The 12 risks of xmas

Hi all,
         So much to do and so little time to do it! At this time of year everyone starts to take risks,  society goes into melt down and the risk factor of daily life can get overlooked.



As I am out and about, I am seeing people take risks that they probably wouldn't normally take. So far,  I have seen a parent and child rush across a busy road child in hand, hardly looking and with a pedestrian crossing only 30 m away.  In  most store  car parks I have taken to parking in the furthest corner possible, the blind reverses and broken wing mirrors are evidence of not taking care  or attention. Stop junctions have become  a law onto themselves, some drivers aren't even stopping merely joining the traffic.

 What can we do to avoid these daily challenges:

• Take time out from situations, step back and reflect upon events going on around you
• Use Psychology  - The Tortoise and the Hare analogy is a good example of this-remind me who gets to the finish line first
• Self reflect, self reflect and self reflect some more -  Doing the right safe behavior impacts on yourself and others
• Keep your eyes moving at all times, be it in the street walking or while driving, be alert to the risk of danger and lower your risk by being the first to react.

Above all enjoy Christmas relax and recharge the batteries.

Hadleigh Community Event

On Sunday 2nd of December, I have organised a winter walk and litter pick at the local nature reserve. Once again, working with  local stakeholders and Castle Point Council.  'The Westwood' is

literally, just around the corner from the bus depot.  This event  involves us volunteering as a team and giving 90 minutes  of our time on a Sunday morning (or whatever time you can spare). Our objective is to aim to put something back into the community which we serve, whilst enjoying a pleasant mornings walk through the woods.  For example, if you walk home this way or have friends and family who live in the community.  Or you might want to help the wildlife.  Sometimes when you give a little, you get more back.

 

The last time we actioned this it created a feel good factor, we collected over 6 sacks of plastic, had a mild healthy workout and chatted to locals about what we were doing.

 

We will provide PPE, equipment and bin bags. Put the date in your diary 2nd December between 9.30 am and 11am.

You will definitely need to wear wellies or walking boots. please wrap up warm!

 If you have any questions please speak to me via normal channels.

 

 

 

On Friday morning, I will be in Chelmsford from 5.00AM for the morning run out , we are holding a breakfast briefing based upon 'Winter Preparation' join me for a coffee and mince pie or simply grab an orange juice.

How family impacts us all

Recently, I have been thinking about family and work. They go hand in hand and have many similarities and comparisons. We spend almost an equal time at work, as we do with our own families. We give 100 % at home and we give an equal amount at work. I enjoy spending time with my family and in a similar measure I enjoy spending time with colleagues at work, chatting about the day or  relevant topics.

Ultimately


Our family is the most important aspect, we work for our family but equally work must protect us both financially and physically. One of my colleagues has a saying 'nobody gets injured on my watch'. I love this, he will do his upmost to make sure that all of his colleagues go home safe at the end of the day, back to their families.  For me this is 'making safety a personal core value', this comes from within, a desire to be 'supportive of each other'.
You are part of the team, it's a family. Remember throughout all of the dramas your team is there for you and you need to be there for them. You may work alone at times but without the wider team around you nothing can be achieved.
Think about how you treat others at work, do you treat them like a member of your family?

Autumn is here

Be Safe in Different Weather Conditions

Over the last week, it seems summer is finally fading, the temperature has dropped and the nights are starting to draw in.

 So it's hugely important that we use our skills, judgment and experience, as well as training to make sure we keep ourselves, our teams and others safe.

Other drivers may not be as well trained, courteous, or as sensible as you are!

 Autumn Leaves

 

When working around the depot, wet leaves can be as slippery as black ice.  The leaves may also cover road markings and traffic lines.

 

 

 
At this time of year the sun is rising and setting during later mornings with earlier evenings causing extra sun glare on wet roads. This can sometimes be temporary time blinding when you are driving.

 

 

 Key point:

Pay attention to traffic slowing down and don’t forget your sunglasses.

 

Finally when the weather finally deteriorates:

 

 

•  Frost can be a concern on the roads as well as your windshields.

• Take a few extra minutes to clear your windshield before heading out on the road.

• Also, watch for those bridges and overpasses; they may have ice accumulating on them already.

• Slow down when driving in foggy conditions. Do not use high beams as they will reflect back at you making driving even more difficult.

• Use your low beams and/or fog lights when required.  

School break,they think its all over It is now !



That time of year when the school year starts is finally here!

 

It is quite profound how much this effects the role of a driver. Some of us enjoy these busier periods and thrive on the 'buzz'; responding to the challenge and taking pride in being able to deliver a service in these conditions. Other colleagues may need some advice and support especially if they are new to the role of a driver.

