Baseline Studies

The purpose of a baseline study is to provide an information base against which to monitor and assess an activity's progress and effectiveness during implementation and after the activity is completed. 

Sometimes the data needed for a baseline, against which to measure the degree and quality of change during an activity's implementation, will already exist. In such cases, the only task is to collate the data and ensure that it can be updated in the longer term. 

So, it is important to find out what information is already available. But more commonly, there will not be any existing data, or it will be incomplete or of poor quality, or it will need to be supplemented or broken into categories that are relevant for the project being implemented. 

When planning a baseline study, the implementing organization needs to determine both - what change needs to be assessed and what sort of comparison(s) will need to be made as part of that assessment of change. There are two common ways to measure change:

• 'with and without' activity - this seeks to mimic the use of an experimental control, and compares the change in the activity location to change in a similar location where the activity has not been implemented; and
• 'before and after' activity - these measures change over time in the activity location alone.   

The study should be closely linked with the activity monitoring plan so that the data collected can be replicated if necessary during ongoing activity monitoring, for any mid-term review, when the activity is being assessed for the activity completion report and for any subsequent evaluations. Baseline data should provide the minimum information required to assess the quality of the activity implementation and measure the development results.

Source: UN Women.

Tak Padan dalam Sebarang Kelompok Sosial

Sometimes people will feel like one of the issues preventing them from finding some friends is that they do not fully fit into any one social group. Instead, they fall into an in-between zone where they are not that great of a match for anyone and they slip through the cracks. Some examples of this thinking are:

• I like sports and going out but I am hardly a complete jock, bro, frat boy type. I have never gotten along with people like that. On the other hand, I like role-playing video games and fantasy novels, but I cannot relate at all to the hardcore crowd that is super into that stuff. 
• I feel like I am too awkward and non-mainstream to hang out with regular kids but I am too socially adjusted and normal for the true misfit kids.
• I am pretty into music and concerts but not enough for those total hipsters who play in their own bands and spend every weekend hunting for obscure vinyl records. And I am a bit of a left-leaning, artsy person but I have hung around true granola crunching hippies and I do not have anything in common with them. 

When people have this problem they may have a sense that they do not have enough interest in the things that are the 'cornerstone' of fitting into a particular social group. Like someone may like sports just fine but not to the degree necessary to fit into a guy's guy crowd, the kind where everyone is constantly dissecting last night's game or wanting to go golfing. Or they may care about political issues, but their lives do not revolve around it, and they are not at home hanging around activist types. People can feel like they are being punished for being well rounded and not totally throwing themselves into any one pursuit.

Source: Succeed Socially

Cara Memperbaiki Kemahiran Berbahasa Inggeris

Cara untuk meningkatkan kemahiran bahasa Inggeris adalah dengan mengamalkannya. Caranya adalah dengan bercakap dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Mempelajari tatabahasa Inggeris atau mendengar sahaja orang bercakap bahasa Inggeris tidak akan membantu peningkatan kemahiran berbahasa Inggeris. 

Bagaimana pula sekiranya kita tidak mempunyai teman untuk berbual dalam bahasa Inggeris? Bagaimanakah kita dapat melatih diri berbahasa Inggeris? Video ini memberikan sedikit maklumat tentang teknik untuk melatih diri sendiri berbahasa Inggeris. Teman untuk berbual tidak diperlukan. Teknik ini dapat membantu kita dalam banyak aspek lisan bahasa Inggeris kita iaitu:

• struktur ayat
• tatabahasa
• kosa kata
• kebolehan untuk mengungkapkan pemikiran dengan lebih berkesan

Teknik tersebut adalah dengan melalui imitation atau meniru. Ia tidak bermaksud yang kita menggunakan perkataan yang sama dengan native speakers untuk memperbaiki sebutan bahasa Inggeris kita. Teknik ini lebih maju daripada itu. Kita perlu mendengar perbualan, cerita atau sebarang ucapan dan kemudian cuba olah kembali perbualan, cerita atau ucapan itu menggunakan ayat bahasa Inggeris kita sendiri. 

