Isla Baliszewska, Author at Smart Coaching and Training | Business Support, Consultancy, Mentoring

18/12/2014 By Isla Baliszewska

Halina’s night out!

We wanted to share with you a really special evening that Halina had recently with the Gasworks Community Choir and so here is her account of the event below, and if you want to see the video, with Tom Jones and Paloma Faith, see if you can spot Halina in the choir!
“Good morning from a still very fizzing with excitement … it was such a treat to be there. Biggest music event in UK in 2014 excluding the big music festivals + first BBC Music awards + last time Earl’s Court will be used for anything + last people ever to sing on stage at Earl’s Court. It is now being demolished for up market housing. So an iconic moment all round. And it was amazing being on the front row. Looking at the audience was mind blowing! The biggest audience ever that I have performed in front of. And it was simply a question of saying yes and having no expectations except to enjoy the whole day with all the waiting around as part of the one off experience.

Shook hands with Gary Barlow from Take That – he’s really short! Met Chris Harris. Shared that stage with Tom Jones and Paloma Faith … is there no end …. Worked with David and Carrie Grant of Fame Academy fame and our very own dedicated choreographer James! Special for sure. So lucky to have been there.

Thank you for the congratulations … I eventually went to bed at about 4am – arrived home at just before 1am. It was very stormy here when I got back and overnight but once in bed I was sound asleep. And probably soaring with the excitement on Cloud 9 as you say. Such a treat to have been on the front row and spotted. Amazing to experience how a live TV programme was put together.

Halina Jaroszewska, PCC

08/09/2014 By Isla Baliszewska

Positivity Ratios, Flourishing and Languishing

To flourish : definitions –

“to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly congenial environment”
“to develop rapidly or successfully”
“to be in a period of highest productivity, excellence of influence”.

and the one we like best…..

“to grow luxuriantly, to thrive”.

Here’s a great title – ‘Positive Affect and the Complex Dynamics of Human Flourishing’. In this publication Barbara Fredrickson and Marcial Losada produced the result of their research in the field of positive psychology to demonstrate a magic ratio of positive to negative emotions. And it is 3:1. If you have more than 3 times the positive strokes to negatives you are flourishing. If you have less than 2:1 you are entering the languishing arena. In between you are pretty much at normal.

Whether or not you agree with the research, and there is a whole lot of other data out there aiming at the same ideas, (Gottman’s work with married couples for example), we can assume that having good, positive emotions is a pretty good start for making people feel successful and achieving.

In the workplace, positive emotions benefit the individuals and the organisation, and those engaging with the organisation be they customers, service-users or other. We associate emotions with particular circumstances or events and they can affect how we behave, our mood and our attitudes. An organisation staffed by people who feel optimistic, personally resilient, pleasant and purposeful will not only have a high sense of efficacy and possibility but can build a culture of co-operation, collaboration and collective wellbeing. The knock-on effect is heightened productivity, better bottom line achievements and a generally nicer place to be and to work.

So getting the balance right and looking to raise the ration of positive to negative is probably not a bad thing to be aiming for.

Want to improve your flourishing possibilities? Contact us at Smart Coaching & Training.

by Isla Baliszewska

08/07/2014 By Isla Baliszewska

The Viability Test

The Financial Reporting Council has come up with another small headache for business owners. In an attempt to improve on the current ‘going concern’ statement that Directors must tick in current year end accounts, the FRC has hit on the idea of getting Directors to commit to saying how long they think their organisation will stay viable. Under the proposed new code a company board will have to state that the company is viable for ‘the foreseeable future’ and to identify how long that ‘forseeable future’ is.

What we are looking at here is accountability. How accountable Directors and Boards should be. To mix metaphors the waters here are a bit muddy and a thesaurian battle of words; to what extent should company Directors be making assertions, declarations, affirmations or committed statements about the future solvency of their business? The FRC started this review last year in an attempt to clarify what ‘going concern’ actually means, and the distinction between the assessment of the company’s health when preparing the accounts and the assessment of the risks affecting its continued trading. The consultation has been through several rounds so far and has been less than enthused about by the Institute of Directors, whose corporate governance advisor Oliver Parry said ” It would be difficult and unrealistic to think that a company could predict the future beyond 12 months.”

It goes without saying that there should be clear lines of accountability in organisations, however as yet no-one seems to be agreeing on how this accountability should be worded. Accountability is about integrity and ownership of our actions, being responsible for the decisions we make. This is relatively simple when it only involves us, the one person, but it is much harder when taken to an organisational level.

09/04/2014 By Isla Baliszewska

Growth Vouchers – explained…..

In January this year the £30m Growth Vouchers Scheme was launched by Lord Young giving small businesses the opportunity to apply for up to £2000 of funded business support. Qualifying UK businesses much have fewer than 49 employees, been trading for less than a year and not have paid for business advice in the last 3 years. The funding, which the business must match, can cover

• [i type=”icon-ok” color=”icon-green” bg=””]Finance and cashflow.

• [i type=”icon-ok” color=”icon-green” bg=””]Recruiting and developing staff.

• [i type=”icon-ok” color=”icon-green” bg=””]Improving leadership and management skills.

• [i type=”icon-ok” color=”icon-green” bg=””]Marketing, attracting and keeping customers.

• [i type=”icon-ok” color=”icon-green” bg=””]Making the most of digital technology.

Small businesses apply through the Enterprise Nation website and connect with an approved Business Advisor. As of 6th March, Enterprise Nation logged 1400 applications with 598 vouchers allocated with a value in excess of £1m. Companies have invested in support to boost marketing and customer sales, leadership and management development, staff development, managing finance and cashflow and using digital technology effectively.

So what are the downsides? Well it is a random trial so not everyone gets the voucher. If you are selected you may have to work with the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insights Team who are measuring how the funding will work. That is no bad thing as it is always good to know that there is accountability and measurement in funded schemes. If you don’t get the voucher you can still use the Enterprise Nation Marketplace to find a good and registered Growth Advisor. You do have to pay up front for the advice, which is designed to ensure commitment and to protect the integrity of the offering from abuse.

The scheme is only running for a limited period so it is definitely worth applying if you are keen on growing your business and getting good business support. If you want to know more, contact Isla who is our approved Growth Vouchers Advisor.

16/09/2013 By Isla Baliszewska

Go For Growth!

Following on from our July Growth Seminar in Swindon, Smart Coaching & Training will be bringing our expertise to the good citizens of Bristol. David and Isla are hosting the evening at Colston Offices on Thursday 3rd October from 6-8pm, covering topics intrinsic to growing a flourishing business.

Halina Jaroszewska will be looking at what current challenges business leaders face and how to rise to those challenges and to become fit for purpose as leaders in the coming decade. Richard Tierney will touch on the essence of good presentation skills, and Isla will introduce the Ready for Business scheme aimed at supporting start-up enterprises.

Our special guest will be Alex Moreton of Growth Accelerator who will give an overview of this Government funding for ambitious business owners looking for fast and sustainable growth.

Sign up to secure your place at this free seminar and be sure to bring your ticket with you to enjoy the refreshments. We look forward to seeing you

Halina’s night out!

Positivity Ratios, Flourishing and Languishing

The Viability Test

Growth Vouchers – explained…..

Go For Growth!

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