Talking about oceans and wellbeing with Natalie Jones, Seasick Sunscreen Co.

Linda

The realisation that sunscreen chemicals and plastic bottles are contributing to ocean pollution hit Natalie Jones, founder of Seasick Sunscreen Co, some years ago when on a snorkelling trip in Hawaii.

As a long time environmentalist/conservationist Natalie (Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa) was concerned to learn that the sunscreen she used on a daily basis could be damaging the coral reef and wildlife she was swimming with.

How then to have an effective sunscreen while limiting impact on the reef environment?  For Natalie, the answer was to return home and begin researching how to make a better product.

The result is Seasick Sunscreen Co – a social enterprise on a mission to be Aotearoa’s most sustainable sunscreen brand.  After much experimentation, trialling and tweaking Natalie created a sunscreen formula made with just seven naturally-derived ingredients including non-nano zinc oxide.

As well as containing no animal products, Seasick Sunscreen Co has been independently certified as providing broad spectrum SPF30 protection.

As a social enterprise,  two percent of Seasick Sunscreen Co’s income is donated to ocean conservation projects such as Wellington’s Love Rimurimu Project, piloting the regeneration of kelp forests around Aotearoa’s takutai (coastline).

Like all beginning businesses Natalie has faced challenges and is candid about how the journey from idea, to start up, to self-supporting sustainable business has not always been smooth.

Seasick Sunscreen Co began as a sidegig whilst Natalie worked a full time job in conservation along with studying.  She had to contend with learning the ins-and-outs of doing all the things a sole trader has to manage – product development, production, marketing, social media, sales and associated administration, as well as submitting product for the rigorous certification process.

Eventually Natalie reached a junction, needing to decide on growing the business or keeping it as a hobby business.  She took the step of leaving her full time employment and was accepted into Kōkiri, the business accelerator programme for Māori entrepreneurs.  With encouragement from the course participants and her mentors Natalie then took the step of upscaling her business and outsourcing production.

However the adrenaline buzz new businesses experience in the early days of setting up is, as Natalie found, not sustainable.  For all businesses there comes a plateau point when an analytical eye needs to be cast over the future of the business.  Natalie admits to reaching a crossroads after planned progress did not proceed as intended and resulted in a highly stressful situation. Natalie refers to this as her “long, dark night of the soul” and is something most, if not all, entrepreneurs can relate to!

The support received from the contacts she had made through Kōkiri, and the wider Wellington small business networks gave Natalie the perspective and strength to deal with the problems and continue growing her business.

“I defined what my success looks like and part of that is looking after my hauora and wellbeing.  If I’m feeling healthy and balanced, for me, that’s what my success looks like”

Ahead of the UN World Oceans Day on the 8th June we sat down to have a kōrero with Natalie about the health of our oceans and looking after yourself as a sole trader business.

Want to know more about the importance of our marine environment and how you can take steps to care for it?
Check out some of these resources from Wellington City Libraries collections

Help for Kelp
This winter, baby giant kelp is being planted into Wellington Harbour / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where great seaweed forests once thrived.  North and South, June 2023 : P 16-17
Accessible through Libby Magazines

The Kelp
Where do young sea creatures spend their first weeks? What’s at the root of oceanic food chains? Kelp forests are to Aotearoa what coral reefs are to other marine ecosystems. Or they used to be.
NZ Geographic Issue 176 Jul-Aug 2022

For further reading on the impact of sunscreen on marine environments search in our range of
Science & technology/Pūtaiao me ngā hangarau databases.

In the Wellington City Libraries book collections you can find the following books on marine life and reefs and

Life on the rocks : building a future for coral reefs / Berwald, Juli
“Coral reefs are a microcosm of our planet: wondrously diverse, deeply interconnected, and critically imperilled. They sustain entire ecosystems and protect vulnerable coasts. But corals across the planet are in the middle of an unprecedented die-off, beset by warming oceans, pollution, human damage, and their own devastating pandemic. Even under stress, they are out-of-this world gorgeous, sending out warning flares in fluorescent bursts of yellow, pink, and indigo. Juli Berwald fell in love with coral reefs as a marine biology student, entranced by their beauty and complexity. While she was concerned by bleaching events and coral disease, she didn’t fully understand what a dead reef meant until she experienced one on a dive: barren, decaying, and coated in slime. Deeply alarmed, she travelled the world desperate to discover how to prevent their loss. Life on the Rocks is a meditative ode to the reefs and the undaunted scientists working to save them against almost impossible odds. Berwald explores what it means to keep fighting a battle that can’t be won, contemplating the inevitable grief of climate change and the beauty of small victories”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Future sea : how to rescue and protect the world’s oceans / Wright, Deborah Rowan
“Rather than continue to focus on discrete, geographically bounded bodies of water, ocean advocate and marine-policy researcher Deborah Wright urges a Plan Sea, which reimagines the oceans as the continuous ecosystem it is, not disconnected buckets of salt and plankton. This book proposes that the global marine environment be protected under the precautionary principle. It argues that the policy framework for such protection already exists — it just needs to be enforced. In a series of case studies, with first-person vignettes woven throughout, Wright encourages us to begin every conversation about ocean policy with the assumption that any extractive or polluting activities in the world’s oceans should require special permission. Her argument invokes the Public Trust Doctrine already embedded in many constitutions, and hinges on the Law of the Sea, which was established by the U.N. in 1982 to protect the “high seas,” or the remote parts of the ocean considered international waters. To some, Wright’s plan may seem idealistic, but its audacity might also be seen as a welcome nudge to our collective imagination. Many scientists are convinced that ocean ecosystems are on the brink of collapse — there’s something to be said, then, for a book that’s radical enough to unlock new thinking about what might be possible, and maybe necessary, in terms of their protection”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Blue new deal : why we need a new politics for the ocean / Armstrong, Chris
“The ocean sustains life on our planet, from absorbing carbon to regulating temperatures, and, as we exhaust the resources to be found on land, it is becoming central to the global market. But today we are facing two urgent challenges at sea: massive environmental destruction, and spiralling inequality in the ocean economy. Chris Armstrong reveals how existing governing institutions are failing to respond to the most pressing problems of our time, arguing that we must do better. Armstrong examines these crises–from the fate of people whose lands will be submerged by sea level rise, to the exploitation of people working in fishing, to the rights of marine animals–and makes the case for a powerful World Ocean Authority capable of tackling them. A Blue New Deal presents a radical manifesto for putting equality, democracy, and sustainability at the heart of ocean politics”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Saving the reef / Lloyd, Rohan
“While in the past Australians wrestled with what the Reef is, today they are struggling to reconcile what it will be… To do this, we need to understand the Reef’s intertwining human story. The Great Barrier Reef has come to dominate Australian imaginations and global environmental politics. In Saving the Reef, environmental historian Rohan Lloyd charts the social history of Australia’s most prized yet vulnerable environment, from the relationship between First Nations peoples and colonial settlers, to the Reef’s most portentous moment – the Save the Reef campaign launched in the 1960s. Through this gripping historical narrative and interwoven contemporary essays, Lloyd reveals how the scale of damage caused to the Reef has forced twenty-first century Australia to reconsider what ‘saving’ the Reef really means.” (Catalogue)

Your life, your planet : what you can do right now / Ebbs, Geoff
“Your Life, Your Planet is the toolkit and the manual that you need to nurture yourself – and the environment that nurtures you. It is full of tips that will help you to reduce your environmental footprint and enjoy a healthier and more satisfying life. A century and more of incredible growth and consumerism has been and is dangerously damaging our environment and has taught us that we ultimately depend on each other and the natural systems that provide our air, water, food, shelter and clothing. Unless we take personal responsibility and look after ourselves, each other and the natural world in a balanced and harmonious manner, the situation has little chance of improving. In order to tackle issues such as carbon emissions, our fossil fuel dependency, plastic and other pollution, and species loss, we need to actively engage with the people and the world around us and address the habitual way we seek convenience and ease. In doing this this, we will not only reduce our environmental footprint, but we will take the first steps toward Cat Greens ideal of converting our homes from centres of rampant consumption to hubs of environmentally friendly production.” (Catalogue)

On the WCL movie streaming platforms Beamafilm and Kanopy (accessible with library registration and login) you will find the following documentaries of interest.

Blue
Duration:  1 h 16 min
Country: Australia
Rating: PG
Year of Release: 2017
Half of all marine life has been lost in the last 40 years. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. The way the ocean operates is different to how we thought of it 100 years ago. We can no longer think of it as a place of limitless resources, a dumping ground, immune to change or decline. BLUE takes us on a provocative journey into the ocean realm, witnessing a critical moment in time when the marine world is on a precipice. Featuring passionate advocates for ocean preservation, BLUE takes us into their world where the story of our changing ocean is unfolding. We meet those who are defending habitats, campaigning for smarter fishing, combating marine pollution and fighting for the protection of keystone species. This feature documentary comes at a time when we are making critical decisions that will decide the legacy we leave for generations to come. BLUE shows us there is a way forward and the time to act is now.

Revolution: The Fight to Save Our Oceans
Released 2015, Duration : 1hr 22min
In this multi-award-winning film, Rob Stewart embarks on a global journey to uncover the grave dangers threatening the world’s oceans — and ultimately, humanity — as well as to learn what it will take to reverse the challenges to life on earth.

From the coral reefs in Papua New Guinea to the rainforests of Madagascar, Stewart’s travels reveal that our fate is tied to even the smallest of creatures. Stunning scenes of underwater sea life bring viewers face to face with sharks and lemurs, into the microscopic world of the pygmy seahorse, and on the hunt with the deadly flamboyant cuttlefish.

The Urban Ocean: Human Impact on Marine Life
2018, Duration : 35min
Our high-tech use of the ocean for food, transportation, and energy has far-reaching effects, particularly on certain species. Focusing on issues from noise pollution to microplastics, we can mitigate our impact to provide better futures for ourselves as well as for marine life. The work begins with understanding the extent of our true impacts.

For a business owner, particularly a sole operator, workloads can be high and burnout a reality.
Check out the resources offered in the following blogs :

Stages of burnout, triggers and warning signs by guest author Jess Stuart and Burnout

Startup Founder Burnout Rates Are Alarmingly High: What’s the Solution?
Startup founders often sacrifice their personal life by working tirelessly in exchange for rewards they hope to reap down the road. Progress in business often comes at a steep cost. The currency with which an entrepreneur pays to grow his or her business is invaluable—sleep, time with loved ones, rest and relaxation, and, eventually, mental and physical health.  In this article, we’ll explain some burnout mitigation strategies and highlight the benefits they can offer to entrepreneurs.

Dark nights of the soul : a guide to finding your way through life’s ordeals / Moore, Thomas
“Thomas Moore explores contemporary anxieties and securities to guide you through life’s ordeals” (Catalogue)

 

 

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Becoming a sustainable business

Linda

The following blog post has been reproduced, with minor adaptations,  from resources provided by the Sustainable Business Network, with their kind permission.

Why should my business become more sustainable?

Sustainability is, fundamentally, the ability to continue doing something, long term.

For businesses this means earning enough to survive, grow and support your staff, while improving the world around you. It includes what you do – the products and services you sell – and how you do it.

The Sustainable Business Network focuses on three main aspects of this: acting on climate change, designing out waste and regenerating nature.

The business case for sustainability is clear.

Reach more customers…

According to recent Kantar Better Futures reports, which survey New Zealand households:

  • 48% have deliberately switched to a brand/service provider which is more sustainable
  • 36% said they were committed to living more sustainably
  • 38% express selected climate change as an issue of concern
  • 29% were actively seeking out ‘do good’ brands and were prepared to invest their time for these companies
  • the build up of plastic in the environment, over packaging, non-recyclable packaging and landfill were among the top 10 concerns

In addition, business buyers, including some of the big players like supermarkets and large retail chains, are increasingly including sustainability requirements into their policies on what they buy, and from whom.

