Explore continuous learning opportunities and resources to support your career growth and professional advancement.
Getting The Work Done Willingly And Well! Practical ways to motivate Motivation: the art of getting people to do what you want them to do, because they want to do it. Sounds good? Dwight D. Eisenhower certainly thought so – he said it! Let’s talk about motivation – what can a manager do to motivate […]
Effective Communication Skills. 3 tips to address Conflict We usually don’t chose who we work with and conflict can occur in the workplace due to differences in personality, culture and working style. The ability to deal with conflict is a critical soft skill for Managers and staff of all levels to ensure teams work productively, […]
How we help organisations improve team performance As part of our portfolio of management training courses, STL offers a Team Performance Management Course to a wide range of organisations, from IT and Banking to Sporting Facilities and TV Stations. Their HR/Learning and Development departments select this course because they have identified a clear need within their […]
Organisational Profiles As part of our Public Schedule portfolio, STL offers a course on Taking Minutes, delivering high-value content along with a significant amount of practical exercises which allows minute-takers to remember, write and record in meetings without anxiety and tiredness. Minute taking is required across the spectrum of industry: large organisations government departments, councils, […]
Project management is the process of delivering projects to a high standard on time and budget. But, it’s not as if every project goes to plan. Some go off-piste while others hit their mark and goals effortlessly. What’s the difference? Usually, the answer centres on the person in charge. An excellent project manager can work […]
New Managers need to learn and develop certain skills if they are to be successful when leading others and to ensure they help nurture improved productivity, efficiency and performance from their team. Attending an Introduction to Management training course (part of our management training courses London) would be a useful method to up-skill new Managers […]
The ability to give and receive feedback effectively is an extremely important skill for any Manager or Leader. This article will focus on 5 different ways Managers can give more effective feedback to their staff: Ask before giving feedback Some Managers are worried about offending their subordinates when giving feedback so they procrastinate feedback conversations […]
Did you know that in a recent survey conducted by a leading British University, Organisational Skills came out as the 3rd most important skill sought by employers in the UK? Organisational training skills are amongst the most transferable and valuable in any marketplace and they allow professionals to plan, prioritise and achieve as part of […]
How to say ‘no’ assertively If you are a passive person, there is one word that strikes fear into your heart, and because of this it rarely appears in your personal dictionary. It’s a difficult but short message – the word ‘no’. If you are passive, you prefer to be a ‘yes’ person, a people […]
Delegating tasks successfully frees up valuable time for you time, helps you to develop your people, enables your to better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and motivates members to perform. Poor delegation or a lack of it can slow work down, demotivate your team and cause negative conflict. Here are 4 Habits for Successful Delegation […]
With so much at stake in corporate development, leadership is perhaps the single greatest key in finding the correct decision and then making it count. Here are four principles to help you develop a strong leadership presence and authority. Planning – Finding all the information required can be a challenging process however the best guide […]
The flexible back-and-forth pattern of text conversations is at odds with the literal, efficient and measured approach most professionals have come to expect from business writing in the workplace. Email writing requires a bottom line, results oriented approach. Here are 4 Tips for Powerful Emails which will turbo-charge your productivity and write emails for results. […]
What is the STAR? The STAR technique is a process that helps you to respond efficiently and effectively to those tricky interview questions that ask you to reflect on your experience. It will help you to ace every interview. These types of questions will often begin, “Tell me…?”, “Describe a situation…?” or “Give me an […]
Four Key Interpersonal Skills for Better Relationships The nicest people in our lives have interpersonal skills in abundance. They are attributes that make the toughest requests reasonable, the toughest situations bearable and the scary challenges that we face seem exciting. Below we look at four of the most powerful interpersonal skills for high performing teams […]
Even with the best of intentions on both sides, negotiations can stall as we have seen in recent times with the spluttering Brexit negotiations. Sometimes there are sticking points that initially seem impossible to overcome. There are advanced strategies, however, that high performing negotiators can use to problem solve and get around these roadblocks. The […]
see how our workshops provide immediately applicable SKILLS. As part of our Public Schedule portfolio, STL offers a Negotiation Skills Course to a range of organisations, from banking and finance to one of the leading on-line global travel companies. What they have in common is that they have identified a ‘negotiation skills profile’, namely employees […]
