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Being successful at a job interview is a hurdle we all face at some point. By adopting the right strategies, you can transform this nerve-wracking experience into an opportunity to showcase your talent and secure the role of your dreams. Preparation is Power Imagine sitting an exam unprepared. How do you think you would […]
In personal and professional development, improving our memory is often overlooked despite its pivotal role in enhancing overall efficiency. The memory is a muscle and benefits from constructive exercises just like any other. Beyond recalling dates or facts, a good memory empowers individuals to make faster, better decisions, reduce time relearning material, and tackle more […]
Remember the days of whiteboard jitters and projector mishaps? The world of communication has evolved, and virtual presentations are now the new normal. Whether you’re connecting with colleagues across continents or captivating clients remotely, mastering the art of online presentations is key to success. By testing your equipment beforehand and having a backup plan, you […]
Workplace conflict is an inevitable occurrence that can disrupt productivity, erode team cohesion, and even impact job satisfaction. However, the presence of conflict doesn’t have to spell disaster. With the right strategies, conflicts can be managed constructively, fostering growth and enhancing collaboration among team members. Here are some effective approaches. Open Communication: The foundation of […]
Microsoft Access is a powerful database management system that offers numerous benefits for businesses of all sizes. One of the primary advantages is its ability to streamline data management processes. With Access, users can easily create, manage, and manipulate databases, which helps in organising large volumes of data efficiently. This capability is particularly useful for […]
Meetings are an inevitable part of professional life. But in the whirlwind of discussions, brainstorming sessions, and presentations, crucial details can easily slip through the cracks. That’s the importance of effective minutes taking. These concise summaries act as a powerful tool to enhance transparency, ensure accountability, and drive results. Why Minutes Matter More Than You […]
30 days – Leadership Congratulations on your promotion! This is the forming stage for your team. Team members will be feeling uncertain about their new manager and how things might change. If they are happy with their current situation they will be skeptical and resistant. If they are unhappy, they are going to be looking […]
Success rarely happens by chance. It’s the result of careful planning, dedication, and effective goal setting. Whether you’re striving for personal growth, career advancement, or business success, setting clear objectives is essential. One popular framework for setting meaningful anhttps://www.stl-training.co.uk/time-managemend achievable goals is the SMART objectives method. In this blog, we’ll explore the SMART methodology and […]
Effective workplace communication is the backbone of any successful organisation. To achieve this, communication must embody three key principles: politeness, professionalism, and positivity. Polite Communication: Active Listening: Politeness starts with active listening. When someone is speaking, give them your full attention. Avoid interrupting and resist the urge to formulate your response while they are […]
Have you ever wondered what jazz music and management have in common? Jazz is a musical genre that originated in the African American communities of New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterised by improvisation, syncopation, swing, and complex harmonies. Jazz musicians often play in small groups, where they communicate […]
Welcome back to our series on Action Centred Leadership, where we explore the principles and practices of effective leadership. In this blog we delve into the “Task” element of the Action Centred Leadership model. If we refer to the ‘Action Centred Leadership’ diagram above, where should a manager spend most of their time? Certainly, pre-Covid, […]
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Space Race not only pushed the boundaries of human exploration, but also revolutionised the way we manage complex projects. The intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve spaceflight supremacy led to the development of innovative management techniques. These methodologies were designed to handle the […]
In the ever-changing world of modern business, the significance of adept management cannot be underestimated. It is a lot more than just supervision of tasks; it is about guiding, motivating, and propelling teams towards the fulfilment of organisational objectives. For managers to excel in such a layered role, they must be well equipped with pertinent […]
In the professional world, the ability to be assertive is an invaluable skill, especially when dealing with senior managers, clients, and stakeholders. Assertiveness is expressing your needs, opinions, and boundaries with confidence and respect. Here are 8 useful strategies you can adopt as you aim to master this essential art in the workplace. Recognising the […]
Effective communication is the cornerstone of a thriving workplace. An excellent communicator possesses a unique set of characteristics that go beyond the ability to articulate thoughts. In this blog post, we will delve into the 12 key skills that define an outstanding communicator in the workplace. 1 – Active Listening Excellent communicators don’t just hear […]
The best way to make a positive impact in meetings, is to contribute meaningfully. By doing this, you are helping your team achieve its goals. Here are 14 key strategies to ensure that you make a positive impact at meetings you attend. Whether you are a project manager looking to improve processes and reduce risk, […]