…including overseas

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development says sustainable business will be worth $12 trillion a year by 2030.

Cut costs

Sustainable business is efficient business. Wherever you apply sustainability thinking, savings can be found. For example:

  • an energy-efficient office spends about 20% less on energy bills
  • sending waste to landfill can be a costly business – you can save up to $200 by reducing a tonne of commercial rubbish
  • The sustainability initiatives introduced by Soar Print over the past 11 years have saved more than $200,000 in fuel and other materials.

Recruit and retain the best new talent

According to a global report by Deloitte in 2018, “well-being, reputation for ethical behaviour and opportunities to volunteer to make a difference in the community” all featured in the top job priorities for millennials. And according to Colmar Brunton, 72% of those aged 13-17 say it’s important that their future employer is socially and environmentally responsible.

Innovate with the best

Addressing the world’s most pressing problems is the growth area in business innovation.

That’s what’s grown plastic-free beauty product company Ethique from a kitchen bench in Christchurch to a multi-million dollar business within a decade. It’s what’s helped Karma Cola take on the world’s biggest drinks companies with a more ethical alternative. It’s what took Ceres Organics from a food stall at a school faire to Australasia’s premier distributor of certified organic foods.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, … decades of experience has convinced SBN that doing the right thing just feels better, and leads to a better life for everyone. There’s even some research that suggests that, if done for the right reasons, it makes you live longer. It’s what allows you to go home to your families and speak proudly of what you spend your time doing. But then, you probably knew that already.

Go to SBN’s practical resources and find out what you can do.

SBN also provides further information outlining the Benefits of a Sustainable Business

Wellington City Council also has guidance on reducing your impact on the environment.

Within the Wellington City Libraries collection you will find a range of material that help you on your sustainable business journey.

On Linkedin Learning you can find courses like :

Sustainability Strategies
Business and sustainability
A changing climate compels us to change the way we do business. Incorporating sustainability into your business can help your bottom line and build your company’s brand. This course shows how to adopt smart sustainability practices to drive financial performance, attract and retain employees, and protect your company’s license to operate. David Bennell outlines how to establish your reputation as a company focused on sustainability, manage supply chains more responsibly and effectively, create sustainable products and services, and reduce energy use, waste, toxic substances, and emissions. Last, he helps you figure out how to track key metrics, assess your company’s carbon footprint, and improve your environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
(Library registration and login required to access)

On our online streaming platforms Beamafilm and Kanopy you can access documentaries like the one below (Use search terms like “Sustainable business” or “sustainability business”)

Living the change : Inspiring stories for a sustainable future
Duration:  1 h 26 min
Country: New Zealand
Rating: PG
Year of Release: 2018
Living the Change explores solutions to the global crises we face today through the inspiring stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and in their communities in order to live in a sustainable and regenerative way.

Within the book collection you will find :

Sustainability : the basics / Jacques, Peter
“Sustainability is concerned with the issues around the ongoing and mutual preservation of both society and the environment. It is a widely used term and supposed goal for many governments but it is also easily misunderstood. Sustainability: The Basics offers an accessible and interdisciplinary introduction to the concept, and discusses key questions such as: How do we decide who or what should be sustained? How can we ensure that the world’s resources are distributed fairly? What lessons can we learn from the collapse of previous civilizations? Sustainability studies is in a position to ask some of the most interesting questions about human purpose, identity, modernity, ethics, and the nature of “progress”. This book is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to know more about we can ‘hold up’ civilization, humanity, and the world we live in”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Sustainability : a history / Caradonna, Jeremy L.
“An engaging primer of the history of the sustainability movement from the 1600s to the present day, illuminating how sustainability evolved from a relatively marginal idea to the centerpiece of international accords, a top priority for governments and non-profit organizations, and a philosophy of hope and resilience with widespread appeal.” (Catalogue)

 

Sustainability made simple : small changes for big impact / Byrd, Rosaly
“Sustainability Made Simple explores the relationship between everyday life and the intricate global environmental issues of today, illustrating how small changes in daily routines and mentalities can add up to a big impact.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Sustainable marketing : how to drive profits with purpose / Carvill, Michelle
“In the modern age of authenticity and transparency, consumers are no longer content with brands that are dismissive of, or even apathetic to, sustainability. Brands are now expected to convey understanding and concern when it comes to matters such as climate change, carbon footprints and employee welfare. Most importantly of all, they must be genuinely committed to these standpoints – remaining consistent and proactive in their principles. With the rise of more conscious consumers and the belief-driven buyer, organizations ignore sustainability and the spirit of ‘doing good’ at their own peril. From three marketing experts with decades of experience between them, Sustainable Marketing delivers the new benchmark for modern marketing. This book clarifies the importance of the sustainable approach before providing a comprehensive guide to implementing, driving and maintaining these practices in any organization. A must-read for any business leader or marketing executive, this is a unique and fascinating blend of academic research and practical case studies that will kick-start and inspire sustainable initiatives.” (Catalogue)

Walking the talk : the business case for sustainable development / Holliday, Charles O
“Major business leaders argue that sustainability is not only compatible with but crucial to business success. Drawing on nearly 70 case histories of companies around the world, the authors show how the three pillars of sustainable development – economic growth, ecological balance, and social progress – work to improve the bottom line even as they create a better world.” (Catalogue)

 

Eco-business : a big-brand takeover of sustainability / Dauvergne, Peter
“Two experts explain the consequences for the planet when corporations use sustainability as a business tool.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Can business save the Earth? : innovating our way to sustainability / Lenox, Michael
“Increasingly, business leaders are tasked with developing new products, services, and business models that minimize environmental impact while driving economic growth. It’s a tall order―and a call that is only getting louder. In Can Business Save the Earth?, Michael Lenox and Aaron Chatterji explain just how the private sector can help. Many believe that markets will inevitably demand sustainable practices and force them to emerge. But Lenox and Chatterji see it differently. Based on more than a decade of research and work with companies, they argue that a bright green future is only possible with dramatic innovation across multiple sectors at the same time. To achieve this, a broader ecosystem of players―including inventors, executives, customers, investors, activists, and governments―all must play a role. The book outlines how and the extent to which each group can serve as a driver of green growth. Then, Lenox and Chatterji identify where economic incentives currently exist, or could exist with institutional change, and ultimately address the larger question of how far well-coordinated efforts can take us in addressing the current environmental crisis.” (Catalogue)

Brands with a conscience : how to build a successful and socially responsible brand
“The definitive expert guide to ethical brand practice from the prestigious Medinge Group, Brands with a Conscience dissects the philosophy underpinning sustainable brands to arrive at a set of eight clear guiding attributes which can be used as the foundation of a strategy for responsible growth.” (Catalogue)

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Marketing your small business

Linda

via GIPHY

You’ve developed a product, set up your business including a website – now how do you raise awareness and draw in customers?

You may have originally had a few inquiries and purchases, but to sustain business growth  you need to keep generating interest and turning that to orders, while maintaining the customer base you have.

In talking to local, developing small businesses, most don’t have a large marketing budget and are reliant on social media.

Creating appropriate, regular and relevant content on social media is a skill and it takes time and familiarity with the medium.

To make effective use of social medial platforms you also need to understand how social media works and target the right platform for your audience, understanding the demographics of each.  For instance, fifty percent of Tik Tok users are under 30 years of age while in New Zealand Facebook attracts an older demographic with over fifty percent of users being female.  Women also account for the majority of Instagram users as they do on Pinterest.

via GIPHY

Therefore your chosen platform should reflect your product’s target market and may require you to post content across several platforms.  To gain maximum reach you also need to consider time of day and even day of the week that you post new content as these impact on a post uptake.

This recent analysis from Sprout Social gives an indication of how best to optimise your posts across different types of media.

A newly published article from NZBusiness offers A comprehensive social media marketing guide

Is it beginning to feel like this?

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Social media, whilst very important in today’s world, is but one of the low cost ways you raise awareness of your brand name.

For instance, do you have a regular email newsletter set up whereby you can keep customers up to date with new product developments, reminders about order cut offs or any deals you may be offering?

If you deliver product by car – have you considered having magnetic door panels printed with your logo, name and contact details?  These are relatively inexpensive to have done.

If you are visiting clients do you wear a ‘uniform’ with your business colours and logo featured?  It could be as simple as having t-shirts in your main brand colour printed with your logo.

Have you tapped in to your community networks – depending on your product providing a prize for the school fair or kindy fundraiser expands your exposure to new markets.

Are you capitalising on celebration days and life events?  For instance if you run a cleaning or gardening service do you promote gift vouchers for busy households or those with a new baby?  If your business is making and decorating special occasion cakes do how about promoting International Cake Day with a competition/giveaway?  (Yes, International Cake Day is a thing – 26 November).

For a light-hearted listing of all the days that could be celebrated check out the Days of the Year site (Please note this is an American site and it is unlikely National Grape Popsicle Day will ever take off in NZ).  However if you run a petshop why not celebrate and promote World Turtle Day (23 May) or Clean Your Aquarium day (18 June)?   Funny, Random and Weird Holidays and the more serious United Nations International Observances provide additional days.  All you need to do is pick one or two and leverage it to promote your business or product with your own twist.

Do you have fliers up at the local supermarket or on the community noticeboard?  If so, do they provide a QR code for potential customers to scan that takes them immediately to your website?

Do you network with other businesses that share your values?  Networking is a good way to collaborate on a project and share a customer base.  For instance, two fledgling businesses could combine to share a space at a community market or street fair, thereby halving costs.

Never underestimate the power of word of mouth advertising – do you acknowledge and share positive reviews on your website or social media?

Don’t forget the more traditional media.  Have you considered radio advertising?  A promotional piece and a competition in the local community newspaper?

If all this sounds like it adds to your workload consider investing in a Virtual Assistant with appropriate marketing and content creation skills.  You may well find the returns outweigh the investment.

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Below are some of the many resources the Wellington City Libraries collection can offer small businesses looking to extend their marketing reach.

