How Will Tablets Influence Mobile Learning? Tablets and Mobile Devices - Do They Matter for SEO? Tablets Take Over Phones Thanks to a Mobile Dialler, Tablet PCs: The Latest Innovation in Mobile Computing, New Phones, New Tablets and Your Technology - What Do You Want to Do? Buying Mobile Technology - Tips for Buying a Tablet Computer Android VPN Security for Your Mobile Phones and Tablet PC's, Mobile Responsive, Tablet Responsive, Consumer Friendly…………

Published on Monday 17 September 2012 Leave your thoughts »

Since 2010 the use of the internet on portable devices, namely smart phones and tablets has seen an extremely rapid increase. As consumers engage in new technology, your website needs to keep up to par. Optimising your website for smart devices will enable better usability and greatly improve the visibility and impact of your brand. Here are a few tips on how to expand your website to reach smart phone users:

1. Google now indexes mobile devices when searching keywords specific to mobiles. So use all the same search engine optimisation tactics, however optimise the keywords to be specific to mobiles, including: titles, headings and URL's. When using Google on a mobile there is favouritism to mobile optimised websites and apps. Google indexes mobile friendly URL's over websites simply made for desktop.

2. One of the most important aspects to consider when presenting your website on a mobile device is the screen size. Smart phone screens have smaller screens and as such you need to rescale your images so that they are not pixelated. There needs to be fewer buttons and each button should be much bigger in size to combat the small touch screen area. Text needs to be shorter and precise with a larger font size. By optimising your website for mobiles in this way you are minimising the amount of scrolling and zooming around.

3. When optimising your website you have a few options. Google Transcode and mobile subdomains are a couple of the easiest to utilise:

You can get Google to do all the work for you, which includes resizing images, buttons and text. Google achieves this by converting classic HTML to mobile HTML. The disadvantages are; images may be pixelated, text will be bigger, but may be missing words and entire indexed pages may also be missing.

o A mobile subdomain is another option for a visually attractive website on mobile devices. Having a specific mobile URL keeps the classic optimisation separate from the mobile optimisation. Google bots will then be able to find your website easier as they search through mobile optimised websites.

A mobile subdomain is another option for a visually attractive website on mobile devices. Having a specific mobile URL keeps the classic optimisation separate from the mobile optimisation. Google bots will then be able to find your website easier as they search through mobile optimised websites.

Tablets are taking over laptops for the simple reasons that they are smaller, lighter and more convenient. Tablets are for people on the go and the top uses are blogging, social media and online shopping. This is great news for businesses operating online but only if you take the steps to stay ahead of your competitors. Here are a few tips on how to optimise your website onto tablets:

1. The key difference between mobiles and tablets is not the screen size, rather the internet connection. Tablets predominantly rely on WI-FI and 3G, which means your website may take longer to load and as such you need to optimise your website to be simple and fast.

2. The fewer pages on your website the user has to visit before getting to the goal (e.g. contact or purchase) the better. The consumer should not have to tap more than twice to purchase a product or enquire about a service. Consider having an app developed as there is less waiting and the purchasing system is easier to use.

3. Have back and forward buttons as they are more visually enticing compared to scrolling through text. Having the majority of your content optimised on one page can be better than viewing multiple tabs on a tablet.

Both smart phones and tablets have two viewing angles: portrait and landscape. Optimising your website for both angles will offer your consumers the best user experience. To find out more about optimised websites for mobiles and tablets visit the professional Brisbane Website Designers at Eight ball Media.

Mobile tablets are on the increase. The IDC has upwardly adjusted its sales estimations to a predicted demand of 107.4 million units worldwide for the year. Largely, the partition among iOS and Android tablets will continue to rest marginally in Apple's favour, while other tablet operating systems will not really make an impression.

But this sort of penetration isn't yet sufficient to reach the common classroom. The development of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), where people take their laptops and other devices from home to the work environment isn't applicable for the classroom, where convenience will almost always be crucial. In other words, writing equipment and books will, for some time yet, continue being more widely available than alternative technologies.

So educational institutions will forever lag behind the technologically advanced, although that doesn't necessarily mean mobile learning won't flourish. The web has proven that learning isn't restricted to school environments. Online learning providers are growing. And even though smartphones have heralded the arrival of mobile apps, studies show that it really is tablets that will prove a much more comfortable home for mobile learning.

The Tablet Advantage

A key distinction between tablets and smartphones is monetisation: tablets are classified as the stronger of the two. Around 14% of Apple's app downloads are paid ones, in contrast to only 1% for Android. This means that content providers need to find alternative methods to push revenue. But based on research by the Online Publishers' Association, 23% of apps downloaded on tablets are paid-for. In addition, a Nielson report unveils that 40% of tablet users find ads acceptable, in contrast to only 30% of smartphone users. Considering the ever-troubling issue of 'How to monetise?', advertising continues to be a necessary function in bankrolling app development, and the advantages of tablets in this particular domain may prove vital.

A further clear benefit is the fact that tablets are often used more for significant purposes, such as business or finance apps, compared with smartphones whose major use is generally for Facebook and games. Consequently educational content may well be more popular with tablet users than consumers who use smart phones.

