La importancia del inglés en tu vida profesional.

Nota: Esta es una realidad española que no es ajena a la de otros países en el mundo.

El inglés sigue siendo una de las grandes asignaturas pendientes de los profesionales españoles: según el Business English Index, nuestro país suspende a la hora de manejarse con soltura en este idioma, con un 4.43 de media. Sin embargo, el porcentaje de ofertas laborales que lo exigen no deja de crecer.

Un informe reciente de Adecco e Infoempleo revela que 32.8% de las ofertas de trabajo publicadas requiere conocer al menos un idioma extranjero. Para que no te quedes atrás, hoy vamos a hablar de la importancia de un buen inglés para tu vida laboral y a enseñarte cómo subir de nivel o emprender sin darte cuenta.

Tres motivos profesionales para aprender inglés son:

Puestos directivos. Sin un nivel adecuado de inglés, resulta mucho más complicado progresar laboralmente. Y es que cuanta más responsabilidad conlleva un puesto, más probable es que requiera conocimientos de inglés. Según un estudio de Randstad, 75% de las ofertas de puestos para altos directivos tienen el inglés como requisito.

Nuevas oportunidades laborales. Saber inglés abre las puertas a muchas oportunidades laborales apasionantes, desde trabajar una temporada en el extranjero a desempeñar un cargo en una multinacional o por qué no hacer tu propio emprendimiento. En un mercado tan dinámico como el actual, donde la globalización e internet están acabando con las fronteras, poder comunicarse con colegas de todo el mundo es cada vez más imprescindible.

Facilitar el día a día laboral. Tener un buen nivel de inglés hace posible acceder a todo tipo de recursos internacionales: páginas web, aplicaciones, informes... lo que nos da una ventaja en el día a día laboral. Además, conocer las expresiones adecuadas y saber desenvolverse con soltura nos será de gran ayuda si tenemos que contactar con clientes, proveedores o compañeros extranjeros. Aquí cinco consejos para aprender inglés (casi) sin darte cuenta:

1. Usa recursos audiovisuales. Tratar de memorizar el inglés leyendo un libro, como en el colegio, no solo resulta una tortura sino que es muy poco efectivo. Activa más áreas de tu cerebro con infografías, vídeos y otros materiales audiovisuales para aprender inglés.

2. Integra el inglés como parte de tu ocio. Si disfrutas leyendo, viendo series o yendo al cine en tus ratos libres, puedes subir de nivel rápidamente cambiando estas actividades al inglés. Además, así tu mente aprenderá a asociar este idioma con el relax y la diversión y te será mucho más ameno de aprender. Si no te atreves a dar el salto de repente, puedes empezar con subtítulos (mejor que sean en inglés) y libros adaptados para English learners.

3. Usa aplicaciones y podcasts. Para aprender inglés en tus ratos muertos. En el transporte público, mientras esperas a alguien... Si tienes cinco minutos y un smartphone, puedes aprender inglés estés donde estés.

4. Atrévete a hablar en inglés. La manera más rápida y efectiva de aprender un idioma es obligarte a hablarlo. Si no tienes la suerte de tener amigos guiris, puedes buscar un intercambio de idiomas o incluso, si vives en una ciudad grande, investigar actividades en inglés. Hay muchísima oferta, desde clases de yoga hasta teatro infantil pasando por cursos de cocina.

5. Presta atención a las expresiones y frases hechas. Si quieres llevar tu inglés al siguiente nivel y sonar como todo un nativo, la traducción literal no es suficiente. Necesitas contar con expresiones o slangs para enfrentarte a las diferentes situaciones del día a día.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

How Does Technology Impact Your Daily Life?

Over the last two decades, our lives have been slowly taken over by technology. Take a moment to look around you. How many screens do you see? Did you include the one you’re reading this on?

Our Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets have changed the way we work, play, and even raise our children. Today’s offices would be unrecognizable to workers of the past thanks to the proliferation of emails, video conferencing, tablets, laptop computers, and other relatively recent innovations. Meanwhile, more and more of our personal time is influenced by our gadgets (OK, smartphones) with each passing day.

So have we reached peak-technology? Hardly.

The novelty of constant online connections and instant communication may have begun to wear thin for older generations, but the next wave of Americans have no such qualms. Their tech-dependent lifestyles are already causing huge changes in both the professional and private spheres. The change may be inevitable…unless the Wi-Fi cuts out, of course.

Our Digitized Professional Lives

As many as 79% of employees now “work on virtual teams,” be it by email, online collaboration, messaging, video conferences, or some combination of any of the above. A 2013 Pew Research study found “94% of jobholders are Internet users.” This includes full-time, part-time, and freelance workers in technology companies, big corporations, and small businesses, who work in cities, the suburbs, rural America, and everywhere in between.

For most of the last century, communicating professionally meant writing letters, sending faxes, or spending hours on the phone. Not anymore. Email is now the primary means of communication in the modern workplace. We are communicating more, faster, and better than ever before. And employers have been reaping the benefits. A major report cited by British newspaper The Telegraph found that the incorporation of technology into the workplace has led to an “84% increase in productivity per hour for office workers since the 1970s.” The major influencers? Email, business software, and yes, even cell phones.

