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The 2023 general elections are scheduled to commence with the Presidential and National Assembly polls on February 25 just three days away.

Here are some general do’s and don’ts for elections:

Voters are to ensure that they know their polling units, visit cvr.inecnigeria.org/vvs to confirm the location of your polling unit and check the Register of Voters that will be released by the commission to confirm that their name is on the Register, as INEC stated that no voter would be allowed to cast their vote in any polling unit other than the one where they are registered or assigned.

Prohibition of telephones and other electronic devices.
According to INEC, voters may come to the polling unit with telephones and other electronic devices. However, phones are not allowed in the voting cubicles, nor can they be used for taking pictures of other voters while voting.

Voters are also disallowed from making any mark on the ballot paper for any form of identification. According to INEC, if any voter does so, such ballot papers will be rejected.
While we might not fully trust the process, trying to mark your ballot so you can recognize it causes more harm than good.

Good luck and be safe out there.

Communication in the workplace isn’t just about how well you work with others. It’s about building relationships, minimizing errors, and most importantly, working as productively as possible.

Encouraging good communication habits throughout the workplace can be one of the most crucial things you do as a leader. Because the numbers don’t lie.

In a survey of 400 corporations, it was found that communication barriers cost an estimated $37 billion per year in lost productivity.

So, what effective communication skills can you install in your workplace, and how do you do it?

1. Use regular meetings to listen to your team

It sounds simple, but it’s often not practiced enough. Listening to others is arguably the most important communication skill you can have. If you find you’ve got the tendency to talk over others, then try to be more patient. You will get the opportunity to make your point when they’re finished—especially if you’re the boss.

When employees feel like they’re being listened to, they feel more valued and appreciated and this creates a more collaborative culture. It also gives you the chance to understand issues or concerns about a task from an employee’s perspective. This can improve employee engagement.

2. Keep communications brief and clear

Speak to any successful business manager and they’ll all mention that time is their most important asset. When discussions are dragged out, not only can this dilute the importance of the message, but it can also over-complicate it. Keep your communication brief and to the point.

3. Re-state and clarify important information

Don’t presume the other person understands what you’re saying. Similarly, don’t be afraid to speak up if you need clarity on something. Asking questions can help you to gain a better understanding of certain situations, and you should always be encouraging your employees to ask you if they’re unsure.

Not only can this improve relations with employees, but it can also help to minimize errors. Sometimes a simple question to double-check can save mistakes from happening.

4. Understand and hone your communication style

In order to give them the best service possible, you need to refine your communication style. Perhaps you like to schedule a call and then follow up with some meeting notes. On the other hand, maybe you prefer to video call and catch up with a phone call later on down the line. Either way, you need to make an effort to establish a routine, so your colleagues and clients know what to expect.

This also refers to the frequency of communication. If you respond a minute after your client contacts you, then they’re going to become accustomed to that high level of communication, which you may not always be able to deliver.

5. Stay open-minded

Open-mindedness is another good communication skill to have. It allows you to enter a conversation free of judgment or preconceived ideas, giving the person speaking the confidence to explain new ideas that could potentially benefit the business.

If you’re quick to shut things down, then employees will be less inclined to tell you their ideas. Your conversations will be less honest, and less productive because of this. By keeping an open mind you’re willing to enter into a dialogue with someone whose opinion you may not agree with, and you may surprise yourself by the end of it.

Let’s get you and your team communicating like pros today, contact us at info@primekbsinstitute.org or call +234 (0) 803 308 2815, +234 9169413405, +234 9131953169

Personal growth and development is the journey of a lifetime, meaning, you should strive to grow every day forever to become a better version of yourself. Self-improvement is not just about becoming more successful. It is about learning new skills, developing the ability to manage time and money better, going out of your comfort zone to learn something new, and also about achieving work-life balance. The objective is to become better professionally, physically, morally, and intellectually.

The best investment is in yourself. This will eventually make you happier. But don’t forget to practice self-care to ensure that you remain healthy to enjoy the fruits of your success.

Here are 5 ways to achieve personal development –

1. Set Goals

Goals are important because they give life direction. Set specific life goals because this will help you keep the focus on what you really want to achieve. Write them down, so you can take a look from time to time. This will help you develop the skills so that you can move towards the right direction. Not just one, you can write down several good personal goals. Also, write down the action plans to achieve these goals.

2. Keep a Journal

There are many reasons for maintaining a journal. It improves your communication and writing skills, strengthens your memory, and also helps you track your progress and growth. Write down whatever comes to your mind – it will also be an outlet for your anxiety and stress. You don’t have to share it with anyone – make this your personal space. Best, you write the journal daily. If you don’t have the time, then at least, write per week.

3. Develop Your Skills

The Covid pandemic made many of us work from home, which saved us many hours of travel time. But how many of us were able to invest this time to learn something new? Most of us need to upskill. Find opportunities to learn something new and become better. You can sign up for a class or look for online courses that will give you a new skill or help you improve your existing skills. This will surely help you in your professional life. There are plenty of development opportunities all around us. For example, you can learn how to write better or learn another language. It depends on what you want to achieve.