Emerging habits

And there's another insight which may directly complement mobile learning: the rise of 'dual screening'. This is where you watch television whilst using another device. David Gosen, Head of digital strategy in Europe for Nielson, says: "Tablets are driving a rise in 'dual screening'. This really is both good and bad for advertisers. People are unfortunately more distracted during TV ad breaks, with 64 present simultaneously using a tablet while watching TV at least 'several times a week'."

Nonetheless what's bad for advertisers could prove useful in the field of e-learning: user behaviour reveals that tablets are happily observed as a complementary device - people are comfortable accessing content or obtaining information while watching a TV show (or maybe more likely, whilst the adverts are on).

For advertisers, this creates an undesirable distraction. But educational content providers should really target harnessing the convenience of the tablet to create multimedia content spanning traditional and digital publishing - this means companion apps which complement online or in-book content. An app can correspond with a TV program, or possibly a chapter in a book, or perhaps website, and the data demonstrates this method will prove highly effective to consumers. Educational content that matches the tablet's capabilities - and understands exactly how tablets utilized - will prosper.

The mobile computing revolution is growing, and it's gathering pace as more and more people are leaving the laptops and PCs aside and surfing merrily on their iPhones, iPads, tablets or smartphones. As an SEO specialist I'm watching these developments with anticipation, and wondering what this all means for the SEO industry.

In terms of the work to be done to optimise any webpage or website, there doesn't seem to be much difference. When someone searches for a particular word of phrase, such as " SEO in Sussex" or " SEO in London ", the result will not be affected by the type of device the results will be displayed on. If you're number 6 in the results for “SEO in Sussex” on a laptop, you'll still be there on an iPad. So the usual techniques of good onsite content and use of good meta data are just the same, and all the off-site work of links, directory listings, social media etc are also the same. That being the case, is there anything we SEO types need to think about?

Well, actually there is, and it has to do with the way people will want to view websites on their devices. Most mobile devices have a smaller screen than your average PC or laptop, and with smart phones this is particularly true. The way the devices present web pages is either to make them so small that you can hardly read them, or just show you a portion of the screen and give you scroll bars so you have to navigate around the page in chunks. Neither of these options is particularly satisfactory, especially if there are flash graphics or video streaming involved, and much of the design impact on the page is lost. Websites presented this way are unattractive and unlikely to encourage visitors back again. Not exactly an SEO problem, but still an issue for the website owner.

One way to get around this is for web designers to build duplicate websites, with one for display on normal laptops and PCs, the other with changed layout that are much better for mobile devices. This presents the SEO problem of duplication. The latest version of the Googlebot is really hot on picking up duplicate content and the website could be penalized for this. A definite SEO no-no. The best solution is for the website designer to serve different versions of the same site, each one optimised for each particular device, through changing CSS. It's a bit techie how to go about this, but with research any good web designer will figure this out. It avoids much of the duplication issue and still provides the best user experience for users of the website whatever device they're using.

So in SEO terms, the revolution in the way websites are being viewed across a range of devices has not meant there is a lot of new work to do, it's more a case of working closely with the web designers to make sure they are not working against the existing SEO efforts to meet a technical need.

A few years ago, we almost completely abandoned traditional cable phones, so is it possible that we will soon see the end of mobiles? As the world heads into the tablet era, the latest mobile devices in their slim forms now encompass dozens of useful tools, such as mobile dealers.

Is this a new era for telephony?

Immediately after the iPad launched back in April 2010, millions of industry experts and Apple fans went crazy for it. Today, all the leading companies in the mobile devices market have introduced their own take on the tablet, with the number of users increasing at an incredible rate - according to ABI Research it will hit 150,000,000 in 2015. Additionally, as reported, shipments of netbooks and PCs have already fallen significantly since last year, so does this mean it is going to be the same fate for smartphone? Will we all start to use tablets instead of the phones?

Calling applications inside

Shortly after the first presentation of the iPad it became clear that a tablet can be not only a modern toy or gadget for geeks, but also a useful tool. We can download and install dozens of handy applications on it, such as organizers, document editors, e-book readers, maps and much more. Among them, the mobile dialers, convenient apps that enrich each tablet with the ability to make phone calls. Such software is usually offered by large or medium sized telecoms operators, as an additional service, as well as by independent companies, to download for free or for a few dollars from online stores. Softphones (as they are also called) are based on the Voice over IP technology, which instead of a traditional telephone network uses WiFi, 3G or Edge.

More than a phone

Tablet users decide to download a mobile dialer not only because it enables them to make cost efficient international calls but also because these calls can be several times cheaper than traditional calls offered by telecoms providers. These applications are considered as something more than ordinary phones. In addition to a variety of convenient functionalities, such as call recording, voicemail, or texting, the user also has the ability to make voice conferences or video calls. On the large screen, face-to-face conversations on tablets are becoming more enjoyable, enhancing the quality of everyday long distance conversations. With this in mind, it's no wonder softphones are so often chosen by enterprises to improve their business communication.

It's so simple

Using softphones for tablets, despite what it may seem, is extremely easy. You don't need to raise a large device to your ear, because the built-in speaker and sensitive microphone allow you to conveniently and effortlessly chat with others. In this way, every single phone call can turn into a high quality comfortable video conversation.