Easy-to-hard imitation

• start by imitating a small portion of speech like phrases and short sentences;
• imitate larger portions of speech like long sentences;
• try to deliver the entire speech on your own;

Faedah dari teknik ini adalah:

• kita dapat mendengar dan seterusnya meniru sebutan bahasa Inggeris yang betul;
• ia membantu kita mempelajari bentuk ayat dalam bahasa Inggeris dengan betul;
• kita dapat mempelajari idioms, ungkapan dan corak ucapan yang digunakan dalam perbualan harian;
• kita dapat mempelajari tatabahasa secara tidak langsung.

Apabila kita melakukan imitation terhadap gaya bahasa orang lain, kita juga mempelajari tatabahasa melalui proses yang dikenali sebagai implicit learning. Proses ini terjadi tanpa kita sedari. Beginilah cara kanak-kanak dan bayi mempelajari bahasa ibunda mereka. Apabila kita meniru, kita tidak akan berfikir mengenai tatabahasa. Kita tidak akan cuba untuk memahami kenapa present perfect tense digunakan dalam situasi ini atau situasi itu. Kita cuma akan memberi tumpuan kepada komunikasi, memahami buah fikiran dan mengungkapkan buah fikiran saja. Kita masih lagi mempelajari tatabahasa cuma kita tidak menyedarinya sahaja. (tutorial teknik imitation, click here)

 

Sumber video: saluran EngFluent sila klik di sini.

Sesame Street Simple - A.G. Lafley's Leadership Philosophy

Bob Sutton

I was lucky enough to be in the audience of recently when A.G. Lafley, Procter & Gamble's CEO, gave a lovely talk to a small group of executives. We have talked here about Level 5 leaders - he qualifies if anyone does. He is perhaps the most modest and selfless CEO of a Fortune firm I have encountered. I know A.G. slightly, as in 2000, when he first stepped in as CEO, I spent a few hours with his top team talking about the Knowing-Doing Gap.

One of the premises of that book is that a key to turning knowledge into action is that - although executives who talk about many ideas and complex ideas will be viewed as smarter - wiser and more effective executives pick just a few simple messages and repeat them over and over again until people throughout the organisation internals them and use them to guide action. 

Constantly changing messages lead to the "flavour of the month problem" where people do not act on the current message because they have learned that, if they wait a few months (or days) the message will change (managers in such organisations become very skilled as if they acting on the flavour of the month, but not actually doing the thing that senior executives are pushing at the moment). Making things overly complicated may make the senior seem smart and feel smart, but if a message is too complicated to understand, it also means that the implications for action for action are impossible to understand as well.

Expressing a simple message and repeating it over and over again is especially important when an organisation is large, as it is not possible for A.G. to have a meeting with all 130,000 or so people in one room. A.G's motto is that the principles used to run the firm need to be "Sesame Street Simple". I love that because it is so different than the kind of message you hear from management theorists or from CEOs who are obsessed with how smart they are - and how dumb everyone else is in compassion.

Here are a U.S. News and World Report article that describes A.G.'s style in more detail. For this post, here is the key paragraph:

Repeat after me. If that sounds simplistic, Lafley is the first to admit that it is. Yet in a company where more than half the employees do not speak English as their first language, he says his Sesame Street - simple slogans, repeated over and over, keep everyone trained on what is important. Human beings "do not want to stay focused. So my job is to get them to focus their creativity around the focus; focus their productivity around the focus; focus their efficiency or effectiveness around the focus".

As I compare A.G.'s approach to what is happening in financial meltdown, it strikes me that the crisis (and the apparent cure too) is brought to us by people who - at times - did such complicated things that no one, including themselves, understood what they were doing and what the implications might be. I am sure that some very smart economists or finance people believe that they understand all this, and I guess we have to trust some of them now to get us out of this despite their history of greed and arrogance. But this crisis has further convinced me that I prefer Sesame Street Simple to Wall Street Convoluted every time.

