Soft Skills Can Be Hard!

Soft Skills Can Be Hard!

Soft skills are the interpersonal traits that allows us to effectively relate to how others think and act. These skills enhance our personal interactions and lead to greater social, personal, academic, and work performance and satisfaction. Unlike hard skills, which are the technical and knowledge skill set we bring to our work or classes, soft skills are interpersonal and can be applied in many more situations.  Soft skills encompass personality traits, such as optimism, communication skills, teamwork, listening, responsibility, social skills, personal motivation, advocacy, problem solving, giving and receiving feedback, decision making, flexibility, and conflict resolution skills and abilities which can be practiced, such as empathy. Like all skills, soft skills can be learned, once taught.

Definition of Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that allow us to effectively relate to others. Learning, practicing, and applying these skills helps us build stronger personal, social, and work relationships. Often schools place the focus of our career development efforts on hard skills – technology skills, knowledge, and other skills that specifically relate to our ability to get work-related tasks done. This means we may neglect to develop our soft skills. However, some of us have a particularly difficult time learning soft skills and need to learn them through direct instruction, such as the classes offered at the  SupportforStudentsGrowthCenter.com As a result, they are an investment worth making.

Empathy and the Emotional Intelligence Quotient

When we demonstrate empathy, we create connections with others, which can help to build teamwork or otherwise create shared goals and mutually enjoyable experiences. Empathy also helps to develop stronger interpersonal connections between peers, team members and colleagues, which is as important as shared goals or complementary skills when it comes to accomplishing tasks in our personal, social, school, or work lives.

Empathy is one component of what is known as Emotional Intelligence, or EI. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage our feelings so that they are expressed appropriately by society. Exercising emotional intelligence helps to create caring, reciprocal, productive relationships.

There are four key components to Emotional Intelligence:

  • Self-awareness: The ability to recognize our own feelings and motivations
  • Self-management: The ability to appropriate express (or not express) our feelings
  • Social awareness: Our ability to recognize the feelings and needs of others, and the norms of a given situation
  • Relationship management: Our ability to relate effectively to others

Taken together, these skills make up our Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQI). The EQI is a measure of your ability to exercise soft skills such as empathy.

Professionalism

Professionalism is simply the ability to conduct ourselves with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence. Acting with professionalism also means seeking to communicate effectively with others and finding a way to be productive. Professionalism involves what may seem to be small acts, such as:

  • Always reporting to work on time and returning promptly from breaks
  • Dressing appropriately
  • Being clean and neat
  • Speaking clearly and politely to peers, customers, and clients
  • Striving to meet high standards for one’s own school or career work
  • Performing in a manner consistent with our own moral and ethical standards

Learned vs. Inborn Traits

Because soft skills are talked about as traits of a person’s character, it may seem as though you have to be born with them. While some soft skills come more easily to one person than they might to another, soft skills are not inborn. Like all skills, they can be learned. Because we all have our own preferences and ways of moving through the world, some soft skills may be more difficult to learn than others. But if we think back, there are also aspects of our hard skill set that were difficult at first, though they now seem to come quite naturally to us. We develop soft skills in the same way we develop hard skills- direct instruction and practice. You don’t have to be born with great listening skills to become an amazing listener – you can learn and build these skills throughout your life.

Make that first interaction a memorable one; be respectful, make eye or facial contact, shake hands firmly, listen closely and respond to questions. 

Dr. Eric Nach

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

Coping with Change: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Other “Issues”

Coping with Change: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Other “Issues”

“Our children” are often identified as being “creatures of habit”, they tend to be highly regimented and rigid in their ways of thinking and acting. Virtually any type of change in environment and routine can become a massive dilemma for all children and teens, especially “our children” with “varied needs”.

Our children will have many new experiences to encounter as the school year winds down, summer vacation begins, and then the summer winds down and the school year begins again. Many parents experience either “selective forgetting” or feelings of “dread” as our children transition through these changes year after year.