Even though tablets cannot threaten the position of netbooks or mobile phones, they will for sure provide them some serious competition. It takes place with the undoubted help from the innovative new applications that appear on the market every day. We can only wonder what next changes will be to affect our online communication in the near future. If you're looking for a portable computer that is smaller and lighter than a laptop or notebook, more user-friendly than a smart phone and more powerful than a netbook, then a tablet could be just the thing for you. Tablet PCs come in a variety of sizes and price ranges, and capabilities are increasing fast now. These convenient and practical mini-computers are also known as MIDs (mobile internet devices), and are sometimes also labelled UMPCs (ultra mobile personal computers), although many vendors reserve this term for mini-notebooks.

In contrast to notebooks and laptops, tablets come with touchscreens that typically range from 7 inches to just over 10 inches in size, but you can also attach an external keyboard if you prefer to type longer documents or emails the traditional way. Depending on the model, you're also likely to get all the usual computer features such as wi-fi and 3G or 4G connectivity, an internet browser, a media player, games, spreadsheets and word-processing programs, a camera, and the ability to install a growing range of apps - all in a streamlined, handheld device.

The best known tablet is probably the iPad, but it does come with a hefty price tag, and not everyone is a Mac fan. The release of the iPad around a year ago set off a frenzy of competing devices, most of which run on Google Android is operating system. A lot of manufacturers both large and small are now bringing out tablet computers in varying specifications, and the choice is expanding fast while prices are falling too.

The explosion of tablet PCs onto the market was definitely in evidence at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, 2011. With big-brand producers such as Samsung, HP, Dell, Asus and Lenovo showing tablets of all kinds, you can be sure that this product type is here to stay, and that the fierce competition among them is great news for consumers.

However, the best value can generally be found among the many different tablet computers produced in China and sold online under various brand names that might not be so familiar to Western consumers. For a fraction of the price of an iPad you can now buy a tablet that offers a dazzling array of features that make it a truly portable communications device and information center. Chinese manufacturers are quick to adopt the latest technological advances and incorporate them into a steady stream of new electronic gadgets that combine stylish looks with function and durability.

So are we going to swap all our laptops and PCs for tablets now? No, say most experts, that won't happen just yet, especially since tablets still don't pack anywhere near the computing power of their larger cousins. That might, of course, change pretty quickly as the technical wizards figure out how to increase the memory and storage capacity of a tablet PC to adequate levels, as well as when new, improved operating systems are launched. For the moment, however, a tablet is an excellent complement to your standard computer, and can take on a number of its everyday functions too. With convenient on-the-go access to the internet and a multitude of other functions, a tablet is the ideal portable device for both professional and leisure users.

Jamie Jansen is an expert author in the electronic products industry, and specializes in writing about the latest great-value consumer electronics [http://www.brandsdragon.com] such as tablet PCs [http://www.brandsdragon.com/Notebook-UMPC-MID-st1-sid95.html], notebooks, cellphones, MP3/MP4/MP5 players, digital cameras and camcorders, LED light bulbs and watches from China.

In the last few years there has been an increase in the variety of functions and features on phone technology and tablets. The question is what will you use if for, there are so many uses now whether, finding places with maps, using software for products online, gaming technology, business technology, organizational tools, calculators, apps, advertising, Facebook, twitter, Wayn, Groupon, and other new software. So in this article we will break down some of these technologies to determine what the best use is for you the user. Some of the important questions to ask are:

1. What function or purpose does it serve? In this case is the new technology actually going to be helpful to you and save you time, make it more convenient for multi-tasking or is it really just too distracting. We are all so busy with our lives that sometimes we use technology before thinking about it.

2. Who am I connecting with and why? Technology is a great way to connect with others when you can't physically be there, whether it is family, business, friends, or other social networks. Travel can be expensive and this sometimes helps but nothing can really replace being there in person. However with video, pictures, software and a variety of tools it is almost like being there.

3. How much time do I spend on? This is a good question to ask, what if you categorized how much time you spend on each sector of technology, say web search, social sites, information sites, software tools and see how much percentage of time you did on each. Like we schedule our life what is we actually scheduled our own technology, maybe we could learn what is working with our time sufficient and what we could learn more of to make technology work more efficiently for each of us.

There are so many different websites, countries, industries, subjects and perspectives that it sometimes can be overwhelming. Everyone has different interests but be sure to try and understand and develop some knowledge for yourself. There are a wide variety of experts in all areas of technology and taking some time to learn about different subjects, industries and their leaders and innovators may lead you to finding a way to do something differently that you never thought have before, everyone has a different perspective. Ending on that note it is important to keep perspective and see how that information may or may not assist you in your quest.

Technology is a fantastic thing and it is amazing how much technology has changed peoples lives. But it can be a double edged sword with so many new technologies and, more importantly, so many manufacturer's providing different options and different prices it can be tough to decide. In this article we'll cover some of the best features that are available and whether or not they are right for you.

When it comes to buying a tablet, most people like the mobility that they provide. Being a flat slate that is lightweight and able to be held in one hand, you can carry it around with you from room to room and it's easy to pack up and go. But not all tablets have the ability to connect to the web from the road. Just about every tablet has built in Wi-Fi (I can't think of one that doesn't) but not all have the ability to connect to the internet using the 3G service (the technology that cell phones use). Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that if you want the 3G portability you will have to subscribe with a cell phone carrier and these plans cost anywhere from $40-65+ a month.

