Explore continuous learning opportunities and resources to support your career growth and professional advancement.
The drive for organisations to be more productive is a never-ending challenge, and here we will show you why soft skills are vital in making any organisation more efficient. Having technical skills are no doubt important but equally what employers need are the interpersonal and people abilities too. Soft skills are the people and interpersonal […]
Whether you are hosting a PowerPoint presentation in person face to face, or for an online audience using Teams or Zoom, nerves can get the better of you and cause you to forget important points or even to seem unprepared. In this article, you will learn how to improve PowerPoint presentations with Presenter View. In […]
(In conversation with Karen from our learning solutions delivery team) Karen, we were talking about the welcome growing levels of face to face training we are experiencing (something we here at STL have maintained and supported throughout the last 2 years). We got onto considering that there are going to be a good number of […]
Are you overwhelmed by priorities? Well, focusing on the essential priorities can make the difference between feeling continually stretched to actually feeling more relaxed and successful! Prioritisation is a time management skill fundamental to the success of both effective managers and professionals. For many of us the plain truth is, that although we tell others […]
How to succeed at the Networking Game Networking in-person conversations, much like the networks themselves, are not self-sustaining, they require real commitment and drive in order to connect and establish the foundations of a relationship. Once you initiate and make eye contact you need some tricks to establish trust, build rapport and make great first […]
5 Key ways to support your people As an experienced manager or even if you are new to management, interpersonal skills are the intricate subtleties that influence and impact relationships. Here we look at how you can maintain efficient and productive relationships where your team can enjoy achievement and recognition. Relational skills are at the […]
When a Director once gave a talk on the importance of developing relationships, I was left thinking I had to buy someone a gift. Maybe it isn’t too far from the truth. When developing skills that can influence a relationship, having a giving attitude is what can help make them spectacular. Find out here how […]
The Right Language for Resolving Conflict In English speaking workplaces, it is important to voice complaints and frustrations by using the right language. When you are dealing with problems, the right approach and level of directness can ensure you don’t cause offence. This article looks at essential language along with 4 tips to resolve conflict […]
Sometimes we walk into the centre of a negotiation and feel out-of-place. We introduce ourselves and search for something familiar to make the experience less tense. Maybe we whisper secrets to seek reassurance from our colleagues, anything to try and gain a foothold. The consensus of opinion is that we are trying to work out […]
Kouzes’ 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership James Kouzes’ leadership model has been rigorously researched and tested for its effectiveness. He finds that leaders who exhibit certain skills perform better. Let us have a look at leadership development and the 5 practices of exemplary leadership. Model the Way Effective leaders must first know what their personal values are […]
If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail! How to plan a presentation The success or failure of a presentation is determined long before you walk into the venue and try to engage the audience. Let’s consider how you can plan your presentation effectively, making it as relevant, concise and targeted for your audience […]
clinching those important sales deals Struggling to meet your monthly sales targets? Learning from the experts may be just what you need! STL offers a Successful Selling course to a wide range of organisations, from IT and Banking to Sporting Facilities and TV Stations. To increase any company’s profitability, a key ingredient is learning the […]
Automation, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence (machine learning) have increased rapidly of late. Technology makes many decisions on our behalf on a daily basis. Despite this, problem solving and decision making are still some of the most sought-after human skills. Professionals in the workplace need these skills to maximise efficiency, productivity, and both team and […]
What is stealing your time? A time robber is the nemesis of the effective time manager. We need to identify them, acknowledge their existence, and work out what we’re going to do about them. Time robbers come in different shapes and sizes – some are self-imposed, some are manager imposed, others can be company imposed. […]
The nature of nerves Several years ago, a survey was conducted to identify the top 10 public fears. What came in at number one? Public speaking! Apparently, the scariest thing we can do in our lives is stand in front of people and speak. What is the secret to successful presentations? Why the fear factor? […]
In this post we’ll look at the essentials for any Train the Trainer course or programme. What should be included, how and why… Why bother with a Train the Trainer? Many people think that anybody can be a Trainer, it’s just a matter of getting up there and doing it. Of course, that’s not the […]
