To learn more about Professional Networking, see our article at https://www.mindtools.com/professional-networking

Do you shudder at the thought of networking? If the answer is yes, chances are that you’re simply out of practice.

A strong professional network has the power to boost your personal brand and improve your ways of working.

In this video, we’ll show you how to plan and build an effective professional network that benefits everyone involved.

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How can people with conflicting priorities, or different levels of power, work together effectively?

In this video, you'll see how Eldred's Power Strategies can help you to redress any damaging power imbalances and secure outcomes that are beneficial to all.

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Stories are powerful things. They fire our imaginations and stir our emotions. They can move us to action, but just as easily reduce us to tears.

In the business world, stories help you communicate more effectively, build rapport with customers, and gain buy-in for your ideas.

With this simple structure, you'll be able to create stories that engage and inspire your audience.

Chapter 1: The Hook

All good stories begin with a hook: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

With this famous opener, Jane Austen sets the scene for "Pride and Prejudice." It tells the reader what to expect from the book whilst hinting at Austen's subversive intent.

In business storytelling, the first question you need to ask yourself is, "What do you want your story to achieve?" Are you trying to sell an idea to a prospective client, or do you want your team members to buy into a new initiative? Consider the wants and needs of your audience, and how you can tailor your delivery to appeal to them.

Chapter 2: The Opportunity

You've convinced your audience to listen to what you have to say. But they'll quickly lose interest if you don't give them a reason to stick around.

Using clear, unequivocal language, explain what they stand to gain by investing in your story, or what they stand to lose by ignoring it.

Commercially speaking, this could translate into anything from improved sales to more efficient working practices, but it's crucial that your audience understands what's at stake. Use facts and figures to help get your message across, and explain in concrete terms what's going to happen next.

Chapter 3: The Close

The final chapter of your story is where you tie up loose ends. Just as Elizabeth Bennet marries Mr Darcy at the close of "Pride and Prejudice," your story needs to conclude in a way that doesn't leave any questions unanswered.

Wrap things up by reinforcing the points you raised in the previous chapter. This will make your story memorable, reminding your audience why they were interested in the first place. If you've told your story well, they'll want to return to it again and again.

For many leaders, leading ethically isn't always easy. When budget or time is restricted, it can be tempting to "fudge the numbers" or tell the odd white lie in order to get the job done. But unethical leadership is a slippery slope, and can quickly land you in hot water with your team and your boss.

In this video, we look at how defining your values and preparing for crises can help you to lead an ethically minded team to be proud of.

If you want to learn more about how to motivate yourself, read the article at https://mindtools.com/motivate-yourself

Motivation comes in two different forms: extrinsic and intrinsic. Being paid a salary is extrinsically motivating. Meanwhile, enjoying your job is intrinsically motivating.

No matter how much we love our jobs, it's likely there are some tasks that we don't enjoy. Use these five intrinsic and extrinsic motivational strategies to tackle undesirable tasks.

1. Change your perspective. Admin or filing may not be motivating in itself. But, what if you saw it as an opportunity to prove your organization skills to your boss?

2. Ask yourself “why?” If you start to question your work’s purpose, think about why you do what you do. Listing the positive outcomes of your job can help to invigorate you.

3. Develop accountability. Inform your colleagues or boss that you will complete your task by a certain day or time, and use their expectations to motivate you to get the job done.

4. Master time management. Create a schedule to manage your workload efficiently, and don’t procrastinate – it will only prolong the process!

5. Set goals and rewards. Make mundane tasks more fulfilling by setting yourself goals and rewarding yourself at the end. You can also make daunting tasks more manageable by breaking them down into smaller “easy wins.”

With these tactics, you'll motivate yourself to get those undesirable tasks done. Then you can get on with the parts of your job that you really enjoy!

When faced with a big decision in a limited amount of time, it’s common for people to freeze or to rush into a bad choice.

The TDODAR Decision Model is a simple process that helps you to make the best possible decisions in high-pressure situations.

In this video, we’ll outline how you can use TDODAR to solve time-sensitive problems.

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Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, interpret and process emotions in yourself and others. While genetics, upbringing and environment all play a role, there are steps you can take to develop your emotional intelligence over time.

Get to know yourself. Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware. They have a realistic appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses, and how they come across to others. Peer feedback is one way of improving your self-awareness and may uncover a few emotional blind spots.

Learn your triggers. Linked to the notion of self-awareness is knowing how you are likely to respond in particular situations. Think about how you felt last time you were under pressure. Did these feelings help or hinder you? Recognizing emotions, and the source of these emotions, can shift your emotional state.

Empathize. Seeing things from someone else's perspective will help you understand their values and beliefs. This is important when it comes to motivating and engaging others. Make a conscious effort to get to know your colleagues.

Ask open questions and actively listen to what they have to say rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak. Be on the lookout for body language and other nonverbal signs as these may tell you more than someone is willing to express out loud.

Own your emotions. Part of being emotionally intelligent is about taking responsibility for the way you act around others.

If someone upsets you, pause and reflect on why their actions led you to feel this way instead of reacting impulsively. Recognize that a conversation is a two-way interaction and it takes two people to make you angry, sad or frustrated.

Go with your gut. Finally, listen to your body. If your stomach starts doing backflips every time you speak to a senior manager, or your muscles tense up before you go into a meeting, what does this tell you?

Counterintuitive as it might seem, emotions can be a valuable source of information when making rational decisions at work. Remember, emotional intelligence isn't about suppressing emotions. It's about learning how to recognize, process and channel them in a way that benefits you and your team.

Enhancing your emotional intelligence requires effort but it can be achieved with sustained practice.

To discover how emotionally intelligent you are, take the quiz at Mind Tools.

If you’re a manager, you may find that your busy schedule prevents you from keeping in touch with your team.

Watch this video to learn how simply wandering around and chatting face-to-face with your colleagues can help you stay in the loop.

To learn more about Management by Wandering Around, join the Mind Tools Club to access the full video.

It’s important to develop good relationships at work. They improve happiness, trust and engagement. Here are five ways to build strong, positive relationships at work!

1. Schedule time to build relationships. Pop over to a colleague’s desk, offer a coffee, or reply to a social media post. Devote time to building relationships, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

2. Develop your emotional intelligence. Understanding your own emotional needs can help you to empathize with others.

3. Appreciate others. Everyone wants to feel appreciated. Whether it’s the CEO or the janitor, show your appreciation by complimenting a job well done.

4. Manage your boundaries. Building friendships is important. But if a relationship becomes distracting, it’s important to take action. Set clear boundaries around when and where it’s acceptable to socialize.

5. Avoid gossiping. If you are experiencing conflict with a colleague, gossiping will only exacerbate the problem. Instead, talk directly to the person involved and find a way to work together amicably.

Good relationships can improve all aspects of your working life and open doors to career progression.

To learn more about the McKinsey 7-S Framework, read the article at https://www.mindtools.com/7s

How effective is your organization or team? If you're struggling to run a tight ship, chances are there is an inconsistency that you've not spotted yet.

Watch this video to learn how McKinsey's 7-S Framework can help you to identify the seven key elements of any organization or team and spot areas for improvement.

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