You’re running your small business full of energy and passion but things are not working out quite as you thought…

You’re struggling to find enough clients and you’re not sure where to start looking for them......

You know you need to be marketing but you are not sure how. Your website looks great. You have a Facebook and Instagram page that you post to and get some likes but not many (if any) clients.

You are part of a number of Facebook groups and post regularly about what your business does but the conversion to clients is not happening. You attend networking events, hand out cards and wait for contact that rarely comes. You wonder what it is that you are doing wrong.

You just want to get on with helping clients, making money and enjoying your work....

Others on your social media and networking groups seem to have it all worked out and look like they are doing great…..you wonder how. How do they do it?

You’d love to know how to build a solid marketing plan that works!

If you want to grow your business you HAVE to market it, or how else are your clients going to find you?

But how and where you ask?

You know your business is great and it offers just the right solution to client’s problems. Those who have worked with you love what you do and appreciate how you have helped them and yet you cannot find enough of those people to make your business financially stable and profitable.

It’s not because you don’t work hard or long hours because you do but you crave more freedom and flexibility with your work schedule for fun, family and friends.

Well it is possible. It’s not simple but with good planning, support and hard work you can create financially stable and profitable business while to have the freedom and flexibility you desire.

It’s all in your planning. Yes, I know business planning is dead boring and painful but you don’t take a trip to an unknown destination without consulting a map so why try and run a business without clear goals and a plan.

How would you feel if someone could support you to create a "productive, fun and visual" business and marketing plan to attract more clients resulting in more freedom while allowing for flexibility. A plan that works.

** No more boring and tedious business planning!

** No expensive courses to take or books to buy!

** Just a simple, fun and extremely affordable solution.

If you want your business to succeed, have enough clients and be profitable, you must start with a good business plan that gives you results.

By results, I mean working more in your business doing what you love not constantly working on your business with little progress. Being able to take a day off to go to a special event, your child’s sports day/school concert or have an extra-long lunch with a friend. After all isn’t that why you wanted to work for yourself?

But why is a good business and marketing plan so crucial?

You've heard it said, in business, it is NOT a matter of “just build it and they will come” but rather “she that fails to plan, plans to fail.”

Business planning or setting business goals is not new. It’s something good business owners have always done and still do. But unfortunately, there is a trend among small business owners to neglect this step or write a plan and put it in a drawer never to be used again.

So why do you need a business plan for your business? In a nutshell, it is because it helps you attract clients!

Put simply a business plan or business goals allow you to:

• Have clarity around the vision of your business to keep you on track to

find clients

• Define and communicate your mission so you achieve your vision

• Describe your ideal client which makes them easier to attract

• Identify what makes you different so you can use your point of

difference to attract clients

• Create a road map for achieving your goals in running a profitable

business

• Focus on what is important so you use your time effectively and

efficiently

• Create an action plan for what you need to do, when you need to do it

and how you will do it!

• Track your progress to tweak what is not working and to scale what is

to attract more clients

• Meet all legal requirements so you stay in business with your clients

• Plan your marketing strategies to attract more clients

I’ll say it again, If you want your business to succeed, have enough clients and therefore be profitable you must start with good business planning

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan offers affordable workshops or individual sessions to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients plus how to make the process less painful and easier!

Find out more:

No matter what business you run, people will pay more money to solve a problem – something that is causing them loss or pain, than they will to gain a benefit. Think about how many people will pay for a solution to a problem, rather than preventative measures. Yes, this is not the true in every case but is for the majority.

I was involved in the car repair industry for years and soon learnt that most people put off servicing their car until something goes wrong and we all know those people that won’t go to the dentist regularly to prevent a problem, but as soon as they get a tooth ache they book in right away.

To write an effective business plan that actually works, you want to focus on a “must have” product or service and not something that is just “nice to have.” The more painful the clients problem the better and bigger your market. Your solution has to be seen as a “need” not just a “want.” Wants are nice to have when we have spare income such as a holiday or a new car but to make it in today’s economy and to have a long list of returning clients, you must solve their painful problems with a solution they desperately need. Attracting clients and selling is all about solving problems and people want to spend their money with the best problem solvers.

What is that ONE painful problem you can solve easily?