Another big thing that differentiates tablet computers is the computing technology. Being used for things like surfing the internet, connecting with friends on social media sites (such as Facebook and Twitter), and play games, it's not really necessary to have the same computing power as a laptop or desktop computer. And because some tablets limit the size of their processor, you won't always be able to do certain things such as multi-task (run multiple program at once) or stream video from the internet. Depending on how you want to use your tablet this may or may not be a big deal and you can pretty much guarantee it will be a factor on the price. In general, if you are looking for top of the line performance or just want the ability to watch movies or TV shows direct from the internet (via Netflix or Amazon Prime), you will want to pick up a tablet that has a dual-core processor.

Finally, there is the end use of the tablet: are you looking to use it for business, personal entertainment, a fun toy or to replace an old PC? Because the cost of this technology is coming down and more people are using tablets for more things, there are different apps and accessories that allow you to adapt a tablet for a customized use. For instance, many tablets are integrating full size external keyboards that plug-in or use Bluetooth. Or, if you can't find an app that will help you run your business, you can have one custom programmed.

The Android OS powers more than just mobile phones. You'll also have your choice of tablets and notebooks. An Android VPN will give you an extra layer of security to get things done without worrying about revealing personal information. Many VPNs won't just support your phone; you'll also be able to protect your laptop, PC connection and any other devices that connect to the internet. This article outlines everything you need to know about Android VPNs.

How Do VPNs Work?

A VPN, or virtual private network, creates a secure tunnel between your device and the Internet. Data passing through this tunnel is encrypted and prevents hackers from stealing information. When you're connected to the internet, you're exposed to all kinds of security threats. A VPN is an extra layer of security that keeps you protected on the web. When you connect to the VPN, you'll have your choice of servers all over the world. Premium VPN providers offer servers in the US, EU, and Asia.

How is an Android VPN Different from a Normal VPN?

An Android VPN is a VPN that is compatible with Android powered devices. Not all VPNs work with every device. Make sure the service you pick is compatible with your device before purchasing. In addition to researching compatibility, look at reviews of the service to ensure you're getting the best VPN for your needs.

Do You Need an Android VPN?

An Android compatible VPN keeps you secure, but do you really need one? If you do any online banking, check email, or share information on the internet, an Android VPN is the answer. You don't have to be a business person to need the reassurance and security of a VPN. You don't want just a mobile VPN provider; you want someone who can keep all your other connections safe as well.

Stay Safe on Public Networks

We all use public networks every day, but you have to be careful. You can't just transmit your data and hope no one is out there watching. Are you browsing on your mobile phone? Are you browsing at school or work? These are public networks and you need to keep your information secure. An Android VPN will keep your mobile broadband secure with just a few clicks.

Secure your network, mobile phone, and even your desktop computer with a premium VPN Provider. Before you buy, make sure that research the company carefully and that it's features meet your needs. Always look for companies that offer 24/7 support and money back guarantees.

Our team monitors and posts articles, features and blog entries which cover VPN issues in the market. Feel free to comment or subscribe to our VPN articles, guides, and general how-to information on VPN's

Emotionally Intelligent Performance Management, The Importance of Monitoring Your Business Finances, Your 30 Day Goal Setting Plan Four Questions to Make Meditation Easier,3 Tips for Introducing Changes Within an Organization, Sales Manager Skills: The Number 1 Skill All Successful Sales Managers Have……..,

Published on Saturday 15 September 2012 Leave your thoughts »

There are many things that need to be kept in mind when operating a business to ensure that it is running as smoothly as possible. This is true of the finances of your business, as well as the efficiency with which your entire business runs. Although there are almost an endless number of tips which could be given to help you in this regard, here are a few that you will find can be incorporated into your business and you will see almost immediate results.

One of the first things that should be considered is the financial standing of your business. Using a business performance management software program can assist you in determining the status of your business effectively. This type of business intelligence performance software allows you to input data from your business and it gives you reports that can allow you to identify problems and strengths within your business. Make sure that you are taking advantage of this type of software regularly and making any changes that are necessary as soon as they become necessary. The more frequently you do this, the easier it is going to be for you to make the changes because they will be caught early.

If you find your business is getting into financial trouble, there are some things that you can do which will help turn the tables, so to speak. For example, if you are getting payments from your clients and some of them tend to pay slowly, you could encourage them to make a faster payment. In some cases, they are not going to be willing to change at first, but if you offer them some type of incentive, they may make the changes quickly. As an example, offering a certain percentage off of the bill can make a difference in getting those clients to make the payment early. Of course, you would want to ensure that you have enough overhead to make this a feasible option before taking advantage of it.

From time to time, it may also be necessary for you to renegotiate the contracts that you have with your clients. Many businesses do this on an annual basis, giving themselves a raise regularly to keep up with the cost of living. If you have allowed many years ago to go by without raising your rates with your clients, now is the time to make a change. You will find that it benefits you, and when you do it regularly, it also becomes expected by your clients. In that way, you will not be worrying as much about their response.