More to refer:

• Article above was reposted from - Bob Sutton's Sesame Street Simple: A.G. Lafley's Leadership Philosophy - Bob Sutton, Work Matters
• Leadership lessons from Sesame Street - HJnews
• Reaction to Bob Sutton's article, Do "Sesame Street simple" communication with a story - John M. Cadell
• When there is no simple solution at work, learn to embrace the mess - Robert I. Sutton

Eight ways to Talk to Difficult People

Kimberly Key
26 November 2014

Ninja-level people skills to help you maintain your cool with anyone.

I have an allergy to superiority.

Start talking down to me or patronising me in a belittling tone and I can feel my blood pressure rise. My nervous system gets triggered and I have to work hard at assuring it (me) that I am safe and to please calm down because I do not want to react and get defensive with person who is (or whom I feel is) demeaning me (and sometimes they are not).  

Getting defensive would only exacerbate the situation and I would lose a chance to learn something, my own sense of inner peace and self-confidence, or a valued relationship.

The perfect depiction of this situation is when Bruce Banner feels a threat and begins to transform into the Incredible Hulk. He leaves quite a mess behind and completely ruins his clothes, which I cannot afford to do. 

This post, then, is for anyone that has to deal with people who are difficult and who push our Hulk buttons. They key: do not let them win! Try these advanced people strategies instead. You could even call them ninja strategies, after the specially trained sneaky assassins. These skills are designed to help you shut down your trigger so that you can leave a confrontation with your dignity intact.

1. It is about them

The first and most important thing to know is that often when someone is lecturing you - giving unsolicited advice, blaming or attacking - they often are really talking about themselves. Before you react, imagine if what they said actually applies to them. You can even turn it around and ask them directly if they ever experienced what they are describing or felt the way they are suggesting you feel. 

2. Can you hear me?

Let's say you are dealing with someone who just cannot stop talking at you, and has a habit of interrupting you when you try to respond. You can hold up your hand with your index finger (not the middle one) or simply say, "I am not finished yet; one moment please". Or deepen your response and share, "I really had not finished when you interrupt and change the subject, I feel you are not interested in what I have to say". If they are just chomping at the bit, you can listen to them, but you could also share that while you really want to listen to what they are saying, you cannot focus and truly hear them until you can finish what you were saying.

3. Make yourself heard, without advice

Perhaps you actually do want to share with the person - but you do not want their advice. You can deter your frustration by telling them up front that you would like to share a story or experience without getting advice. Ask if they can just listen so you can get a few things off your chest. If the situation delves into an area where you think you will find disagreement from the other person, finish it with, "I am not asking you to agree with me, but can you understand where I am coming from?" If you actually want someone's advice, but also want to stake out the freedom to do what you want to do, without upsetting the other person or feeling obligated to them, be upfront about it "I would like your opinion, yet really want to discern what I want to do so, so will you give me advice even if I do not end up following it?"

4. Be a power listener

We have talked about a few things you can say, but the most essential ninja strategy is to listen. Really listen. Understand what a person is saying and what they appear to be feeling underneath the words. Then repeat it, so they know you really understand them. This single act of acknowledging what the other person says can reduce much of the friction in our communications. You do not have to agree with the person; good listening is not about agreeing, only understanding the other person's perspective. Ninja listening is about understanding another's perspective and then compassionately relaying what you have heard them say. When a person feels heard and understood, they can more fully hear you, and healthy bonding occurs. 

5. Let go of control

One of the most misunderstood dynamics in a relationship is the concept of control. Maybe it comes from too much exposure to sales techniques - manipulative communication tactics such as, "The first one to speak loses", are the enemies of successful trust-building. Deep down, people do feel manipulated by such approaches and can respond defensively or passive-aggressively. Drop the analyses and judgement, and just listen with an open mind and heart. 

When the other person is speaking, empty your mind of what you want to say and how you want to respond. Good listening and understanding cannot take place when your brain is assessing, controlling, strategising and thinking of your own response. When you miss the opportunity to connect, the other person can feel it - and then they may become more defensive and begin operating in a win-lose communication style because they feel they are "losing" by not being heard.  