Don’t rush this part of the process as it is the fundamental aspect of an effective business plan. Take time to work this out. Speak to past clients who love you (if you have any). Think about the problems you have that you have solved that may have lead you to start your business. Often women start a small business based on a passion they have to help. If you are struggling work with a business advisor, coach or consultant. Join a business mastermind group to get suggestions, support and help from other “like minded” women. Keep working at it until you have that “ah ha” moment of realisation of what it is you do or want to do.

What though if this process leads you to see that your current product or service is not a must-have? What if it is just a nice to have product or service that is not bringing in enough clients? Can you find a way to repurpose it to solve a pressing need? Can you add to it, change it, rename it, redesign it, tweak it? Collaborate with others if you cannot find a solution on your own because once you are able to do this, you will have a business that matters and that drives you with a passion and purpose.

Now you can write your business or life mission and purpose!

____________________________________________________

Business Coach, Lisa Branigan offers affordable workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients plus how to make the process less painful and easier!

Find out more:

Would you take a big road trip without knowledge of where you are going or how to get there?

Then why are you happy to run your business without a clear idea of the direction you need to take or how you will get there?

The number one mistake I see in small business is the failure to create a good plan and then implement it! Often this is because business planning seems overwhelming, is not understood or not valued.

In business it is not a matter of “just build it and they will come” but rather “she that fails to plan, plans to fail.”

So why do you need a business plan for your business? In a nutshell, it is because it helps you attract clients!

Put simply a business plan allows you to:

• Have clarity around the vision of your business to keep you on track to find clients • Define and communicate your mission so you achieve your vision • Describe your ideal client which makes them easier to attract • Identify what makes you different so you can use your point of difference to attract clients • Create a road map for achieving your goals in running a profitable business • Focus on what is important so you use your time effectively and efficiently • Create an action plan for what you need to do, when you need to do it and how you will do it! • Track your progress to tweak what is not working and to scale what is to attract more clients • Meet all legal requirements so you stay in business with your clients • Plan your marketing strategies to attract more clients

If you want your business to succeed, have enough clients and therefore be profitable you must start with a good business plan!

____________________________________________________

Business Coach, Lisa Branigan offers affordable workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients plus how to make the process less painful and easier!

Find out more:

Have you tried advertising and found you don’t get good return on your investment.

For most serviced based businesses (including business coaching) adverts don’t work that well.

What else could you try?

Interestingly, a while back our local paper decided to run a monthly business news section. This was a place were you can have a small write up of any news in regards to your business.

I decided I would have the following, genuine offer, in the next issue:

—————————————–

FREE Business Coaching: Business Coach, Lisa Branigan of Quantum Coaching is offering local business women a FREE 60-minute coaching session plus a week of ongoing email support valued at $95.00.

Lisa will work with you to increase your client base, raise profits, lower costs, effectively manage your time and enjoy work/life balance.

Contact Lisa on 0439 828 594 or lisa@quantumcoaching.com.au

——————————————

In the past an advert may have resulted in one client. This is a terrible return on the $400 the advert cost. So I wasn’t expecting much from my “business news” but as it was free it was also no loss.

I am surprised at the results.

In four days, after the paper came out, I had one phone call enquiry, an invitation from a bank to business women’s networking meeting, two email inquires and three people I saw while shopping mentioned they saw the paper and questioned me further about what I do.

One was my local librarian who said though she didn’t need my services she knows who to use as a referral point if she knows anyone that does. These are just the people who have contacted me so far and who have mentioned they saw my news.

So what can you do to promote your business without cost?

Is there a business news section in your local paper? What about your local school or community group, do they allow free “news” in their newsletters. How else can you get free publicity for your business?

Other ideas that I have found useful:

Website link swappingWriting articles (place them on free internet article databases)Press release of an achievement or special offerSpeak at groups and get a write up before and after the eventBecome a columnist or have articles featured in printSpeak on radioHave your own free newsletter that people can sign up for.Write for others who have your same target marketFree samples in conference bagsNetworking events (but there are secrets to effectively networking!)

Other ideas from Google:

Teach an adult education classUse free advertising websitesStart a discussion group, seminar series, book club, wine tasting club or other type of group that can meet to talk about your products or services.Make deals with other small business owners to display one another’s products, advertise on one another’s Web sites, and so on.Create an award and present it to someone who is notable to your demographic group and has some connection with your industry.Free samples or free service demonstrations.

What else can you think of to get your brand out there? Search Google for other free business marketing ideas.

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

After 25 years in business I have discovered four easy (but essential) steps that all businesses must implement to have a regular, steady stream of clients. This has come about from many years of coaching business women who needed to increase their profits by growing their client base.