Confidence often takes centre stage as a key ingredient for success at work. It is not just about what you say or do, but also about how you carry yourself. It’s about embodying the qualities of a confident person in your posture, tone of voice, and body language. But what happens when you find yourself […]
People often ask us on our Presentation Skills courses, how to I upgrade my presentation from just being good, to being memorable? In a word, Confidence. It doesn’t matter too much which level your presentations are aimed at, whether you’re pitching a potential client, presenting to the board of directors or even your own internal […]
In today’s fast-paced and diverse business environment, the art of persuasion is more critical than ever for leaders. It forms an important part of their communication skills arsenal. It’s not about swaying others through deceit or manipulation but about genuine communication and mutual understanding. Persuasion, when practiced with authenticity, can foster collaboration, inspire action, and […]
A key soft skill in the workplace, is managing our own communication and how we present ourselves. How can we navigate the balance of passive, aggressive, and assertive characteristics? Each of these traits brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, influencing the overall dynamics of professional interactions. Recognising and understanding the impact of passive […]
An Introduction to ‘Action Centred Leadership’ In the lead up to the festive period, we’ll be sharing a 5-part blog series on Action Centred Leadership. And how the considerations of a manager in a changing working world; It will include a look into how employee/ employer relationships are changing in the post-covid era. The introduction […]
Any project at work can bring about exciting challenges and changes. Read on to learn more about how to identify them, and what the phases of projects look like to help you to run them efficiently and accurately. Rest assured all the content covered here has been tried and tested on our very own project […]
Effective communication is the lifeblood of any successful workplace. Among the various styles, assertive communication stands out as a powerful tool for fostering healthy relationships, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that your voice is heard. In this blog, we will explore the art of delivering assertive messages in the workplace and why it is essential for […]
What Are Minutes? Meeting minutes are official records of what transpires during a meeting. They serve as a historical reference, document actions, decisions, and discussions, and provide a clear record of a meeting’s proceedings. Minutes are essential for accountability, tracking progress, and ensuring that agreed-upon actions are followed through. Whether your meeting is in person, […]
The ability to manage our time and tasks effectively has become a valuable skill. The “Urgent-Important Matrix” is a simple but powerful tool, which can transform how you approach your to-do list and maximise your productivity by placing each task in the appropriate quadrant. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of the Urgent-Important Matrix […]
Listening is a skill that is often overlooked, but to improve your performance, it is one of the most important skills you can have in your locker. Good listening skills can help you to build relationships, solve problems, and improve productivity. There are many reasons why listening skills are important in the workplace. Here are […]
Introduction Building strong relationships with colleagues and superiors has become crucial for professional success in today’s fast-paced and interconnected workplaces. Developing rapport at work fosters a positive and productive environment, encourages effective collaboration, and enhances job satisfaction. In this blog, we will explore actionable tips on how to build rapport at work, emphasising authenticity, empathy, […]
Highly productive people are motivated, engaged, and willing to go the extra mile. They care about the quality of their work, their colleagues, and the success of the company. They know this reflects on them. People generally feel this way on the first day of their new job when they are excited. They want to […]
Assertiveness – what exactly is it? Getting your own way? Saying how you feel? Being upfront and honest? Telling it how it is? Well, many people get hung up and confused about what exactly assertiveness is and how you act in an assertive manner. If you research dictionary definitions, you’ll find the following: “confident and […]
To empower people means “putting power into,” and it can also mean “bringing energy and enthusiasm out of.” Putting power into people This means giving them the freedom to do their job their way. This will only happen if you trust individuals, but your employees will never believe they are fully capable if you have […]
This is the last in the Performance Management series. We have already looked at the first 3 stages of Performance Management; Setting Expectations, Assessing Performance and Performance Reviews. Today we will look at the final stage in the process, Developing Individuals. The first 3 stages will enable you to identify any learning and development needs. […]
In the previous blogs in this 4 part series we looked at Setting Expectations and Assessing Performance. Today we will look at best practice for Performance Reviews. Quick Recap In Assessing Performance, we stressed the importance of ‘Managing by Walking Around.’ In other words, taking the time to observe what your team is doing on […]