Putting these few tips into practice can help you to build your business and to keep it afloat. Make sure that you are regularly looking into the health of your business and making the changes that are necessary to keep it healthy. When you do so, you will not only find that your business is working better for you, you will find that it is growing regularly. That is something that every business owner strives for.

The author of this article has over 25 years of experience with utilizing business performance management and business intelligence performance tool to help it's operation run smoothly. During his free time he loves giving out business seminar advising people how to improve their business operation system.

In the 1980's, a high profile speaker in the mulch-level marketing field, came to Toronto and agreed to meet with a group of professional speakers who were making more than $100,000 a year. It was a small group. No doubt they felt self-congratulatory as they waited for him. He arrived and they talked awhile and then he said "You all seem like smart people. Why aren't you doing better?"

'Why aren't you doing better'? What a great question. I ask myself and my clients that continuously. I always have an answer and it's always flawed. The truth is, there's never a really good excuse. I love the question. I love the challenge.

For example, I have had this manuscript simmering away on my computer for more than 20 years. It has gone from handwritten to a typewriter to more than one computer. Remember floppy discs? It has crashed and burned more than once and been resurrected. Still it sat on my computer - 180 pages - smouldering away.

One day, I decided I would finish it in 30 days.

So I took my manuscript which seemed like an overwhelming project, listed everything I had to do to finish it, added a timeline, divided by thirty and guess what? It amounted to only 15 minutes a day. I have now finished the manuscript. As the poet T. S. Eliot said 'A poem is never finished, it's abandoned.'

Of course, it's turned into a different 30 day plan based on getting it out there, rather than getting it finished. Then I took that 30 day plan and applied it to my other projects. As a bureau owner and marketing consultant to speakers, I have about 20 on the go.

What would happen if I applied the 30 day project rule to them? I tried it. I listed my goals, my long term and short term objectives, listed everything I needed to do to complete that particular project, estimated a time for each activity, added up the time and divided by thirty.

I'm a great ideas person but if I am not careful to ground the good ideas and let the not-so-good ideas float away, I'll just end up whistling Dixie to four blank walls.

What are your organizational challenges? Imagine what you can accomplish by applying a thirty day plan to your projects. I challenge you to do just that.

Cathleen Fillmore is a speaker’s bureau owner, a journalist and a marketing consultant to speakers who want to make more money doing what they love. She is a member of Meeting Professionals International and author of The Six Figure Speaker. She works with speakers to create a powerful position in a crowded marketplace and develop a strategy that takes them to a new level. She runs the bureau, leads an annual seminar and consults one on one with speakers

We all know that no women would ever wish to become a single mother and see her child suffer for having a broken family but still nobody can ever predict what our life would be; only God knows what his plans for each of us. So if you are one of those single mother out there don't be sad, Cheer Up, life goes on. Even though your boyfriend or husband left you intentionally or because of death, don't lose hope because you're not alone. You are blessed of having a child so there is still a reason for you to continue with your life and moved-on.

But still, we can't deny the fact that the life of a single mother is always surrounded with greatest fear, anxiety, worries and stress on how they to deal to the chapter of their life of having a child without a father. But worry no more because we can help you take away all your fear, worries and anxiety and give you advices on how to manage your stress.

If you always feel stressed and don't know how to manage it, it may bring harm to your health and may lead you for having an emotional imbalance so we must handle our stress with proper care.

Here are Some Ways in Handling Your Stress

• Always think positive and look for the brighter side of life.

• Set goals and dreams for you and for your child/children

• Always spent quality time to bond with your child every day and always have an open communication.

• After a long and stressful week at the office, invite your child for an out-of-town trip and do some adventure activities together.

• Have a healthy and balance diet

• Do the things that would make you happy, inspires you and can bring back the beautiful smile on your smile and these activities may include, gardening, singing, writing articles and engaging in different sport activities.

• Spend time with your friends or office-mates once in week

• Live your life to the fullest and always take away all the anger, insecurities and pain in your heart.

So if you often feel stress just follow these simple ways and I'm pretty sure that from the time you know how to manage your stress, you will be away from any harmful effects of stress to your body and will give you a younger and blooming looks again like a teenager.

It's again time to consider some tips for introducing change within an organization. In the words of John Lilly, 'Our only security is our ability to change'. Now, who does not want to be secure in this world? Which organization does not desire security? I don't know of any. We should therefore embrace change. Quoting John F. Kennedy, 'Change is the law of life and those who look to the past or present are certain to miss the future'. If you desire to see the future in your organization then you need change. However, what are some of the considerations that come into focus when introducing change?

The timing of your change agenda is vital. For a start, you should be wise about when to introduce the change agenda you have. If your timing is not appropriate you may miss out on getting the initial support you require. You could make use of organizational planning sessions, workshops etc to table your change agenda. On such occasions you can talk about the potential benefits of change and also the opportunity cost of ignoring change. Do you know that some people only appreciate change when they know the pain of not changing? Have you ever experienced how people react with shock to some realities of avoiding change? With a good start you can go far with your change agenda.

How about the nature of people you use to anchor and drive your change? Using certain kinds of people will make change appear good and appetizing in your organization. If you get the support of such people you will have limited resistance. Don't you think so? Influential people such as opinion leaders, role models etc. are the best people to get on the side of change first. If you succeed, the rest will most likely flow with them. Do you think your change agenda will find support if you use people who hardly matter in the organization? I very much doubt it. If you don't appreciate this point, try implementing change under the leadership of the most hated manager. I'm sure you won't like the results. Additionally, you also need to choose wisely your change leader. This is the change maker or change catalyst - someone who oversees the change.