So what’s a parent to do to help their child transition through times of change? Here are some suggestions based on my decades of teaching, training, and counseling children, teens, young adults and their families with special needs:

  1. Parents can and should use “modeling and role-playing” to help their child prepare for the ending or beginning of a new routine.
  2. Parents can spend time, along with siblings “training” their child how to create new routines and especially how to have some level of flexibility in these time of transitioning.
  3. Parents can develop a clear-cut timetable for the transition so their child will know what to expect and how they will still be able to have time to do preferred tasks. Even though little occurs perfectly, knowing what to expect will bring comfort to our children.
  4. Parents typically get best results by explaining Who, What, When, Where, and How factors play into the transitioning events and activities their child will experience. How this information is presented is just as important as when and where. During times of stress and turmoil is NOT the time to discuss potential changes, wait until our child and their environment are at peace to have these discussions.
  5. Parents need to have their child be part of the decision making process to establish better buy-in.
  6. Parents who create a “reward schedule” for a relatively smooth transition are most likely to see a less traumatic transition period.
  7. Parents who understand that it will take time and work for their children to get acclimated to a new routine and that they will likely experience some struggles as they go tend to be happiest. We are looking for “progress not perfection”.
  8. Parents who keep routine as times of change occur tend to be happiest. Parents who continue with light academics and various types of therapies that the child typically experiences throughout the school year tend to have a smoother time at transitioning and experience the least amount of regression of skills throughout the summer months. Social skills groups, camps, and activities where our children can experience successes lead to better social, academic, and behavioral development.

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

Essential Soft Skills For A Sales Force

Essential Soft Skills For A Sales Force

Soft skills are crucial attributes required for continued success in the workplace. They are those little nuggets of communication and interpersonal skills that will have you relate better with the people at work. Soft skills are especially essential if your job entails any sort of sales and marketing. Having such interpersonal skills greatly determines how you identify, and deal, with customers. They are, at the very least, one of the reasons you will either be a success or a flop.

When putting together a sales force, there are different factors to consider and different skills to evaluate. However, there are 5 soft skills that are a must-have for any sales force to succeed.

  1. Communication

If you are in sales, the most necessary skill set has to be good communication. The ability to put your ideas across in a clear and concise manner cannot be understated. Whether spoken, written, or through social media, good communication is key. The sales force has to be able to engage with the customer during various situations. Good communication is especially needed when dealing with a customer in a face to face situation. In such cases, the sales force has to be engaging, purposeful, able to put their point across clearly. There should be no room for ambiguity.

  1. Empathy

Your sales team needs to be able to put themselves in the customer’s shoes. How else will they be able to convince the customer that they need your product or service? Being empathic with the customer makes them feel more comfortable when dealing with you. It makes them feel like you are on their side, which for any sales rep, is half the battle. Empathy also makes you communicate your points across better since you can identify what the client is feeling or what they need.

  1. Humility

To be a good sales rep, you have got to learn how to be humble. The phrases “The customer is always right” or “The customer is king” come into play here. Identifying when to be humble during a sales pitch can help you close easier. Humility as a sales weapon helps the customer connect with you better since they feel like you are human; not just an insufferable sales rep out to fill a quota.

  1. Teamwork

In this day and age, businesses are increasingly focusing on a more team-oriented sales force instead of single sales reps. It is, therefore, important that the salesperson is able to operate in a team environment. This includes the ability to work well with others, to offer support to others, to give and receive instructions, and to even ask for help when needed. It’s only by doing so that they are able to perform better and make more sales in a team.

  1. Flexibility

This new move towards a team-based model of putting together a sales force and the unpredictable nature of today’s customer roles requires a lot of flexibility. To be a successful sales team, you have to anticipate situations and act accordingly. They should be able to perform different roles and engage customers on different platforms.

