To produce our best work and achieve optimum productivity we need to get into what psychologists call a ‘flow state’. According to positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow state is the mental state of a person fully immersed and focused on performing an activity.   In a working environment flow is likely to occur when you are…

I recently was asked by some colleagues for tips when networking. The prospect of networking can be hugely daunting especially if you are new to the industry, role or just promoting yourself in a new arena. I know the first couple of times I attended networking events I felt very young, green and female. The…

How to Work from Home Successfully Let me start by saying that working from home is not for everyone. I love working from home. I’m productive, relaxed and really don’t miss the commute. However I speak to people regularly who believe that they would hate it. They feel that working from home they would lack…

There has always been resistance to flexible working with the majority of businesses preferring to keep employees within their sights. Earlier this year a ban on remote working at Yahoo reignited the flexible working debate. The arguments are the same but the strength of opinion is different. With the explosion of social technologies and the…

According to The Telegraph Online most entrepreneurs rely on instinct to make business decisions. This is not a surprising statement as it is the general business savvy and passion that drives entrepreneurs to success. The report, commissioned by T-Mobile, goes on to state that many entrepreneurs are too busy to or even nervous about making…

Time management is an essential factor in managing stress. Often the feeling that you don’t have enough time in the day increases your stress levels before you’ve even started. If you manage your energy, attention and commitments you create an effective daily management of tasks leaving you feeling more focused. Mark Walsh shared his top…

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development time off through stress has increased, with the recession blamed for elevated stress levels. Factors such as extra workload, worries about company reorganisations and domestic problems have led to higher levels of anxiety and depression, employers reported. The research also found that more employees were struggling…

As the new school term starts we can all get back to concentrating fully on our business. To help you get back in the swing of things The Virtual Office are offering a fantastic deal on meeting rooms. Buy one hour get one hour free on all meeting rooms at all 3 of our excellent…

For many small businesses and business owners the summer holidays are less a holiday, more the ultimate test in juggling priorities. Taking a real holiday can mean a choice between missing important telephone calls or answering the client’s call whilst on a family picnic. Neither ideal and both applying additional pressure to your time and…

General opinions of the Mr Osborne’s budget are that it recognises the role of small businesses in the continued growth of the economy. The internationally competitive Capital Gains Tax and reduction in Corporation Tax for small businesses both encourage entrepreneurism. However there are mixed responses to the new immigration laws introducing further restrictions on the…