• How well do you know your employees?
• Do you know, what motivates them?

Research has shown that more money is not a catch-all motivator and it may be as simple as offering more responsibility – and that doesn’t necessarily cost a lot.
In a recent survey it was established 22% of workers want more responsibility and 9% want to be given charge of a special projects. For others, it may be more professional development, or perhaps more recognition for doing a good job.
This speaks to two key points,

1. The importance of leaders in motivating and engaging their team and individuals; and
2. That motivation is different for every individual – everyone is motivated not necessarily by different things but different things in different situations.

It’s naive for a leader or an organisation to assume that employees are all motivated by the same thing!
However, money still talks with research showing 67% of workers expect more money if promoted or given extra duties. But with remuneration budgets tight, is it possible to offer further duties without increasing the organisations remunerating bottom line? Yes, but leaders must be open with employees and understand what their individual motivators are, for example present additional duties as a necessary step for future promotion

Sometimes the most valuable employees are the most difficult to deal with therefore, when challenging employees to take on additional responsibilities, leaders must understand what drives individuals to perform. Each employee has a certain level of ‘discretionary effort’ in how they approach their work, and motivated employees are more likely to go the extra mile. Objectively assessing rather than guessing what motivates each employee enables leaders to tailor their approach to get the best out of each employee – remember as a leader we can’t change a person’s behaviour, however by changing our behaviour towards them the outcome can change.
Research shows that the secret to high performance isn’t biological drive or reward-&-punishment motivators; methods many leaders consider a natural part of being a team leader. We now know that their effectiveness is only a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances, meaning the ‘one-size-fits-all’ methodology doesn’t always work. Therefore if we are going to bring our businesses into sync with these truths, we need to unlearn old practices, and begin looking at different approaches.

To further support this claim, in business today, the general emphasis is not on behaviours but on strategies, projects and time lines. Behavioural elements are often ignored. Yet employee’s behaviours, not strategies, processes and structures are what make or break organisational performance. Business requires good management of team and individual behaviours. In other words we need to understand the behaviour of our employees and more importantly ourselves – self-awareness. So how well do you know your employees and do you know, what motivates them?

Top five tips for effective leadership:

1. Don’t assume employees are all motived by the same things; learn methods to understand individual behaviour and what specifically motivates each individual
2. By understanding behaviour you can provide responsibilities and challenges that suit employees to continually develop their capabilities
3. Make sure recognition of hard work is given in a way that is most receptive to the employee and their behaviour – do they want a song and dance at team meeting or a quiet pat on the back?
4. Involve all employees in learning how knowing each other’s values and behaviours can improve communication processes
5. Provide a team environment where employee values and behaviour is in sync with their role

When delivering First Aid training courses, I come across my fair share of the public, and due to the topic being taught (E.g. Senior First Aid, CPR, or even Low voltage Rescue to electricians), I more than often hear stories of personal accidents and health issues. Recently, in one of our ‘one-day’ First Aid courses, I met a person (early twenties) who had just recovered from a bout of glandular fever. This person describes the experience as life changing.

Known as the ‘kissing disease’ it is far from pleasurable. This acute condition, also called infectious mononucleosis, is a viral infection, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), sometimes mistaken for influenza, but which can also cause a wide range of other symptoms. It particularly affects teenagers and young adults, hence the nick name (kissing disease), although children are also susceptible. It is fairly unusual for older adults to suffer from the disease; however people who have had the disease may have several bouts of the illness before throwing off the infection. Even once clear of the main symptoms, feeling weak, unwell and depress may persist.

How do I know if I have Glandular Fever?

A blood test is the only sure method of diagnosing the disease. As the virus spreads through the body via the bloodstream, symptoms include a sore throat, high temperature, headaches, nausea and swollen (lymph) glands in the neck, similar signs to those of the flu. There may also be swelling of the spleen or liver and it can cause jaundice, giving the skin and the whites of the eyes a yellowish hue. If these later symptoms do not occur, many people convince themselves they are experiencing an attack of the flu and so do not seek medical advice. In this way, the glandular fever often goes undiagnosed. Researchers have discovered it is not the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), that is responsible for the severe symptoms, but the body’s reaction to it. The immune system basically goes into a hyperactive state, known as a cytokine storm; this is what makes people sick.

Once infected, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) unfortunately stays in the body for life, this is why researches estimate 80% of Australians carry the disease, but not everyone will develop symptoms. Research has also shown when the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection occurs in young adults (Teenagers to early twenties), the chances of glandular fever occurring is somewhere between 35 -50%. No real evidence has shown why some people develop the illness and some don’t.

What can I do to avoid glandular fever?

Research has shown the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), can be passed on to another person (particularly through kissing) even if you don’t have the symptoms, and how long someone carrying the virus is infectious is still a guessing game. Some advice on how to avoid the disease is to avoid coming into contact with the droplets produced when suffers cough or sneeze; this being difficult in reality. Practical advice to reduce you vulnerability to all infections; is to, not become over tired or too stressed, again difficult to achieve with our current life style!

Is glandular fever dangerous, how am I treated?