6. Ninjas need boundaries, too

The world is filled with people that desperately want to be heard. There just are not enough good listeners. So, you may get bombarded with people who want to tell you their problems. This can be good when it is family members or close friends. 

For others, set some limits. Perhaps a co-worker wants to talk to you about their personal problems again but you do not really have the time or energy - plus you need to keep your focus on your work tasks. Simply respond by letting the person know that you would really like to hear more, but have to get back to work. You can also compassionately say, "It sounds like you have been through a lot of pain and hurt with that. I hope you can find somebody to talk to about these things".  

7. Lasting love is about compatibility

Our intimate relationships have an amazing ability to trigger our Hulk reactions - especially when we are mismatched. Two keys to a winning partnership are how the people in a couple communicate and how they make repairs after a disagreement. 

When couples can effectively incorporate ninja listening skills and truly understand and appreciate each other's viewpoints. They do not try to change each other and healthy bonding takes place. Even in disagreements, love and complete acceptance trumps disagreement and repairs can be made. 

The problem arises when the two are mismatched with major differences in views or values or one or both parties really want to change the other. Determine if you and your partner can have great conversations and listen to each other for hours. Look past the sexual chemistry and security needs and notice if there is a level of intolerance when they or you are talking, or if either of you secretly (or not so secretly) wish the other would change. 

8. Use your freedom of speech

Do not be afraid of your feelings or to speak your truth as it occurs. One reason people get emotionally hijacked and get aggravated is that they are afraid to feel their uncomfortable feelings. They want to get along with others, so they bottle up their feelings. Perhaps they do not share what movie they want to see, what food they want to eat or what they want to do and instead keep giving in to other person's desires.

What generally happens is that, like a ticking time bomb, all that built-up frustration comes out at once. Or someone deals with a person who constantly criticises them for a dozen little things like a dripping water faucet. If the recipient addresses the drips as they occur, but just muffles their anger, an explosive burst is eventually guaranteed. Voice your feelings before you can only do so in rage. Say:  

• "Sorry, I just really do not want to eat pizza again".
• "I am overloaded with work and can really use your help with the kids tonight".
• "I feel hurt when you point out my flaws. I personally beat myself up about these things more than you know. Can you try offering me a bit of kindness and support? I could really use that instead".

Life is a learning process. No one is perfect. Even the most skilled ninjas miss the mark at times. Do not beat yourself up about it. Just keep trying. It is a practice and an art. Many times it is about discovering our personal triggers and discreetly calming ourselves down before we react foolishly.

More to refer from:

• Eight ways to deal with difficult people - the Huffington Post 
• 10 keys to handling unreasonable and difficult people - Psychology Today
• 10 easy tips for dealing with difficult people - Lifehack  
• Seven ways to deal with difficult people - Everyday health
• Dealing with difficult people: 17 tips to keep you sane - WebMD
• Eight ways you can win when dealing with difficult people - Return Kings
• How to deal with difficult people - WikiHow
• Eight ways to communicate with difficult people - SandySpadaro
• Eight tips for dealing with difficult people - Forbes

Learn to let go

By Alice S. M. Lee

Getting rid of junk has a therapeutic effect. It creates more space in our homes and in our hearts, too.

By nature, many of us are hoarders. We tend to keep stuff that we no longer use, in case some day they come in handy. The result: we end up cluttering our homes. When we are unwilling to let go, the clutter around us weighs us down emotionally and physically. 

This year I decided to clear all the unwanted items in my cupboards. So, does this mean that, I now have more space?

No, not this time around. My resolution is: less for more. With less stuff I will have more space in my cupboards and I am going to leave it that way. 

Just looking at the empty space makes me feel lighter. Besides, it is time-consuming and laborious to get rid of unwanted stuff. 

Letting go isn't easy. Doing so doesn't mean that we are giving up.

