Coping with fear and anxiety as we come out of Lockdown

Posted by & filed under Advice, Blog.

For many of us, the easing of lockdown brings long overdue opportunities to see friends and family, play sports, get back to work and resume activities we’ve had to put on hold.  And even though we may, for the best part, be happy about things returning to a bit of normality, there may be other things making us feel anxious.

For many others, the prospect of coming out of lockdown when there is still so much debate about whether it’s a good idea, is affecting people’s mental health.

Every persons’ situation is unique to them, but it can be very stressful and draining managing all the uncertainty.

Fear and anxiety are very common responses when faced with change and uncertainty. Don’t beat yourself up for the way you’re feeling.  Instead, acknowledge how you feel, know you’re not alone and as is the case with everything, this too will pass.  It always does.

 

Tips on coping with fear and anxiety

In the meantime, you may find these suggestions helpful to ease your anxiety as things continue to return to normal.

 

Focus on what you can control – worrying about things you can’t control causes more stress.  Start by writing down all the things you can control and all the things you can’t. This will start to bring some awareness to whether your thoughts and emotions are based on things within your control or outside your control.   For example, you can’t control what debates are happening in the media, but you can control how much time you spend watching the news and choose to keep it to a minimum if it’s making you feel anxious.

Then whenever you notice your mind going into overdrive, ask yourself “is this within my control or outside my control?” If it’s not within your control, what can you choose to do that is within your control instead?  For example, if you’re out of work, you can’t control when you’ll find a job, but you can control your ability to give yourself the best chance i.e. updating your CV, applying for jobs and following up on any applications.

 

Ask for help – know you’re not the only person feeling like this.  You may feel like a weight has lifted if you speak to someone or get some support.  Also, many workplaces are allowing flexible working even if people are returning to their usual place of work.  Speak to your manager if your work is being affected by fear or anxiety as they may be able to provide additional support.

 

Breathe – sometimes it can all feel overwhelming with so much change frequently happening,  a good way to bring your attention back to the present is to focus on your breathing. Taking nice steady breaths in through your nose for a count of six seconds and out through your mouth for six seconds.  Continue for a few minutes or until you’re feeling more relaxed.

 

Gratitude – writing down 5-10 things that you’re grateful for every day is a nice way to focus your attention on something positive rather than dwelling on all the negativities.  Studies have found that it lowers stress and can improve your sleep too. Notice whether you personally did anything well that day too and jot it down as a way of congratulating yourself.

 

Self-care – whether self-care for you is exercise, reading a book, going out for dinner, or catching up with a friend, getting clear on what’s important to you and making time for it can really help to ease any stress and anxiety you may be experiencing.

What makes you feel good about yourself?   When are those times when you’re feeling most energised and what can you do less of to give you the time to do more of what makes you feel good?

Make it a priority and schedule it into your diary will mean you’re more likely to do it.

 

Hopefully, that’s given you some food for thought during these uncertain times that we’re living in, but remember that as with everything, it always passes, and this too will pass.  It always does.

Prefab and Modular Construction – Time to Build Success?

Posted by & filed under Blog, Industry News, Opinion.

All industries change and develop but perhaps not at the pace the construction industry has been in recent years. There have been trends and technological advancements which have developed over the course of 2019, but some go back to 2018 and prior. One of these is the rise of prefabricated and modular construction solutions in the UK, and how they impact the world at large. But what is this all about?

What are Prefab and Modular Constructions?

Basically, these particular methods of construction involve working with buildings and structures which have already been partially assembled offsite. So, they arrive in a certain state of readiness, but the difference between prefab and modular is how much of the work has already been done.

Obviously, you can probably begin to identify the benefits of something like this, less time required on site etc. but what else needs to be considered?

Are They Popular?

It’s no secret in the UK construction industry that prefab and modular solutions are rapidly becoming more popular. They seem to be the dominant trend in recent times, and we are seeing more and more buildings and structures put together in this manner.

There are a couple of reasons why this is the case. Obviously, the time it takes to assemble a building like this goes down. When things are put together off-site, it’s not as challenging to get the final product put together. Naturally, it’s quite a bit safer as well, because the risk of weather-related accidents or issues from fatigue go right down.