The speed of change in an organization is also worth considering. While many times organizations are advised to change rapidly, there are also some benefits in doing the reverse. Now, wisdom is required in assessing this. Factors such as the nature and size of the organization, the kind of change, the change rationale etc should guide you on the pace of change. Don't you agree with me? Haven't you experienced or been part of the kind of change that leaves people wondering whether they are changing at all? Gradual and incremental change often dislodge resistance because one thing is taken at a time. Before the staffs start organizing resistance, they have already changed or are deep in the middle of change. By the way, this is not trickery - it is wisdom. You can choose what you want but at the end of the day you will be either a successful change manager or not.

Organizations thrive or fail due to various factors but decision-making is one of the vital ones. Your decision to implement change should be supported by your decisions on how to go about it. Isn't this reality? When you make the wrong decisions on how to introduce and implement change in your organization, you pay a high price. The reverse is true when you make the right decisions. You should consider the above tips when thinking about change management in your organization. I do hope you will get some benefits from utilizing these tips.

Stop Wasting Your Time!

Does article writing sometimes make you feel like poor Gertrude? You set a goal. You vowed to write no matter how long it took. Time passed while a multitude of emotions swept over you; the words just wouldn’t come!

Avoid meeting the same demise as Gertrude. Be more productive and get more out of your article writing efforts by considering how much quality effort you’re putting into your article writing.

Measuring how much time you’re putting into your articles on a daily and weekly basis will allow you to set reasonable article writing goals to become more efficient. Find what works for you so it fits around your lifestyle and your other responsibilities. In turn, your efficiency will help you become a better Expert Author and help amplify your platform.

Here‘show:

First, identify your goals. Every task you perform should be related to a goal, whether it’s professional or personal. For instance, writing articles might be related to a goal to become an authority in your niche. Write your goals down.

Next, release the time hounds. Faithfully track your activities and the time spent on those activities for at least one week. Use this Article Writing Plan Time Sheet (downloadable PDF) by writing down keywords for tasks, e.g. Draft, Write, Proofread, Email, Facebook, etc., and indicate the time you spent on each task (e.g. 20 minutes). Be as accurate as you can by noting the time spent. Also, if you’re performing another task and you “quickly” squeeze in another task, like checking your email, jot a note down on your time sheet.

Finally, stay the course. It will seem like you’re spending a lot of time just tracking your time. You may become frustrated as you start seeing how much time you spend on particular tasks, similar to counting calories and discovering just how many calories are in your favourite treat. Stay the course.

After at least 7 days of tracking, review the contents of your time sheet.

Identify Time Sinks: A time sink is an activity that takes up huge chunks of your time. Determine which of these time sinks were reactive (putting out fires) and those that were proactive (planned). Once you’ve determined your reactive time sinks, consider how you can adjust your schedule to proactively prevent reactive tasks.
Be Distraction Honest: Outside distractions and even self-induced distractions can break your productive focus. Identifying these will help you hone in on a pattern you can plan around (e.g. time sinks, family, etc.) to come up with distraction-defines strategies.
Inattentive Tasking: Multitasking can seem like the most productive period of your day, but it’s a little like driving while texting, talking, monitoring your GPS, and finding your favorite song – something is going to go wrong because nothing has your full attention. If you find you have performed a ton of other little tasks while performing a larger task, try scheduling these little tasks and be disciplined to limiting your attention during those times to avoid inattentive tasking on more important tasks.
Assess Your Goals: How many tasks on your time sheet were goal-oriented tasks? How many were not? If you find your time fleeting before you and you aren’t closer to achieving your goals, it’s time to reassess the situation and strategically plan.

Find the times of your day you are the most productive for particular tasks and play around with your schedule. What works for one Expert Author, may not work for you and your lifestyle. Experiment. Find your prime time for each task by measuring your level of productivity and how much closer you are to achieving your goals. Then, when you’re ready, try planning your article writing with this Editorial Calendar system.

Gain confidence in your article writing efforts with this effective system. What are your time sinks? Do you have a great time management strategy? Share your suggestions and questions in the comments section below!

Sales manager skills are a given in any high performing sales manager. You know the ones we are talking about? Hiring, firing, performance management, sales coaching, business planning, motivating a sales team to name just a few. None of these will be delivered though if your sales managers are unable to do this one key skill. What is it? Communicate.

In this particular article we will cover the powerful aspect of nonverbal communication which is an important first step to improving your communication skills.

I know this is logical and yet most sales directors will gloss over this 'basic' skill. The true power of communication delivered in a thoughtful way will enable the most amazing results. A dictionary definition of communication centres around the ability to transmit messages from one person or place to another. Seems reasonable? For a sales manager they will also need to ensure that the information they communicate then gets acted on by whomever they are communicating it to.

One pre supposition about communication is that you cannot not communicate. Let's explore that a little. We communicate not only with the words we speak, in fact the most powerful way we communicate with others is through our body language and voice. Albert Arabians classic research identified that 93 per cent of the way we communicate is through our body and voice. With only 7% coming from the actual words and phrases we use.