For more information about Dr. Nach’s Online Resources and how to enroll in our online lessons, visit our website at: http://drnachonline.com/

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

The Harm in Helicopter Parenting

The Harm in Helicopter Parenting

Helicopter parenting is a style of parenting where a parent gets overly involved in their child’s life. For such parents, keeping a close eye on every activity of their child is a way of showing them love and ensuring that they turn out well later in life. However, this kind of parenting has been discouraged by experts with a majority advocating for a balance between being protective and allowing children to experience some independence. Even so, some parents still prefer to engage in helicopter parenting resulting in their children facing challenges later in life. Some of the common shortcomings of helicopter parenting include:

Dependence on parents

Majority of helicopter parents do everything for their children regardless of age, resulting in over-dependence. It is common to find mundane tasks such as making their bed or even clearing the table is done by the parents so as to avoid tiring the child. However, these actions tend to make the child lazy and unsure of doing anything without the assistance of their parents – now or in the future. Also, they may feel afraid to attempt anything new without the approval of their parents to avoid disappointing them.

Poor parent-child relationship

Even though parents that get over involved in the life of their children do it out of love, it usually backfires when they face rejection. The main reason for the deterioration of their relationship with their parents is the constant follow-ups and inquiries on their whereabouts which make them feel like their every move is being monitored. Children that feel like they are being constantly watched often harbor ill feelings towards their parents; feelings that can develop into hate over time. In some cases, they start to pull away causing a strain on the relationship that may take years to rebuild.

Inability to express oneself

It is common to find children that have been through helicopter parenting being unable to speak up when confronted with certain situations. They are usually the quiet ones that have to be prodded to give their opinion in a group setting and still have a hard time expressing themselves. If much older, they lack confidence in getting their point across with friends or in office meetings once they begin working. The main cause of their inability to deal with life’s challenges is due to the interference of parents whenever they had to defend themselves.

Lack of analytic skills

The ability to analyze a problem and come up with solutions to tackle it effectively is important for children and adults. However, if they are not allowed to face problems head on and solve them, they will lack a crucial survival skill in life. Unfortunately for children with helicopter parents, this is the norm as most of them have their problems solved on their behalf – thereby denying them the chance to be analytical.

Overall, helicopter parenting does more harm than good for younger children and teenagers. It is better to give them the developmental space they need so that they can grow into better adults that are independent and confident in their abilities.

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

6 Steps to Getting Over Social Anxiety

6 Steps to Getting Over Social Anxiety

Social anxiety or social anxiety disorder is named as the third most common mental disorder in the world. It affects millions of people globally. Social anxiety can have far-reaching negative effects on those affected, especially their social life and professional work life. However, social anxiety should not limit your quality of life or serve as a life sentence. You can get over it and lead a normal life by following the following steps.

1. Understanding what social anxiety is and how it works

Social anxiety is the irrational fear of social situations and social interactions. People suffering from social anxiety dread being around other people, especially those they are not familiar with. They also dread being on the spotlight. When in social situations, they suffer anxiety, dread, fear, stress, low self-esteem, and other related mental conditions. Understanding this should be the first step to getting over social anxiety as it will enable you to expect what is to come when in social situations.

2. Understand that other people out there are socially anxious as well

As mentioned earlier, social anxiety is quite prevalent, both in the US and globally. The next step after understanding what the condition entails, therefore, is to also understand that you’re not the only one suffering from it. There are millions more out there going through the same. In fact, whenever you’re feeling anxious in a social situation, remember that there are other people in the same space with you feeling the same, perhaps the very same people you’re feeling anxious about.

3. Telling people about your social anxiety problem

As with any other situation or condition, getting over your social anxiety will require you to tell people about it. This is one important way to cope/manage and doing so has two huge benefits.

One, telling people about it will ease the burden on you. As they say ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Two, sharing your situation will enable the people around you to help you cope. For example, they can avoid putting you on the limelight or other actions that will make you feel more intimidated.

4. Don’t focus too much on how people perceive you in public

Another way to get over social anxiety is to avoid over-thinking and over analyzing how other people view you. For one, you’re not perfect and other people around you are not perfect either. Secondly, people around you are not judging you or scrutinizing you. They probably haven’t even noticed you. Thirdly, even when people are focusing on you, it probably isn’t as bad as you think it is inside your head.