Case Study: Change Management “I don’t know how to tell my team to change” and “I don’t know how to implement change with my team” were both comments on a recent Change Management training course at STL By the end of the day they were much more positive and confident. What helped? As often happens […]
Counterproductive emotions can affect decision-making, performance, and profitability in an organisation. Emotional Intelligence at work means being able to build powerful and trusting relationships with colleagues whilst enjoying greater confidence and security. Using ‘Emotional Intelligence at work’ to Understand Ourselves Before we can work better with others, Emotional Intelligence requires us to look within and […]
5 Tips to “Wow” Your Audience As a presenter, your goal should be to engage your audience, keep their attention and get them to take action or agree with your point of view. You are most likely to keep the audience’s attention if you remember that you – not your props or slides – are […]
It’s all in the understanding…. Do you know anyone who practices assertiveness at work, and gets it right? Ask ten people what assertiveness is and you’ll get ten different answers. Naturally passive people can see it as a hurdle to climb, yet at the same time feel small for not standing up for their rights. […]
Wellbeing in the Workplace is a very real issue that if not tacked quickly, can affect motivation and your organisations internal and external relationships. It can also lead to an increase in absenteeism as a result of elevated health-risks. A recent study found that; In 16% of employees, sleep is regularly affected by work-place issues […]
Change is the one thing that has the greatest impact on our lives and careers and there is no doubt that communication is key to managing it. But how well do Organisations perform in this area? When we lose the security of routine and the known boundaries in which we operate, change affects us on […]
Coping with stress Stress defined? ‘When the demands placed upon us at work exceed our resources, and we feel we can no longer cope’. You’ve had a stressful day – there’s too much work, deadlines are tight and you’re worrying constantly if it’s not done. Perhaps your manager will blame you? Not a pleasant situation, […]
Performance Management In this post we will provide a definition for Performance Management and guidance as to how to ensure it is used effectively. What is Performance Management? “A process which contributes to the effective management of individuals and teams in order to achieve high levels of organisational performance. As such it establishes a shared […]
One of our most precious commodities is ‘time’. We often find ourselves believing that we don’t have enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks we have. This post examines this mindset and provides some tips as to how to prioritise effectively in order to achieve what’s important whilst learning to identify, and […]
It’s a new fiscal year for a lot of businesses. Targets are being set. Commitments are agreed. Customers are made promises. And the big question that businesses face is how can they expect to grow and generate more revenue from their customer base and new customers if their customer service is not set at the […]
Let’s start at the very beginning… What’s a project? How about ‘a unique venture, with a start and an end, and its own budget, perhaps intended to create something new, to meet established goals within parameters of cost, time and quality’. Like most things in life, a good start works wonders. So how, as project […]
(This blog was updated in January 2024) In our interconnected world, we often find ourselves collaborating with colleagues, clients, and suppliers from various countries and time zones. Cities and countries are becoming melting pots of diverse cultures, emphasising the need for effective communication both within organisations and with the public. Recent studies highlight the growing […]
Conflict or communication – which works best for you? Three types of Team Conflict: When the stakes are high, which one of these scenarios have you seen play out? (A) The conflict is swept under the carpet. Denial that conflict existed, or had any impact on the team or performance (B) When aggression threatens to […]
You’ve been promoted – congratulations! It’s your first leadership role, and it is something you have wanted for some time. Nearly half of all leadership transitions fail You are beginning to realise that there are things to plan for as well as celebrate. There is a shocking statistic that nearly half of all leadership transitions […]
Is there a problem here? Logically, everyone knows it makes sense to use our strengths at work, yet not all of us do. Research from strength expert Marcus Buckingham shows that only 12% of professionals use their strengths consistently in the workplace. This can have a huge negative impact on business performance. What does it […]
In a survey conducted in 2018 by a leading British University, Organisational Skills emerged as the 3rd most important skill sought by employers in the UK? Organisations skills are amongst the most transferable and valuable in any marketplace. They allow professionals to plan and prioritise their objectives and meet their goals. The Chartered Institute of […]
Effective Communication Skills – Three tips to deal with Conflict Wouldn’t it be great if we could choose who we wanted to work with? Yet we have differences in personality, culture and working style, or a clash of competing objectives or even disagreements over solutions. The list of reasons why conflict occurs can be […]