This seems to be particularly so when people have positional power. For instance in our case a sales manager and her sales representative. Ensuring that communication is congruent is key.

Using a practical example of sales coaching. If a sales manager is giving feedback and advice a softer open body approach and style will make a big difference to the result's that are achieved. A fixed body position and voice tone will not be as motivational for the sales representative on the other end of the communication. This is where the technique of mirroring body language can work to build rapport and trust in the communication process.

The good news is that powerful communication skills can be learn. The first step is awareness about how you are currently communicating. What is the voice tone you use? How are you standing? How fast do you talk? How close do you stand to the person that you are communicating with? What is your eye contact like?

When you ask many sales managers this question some have awareness and many don't. A great exercise is to observe someone else. Watch the interaction and how it flows. By doing this you will have insight to your own and others behavior. If you are really serious about improving the way you communicate non verbally, watch yourself on video. Many a presentation skills course has made a significant difference to how people communicate purely by showing the delegates how they physically and tonally communicate.

Addressing nonverbal communication consistently has one of the biggest impacts on your power to communicate in a way that is acted upon.

So what next? Time to take some action. As an initial first step, if you are brave enough ask your colleagues and even significant other how they perceive you, through your nonverbal communication. You might just be surprised.

One of the most important but underrated skills leaders and managers need to be able to manage performance well is emotional intelligence. If you are predominately a thinking leader then you may well be sceptically, but please bear with me.

Three categories of performance management

If you are like most organization the hierarchy of performance management falls into 3 broad categories:

People who:

a) Under perform

b) Perform averagely/competently

c) Perform over and above requirements

A number of organization give more focus to under-performance and over-performance. Why? Because unchecked under-performance permeates the rest of the organisation and multiplies as it impacts on every member of the team. Over-performance cries out to be recognised. Quite often organization depend on and excel because of star performers, and with a mixture of gratitude and desire to keep performance at that level, reward systems are introduced.

The Employment Practices report by Perth shows for nearly 70% of people surveyed, action for poor performance was taken for less than 5% of employees. Although I don't particularly subscribe to bell curve comparisons, some latest models advocate average rates of over-performance equate to some 16% of total workforce. If you add both together then you are talking about 21% of your employees. If you do the maths, there is a possibility that up to 79% of your employees are average or competent performers.

So yes, the figures are fairly subjective, but my guess is unless you are a top performer in your industry it's likely that the majority of your people fall under the "average or competent performance" criteria.

As a performance manager you have distinct functions for each category of performer. And you need to performance manage all of your people, not just extreme performers. You will be more effective in achieving results if you use emotional intelligence techniques to enhance your management of each category.

Under-performance and emotional intelligence

Your aim is to either get your employee to perform to standard or to leave the organisation. Whilst being very clear about your expectations in performing to standard; in order to avoid conflict and be effective, you need to be able to display at least two emotional skills:

a) Detachment from the outcome. In order to give your employee the best chance, you need to distance yourself from pre-empting the result. If you do this, your employee will be able to self-select whether they are able to raise their game, or they will voluntarily leave as they know themselves they are in the wrong job.

b) Put aside your feelings. Quite often, poor performers cause you headaches and it's common to assume an attitude about them. Or conversely you worry about the consequences for them and this inhibits being assertive. It is understandable, because under-performers increase stress levels, and utilize effort which could be directed elsewhere. The majority of people who under-perform are just as horrified about the situation as you. By putting aside your feelings and being impersonal and practical, you are in a position to listen and make sound win/win decisions.

Average performance and emotional intelligence

Managing is a stressful business and you have a multitude of tasks and issues to deal with; many decisions to make, planning to be done, well you don't need me to tell you how busy it is. The problem is, the majority of your people who don't cause you problems, and get the work done are working in their comfort zone and it's hard to find the time to raise the bar for them. Your main task for this category is to use their talent, time and goodwill to drive up performance. You can do this in a number of ways, but setting stretching objectives designed to drive up pockets of performance across the board is the key. The EI skills needed to do this are:

a) Put aside your limiting beliefs about your employees. The biggest mistake is holding the belief that people have reached a limit of capability and capacity. Often leaders make assumptions that people can't or won't do better. But more often than not, if you genuinely believe in someone, and give them the right encouragement and support, they will rise to the challenge.

b) Be patient about results. We are creatures of habits. When you raise expectations of your people, then it will take them a little while to change the way they have always done things. If you are patient and encouraging and restate your belief in their ability to do better they will eventually get there and your business will benefit from all of that renewed effort.