Technology Gets Personal

We don’t leave technology at the workplace. In fact, our private lives might be even more tech-enabled than our professional lives. In the 1980s and 1990s, our televisions were often the height of our home technology. Some people had clunky personal computers, a Nintendo for the kids, and maybe even a telephone in their car (remember those?).

Information from the Census Bureau tells us that 15% of homes had a personal computer in 1989; by 2011 that number climbed to 75%. Now we have desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, Apple watches, GPS-enabled cars, and more coming every day. Forget unplugging after the 5 or-6 o’clock whistle blows—we plug in instead.

In fact, going without tech might trigger an existential crisis for some (that sound you hear is Albert Camus rolling over in his grave). Our technology helps us learn, date, eat, socialize, and so much more.

The only time we don’t use technology is when we are exercising flying sleeping, well, dead. For now…

A New Generation of Digital Natives

Anyone born before the advent of technology in their daily lives is considered a “digital immigrant.” Older generations invented our tech-enabled society, but the generations born in this millennium are the first true “digital natives.

” While the “digital rehab” programs older generations have begun using to push back against the all-consuming digital saturation are gaining traction, these programs may make as much sense to younger generations as getting up from the couch to change the channel on the TV. The genie is out of the bottle, and technology is said to have even changed the way younger generations perceive reality.

We’re assuming they perceive reality as that thing happening just beyond the horizon of their laptop, tablet, or smartphone screen (as long as someone is tweeting about it). Although it’s easy to make fun of the next generation’s digital obsession, it will soon be impossible to ignore it. The digital natives are on pace to outnumber the digital immigrants before long.

The Bottom Line

Technology is now so integrated with our lives that going without it can cause severe anxiety for some. It’s not hard to see why. Technology has taken over.

Both our professional and personal lives are now technology dependent. While older generations are fighting back with unplugged retreats, the next wave of Americans can’t picture their lives without tech. They might not have anything to worry about. The future favors these digital natives.

By Todd Gebski. Vice President, Marketing. Charged with informing the way existing customers and potential clients think about mobile workforce management—or maybe even understanding what it is—Todd oversees how the Motus brand is received in the marketplace. With more than 15 years experience in marketing and eCommerce, Todd has a firm understanding of the marketing mix needed for success. 

Source: Motus.com

Leading by Example.

How to bring positivity, optimism, and integrity to the workplace.

How does one effectively bring positivity, optimism, and integrity to the workplace? To help answer this question, I had the immense honor to interview Dr. Joyce Knudsen, an impression management consultant, influential marketer, and Twitter sensation. For many months now, I’ve been inspired by Dr. Joyce’s tweets about positivity and integrity. I was honored to have the opportunity to speak with her about this important topic. Here are some highlights from our time together.

Positivity

“Positivity is a frame of mind,” Dr. Joyce says.  It’s truly a reflection of how you view the world around you. At home and at work, we should choose to have a positive mindset. When we look at the cup as half full instead of half empty, the way that we respond to colleagues, supervisors, and customers is positive, too.

Interestingly, positivity has a way of rubbing off on those around us. “A happy worker is a professional who brightens up the entire place simply by being there,” Dr. Joyce says.

As a leader, strive to create a culture of positivity. After all, “positive emotion lends itself to greater fulfillment at work,” Dr. Joyce shares. Further, “if people feel fulfilled when they are working, they’ll be better team players when you need them.”

Optimism

Optimism relates very closely to positivity. “We all have our issues,” says Dr. Joyce. While the issue itself may not be in our control, how we respond to it is. “We choose to be optimistic or pessimistic.” When dealing with a difficult person at work, for instance, be grateful when you make a breakthrough and hopeful that things will be even easier the next time.

We can be optimistic without falsely assuming that the world is only filled with roses. Those who are resilient and optimistic use every experience (the good, the bad, and the neutral) to help them to get to their end goal. When you’re stressed at work, simply “reclaim your mindset to reduce that stress,” Dr. Joyce advises.

Toss your Problems in a Basket-- Literally

When Dr. Joyce first meets with a group of clients, she walks around the office with a basket and index cards. She offers each employee a card and says, “Write down everything that’s bothering you right now.” She then collects the cards. “Now I have your problems,” she tells them. “I’ve taken them away from you. If you’re so inclined, when you leave, you can pick up your problems.  I would like you to reclaim your mindset, and you can’t do that if you’re worried about something.”

Tip: This simple basket exercise is an excellent activity to do in a group setting or as an individual. Write down what’s bothering you and put it to the side. If you need to revisit it later, then do so. But, at least give yourself the chance to focus on something else for a short while. Perhaps you’ll uncover a solution to a problem if you step away from it, too.

Integrity

“Bring integrity to the workplace,” encourages Dr. Joyce. “Integrity is one of the fundamental values that employers seek in the employees they hire. It’s the hallmark of a person who demonstrates sound moral and ethical principles at work.”