Momentum : how to propel your marketing and transform your brand in the digital age / Hyder, Shama
“Today’s online ecosystem can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. With new social media platforms popping up all the time and new technologies disrupting even the most “reliable” marketing strategies, business and nonprofit leaders and marketers are faced with the challenge of getting ahead in an environment that makes it seem impossible to keep up.” (Catalogue)

 

30-minute social media marketing : step-by-step techniques to spread the word about your business fast and free / Gunelius, Susan
“Small business marketing expert Susan Gunelius guides readers through social media marketing for small business, providing measurable results in just 30 minutes a day” (Catalogue)
Also available as EBook Libby

 

Content chemistry : the illustrated handbook for content marketing / Crestodina, Andy
“The result of thousands of conversations about web marketing with hundreds of companies, this handbook is a compilation of the most important and effective lessons and advice about the power of search engine optimization, social media, and email marketing. The first and only comprehensive guide to content marketing, this book explains the social, analytical, and creative aspects of modern marketing that are necessary to succeed on the web. By first covering the theory behind web and content marketing and then detailing it in practice, it shows how it is not only critical to modern business but is also a lot of fun. This edition has been updated to reflect new technology and marketing trends. — Goodreads.” (Catalogue)

Social media marketing for business : scaling an integrated social media strategy across your organization / Jenkins, Andrew
“Social media has become an imperative for almost every business. Discover how to successfully implement an effective social media strategy that is supported and integrated throughout every part of your organization, with this essential handbook to enhancing your online presence and achieving the competitive edge. ... Supported by online presentation slides, content calendars, a content marketing framework and interactive tools for effective social media management, Social Media Marketing for Business is a one-stop-shop resource for developing social media marketing strategies and integrating them within your business to ensure their success”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Make your business survive and thrive! : 100+ proven marketing methods to help you beat the odds and build a successful small or home-based enterprise / Huff, Priscilla Y
“If you are an entrepreneur, or you are just thinking of starting a business, start with this smart, practical guide to small business success. It shows you how to maintain healthy growth and profits no matter what kind of business you own and helps you get the most out of your limited resources.” (Catalogue)

 

How to do marketing : a comprehensive guide for small business / Hillsdon, Jane
“… Jane Hillsdon, Founder and Managing Director of boutique regional marketing agency; Dragonfly Marketing has worked with hundreds of small businesses to help them navigate the ever-changing world of marketing. In How to do Marketing, Jane provides a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide for small business owners who want to learn brave, nimble and clever marketing solutions that leverage out-of-the-box thinking, including: – working out your marketing goals and matching them to your business goals – choosing the right media channels for your business – getting great results on a limited budget – making sure you are targeting the right people – monitoring the results of your marketing – getting help if you need it – taking advantage of the many opportunities in regional areas. In this book, she demonstrates that creative and effective marketing doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. In fact, she shows you that getting the greatest bang for your marketing buck is simply a matter of creating a sound marketing strategy that is based around your business objectives and focuses wholeheartedly on your customer. The marketing tactics suggested in How to do Marketing ensure that you leverage the nuances of your local community to create impact, legacy and loyalty while achieving maximum efficiencies with marketing spends.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Instagram power : build your brand and reach more customers with the power of pictures / Miles, Jason
“If you’re not using Instagram to your advantage, you have to start now. Instagram is the hottest social media site today: Two years after its launch, the number of its daily mobile users surpassed that of Twitter. Then Facebook purchased it for a billion dollars–and it took the world by storm. Instagram Power provides everything you need to grab customers on the world’s most popular photo-sharing site. This guide covers it all–from setting up an account to promoting a brand to integrating the photo-sharing app into an existing marketing strategy.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

85 inspiring ways to market your small business : inspiring, self-help marketing strategies that you can apply to your own business immediately / Jarvis, Jackie
“A handy, pocket marketing consultant for small businesses, this title not only delivers great new ideas, but also shows how to apply them.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Big business marketing for small business budgets / McMurtry, Jeanette Maw
“Does advertising have a direct impact on sales? Is your business targeting the right group of potential customers for maximum profitability? Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets answers these and other questions and gives entrepreneurs and small business owners the tools to develop their own marketing campaign. The key to success for the small business owner is lifetime marketing. Lifetime marketing means that businesses need to continually track their customers’ purchase readiness to identify their best customers and develop a marketing plan that incorporates the ever-changing needs of a customer throughout that customer’s lifetime. Lifetime marketing is especially well suited to small businesses because of their limited resources, smaller budgets, and ability to provide individualized attention. Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets is a fully integrated workbook/web site package filled with worksheets to develop a step-by-step marketing plan; sample press releases, surveys, and direct mail pieces that appeal to the customer’s needs; and a program to aid in collecting data on the best customers. This hands-on, how-to book provides the understanding an” (Catalogue)

101 ways to market your business / Griffiths, Andrew
“A collection of simple tried and tested marketing ideas that business owners can implement easily and cheaply.” (Catalogue)

 

 

 

Marketing with no money / Squire, Leah
“Why are some businesses more successful than others? Most business owners make the mistake of thinking they are in the business of sales, service or production but reality is that whether you like it or not, you’re in the business of marketing.  In business, there is often little or nothing left in the marketing piggy bank. Marketing with No Money will provide you with strategies to get your business ‘out there’ – not only surviving, but thriving no matter what the economic climate” (Catalogue)

How to market, advertise, and promote your business or service in your own backyard / Egelhoff, Tom
“Create a successful and affordable marketing campaign for your local small business using the tips and detailed 10-point, step-by-step method in How to Market, Advertise and Promote Your Business or Service in Your Own Backyard.” (Catalogue)

 

The very good marketing guide : how to grow your business on a budget / Miocevich, Amy
“The Very Good Marketing Guide unpacks a 5-step framework that helps small businesses make essential, effective and business-altering decisions about marketing that help them reach their goals. It takes readers through the steps of creating, monitoring and supercharging their marketing strategy. The goal? To stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work, and eliminate the factors that are holding back growth.The Very Good Marketing Guide will help entrepreneurs to assess what is and isn’t working for their business right now. It will reveal problem areas that busy business owners might not even know are there-and it gives targeted solutions to overcoming those challenges”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Talking baking and business with Laura of Vonuts

Linda

I’d like to say it’s not just about the donuts.  It’s about building a business that is sustainable, that does good.  One where ingredients have been ethically sourced.  That’s what’s important.

When Laura Reinisch set up Vonuts, her vegan donut business, in 2020 she didn’t think through the early starts it was going to eventually involve.

Two days a week Laura, who recently moved her business out of the family kitchen into a shared working space in the CBD, begins work while most of us are still snoozing.  Then, as others who share the workspace begin arriving at work,  Laura is putting the finishing touches to her creations before boxing them up and beginning deliveries around the city.

Arriving in New Zealand from her native Germany in 2019, Laura found herself missing the vegan bakery that had made donuts “almost as good as my Oma’s”.  Lockdown provided her with an opportunity to begin experimenting with making her own vegan version of her grandmother’s jam filled donuts.

Without much prior baking experience, Laura was guided and encouraged from afar by her nonagenarian Oma and Great-aunt Gertrud, who helped her master the techniques of baking with yeast.  Eventually, after a lot of trialling and experimentation a successful recipe was settled on.

Then in quick succession came a move to Wellington and a baby and Laura found her home comfort baking becoming a small home based business.

In the two years since, the growth of Vonuts has risen like a bowlful of dough in a warm kitchen.

In recognition of World Baking day, today, Wellington City Libraries sat down with Laura and talked to her about turning her love of vegan donuts into a small business.

WCL : Where you prepared for the early morning starts when you began thinking about making donuts as a business?

No, I’m not even a morning person!  I was able to start a bit later when I worked from home and everything was really well timed. Here (in the shared work space) I usually clean up when the first people are coming in and I’m out between 8 and 9 o’clock.

WCL : Talk us through your business day.

There’s a lot of prep work, I need to clean [the kitchen], I do the dough and while it’s resting I prep the boxes, prep the glazes.  Then I make the doughnuts, pack them, and deliver them.  I usually plan my route the day before when I have all my orders in.  I deliver them and then I’m usually home by 10.30 -11am.

WCL : The word ‘vonut’ to describe your vegan doughnuts – is that something you came up?

My partner did.  He dreamed of it.  We had been brainstorming different ideas.  Then one morning he woke up and said “I know – it’s Vonuts!”.  The first thing I did was trademark it.

WCL : Have you adapted your Oma’s doughnut recipe to a vegan one through trial and error or have you experimented with recipes sourced from vegan cookbooks until you got something that was reminiscent of her doughnuts?

A bit of both.  I talked with my Oma and my great-aunt Gertrud, they’re both in their nineties now.  I looked at their recipes and they taught me how it works with yeast.  Then I used the skills I had learned in combination with other recipes that are partly vegan recipes and partly other recipes I made vegan and did a lot of trial and error [which Laura recorded in a notebook as she experimented].  There was a time when I was four or five months pregnant and I worked as a nanny at that time in the evenings so I had the mornings free. Every morning I made donuts to get closer to the right recipe.  There’s a lot of donut eating involved.  When I have donuts spare I usually give them to my partner for his work, or to neighbours.

WCL : How hard was it upscaling making your home baking to a business?

I have been very fortunate to get the support from [shared space] Two Fifty-seven.  It made a lot of things easier once I had a space.  Even in my head space I could separate things a lot more.  The house wasn’t full of stuff.  I’ve got storage here.  Before, at home I used a spare room as a storage room.  It’s a bit harder getting up to drive here but it makes things easier in the long run.

WCL : How easy and straightforward has it been getting the Council approval to run a home based baking business?

People think its complicated but in fact it’s not if you do your research.  [The lady] I was working with was lovely.  Whenever I asked a question they had an answer.  I felt very supported and on to it.  When I came to the verification I had to send in photos of my kitchen and those kind of things but it felt very straight forward…I’m a list person so for me a tick list works.

WCL : Had you had any business experience before moving to Wellington?

I’d worked the past ten years with kids and young people.  I studied sport and rehabilitation with a major in education.  I worked as a PE teacher in England and returned to Berlin where I did Project Management for an NGO, so I have managing experience but it wasn’t for business.  I also managed kids and youth facilities in Berlin.  Starting a business in New Zealand has been very different.  In Germany I wouldn’t be able to open a baking business without a baking degree.  New Zealand’s a bit more chilled in that regard, a bit more supportive.  When I’m employing someone in the future I think I would prefer someone who is not a baker but vegan over someone who is not vegan but a baker, because that’s a different experience with food.

WCL : What background research into the market did you do before launching?

Mostly I started because I missed vegan donuts.  When I moved to Wellington, Wellington is known for having many vegans, so I looked around at what there was on offer.  I was inspired by a vegan donut shop in Berlin, my home town, so basically, missing those donuts, and knowing how good they can be, that was my goal to get there.  I think there was a demand here.

WCL : You started your business in the time of Covid – what additional challenges do you think that provided you with?

In some ways it made things easier.  Like getting my kitchen registered – it was all online.  Because I have a delivery service people, often those isolated at home got orders from people who asked me to put a “Get well” note in.  So I did a lot of care packages – treat yourself or treat others.

WCL : How do you go about marketing?

I started using [local] facebook groups.  The Vegan Facebook group was very supportive.  Now I have Google ads running.  To be honest, when I started I didn’t think of marketing.  That was a big mistake.  A big learning.  I thought of all the other things but I didn’t think of the marketing part and in the end there was no money left.  I had to think about how to do free marketing, which was a real challenge.  People forget about you if they aren’t constantly reminded that a business exists, unless the business is at a certain scale, and I’m not there yet.

WCL : Do non-vegans have misconceptions about vegan baking?

I shy away from putting all all non vegans into one pot and all vegans into another pot.  Everyone is different and everyone is different [when it comes to being] open to new things. Some people do vegan baking even if they are not vegan, because there are some great recipes out there.  I love when people  who are not vegan eat my donuts and are like “Is this vegan?  Are you sure?” That fills my heart with joy because it just shows that it’s possible to do delicious food without having animals suffer for it.  That’s the core of what I’m doing.  The problem is when people eat something vegan, and don’t like it and then they immediately think all vegan food is [like that].  That’s not really fair because you can eat a certain type of meat and not like it or have a really stinky cheese.  It doesn’t mean all cheeses taste like that.

WCL : Your offerings/flavours change regularly – where and how do you find inspiration and then how long does it take to get that right?

It’s very different.  Sometimes I have people messaging me and asking “Can you do a donut like this?” and I’ll always try to make requests.  I’m super open to people saying “I’d love to try this”.  Then a lot of ideas I get from my partner, who is my biggest supporter.  I always try to have my menu balanced with traditional flavours like vanilla and chocolate that people consider a “must”. [They’re] easy to sell because people know what they are getting.  Then I try something like the kumara biscoff to … mix it up a bit.  I try to make a variety that everyone can enjoy.  I will often stroll through the supermarket and see what flavours are out there, what might work well together.

WCL : Do you have a favourite?

Yes!  My personal favourite is vanilla custard crumble.  It’s triple vanilla.  That was a flavour I developed with my mum when she was over from Germany.  It has that personal note of us creating it together in the kitchen.  It’s a memory of her.

