The Importance of an Inspiring Workplace

The Importance of an Inspiring Workplace Never underestimate the power of the physical environment, especially as a strategic tool for unlocking the keystones of innovation: creativity, productivity collaboration. Kursty Groves is a Workplace Innovation Consultant and thought-provoker for creating inspiring physical and cultural work environments.  Kursty  has gone behind the scenes of the world’s most innovative companies, uncovering insights that drive their success. Her latest book, Spaces for Innovation, guides leaders and designers alike through the important elements that make effective environments for exceptional work performance. Have a listen to the interview below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the  Employer Branding Podcast. Listen on  iTunes,  Stitcher Radio,  Google Play  or  SoundCloud. In this episode youll learn: Why workplace environment has become so important, especially in terms of innovation and inspiration. What the key spacial types are and what they mean: Collaboration Stimulation Reflection Play How to define the right environment for your company, while keeping in mind all the right values and behaviors you want your employees to exhibit. Why looking at your environment from an efficiency standpoint is Kurstys  number one pitfall she sees employer make when it comes to their environment. How to measure the return of investment  of having an inspiring workplace. How Microsoft, and more, are doing so well when it comes to the workplace. What Kurstys  top 3 tips are for employer brand manager out there looking to make a change in their environment. Connect with Kursty on Twitter and check out her website.

Striking Out On Your Own Four Things That You Can Do Help You Actually Feel Like A Real Adult

Striking Out On Your Own Four Things That You Can Do Help You Actually Feel Like A Real Adult Its honestly never been harder for young people to find their direction in life. In previous generations, people would go to college, then go straight into work and stay there for most of their lives. They moved out; they got married, and they retired. Their lives might have been more restrictive, but at least they always had a sense of what they should be doing and where they should be going. Now, despite having more options than ever before, its incredibly difficult for young people to figure out their place in the world. This means that youre often left in this bizarre, in-between state where youre expected to participate in society and all of the things that come with it, without really feeling like youre actually a grown up. Its a pretty familiar feeling to a lot of young people that theyre just pretending to know what theyre doing while everyone else around them has their life much more in order. But in truth, just about every single young person feels that way at some point. Without the direction in life that previous generations took for granted, its tough to feel like an adult. But that doesnt mean it has to be that way. Instead, there are a lot of things that you can do to take control of your life and find that direction that youre missing. Here are just a few things that will help you feel like a real adult. Start saving One of the biggest sources of anxiety for young people is, unsurprisingly, money. With house prices higher than theyve ever been and the increasing cost of living, its hard to feel like youll ever have enough money to live any way other than hand-to-mouth. But one of the best ways to combat this anxiety and to feel like you have more control over your life is to give yourself that safety net of some savings. Now, dont worry, youre not going to need to start putting away the majority of your income for a rainy day. In fact, you only need to start saving a small amount. Plenty of people simply assume that they cant start saving. That they dont have the money to spare. But in reality people actually are in a better position to save than they think they are. Its just a matter of being a little bit more sensible with your money. Its a really good idea to set up a budget that lets you know exactly what youre spending your money on. That way you can see exactly what you have leftover after youve paid all of your necessary bills. Youll probably find that theres more leftover than you thought. Even if youre just setting aside a tiny amount each month, over time that starts to add up so that if youre ever in need of some extra cash, you already have some to hand for whatever comes along. Finding your own place Statistically, people are living with their parents for longer and longer. And thats actually pretty understandable. After all, unlike your parents generation, most young people dont have the means to buy even the cheapest houses. But that doesnt mean that you can get out on your own. There are plenty of ways to lower the cost of houses and apartments. Living with friends is the best way to split the costs, but even if youre living on your own, then there are ways that you can avoid bankrupting yourself. You might want somewhere with plenty of space, but if an apartment comes along thats pretty small but offers you the freedom of living on your own, then you should at least consider it. Living independently puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. All of the bills now fall on you, and its your job to make sure that they get paid on time. Every little job that you took for granted while you lived with your parents is suddenly something that you have to deal with on a daily basis. But this means that you actually have a fantastic opportunity to take your life by the reins. The responsibility that comes with having your own place also means that youve got far more freedom than you ever did before. You have the opportunity to take control of your own life without having to answer to anyone else. The way your home is arranged, decorated and run are all down to you. Few things can help to make you feel more adult than that. Learn to cook Being able to cook is one of those skills that every self-respecting adult should have. It means that youre officially able to take care of yourself on your own. Getting take-out over and over might be fun for a while, but it gets hard to shake the feeling that youre not exactly doing the best thing for your body. If youre able to cook you can make sure that you not only stay fed but stay healthy as well. The best thing to do is just to find a few simple recipes and get good at those. Rather than constantly trying out lots of different things every meal time, figure out the foods that you can cook and experiment with them. Try adding different ingredients and flavors from time to time. It might not always work, but at least you know for next time. Not only is it a great skill to have for yourself, but its also fantastic for impressing friends, relatives, and dates. Being the one friend out of the group who can actually cook is a pretty good way to make yourself indispensable. Plus, your friends will probably find themselves wondering how you managed to become so grown up! Take care of yourself As an adult, theres a pretty good chance that youre not going to have anyone around to take care of you when youre sick. Its now your responsibility to take care of your health. Eating right is obviously an important part of that, but its just as important to get your health checked out regularly. Make sure youre registered with your local doctors office so that youre not stuck with no idea what to do the next time you get sick. And if you find yourself getting sick, for goodness sake dont just ignore it! Far too many people, of any age, just try to pretend that everythings fine instead of just going to doctors with a problem. If somethings wrong, get it checked out. Whatever it is, its going to be easier to deal with than if you just leave it until it becomes a genuine problem! Of course, this doesnt just apply to your physical health. Make sure that youre taking good care of yourself mentally as well. Get enough sleep, dont push yourself too hard, and if you feel like you need support, then there are always organizations available to help. And remember, sometimes the most grown up thing that you can do is to ask for help. Whether its from a friend, a parent or a professional, theres nothing wrong with needing some support now and then. . Image credits. Main. PiggyBank.  Rent.    Cook.    Healthy.