Active listening is an underrated communication skill that Leaders and professionals need to develop and improve. The benefits which come from this ability will raise your reputation and help you develop empathy. This article will explore the importance of active listening and how you can develop your skill to improve communication and at work. What […]
The 4 basic Financial Statements for Success Finance for Non-Financial Managers Unpredictability of the markets and the impact of changing consumer demands can lead to serious implications for business stability. Awareness in profitability is paramount. It is imperative that a manager has the ability to understand financial processes. This article will explore the FOUR […]
Are performance appraisals good or bad? There are staggering repercussions to conducting performance appraisals, especially in context to overall team performance, productivity and efficiency. Some may consider the appraisal to be a time-consuming event best suited to the ‘quiet’ times in the business. Others argue that they neither effect performance nor offer any real financial […]
The nature of nerves Several years ago, a survey was conducted to identify the top 10 public fears. Public speaking came up as number 1! Above spiders and other creepy crawlies, deep water, heights, illness, financial worries, open spaces, flying – death came in about number 9 on the list. The key point here is […]
The challenge of change Anything new or different in our lives means change. Isn’t that exciting? Apparently not! When asked about change, most people will answer that they do not like it. Why? Usually because their comfort zone is in jeopardy. That wonderful protective bubble that we lovingly construct around ourselves. In the comfort zone, […]
Read any book or article about the necessary talents to be a great Leader, and effective communication skills are dominate, particularly the ability to be a great listener. Mastering listening is one of the five key essentials in communication that every Manager needs. To get you started, follow these 5 practical tips: 1) Use open […]
Coping with stress Stress defined? ‘When the demands placed upon us at work exceed our resources, and we feel we can no longer cope’. You’ve had a stressful day – there’s too much work, deadlines are tight and you’re worrying constantly about the consequences of not getting it done. Perhaps your manager (also stressed) is […]
From stock-take to plate costing The apprenticeship in hospitality is a learning curve in managing costs. Everything is calculated and considered. The months ahead are assessed for school holidays and man-made events. This year’s performance is a gauge to future expectations and budget planning. Yet nothing is taken as seriously, nor done as religiously, as […]
Are you really minding your own business – or is someone else? The importance of cash The key requirement for any business is its ability to generate and sustain profit. If building ‘cash-flow’ is the crux of excellent business management, protecting it should be likewise. Money converts products, labour and a selection of mechanisms, such […]
Negotiating tactics Negotiation consists of 4 stages: Prepare: what do we want? Discuss: what do they want? Propose: what could we trade Bargain: what will we trade? The last 3 stages unfold across the negotiating table, but the first one always happens in advance. You need to be well prepared to ensure maximum productivity; know […]
Identifying Conflict Conflict in business is simply unavoidable. Disagreement over actions, a clash of perspectives and opposing visions can result in problems between people. Some reactions may be inappropriate, while others seem justified. When it comes to effective communication, a professional’s ability to manage conflicts is one of the most challenging and rewarding skills there […]
Planning your presentation If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail! The success or failure of a presentation is determined long before you walk into the venue and engage the audience. Let’s consider how you can plan your presentation effectively, making it as relevant, concise and targeted for your audience as possible. If you […]
You are not alone! It’s time to stand up in front of your clients, customers, business partners, project team or training delegates to convey everything you know to an audience. They will be hanging on your every word. Maybe you are contemplating a job interview or have been persuaded to make a speech at a […]
Decision making – is it mind over matter? How can we decide? German psychologist, Gerd Gigerenzer, identified ‘heuristics’ as tools for smart decision making in times of uncertainty. Allied to intuition, he argues, it is the subconscious mind which decides what our choice will be, given the overwhelming number of options available to us. What […]
Why is it down to managers to solve problems? After all staff are taken on to do specific jobs within their remit, which might include coming up with new ideas. The manager is the one who finds solutions and implements them. It is defined within the performance criteria of their role. The need is to […]
Why minute taking is hard A Local Council once asked me for ideas to help their secretaries Council meetings perform better when taking minutes. They were greatly experienced, and the agencies involved met regularly. But concentrating on taking minutes for a four-hour meeting is difficult. The mind will struggle to stay focused. It starts to […]
There are many different personalities in the workplace, but assertive communication can be incredibly helpful during tough situations that are time-critical or involve important decision making. Sadly, the border between being assertive and annoying is thin, and it’s very easy to overstep your boundaries. Try following this advice on how to become an assertive communicator, […]