WCL : Any plans for expansion?

[The business] is growing.  It’s a slow growing and I think that is more sustainable for my health and for my mental health and everyone involved.  Slow growth and sustainable growth instead of growing big today and being broken tomorrow.  In hindsight [with family demands on time] I would probably have started in five years time but who knows what other challenges I would have encountered.

WCL : Where can people get their Vonut fix?

Mostly it’s online ordering.  [Buyers can now pick up from a central Wellington location].  At Forage Merchants in Lower Hutt every Friday, and there will be more cafes coming soon.  [Initially] I reached out to some local cafes but now cafes are beginning to find me. At the start I hadn’t considered that.  The tricky bit is that it’s just me and I can only make so many donuts!

If you want to know more about starting a small business from the the home kitchen, or just more about vegan baking.  Check out some of Wellington City Libraries resources below.

Wellington City Libraries resources of interest

How to bake a business : recipes and advice to turn your small enterprise into a big success / Bickerstaff, Julia
“An attractive handbag size guide to baking a business for every kitchen-table tycoon with a great business idea.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Grow your handmade business : how to envision, develop, and sustain a successful creative business / Chapin, Kari
“Kari Chapin will help by applying her trademark you-can-do-it coaching style to the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship and covering all the issues involved in turning your creative hobby into a successful business.” (Catalogue)

 

Homemade for sale : how to set up and market a food business from your home kitchen / Kivirist, Lisa
“From farm-to-fork and “Buy Local” to slow food and hand-made artisan breads, more people than ever are demanding real food made with real ingredients by real people. Widely known as “cottage food legislation,” over forty-two states and many Canadian provinces have enacted recent legislation that encourages home cooks to create and sell a variety of “non-hazardous” food items, often defined as those that are high-acid, like pickles, or low moisture, like breads or cookies. Finally, “homemade” and “fresh from the oven” on the package can mean exactly what it says. Homemade for Sale is the first authoritative guide to conceiving and launching your own home-based food start-up. Packed with profiles of successful cottage food entrepreneurs, this comprehensive and accessible resource covers everything you need to get cooking for your customers, creating items that by their very nature are specialized and unique. You can join a growing movement of entrepreneurs starting small food businesses from their home. No capital needed, just good recipes, enthusiasm, and commitment, plus enough know-how to turn fresh ingredients into sought-after treats for your local community. Everything required is probably already in your home kitchen. Best of all, you can start tomorrow!” (Catalogue)  NB:  This is a guide only – legislation written for Canada will not apply in NZ.

How to do marketing : a comprehensive guide for small business / Hillsdon, Jane
“These days, successful small business marketing requires us to be brave. If your small business is based in a regional area, you compete with your local competition as well as the rest of the world. When it comes to solving a problem, your consumers now have the whole world at their fingertips. So how can your business compete? … In How to do Marketing, Jane provides a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide for small business owners who want to learn brave, nimble and clever marketing solutions that leverage out-of-the-box thinking, including: – working out your marketing goals and matching them to your business goals – choosing the right media channels for your business – getting great results on a limited budget – making sure you are targeting the right people – monitoring the results of your marketing – getting help if you need it – taking advantage of the many opportunities in regional areas. In this book, she demonstrates that creative and effective marketing doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. In fact, she shows you that getting the greatest bang for your marketing buck is simply a matter of creating a sound marketing strategy that is based around your business objectives and focuses wholeheartedly on your customer. The marketing tactics suggested in How to do Marketing ensure that you leverage the nuances of your local community to create impact, legacy and loyalty while achieving maximum efficiencies with marketing spends.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Starting a business from home : choosing a business, getting online, reaching your market and making a profit / Barrow, Colin
“Starting a Business from Home offers hundreds of ideas for setting up profitable and successful home-based businesses and includes practical advice on using the internet as a business tool.” (Catalogue)

 

 

The vegan baking bible : over 300 recipes for bakes, cakes, treats and sweets / Tegelaar, Karolina
“You shouldn’t have to compromise on flavour, texture and the look of your cake just because it’s vegan. From carrot cake and chocolate cookies to madeleines and muffins; in this ultimate bible, Karolina has veganised old baking favourites as well as creating new baking recipes to make vegan baking accessible and fun to the novice baker. Over 10 years of hard work and trial-and-error, the talented Karolina Tegelaar has created the ultimate vegan baking book – a must-have for every baking-enthusiast’s kitchen. Vegan baking has been revolutionised by the introduction of aquafaba and plant-based dairy products, and this definitive bible chronicles everything you need to know to create all the baking classics, as well as new and interesting bakes, using the latest techniques. With this book, you’ll never again have to make compromises on flavour, texture and design when baking vegan. Packed with hundreds of tips, techniques and troubleshooting advice, The Vegan Baking Bible includes everything from cakes, muffins, meringues, biscuits, cookies, brownies, gingerbread, ice cream and even a whole section on yeasted doughs and pastries so you can make bagels, doughnuts and pain au chocolat, too. With The Vegan Baking Bible by your side, you’ll never stop saying, ‘I can’t believe it’s vegan!'”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)
Also available in EBook Overdrive

Simply vegan baking : taking the faff out of vegan cakes, cookies, breads and desserts / Cox, Freya
“70 fun and accessible recipes for all your favourite classic bakes made vegan – from Great British Bake Off’s young vegan star, Freya Cox. Vegan baking needn’t be difficult or boring – it can be simple and delicious! Freya Cox was the first vegan contestant on The Great British Bake Off and her mission is to show that vegan baking is just as delicious if not more so than ‘regular’ baking and, when all the ingredients are available from your local supermarket, there’s no reason not to give it a try. Try any of the 70 reassuringly familiar recipes and you’ll be amazed that they’re so effortlessly vegan. From simple cakes, traybakes, pastry and bread to special desserts and showstopping cakes, there’s something faff-free for every occasion. Recipes include: Salted Caramel Cupcakes; Carrot Cake; Triple Chocolate Cookies; Cinnamon Rolls; White Chocolate and Raspberry Blondies; Banoffee Pie Slices; Lemon Meringue Pie; Black Forest Gateau”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

The importance of sleep

Linda

Sleep plays an important, and necessary, part of our wellbeing.  Ask anyone who is sleep deprived for some reason.  It may be the parent of a newborn, a shiftworker, or someone suffering from insomnia.  Without enough sleep you not only feel tired and rundown, but your body, and brain, struggles to cope with daily tasks and this affects the ability to concentrate.  In turn, work may be impacted particularly if you drive, or operate machinery or technology as part of your daily routine.

Numerous health conditions such as obesity, coronary disease and stroke have been associated with lack of sleep.

While the amount of sleep required to remain healthy varies throughout the lifespan, in general, adults require 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night to assist the restoration of the body

When you sleep, your body rests, conserving energy and decreasing blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and body temperature. At the same time, your brain remains active, laying down memory, restoring daytime mental functioning and carrying out processes that lead to physical growth.
(Health navigator)

If sleep is proving elusive for you, for whatever reason, try some of the suggestions outlined in these library resources.

Health Navigator has a brochure, Sleep, for downloading.  This kete will help you to learn about sleep and make a plan to improve it.

Linkedin Learning offers Sleep Is Your Superpower : Your sleep improvement journey and Winding Down: Get a Better Night’s Sleep

In the first course … The Sleep Ambassador®, Nancy Rothstein, shares tips for optimizing sleep and performing at your best in work and life. Learn how to prioritize sleep, assess your sleep, create the right sleep environment, and adopt strategies to fall asleep and stay asleep. Nancy offers concrete, practical advice based on research and science—so you can master sleep as your superpower.

Winding Down is … designed to help you get a better night’s sleep, so that you can be your very best each day. 

From the book collection there is :

The sleep fix : practical, proven, and surprising solutions for insomnia, snoring, shift work, and more / Macedo, Diane
“Roughly thirty percent of the population is estimated to be living with insomnia, while many more unknowingly suffer from other sleep disorders. Macedo learned the hard way how valuable sleep is, and how it affects everything from our heart to our brain to our immune system. She had tried sleep tip after sleep tip, but nothing worked. Attacking the problem as a journalist, she got to the bottom of what really keeps us from sleeping–and the various ways to fix it. Here she helps readers understand sleep biology, identify sleep obstacles, and shift their mindset–and maybe find a good night’s sleep. — adapted from jacket” (Catalogue)
Also available as EBook Libby and EAudiobook Libby

The art of sleeping / Hobson, Rob
“The Art of Sleeping takes the reader on a journey that starts with finding your sleep base and identifies the issues that are contributing to their lack of slumber. Using the author’s personal experience, the latest scientific research, and expert advice, The Art of Sleeping will work through the three key pillars of a good night’s sleep: behaviour, environment and diet (BED). By the end of the book, readers will be equipped with greater knowledge and techniques to aid sleep and relaxation and live a happier, calmer and more successful life.” (Catalogue)
Also available as  EAudiobook Libby 

The sleep book : how to sleep well every night / Meadows, Guy
“A third of the population sleep badly, but now The Sleep Book’s revolutionary five-week plan means that you don’t have to be one of them. Using a blend of mindfulness and new ACT therapy techniques, Dr Guy shares his unique five-week plan to cure your sleep problem whether it’s a few restless nights or a lifetime of insomnia. … The Sleep Book is the sum of a doctorate degree in sleep and well over 12,000 hours spent working with more than 2,000 insomniacs in one-to-one clinics, workshops and retreat environments. Say goodbye to the vicious cycle of sleepless nights. Sleep well, maintain a positive outlook and restore the quality of life you deserve – for good.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Also available as EBook Libby

The doctor’s guide to sleep solutions for stress & anxiety : combat stress and sleep easier every night / Rosenberg, Robert S.
“…. Author Robert Rosenberg, is a leading expert on sleep disorders and is board certified in sleep medicine. In this book, he offers targeted solutions to help you identify the stressors that deter sleep and reduce stress and anxiety. Removing the obstacles that stand between you and restful sleep is the goal, and this book is the first step. Increasingly, insufficient sleep is considered a public health epidemic. In this book, you’ll find essential tools for a good night’s sleep…”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Snooze : the lost art of sleep / McGirr, Michael
“From bestselling author Michael McGirr comes Snooze, a revised edition of the entertaining and enlightening The Lost Art of Sleep (2009). Michael always had trouble sleeping, but the arrival of twins made him realise he’d never known true exhaustion. While he celebrated these small children who brought him so much joy, he also found himself desperately searching for a few extra winks a night. In Snooze, McGirr delves into the mysterious world of sleep: its many benefits, its stubborn elusiveness and what our brains get up to while we’re in bed. He takes readers on a tour through the odd sleep patterns of some of history’s greatest figures, including Plato and Homer, Shakespeare and Dickens, Florence Nightingale (who slept a great deal) and Thomas Edison (who hardly slept at all). He looks at the demise of sleep in our ever more fragmented world, and what that means for everyone from average sleepers to those with serious sleep disorders. And he describes his own family’s quest to master the ancient art of getting a decent kip. A profound and humorous exploration of the precious resource of sleep-and the causes and consequences of getting too little of it-Snooze is the perfect book for sleepless nights.” (Catalogue)

Sleep : a natural guide / Viagas, Belinda Grant
“Sleep is an essential human need yet at least one third of the population are trying to make do with around six hours sleep a night instead of 8-9 hours. This text provides a guide to the problems and solutions looking at the effects of what we eat, when we exercise and the environment we live in.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Sleep : harness the power of sleep for optimal health and well-being / Hawker, Petra
“Make excellent sleep a life-changing reality for you – now. New science has revealed the importance of sleep as one of the key foundation stones of good health. Take control of your sleep with over 40 proven strategies, based on a 360 degree approach to achieving excellent sleep. Find targeted meditation, movement and breathing exercises; discover how light, colour, and sound could hold the key to healthy sleep; and find out how to get to the root of the underlying causes of chronic sleep problems. Reset your sleep patterns to suit your lifestyle and draw on practical techniques to overcome common sleep disruptors, including stress, jet-lag, and shift-work. Let the dream of better sleep become a life-changing reality.” (Catalogue)

Sleep : the mysteries, the problems, and the solutions / Schenck, Carlos
“Schenck, one of the most prominent sleep doctors in the country, explains and offers solutions for the most common sleep disorders–insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea–as well as the more extreme sleep disorders including sleep terrors and dream enactment.” (Catalogue)

 

Restful insomnia : how to get the benefits of sleep even when you can’t / Kornblatt, Sondra
“Insomnia has meant nights of frustration-until now. A new program, Restful Insomnia, helps insomniacs mimic the benefits of sleep so they can greet the mornings refreshed. If you are among the 70 million sleep-deprived Americans who do battle every night, take heart! This book will show you how to use your waking night hours to quiet your mind, replenish your creativity, and relax deeply. You’ll come to accept your insomnia and discover how to derive enough of the benefits of sleep to be able to get up in the morning feeling refreshed.” (Catalogue)

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Communication in a crisis

Linda

 

At some point in the business life cycle you may well have to face a crisis situation.