5. Boost your self esteem and self image

People suffering from social anxiety often feel inadequate in some way. To counter this, try to boost your self-confidence and your self-image. Dress better, groom better, take a class on how to improve your speaking skills, motivate yourself through books, videos and lessons, make new friends, learn new skills, etc. All this will enable you to feel more confident around people.

6. Seek treatment

Last but not least, seek treatment. Social anxiety can be treated or contained via medication and therapy. Taking anti-depressants is said to help some people. Psychotherapy works even better as it allows people to explain their fears and have hem allayed by a professional therapist. Cognitive behavior therapy is said to work best. It can help change one’s social anxiety for good by altering how one perceives situations around them.

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

Being Confident in a Group Setting

Being Confident in a Group Setting

Confidence is an integral tool in human relationships; more so when it comes to interaction with other individuals in a group setting where teamwork is necessary. At Dr. Nach’s Online Resources for Innovative learning, we look into the various ways we can boost the individual’s confidence when it comes to such situations by changing the overall perception they have about themselves.

What causes lack of confidence?

Lack of confidence is caused by the general ignorance of people on issues about society and human behavior. Most times individuals don’t have a proper understanding of themselves or those around them and therefore can’t put their best foot forward in showing how good they are in fear of being judged. Individuals also lack the time and patience to exercise their social skills; skills that could undeniably have a positive impact on their confidence. Past events/experiences that were embarrassing or hurtful also tend to make individuals shy away in fear of a repeat and this makes them hide inside their ‘cocoon’.

What it takes to be confident in a group setting

  1. Self Confidence

An individual has to believe that they are worthy of commanding respect from those surrounding them and that their opinions actually matter and shouldn’t be buried in their mental boxes.

  1. Optimism

When in a group setting, pessimistic thoughts of not being liked or not being viewed as good enough have to be shunned. The first step to doing this is by changing the perception you may have of the group members. Keep an open mind about them and consider them a receptive and understanding audience right from the start.

  1. Preparation

Preparation is of vital importance in boosting self-confidence as one eliminates the fear of having to talk about or perform a task that they are not well versed in. After meticulous preparation, one feels happy and efficient during the group activities as he/ she has the chance to contribute positively to the general activities of the group.

Courses & skills needed

Dr. Nach’s Online Resources for innovative learning offers comprehensive lessons that ensure an overall confidence boost. They include:

  1. Dynamic Group performance
  2. Beneficial Conflict Resolution Skills
  3. Using Creative Problem Solving Strategies
  4. Transitioning into College, High school, and beyond

At Dr. Nach’s Online Resources, you can also find many other lessons that teach you how to improve your interpersonal skills. These skills will further boost your self-confidence and enable you to engage in groups without holding back. Predesigned Course bundles are available or you can build your own bundle based on your particular needs.

Confidence in group settings should be natural for individuals as there is nothing to it besides the overall exchange of ideas and performance of tasks.

For more information about Dr. Nach’s Online Resources and how to enroll in our online lessons, visit our website at: http://drnachonline.com/

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

 

/by

Advice On Saying No To Your Teen

Advice on Saying No to Your Teen

Being a parent is no fun when you have to say no to your child, especially a teen. Teens can be so convincing. Sometimes your son or daughter may act so mature or claim that you don’t trust her/him when you say no. It takes energy to stand your ground and make decisions as a parent. Below are a few things you’ll need to remember about saying no to your teen:

Anger

Teens often use anger to manipulate their parents into accepting or doing whatever it is they want. Your son may curse you, yell or even try to throw things at you. Most parents will give in to the teen’s whims at this point. This means that the child has gotten his/her way. As a parent, you need to be aware of these situations where your child uses anger to get things happening their way.

Unhappiness

Another common reaction when you say no to your teen is unhappiness and disappointment. Your teen will lock herself in the room, avoid you and sulk all day. It’s normal to feel guilty as a parent especially when you see your child unhappy. This is usually a good strategy to get you to change your mind.

