Part 1 of our Aged Care Quality Standards series

As of July 1st 2019, the new Aged Care Quality Standards will be in place across Australia. The standards will apply to all aged care services, including residential care, home care, flexible care and services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program. Now is the time to familiarise yourself with them.  

In order to meet the standards, staff must be well-equipped and feel confident in delivering the best possible care. To support this, Go1 has partnered with Australian training provider Aged Care Learning Solutions to bring you all the online training courses you need to be ACQS compliant.

We will also be looking at the requirements listed under each of the quality standards, exploring how aged care providers can go above and beyond to deliver the highest quality care. 

We begin with Standard 1, which looks at consumer dignity and choice.  This serves as a foundation for each of the standards regarding the consumer’s right to decision-making and choice.

Requirement 3c under Standard 1 is concerned with supporting consumers to maintain their independence. When those in aged care have agency, they are far more likely to remain both physically and mentally healthy.  

Although the extent to which an individual can maintain independence will depend on the level of care they need, independence, where possible, can make a huge difference to an individual’s sense of self-worth and mental wellbeing. 

Below is our list of top tips for aged care providers to use and to generate conversation around the topic. The advice we share is to be implemented at the discretion of those responsible for the quality of aged care provision. Staff wishing to implement changes should do so in consultation with colleagues and line managers. 

Top tips for supporting consumers’ independence 

 People who require the support of an aged care provider have wide-ranging needs.  Some individuals need round-the-clock care, while others are more independent and able to complete daily routines without assistance. It is very important to adjust conversation, tone and care services to suit the needs of different consumers. 

Where possible, ask consumers what they would like assistance with, rather than assuming what would be best. Providing unnecessary assistance can be demoralising and knock confidence. On the other hand, sometimes consumers will under-estimate how much support they need, so it is important to use your professional judgment.

Although the type and level of communication possible will depend on the needs of individual consumers, it is important to consider carefully how staff are speaking with individuals in their care.  Is the language pitched at an appropriate level for the consumer? How is information recorded to ensure different staff members are aware of an individual’s communication needs? Where language is a barrier to understanding, are other methods of communication used, such as non-verbal cues and gestures? 

3. Include family, friends and the wider community

Where possible, encourage consumers to maintain contact independently with their wider communities. This may include family, friends or anybody in their support networks. If an individual in your care stays in touch with others of their own accord, this will increase their sense of independence and connection to the outside world. 

Equally, if you are finding it difficult to communicate with a person you are caring for (and there are no medical reasons for this), a family member or friend might understand how to communicate with them better. The individual in your care might also be more receptive to communicating with somebody familiar. 

4. Focus on what consumers are able to do

 When encouraging consumers to be independent, it is vital to ensure that they continue doing activities they are able to do, and for this to be the focus.  It is also important to think about how to best support individuals to continue with daily routines and tasks by themselves for as long as possible. 

The Japanese village of Okinawa has the highest number of recorded centenarians in the world, and members of its community put this down to being able to maintain what is called their Ikigai, or reason for being.  This could be something as simple as growing vegetables in a garden to share with others, or taking part in a community association. If an individual has a sense of purpose, they are far more likely to be happy and healthy.

Speak to the individuals in your care and find out what they are good at or what kinds of activities they enjoy doing most.  If it is possible for them to contribute this skill to their community in a positive way, this will create a greater sense of belonging and help them to maintain their independence.

To learn more about Standard 1, Aged Care Learning Solutions has a video guide to help you.

If you have a Go1 Premium portal, log in to view. Here, you will also find learning resources related to Standard 1. 

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How to support consumers with maintaining their independence under the new ACQS 

What we know - learner engagement is integral to your training program and you want more users interacting with your Go1 learning program. So, today we are introducing the new Explore Dashboard to boost user engagement and streamline content discovery on the platform. 

The Explore Dashboard was released to Early Access a few months ago, and now it is generally available to all Premium users. 

With this release you can personalise your content recommendations via the new Explore Dashboard, to help you more easily discover the right content for your team. 