It could be the necessity to recall a product. It may be having to front to clients and advise a staff member has been caught defrauding the business.

It could be presenting to media after a natural disaster that impacts your service delivery and general business.

Whatever the situation, how it is handled will say a lot about you as a leader, business owner and how you communicate concern for staff and clients.

 

During, and after, a crisis there are right and wrong ways to communicate to staff, customers, with authorities and to the media.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our resources that can assist. As with any disaster preparation the key is having a plan well before the event happens.

 

‘What Will You Say When Disaster Strikes?’, Bierck, R. (2002).  Harvard Management Communication Letter, 5(5), p. 1. Available through Business Source Premier and requires login.
Discusses the importance of a crisis communication plan. Identification of risk areas; Formation of a crisis communications team; Appointment of spokespeople for different types of crises

‘What We’ve Learned About Communicating with Employees in an Emergency’, Carmichael, S.G. (2013) Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, pp. 2–5. Available through Business Source Premier and requires login.
The author conveys her thoughts on the lessons learned about communicating with employees in an emergency situation such as the Boston Marathon bombing in Boston, Massachusetts in April 2013.

Crisis Communication : Prepare for crisis communication
Every organization needs to plan how to communicate internally and externally in the event of a crisis. In this course, business communication expert Laura Bergells walks you through the process of preparing your organization to communicate with employees, customers, suppliers, media, and the public at large. She’ll cover identifying audiences, assembling a crisis response team, crafting an initial statement, and evaluating your response once the crisis has passed.
Available through Linkedin Learning.  Requires login 

Managing in Difficult Times : Leading effectively through difficult times
Tough times separate great leaders from the rest. What do leaders do to manage effectively in difficult times? It’s as much about what they do to prepare as it is about how they react. Jan Rutherford introduces important tools for keeping you and your team focused, inspired, and effective during times of change or crisis. Learn how to build self-awareness, achieve clarity and focus, keep innovating despite volatility, and develop a committed team that is resilient in the face of change. He also shares innovative strategies to cut costs, and reframe challenges as opportunities for your team.
Available through Linkedin Learning.  Requires login 

Crisis Communication for HR
When a crisis occurs, it’s critical for businesses to communicate with employees and share one strong, unifying message. HR plays a pivotal role—before, during, and after the crisis. In this course, HR consultant Catherine Mattice Zundel and APR specialist David Oates explain how to create a communication plan so you’re prepared when disaster strikes, share tips for communicating and coordinating work during an active crisis, and discuss how to follow up after the immediate danger is over. Follow along and learn how to keep your employees safe, ensure your culture remains intact, prepare for remote work and task reassignments, and provide necessary training and resources to keep your organization moving forward during challenging times.
Available through Linkedin Learning.  Requires login 

Crisis communications : the definitive guide to managing the message / Fink, Steven
“There are few guarantees in business today. Unfortunately, one of them is the inevitability of a crisis having a potentially major effect on your business and your reputation. When your company finds itself in the midst of a crisis, the ripple effects can disrupt lives and business for the foreseeable future if public opinion is not properly shaped and managed. Skillfully managing the perception of the crisis determines the difference between a company’s life or death. Because in the pitched battle between perception and reality, perception always wins. Fortunately, there is a solution. Crisis communications and crisis management legend Steven Fink gives you everything you need to prepare for the inevitable–whether it’s in the form of human error, industrial accidents, criminal behavior, or natural disasters. In this ground-breaking guide, Fink provides a complete toolkit for ensuring smooth communications and lasting business success through any crisis. Crisis Communications offers proactive and preventive methods for pre-empting potential crises. The book reveals proven strategies for recognizing and averting damaging crisis communications issues before it’s too late. The book also offers ways to deal with mainstream and social media, use them to your advantage, and neutralize and turn around a hostile media environment. (Adapted from Catalogue)

Crisis communication strategies : how to prepare in advance, respond effectively and recover in full / Coleman, Amanda
“Crisis communication is high stakes work. For communications managers and PR professionals, it’s likely to be the most stressful time of their working life. Crisis Communication Strategies is a must-have handbook for laying the groundwork before a crisis hits, meaning that when the inevitable day comes, the company already has policies and procedures in place to leap into meaningful action without delay. Crisis Communication Strategies is unique in the way it equips readers to deal with any kind of crisis – whether caused by internal error, customer action, natural disasters, terrorism or political upheaval. Moving chronologically, the book opens by looking at the skills, policies and procedures that should be set up in advance, during times of normal business operations. It then moves on to look at how those procedures can be activated when a crisis occurs and during the immediate response. Finally, it delivers strategies for true long-term recovery for both the company itself and, where necessary, the wider community. Packed with actionable tips, checklists and global case studies, Crisis Communication Strategies is the essential guide to protecting your company and building true, long-term resilience”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Unprecedented leadership : learning to lead in turbulent times / Colley, John L.
“If we’ve learnt anything this decade, it’s that paramount to being a good leader is the ability to lead and manage through a crisis. The best leaders will be able to look directly into the heart of the storm and re-imagine their organizations to ultimately foster new growth. Taking a step-by-step approach, this book guides readers in identifying the severity and potential implications of a crisis situation tackling core topics such as:  *Crisis leadership · *Decision making · *Ethical responsibility ·  *Change management initiatives ·  *Communication ·  *   Leadership development ·  *Coaching
Grounded in cutting-edge theory and combined with engaging, real world case studies and practical exercises, this is an indispensable guide for MBA and Executive students. In fact, this book is ideal reading for anyone who is looking to develop their leadership skills in the most pragmatic and progressive ways. ” (Catalogue)

Crisis leadership : how to lead in times of crisis, threat and uncertainty / Johnson, Tim
“Crisis Leadership explores the challenges leaders can face at each stage of a crisis “lifecycle” and offers operational guidance in crisis management at both a personal and organisational level.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Masters of disaster : the ten commandments of damage control / Lehane, Christopher
“Whether you’re a politician caught with his pants down, a publicly traded company accused of accounting improprieties, a family-owned restaurant with a lousy Yelp review or just the guy in the corner cubicle who inadvertently pushed “reply all,” a crisis doesn’t have to be the make-or-break moment of your career. For those of us that aren’t natural spin doctors, it’s hard to resist the impulse to cover your tracks, lie, or act like nothing happened. But resist you must. Full of both lively personal anecdotes and hard-knuckled straight talk, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to emerge with their reputation intact.” (Catalogue)

The devil never sleeps : learning to live in an age of disasters / Kayyem, Juliette N.
“An urgent, transformative guide to dealing with disasters from one of today’s foremost thinkers in crisis management.”The future may still be unpredictable, but nowadays, disasters are not. We live in a time of constant, consistent catastrophe, where things more often go wrong than they go right. So why do we still fumble when disaster hits? Why are we always one step behind? In The Devil Never Sleeps, Juliette Kayyem lays the groundwork for a new approach to dealing with disasters. Presenting the basic themes of crisis management, Kayyem amends the principles we rely on far too easily. Instead, she offers us a new framework to anticipate the “devil’s” inevitable return, highlighting the leadership deficiencies we need to overcome and the forward thinking we need to harness. It’s no longer about preventing a disaster from occurring, but learning how to use the tools at our disposal to minimize the consequences when it does. Filled with personal anecdotes and real-life examples from natural disasters like the California wildfires to man-made ones like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, The Devil Never Sleeps is a guide for governments, businesses, and individuals alike on how to alter our thinking so that we can develop effective strategies in the face of perpetual catastrophe”–Dust jacket flap” (Catalogue)

The happy healthy leader : achieve your potential even during a crisis / Ireland, Margie
“Imagine waking up every day knowing that no matter what is thrown your way, you have the confidence and skills to sail through any high seas and bad weather, and bring your crew with you. The Happy, Healthy Leader is a guide for leaders who wish to achieve their full potential. It provides a wide range of tools and techniques based on the author’s personal experiences in leadership transformation and her extensive research into what impacts the wellbeing of senior and executive leaders.” (Catalogue)

A question of leadership : leading organizational change in times of crisis / Leslie, Keith
“A fascinating guide to effective leadership in times of crises with a psychological underpinning.” (Catalogue)

 

 

If you would like more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Stepping up : a guide for the new manager

Linda

via GIPHY

Whether you stepped up and earned a promotion, or maybe just became an “accidental manager”,  at some point, soon after, reality sets in.  Suddenly you are no longer one of the team and have moved to leading the team where the view is a little different.  You’ve quickly found that being a people manager isn’t the same as being the one who is managed.

It’s hard if you are in a new role with an unknown team to manage but it’s also hard if you have moved into a role managing people you have worked alongside.  Suddenly your priorities shift and you feel a need to distance yourself.

Many people who move upwards aren’t given specific training to manage people.  If that’s the case you are going to have to learn to swim very quickly if you are to prove successful in your new role.

How can the transition into being a leader be made painless and a success for you and those you are now leading?

Below we have curated some  resources to assist your move from buddy to boss.

Linkedin learning

Wellington City Libraries offers Linkedin learning courses free to those with library registration.

In the search box put the terms “new leader” or “new manager” and you will find a range of courses covering different aspects of leadership.

Articles

How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes New Managers Make
Outlines some of the pitfalls to be aware of and how to correct mistakes you may be making.

In a New Role? Here’s How to Hit the Ground Running
In this HBR podcast professor Rob Cross talks about about pitfalls to avoid as a new manager.

The Ups and Downs of Being a First-Time Manager
Also in a HBR podcast three women describe the lessons they’ve learned and the realities they weren’t prepared for.

3 Skills Every New Leader Needs
An article from the HBR highlighting that  leaders are being called to develop skills like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and humility, traits that are particularly valuable to navigating uncertain times.

3 Skills New Managers Need to Succeed
To start, recognize that entire teams—and not just individuals—require clear feedback.

Seven Surprises for New Managers
Outlines some common management misconceptions and warns that even if you are “… prepared for the challenges ahead, new managers can come unstuck in unexpected ways”.

4 Mistakes New Leaders Make
Well-meaning leaders—especially new leaders—often stumble into the wrong actions or wrong mentality when leading their team

How new managers can help teams collaborate better
If your team is new and you are new to managing them, this article gives guidance on how to quickly become a cohesive unit.

