e-lifeandwork: Learn New Skills Online | Online Courses & Real-World

Most of us wish we had more time to work with, but few of us are willing to put in the effort to practice better time management skills. Ironically, it takes time to get better at time management; with effective habit building and consistent efforts, almost anyone can become a better time manager over the course of several months. But what if you’re working with a shorter timeframe? Or what if you’re a bit impatient? Are there ways to improve your time management skills in a single day? The answer is yes – if you’re willing to work for it. Get a Calendar One of your best options is to invest in a calendar. There are hundreds of apps and platforms that exist to help you coordinate your schedule, manage tasks, and keep track of projects and appointments. But there’s something special about a physical calendar that these digital tools don’t have: immediate visibility. Keeping a large calendar at your workspace and recording all your highest priorities there will help you dete...

Your special someone is an amazing person who has improved your life in more ways than one -- including financially. Maybe you were decent at managing money before you met them, but they helped you become even better or perhaps your finances were a mess until they stepped in. No matter the situation, you received at least one valuable financial lesson from them that changed the way you view money. Now that you're a more responsible spender, less stingy or better at putting money aside for savings, you'd like to share your experience with others. This is great, because your partner's savvy financial advice also can have a positive impact on plenty of other people. Hearing how their advice helped you can inspire others to make changes they've been putting off or didn't even realize they were capable of achieving. Or, perhaps you're the one who imparted the financial wisdom that changed your partner's life. Regardless, sharing these tips with others --...

Islamic finance, if explored, presents significant financing opportunities for businesses, writes Obinna Chima Islamic finance development has become a centrepiece in many countries in the African region. A number of market development and regulatory efforts have taken place in the region in recent years. Specifically, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa and Senegal, Kenya, Morocco and Niger among others have put in place necessary legal and regulatory frameworks to enable Islamic banking offerings in their respective jurisdictions. According to a report by the Malaysia World's Islamic Finance Marketplace titled: Islamic Finance in Africa: Impetus for Growth, a lot of conventional banks across the continent have started offering Shariah-compliant banking products through Islamic window set-up. In the sukuk segment, the report showed that countries such as Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritius, Gambia had issued sukuk. A recent milestone in this space was the maiden sukuk issuance by the...

Wolff Olins Myths and legends around leadership and what it takes to become a great leader are both powerful and enduring. Each generation grows up with its own version of what success looks like and what it takes to get there. Most recently, social media has fuelled the memefication for success and set the agenda in terms of what it means to succeed, including the need for speed. With the inspo quotes and life coaching offers coming thick and fast. All of which makes you wonder what part time plays in becoming a successful leader, and if this equates to becoming a great leader. The ‘30 Under 30’ achiever lists, social media influencer success stories and TikTok entrepreneur masterclasses fill our timelines, giving the impression that success should be instant and that falling behind is simply unacceptable. Meanwhile, Harvard Business Review writes this month about the traits looked for in CEOs of the future. There’s a heavy emphasis on social skills over technical know-how ...

Leading during the pandemic was a wake-up call for many of us. When Covid first hit, we had to act so swiftly that we didn’t have time to debate which leadership styles to adopt. We were navigating a crisis with no map, so we relied on instinct. Leaders need to adjust their style and use new skills when the world gets weird. It turns out, leaders who were both decisive and empathetic rose to the top. Decisive leadership helped us deal with the sudden shift to remote work—both our own and that of our customers. For example, ServiceNow quickly created emergency-response applications on our platform to help customers manage the unique, rapidly evolving challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and followed that up with return-to-workplace applications. Leaders also realized that empathy was critical. People were burned out, working overtime as employees, caregivers, and teachers. We were confined to close quarters with cranky family members, and each headline was more depre...

Talking about and handling money is one of the most complicated aspects of being an adult. And for many of us, the conversation can get uncomfortable fast. Whether that’s parsing through finances with your partner or negotiating salary at work, the issue can be a source of anxiety and discomfort. And while it’s normal to be a bit reluctant when it comes to cash talk, sometimes your negative feelings toward money come from past financial trauma. A condition you may not even be aware of. So, what is financial trauma? “Financial trauma is a financial wound or injury that can cause disruptive behaviors with money,” explains Stephanie Genkin, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-1) and founder of My Financial Planner, LLC. “We tend to think of trauma as something extreme, but it’s not limited to dramatic events.” That means even the smallest incident can forever affect how you deal with money. In the same way that emotional o...

Whether it’s a small 'fire' to put out or a full-blown PR nightmare, companies rely on their communications teams to help shape the internal and external messaging during a crisis. From crafting official responses to adjusting ongoing marketing campaigns, communications pros must be on top of their game as situations unfold. While there are plenty of tips out there on what you should say to mitigate a company crisis, there are also some words and phrases that should be avoided. Below, 15 members of Forbes Communications Council explain what kinds of messaging to steer clear of in your marketing materials during a crisis. Forbes Communications Council members share types of language to avoid using in marketing materials during a crisis. 1. ‘Always’ And ‘Never’ Using the descriptors "always" and "never" can cause more questions and investigations. Be sure you can support whatever claim you make. Conversely, remember that it’s okay to embrace the cor...