Simply add or update your teams and topics portal information and Go1's content suggestions model, will showcase the courses that are best for your learners. Our model analyses the content enrolment trends of customers in the same industry and location as your organisation to then present tailored suggestions. Also you will see two additional content blocks on this page highlighting new content on the portal and trending content on the portal. Learn about the feature here.  

Explore Dashboard is available to all customers with Premium subscribed content enabled on their portal as determined by your Portal settings < Content Selection. If your organisation doesn't have that Premium content enabled, users will be taken to the search results page when they select Explore from the top navigation bar. 

To personalise the content recommendations for your portal, head to Portal Settings < Recommendations and select Improve Your Recommendations. 

To access the search results page(formerly Explore Page) begin your search in the search bar provided. 

The Explore Dashboard is available to all users on your platform, the topics of interest are only available for Admins to update in Portal Setting.  

The team has re-instated some previous functionality. Now when a user starts searching for content they will see a list of suggested content items drop down based on the keywords in the search. All suggestions will also identify the content item type: eg course, video, award. 

It's inevitable that user details may need updating if they have been entered incorrectly on set-up, or simply changed over time.

 We've updated the Administer role permissions, so it is more convenient for you to self-manage your user-base with the ability to edit the email address and name fields for learners from the Edit User pop-up. 

Note:  You can only change the email address of a user if its associated with your company domain and you need to be the Administrator across all portals they access to do that.

This update applies to Admins, who can also elect for Content Managers to have the same permissions. Read the how to docs here. 

Check-out our What's new Guide to read about more updates!

 Explore has evolved: read about the latest release!

People who work in offices may be feeling a bit lonely these days. That’s because the number of people opting to work remotely is increasing. According to a report published by Flexjobs, 43% of workers in the United States work remotely at just part of the time. If your company outsources work to offshore companies, or simply has a global presence, you know that number increases significantly.

There are plenty of benefits to remote working. Businesses can source talent from all over the world. People who are able to work remotely are often more content and productive. There are even environmental benefits. Several companies including Dell and Xerox report a smaller carbon footprint thanks to telecommuting. 

There are also undeniable challenges. When a business has a distributed workforce, how do they maintain the level of cooperation, collaboration, and communication they need? How do they contend with different cultures? Even time zones can be an issue.

Centralization and continuity are key to success. By having apps and other tools in common, remote teams can establish the cohesive relationships they need. Here, we’ll go over the importance of these, common concerns, and some tools to help.

Ensuring that communication contributes to success

MaryAnne Ilfrey is a large projects coordinator for TopWritersReview. She heads up teams of writers and editors distributed across the globe. She says, “At the start of every major product we emphasize the importance of regular communication. This has been key in our ability to successfully close out important projects for our clients smoothly and efficiently. Keeping everyone on the same page ensures fewer misunderstandings.”

Cultural understanding is important when projects involve workers from multiple places

 Teams are now more culturally diverse than ever. Because remote work brings people together from all over the world, people working together on the same project may come from starkly different backgrounds. While ethnic, religious, and other forms of diversity are wonderful, success depends on Cultural literacy and understanding.

All of the above is true for people who work in offices together. With remote teams, it’s even more so. That’s why respect and understanding are so important. Cultural differences, without understanding, can lead to issues with communication and friction between team members.

Some managers admit, for example, that Americans tend to be a bit bold. They believe in being direct and putting conflicts out on the table to be worked through and solved. That can be a problem if they are working with people from a culture that values the concept of saving face, or that takes a more subtle approach to conflict.

There are several things that managers can do to help. The first is to encourage people to come to them with questions and concerns, then be able to address those concerns with knowledge and sensitivity. Another is to encourage friendly relationships among team members. Cultural misunderstandings happen, but when the people involved have an underlying trust and respect for one another.

Communicate more often than you think you need

I don’t need to get into a lot of detail.

We can cover these points later if we need to.

There are plenty of excuses to delay or skip communicating with others. The problem with this is that with distributed teams, often working across time zones, communication is already a challenge. It’s always better to err on the side of communication overkill than not. Think of it like this, whatever it is you are working on, somebody in an entirely different region may have to pick that up and run with it. 