What I found, through coaching these wonderful women, was that I was repeating the same business building pattern with each business owner.

From this I came to realise that this pattern was the building block for a steady stream of clients and also constant referrals.

We all know that the only way to get clients is by marketing but almost everyone hates marketing. It’s seen as such a difficult thing to do.

Marketing yourself and your business seems to fit in somewhere up there with being a car salesman or a politician!

Since we don’t want to be viewed as a pushy person or a tall poppy sprouting our own “wonderfulness” we tend to do other types of marketing…the softer things such as advertising, mail-outs, newsletters etc but the steady stream of clients continue to allude us.

Well not anymore!

I want to share with you what I have found to be the 4 essential steps to a steady stream of regular clients and constant referrals….and yes it can be done in only 4 easy steps! YAY!

Step one:

Know who are your clients are! I know you think your clients are “everyone” and that may be true but let me tell you that trying to market to “everyone” will, not only wear you out, it will also blow the marketing budget!!

Step two: Know what pains or problems you solve for your clients! Your main marketing message should ‘speak’ to your potential clients by appealing to their sensitivities (pain) that trigger an emotional reaction. By identifying your client’s pain and suffering, it tells them that you understand and empathize with them.

Step three:

Know the most effective marketing techniques and use them:

• Direct contact • Follow-up • Business alliances • Referral building • Networking

Step four:

Know how to network correctly as it is the key to continual referrals! Build relationships and remember; “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.” Bob Burg.

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

Not only do I work with women on work/life balance, I also work with ladies who are starting (or growing) a business (as this is my background)…basically we work on getting more clients!

Recently while working on this topic with a client, I was thinking how similar trying to find clients is to fishing (except you can’t eat your clients!).

When a person goes fishing they have a particular fish they are targeting, or wanting to catch. Knowing in advance the particular fish they wish to catch helps the fisherman (or woman) know what bait or lure to buy and where to go to find that type of fish. For example sand whiting gather on white sand while herring live on rocky ground.

To go fishing without this knowledge would mean your fishing attempt would be “pot luck” and the success of catching a fish is limited. The world is not your oyster!

It’s that same with your marketing. You must define your target market…or the fish you want to catch.

When you define your target market, you know who your clients are, what needs they have and where to find them. You know exactly where to put all you marketing effort and budget to catch a client.

Who are your fish?

If you don’t know, get help to define your target market. If you don’t, you will get exhausted and waste time and money trying to market to everyone and anyone!

To help try answering these questions:

• What is the age bracket of my ideal client? E.g. child, teen, 30-40’s? • What is the gender of my ideal client? • What is the education level of my ideal client? E.g. high school, college, TAFE, university • What is the occupation of my ideal client? E.g. teacher, plumber, CEO. • What is the income range of my ideal client? E.g. $20-30 000, $50-80 000, over $100 000 • What is the ethnic and/or religious background of my ideal client? • What are the hobbies or interests of my ideal client? • What is the family life situation of my ideal client? E.g. short/long term relationship, single, divorced, children.

What else do you feel you might like to know about your ideal client?

You could always conduct some market research to answer the above questions and find out other useful information to help with your marketing strategy.

____________________________________________________

Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

Recently my husband was abused while asking for a quote for some work he needed done on some equipment. Mind you, this was the third time he approached this person about the quote for this small job.

Instead of an apology for being so slow with a quote, the so call “professional” had the cheek to abuse my husband for wasting his time.

This person is new to our area and is trying to build a new business where the client counts…well so he says!

Ok I so the job was very small (maybe not even worth $100) but unbeknown to this “new” business owner, my husband was testing the waters before he asks for a quote on a $40 000 project!

He just lost himself and his business $40 000 plus a possible 3 million potential clients!

Yes 3 million.

With the invent of the internet and various social media the one unhappy customer who used to tell ten of his friends can now send out a negative message about you and your business to literally millions of people instantly!

Think of that the next time you want to be right!

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for stress-related illnesses. Stress has been linked to headaches, backaches, insomnia, anger, cramps, elevated blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and lowered resistance to infection.

For women, stress is a key factor in hormonal imbalances resulting in menstrual irregularities, PMS, fibroids, endometriosis and fertility problems. Stress can also be a factor in the development of almost all disease states, including cancer and heart disease; the leading cause of death in Australian women.