The journey from colleague to boss
Becoming a boss can present unique problems with those who used to be colleagues, but Alaina Love offers six strategies to build team cohesion.

A New Manager’s Game Plan For The First 100 Days
Contends that for senior managers in particular there is a 100 day bedding in period in three phases : The first 30 days are an orientation period, in which the manager meets key people, develops essential information and evaluates core processes. The second 30 days focus on planning, key organizational changes and early showcase projects. In the final 40 days, the manager initiates rollout of the needed changes.

Books

Believe : how new leaders step up and into their full potential / James, Brenda
“In Believe, author Brenda James guides you to take a deep but safe dive inward. Chapter by chapter, through a method of introspection, you are encouraged to take simple action steps and embrace tools to help illuminate all the reasons why you should believe in yourself as a leader. Embrace the process and let its wisdom equip you with one of the key fundamentals of leadership – self-belief. Come on an inspiring journey that will fill your heart with possibility. Immediately – and forever.” – back cover” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Succeed as a new manager : how to inspire your team and be a great boss
“It’s great to have a challenge at work. Managing others, though, can be daunting and can be tricky if you’re the boss of former colleagues or friends. Packed with advice, this book attempts to help you sail through issues such as getting to know your team, dealing with internal politics, motivating others, and celebrating success.” (Catalogue)

 

Becoming a manager : how new managers master the challenges of leadership / Hill, Linda A.
“… the author offers concrete advice on the crucial issues of dealing effectively with organizational politics and developing and leading diverse teams in times of change, as well as on how managers can prepare themselves to lead over the course of their careers. In a new epilogue, she explores what organizations can do to help managers in their journey to lead and learn.”–BOOK JACKET.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

What to do when you become the boss : how new managers become successful managers / Selden, Bob
“At last, a straightforward guide to help fill the people management learning gap for new managers ” (Catalogue)

 

 

From bud to boss : secrets to a successful transition to remarkable leadership / Eikenberry, Kevin
“Practical advice for making the shift to your first leadership position.  The number of people who will become first-time supervisors will likely grow in the next 10 years, as Baby Boomers retire. Perhaps the most challenging leadership experience anyone will face isn’t one at the top, but their first promotion to leadership. They must deal with the change and uncertainty that comes with a new job, requiring new skills, and they’ve been promoted from peer to leader. While the book addresses the needs of any manager, supervisor, or leader, it pulls from the best leadership and management thinking, and puts the focus on the difficulties that new leaders experience. Includes practical information for new managers who must supervise friends and former peers”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

New managers : mastering the big 3 principles of effective management–leadership, communication, and team building / Falcone, Paul
“An accessible and practical playbook by leading HR expert Paul Falcone to cultivate your most vital resource: having the right people working hard for you.” (Catalogue)

 

The essentials of management : everything you need to succeed as a new manager / Leigh, Andrew
“Distilling years of hard-won success, experience, lessons and management wisdom, this book will help new and aspiring managers be the best they can be.   For new and aspiring managers this exciting book will enable you to quickly learn all the clever and powerful tips, tricks, advice andknow-how that seasoned and experienced managers already know.You will pick up effective ideas and learn powerful, practical skills that will help you become a better, more successful manager who really delivers results.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Introverts and Extroverts : working with, or managing, different personality types

Linda

 

Christina is the confident, social type, always among the last to leave the party and who can work a room with ease.  An extrovert.  For her, social events and personal interaction are energising.

Will, however, is the one in the corner at a work event, looking uncomfortable, hoping to someone might talk to him but kind of hoping no-one will.  An introvert.  Social situations for Will are often challenging, and talking to strangers is something he finds draining, requiring lots of time to recharge afterwards.

These are of course the opposite end of the personality spectrum with the majority of people sitting somewhere between the two, combining aspects of both personality types.  That makes them ambiverts.  Ambiverts are happy to attend a social event, chat to people, then just as happy to go home and recharge.

So to first check – although you probably suspect which group you fall into – take this quick pop quiz

Psychology Today provides definitions of both extroversion  and introversion 

Extroversion is a personality trait typically characterized by outgoingness, high energy, and/or talkativeness. In general, the term refers to a state of being where someone “recharges,” or draws energy, from being with other people; the opposite—drawing energy from being alone—is known as introversion.
 

Introversion is a basic personality style characterized by a preference for the inner life of the mind over the outer world of other people. … Compared to extroverts, introverts enjoy subdued and solitary experiences.

Regardless of what group you identify with, being outgoing or retiring, can impact on how you are perceived in the workplace, your leadership style and relationships with others.

An extrovert who draws like minded people to them may make up a team of similar personality types, overlooking a competent, yet quieter, personality.  A team that is made up of extroverts can impact on functionality as much as an introvert dominated group.

Interestingly much more is published about either being introverted or from the introverts perspective than that of the extroverts.

If you identify as an introvert how do you hold your own quieter place in a “loud” world?  Can you be a successful leader if you tend to have introvert qualities?  If you are an extroverted leader how do you engage with introverted team members? 

The thing to remember is we are all different.  There’s no “right” or “wrong” personality type.

via GIPHY

This collection of resources will help guide you to understanding yourself and your colleagues and employees.

How to Be a Great Boss Even if You’re an Introvert
Embrace traits that improve relationships with your staff.

Do you have to be loud to be successful at work? This is an audio transcript of the Working It podcast episode — Managing introverts in your team: quiet voices in a loud world
 

Managing Introverts and Extroverts in the Hybrid Workplace.
Dhawan, Erica. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles. 8/19/2021, p1-4. 4p. , Database: Business Source Premier (access with library registration)
With many introverts opting to work remotely and extroverts more likely to want to go back to the office, how do you ensure your entire team remains engaged, productive, and happy?

Unique Problems Introverts Face In The Workplace.
By: Finkle, Jane. Leadership Excellence. Jul2019, Vol. 36 Issue 7, p28-30. 3p. , Database: Business Source Premier.  (access with library registration)
The article discusses the unique issues confronting introvert employees in the workplace and how they can effectively resolve them. Also cited are the importance of interpersonal relationships to succeed in one’s job, the calm and powerful perspective that introverts can contribute in the workplace, as well as tips on how leaders can compel introverts to speak up in group and supervisory meetings, as well as in improving relationships with coworkers.

Marketing Yourself If You’re Not An Extrovert
If you are introverted, doing things such as attending networking events and mixers or speaking in large groups may be things that you shy away from. However, there are ways you can still excel

It’s Possible to Be an Introverted Entrepreneur—Here’s How
Whether you just launched a startup or have been running your small business for years, if you are an introvert, you likely face challenges unique to your quiet temperament.

Stop Telling Introverts to Act Like Extroverts
Evy Kuijpers, Joeri Hofmans, and Bart Wille in Harvard Business Review, October 17, 2022 (online)
It’s well-known that engaging in extroverted activities such as networking and public speaking can help people advance their careers. Research has further suggested that in some cases, even naturally introverted people may be energized and feel better in the moment when engaging in these behaviors. However, studies have also shown that acting more extroverted than you are can take a substantial mental toll in the longer-term, leading to lower energy levels and potentially cancelling out the personal and professional benefits. As such, the authors argue that naturally more-introverted people should carefully weigh the benefits of putting on an extroverted face, and should make sure to give themselves time to recharge if and when they do decide to participate in extroverted activities.

The introvert’s edge : how the quiet and shy can outsell anyone / Pollard, Matthew
“Introverts can not only still be salespeople; they can be incredible salespeople–without changing who they are!” (Catalogue)

 

 

The introvert’s way : living a quiet life in a noisy world / Dembling, Sophia
“For anyone who loved Susan Cain’s Quiet, comes this practical manifesto sharing the joys of introversion…This clever and pithy book challenges introverts to take ownership of their personalities…with quiet strength. Sophia Dembling asserts that the introvert’s lifestyle is not “wrong” or lacking, as society or extroverts would have us believe. Through a combination of personal insights and psychology, The Introvert’s Way helps and encourages introverts to embrace their nature, to respect traits they may have been ashamed of and reframe them as assets. You’re not shy; rather, you appreciate the joys of quiet. You’re not antisocial; instead, you enjoy recharging through time alone. You’re not unfriendly, but you do find more meaning in one-on-one connections than large gatherings. By honoring what makes them unique, this astute and inspiring audiobook challenges introverts to “own” their introversion, igniting a quiet revolution that will change how they see themselves and how” (Catalogue) 

Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking / Cain, Susan
“At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who invent and create but prefer not to pitch their own ideas; who favour working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labelled “quiet”, it is to introverts we owe many of the great contributions to society – from Van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer. Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with the indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Susan Cain charts the rise of “the extrovert ideal” over the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects – how it helps to determine everything from how parishioners worship to who excels at Harvard Business School. And she draws on cutting-edge research on the biology and psychology of temperament to reveal how introverts can modulate their personalities according to circumstance, how to empower an introverted child, and how companies can harness the natural talents of introverts. This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.” (Catalogue)  Also available as an E-book format or audiobook  

The power of personality : how introverts and extroverts can combine to amazing effect / Loehken, Sylvia
“Management writers have come up with many tools for explaining how different types of personalities can work best together. But they have ignored the most important personality difference of all – the difference between introverts and extroverts. This book is the first book to fill that gap. This book follows up from Sylvia Loehken’s international bestseller Quiet Impact, published in the UK in June, and will be required reading for all managers and anyone who wants to understand their colleagues better.” (Catalogue)

Quiet impact / Loehken, Sylvia
“Most literature on business, communication and success is focused on extroverts, who feel comfortable networking, talking and being the centre of attention. But at least 30% of the population are introverts, and they are now finding their voice. Quiet Impact : How to Be a Successful Introvert is already an international phenomenon. Using the latest psychological research, and Dr Loehken’s own extensive experience coaching introverts in the workplace, it is packed with practical advice which is easy to implement. Dr Loehken identifies 10 strengths specific strengths that introverts often have (such as independence, perseverance and writing), and also identifies ten specific hurdles they often have to overcome (such as hyperstimulation, intellectualism and fear of conflict).” (Catalogue)  Also available as an E-book

The introvert entrepreneur : amplify your strengths and create success on your own terms / Buelow, Beth L.
“A practical guide to help introverts harness their natural gifts and entrepreneurial spirit.   Think you have to be loud and brash to be successful in business? Think again. The strengths and traits of the typical introvert lend themselves well to entrepreneurship, as well as “intrapreneurship” and a range of business roles. In The Introvert Entrepreneur, professional coach Beth Buelow shows readers how to harness their natural gifts (including curiosity, independence, and a love of research) and counteract their challenges (such as an aversion to networking and self-promotion). She addresses a wide range of topics –from managing fears and expectations and developing a growth mindset to networking, marketing, leadership skills, and community-building–informed by interviews with introverts who have created successful businesses without compromising their core personality. Filled with fresh insights and actionable advice, this essential guide will support anyone who’s striving to make a difference in a loud and chaotic world.” (Catalogue)