Enabling teams to collaborate regardless of location

What is the biggest difficulty teams face when multiple people, in multiple locations must work cooperatively on the same parts of a project? When people work hard on something, they take ownership of that. When others make changes, they get territorial. Keeping change logs that focus on the benefits to the client and the project as a whole helps track changes. 

Team building can be a challenge when team members are scattered across the globe. There are no weekly happy hours. It’s virtually impossible to plan any sort of get together either. What teams can do is find ways to connect without meeting face to face. For example, you can have meetings twice each quarter via Skype that all of your associates and freelancers are invited to attend. It’s a bit of a get to know you session. Yes, it’s a bit corny at first, but once everyone loosens up a bit, it really turns into a positive thing.

Conclusion: tools to make remote teams more successful

Helping remote teams collaborate successfully is a real challenge. To succeed, you need great management, understanding, and people who are willing to work together. Fortunately, there are some tools that can help.

Slack is a communication app that makes it easy for remote team members to communicate with one another individually or in groups. This is a great alternative for keeping team members who don’t work in the same place engaged with one another.

Skype may not be the most exciting tool. However, it is effective and familiar, and in a remote work situation, that can be ideal. When a team needs to get together, video conferencing is often the best way to go. With Skype, most people understand how to use it. There’s no learning curve involved, so most users can just jump in.

 Google Drive a simple and easy means for remote team members to access shared documents, make edits and suggestions, and to share their documents as well.

Christopher Mercer is a blogger and freelancer. Web developer by day and writer by night, Chris enjoys the ever-changing world of web content. His in-depth articles have been featured in a variety of online publications. You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn. 

Centralizing collaboration in remote workers 

Go1 is pleased to announce our latest content partnership with global e-learning specialist eCreators.

Headquartered in Melbourne with a presence in Singapore and the US, eCreators is a certified Moodle partner and specialises in bespoke Learning Management Systems, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, and training-related content. 

The partnership means all eCreators customers will have access to Go1’s content library directly from their Moodle and Learnbook LMS. 

Both eCreators and Go1 have jointly developed a new Moodle plugin applicable to Moodle 3.1 and above. 

Go1 offers a wide range of training courses aimed at helping people equip themselves with new skills and knowledge that either help advance their careers or enhance their current skillset. 

Examples include business-related courses in leadership and communications, training basics for the aged care industry, first aid programs, social media marketing and even anger management. 

eCreators CEO and founder Dean Saunders said: 

“We see Go1 at the forefront of commericalisation when it comes to content libraries. Their collection of online content on a broad and diverse range of topics, subjects and courses is unique to any other offering currently available to our diverse range of customers across the world." 

“It meets the current and future needs of our customer base by providing them with a curated library of content to empower any workforce."

“Go1’s commitment to ensuring customer success is one of the main reasons we were drawn to their offering.” 

Go1 Chief Information Officer Thomas Wythe said: 

“Both organisations share a common mission to provide people with the best experience and results when it comes to upgrading their skills and knowledge." 

“I’m thrilled to welcome eCreators and its customers to Go1 and we’re looking forward to ensuring our content helps as many people as possible achieve their career goals.”

eCreators was established in 2007 and has a dedicated global team with a passion for online education and all forms of learning technology. When you work with eCreators, they become an extended part of your team to produce measurable learning outcomes structured around achieving your organisational goals through detailed design thinking.

They’re experts in Instructional Design, Learning Management Systems (LMS) and bespoke content development using software such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, HTML-5, Augmented Reality and VR. They set the standard for Ed-tech innovation and boast clients such as Weight Watchers, Electronic Arts, Vic Roads and Northrop Grumman.

eCreators work heavily in the corporate and social enterprise space supporting additional clients such as The Smith Family, Wellways and GenU.

eCreators are a Certified Moodle Partner in Australia and Singapore and creator of the extended Learnbook experience for LMS in use by hundreds of global organisations.

Over the years, they have provided the platforms and the content that has shaped the way organisations learn. Their tagline, Love the Way You Learn, is all about that: making memorable, enjoyable and effective learning experiences.