Too good to be true

There is that child who will be unusually nice in order to get their way. This could mean helping to clean the house, take out the trash or other tasks that would have been a problem for them to do. Before you know it, she asks you for something that you would have otherwise refused. This tactic usually works because parents will consider it a reward to get her to do whatever she wants. Furthermore, you may not want to mess up the good vibes and positive energy by saying no.

Set very clear boundaries

It is common for your teen to try and push you into making a decision before you even have all the details about what she/he is requesting. Don’t make a decision before you think it through. Take your time to process the information. If you had already established guidelines and rules, think of what she/he is requesting and whether this will go against them. Most importantly, trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to change your decision if you feel it is going to protect them.

Don’t react to drama

If you have teens, especially girls, be prepared for some drama. Don’t let drama make you give in to whatever your teenager wants. Look for a way to stay clear of the drama. If she is really upset, take a break and only talk to her when she has calmed down.

Provide alternatives that would make you say yes

At the end of the day, you don’t want to ruin your teen’s life by saying no to everything he/she wants. You can provide ultimatums or conditions for you to say yes. For instance, ask if a parent will be there for her to go to the party or tell her to give the parent’s number if she is to be allowed to go.

For more information about Dr. Nach’s Online Resources and how to enroll, visit our website at:  https://drnachonline.com

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

Effective Time Management Tips

EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS

If you are a business owner or an executive moving up the corporate ladder, or a student trying to juggle school, work & a social life, time seems to be very limited. On the other hand you find yourself with seemingly unending tasks you have to complete on a daily basis. Without proper time management you can easily end up bogged down, distracted, inefficient and ultimately unproductive. This can seriously affect your chances of success and the pace at which you make progress. Here are tips you should use to effectively manage time and stay ahead of all your important tasks.

  1. Work with far shorter deadlines than you are used to and stick to them

One thing that fuels procrastination is the illusion that you have more time in your hands to work on activities. To avoid this, create shorter deadlines to create a sense of urgency on the various tasks you need to complete. You should not struggle with perfection, as when you get the tasks done you will have adequate time to brush through the work. Shorter deadlines also allow you to fit more tasks in your daily schedule.

  1. Schedule major tasks in your calendar well ahead before it gets crammed

Major tasks and events should always be scheduled before everything else. This will ensure smaller and unimportant tasks do not fill out your calendar and daily schedule. Waiting for a space of free time is an illusion especially for someone with several things to attend to. You should take charge of what you are doing by planning for the important and highly productive tasks first.

  1. Avoid multi-tasking

Unlike what is generally ascribed to, multi-tasking has been found in numerous studies to be inefficient and highly unproductive. You use more time and do not complete any of the tasks to the required quality levels. This is because you are hardly concentrating but only dividing attention across all tasks.

  1. Learn to delegate

You need to have a great talented team around you and empower them to be able to function with minimum support from you. Micro-managing the team highly affects your time schedules and the productivity of the whole department and business. Delegate all tasks that do not require your direct personal input and those outside your area of expertise. Learn how to effectively delegate to free up much of your time for more demanding tasks.

  1. Save unimportant but time-sucking activities for the end of the day

All activities that need to be done but take most of your time should be set towards the end of the day. This allows you to focus more on the valuable and more productive tasks during the peak business hours. You can deal with social media and mails as well as return personal calls at the business end.

  1. Establish a regular schedule for taking care of yourself

You need to discipline yourself to have enough time to unwind, eat well and exercise. To function at your optimum and be able to take control of the time you have, you should be mentally, physically and spiritually at ease.

For more information about Dr. Nach’s Online Resources and how to enroll, visit our website at: http://drnachonline.com/

 

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

Is Social Media Killing Social Skills

IS SOCIAL MEDIA KILLING SOCIAL SKILLS?

Social media is taking up a lot of our time. So much so that conversing with each other face-to-face has suffered a huge blow. Anywhere you look in public spaces, people are glued to their smartphone screens. Also, conversing and speaking in full sentences has become a chore for some people. This is obviously due to the influence of social media and text SMS. Even at home, the number of families that sit down to have quality time together or to share a meal is declining.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, SMS, and many other impersonal ways to communicate are taking over the place of talking and sharing. These modes of communication have their benefits such as being fast, easy, and available 27/7. But they should not take the place of face-to-face and verbal conversations.