How to take Bias out of Strategic Decision Making As a leader, it is critical to make decisions. But how do you limit biases when looking for solutions? In this article, we will explore techniques to tackle bias and improve strategic decision making. What research tells us… In 2010 Dan Lovallo and Olivier Sibony, advisors […]
Nearly 70% of people experience Impostor Syndrome. And it is particularly common among women and people from minority populations – so how can we overcome it? What is imposter syndrome? “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts” Bertrand Russell […]
Let’s talk about ways to resolve conflict, real techniques that you can use in your professional life. Typically, we look at the problem of conflict being a result of miscommunication. Maybe there wasn’t a clear understanding of what is important to the other person, and this can include respect, time frames, seniority, budget constraints – […]
How To Accept The Things We Cannot Change The ability to manage our own stress levels is a wonderful thing, but we need to approach it with realistic aims. It is extremely helpful to acknowledge straight away that some sources of stress in our lives are unavoidable – for example, economic downturns or the loss […]
This blog post will share advice on not only how to CAPTURE your audience’s attention, but how to KEEP your audience engaged throughout your presentation. This is especially important in the current culture we’re living in, where audiences have so many distractions, often even multi-tasking during our presentation. Read on for some great techniques to […]
The Secret to High Performing Teams: Do I have a High Performing Team? The aim of any manager should be to create an effective team, also known as an HPT (High Performing Team). After all, the performance of a team reflects upon whom? Technically, everyone, but the manager or leader of the team in particular! […]
Personal Branding – Release Your Inner Superhero Do people in your organisation know what your unique skills and abilities are? You could assume that the impact made by your hard work would show others who you are and what you can do. However, unless you market yourself, people could see you in a way that […]
If you read any book or article about what’s needed to be a great Leader, effective communication skills are key, particularly the ability to have great listening skills. In these tips to improve listening skills for better leadership, we will explore how listening mastery is one of the five key essentials in communication that every […]
Self-leadership is never as important as now. There are so many avenues in life where we can find ourselves lost. Some roads place us in marvellous spectacles. Other roads take us perilously close to the edge of our greatest dread, while others encourage, by their very nature, an opportunity to playfully explore and challenge ourselves. […]
I Just Need Some ‘Me’ Time! Nervous energy, anxiety or stress? ‘When the demands placed upon us at work exceed our resources, and we feel we can no longer cope’ Yes, that sums it up nicely! You’ve had a stressful day – there’s too much work, deadlines are tight and you’re worrying constantly about the […]
Throughout our careers, nothing will have any greater impact on us than change. For most, we enjoy the security of routine and the known boundaries in which we operate. Let’s begin to look at the 4 steps to managing change and dealing with uncertainty in a positive way. Change can have substantial effects across so […]
When we present, we want our audience to listen, understand and learn, and leave knowing more than when they arrived. We need to guide them through our presentation, so they don’t feel lost or confused – this is why it’s so important that your presentation has a clear and effective structure. The 3 key elements […]
There are so many complications and mistakes that can distort our modern-day communication, yet the words we use are not always the instigator of the conflict. Sometimes a simple look or the wrongly assumed tone can cause an unexpected reaction. Here are five common mistakes we make in communication – try to consider how you […]
For starters… We all know the basic prep needed… Research the company, the role and the person who will interview you. Refresh your CV and make sure it fits the role. Collect your interview suit from the cleaners and do a dry run travelling to the place of the interview. And don’t forget to set […]
Memory plays a very important part of all our lives. From young to old age, it creates connections and shared experiences between people, gives us the skills to develop and improve our performance and gives us joy in long-term recollection. Memories allow us to act in the present and prepare for the future. Without it […]
Have you been asked to deliver an online or virtual training for your team or your colleagues since the start of the Coronavirus lockdown? You are not the only one! This article will give you several suggestions to help you deliver virtual training more effectively. Several of these tips also apply if you need to […]
We all love to chat. And yet being the lead in the conversation is not what makes it engaging. Having the passion to get to know someone and build a relationship is a great skill in leadership, and underlying all that natural enthusiasm is the ability to lead a conversation and discover the other person’s […]