Go1 makes it easy for businesses to train their staff, with the world’s largest compliance, professional development and general training marketplace. By providing a single platform that extends from first aid training through to degree bearing courses, Go1 makes it easy to find and compare the best training options available. The marketplace features over 500,000 courses and other learning items created by local and international experts. Customers include SEEK.com.au, Oxford University, State and Local Governments and St John Ambulance. 

Since launching in 2015, Go1 has grown to be a world leader in online learning and education. Local and overseas investors include Y Combinator, SEEK, M12, Tank Stream Ventures, Black Sheep Capital, and Our Innovation Fund.

True

Go1 announces new partnership with eCreators

As of July 1st 2019, the new Aged Care Quality Standards will be in place. The Aged Care Quality Standards will apply to all aged care services including residential care, home care, flexible care and services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program. 

With eight new standards, a stronger consumer focus and clearly articulated care and service expectations, now is the time to familiarise and educate yourself with the new standards. To help you prepare and meet the new standards, Go1 has partnered with Australian training provider Aged Care Learning Solutions (ACLS) to bring you all the online training courses you need to be ACQS compliant. 

To help you prepare for the new standards, ACLS has created the "About Me" series, which contains nine highly engaging 10-15 minute videos introducing the new standards from the consumer perspective. 

The first free introductory video introduces your workforce to the concept of the consumer being at the centre of the new standards. The learner will gain a practical understanding of the Aged Care Quality Standards with scenarios that facilitate the application of their learning. 

You can watch the first video of the ACLS "About Me" series right here:

ACLS | Standards Introduction

Don’t be caught out when the assessment and monitoring against the standards takes effect. Stay tuned on the Go1 blog each week to see our next installments of the "About Me" series, as well as more information around each individual standard. We are ready, are you? 

Are you ready for the new Aged Care Quality Standards? An introduction to our Aged Care Quality Standards series

New Aged Care Quality Standards at a glance for your workforce

Yes, customer service is crucial and yes, customers do come first. But how do you actually train your teams to provide quality customer service?

This week we are focusing on two courses from our expert providers to give you tools and strategies to create an effective customer service strategy for your organisation. 

Course: Introduction to Quality Customer Service

This course underlines how, irrespective of what industry you are in or what function your team performs, you are in the business of providing a service and this means learning to go above and beyond the call of duty as a matter of course.

They are an Australian-based provider at the forefront of the self-paced learning industry. Since helping pioneer computer-based training more than 30 years ago, Interaction Training has been committed to adopting the latest technologies that have the capability of accelerating the effectiveness of corporate learning. Through their partnership with Go1, more than 80 of Interaction Training’s courses are available to all our users. Their content covers a range of business, compliance, and personal development topics. 

Course: Create a Culture of Great Customer Service

Learn how to get you and your team living and breathing customer service. Without a culture of service within your organisation, good customer service simply will not thrive. Learn how to ingrain the right ideals into your company culture to ensure that they’re heeded each day by all of your team members. 

This course will help you identify the key aspects of optimal customer service so you can teach it and instil it in your teams.

Developing a culture of service toward both your staff and customers.

Creating a mission, core values and vision statement that reflect your commitment to great customer service.

Empowering yourself and your team members to make a positive impact on customers with every action.

Learning about the smallest and easiest things you can do to make a big impact on your customers and clients.

Overcoming fears of interacting with strangers by learning the tools and tricks to good interactions.

Creative Live are a new addition to Go1 Premium and have a breadth of content topics available! They specialise in business and creativity skills, and broadcast live classes to an international audience. They have over 1720 courses joining the Go1 Premium library, and are known for their engaging, high-quality courses. Their courses cover a huge range of topics, and help develop people into more creative, communicative and resilient humans – at work and in life.

 Try out the interaction Training and Creative Live courses and let us know what you think!

From the Search Results page -> use the provider filter to find these providers!

Want more details about customer service?

It's customer service training month at Go1. 

Course of the week: train your team on customer service skills 

Check out Go1 Premium Playlist: June 17th

Check out Go1's latest updates for Go1 global customers. 

Go1 welcomes Charles Bloe (Healthcare - UK focused)

Charles Bloe Training are training experts in: ECG Vaccination, Immunisation, Complex Care, Clinical Skills, Mandatory Training. 

