My Personal Finance Blog

Is leadership training and development a priority for your organisation in 2011?

Investing in a manager’s development is a win – win for the organisation, as it will not only equip them with new skills, but it will also motivate managers. This in turn will enable them to motivate their staff better which will have a positive effect on their morale, work satisfaction, effectiveness and personal performance, and ultimately it will feed through to the financial performance of the organisation.

However there are other factors to consider too before launching a new leadership training and development programme, some of which are as follows:

Firstly it is important to consider the content and focus of any leadership development or training – what is the business or organisational need that must be addressed? Is the business trying to grow, restructure, or diversify? What are the skills and behaviours that are needed by all levels of leader across the business?

The organisation’s executives will need to model the required behaviours from the top. Do they currently do this or do they need development support too?

Is it to be a themed team programme which will include all managers from across the organisation, or is it more of a modular programme that leaders can ‘buy into’ where they have an identified need?

Do some of the organisations managers have specific development needs where an individual 1 to 1 coaching approach would be more appropriate?

The timing of any development programme is key too. If the organisation tries to push it into a manager’s schedule at a particularly busy time of year then it is likely to be resisted at best or rejected at worst.

Finally it is important to ensure that all development interventions are followed through and that the organisation evaluates the benefits and value of them.

Being a leader requires many skills but one of the key elements is an individual’s personal motivation – they must have the will and desire to want to lead people.

So if you are wish to invest in your leaders in 2011, and would like some advice about where best to start then please contact us at Developing People Ltd – please telephone 0845 409 2346, or send an email to enquiries@developingpeople.co.uk

It’s that time of year again when the taxman wants to know how much you have earned and how much tax you owe him. Don’t forget that your individual tax return has to be returned to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by April 15 this year, unless you have applied for, and received an extension. We all want to pay less tax, but instead of looking for loopholes and gray areas, rather focus on managing your tax affairs as efficiently as possible. The following business and personal tips should make the current tax year a little easier on your pocket when completing your return:

1. Travel Expenses It is good practice to keep a mileage logbook of distance travelled, in order to accurately determine you travel deduction. If you have two jobs, you can deduct the cost of traveling from the first to the second, but if you have a single job, you cannot deduct commuting costs because it is considered a personal expense, not a business expense. Travel for business, including costs to go to seminars and conferences are 100% deductible. Deductible travel costs include hotels, airfare, taxis, car rentals, parking fess, tolls and tips.

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First, it’s important to note that hummers are migratory birds. Where you live will determine what time of year you’ll see the birds. Humming birds are migratory birds, so you will not be able to see them all year round, even if you have nectar in your Humming bird feeder. You will generally start to see humming birds in the spring once the weather is warm and then through out the summer.

Want to know how to attract beautiful Hummingbirds to your garden? Give them the food they like nectar. Nectar placed into a Humming bird feeder will draw Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds will eat more than twice their bodyweight in nectar, so having Humming bird feeders placed throughout your garden will help in their search for more food. There are a large variety of Humming bird feeders that you can choose from, that will decorate your garden nicely.

Essentially Hummingbirds need the nectar to power the insect eating machine that they are. The nectar provides the calories that they need, while the soft-bodied insects and spiders provide the protein. Banana peels that are overripe are good to set out to attract the flies for your Hummingbirds. I have a box of bananas and within a short period of time, I am inundated with flies.

Now back to the Hummingbird feeders.

Perky Pet Humming bird feeders offer endless designs for you to choose from. Some models come in the shape of strawberries or apples. Their body shape is bright red, which helps to attract the birds attention as Hummingbirds love the color red. Its shatterproof and holds about 48oz. of nectar. If your Hummingbirds prefer one style over another, its probably simply a matter of familiarity. If you change feeders, it may be in your best interest to hang the old one empty alongside the new one. I would recommend the HummZinger and similar well-designed basin feeders for their ruggedness as well as their ease of maintenance.

You then have the hummingbird Oasis feeder varieties from Perky Pet. These Humming bird feeders have a built-in ant moat that is between the feeding ports and the rod. With 6 feeding stations each has an individual perch and yellow flower feeding port.

Where to hang your feeder? A new humming bird feeder may be found sooner by hummingbirds if it is hung over or near a garden of hummingbird plants. My feeders are near windows, where I can watch and enjoy them: one is in a living room window, another outside the kitchen. But, as a word of caution, ensure that your window has a blind or drawn curtain behind it to prevent your Hummingbirds from flying into the window.