4. Utilize Available Training

You don’t always have to spend money to achieve personal growth. You can attend seminars and workshops that cost virtually nothing. For example, if you want to know more about art and culture to gain unique insights, then there are many free online events that you will get.

5. Get Organized and Declutter Your Stuff

Find time every week to get organized. Keep only the things you need. This also means, you will be able to able to find your staff more easily, which will help you save time. Your home and workspace will appear cleaner. Besides, you will have more space to keep the things you really like.

These are some of the best ways to invest in personal development. Try the different ways and you will surely be able to change your life. Look for every opportunity to learn new skills, read, and improve your health. Help others. And remember, personal development is a continuous process. There is no end to what you can achieve.

Check out our other personal development posts on the blog, we’d love to guide you on your personal development journey.

Debt isn’t something that happens coincidentally or accidentally as you go about your daily living. Certain spending habits lead to debt. Recognizing these habits now could save a lot of money and stress later. If you want to avoid debt and reduce the debt you have, you must eliminate these bad habits.

1 Buying Things “Just This Once”

Admit it: How many times have you splurged on something you knew you couldn’t afford but justified the purchase by saying you’d do it “just this once”? Maybe you bought an ultra-expensive suit, took an over-the-top vacation, or let a car salesman talk you into the priciest car on the lot.

The problem with these one-time indulgences is that they can be costly. Even worse: these “one-time” extravagances can become habitual mistakes. Maybe you won’t go out and purchase another red convertible, but the mindset that allowed you to do it has taken root.

So the next time you want another luxury item that’s financially out of reach, you simply convince yourself (yet again) that it’s not that bad because it’s just a one-off expenditure. It’s time to stop kidding yourself. A habit is called a habit for a reason. It’s because you’re doing it repeatedly. Break the cycle by saying “just this once, I’m going to say no to something I can’t really afford.”

2 Saying “Yes” to Everyone

Many of us — especially women — have been raised to be nice and accommodating to the people around us. And of course, we all want to make our family and friends happy.

When relatives and friends ask for things that are a financial stretch for you — such as loans, investment funds or cash to start a business — that’s the time to pull back and recognize your financial limits.
Saying “yes” to every economic request that comes your way is a quick way to drive yourself into debt. What’s more, it could put those very same relationships you cherish at risk as well.

Purchasing a Gift for Someone — and One for Yourself

“We have all done it,” “You see something you like and think, ‘Wow, that is so cute. I will buy one for so and so and one for me.'”

Whether you’re holiday shopping, buying a birthday gift, or selecting a present for another special occasion, be careful that you don’t fall into the trap of always buying something for yourself when you really just intended to get a gift for someone else. Otherwise, you could wind up with a pile of debt.

Check out more articles on the blog for more finance tips.

The Independent Petroleum Association of Nigeria (lPMAN) has attributed the current fuel scarcity to the unavailability of petroleum products and difficulty in accessing foreign exchange by marketers.

They alleged that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd., had stopped importing enough petrol to meet demand in the country.

Whatever the reason may be, there is no denying that the current era of petrol shortage, has severely disrupted everyday life for the average Nigerian.

The increase in the price of the premium motor spirit has resulted in exorbitant prices for transportation, fights at fueling stations, and typically, an increase in the price of commodities.

So what can you do to get by?

Account for the traffic caused by the fuel queues and the lack of commercial transport:

Leave earlier to stand a better chance of making your appointments.

Only go out when absolutely necessary:

Limit your excursions outside to only when absolutely necessary to conserve fuel and save on transportation costs for the duration of the crisis.

When you need to get fuel, leave early for the station to make the front of the queue.

We’ll get through this together like we do everything else.

Stay safe out there.

Nobody will ever deprive the Nigerian people of their right to vote except the Nigerian people themselves, and the only way to do that is by not getting the required PVC and voting.

A lot of us have had our faith in the electoral process eroded over the years and have not bothered to vote as a result of the belief that votes do not count.
It can be hard to keep the faith when there are those actively working to undermine the faith, however, Voting whether we feel like it or not, is exactly what we must do!!

The reality is that one of the reasons we participate in the electoral process is to ensure we vote on election day. We must not only vote, but we must also vote for the right reason. We must vote for the love of our nation Nigeria. We must vote beyond stomach infrastructure.

While we may have no control over the actions of a callous few if they choose to disrupt the election and abort the will of the people, we have to trust in the checks and balances being put in place to combat such behavior.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “Elections are at the heart of democracy. When conducted with integrity, they allow citizens to have a voice in how and by whom they are governed. This is because while human beings need security and livelihoods, they also need freedom, dignity, and justice.”

With elections just a few weeks away, we are in a new dawn as a nation. A time when a new government is about to take over the task of building the Nigeria of our dreams. The turn-out and success of the 2023 elections have never been more important, despite your doubts, you must make sure to do your part, this way, you know for sure you have done all you can. It is time to make huge emotional investments in loving this country, regardless of our misgivings.

It is important we come out as one, driven by a high level of patriotism as a result of our love for our nation.

As we approach the 2023 election, we pray that God blesses Nigerians with the wisdom to make the right choice.