In most cases stress is a result of letting life get out of balance. This happens when we put all our energy into only one or two areas of our life (usually work) and ignore the rest. We take on too much, over-promise, don't delegate and push our own wants and needs into the background by always looking after others needs first. We overload ourselves to the point where we are forced to stop attending to what is important to us, such as time for our interests and time to spend with our families.

If stress is a major issue for you there are steps you can take to restore balance to your life - so you can stress less and smile more.

Step One: Develop extreme self-care

Most people suffering stress have become good at practising extreme self-neglect! They don't eat well, rarely exercise or take time out and probably can't remember the last time they had a holiday.

If you are one of these people you need to take your self-care to new heights, above and beyond your normal limit. When you take care of your own needs first you are building a reserve of energy and resources that will enable you to sustain extreme self-care with enough left over to care for others.

Creating 10 delightful daily habits that give you enjoyment is a great place to start. Here are some suggestions.

o Stretch for 2 minutes.

o Laugh for 5 minutes

o Floss your teeth

o Read to a child

o Hug a loved one

o Go for a 10-minute walk in the park

o Listen to your favourite song

o Write in a journal

o Eat 3 fruit and 5 veg

o Read a chapter of your favourite book

o Drink 2 litres of water

o Go to bed early

The key to gaining accumulated benefits from your daily habits and practising extreme self-care is to do them each day. Start with one habit and commit to practising it for seven days, then add another, practising both for another seven days. Continue adding your habits until you are practising all 10 items on your list daily.

Step Two: Eliminate tolerations

Tolerations are situations and conditions you put up with that drain you physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. They include crossed boundaries, unfinished business or projects, others' bad behaviour, frustrations, unwanted commitments, clutter, messy surroundings, broken items, being over weight, weeds in the garden and debt.

List five tolerations that drive you nuts about your job, life, and health and home and then devise a plan to get rid of the first 'intolerable' toleration on your list this week. Notice how this makes you feel, how it lifts a weight off your shoulders. Now think about how much better you will feel when you get rid of the other four tolerations on your list! When you've completed the elimination of the first five tolerations you've listed, start a new one and keep working until you have zero tolerations in your life.

Step Three: Having your needs met!

Unmet needs cause us to become upset, angry, stressed and depressed. The key to satisfying our personal needs is to identify them. Identify needs that feel authentic, not ones that may look good to others or are superficial. Be aware that what you consider to be a need (such as to be loved) may be covering a real need (self-esteem). Ideas of personal needs are:

o Calmness

o Freedom

o Being listened to

o Independence

o Feeling valued

o Stability

o Respect

o A life purpose

o Satisfying work

o Honesty

o Loyalty

o Being busy

o Security

o Being loved

o Balance

o Responsibility

o A career

o Children

It may be necessary for you to tell others what your needs are and learn to ask for support.

Step Four: Smile often and laugh more!

Scientists have found that laughter stimulates the release of beneficial brain neurotransmitters and hormones, which can reduce stress, improve our immune system and give us a general sense of wellbeing. Some doctors are using laughter therapy to replace anti-depressants and to reduce the use of painkillers. According to researchers faking laughter will also produce the same health and wellbeing results as real laughter.

Do you need to improve your ability to laugh more? Bronwen Williams from Laughter Works Australia recommends that upon waking we should to sit upright in bed or in a chair and smile vigorously and ridiculously. This muscular action induces the release of endorphins and within minutes we actually feel happy!

Bronwen writes that: "Positive self-talk can be very empowering, so let's begin our days with loud statements such as I love laughing! People love hearing me laugh! Laughing makes me happy and healthy! I have a beautiful smile! Lets express not suppress, lets laugh and live longer!"

Step Five: Set Goals

Without goals we have no direction in life. We are lost! When we are lost we become stressed and overwhelmed. Goals help us navigate our lives with greater ease and reaching goals fulfils us, making us happier.

One way to find out what your real goals are is to write a list of 100 things you'd like to accomplish before you die and then start working on your list today!

When you set a goal it tells your subconscious mind what is important to you and to be on the lookout for things, people, opportunities or situations that will enable you to move towards your goal. Establishing goals is a tool we can use to have what we want and need in our personal and professional lives.

Step Six: Create a supportive environment Our surroundings can be supportive and give us energy or drag us down and leave us stressed and tired. An inspiring, enjoyable environment filled with positive things and people energises us and we feel happier. We all need good support structures to help our lives flow with less effort and to remain balanced.

