Business study and writing skills Dr Tamas Lestar tomlestar@gmail.com Business study and writing skills DAY2 MODULE FOUNDATIONS

RECAP QUESTIONS 1. Name some of the major terms for this module. 2. What is in-text referencing? 3. What are the basic elements and rules for a good CV? - Elements? - Rules?

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF WHO AM I? INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS

WHAT ARE INTRAPESONAL SKILLS? 1. Self-understanding 2. Self-management (time, stress) 3. Reflection In order to understand ourselves, we are advised to reflect on our lives. - Why am I here? - Why do I study this? - What is my aim? - What are my skills? - What skills am I lacking? …

LET US LOOK AT THE SELF-ASSESSMENT FORM ON PAGE 46-47 1. Evaluate self by checking the appropriate boxes 2. Reflect upon your skills. Where did you acquire them? 3. Reflect upon what is missing. Now in your group discuss the following: Share 1 of your skills from each section (personal, people, task) with the others, and the way you acquired it. Share what you desire the most, and why?

MANAGING TIME AND STRESS Let’s share our opinion in class!

Healthy or Unhealthy? How to improve well- being? 1. It may sound obvious, but in order to succeed, we need to manage our time as well as stress. 2. Today there is an increasing level of anxiety and mental disorders. 3. What are the opportunities at the university for handling mental or spiritual anxiety? (Let’s discuss) STRESS and ANXIETY Healthy or Unhealthy? How to improve well- being?

Further reading about good and bad stress Hans Selye 1. It may sound obvious, but in order to succeed, we need to manage our time as well as stress. 2. Today there is an increasing level of anxiety and mental disorders. 3. What are the opportunities at the university for handling mental or spiritual anxiety? (Let’s discuss) STRESS and ANXIETY Further reading about good and bad stress Hans Selye

STUDENTS’ OPINION DISCUSS: WHAT DO YOU THINK GOOD STRESS IS? WHERE IS THE LIMIT WHEN STRESS TURNS BAD? HOW CAN YOU MANAGE THE LEVEL OF STRESS? STUDENTS’ OPINION TEAM WORK

STUDENTS’ OPINION DISCUSS: WHAT DO YOU THINK GOOD STRESS IS? WHERE IS THE LIMIT WHEN STRESS TURNS BAD? HOW CAN YOU MANAGE THE LEVEL OF STRESS? NOW LET US MAKE A LIST ANSWERING QUESTION 3 AND DISCUSS TOGETHER IN CLASS. SOMEBODY WRITE ON BLACKBOARD. STUDENTS’ OPINION TEAM WORK

The Business Student's Handbook: Learning Skills for Study and Employment PAGE 43 (Fifth edition)

CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN (what do you think you could change?) COPE WITH THE INEVITABLE BY - changing your attitude - learning to relax - becoming physically better to be able to cope The Business Student's Handbook: Learning Skills for Study and Employment PAGE 44 (Fifth edition)

The Business Student's Handbook: Learning Skills for Study and Employment PAGE 45 (Fifth edition)

HOW CAN WE 1: RELAX, 2: GET HEALThIER?

Time management HOW WELL DO I MANAGE MY TIME NOW? Look at the self-evaluation form in your text book. Time management PAGE 122

Time management HAVE YOU EVER RUN OUT OF TIME? The difficulty of time management lies in the fact that HABITS are hard to change. Organisations pay large sums for two- or three-day courses designed to teach time management. Attendants gain motivation. Yet the principles are simple, and you can practice them in groups. Time management PAGE 38 Business Student Handbook

Time management PRINCIPLES PAGE 38 Business Student Handbook

Time management PRINCIPLES PAGE 39 Business Student Handbook

Time management ACTIVITY To do this time management exercise you need to grab a piece of paper and write down everything that you think it distracts you. When you’re done, write down possible solutions. For example: You get distracted by your phone. An easy solution might be to keep yourself logged out of social media while studying or switch to airplane mode Random web surfing. Unplug your internet cable or disable your wi-fi. If you have to do research, write down everything you need to search beforehand and stick to it (don’t read it if you don’t need it) Playing video games. Study at the public library or at your university, removing temptation. If it’s a phone game, uninstall it! Time management ACTIVITY SOURCE: http://www.dansilvestre.com/ time-management-exercises/

