Speak First Blog
The impact of perfectionism on wellbeing
When did you last hear an interviewee say, “I’m a perfectionist” in response to the question “What's your greatest weakness?” Many people use the term perfectionism to imply something positive and ...
Read moreThe top 10 things we learnt at our 'happy workplace' event
On 10th October, we ran our learning bite event ‘Happy Workplace: A Holistic Approach to Achieving Mental Wellbeing’ to mark World Mental Health Day and to kick off our own campaign, looking at ...
Stress: is it always a bad thing?
Are you stressed out? Have you noticed that people usually mention about stress as a passive term nowadays? For example, we may say, “I’m so stressed” or “I’m stressed out about all the work I have ...
9 steps to avoiding death by powerpoint
Since its release all the way back in 1987, PowerPoint has transformed and defined how we give presentations. If you’ve been asked to give a report in a meeting, a speech at a conference or a pitch ...
A conversation with... Ester UYS, CEO of The Cape Flats Youth Development Programme
Ester Uys has spent many years as a social worker, working with some of the most at-risk children in Cape Town Flats in South Africa. In January 2017, she established the Cape Flats Youth Development ...
6 Steps to building your self-confidence
Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States, once said that “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” and she was right, in theory. With enough practice, you can be ...
What our Animals mean
If you’ve spent any amount of time on our website, you’ll be aware of Speak First’s Animal Quiz. In short, the test asks you to select a number of words or phrases that match how you tend to act and ...
5 tips for networking with purpose at your next event
Networking events come in all shapes and sizes. There are casual evenings with drinks and there are formal meals; breakfasts, lunches and dinners; art galleries, conference halls and cocktail bars. ...
How to deliver bad news
In life and in business, at some point you will have to deliver bad news to someone. Perhaps you’re announcing lay-offs, you’ve lost a major client, or the office has to move. Sometimes the news ...
Using different styles of training for different audiences
Workplace learning has an interesting role to fill. Its purpose is to educate and help people with their personal development, but in large organisations one course or learning solution often needs ...