Five important life support structures are:

o People: family, friends, life coach, accountant, doctor, housekeeper

o Places: your office, desk, car, home

o Things: your phone, computer, home decor

o Processes: filing system, record keeping, time management program

o Inner Environment: your outlook on life, self-esteem level, thought processes

Examine these five categories and look at who or what you use to support you in each area. Are you truly being supported? What do you need to change to feel more supported in all areas of your life?

Start making the easiest changes first. Just as it can take time to end up stressed, overwhelmed and out of balance, it also takes time to make positive changes in your life. Sometimes trying to implement change (even for the better) can itself cause stress and prevent a person remaining motivated.

Making changes in your life can be stressful, even if the changes are aimed at reducing stress. For this reason it is important to work on each of the steps one at a time, mastering each before moving on to the next. If you discover you can't make the changes on your own, get support from a counsellor, doctor, naturopath, friend, peer or life coach who specialises in stress issues.

Above all, keep in mind the benefits you will enjoy when you've mastered the steps to stress less and smile more!

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

To get what we want in life or business we need to have a plan. Goals are an important part of making plans and being successful. If we want to lose weight, we need to set goals and have a plan. If we want to be fit, we need to set goals and have a plan. If we want to have less stress, we need to set goals and have a plan. If we need more clients we need to set goals and have a plan. You've heard that saying? "She that fails to plan plans to fail."

So how can you plan to succeed? You need to start by setting goals following the S.M.A.R.T. formula.

Most people say things like, "I want to be thinner" or "I want to get fit" or "I want to be healthier, happier, less stressed, have more clients etc." These are not goals you can plan to achieve. They are wishes or desires. S.M.A.R.T goals are:

S = Specific M = Measurable A = Action Based R = Realistic T = Time Bound

Be specific about what thinner, fitter, healthier or less stressed means to you. Make your goal something you can measure. Being thinner means losing how much weight or being fitter means running how many kilometres? What does less stress involve for you? How many more clients do you want or need?

Make sure you will get into action about your goal by basing it on a true desire. If you are not excited about your goal, find ways to make it more fun. If you're trying to lose weight then save all the money you usually spend on chocolate and put it towards the reward of a holiday or new clothes.

Be realistic about your goal. Losing two or three kilos a week may be difficult and unhealthy, so plan to aim to lose a half a kilo or one kilo a week instead. Getting 10 new clients a week might make it difficult but aiming for 2 might be more within your grasp. If the goal is realistic you will stick to it.

Lastly make your goal time bound by giving it an end date. This gives your goal a sense of urgency and makes you get into action about it. Keep this date realistic.

This week look at your goals and make them S.M.A.R.T. "I will lose 20 kilos by January 28th 2006" "I will be able to run 5 kilometres in 15 minutes by February 16th 2006" "I will put a plan in place to attract 2 new clients by June 30th 2006"

Above all don't fail to plan. Plan to succeed!

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

. Sometimes they are the exact same resolutions as last year!! Did you make some of these?

I will:

* Lose weight, get into shape, and exercise more

* Spend more time with my family

* Stress less & relax more

* Get more sleep

* Save money

* Change jobs

* Be happy

* Work less

* Make more money

* Make my business more efficient

If any of these resolutions sound familiar this is because these are some of the most popular resolutions made each year according to "How To Keep Your New Years Resolution.com"

The Oxford Dictionary definition of resolution is to decide firmly or have great determination, but most people are lucky if their resolution is kept until the end of their holidays. It's no wonder many people find themselves making the exact same resolutions the next year. So how can you be successful in sticking to a resolution or successfully achieve any goal?

FIRSTLY...work on one thing at a time. Goals or resolutions involve change and sometimes it's easier to give up and sink back into our old life patterns than stick to change. So only do one thing at a time or you may be tempted to give up!

SECONDLY...PLAN..PLAN..PLAN..you've heard the saying "People who fail to plan, plan to fail." Think about your goal. WRITE IT DOWN!!!! Put it where you will see it everyday. Set a start date. Develop a strategy. Write a list of points to help you reach your goal-break it down into manageable pieces and tackle it one piece at a time.

THIRDLY...Prepare for those obstacles that you know will come up. You know what I mean-if you have decided to lose 10kg you know someone will bring a chocolate cake to work on the first day of your diet. So think about what obstacles will come up and a plan to tackle each one. If you slip up-don't let this make you totally give up. See it as one step back among all the steps you have taken and will take forward!!!!