Taking the work out of networking : an introvert’s guide to making connections that count / Wickre, Karen
“Networking has garnered a reputation as a sort of necessary evil in the modern business world. Some do relish the opportunity to boldly work the room, introduce themselves to strangers, and find common career ground–but for many others, the experience is often awkward, or even terrifying. The common networking advice for introverts are variations on the theme of overcoming or “fixing” their quiet tendencies. But Karen Wickre is a self-described introvert who has worked in Silicon Valley for 30 years. She shows you to embrace your true nature to create sustainable connections that can be called upon for you to get–and give–career assistance, advice, introductions, and lasting connections. Karen’s “embrace your quiet side” approach is for anyone who finds themselves shying away from traditional networking activities, or for those who would rather be curled up with a good book on a Friday night than out at a party… With compelling arguments and creative strategies, this new way to network is perfect not only for introverts, but for anyone who wants for a less conventional approach to get ahead in today’s job market”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Quietly powerful : how your quiet nature is your hidden leadership strength / Miki, Megumi
“In the uncertain, changing, global and interconnected world, the ‘alpha’ or ‘hero’ leadership style alone is outdated and inadequate. Quieter professionals, who are often overlooked or taken advantage of without recognition, have immense value to contribute to organisations. In this book, Megumi Miki shares her own experience and those of many other quiet professionals who have achieved great success in the business environment. Megumi believes that a shift in our beliefs about leadership will allow talented quiet professionals to view their quiet nature as a strength and to succeed in their own way, rather than seeing it as a disadvantage. She aims to empower quieter professionals and those outside majority groups to fulfil their potential. Quietly Powerful challenges quiet professionals to reframe the story they tell themselves about their leadership potential – and encourages organisations to expand their ideas about what good leadership looks, sounds and feels like.” (Catalogue)

Self-promotion for introverts : the quiet guide to getting ahead / Ancowitz, Nancy
“Get noticed . . . and get ahead.  All too often, introverts get passed over for job offers and promotions while their more extroverted colleagues get all of the recognition. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In Self-Promotion for Introverts(R), business communication coach and intrepid introvert Nancy Ancowitz helps introverts tap into their quiet strengths, articulate their accomplishments, and launch an action plan for gaining career advancement. You will learn how to: Promote yourself without bragging– when networking, on job” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The introvert’s complete career guide : from landing a job, to surviving, thriving, and moving on up / Finkle, Jane
“This handbook demonstrates how to use your introverted qualities to their best advantage, then add a few extroverted skills to round out a forceful combination for ultimate career success. Includes keys to navigating each stage of professional development–from self-assessment and job search to survival in a new position and career advancement”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)
Available as an E-book

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Working on your EQ

Linda

Last week, a now former Minister of the Crown, noted, in an apologetic statement to the media, that his …wife had often commented that he needed to work on his emotional intelligence and now was the time to take her “sage advice”.

But what is “emotional intelligence” (more often shortened to EI or EQ) and why is it necessary?  Is it something you have or is it, like many leadership and interpersonal personal skills, something you can develop?  If so, how do you “work on it”?

Psychology today says :
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is generally said to include a few skills: namely emotional awareness, or the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions; the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

As a theory the concept of emotional intelligence was developed in the 1990s, however it was the publication of Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence that brought the importance of EQ to the attention of the wider public, particularly the business world.

Some years later Emotional Intelligence was named one of the 25 “Most Influential Business Management Books” by TIME Magazine and 25 years on from the publication of that best selling book Goleman’s work is still referenced.

In this TED talk Goleman outlines strategies to become more emotionally intelligent.

To help you on your EQ/Emotional intelligence journey we’ve collated some resources for you.

Articles

5 things emotionally intelligent managers do differently
“… leaders with a high level of emotional intelligence are essential to a company’s success”.

3 signs you need to improve your emotional intelligence
“When you lack emotional intelligence, other people often do not want to work with you, to engage with your projects, or to go the extra mile to help you succeed”.

Developing Emotional Intelligence As A Leader
“In this article, we’ll outline ways of developing emotional intelligence as a leader based on the four elements in Daniel Goleman’s original research: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Empathy, and Social Skill”.

Why emotional intelligence is important in leadership
“Leaders set the tone of their organization. If they lack emotional intelligence, it could have more far-reaching consequences, resulting in lower employee engagement and a higher turnover rate”.

Seven Traits Of An Emotionally Intelligent Leader
“… it goes without saying that emotional intelligence, which directly affects how a leader perceives, uses, understands and manages their own emotions and the emotions of others, is extremely important. It’s no longer just a nice-to-have skill, but one of the World Economic Forum’s Top Ten skills to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution (and it arguably underpins the other nine)”.

Online courses via Linkedin Learning (freely available with Library membership)

Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
 Executive coach and organizational psychologist Gemma Roberts explains what emotional intelligence (EQ) is and why it’s important. She helps you become more self-aware so that you can identify triggers that may hijack your performance. Gemma also helps you align your intentions and your impact so that you can build strong and collaborative relationships.

Communicating with Emotional Intelligence
In this course, Brenda Bailey-Hughes defines exactly what emotional intelligence is and how it can help you manage your emotions and build stronger relationships. Learn how to understand others’ perspectives, balance empathy and accountability, demonstrate listening, and respond appropriately to a variety of verbal and nonverbal cues. Using these simple techniques, you can quickly improve your communication and make conversations at work and home more productive and satisfying.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence
In this course, Britt Andreatta shares how to boost your emotional quotient (EQ) to better lead teams, work with peers, and manage up. Learn what emotional intelligence is and how it factors in at work, and discover concrete techniques for raising your own EQ. This includes perceiving yourself accurately, exercising emotional self-control, understanding and managing your triggers, and developing empathy. Then, turn those lessons around to build your awareness of others and become a more inspiring—and effective—leader.

From the book collection

Emotional intelligence : a simple and actionable guide to increasing performance, engagement and ownership / Jacobson, Amy
“With the world in crisis, organisations are switching their key focus from product and sales to their people and mindset. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage one’s personal emotions and the emotions of others. Our emotions drive everything we do as humans, and organisations with people who can recognize these drivers in themselves and know how to interact with others with different communication styles will dramatically improve their performance, capability and staff engagement. This comprehensive and practical book cuts through the hype to simplify Emotional Intelligence into familiar language and actionable tools for immediate results.” (Catalogue)

The emotionally intelligent workplace : how to select for, measure, and improve emotional intelligence in individuals, groups, and organizations
“How does emotional intelligence as a competency go beyond the individual to become something a group or entire organization can build and utilize collectively? Written primarily by members of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, founded by recognized EI experts Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss, this groundbreaking compendium examines the conceptual and strategic issues involved in defining, measuring and promoting emotional intelligence in organizations. The book’s contributing authors share fifteen models that have been field-tested and empirically validated in existing organizations. They also detail twenty-two guidelines for promoting emotional intelligence and outline a variety of measurement strategies for assessing emotional and social competence in organizations.” (Catalogue)

On emotional intelligence
“In his defining work on emotional intelligence, Dan Goleman has found that it is twice as important as other competencies in determining outstanding leadership.If you read nothing else on emotional intelligence, read these 10 articles. We’ve combed through hundreds of articles in the Harvard Business Review archive and selected the most important ones to help you monitor and manage your emotions–and boost your success.” (Catalogue)

 

Emotional intelligence : why it can matter more than IQ / Goleman, Daniel
“Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman’s brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our ‘two minds’– he rational and the emotional — and how they together shape our destiny”–Publisher website.” (Catalogue)
Also available as EBook Borrowbox, EBook Overdrive, EAudiobook Overdrive,

EQ applied : the real-world guide to emotional intelligence : how to make emotions work for you, instead of against you / Bariso, Justin
“In this age of social media attacks, constant distraction, and rampant corruption, a high emotional intelligence quotient, or EQ, is more important than ever. Justin Bariso brings the concept of emotional intelligence up to date and into the real world, combining scientific research with high-profile examples and personal stories. For example, in EQ Applied you’ll: – examine one of the most famous business stories of all time-Steve Jobs’s exit and return to Apple-from a completely different angle . . . and reveal a major lesson in the process – learn how to control your emotional reactions-and see how a modern day “miracle” brought this ability to life – learn how to break bad habits and escape “emotional hijacks” – discover how emotional intelligence can be used for evil-and how you can protect yourself Learn how to make emotions work for you, instead of against you. That’s EQ Applied.” (Catalogue) EAudiobook Overdrive

Fully human : 3 steps to grow your emotional fitness in work, leadership, and life / Packard, Susan
“HGTV cofounder Susan Packard launches the next chapter in emotional intelligence (EQ), and shows you how to increase your personal satisfaction and productivity–in work and life–via her three-step path toward EQ Fitness. Emotions can sink us, or they can power us like fuel to succeed. Many of us show up for work, and life, feeling lonely even in a room full of people, or bringing unproductive emotions into work, like anger or fear. You don’t have to feel this way. Susan Packard offers an accessible new guidebook to grow your emotional fitness, and it’s arrived just in time, as technology is quickly becoming our main interface for communication. No matter where you are in your career, success is an inside job. Packard lays out how to develop interdependent work relationships, and for leaders, how to build healthy company cultures. Packard introduces us to successful people, and companies, that are rich with ‘connector’ emotions like hope, empathy and trust-building. She tackles unconventional topics, like how workaholism keeps us emotionally adolescent, and how forgiveness belongs in the workplace too. Packard shares her EQ Fit-catalyzed success at HGTV and the stories of the executives she coaches in mindfulness and other emerging techniques, and she teaches an ‘inside out’ practice of self-discovery, which helps you uncover unproductive emotions, and dispel them. The best leaders balance power and grace, and everyone can effectively use resilience–an ability to endure tough situations and make tough decisions, and vulnerability, a willingness to open up, change, and admit when we need help. She offers new tools to bring our strongest emotional selves to work each day”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)
Also available as ebook

The language of emotional intelligence : the five essential tools for building powerful and effective relationships / Segal, Jeanne
“Learn how to increase your emotional intelligence with five simple tools It’s no secret that emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in your relationships. But how do you apply these specialized skills in everyday life? It’s easy–with this practical, ready-to-use guide by a renowned expert in the field of emotional intelligence and communication. Using the latest research and true-to-life examples, Dr. Jeanne Segal’s step-by-step program shows you how to incorporate the five basic tools of emotional intelligence to enhance your relationships in the workplace, at home, and in all areas of your life. You’ll learn how to: “Read” other people Make powerful connections Defuse arguments and conflicts Repair wounded feelings Understand nonverbal cues Build stronger, more satisfying relationships Packed with simple exercises, revealing self-quizzes, and proven calming techniques, this user-friendly guide can help you reach into the hearts and minds of others–sometimes without saying a word! Once you master the language of emotional intelligence, you’ll be able to form mutually rewarding bonds that last a lifetime. Dr. Segal’s method is a complete, hands-on approach to one of the most important life skills you will ever learn.” (Catalogue)

Emotional intelligence at work : the untapped edge for success / Weisinger, Hendrie
“Access an Untapped Source of Success At long last, a book directed to the working world that acknowledges and demonstrates how managing our emotions and dealing with the feelings of others increases the bottom line. Practical, practical, practical –Rita McGlone, assistant director of executive education, The Wharton School of Business Experts now acknowledge that emotional intelligence (EI) is perhaps the most crucial determinant of success in the workplace. And unlike IQ or other traditional measures of intelligence, EI can be developed and dramatically increased. This unprecedented book demonstrates how to master the core competencies of EI, abilities that include self-motivation, high self-awareness, mood management, and emotional mentoring. In addition, it includes scores of real-world examples and dozens of practical exercises that accelerate the process, along with step-by-step approaches to mastering a variety of EI techniques.” (Catalogue)

Self-awareness
“Self-awareness is the bedrock of emotional intelligence. It enables you to see your talents, shortcomings, and potential–but you won’t be able to achieve it through personality tests or quarterly feedback alone. This book will teach you how to understand your thoughts and emotions, how to persuade colleagues to share what they really think of you, and why self-awareness will spark more productive and rewarding relationships with your employees and bosses. This volume includes the work of: – Robert Steven Kaplan – Susan David – Tasha Eurich – H. James Wilson– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

The Upstander Movement : why now? – by guest author Jessica Hickman

Linda

Today’s blog is written by Jessica Hickman and republished with permission of the author.
Jessica is an Australian leadership coach, speaker, educator, and author with a core focus on empowering others to own their ability with authentic confidence driving change and innovation. As the founder of Bullyology, Jessica leads the Upstander Movement creating cultural change in workplaces and communities. 
Jessica recently published The Upstander Leader : How to develop a speak-up culture 

Bullying is a serious epidemic that has left so many millions across the globe traumatised. It is behaviour that is encountered as early on in life as childhood– in childcare centres, in kindergarten, in prep school, and so on.