The company's founder has a wealth of experience – both in the NHS and in training development and delivery. He continues to work as a Clinical Manager in NHS Highland (coronary care) and adopts a hands-on approach within the company, personally delivering numerous training courses every year.

Vaccination Programme (with anaphylaxis and basic life support): The learner will gain the theoretical skills and knowledge required to safely administer a vaccine and recognise life threatening complications associated with vaccination.

Influenza: The learner will gain the theoretical skills and knowledge required to recognise the signs and symptoms of Influenza and understand the basis of seasonal vaccination.

Anaphylaxis and Basic Life Support + Basic Life Support (Adult and Paediatric): These courses will provide an overview of anaphylaxis; its causes, symptoms and treatment. It will then describe how to perform adult and paediatric basic life support. The content is based on current guidelines from the Resuscitation Council (UK).

Target Audience : Nurses, Pharmacists, Healthcare professionals that vaccinate.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): The learner will gain the theoretical skills and knowledge required to recognise the signs and symptoms of Influenza and understand the basis of seasonal vaccination.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Interpretation: At the end of this course learners will understand the mechanisms of acid base balance and have a reliable process for interpreting ABG's.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Embolic Stroke Prevention 

The 12-lead ECG in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) - Diagnosis and Management

Go1 welcomes Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Disability sector learning)

Cerebral Palsy Alliance is a registered training organisation (RTO) committed to providing high quality, evidence based training for individuals and organisations in the disability and community sector. 

Via Go1, you can access 14 specialist courses that relate to managing different pars of disability services in an organisation: 

 Disability Aware: An awareness and inclusion program

Disability Aware is an engaging, interactive and extremely informative online course, packed with highly-relevant, up-to-the-minute information specifically developed by disability professionals. The program covers a wide range of essential topics designed to build skills, understanding, and confidence with the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Nutrition care process for dietitians working in disability

The learning in the course includes:  Nutrition and disability, including nutrition risks and the nutrition care process that may differ when working with a person with disability

This course covers a range of information about the aspects of diversity and will enable participants to reflect on own perspectives to diversity and develop an appreciation of diversity, inclusiveness and their benefits.

This online theory course provides learners with the essential knowledge required to safely and effectively assist clients with medications and manage medication contingencies in the workplace.

As well as courses including: responding to suspected abuse, good working relations, infection, prevention and control.

Go1 welcomes Bullyology (Workplace management)

Bullyology® works with change makers in leadership, to empower their organisation to break the silence of bullying. 

Bullyology® is a professional anti-bullying methodology derived from personal experiences and meticulous research, dedicated to breaking the silence on bullying while striving to promote healthy relationships in workplaces. 

Managing Workplace Bullying - Managers & Supervisors

This  is a comprehensive course designed to give managers the skills, strategies and information they need to prevent bullying in work environments, understand its causes and effects, and efficiently deal with it when it occurs.

Divided into 5 parts, this course will help managers & Supervisors:  

Understand the definitions of workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination and also recognise what does not constitute bullying in the workplace.

Be familiar with the two main types of typical bullying behaviours: direct (personal attacks) and indirect (task-related behaviours). 

Recognise the types of high-risk leadership, management and communication styles that might lead to an increase in workplace bullying.

Respond to employee bullying/harassment complaints quickly, assertively, and with an appropriate level of support.

Go1 welcomes Bloom Learning (New Zealand workplace management)

Learners will be able to engage in business with New Zealanders successfully, supported by a broad understanding of its social and cultural norms.

This course is ideal for new migrants or visitors to New Zealand who are interested in doing business in the country.

This course gives learners a thorough understanding of the employment process in New Zealand and provides opportunities for them to practice and develop model answers.

This week, we welcome some exciting new providers in the healthcare, disability, and workplace management sectors!

This partnership will see Go1's customer base now able to access Kognent's Chain of Responsibility training.

The reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Legislation (HVNL) and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) are now in effect, and Kognent has a range of courses to meet compliance in HVNL. 