Remember to reward yourself for every step forward you do take-this will keep you in action and motivated.

LASTLY......GET SUPPORT...this is a must. It's much easier to stay in action if you feel supported and also accountable to someone. You could buddy up with a friend or relative (as long as you are definitely sure they will support you). Or for unbiased support chose a Personal Life Coach to keep you motivated and in action.

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

Book your FREE teleconference place now:

"How Business Planning Attracts More Clients"

https://www.quantumcoaching.com.au/workshops

According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997 survey, fifty per cent of workers had suffered some form of stress at work in a 12-month period. The statistics in care professions were even higher, with the Department of Education and Training in Western Australia reporting in its 2002 Attitudes To Teaching Survey that seventy per cent of teachers identified workplace stress as a cause for concern in their teaching positions.

Stress in the workplace is becoming a major concern for employers, managers and government agencies, owing to the Occupational Health and Safety legislations requiring employers to practice 'duty of care' by providing employees with safe working environments which also cover the psychological wellbeing of their staff.

One of the costs, for employers, of work place stress is absenteeism, with the A.C.T.U. reporting that owing to stress, nearly fifty per cent of employees surveyed had taken time off work. Other negative effects were reductions in productivity, reduced profits, accidents, high rates of sickness, increased workers' compensation claims and high staff turnover, requiring recruiting and training of replacement staff.

While a certain amount of stress is needed to motivate individuals into action, prolonged stress can have a huge impact on overall health. More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for stress-related illnesses. Stress has been linked to headaches, backaches, insomnia, anger, cramps, elevated blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and lowered resistance to infection. For women, stress is a key factor in hormonal imbalances resulting in menstrual irregularities, PMS, fibroids, endometriosis and fertility problems. Stress can also be a factor in the development of almost all disease states including cancer and heart disease.

Each profession has its own unique factors that may cause stress; below are some causes of stress that cross many professions:

· Increased workload

· Organizational changes

· Lack of recognition

· High demands

· Lack of support

· Personal and family issues

· Poor work organization

· Lack of training

· Long or difficult hours

· Inadequate staff numbers and resources

· Poor management communication

· Lack of control or input

So what can be done to effectively manage workplace stress?

Organizations can:

· Educate their employees to recognise the signs of stress.

· Where possible, give their employees the chance to be involved in decisions and actions that affect their jobs.

· Improve employer-employee communications.

· Provide employees with opportunities to socialise together.

· Be understanding of employees' personal and family responsibilities.

· Ensure employee workloads suit their capabilities and resources (provide more training and resources if not).

· Provide support (internally or externally) for employees who have complex stress issues.

Employees can reduce their overall stress by:

· Regularly exercising, as this releases 'happy hormones'.

· Eating a healthy diet, as stress depletes vital nutrients.

· Getting adequate rest.

· Using tea and lunch breaks to read, listen to a relaxation CD or have a five-minute power-nap.

· If appropriate, playing relaxing music at work and burning aromatherapy oils.

· Being more organized. Get up earlier to have more time.

· Delegating responsibility where possible. Say no!

· Taking time out to laugh by telling someone a joke. Start a laughter group: by standing in a circle and all forcing a big laugh, it will soon become real!

· Avoiding caffeine and sugar. Although this may provide an instant lift it later depletes the body of energy and nutrients.

· Taking time to do things that bring enjoyment and pleasure.

· Making the work environment pleasurable. Have relaxing sounds in the form of music or a water fountain. Have enjoyable smells by burning candles or aromatherapy oils. Hang beautiful pictures or posters on the walls; have photos or flowers on the desk.

· Taking care of their overall health and wellbeing by practising good self-care.

· Keep a journal that monitors dates and times of stress to detect re-occurring patterns and to help you discover changes you may need to make.

Sometimes trying to implement change (even for the better) can itself cause stress and prevent a person remaining motivated. In this case it's important to get support for your stress from a counsellor, doctor, naturopath, friend, peer or life coach who specializes in stress issues.

The benefits of a systematic and joint approach to reducing work stress are:

· Increased productivity

· Decrease in absenteeism

· Improved morale

· Decrease in workers' compensation claims

· Reduction in workplace accidents

The most important benefit in reducing workplace stress is that it will promote a pleasant work environment for all.

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Business Coach, Lisa Branigan hosts FREE teleconference calls and workshops to help women in business see why business planning gets you more clients and how to make the process less painful and easier!

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