Over-performance and emotional intelligence

I don't know about you, but I have often nearly been on my knees with gratitude when self-starters have driven through tricky situations, or taken initiative and made my life easier, gotten great results and done a great job. Given the choice wouldn't we all like to have these people in our midst? But while you need to hold the vibe of gratitude you need to remember your function for these people, and in this situation it is two-fold. You need to reward great performance and you need to help these great performers get where they need to be. Hopefully that will be in a career in your company, but if it isn't you still need to help them. In order to achieve this effectively there are two attitudes you must hold and it takes some emotional maturity to achieve:

a) Letting go. Your star performers will more than likely move on. One of the most emotionally intelligent stances you can achieve is recognizing when someone you manage will likely progress their career further than yours. Even trickier is realizing that your star performer will move onto another business. It's easy to fall into the trap of limiting the help you give, or the development you make available to star performers, because they may leave taking all your investment with them. But investment is never lost. They will appreciate and give you accolades for the helping hand they received and your reputation as an employer of choice will grow.

b) Understand each has their own path and guidance to follow. I remember losing a star performer and thinking they were making a big mistake. I also thought they were leaving for the wrong reasons. I would like to say I put my EI head on and gave them my blessing to leave, but I didn't. I told them I thought they were making a mistake. Did they change their mind? No. They left and although a rocky road; they went on to even bigger and better things and leveraged change they might not have been able to had they stayed working for my company. Respecting others' own choices is key to great performance management, and in the long run your company will benefit, because your employees will know you have their best interests at heart.

Every day, I receive questions from clients about their struggles in meditation. Many people wonder what to do if their mind wanders, uncomfortable feelings come up, their back or neck hurts, or they find their minds busy with everything other than their meditation cues. What if they aren't feeling what is described? What if they can't visualize? What if they just can't seem to relax, no matter how hard they try? I've discovered four questions you can answer before your meditation practice that will make the whole process easier, more enjoyable, and successful.

Answer These Four Questions for Success in Meditation

1. What is your routine-specifically?

I divide this question into two parts:

A) What is the technique you're following?

B) What do you do when you're distracted from your technique and/or the technique doesn't seem to be working?

First, let's talk about meditation technique. While all meditation involves some way of guiding your attention, there are many different meditation styles. It's important to understand the specific cues of your meditation practice before you begin. In other words, you've got to know the steps in order.

If you follow a guided meditation audio, this can help-at least until you've learned the sequence well. For example, you might first remind yourself of your intention for meditating, then go through posture cues, then pay attention to your breath or adopt some way of attending to your inner experience, and then know what to do when you find yourself distracted.

You've decided to practice meditation for a reason. You're meditating to get some result. It's important to know what you want to get out of meditation, so you choose a meditation technique that will point you toward that result. For example, many people practice meditation to relax their body, calm their emotions, quiet their minds, and connect to inner wisdom. These are some great reasons to meditate and meditation is one of the best practices to achieve those results.

Unfortunately, many people do not understand the process by which meditation gets to those results. This may lead them to think the practice is harder than it is and/or give up before they've gotten what they desire. It's important to understand what happens during meditation in addition to those great feeling benefits you're seeking.

Some experiences you'll have during meditation may seem to run counter to your expected outcome. For example, when you begin to meditate, you might become more aware of how busy your mind is, how many feelings you have, or how tense your body is. When you experience these things, it would be natural to think, "Hey, this meditation isn't working."

Yet, this is exactly how meditation works. When those experiences, or any others, come up, the practice of meditation is first to recognize them and accept them completely. Rather than trying to get rid of distractions; you notice them, accept them, and even welcome them. The same for negative emotions, self-judgments, tightness in your lower back, a sound in your environment, or anything at all. Accept it all as part of the natural process of meditation.

Just to be real clear on this point, whatever happens as you meditate, recognize it, accept it, and welcome it into awareness. You then have a choice to let it go and return to your meditation cues. This conscious intentional action changes your relationship with whatever is going on inside or around you. You realize that no matter what happens, you have a choice in how you relate to it. This is a powerful realization that can change your life!

So, knowing your meditation cues and what to do when you've wandered from them will make your meditation practice so much more relaxed, easy, and successful. You then understand that anything that happens during meditation is natural and O.K. and you can choose to observe it, let it go, and return to your meditation cues. As you do that again and again, you'll experience the positive benefits of your practice.

2. When will you practice? I am a big proponent of meditating first thing in the morning to shift into a more conscious, intentional mindset for your day. Another great time to meditate is at night, right before bed-time, to unwind from the day and more easily shift into sleep. Meditation can also give you a great break during a stressful day.

For your meditation to be most successful, it is helpful to have one consistent time that you schedule for meditation every day. This builds peaceful, present, clear awareness into your life on a daily basis. Anything you do every 24 hours becomes a consistent part of your baseline experience in the world. When you repeat something once a day it is much easier to return to that experience whenever you need to. So, decide when you will meditate every day and for how long, ahead of time, and adjust your schedule as you see what works best for you.

3. Where will you meditate? Define a specific spot for your practice. Make sure your environment is conducive to meditation, so your practice is more effective and enjoyable. For example, meditate in a quiet, private place, with good air flow, a comfortable seat, and minimal distractions. Silence your cell phone and make sure others know that you're taking some "quiet time," so they won't interrupt you.

4. What resources will you need to be most successful in your practice? Make sure you have everything you need ahead of time and in the location where you'll practice. For example, you'll need a comfortable seat that's the right height. If you're listening to a guided audio, you'll need a CD or mp3 player. Perhaps you want some inspiring pictures or quotes to get you in the mood. If you don't have a quiet environment, you might want some white noise, like a fan, to block out background sound. Make sure you have your resources gathered in the right location ahead of time.

If you answer all four of these questions and do what is needed before you sit to practice, your meditation will be so much easier and more successful.