Assessing Performance – targets Before we dive into assessing performance against targets, a quick reminder of part 1: In the first blog in this series of 4 – Setting Expectations for Performance, we looked at how expectations can be broad. With that said, we can break them down into two broad categories: Measurable Results and Targets […]
To perform well, employees need to know what is expected of them. Well-defined expectations produce effective teams with employees who know the role they play and the purpose they serve. When you and an employee set clear expectations about the results that must be achieved, and the methods or approaches needed to achieve them, you […]
In all our careers there will be occasions where we need to have difficult conversations with our colleagues, these may be focused on performance management, poor behaviour, giving bad news, or be of a personal or sensitive nature, whatever the issue is, many of us do not look forward to these moments. Why do we […]
Customer service matters! We all have brands or organisations that we love to keep returning to, and also those who after we receive poor customer service, vow will never see our business again! So, what is Customer Service? Customer service is the assistance and guidance a company or an organisation provides to people before, during […]
Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking or giving a presentation, is extremely common. Experts estimate 77% of the population has some level of anxiety when giving presentations or public speaking. There are many things you can do to feel more comfortable when presenting, but practice and preparation really are the key. Our fantastic Presentation […]
In our excellent Problem Solving and Decision-Making course, we help you learn to be more effective and productive in dealing with the problems you and your organisation may face. When you are looking for a solution to a problem, especially when you are trying to find innovative solutions, the chances are you’ll try one of […]
If you want to be an effective team player, leader, or manager, you need to be able to influence people. Your role title certainly won’t be enough to expect people to do as you’d like them to. You need to take other measures to get your colleagues to support your ideas. This article highlights the […]
“Organising is a journey, not a destination.” – Anonymous Ask ten different people what Organisational Skills they would like help with, and you will get ten different answers. Also, factor in the range of different Companies, Roles, Tasks, and work patterns of those we work with, and the fact that nothing ever seems to stay […]
How do we remain positive and productive when faced with stress, uncertainty, and change? The current economic climate is contributing to increasing levels of stress. Our minds are often preoccupied by work matters with less ‘downtime’ to reflect, process information and plan. This can lead to stress and prevent us from dealing with problems. Resilience […]
The undeniable fact that we are currently in a recession is affecting us all. Organisations are concerned about the increasing costs of materials and the impact on consumer spending. Furthermore, staff are concerned about the rise in fuel bills and the cost of living. Everyone is asking, will it get worse, how long will it […]
No matter what our role in an organisation, we all need to deal with a wide range of problems on a daily basis. However, most of us are unaware of the thoughts, buried beliefs, prejudices and biases that influence our decisions. This article sheds light on overcoming bias in problem solving. One area that can get […]
The words we say make up only 30% of our communication. So we need to think about how we say them. To ensure that we are communicating effectively on the telephone, therefore, we must make the most of the 30% we have. Read on for four areas to focus on to improve your telephone technique. […]
Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is extremely common. Experts estimate 77% of the population have some level of anxiety when giving presentations or public speaking. There are many things you can do to feel more comfortable when presenting, but practice and preparation really are the key. Please keep reading to find out how to […]
We all attend meetings, and quite often they are important and necessary. However, how many times have you attended a meeting which left you feeling frustrated, robbed of your time, but more importantly, that no real decisions were made? Attending, and more importantly, using tools and ideas on our Introduction to Management course will give […]
When team members lose confidence in their ability to complete their tasks successfully or to make change in their workplace; performance, motivation, and morale suffer. Team members don’t lose confidence overnight. Similarly, team confidence is not built in a day. It is a gradual process, where each positive experience builds to develop into real confidence. […]
One aspect of being an effective communicator is having the ability and skills to listen really well. Many of life’s problems arise from poor communication. When you choose to improve the quality of your communication skills, you will start to see the results you want, whether that’s to be more productive, efficient, or even profitable. […]
“Every day is a school day” is a great saying. This is quite true, because whatever your level of experience as a manager, there are always new things to learn and skills to improve upon. Attending, and more importantly, using tools and ideas on a great course, can help. After all, good management training leads […]
If you need to make an impact in your meetings, you’re going to need some tactics. Our Facilitation and Meeting Skills and Effective Communication courses discuss some ideas to help you do just that. Statistics reveal that 11 million meetings take place every year. 91% of staff admit to daydreaming, 95% admit to missing […]