But bullying isn’t behaviour that’s only confined to school yard. It isn’t only seen in deliberately tripping the new kid as they walk past with their lunch tray, and it often isn’t as blatantly obvious as a bunch of school thugs emptying out the victim’s bag to look for lunch money.

Bullying doesn’t just end in school.

As children grow and enter the workforce, they continue to encounter bullies who will use subtler but no less humiliating tactics to destroy their targets. Workplace bullying can look like constant targeted belittlement, escalating to threats and intimidation. It can lead the victim to experience stress, anxiety, panic attacks, disrupted sleeping patterns, high blood pressure, ulcers, and a plethora of other health problems. The victim is plagued with self-doubt, their productivity suffers, their passion for their job is replaced with the fear and disgust they associate with their workplace bully.

Sadly, this is an issue that is extremely prevalent in Australia, which has been ranked 6th in workplace bullying, when compared to 34 other European countries.

Workplace bullying isn’t just a personal problem, though; it isn’t something that only affects the bully and his victim. It also costs companies in terms of time, resources, revenue, and productivity. In fact, it has been estimated that workplace bullying costs the Australian economy between $6 billion to $36 billion dollars, every year.

While bullying statistics do showcase the extent of bullying, I’ve come to understand that there’s more to the whole bullying epidemic than just numbers and percentages; behind every statistic is a real person, and respect.

Behind every statistic is a story that needs rectifying, and it needs to be rectified now.


That’s why the Upstander Movement matters.

It aims at helping us all grow into the part of ourselves that will call out injustice and abuse, the part of ourselves that rejects passivity and embraces purpose-driven change making.

That’s why the Upstander Movement is the Now.

Who is an Upstander, and Why Should You Be One?
An upstander, as the word suggests, is someone who stands up for something, against something they feel is morally wrong. An upstander is someone whose impact makes a positive difference.

Upstanders are in all of the great heroes we read about and remember. From Nelson Mandela, to Malala Yousafzai, an upstander is someone with the steely determination to always do what they believe is right, regardless of any extraneous factors standing in their way.

In the context of workplace bullying, an upstander is someone who stands up for the target of the bullying. An upstander is someone who notices the situation, speaks up against it, and is gracious in doing so.

The Upstander Effect means everyone comes to work and goes home safe. It leaves everyone feeling like they can do their best work, like they’re supported, seen, heard, and valued in the Workplace. It is a workplace where, ultimately, everyone can thrive.

It is all the more important to be an upstander now– when everyone is still silently battling the after-effects of a pandemic that has caused increased levels of isolation, loneliness, anxiety, suffering, and depression. It is all the more important to be the Upstander who can be the catalyst for collective support in the workplace, to eliminate bullying, discrimination, injustice and racism.


The Bystander Effect
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

A bystander is essentially the opposite of an Upstander.

A Bystander is someone who will see an injustice happening, and look the other way. The Bystander Effect is when people will content themselves with just standing by and diffuse responsibility, because they “don’t want to get involved”.

As someone who experienced severe workplace bullying, I know the difference it might have made to me and my situation, had the business leaders chosen to be an Upstander and speak up against my perpetrator. Instead, they chose to be bystanders to my situation.

To be a passive bystander to bullying, is to be complicit in the bullying itself. This is why it is important to take action, to take initiative, to speak up.

As long as there is a single upstander, there will be a difference. As long as we have people who are willing to take that one step to make the difference, as long as we have people who are not afraid to “get involved”, workplace bullying can be fought.

Changing the world doesn’t have to be done in leaps and bounds, or from pedestals and podiums; sometimes, all it takes is speaking out against an unkind word to a colleague.

Why now?

As Charles Dickens wrote in the opening lines to what became one of his most celebrated works, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Although Mr Dickens was describing the last quarter of the 18th century, this statement holds true still for the times we live now.

We live in times where injustice is widespread. There are a plethora of issues we hear about in the news on the daily, from racism, to discrimination, to murder, to harassment. But as much as we hear about all these unethical and illegal activities, biases, and incidents, we also hear—and experience—revolutions that are organised to counter them. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the MeToo movement, people everywhere are coming together to share their experiences and stories, and to push back against archaic stereotypes and biases.

With all the technology that is available at out fingertips, with all the connections that are only one click away, we are being challenged every day to learn something new in someone else’s perspective; we are in the middle of an ideas revolution.

We are living in a day and age when perpetrators are finding it harder to hide their injustices, when perpetrators are called out and people are willing to rally around the victim to help make a difference. We are living in a day and age when upstanders are more in the making than ever before.   

So, the question is “If not now, then when?”

Because there has never been a better time than right now. 

The upstander leader : how to develop a speak-up culture / Hickman, Jessica
“An inspiring and informative guide for a new generation of leaders who are ready to speak up against toxic behaviour and bullying in the workplace. We’ve all heard of the Bystander Effect, where people see bad behaviour and they walk on by. Bystanders have been called out by the #MeToo Movement, Black Lives Matter and March4Justice, to name just three. It’s not OK to ignore bad behaviour and it never has been. In the workplace (even in the highest levels of Government) bullying and bad behaviour take place, causing toxic cultures and awful places to work. But with 35% of the workforce now from the Millennial generation, it is essential that workplaces change. The Millennials are the Upstander generation – and they are the ones who are driving the future of business – you need them on your team. It’s time to empower our leaders to be Upstander Leaders to attract the best talent and make their working lives safe and enjoyable places where they can thrive. This practical book offers a 5-step model to help them do just that. Award-winning thought leader Jessica Hickman was a victim of workplace bullying over a three-year period when she saw first-hand the Bystander Effect. It motivated her to write The Upstander Leader to encourage leaders to develop a speak-up culture in their organisations. The strategies explained in this book have been road-tested in a number of organisations where bullying is not tolerated, and it’s not just OK to call it out – it is encouraged”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)
 
Worksafe’s Bullying pages offers Tools and resources for businesses and workers to help guide you in preventing bullying in the workplace.

Other material on workplace bullying may be found in the Wellington City Library collection and includes :

Workplace bullying : a costly business phenomenon / Needham, Andrea W
“In this revitalised edition of Workplace Bullying by ground-breaking New Zealand human resource expert Andrea W. Needham, we take a hard look at a very dubious workplace practice. Corporate abuse. Mobbing. Workplace bullying. Call it what you will, the outcome is still the same – staff who become demoralised, and lose trust and confidence in your organisation; staff who leave.” (Catalogue)
 
 

Bullying in the workplace : causes, symptoms, and remedies
“Bullying in the workplace is a phenomenon that has recently intrigued researchers studying management and organizational issues, leading to such questions as why it occurs and what causes such harassment.” (Catalogue)

 
 
 
 

Bully blocking at work : a self-help guide for employees and managers / Field, Evelyn M
“No one goes to work to be humiliated, abused, ostracised, subjected to rumours, or assaulted. Yet this is the reality of a working day for more than one in six workers. Bullying causes billions of dollars in lost productivity, expensive mistakes, employee replacement costs, and health and welfare rehabilitation expenses. Most workplaces currently have few resources and systems to deal with the problem, leaving the victims to sink or swim, and the bullies to remain professionally incompetent. Few understand that bullying is not tough management or an aggressive personality trait to be suffered. Severe and unremitting bullying catapults the victim into such a damaging emotional state that it can lead to the breakdown of their very survival mechanisms. Bully Blocking at Work reveals for the first time the true evil nature of workplace bullying, helping the reader to understand its toxic, destructive impact on all employees – whether they are targets, bullies or onlookers – and provides advice for coping and confronting bullying, from both a personal and organisational perspective. The author has worked as a psychologist for over thirty years and has spent many hours listening to clients, conducting interviews, reading, speaking and writing about workplace bullying. Sprinkled liberally throughout the pages are quotes from the many sufferers of bullying that the author has personally worked with over many years.” (Catalogue)

Workplace bullying and harassment : a toolbox for managers and supervisors / Olsen, Hadyn
“Workplace bullying, harassment and occupational violence are not simple issues to deal with. If ignored or dealt with poorly, they can create a toxic workplace where high staff turnover, complaints and ongoing conflict are the norm. The second edition of this popular book provides information, advice, step-by-step processes and practical tips for managers and supervisors dealing with workplace bullying and harassment problems.” (Catalogue)

The well-spoken woman speaks out : how to use your voice to drive change / Jahnke, Christine K.
“Practical and inspiring, this book is a valuable asset for women seeking to drive change with #MeToo, March for our Lives, Time’s Up, Black Women Lead, Climate Action, She Should Run, Power to the Polls, and women’s marches. In her successful book The Well-Spoken Woman, top speech coach Christine K. Jahnke shared techniques to help women present their ideas effectively in any setting. This new follow-up is for women who are persisting, resisting, advocating, or running for office–and gives them the tools to be effective, persuasive, and powerful communicators. The Well-Spoken Woman Speaks Out will guide any woman who wants to state her case in the most compelling way, ensure that she is truly heard and understood, and seeks to impact and inspire others. It takes Jahnke’s direct experience working with women like Michelle Obama and the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and pairs it with the recent surge of women nationwide who are speaking up to drive social and political change. Jahnke, who has spent twenty-five years helping women leaders, provides guidance and best practices so you can: rally support for a cause, make a persuasive pitch, campaign for public office, be a successful advocate, and motivate people to make positive change. She applies her expertise to many facets of communicating publicly, including using your voice in social media; participating in panels, meetings, and discussions; giving presentations; and speaking to the media”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Permission to speak : how to change what power sounds like, starting with you / Bay, Samara
“Find your voice and use it to lead us to a better future, with this game-changing blueprint for redefining what power and authority sound like–from a Hollywood communication expert. Anyone who has ever been told “You should speak up!” during a meeting at the office, a group project at school, or even a conversation among friends can attest to the misunderstanding at the heart of that demand. For those of us–including women, people of color, immigrants, and queer folks–who find it hard to speak up, the issue is not just about willpower. Many of us have internalized the same messages since birth: that because of the pitch of our voice, the accent we possess, or the slang we use, we will not be taken seriously. Power, we’re told, sounds like the mostly white, straight, wealthy men who wield it. Samara Bay–one of the most in-demand speech and dialect coaches in Hollywood–has made it her mission to change that, and with Permission to Speak she presents a fun and practical road map for making big cultural change while embracing our natural strengths. Drawing on her experience plus the latest research in public speaking, linguistics, and social science, she identifies tools for unlocking the potential in each of our voices–whether you’re an entrepreneur, a new political candidate, a creative type with a bold vision, or a mom going back to work. Giving yourself permission means more than landing your message–it’s about showing up when you show up and finding joy in speaking to your public. With simple tools, big ideas, and a whole lot of heart, Permission to Speak offers a revolutionary take on public speaking and a new definition of what power sounds like. Namely, you”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Jerks at work : toxic coworkers and what to do about them / West, Tessa V.
Ever watched a coworker charm the pants off management while showing a competitive, Machiavellian side to the lower ranks? West profiles classic workplace archetypes, and gives advice to anyone who has ever cried in a bathroom stall at the office. Digging into the inner workings of each bad apple, she explores their motivations and insecurities, and offers clever strategies for stopping each type of jerk in their tracks. This is the playbook that you wish you didn’t need! — adapted from publisher info” (Adapted from Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.