Some people have forgotten how to construct a sentence, especially the young generation who only want to communicate via chats. In fact, when they get together with their friends they are unable to have a conversation. It’s gotten to the point where they instead get on their devices and text each other or other friends.

What can be done to change the situation?

Social media has an important role to play in society, but it must never replace human contact. Try to switch off the phones while at home with family or when having dinner and start the tradition of face to face communication. Share some quality time with your friends and have a good talk, get to know each other as individuals. Real conversation is important because it teaches us how to interact on a personal and human level.

The problem is that most of the time our eyes are glued to a device. Practice the art of conversation. Discipline yourself to put away your mobile device and learn to make eye contact. Learn how to listen and how to construct your thoughts into full sentences. In fact, make time to practice good verbal skills by taking up a lesson that addresses conversations skills. Dr. Nach’s Online Resources has lots of lessons that impact crucial interpersonal skills such as public speaking and communication.

The needed social skills 

We need to learn how to interact properly as human beings. For this, we need to learn the following skills.

Synergistic interpersonal skills

We must practice active listening. This means maintaining eye contact and paying attention to what the other person has to say. Don’t interrupt or let your thoughts wander. Try to understand what is important to them. Learn to put yourself in their shoes, so to speak. Active listening is one of the most important social skills. Practicing it will make you more engaging and charismatic.

With synergistic international skills, you will be able to start and maintain conversations. You will also know how to disagree in a respectful and constructive manner. This will enable you to make and keep real friends.

Dynamic group performance

Interpersonal skills will empower you to reap the benefits of being effective in group situations. You will be able to use tools such as ‘small talk” and active listening skills to have an impact on the social culture at work or in school. This will boost your self-esteem and eliminate the fear of criticism or feedback.

Beneficial conflict resolution skills

Interpersonal and group skills will enable you to develop and implement options and solutions to conflict. This will elevate your standing in social situations and make you an important member of the society. You can use these skills in all social settings including in school, at work, and in the social world. You will be able to interact well with others, influence situations, and become a leader.

So yes, social media is killing social skills. But there is a way to stop (and even reverse) that. And Dr. Nach’s Online Resources is here to help via well thought-out online lessons fit for people of all ages.

For more information about Dr. Nach’s Online Resources and how to enroll in our online lessons, visit our website at: http://drnachonline.com/

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by

What is Attention Management?

What is Attention Management?

A distracted mind is less than effective. Individuals who do not or cannot pay attention to their work and goals can waste valuable time and make careless mistakes. Attention management is a useful skill that allows us to connect with our responsibilities on an emotional level and motivates us to focus on our work and how to reach one’s own personal and professional goals.

Attention management increases the ability to focus attention and can be done at the individual, group, and working level. In the workforce, managers are encouraged to deal with their own attention problems before trying to influence employees in their organization. Individuals should focus on their own attention concerns before trying to influence the attention of others around them. In order to understand attention management, people must be aware of where they focus most of their attention. Most experts divide attention into four different areas or zones. While the names change, the ideas are all the same.

Four Areas of Attention:

Intentional: When working intentionally, people plan strategically and prioritize their activities.

Responsive: In this area people are responding to the world around them. They spend more time putting out fires than working intentionally.

Interrupted: People spend too much time answering messages and handling situations that interrupt their work.

Unproductive:  This occurs when people waste time at school or work. Unless you are taking a scheduled break, checking social media sites and chatting is unproductive.

The advice “stop thinking” may seem counter intuitive to attention management. Many people, however, are over thinking everything and focused on the wrong ideas. When we constantly think, we do not pay attention to what is really going on around us. Our feelings control how and what we think. If we think that something is boring, bad, or a waste of time, we tend to give it less attention. For example, people are less likely to pay attention during a meeting if they believe it will not be productive. The ability to pay attention allows people to better connect with the world around them, better process their emotions, and organize the way they process cognitively.

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates

Info@SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com    www.SupportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

/by