Glandular fever generally is not dangerous, however it may be weakening or debilitating as it tends to recur over a period, perhaps of a year or more. The illness has also been linked to:

• chronic fatigue syndrome

• tonsillitis, during the attack of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but this usually subsides as the fever declines

• Hepatitis, as a complication of glandular fever, your doctor will monitor your liver function.

• On rare occasions rupture of an enlarged spleen, if this does occur urgent medical treatment is required

Normally, the only treatment for Glandular fever is to take time to let your body fully recover. It is well worth looking into methods for boosting your immune system; this may include eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and good quality proteins. Drinking plenty of water a day and maybe avoid excessive alcohol, sugar dairy and fatty foods. Visiting a naturopath, nutritionist or dietician would certainly go a long way, as they can help you with your diet and eating habits.

Disclaimer:

Alibi Training makes every effort to ensure that its information is medically accurate and up-to-date. However, the information contained in this document is produced as an additional information handout as part of Alibi Training’s First Aid Training courses to complement, not substitute for, the advice of your own doctor or physician. Suitable medical and professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein. ©Alibi Training Australia.

• Persistent cough
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• Tiredness
• Enlarged lymph glands

Tuberculosis, or TB as it is commonly known, is an infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, although it can affect almost any organ, including the kidneys, brain, skin, bones (particularly spine), eyes and lymph glands.

Although improved living standards in the first half of this century had begun to reduce the impact of tuberculosis, it was the widespread use of very effective drugs in the 1950s which hastened the rapid decline of this disease in Australia.

Now the disease is much rarer, although numbers have risen recently, so much so national newspapers are starting to report on the situation, people are starting to ask questions about the topic. In our First Aid training courses we talk about infectious diseases especially when coming to the aid of a person who is in need of first aid, and the type of precautions you can take to minimise the risk of exposure.

Tuberculosis kills around three million people each year worldwide, and is one of the most common epidemic diseases in developing countries, where malnourished people live in crowded unsanitary conditions.

What causes tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria. Millions of the tubercle bacilli live in the sputum of infected people. When these infected individuals cough or sneeze, the resulting shower of droplets is breathed into the lungs.

Tuberculosis (TB) can occasionally be caused by drinking the unpasteurized milk of cows with tuberculosis in their udders, but the slaughter of infected cattle, plus testing and heat treatment of milk, have practically eliminated this source of contamination.

In most people, the spots of inflammation in the lungs caused by tuberculosis heal of their own accord, but in a small number of cases, the bacilli multiply and are absorbed into the lymph glands.

Some bacilli may then migrate into the bloodstream and rapidly spread around the whole body, resulting in what is known as miliary tuberculosis. Bacteria may also go into a dormant state, to be reactivated many years later

How is tuberculosis diagnosed and treated?

The incubation period for tuberculosis can vary from a few weeks to many years, as the infection can lie dormant in the body. Miliary TB or tuberculous meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord) are most common in children, while with adolescents and adults, the disease usually affects the lungs.

A child may just appear generally unwell, but the initial diagnosis in adults is typically indicated by outward symptoms: tiredness, night sweats, fever and weight loss, and (if the lungs are affected) coughing, chest pain, breathlessness, and phlegm, which is flecked with blood.

Diagnosis is confirmed by a number of hospital tests, while treatment is with a combination of antibiotics.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor straight away if you have any of the symptoms listed, especially if you are coughing up blood.

Your doctor will make a thorough examination and arrange for the hospital to carry out a number of tests, including analysis of the sputum for tubercle bacilli. A skin test with tuberculin (a product of the tubercle bacilli) will reveal if there has been exposure to infection. X-rays will show shadows on the lungs in the areas affected by TB, and may indicate whether the disease has spread to other organs.

Drug treatment varies, but usually the doctor will prescribe a combination of three different antibiotics, which must be taken simultaneously for around two months to overcome the problem of resistance to any one drug. This is followed by a course of two antibiotics, sometimes for up to a year.

The doctor will want to trace all people the patient has been in contact with, so they can be tested and offered treatment. The patient will also be monitored for any possible adverse effects of the drugs, especially on the liver.

What can I do to avoid tuberculosis?

Vaccination is available, if a tuberculin test shows no immunity to the disease. This gives protection for at least 10 years. Vaccination is rarely required for short visits abroad, but adults planning to work for a long time in a Third World country should be tested and, if they have no immunity, opt for vaccination.

Is tuberculosis dangerous?

If swiftly and properly treated, patients almost always make a full recovery. However, if left undiag-nosed, tuberculosis can cause disabling illness and eventually death.

The following are particularly susceptible to tuberculosis:

• Alcoholics
• Diabetics
• Those who have undergone a gastrostomy (total or partial removal of the stomach)
• Those with leukaemia or other conditions associated with a defect in the immune system.

Disclaimer:
Alibi Training makes every effort to ensure that its information is medically accurate and up-to-date. However, the information contained in this document is produced as an additional information handout as part of Alibi Training’s First Aid Training courses to complement, not substitute for, the advice of your own doctor or physician. Suitable medical and professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein. ©Alibi Training Australia.