 

1.  Prevention is better than cure. Avoiding unnecessary aggravation will minimize your stress.

2.  Acting in a confident manner is important. Confident people act in an assured assertive manner. 

3.   Avoid provocative gestures such as pointing.

4. Try to minimize the ‘audience effect’, especially with young males, the whole idea of ‘saving face’ and ‘losing face’, which makes resolving a conflict much harder.

5. Try to be aware of warning signs and think ahead.

 6. Try to make your behaviour proportionate to the provocation. If we ‘strongly react’ at the least sign of unruliness how are we going to signify that things have really ‘got out of order’?

7. Let management and colleagues know of any persistent problems on a route or trouble you think is brewing.
 

8. Be ‘professional’ rather than ‘official’.

 My youngest is changing schools and he probably won't be too sure about the routes and timetables at first. For many year 7's this could be their first time on a bus. let's show patience, if we do it right we may get a customer for life!
Secondly ,prepare mentally for the increase in traffic. If you do end up behind your time, don't rush to try to make the time up. Remember to think about the most valuable cargo, your passengers. 'Get the bigger picture' it's more important to get everybody from A to B safely, than to take a risk and save a few seconds.

Have a great week everyone
  

 

Recharge the batteries

Annual leave gives us all a chance to recharge our batteries and get some quality family time. We all  need  time away from work to create a work life balance. Too much time at work and you risk a burn out, both physically and mentally - this is neither productive or helpful.

As well as annual leave, there are steps during the working week that can help keep us ticking over. Taking even 10 minutes away from inside a cab or from a desk environment provides a mini break which can have great value. Such as, thinking more clearly and feeling sharper and refreshed.

Weekend time -3 Children, 2 dogs and 1 wife!

 

So how else can we relax:

 

• Always go for a short break even if it's just up and down the bus
• Take lunch outside your depot or office, find a quiet spot
• At the weekend, choose a hobby that takes you into a positive mindset
• Complete crosswords and brain quizzes
• Read the book you have always promised yourself that you would read
• Walk to the shops instead of using the car
• Walk and enjoy the scenery
• Have a drink and read a paper
• Work in the garden
• Go for a bike ride
• Cook a nice meal
• Relax in the garden
• Turn off the mobile for 1 hour during the evening. 

 

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Why the Feel good factor works

Hadleigh Litter Pick Update

This was created to  encourage a positive vibe with regards to doing something good as a First employee.  As well as, being a good opportunity to meet and greet some of the local community as they asked us what we were doing etc. This created a feel good factor and was a good work out. We ended up with 6 bags of rubbish and a shopping trolley. It really was eye watering, the level of plastic rubbish we found in just a 2 hour window.  This event will probably be arranged again in 6 months’ time as a Xmas litter pick event. So if interested, please chat to me and I will take it forwards.

 

As you can see, we helped local wildlife; with lots of positive feedback from walkers who could view our First table display. It is nice for our team to be able to walk home this way or take a walk in their break, and have a clean and wildlife friendly zone to stroll through.  This  example will engage  our local community, it is a progressive step.  As well as, working with the council with whom we work amongst.

 

 Maybe we could use an event like this to review the plastic we have on our sites and perhaps, going forward, manage the plastic bottles from the canteen, the plastic packaging that’s used on site, or even see if Biffa have a plastic-recycling initiative we could use.  there are many possibilities.

 

This is only a very small step but if others followed suit, then our local surroundings and leisure environments would be cleaner and happier places.

 

Ant

The roller coaster of life

I always look at life in a number of ways. Firstly, I often describe it by quoting "with no lows how would you enjoy the highs". And I totally agree with comments such as "you only fail when you give up trying".  Also, It's important to remember that when setting goals there must be some realistic outcomes.  However, in reality many of us seem to over set goals and then completely fall away from our target, before getting any where near and giving up.  Why not, instead of aiming for the unachievable, aim for what is achievable.  This can be accomplished by simply setting yourself a daily reachable challenge, then try a monthly one, followed by a yearly one. Think about the question, what will you do to make a difference to yourself and others?

 

In the bigger picture of things, time passes so very quickly. I am sat writing today, in a humid 25 degree temperature and it's hard to believe that only 8 weeks ago we were all shivering during the visit from the 'Beast from the East'.

Over the past year, I have lost family, friends and work colleagues, who all passed too early. This has made me consider the value of everyday.  Yes, we are all on the rollercoaster of life and sometimes the ride will be bumpy, but believe me it's a trip that will also offer joyful moments. This makes me want to grab every opportunity, to have new and shared experiences.

