems negative on your hard work. It may be a comment from your boss, this makes you become preoccupied by people’s opinions hence you develop fear of uncertainty on how people think of you.

3. When suddenly, your job tittle becomes your identity off work.

When you allow your job to define who you are in a society. People know you not for who you are but for what you do for your organization. This is a perilous place to be because it makes you insecure and in fear of losing your job since your self-worth is pegged on your job title.

4. When you want to please everyone at work

It’s nowadays common to say, ‘your job is your second home” But this is not true. Sometimes you feel the need to put other people’s needs before yours or think that by solving other people’s problems, you become their hero. This also manifests when you fear expressing your challenges or asking for help because you feel like this will make you appear week or incompetent. 

A little physical and emotional distance from your job can go a long way in improving your wellbeing. Sometimes it can be doing what you enjoy besides work and be good at them. This can be taking part in a hobby, exercise, community service or doing anything that will take your mind off your job.

Remember, your work does not define you, it’s only what you do.

Did you know that I&M Bank is among the best banks in kenya and could be one of the best place to bank and even work? Check out some of opportunities you can apply for.

Also read; Stress & Resilience; The Perfect Balance in the Workplace

By Omido Joshua

Choosing the right banking partner is more than just interest rates and lending options. Modern day businesses need the financial flexibility to keep up in a highly digital global economy that is often dynamic and moves fast. Organisations need banks that offer the support, services and flexibility required to drive and sustain growth.

Five key thinks to look can be as below:

Look for their digital banking options

Convenience and accessibility for financial services is paramount to have a sustainable business model. As the society moves fast enabled by cloud-based services, web and mobile apps, organisations also have to keep up with their back-office systems fast and efficiently. If the only way to engage your banking partner is in person, then that’s a wrong choice for your business as your employees will waste a lot of time back and forth to access these basic banking services. Checkout how I&M OTG Business has made banking convenient.

Look out for their global reach

Digital technologies are breaking down traditional barriers between customers and businesses, including geographic issues. Customers can interact with brands in new, more intuitive ways; thus organizations need financial institutions that operate across national borders & across the globe. This could make your operations much easier in the event your business expands to other geographies and with services like, I&M Brisk, it is one less headache for your business to look for a banking partner.

Analyse their range of services

Advisory options for corporate banking customers are invaluable, but only if they are accompanied by flexible service models that give businesses a wide range of solutions from which to choose. Don't neglect the full range of services available from a banking partner, as businesses today are increasingly pulled in many directions at once. You may need to bolster growth in one part of your organization while becoming conservative in your investments elsewhere. It is therefore noteworthy for one to look for a bank that blends investment advisory, Insurance advisory, lending options and other corporate-focused services than those that provide basic financing solutions only.

Look out for services based on need

Most organizations struggle with making sense of how different service offerings impact their business models without fully understanding how banking, insurance, wealth management and legal issues come together to impact their situation in terms of profitability, growth, and financial liquidity. Banks that offer needs-based services help organizations understand the holistic circumstances around their financial health situation and make the best decisions possible. Ultimately, businesses should look for a bank that sets itself apart because it is ultimately standing out based on relationships and advice, not products and interest rates.

Look for specialized advisory services

Look for a bank that will advise you on services and lending options that will foster growth. Most banks offer some basic advice on the best uses of different account and loan types, but the approach often focuses on providing enough details to push a customer to a decision. Businesses face varied demands depending on the specifics of their industry and market at a given time. In particular, focus on identifying if a bank you are considering offers advisors with specialized knowledge for your industry to go along with general banking expertise.

Did you know that I&M Bank is one of the best banks in kenya that offers industry based financial advisory services like insurance, credit and wealth management services? Find our more here.

By Omido Joshua

Stress in its simplest definition is the physical, emotional and mental reaction to what is going on around you. While it has become a common occurrence in this modern world, it is something that can be managed given the right reaction, understanding and support.

The current local and global events are having an impact on everyone be it the high prices, lack of commodities or insecurity and with this comes a lot of stress which eventually finds its way into the workplace. Stress resilience is very key right now because it allows employees to skill-fully adapt to the changes while at the same time keeping a healthy mental balance and focus which does not affect their productivity or performance.

