Explore continuous learning opportunities and resources to support your career growth and professional advancement.
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 […]
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 […]
As a business leader, keeping informed about cutting-edge technologies is crucial. One such technology that has been making waves is ChatGPT—an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. In this blog, we’ll break down what ChatGPT is, its applications, and why it matters for your business. What Is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) model […]
30 days – Leadership “Congratulations on your promotion!” You’d be surprised the number of times we say this on our management training for new managers courses. 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 […]
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 […]
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 by conducting effective meetings. 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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? We run regular conducting effective meetings training to our customers and have taken a moment to […]
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 […]
What are you looking for and how will you know when you have found it? In part 1 we looked at understanding what you are looking for in terms of Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Attitude. In part 2, we will talk about how to find what you are looking for and how to know you […]
When you are interviewing, you want to assess Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Attitude. But what exactly do we mean by this? What are you looking for? How will you know when you have found it? So often we receive a shopping list with little detail. We are subsequently expected to find someone with everything. No […]
“Soft skills”, “People skills”, “Essential skills” however you want to badge them, these are skills that organisations are seeking from their people, in whatever field they work. In a report by the World Economic Forum it was stated that many soft skills are seen as rising in importance and relevance in today’s business world. […]
This is the last in the series Five Vital Skills for Project Managers – Adaptability. We have previously talked about Communication, Leadership, Organisational Skills and Critical Thinking. Today we will look into the benefits of being Adaptable. Changing your approach Adaptability as a skill refers to the ability of a person to change their actions, […]
Dashboards are incredibly useful in helping business users gain insights into their data. In Power BI desktop the visualisations in a report are published to the cloud and then shared with key stakeholders in the Power BI service. This blog will explain what a dashboard is and how reports, once they are published, can be […]
Welcome to the fourth in our series Five Vital Skills for Project Managers – Critical Thinking. We have already looked at Communication, Leadership and Organisational Skills. What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking sounds negative, as if you are constantly criticising everything. This is not the case. Critical thinking is the ability to reason and to […]
This is the third in our series: Five Vital Skills for Project Managers – Organisation. We have previously talked about Communication and Leadership. Today we will explore the need for strong Organisational Skills. Most of us do not have the luxury of being able to dedicate all our time to manage a project. Organisational skills […]
Prior to any negotiations, it is important to be properly prepared. This means you need to collect sufficient information about what is motivating both you and the other party. Motivations Motivations are what drives someone to act a certain way. There is a distinct relationship between objectives and motivations when purchasing something. Objectives are the […]
In our last blog we talked about Communication. Today we are going to look at the next topic in our series Five Vital Skills for Project Managers – Leadership. The difference between Managing and Leading Simply put, Management is about tasks while Leadership is about people. Project Managers need to be able to wear both […]
Do you start work early? Do you work during your lunch break or at weekends? Stay later than you’re paid to? Of course we all do this from time to time. to others this can seem like you must be rushed off your feet – but is the truth that you are just struggling to […]
Projects come in all shapes and sizes. You might be managing a long term implementation or organising an event alongside your everyday work. Either way, communication is vital for the project’s success. In this blog, we will look at the first of five vital skills for project managers – communication. A third of projects fail […]
Questions help us to gather information, clarify facts, and communicate with others. They are a key element of effective communication. In this blog, you will see how you can improve results by making changes to how you ask questions. Management and Communication In our “Introduction to Management” course, we look at the importance of a […]
Successful businesses know the value of Emotional Intelligence (E.I). Here we share with you what the four key components of E.I are. Followed by three key wins that can drive productivity and engagement with your people. E.I can be learnt and developed by most people. By working on E.I, businesses can improve communication and gain […]