In Nigeria, cash rules supreme.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), less than 20% of the local currency in circulation is held by the banks.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele explained that of the 3.2 trillion naira ($7bn; £5.8bn) in circulation, up to 2.7 trillion was outside the vaults of commercial banks.

This is one of the reasons why he made a shock announcement in October that three of the country’s higher denominations were going to be replaced.

The challenge typical of Nigeria however, is that the switch has gone far from expectations, there has been unprecedented levels of hoarding with the new notes nowhere to be found, even in banks. As a result, many Nigerians currently have no access to cash from the banking halls, the ATM centers, and the POS spots.

Mr Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor has blamed this situation of the currency crunch on hoarding by certain quarters. This reason in itself has nothing to do with the average Nigerian, whose lives have been completely disrupted by the current challenge.

Analysts say this tends to become an issue before elections, when politicians are accused of using cash to buy favors.

The practice of giving voters money to cast their ballot for a particular candidate is not uncommon here.

The currency change may be well-intentioned, to level the political playing field before the 25 February vote, yet the timing of it all is causing unimaginable hardship for Nigerians.

While we are all in favor of ensuring a free and fair election, we are hopeful that the CBN will find ways to achieve their objective without further disrupting the daily lives of average Nigerians.

So far, the CBN has extended the deadline for changing the old naira notes to February 10th from January 31^st, although experts suspect their will be at least one more extension.

So, what can we do?

• Try to spend as little cash as possible if you do get the new currency.
• If you can open a tab (a line of credit) with trusted vendors and clients to allow business proceed as usual till the cash crunch is over.
• When you do have to pay for purchases immediately, as much as possible use electronic means.

Wishing you the very best in these unprecedented times!

We’re in this together.

It is easy to become frustrated or disheartened during a job search, particularly if you’ve been unemployed or job hunting for an extended period.

However, it is important to try to remain positive throughout.

Feeling positive will help motivate you to continue with your search.
Also, your positive attitude will come across during interviews and networking opportunities, increasing your chances of making a strong first impression.

Here are 4 tips to help you stay positive during a Job Search

1. Find Time to Not Think About Your Job Search

It’s easy to have your job search always in the back of your mind.

However, excessive worry about your job search only increases your stress and keeps you from enjoying other aspects of your life.

Set aside time each day to forget about your job search and do something you enjoy, like going for a walk or to the gym (exercise is an important way to de-stress!) or going or a movie.

2. Focus on Your Positives

When job searching, it is useful to make a list of your best qualities, skills, and accomplishments. This list will help you when crafting your cover letters and when practicing for an interview.

Keep this list where you can see it, and review it regularly.
Remembering what makes you a successful job candidate and a talented, unique person will help boost your confidence during the job search process.

3. Set Reasonable, Concrete Goals

At the start of each week, make a list of specific, manageable goals that you would like to achieve.

Perhaps you’d like to write five cover letters that week or go to three job fairs.

By focusing on small, achievable goals, you will feel more accomplished throughout your job search.

4. Celebrate Small Victories

It is easy to focus on the negative during a job search, such as the interview you didn’t land or the job you didn’t get. Instead, focus on even the smallest wins.

Be proud of yourself for getting a phone interview, even if you don’t get asked for an in-person interview.

Pat yourself on the back when you make a new LinkedIn connection or someone comments on your blog post.

Celebrating small wins will help you to focus on the positive.

It can be frustrating doing your best every day at work, without getting any recognition or appropriate pay raise.

Here are some reasons why you’re not being promoted at work and tips on how to rectify the situation.

1. You lack enthusiasm for your current job.
Always show that you love your job.
Be enthusiastic.

2. Are You owning projects assigned to you end-to-end?
You might not think it’s your job but if you’ve been assigned a project or some work – OWN IT!
(Bonus: This will go to prove that you are a trusted pair of hands!)

3. Are you discussing what you’re working on enough?
You don’t always have to blow your own trumpet.
To be honest, quite often if you discuss what you’re finding challenging on your current project, it goes a long way in showing your passion for the job.
Show your work (so to speak). I’m finding it difficult to get someone to take ownership of this work once it goes into BAU. I’m thinking of solving this by doing X, Y & Z.
This is way better than always saying how great you are. This goes to show you’re a problem solver and a team player. Now, who wouldn’t want to promote such an asset?

4 You’re not a team player.
This one works both ways.
See if your colleagues need any help with their projects AND see if any of your colleagues can help you with your projects.
When your manager sees you doing this, they will recognize that you are fostering collaboration, and knowledge sharing and ensuring there’s not a single point of failure.
Win. Win. Win.

5 Are you just not that well-liked?
This one is probably the harshest tip, but you are not going to be promoted if you’re not well-liked amongst your colleagues.
Leaders see more than what you think and promoting someone who is not well-liked will cause them a lot of pain with their team in the long run.
Start thinking about your behaviour and how you position yourself at work.

Ever felt a lack of confidence at work?
Would it not be helpful if you could boost confidence in your skills and abilities in the workplace?
Here are some tips you can use at work to boost confidence in yourself.