THE MAIN DANGERS WHEN STUDYING Poor prioritisation Aiming for unnecessary perfection Failing to clarify requirements Failing to apportion time fairly between different assignments Underestimating the time a task may need The above hazards arise in employment, too!!! THE MAIN DANGERS WHEN STUDYING PAGE 39 Business Student Handbook

Time management: SOLUTIONS 1. List Everything: write down all your commitments and deadlines Break It Down: take on big tasks and turn them into smaller steps. A 2000 word essay can sound daunting, but writing 500 words today might not Use a SCHEDULE PLANNER: this method helps you prioritize your tasks. Organise everything under 3 headings: now, soon, and later. Deadlines are a priority, readings for a class might go under soon, most of the things in later you might want to quit Do Immediately: start with something on your “now” list and get it done. That sense of achievement will help you build momentum Prioritize the Rest: now go back to all the other tasks and put them in order Time management: SOLUTIONS 1. Source: http://www.dansilvestre. com/time-management- exercises/

Time management: SOLUTIONS 2. ACHIEVING BETTER DIRECTION The solution for misdirection is PLANNING. If overcommitted: think about why the situation has arisen. Talk to a tutor or supervisor. Get focused! Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything! Think about how to avoid repeat situation in the future (assertiveness skills may help! – what are they?) Think about how good/detailed you need to be. Do not devote more than necessary. Consider priorities, despite the freedom you have as a university student, first things come first! Time management: SOLUTIONS 2. Source: Business Study Skills, p. 40

Time management: SOLUTIONS 3. IDENTIFY SOURCES OF INEFFECTIVENESS, such as Procrastination Wasting time Wasting the best part of the day Switching tasks too often. Some variety is necessary, but switching too often may distract. Interruptions (e.g. friends) Time management: SOLUTIONS 3. Source: Business Study Skills, p. 41

Time management: SOLUTIONS 4. BECOMING MORE EFFECTIVE Book the task in your diary by giving it a specific date/time Schedule your free time (times off) as well, and enjoy it Divide large tasks (it will be rewarding and motivating) Target something to do each day (otherwise resistance to starting increases) Bring deadlines forward …. And so forth. After all, this is all individual. Try what works for you best! Time management: SOLUTIONS 4. Source: Business Study Skills, p. 42

PEOPLE’S MANAGEMENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Working in groups is inevitable. Employers seek ‘interactive attributes’ (Harvey et al., 1997) Job adverts: “excellent communication skills” etc. PEOPLE’S MANAGEMENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Why important?

PEOPLE’S MANAGEMENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TALKING LISTENING GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK ASSERTIVENESS (SELF-ESTEEM) ALL THE ABOVE ARE USED IN TEAMWORK AND NETWORKING (MORE ABOUT THEM LATER) PEOPLE’S MANAGEMENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS What are they?

WHEN ALL YOUR SKILLS NEED ACTIVATION (what are these skills so far WHEN ALL YOUR SKILLS NEED ACTIVATION (what are these skills so far?) – We will learn more in the next few classes. Such as… TEAMWORK. TASK management OVERVIEW

SUCCESS, INTELLIGENCE, SELF-ASSESSMENT, TIME&STRESS MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE MANAGEMENT, TEAM MANAGEMENT, CV, READING, WRITING, LITERATURE SEARCH, REFERENCING, OFFICIAL LETTERS, PLAGIARISM, PROPOSAL WRITING, BUSINESS PLAN, TEAMWORK, NETWORKING, OPPORTUNITIES, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, INTERVIEWS. + IT skills, Listening and Talking Skills, Assertiveness, Creativity and more… MAJOR TERMS AND TOPICS REMEMBER THE MAJOR TOPICS

Business study and writing skills Dr Tamas Lestar tomlestar@gmail.com Business study and writing skills SEE YOU LATER