CAREER EXPO PROMO VIDEO

http://youtu.be/WLFjrZnla6s Career Expo 2012 Theme: Empowering minds...Preparing for the future Date: March 29, 2012 Time: 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Location: NCU Gymnatorium Activities: Exhibits by companies from all disciplines offered at NCU; recruitment; networking; presentations from young entrepreneurs; give-aways Special feature: Culmination of Entrepreneurship Competition http://www.facebook.com/events/320393314689477/?context=create

The Art of Listening

"We were given two ears but only one mouth, since listening is twice as hard as talking."Did you know that when we hear with our ears; it doesn’t mean that we are listening? The ability and need to communicate touches every area of our lives. Everything we do in life requires communication with others. Hearing is the first stage of listening.  Hearing occurs when our ears pick up sound waves which are then transported to our brain.  This stage is our sense of hearing. So what then is listening?

Listening is a communication process. In order for this to be successful it involves an active process. This active process involves the conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, understanding the complete message being sent. Body gestures such as, nodding, making full eye contact, defer judgements and responding appropriately can be employed in the active process of communication.

A group of students at NCU share and listen to points made by their colleagues - fie

We all need to feel that we are being heard and understood. It is a basic human need that is as primary as having enough water, food or air to survive. Here are some considerations to remember when listening actively; always be aware of your personal filters and triggers. Each of us is a product of our upbringing, culture, life experiences and things that makes us unique human beings. This uniqueness can sometimes become an obstacle in being an effective listener. As you listen, try to remain open to what you are hearing and withhold evaluation or judgment. Become aware of what your triggers are in the communication process and what shuts your listening down.

Observe your own and other people's listening habits. Ask yourself what it feels like when someone really listens to you and when they don't. Make a list of any behaviour that you find irritating in the listening habits of other people and then examine your own listening behaviour. See if you just might exhibit any of the behaviours you find annoying. Create a checklist of habits you want to change. Also, acknowledge yourself for listening habits you have that do work for you. This type of thorough self-exploration is another way to learn about your filters, barriers and triggers as a listener. Once you identify and reduce what gets in the way of your ability to hear, you'll increase your effectiveness as a listener.

At Northern Caribbean University the Department of English and Modern Languages offers a slew of communication courses which assists the in development of their students. The Department of Communications also fosters the growth of its students through various communication channels.

Like most things in life, improving your listening skills is a matter of practice. Listening well is a two-way street, and to be effective communicators, we must all listen well to each other. Think about the last time you made a friend feel better by just listening. Practice makes perfect. Listening is an art; when done well it delivers tremendous benefits.

Mikki Clarke

The Logistics of Success

If there was book which showed the step-by-step methods on how to achieve success; it would be a best seller. Many persons yearn to achieve success. But they prefer the easy way out. No-one enjoys having to endure hardships, the uncertainty of not knowing where the next meal is coming from, and the agony of being broke. Not everyone understands that we all have to first begin somewhere before we can journey elsewhere. So what are the secrets of success? Is there a formula that can be used to achieve unlimited success?

Thomas J Watson articulates that in doubling the rate of failure, you will find success. Most individuals consider failure as the enemy of success. Failure is not the enemy. Failure stems from a preconceived notion of fear. It also festers from “what if” or “it’s not possible.” Always think positive. Negative thoughts stifle your ambitions and dreams. In order to be positive, you must surround yourself by a positive environment.

NCU Blackberry Apps Champion - file

In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail. People learn by failing.  Failure can certainly be agonizing. It might even be catastrophic. However, most failures are not as bad as you may think. Some failures accelerate from what is called “expected failure.” That is, when you expect one thing and something different occurs. Our mindset has to be steered in the right direction. It’s through learning from your mistakes, that an individual achieves their greatest potential.

It was Pablo Picasso who asserted that “action is the foundational key to all success.” Think about it. Many of us contemplate what we would like to achieve, but we somehow never get to achieve it. Why? We fail to plan. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Always write down your ideas, dreams and goals. But don’t just leave it there. Find suitable measures to get them done. Take a step-by-step approach. Goals are those concrete, measurable stepping stones of achievement that tracks your progress towards your dreams.

Success is a marathon. A marathon is foot race that spans over 26 miles. Imagine running a marathon. At the first glance of the word-marathon, some persons give up. Life is a marathon. In order to achieve success, persistence is required. Hard work and perseverance are key factors which are needed when pursuing your dreams. There are no secrets to success. Success is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from your mistakes.

Here at Northern Caribbean University many students dare to be different. Our students participate in competitions, and world tournaments. Our Imagine Cup Team and the NCU media group dared to be a cut above the rest. Everyone aims for success, but there are some individuals who defy innovation. Never follow the herd. Following the herd is sure way to mediocrity.

Mikki Clarke