Next Sunday, we have arranged a litter pick event, which would benefit all concerned. Working with Castle Point Council, we plan to have a litter pick at the local nature reserve. The Westwood, which is just around the corner from bus depot, this event  would involve us volunteering as a team and giving a couple of hours of our time on a Sunday morning (or whatever time you can spare). Our objective is to aim to put something back into the community which we serve, whilst enjoying a pleasant mornings walk through the woods. Sometimes when you give a little, you get more back.

 

We will provide PPE, equipment and bin bags. Put the date in your diary 10th June between 10am and 12am. If you have any questions speak to please speak to me.

Learning at work week 2018

I'm really looking forward to  Learning at Work Week which is nearly here. It's from  Monday 14th of May to Friday 18th of May.  Essex depots are carrying out a variety of fun and engaging themes.  The 2018 theme for Learning at Week is- 
'Network for Learning'

1.Who can take part?  - Anybody can join in

2. Why take part?

•  Changing attitudes to learning and work. Positive!

•  Positive perceptions at business and individual levels

•  Stimulating and collating feedback, ideas and perspectives that inform future planning

•  Drawing on employees own knowledge, passions and interests to create engaging activities well as, wider sharing and collaboration in the workplace

•  Greater recognition and an understanding of different ways to learn in the workplace

•  Encouraging a broader perspective on how learning and development happens and how    employees can take advantage of new ways to learn – from traditional classroom based training through social media, to team meets for generating and sharing learning

•  Bringing employees from different parts of the business together or partner organizations in to learn from each other, sharing best practice.

3.What opportunities does it provide?

Learning at Work Week is not prescriptive in terms of what you can do and how you should use it, instead it provides ideas and inspiration.  Whether you want to develop new skills to aid your mindset or challenge yourself, the decision is yours.

 Greater awareness of learning, motivation, engagement which all enhances our work environment.

My input to Learning Week, focuses on IT skills, predominantly the top 5 UK apps. This is just to give an awareness of what they are used for. For example, if your daughter, son or grandchildren talk about them, you will know what Snapchat or Tumblr are.
I will be in Colchester on Tuesday afternoon, Basildon on Thursday am and Hadleigh Thursday pm. 

4.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN?

Learning opens doors and makes us more informed, sometimes things we don't know hold us back.  Why not ask questions and explore options regarding your own learning experiences.

Charity choice 'Action for Children'

Having a child with a learning disability and mental health issues is one that effects many colleagues.  Action 4 children received the highest colleague vote so for the next 3 years this will be our 3 year partnership. The below outlines are plan and gives a small amount of information as to who how partnership will specifically help

Action for Children will receive proceeds from fundraising as well as advertising space across the UK transport network:
 Children's charity Action for Children is set to become the new national partner of transport operator FirstGroup.
The two Organizations will form a three-year partnership potentially worth around £1 million in cash, fundraising, and the commercial value of gifts in kind

“Our partnership will enable us to provide expert mental health support directly to the children and young people we help. In addition, these specialists will up-skill our existing staff, leaving a lasting legacy in our Organization. Throughout the next three years, FirstGroup will be a key partner in helping us to achieve our ambition that any child who needs help gets help starting in April 2018, our new partnership with FirstGroup will aim to raise £1 million over three years to provide mental health support for disadvantaged children and young people to overcome the trauma they have experienced. Together we will show them that life is worth living.

One of FirstGroup’s key objectives is to create a positive and lasting impact in the communities they serve.  And there is no better way that they could demonstrate their commitment to local communities than supporting the most disadvantaged children in these local areas.

 

Many of the children we support in our services have been:

• Physically, sexually or mentally abused.
• Have been in the care system after being removed from their parents,
• Live in poverty or are homeless,
• They may have a disability or be caring for a sick relative – taking on the worries and responsibilities of an adult.

Our partnership will enable us to deliver essential specialist mental health support to children who desperately need help.

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Wishing for spring

Over the past 4 weeks, we have all had to put up with the 'Beast from the East', and now we have the sequel.

 

 

Weather impacts our lives in unexpected ways. At home it's a struggle to get our two dogs to go for a walk the radiator seems far too appealing to them. Then if we make it outside we have to decide how to handle my daughter using the mobility scooter or the wheelchair which becomes a challenge in its own right. The balance of staying in or making sure that we can ensure her safety outside. 