How to Structure Your Presentations Efficiently Once you have decided on the purpose of your presentation and identified your audience, you need to prepare the structure and content in order to go from storyboard to creating a successful talk. Structuring can take time. You can get it done efficiently so you can maximise practice time […]
There has never been a time like it in history, where the explosion of corporate expansion has led to the constant need for great leaders. Where companies have grown in size to match the economies of a small country, the prize of a truly great leader has never been so important nor so highly rewarded. […]
Pressure? What pressure? We all need a little pressure in our lives, both at work and at home. The right amount motivates us to get things done. But what happens to us if the pressure becomes too great, and we can’t handle it? This is where resilience comes in. Stress is defined as ‘a situation […]
Are You Under The Influence? Wouldn’t it be great if we could easily gain the willing cooperation and buy-in of others? We approach them because we need a favour, or some form of action on their part, and they agree to comply happily under our influence, instead of resisting or claiming they’re too busy. If […]
What’s really causing the problem? You solved a problem at work – well done you! But, a few days or weeks later, the problem rears its ugly head again – how? Turns out your time and efforts were misplaced, and what you thought was the problem was in fact merely a symptom or knock-on effect […]
Real Strategy: 3 Case Studies. Strategy confuses most people. Perhaps that’s why there are a lot of confusing articles out there in cyberspace, championing “killer” strategies that, in fact, do doing nothing more than list taglines or explain successful tactics. STL takes a look at three strategies that will demystify strategy and inspire your leadership. […]
Have you ever had to deal with challenging training delegates? When delivering a training session, it would be wonderful to think that everyone wants to be there. However, as we all know, this is not always the case. Occasionally, you may have to not only share the learning, but also handle some challenging personalities. Here […]
You may not think that emotional intelligence is relevant to you. But, have you ever been upset by an e-mail, WhatsApp, Teams or Skype message that you received? With stress levels higher than usual in the current lockdown conditions, you may find some people are more sensitive. This article will give you several tips to […]
Feedback is important, but as the saying goes “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” If you give feedback the wrong way, especially virtually, it can negatively impact your relationships at work to devastating effect! This blog will help you structure and deliver feedback more efficiently and effectively while working virtually, whether […]
Have you ever felt awkward when delivering a virtual presentation to your colleagues, your team or to a client? In some ways a virtual presentation can be even more nerve-racking than presenting in person, where at least you can see if everyone is paying attention! Read on to learn several techniques to help you can […]
Are you struggling to stay motivated working at home during the current lockdown? Huge numbers of people are currently working from home every day due to the extreme changes caused by Coronavirus. From pets to children, Netflix or even a good book, there are so many distractions that get in the way as we try […]
It is natural to feel a strain on your mental health under the current circumstances. Economies are suffering, people are worried about losing their jobs. Many parents have children at home and have to juggle taking care of their kids with getting work done. And on top of this, physical health is a huge concern […]
World leaders across the globe have recently chaired their first ever digital government meetings. Many Managers and employees are also leading and taking part in virtual meetings via apps such as Zoom, Teams, Skype or GoToMeeting. A number of staff might be doing this for the first time or the first time in a long […]
At time we are all faced with people who are displaying anger and aggressive behaviour. It can be, at best, uncomfortable and, at worst frightening and potentially dangerous. In Ten Tips for Managing Anger and Aggressive Behaviour, we’ll look at ten things that can be done when confronted with this type of behaviour to minimise […]
What is negotiation? And when is the right time to walk away? Ideally, negotiation should be a discussion to achieve the best deal for both parties by working towards a Win-Win result and subsequently maintaining a long-term trusting relationship. However, have you ever regretted paying so much more than you intended for goods or services; […]
Interpersonal skills are ranked highly by managers. On a scale of 1 to 5, they come in at 4.37. The figure is very high as it comes in second on the list essential skills, beaten only by being able to work in a team. Carry on reading to find out why they are popular. Why […]
How to Deal with Mr. Angry You know Mr Angry, don’t you? The person who doesn’t respect the needs, opinions and feelings of others. The person who never apologises for things, even when they are at fault. The person who seems to take great satisfaction in being right (and making you look bad). Often rude […]