Under this new legislation, all parties have a primary duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the safety for their transport related activities. The aim of CoR is to make sure everyone in the supply chain shares responsibility for ensuring breaches of the HVNL do not occur. This means that if you are named as a party in the chain and you exercise or have the capability of exercising control or influence over any transport task, you have a responsibility to ensure the HVNL is complied with. Take the next step and enrol in Kognent's training on Go1 today!

Via Go1, Kognent has Chain of Responsibility (CoR) training  for every aspect of a business.

The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) requires individuals to understand their unique responsibilities under CoR laws. Unlike other CoR training, Kognent's Role-Specific CoR courses are separated and designed specifically for each role named under the Chain of Responsibility.

Go1 has 11 Role-Specific Courses available in Global Premium. From Packers to Employers, Kognent offers individual online Chain of Responsibility training courses for each role.

Introductory Courses: to the concepts of CoR and why road safety responsibilities have expanded to off-road parties.

Through these courses you can understand the purpose of the Chain of Responsibility and the core principles of the Chain of Responsibility.

Managerial Courses: To educate staff on CoR legislation, their responsibilities, and safety systems required by law.

These courses are for Operators, Employers, Executive Officers, Loading Managers, Prime Contractors, Schedulers

Frontline-staff courses: These courses help train staff on their individual responsibilities under the HVNL.

These courses are for Drivers, Packers, Consignees, Consignors, Loaders/Unloaders

Go1 is very excited to be working closely with Kognent and building a great relationship. 

Contact Go1 if you have any questions, or want to access Kognent's Chain of Responsibility content via a Go1 Premium subscription.

Kognent's Chain of Responsibility Learning Solutions are now available in association with Go1.

We have all been there - a deadline for a long report or project is looming. Although you have known about it for months and have a week left to complete it, somehow any distraction seems preferable to making a start.  The sheer scale of the task at hand is overwhelming, and the thought of working on it induces panic. 

Procrastination, when left unchecked, can become a chronic problem. When we don’t feel like completing a task in the moment, we are unable to see the impact of avoiding it long term, or how failing to do the work will stop us from reaching our goals. This can create a negative downward spiral, which becomes difficult to get out of and reset.  

While delaying work is seen as a net negative, historically, the ancient Romans and Greeks valued thinking over doing. When looking at procrastination from this perspective, it could be viewed as an opportunity for a big idea to come to the fore. Yet, for those focused on a productive working life in the modern world, it is definitely seen as the enemy.  

So, where does procrastination come from?  And how can we learn to recognise and manage it?  

Human beings have a long evolutionary history of procrastination, and the proliferation of technology in our world today has made overcoming it all the more difficult. 

Initially thought to stem from a lack of self-control, latest research reveals that procrastination it is more an issue of emotional regulation. In other words, we hesitate to avoid negative feelings associated with a task, such as fear, and opt instead for the momentary relief other activities can offer.

On the flip side of this, Wait But Why author, Tim Urban, explains that while some people claim to be procrastinators and others do not, those who claim to never procrastinate simply have a better control over their impulses.  A key factor in the process is what he calls the ‘instant gratification monkey’, who is secretly trying to sabotage all of us when we need to be getting on with something important, but perhaps a little scary.  Of course, there are many things we would much rather be doing than work, and our brains are very good at tempting us into doing these first,  like catching up on Instagram or grabbing a coffee.  

Another piece of the procrastination puzzle is motivation.  Not every activity or task we do is naturally enjoyable or rewarding, and whether or not a task is enjoyable will depend on individual preferences. When we are intrinsically motivated to complete a task, we want to do the work because we naturally enjoy it or find it satisfying.  

When a task does not motivate you in this way, it can be helpful to find a way to extrinsically motivate yourself to do it.  This simply means building in a reward for completing the task, or a section of it. The reward then becomes the motivation, and you have created your own incentive for getting the work done. 

Cast your mind back to the school classroom, and you will likely remember many ways you were extrinsically motivated by your teacher to do things you didn’t enjoy much.  Stickers, prizes, praise - you name it. Your teacher would have tried everything.  As human beings, we are hard-wired to seek out rewards and can use this psychology to our advantage. 