The fundamental issue that people have with conventional building projects is that it can be incredibly difficult to try and manage resources, time and cost. The issue of manpower and associated costs which come from that make it difficult for people to try and justify taking on a project with such risk. Most businesses/investors want to reduce said risk, and instead opt for something more straight forward and less time-consuming, like a prefab or modular solution. So, it’s easy to see why these modern methods of construction (MMC’s) will only continue to grow in popularity.

So, in conclusion, these are two construction methods which are becoming very popular. They represent a new shift in attitudes towards building in the UK. People now see it as being a more simplified process, with less risk and financial drain. The obvious hope is that people will continue to support this method until such time as it grows and develops past just another trend.

To me it makes sense because it’s just so much easier, or is it? These MMC’s have had their critics… have they addressed the quality concerns, can they address workforce training needs, and can they attain the building certificates on new builds that people clearly want? If they can across the board then these MMC’s will surely soon be the norm?!

Have your say… do you know a lot about Modern Methods of Construction and want to add your view… would love to hear from those in the industry on this hot topic, so those not in the know get more of an insight.

Follow me and Cherry Pick People for news and updates on the construction and development industry here in the UK.

 

 

 

Brexit – Is The Damn About To Burst!?!

Posted by & filed under Blog, Industry News, Opinion.

I speak to lots of businesses across the property sector, I’ve had different feedback on how the market has been. Lots have reported that property sales have been particularly challenging throughout the year, particularly as we have got close to each Brexit deadline. For example, we’ve seen the lowest October rise in house prices since Oct 2008 (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/21/lowest-october-rise-in-uk-house-prices-since-2008-financial-crisis)

Of course, uncertainty over Brexit has been the key reason we have seen this affect on the market.

This has also caused a number of property developers to push back launches throughout 2019 as they also wait for a decision in Parliament that will bring some confidence to the market.

How this affects the labour market…
As everyone presses “pause” the labour market also stalls. Less opportunities are available so fewer people are moving to new companies.

Despite the fact there are fewer opportunities, we still have a very “candidate-short” market. However, although finding top quality people for your organisation is still extremely difficult, there is less competition for candidates right now as businesses wait to see what happens in Westminster.

Creating a backlog…
This is creating a backlog. The development launches that have been postponed are still there. Companies growth plans are waiting to be realised, they have just been put on hold for a decision.

What happens when the damn bursts?
Once some sort of decision is made – whether it be the current deal presented by Boris Johnson, or a slightly tweaked one from Jeremy Corbyn, or referendum between one of these deals and remain. Then EVERYONE will be looking to hire, ALL at the same time.

This will mean finding, and even more importantly, securing top quality people will be even more challenging than it is right now. There will also be upward pressure on salaries and the offers required to secure those people.

Therefore, the savvy business leaders will be looking to snap up the top talent that is available right now before everyone is in the market.

Just as in property, the time to be active is when demand is down. That’s the time to maximise your investment.

Are Millennial’s a waste of time?

Posted by & filed under Blog, Opinion.

I come across numerous senior people within business lamenting the lack of commitment from millennials. They are seen as a generation with a chip on their shoulder; as those who simply do not know how to graft; people who will give up at the first sign of adversity.

“The kids today aren’t like we were…”

They are thought of as “snowflakes”, as people who are easily offended and who are going to be up in arms at very little.

But is this really true?

Of course, there have been changes in society over the decades and there are some differences in attitude that have developed over the years, but to say a whole generation of people now lack the drive, graft and commitment, is totally inaccurate.

Of course, there are some people who are spoilt and ungrateful – the perennial victims, but there always have been. However, now these people are more likely to have their demands fulfilled.

And I do feel that there is a broader change in behavior in general.

There is definitely a trend towards people changing employment more swiftly and there is certainly a greater demand on businesses to improve their packages and working environments, but this isn’t because people have suddenly become ungrateful in nature.

it’s environment rather than upbringing that is changing behaviour…

The reason we see this change of behaviour, I feel, is because we have had record levels of employment across the economy, even in spite of Brexit. This means people have numerous opportunities available to them. There isn’t the same fear that losing your job means you’ll have no income and won’t be able to pay your rent/mortgage.
Highly talented people can quickly find a new (and potentially better) role.