Here’s the recipe for artificial nectar (syrup):

Use one part ordinary white cane sugar to four parts water.

Store unused syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

The fastest recorded wing beat rate was about 80 per second, on a tiny Amethyst Woodstar, and the slightly smaller Bee Hummingbird – the world’s smallest bird – may have an even faster rate. Truly a remarkable bird of creation.

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Unless you retreat into a cave to sleep through the winter, you cannot have missed one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time. Every mall in the country plays “Winter Wonderland”, usually the Bing Crosby and not the Ozzy Osbourne version, until you wish it was Spring. The myth of happy white Christmases is completely misleading. Unlike the southern states where the only problem is the dazzling sunshine, the northern states experience the annual covering of their roads with ice, sleet and snow, closely followed by the misery of melting slush then freezing over as the next cold front moves in. Trying to drive safely on the roads at this time is a nightmare. Nobody is ever prepared. Somehow, there is a mass amnesia as we all forget those defensive driving skills. That way, when the first snow falls, we can all panic as we move sideways across the road, pumping at the brake pedal without any effect.

Talk to an insurance company at this time of year brings depressing news. The number of claims arising from traffic accidents rise by nearly 40% in December through February. There is a spike on the first days of real snow in each area and people suddenly remember all the things they forgot. So what should you do to prepare for this annual festival of destruction on the roads. Well, the first and most basic rule of all is simple. If the journey is not essential, do not make it. The safest place on the first days of winter is in the safety of your own home with your vehicle safely parked off the road. Remember, if you have your vehicle parked on the street, it is a target for any other driver to crash into. Leave it with your friendly mechanic and take the chance for a few maintenance chores. If the snow looks set in, fit snow tires. If not, then have all-season tires with good treads to maximize the grip on the roads and carry chains with you. To improve visibility in sleet and snow, you need new windshield wipers. Have the brakes and steering checked, and retune the engine to give the best chance of it starting in the lower temperatures – there’s nothing worse than being stuck with a vehicle that will not start. Finally, pack an emergency kit and keep it in the vehicle. That way, if the worst happens, you can keep warm and warn other drivers away from you with hazard flares until help arrives. Ah yes. To speed the arrival of help, program the numbers of tow truck companies and garages in your area so you can be rescued. Membership of one of the clubs like AAA can offer good rates on emergency roadside assistance.

And you should care because, with collision and comprehensive coverage in place on your newish vehicle, the auto insurance company is not going to sit quietly if you suddenly file a number of claims this winter. Your premium rates will rise. When it comes to getting auto insurance quotes, the rates will also be higher than you expect if you are an inexperienced driver or moving from a state where it is summer all year round to one with four seasons. Everyone has to learn how to drive safely in snow.

Shopping for gifts for the special people in your life can be difficult. And finding something special for the woman who made countless sacrifices on a daily basis while you were growing up can be even harder. Mother’s Day is designed to honor the woman who raised you and raised you. How can we celebrate this day so that she will know how much she is appreciated?

We’ve all seen the Family Circus cartoons where the kids put together this huge breakfast tray and treat Mom to breakfast in bed. While this is a great idea, it can be memorable for many reasons. One reason can be the question “Just exactly how did those eggs get cooked in the first place?” but you want to make it memorable for more than just that. If you are not a gourmet chef, finding a more permanent way to celebrate the event to express how much you appreciate her can be quite a challenge.

One great way to do this is by buying personalized gifts for her on Mother’s day. Finding a special gift like a jewelry box and having it personalized makes the task much simpler. All Moms like to show off pictures of the loves in her life so a picture frame or photo book is a great idea. Adding your Mom’s name to the frame or having it engraved with a phrase like “from your favorite son” adds a level of specialness. Not only will it be appreciated on Mother’s Day, but every day she looks at it.

Other gifts can be personalized as well, showing just how much you appreciate her efforts and sacrifices It could be a pen and pencil set, or stationary and notepads, or even a compact or contact case, every time she uses that gift, she’ll know that not only did you take the time to give her a great gift, but you took the time to have it personalized just for her. Face it, getting a special gift for Mother’s Day will be special for her on that day as well as many other times.

It can be a challenge to find that perfect gift for Mom any time of year, let alone on a day as special as Mother’s Day. Finding a special gift and then having it personalized not only shows her you love and honor her on the special day, but that you want her to know every day how much you appreciate her. And isn’t that what every Mom wants? It’s never too soon to sit down and find that perfect gift. Having it personalized for her is going to make that great gift even greater!