Not wanting our belongings doesn't mean that we are preparing to die. It merely indicates that we are moving on to another phase of our life. Just like a child giving up his toys for books, CDs or sporting equipment. 

By giving away things that are no longer of use to us, we may be doing a good deed, too. Television sets are most welcome in old folks' homes, orphanages or any organisation for the less privileged. If you have one that is still functioning and you no longer need it, give it away and spread some joy to others instead of letting it gather dust in the storeroom. 

Memories hold treasures from the past. The pleasant ones are for us to cherish, while sad moments often bring tear to our eyes. Remembering them only makes us human, but dwelling too much on them may not be healthy. It is distressing that some old folk have a strong emotional attachment to their possessions, and cite sentimental reasons as an excuse not to let go.

I used to get a few ringgit in return for old newspapers and periodicals, which I sell to the lorry man who comes around the neighbourhood. 

Now I find it strange that he's paying me to cart away my junk. When I moved house last year, I was delighted to find that my new neighbourhood has a recycling centre, which collects recyclable items for charity. Now I my old newspapers to the centre as a way of donating to charity. By doing so, I have turned my clutter into "treasure", for a good cause.

I have also donated children's books, toys and reusable items to a nearby orphanage. I've sent loads of old clothing to the Red Crescent Society for distribution to flood victims and the less fortunate. 

Decluttering is therapeutic. By giving something away. we create more space for ourselves - in our homes and hearts. It is good to know that someone else can make use of something we no longer need. It gives us a chance to share and care for others. Instead of dragging ourselves down with the extra baggage, we can shed unnecessary weight.

Besides our homes, our lives need decluttering too. Positive thoughts and better communication with our family and friends will result in less stress and arguments, and gives us more peace of mind. 

Despite their advanced age, it's sad to see that some elderly folk just won't let go. They continue to harbour negative thoughts, grudges, hatred and resentment. 

Friends and family members who might have wronged them in the past have never been forgiven. Some remain prejudiced against their offspring who do not do well career-wise, or have brought shame to the family. 

It is sad that they have hung on to the past, with bitterness, cluttering their hearts and minds for decades. Learning to forgive and forget would help release us from such bondage. Unfortunately, because of pride, some find it difficult to do so, for doing so is akin to losing face or power. 

If only we could learn to accept, be willing to forgive and let go. It would be so much easier to shed our emotional baggage and move on with our lives.

Source: The Star Malaysia
Page: TI2
Section: Lifestyle
Date: 12 March 2007 (Monday)

Beri Taklimat Sebaik Mungkin

How annoying is this?

You ask someone to create a communication for you. They send it at the last minute; and it is not what you wanted. So, you have to re-write bits (which is often harder than doing it from scratch) with a very tight deadline (which is always just horrible). 

It is easy to think:

• They did this to annoy you, and that;
• It is 100% their fault

However, the answer for these are:

• But they did not, and
• It is not their fault.

Instead, it can often be because of the brief you gave them. So, brief them better by explaining:

• the benefits to them of creating the communication for you - to increase their buy-in, and help motivate them to do a great job
• what you want the communication's recipient to do as a result of receiving it - to help ensure everyone focuses on the #1 thing - its impact. It also helps keep it shorter. 
• what you want the communication to be like - 'inspiring', 'funny', 'robust' and etc - to guide on style and tone.
• the benefits to the recipient - to help create something persuasive.
• the recipient's concerns to ensure your colleague removes them.
• an overview of content to include and exclude - to give them the structure.
• the mechanism - a briefing paper, document, slide-set and others. 

You will notice there is minimal steer on actual content. That is because they can create that. After all, if you give them everything, it is not delegation but dictation. This style of briefing helps the recipient of your communication, your colleague and - of course - you ... not least because you get your evening back. 

Action point

Next time you brief someone, use the above - or similar - bullet points to guide them. It is worth spending an extra five minutes doing this; you will get your time back when they send the better first draft to you.  

Source: Brief people better, so you get the communications you want, first time by Andy Bounce