Rapid innovation of working environments…

With so much choice available to millennials (and all the other generations in employment), ensuring you have the culture and environment to retain your best people is fundamental to business success.
The availability of numerous opportunities coupled with advancements in technology is driving innovation in the work place – the rise of collaborative workspaces, flexible working hours and work from home opportunities, reflect this.
This is a great thing – and if you don’t move with the times you will be left behind.

There are still frustrations for business owners…

Even with the improved working environments, the huge amount of opportunity available to job seekers still means if it very difficult to hire and retain the best people in the business.

Companies need to build a long term “people strategy”. Proactive forward planning, thorough in-depth calculated assessment, and robust internal appraisals and 1-1 procedures in essential to maximising retention.

Do you agree? Really interest to hear peoples thoughts on this topic…

If you are interested in discussing your own recruitment strategies with one of our consultants (whether when growing your team or planning your personal career growth) please feel free to get in touch.

The successful persons guide to dealing with rejection at work

Posted by & filed under Advice, Blog, Opinion.

It is never a nice feeling like you have been rejected, especially when you are at work. Of course, your emotions and that completely irrational person within us is probably shouting that you should completely hulk out on the entire workplace and smash everything to bits. But we all know that in the real world this isn’t the approach to take… plus you might rip your favourite outfit!
You might not believe it, but even the most successful people have, at one point in their lives, had to deal with rejection. The thing that sets them apart from others is how they deal with it and move on.
Feel like you need some inspiration in how to better deal with being told that you are not quite up to scratch? Below is the successful persons guide to dealing with rejection in the workplace.

They remember that this isn’t the only path to take
One of the worst things that you can do when you have been rejected from something is to think that it is all your own fault and that you just weren’t good enough. The thing to always keep in mind is that just because you were rejected, that doesn’t mean it was because you were worthless, it simply means that you were not right for that path. Recognise and remember your own value and instead of thinking that this is the only route to take, take another look at your map.

They take the time to think about what happened
Sometimes rejection can come out of the blue, that you can’t pinpoint where it all went wrong. However, just as likely is that there are things that you could have done differently. Someone who is successful can reflect on what happened and know perhaps where they could have made changes. That doesn’t mean that the rejection was all your fault of course, but it is something that can help you with the future.

They ask for feedback
It isn’t always easy to hear what is wrong with you, but sometimes welcoming feedback is the best way to make yourself better and push yourself to succeed. The feedback might be something that you already know about and want to change, but it could also be something that you may not have even been aware of. The important thing is that you can ask the other person to let you know how they see you.

They then improve
It’s all well and good asking for feedback when you have been rejected, but what you should also then do is think about it and make changes. We can all do with a touch of improvement and if you have taken the giant leap to asking for some feedback, then do something with it. Otherwise you might as well have had your fingers in your ears and shouted la-la-la whilst they were talking to you!
When you are feeling down and you are tempted to hide away from the world, remember that even the most successful people in the world probably had the same hurdles. The only difference with them is rather than buying a large tub of ice cream and grabbing a blanket, they dusted themselves off and set about showing those who rejected them just what they are worth. We can promise you, that it is the best revenge to take!

9 reasons why you should have a LinkedIn account

Posted by & filed under Advice, Blog, Starting a new Job.

Hopefully you have already set up a LinkedIn profile and are following our company page to keep in touch with all the latest Property & Construction news, latest job postings and recruitment tips and advice. However, if you don’t have an account here are 9 key reasons to get one:

1) Social media plays a huge role in recruitment for potential employers

2) You need to put the effort in to getting your profile 100% complete and looking the best it can, as this is like your shop window for potential employers – an opportunity to really impress!

3) Grow your own personal network, the broader your network, the higher you will rank in other’s search results. This is vital to be successful in any business, “it’s not what you know it’s who you know!”

4) LinkedIn can assist with your career development and help increase your earning potential

5) You can be proactive and approach/connect with people from Companies you want to work for in the future – build your profile with them!

6) Learn from and be inspired by others and how they have developed their careers – analyse their work history to see what they have done.

7) Keep track of your peers – when you see someone doing well it should motivate you to want to improve

8) Deepen your understanding of a company before interviewing or even joining them

9) LinkedIn is a more visual alternative to the traditional CV!

 

How do your other Social Media accounts like Facebook & Instagram affect your career – Social Media Friend or foe for your career?