Managers who lead with integrity inspire others to do the same. “A person who has integrity lives his or her values in relationships with coworkers, customers, and stakeholders,” Dr. Joyce adds. Further, “people who demonstrate integrity draw others to them. They are counted on to act in honorable ways to do the right thing.” 

“Honesty and trust are essential to integrity,” says Dr. Joyce. As a leader, nurture a safe environment at work, so that employees do not avoid sharing the truth for fear of reprimand.

Celebrate as a Team

Celebrating successes is a great way to create and maintain a positive and optimistic office environment. Dr. Joyce shares that simple things like taking the team out to lunch can go a long way to build camaraderie and a happy workplace.

Let’s strive to ensure that our employees are happy and feel valued. Regularly “acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of others,” Dr. Joyce suggests. When we do this, we encourage continued positive behavior from that person and from the rest of the team.

I felt such synergy during our interview, and was truly inspired to continue to bring positivity and hope to those around me. Thank you, Dr. Joyce, for sharing your time and wisdom!

Want to learn more about Dr. Joyce? Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, GooglePlus, and Instagram. Learn more about her book here and visit www.drjoyceknudsen.com.

Want to learn more about handling difficult people in the workplace? Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook. Read my book and visit www.amycooperhakim.com.

Source: Psychologytoday.com.

How do celebrity trainer David Kingsbury trains Hollywood action stars.

David Kingsbury is one of the world’s most sought after personal trainers who have demonstrated their skills in body transformation again and again. He not only works with renowned personalities from the film industry but helps transform the lives of thousands of people. Here, he has shared how do Hollywood action stars train and what characteristics you would need to train like a Hollywood star. 

Being a Trainer

The weight training expert believes that being a fitness expert is not about just letting celebrities have great abs. It is about being responsible for the physical condition and safety of a highly valued personality. The focus is not only on making sure that a celebrity looks great on screen. It’s also about ensuring that the physical capabilities of a client are enhanced and the client avoids getting injured.

Temporary Athletes

The trainer of over 50 A-list stars thinks that when he is training a star for an action role, he needs to turn them into an athlete on a temporary basis. The actor must look like that he has the capacity to do what his role demonstrates. For instance, while training Hugh Jackman, it was ensured that he could tear a person apart in his role as Wolverine in The Wolverine(2013). Another example he gives is of Michael Fassbender, as he has trained him for his role in the film version of Assassin’s Creed (2016). In this role, the actor had to look like a believable killer. The killer had to be agile, lithe and have a physicality that’s instantly palpable on screen. Making celebrities into temporary athletes is a part of his job now, reports Telegraph.co.uk.

Tough Job

The provider of world’s leading online training plans also states that the road to this result is riddled with loads of pitfalls. The actors often get seriously injured and some stunts are really scary with real danger. Hence, the process of training an actor is not as easy as it seems. Many times the stunt doubles take over highly dangerous scenes. But it does not mean that the actors are not doing whatever they can do by themselves.

The Key Pillars

Action movie scenes are particularly grueling because one has to do dynamic and dangerous movements over and over again. To prepare the stars for a role in an action film, the trainer based in Pinewood Film Studios sticks to some simple steps that are mentioned as follows :-

High Strength Levels

The trainer of Jennifer Lawrence always insists on building the strength levels of celebrities. It is done by following a two-fold approach. First, the outright strength of a celebrity is developed so that it ensures that the celebrity can perform all the required movements. Then strength endurance becomes a focal point as many times, the movements need to be repeated over and over again.

Better Flexibility

The wellness expert shares that the lack of flexibility can be a big problem when someone is performing stunt work. For example, if a person has to deliver an overhead kick during a fight sequence, then that person has to be flexible. Flexibility training is the answer here. It ensures that the tension developed during a workout is released and the stress in exercising these muscles is reduced. Flexibility training also improves the posture of a person that leads to maximized strength and minimal stress.

Time for Recovery

When a person is training hard, they need time for recovery from the grueling sessions, believes the trainer of Garrett Hedlund. Training alone is not enough to make a person stronger. A combo of training and recovery is what sets things right.

Remembering Previous Injuries

When training a celebrity, the fitness guru always has to keep the previous injuries or body issues of the clients in mind. His previous clients have dealt with everything from broken vertebrae to torn ligaments. Stunts always have a serious amount of risk involved, so a person needs to work around his or her body’s limits. As a trainer, David does that by reading the body of a client. He also studies its functioning and movements and then modifies the training to suit those movements and functioning.

Training and Performance

The trainer of Rooney Mara also has to make sure that the training sessions have little or no impact on the on-screen performance of the actors. Performance matters more for the celebrities than their training, so the focus rarely shifts from that.

How to be a Stunt Performer?

If you wish to be a stunt performer or you are aiming for a body that has the capabilities of fighting like an action hero / heroine, then you must nail all the rules mentioned above. Apart from following them, the trainer of Jessica Chastain wants you to know your body. You must be ready to sprint, run, fight, explode and act at the same time. This is not an easy feat and only a few talented people can manage it.

If you liked the ideas shared by Kingsbury, you can read more such ideas on his official website. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Source: Healthyceleb.com