The snow is beautiful when it falls and everywhere looks so serene, but many people are having dramas of their own. When the weather has a red warning, why do people decide to travel? and then wonder why emergency responders have to rescue them? The news warns us not to  travel unless you urgently have to.... For me it's safety first.  In these atmospheric conditions I have seen colleagues go the extra mile on countless occasions.  For example, gritting the walkways and driving at slower speeds.  Basically, looking after each other and our customers; making safety a personal core value and which is great to see.

Roll on spring.  More travel, more people, an economy boost and sunshine!

 

 

 

How do you win a medal?

Over the past two weeks, I have been enjoying watching all of the winter sports. It never stops amazing me the fine line between success and failure. Four years of hard work graft and commitment can be over within a blink of an eye.  The difference between walking away with a life long ambition or walking away frustrated and despondent.                                 

                                                                                    I watched Lizzie Yarnold make history and

become the first double gold winner that GB has ever achieved in winter sports. Her love for the sport is very apparent  and  her positive attitude always comes across strongly.  For me she seems to have found the perfect  ambience of  work and life .  After winning gold 4 years ago She chose to relax and didn't even sit on a skeleton for 18 months so she could enjoy life; in between she took up cycling running and yoga all keeping her motivated and enjoying life to the full. Then she returned to  the sport where 100ths of a second is the difference between the worlds top performers- she wins! Smiles and celebrates by knitting a scarf! She believes in herself and thus brings her A game to the table.

   Compare and contrast  Elise Christie in the speed skating.  Again, a highly motivated individual but you sense, when she's interviewed, the weight of her reputation.  Previously,  she has gained success by obtaining world champion and this may be why she puts herself under immense pressure. Split second decisions have all worked against her. Her work ethic can't be questioned so why does she seem destined to fall at the final hurdle. She was unfortunate 4 years ago and now she has replicated this.  But, even after this she seems almost certain to return again; working to obtain the one medal she so desperately yearns for. She certainly has resilience and determination!

 

I will end with these questions- At work which attitude do we choose? How do we over come failures? How do we celebrate success?

 

Have a great week! I will be in Colchester Rest area on Friday between 10 and 2pm.

Keep calm and carry on.

                           

Driving a bus can be the most rewarding job when you  choose the right mental attitude and stay within a positive mind set. It is true to also say that driving a bus can be, at times, a difficult and demanding  job which is why it is good practice to stay calm in certain circumstances.  When we find ourselves in   challenging moments, when everything and everyone seems to be against us,  we need to take a moment and use our skills.

Let's look at some tips for keeping calm during those difficult moments:

1. Communication

2. People Skills & experience

3. Other drivers' behaviour

4. Look at the bigger picture

5. Don't react negatively.

 

We are professional drivers, carrying important customers; who are trusting us to get them to their location comfortably and safely. I recently spoke to a colleague and coached them to think in the value of their job. Without the role of a bus driver our society would struggle, as the teacher or nurse  may not get to work, the patient wouldn't get  their treatment or someone would miss out on important learning time. Also, the student wouldn't get to their lecture on time. So many individuals rely on us to provide solutions and keep our communities prospering. If you aim for a positive mindset then I guarantee your day to day job role will feel valued and you will have a sense of pride- that you have contributed to many peoples' lives in a positive and safe manner.

This week, I am in Hadleigh on Thursday 1st and Monday 5th February. I will be available for the Clacton run out please speak to me about.

25 hours in a day

Wow, what a Christmas and New Year that was, friends, family and pets  all wanting valuable time.  Time that if not given, can create a feeling of guilt and within a blink of an eye it's all over and gone. Time is probably one  of the most important aspects of our home and working lives. We all value it so highly that if we don't utilize it, important things can go amiss.

The work life balance, that we all strive for, is key to leading a happy and satisfied lifestyle. I recently have had to coach my son as he's was not finding the correct balance. It's GCSE year so he wants to do well, and rightly so, yet he continues his hard work ethic well  into the night; revising, studying and recapping. Plenty of his mentors have pointed this out to him; the possibility of burnout if he continues. The good news is he can be shaped and put back on track by simple time management which is now working.   He's actually now got his first ever Saturday job which gives him a break from his studies.  He has to work as part of a large team now and understands that the part he plays is valuable. He also gets to see life from different angles.

Time Management key points:

• Structure and plan well ahead of your working week
• Stick to the rules
• Set achievable targets never over stretch
• Plan effective rest time
• This all creates positive thinking and leads to a happier life style.

The brain needs to have rest time, it's proven that by having regular breaks you actually achieve a far better result than if you push yourself too much.

I wonder how many of us remember the old 'a Mars a Day' Catchphrase which was 'Work, Rest and Play'.

Throughout January I will be supporting Essex colleagues at all levels during my visits.