Stress in the workplace needs to be managed well because every employee is key to the successful running of any business. These are just a few of the main causes of stress in many offices

The Workplace Organisational Culture

If you find it difficult to interact with your bosses or colleagues, then it will be next to impossible to have any work done and you will be stressed. There must be a very well defined, interactive and open communication channel that everyone feels comfortable to tap into at any time.

Job Content and Demands

Are you constantly feeling under pressure to meet deadlines or maybe feel like everything is collapsing around you? This is a clear sign of stress and the best way to manage it, is to pace yourself. Create a good work plan with mental breaks and most of all a few minutes of pure silence to reboot and get your brain running fresh again.

Role Conflict

Finding yourself working in a department or role that you did not interview for or feel overqualified for may bring stress. We grow when we are working in the positions that we are best qualified and skilled in and making unwelcome changes without consultation will often throw people off balance and greatly reduce work productivity.

Poor Workplace Relationships

Work is like a second home, and everyone needs to get along, seeing that we spend many hours under the same roof. If there are any disagreements and issues, resentment can arise affecting a person’s productivity positive energy and most of all joy in the role. Everyone must feel appreciated and part of the company, any form of discrimination or tension can create conflict that must be avoided.

Did you know that I&M Bank is among the best banks in kenya and could be one of the best place to bank and even work? Check out some of opportunities you can apply for.

Conclusion

Having a positive mental outlook will go a long way is helping you to become resilient to the various stressors around us. We cannot avoid stress, but we can find ways to handle and manage it in a way that does not affect the normal running of the business or important work relationships. How we deal with stress will help us become resilient to it.

Start by getting a good night’s sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, find someone that you can talk to when things feel out of hand, keep a positive outlook to life and most of all be grateful for what you have. Thanksgiving has a way of making one realise that it is not as bad as it seems, because if you checked keenly someone out there has it worse off than you.

Self-care starts with you and then spreads out to your colleagues and then creates a healthy stress-free workplace.

By Omido Joshua

Investing can be a great way to grow your wealth over time, but it can also be a bit intimidating for those who are new to it. Here are a few basic steps you can take to get started on your investing journey:

1. Set your goals.

The first step in any investment strategy is to determine your financial goals. Are you saving for a down payment on a house? Do you want to have a nest egg for retirement? Are you looking for a short-term investment to generate some extra cash? Knowing what you want to achieve will help you determine how much to invest, what types of investments to consider, and how long you're willing to wait to see a return on your investment.

2. Understand the types of investments.

There are many different types of investments to choose from, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and more. It's important to understand the basics of each type of investment and how they work, as well as their potential risks and rewards. For example, stocks tend to be more volatile and can provide higher returns over the long-term, while bonds are generally considered to be less risky and provide more stable, albeit lower, returns.

3. Diversify your portfolio.

Diversification is key when it comes to investing. By spreading your money across different types of investments, you can reduce your overall risk. This is because different types of investments tend to perform differently depending on the economic climate. For example, if the stock market is performing poorly, bonds may still be providing returns, which can help to cushion the blow.

4. Research before investing.

It's important to do your own research before investing in any particular stock or fund. You should look at the company's financial statements, understand their business model, and stay up-to-date on any news or developments that might affect the company's performance.

5. Be patient.

Investing is a long-term game, and it's important to be patient and to stick to your investment strategy, even during times of market volatility. Remember that the stock market will go through ups and downs, but over the long term, it has a tendency to increase in value.

6. Start small

You don't need a lot of money to start investing. Many investment platforms allow you to start investing with a small amount of money and purchase fractional shares.

7. Review and rebalance.

Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio to make sure that it still aligns with your investment goals and risk tolerance. This will help you stay on track to achieve your financial goals, and also ensures that you are not taking on more risk than you can handle.

Investing can be a great way to grow your wealth over time, but it's important to remember that there are risks involved. By following these basic steps, you can get started on your investing journey and take the first step towards building your financial future.

Remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results. It's also important to consult professional financial advisors like I&M Burbidge Capital before making any investment decisions.

By Omido Joshua