...top tips from a professional Mr Motivator that will jazz up your day job, from victory logs to phone virtue

Motivational speaker Nigel Risner, who is from the USA, visited Tees Valley Housing Group with tips on how to feel more positive about life and work. Joanne Lowther, corporate services manager at the group, reveals the top five tips she took away from the encounter.

<b>1.</b> Look after yourself

People can be their own worst enemy when it comes to building a career and lifestyle they feel happy with. The temptation can be to make sure that everyone else is happy, but you need to make sure you also look after yourself. Learn to say 鈥渘o鈥� if you aren鈥檛 able to take on more work and explain why you aren鈥檛 able to help.

<b>2.</b> Celebrate successes

It鈥檚 easy to dwell on the negative things that have happened throughout the day. But think back to when you were a child and were maybe in the Brownies or Scouts: small achievements were rewarded with things like badges, which made you feel good. Bring that philosophy to work and acknowledge your and other people鈥檚 successes. Keep a victory log of the little things you have accomplished.

<b>3.</b> Pay attention at meetings

It鈥檚 easy to let your mind wander at meetings and before you know it you鈥檒l find you鈥檙e wondering what to have for dinner that evening. But try to bring your attention back to the meeting 鈥� you鈥檒l only be able to contribute if you鈥檙e switched on and the more you contribute, the more positive you鈥檒l feel.

<b>4.</b> Be accountable

If someone phones you at work and asks a question, never answer with: 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 company policy.鈥� And never say: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a question for another department, I don鈥檛 deal with it.鈥� Instead, take responsibility and say you will find out the answer to the question or give full details 鈥� a name, not a department 鈥� about who can help. You鈥檒l feel good about having given someone a really good service.

<b>5.</b> Get off your bum

If you are making excuses to avoid doing something, whether it鈥檚 going to the gym or setting up a new scheme at work, ask yourself how important it really is to you. If it鈥檚 not important, drop the idea. If it is important, just get on with it.

Source

Housing Today