If procrastination is impacting negatively on your life, we have a few simple tricks to help you get around it. The goal is to trick your brain into getting some momentum without the psychological battle. Remember, starting the task is usually the biggest hurdle.  Once you are over this, you may well find that the work is not quite as challenging as it originally seemed. 

Getting started: Making a start on a task, however small, is always beneficial.  This will begin a positive feedback loop in your brain, and give you the all-important momentum you need to see the work to its completion. As with exercise, putting your runners on is usually the hardest part of the workout!


The ‘Pomodoro Technique’: This is a time management trick developed by Francesco Cirilllo in the late 1980s. The idea is to tackle a piece of work you need to get done in 25 minute intervals, followed by a short break.  Why does it work?  This comes back to our reward systems.  If we promise ourselves a reward at the end of completing a section of work, we are extrinsically motivated to complete the task.  This can be very helpful for getting started, particularly with tasks you are not intrinsically motivated to do.


Break the work down: Thinking about the enormity of a task before starting it can also trigger procrastination and anxiety. A great way around this is to think about how you could break the task down into smaller chunks.  For example, if you have to write a report, aim to write the first 100 words, and then have a short break.  It might also be helpful to plan out the task first, with headings and bullet points to guide you through each step. 


Take breaks regularly: This is a must for beating procrastination.  Going for a quick walk or a coffee when your attention begins to wane can re-energise you to continue. While it may seem as though you’re wasting time, you will come back to your desk more focused, and less likely to be tempted by other activities.


Switch up your tasks: If you find that your productivity on a task has reduced (or you find yourself meandering to other, less productive tabs open on your laptop!), switching to a different task can help to keep your mind fresh and improve concentration levels.  You might only need to break from your original task for 15 minutes or so, and find that you come back to it rejuvenated and ready to complete the next goal you have set yourself. 

The ultimate guide to beating procrastination

It's customer service training month at Go1. This month, we're focusing on all things customer service training - so keep an eye on the blog over the next few weeks to read more about Go1’s relevant training content!

FISH! content takes a unique approach to its eLearning content, by teaching its philosophy with energy, passion and hint of FISH! fun.

FISH! is known for their philosophy, to improve organisational culture through four key elements. Filmmaker John Christensen was in Seattle when he discovered a business that pulsed with enthusiasm and commitment. It was the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market, where large crowds come to watch the fishmongers work—and buy lots of fish. 

“Every company could benefit from that kind of passion,” John thought. So he made a film about the fishmongers. It’s called FISH! and it explores four simple practices anyone can use to be successful. These practices, known as The FISH! Philosophy, are the foundation of our training solutions. Read more here. 

Go1 has FISH! on board as a Go1 Premium content partner, with three courses available in your subscription. The courses are about customer service - fitting for this month's focus. 

In Go1 Premium, you can find a US and AU version of the course: Improve your Customer Service Culture with FISH! This course will take approximately 60 minutes to complete and will include video, situational activities, workplace and personal assessments, and action planning. 

Use this course to solve the problem of uninspired and robotic customer service within your team. Great customer service is more than a “technique.” It comes from the heart. FISH! content puts forward tools for your staff, so they can develop a new mindset to see opportunities to make the customer’s day that they have never seen before.

There are four modules in the course and at the end of the course you will have generated your personalised action plan:

Learn how to be there when people need you - this is the first element of the philosophy. No one wants to work in a place where everyone is out for themselves. Be There starts with being present—emotionally and physically—for the people who need you.

Turn routine interactions into Make Their Day moments - You can’t always fall back on money to make the day of your employees. But you can let them know how much you value them. Simple gestures go a long way.

Be accountable for your attitudes - You can’t control everything life throws in your path. But you do get to choose how you deal with it.

Increase enjoyment and creativity: It’s important for everyone on the team to be clear about what the team is trying to achieve. Once you know what your “playing field” is, give people freedom to play within those boundaries in a way that boosts energy and enthusiasm.

Try out FISH! training and let us know what you think!

From the Search Results page -> use the provider filter to find FISH! Philosophy courses

Want to access FISH! courses but don't have Go1 Premium? Enquire here!

The spotlight this week is on Go1's customer service training provider: Fish! 

June customer service: spotlight provider 