Soft skills and engineers: Google’s Project Oxygen pt1
John Sadowsky turns to a recent project at Google to highlight how soft skills can influence managerial style across an organisation. As someone who has consulted for numerous high-tech companies and who has taught business students and engineers the past two decades, I read with considerable interest an article in the New York Times in […]
Transactional Analysis (TA) Training – video clips
I’ve been asked to add into a Transactional Analysis training course for Managers some video clips to help them spot Parent, Adult, Child behaviour and communication in action. My problem is the first session is Wednesday next week and I haven’t the time to study lots of films to find good examples – anyone know […]
Liggy Webb: “Our coping mechanisms are being challenged”
At a recent event we caught up with workplace wellness expert Liggy Webb to talk about modern life skills. For more information on Liggy and her new book, click here At a recent event we caught up with workplace wellness expert Liggy Webb to talk about modern life skills.For more information on Liggy and her […]
How to use elearning effectively for soft skills development and CPD
Francis Marshall looks at e-learning’s role in developing soft skills and for continuing professional development. E-learning has come a long way in the past decade. While it may not have lived up to its initial hype, creating somewhat of a Marmite effect with users either loving or hating it, it is now one of the […]
How to work with mixed ability groups
Alan Matthews provides the community with some great pointers on how to get the most out of a group of mixed ability. Many years ago, when I was a primary school teacher, it was normal to work with classes or groups of mixed abilities. This presented a challenge to the teacher, how to pitch the […]
Do toys and smelly pens really make a difference?
Alan Matthews makes the case, not just for training accessories, but the training that follows them. Have you been on a training course recently (or run one yourself) where there have been some little toys on the table – springs or bendy men? Or sweets? Or music playing when you went in? Or those smelly […]
The Difference between Training and Comms
I’ve recently taken over a Training Team and found that slot of what they do I would class as Comms rather than Training. By this I mean that they are doing things that only require awareness and don’t require any change in action or behaviour. Does anyone have any credible definitions I could use to […]
PAVA: The four ways to approach diversity training
The right kind of equality and diversity training can reap dividends for your organisation. Snéha Khilay, offers some key top tips on how to approach and manage this effectively. As a practicing trainer, I am constantly challenged to find ways of dealing with scenarios involving cultural diversity in the workplace. I often have to deal […]
Cardboard cop-out
Another great episode last night – and finally we got to see a bit more of the other candidates. What’s more, it was one of my favourite design tasks (remember the bum exerciser and the doomed ‘gym in a box’?) This week the youngsters are confronted by several pairs of wellies in the hallway before […]
Body language demystified: Profiling your delegates
This month our body language expert, Peter Clayton looks at the complex subject of profiling and how it can help you better understand your delegates. Following my last article, Dr. Suzanne Hard commented that some of the scientists that she works with have trouble with understanding why they should smile and make eye contact when […]
20 reasons to invest in sales training
Often we as sales trainers are asked to justify why a business should pay for our services. In this article I will provide 20 compelling reasons why sales training is not simply a cost that your company should carry but rather an investment that all ambitious companies and organisations should seriously consider to help them […]
Soft Skills: Hard results
‘Transferring development into action doesn’t have to be a challenge,’ says Garry Platt. Any soft skills development programme must result in workplace changes which contribute to the business. Often because of the nature of these types of events the content and the material used might be engaging and interesting but does not necessarily impact on […]
Teambuilding: Should you use internal faciliators?
With companies training budgets being squeezed, should the top team use internal facilitators to run their teambuilding events and key meetings? Heather Townsend advises. Most companies when team building with the top team, automatically pay out for an external facilitator. If many highly respected learning and development consultancies are to be believed teambuilding with the […]
Coaching Conundrums: What to do with a moaning client
This month’s coaching conundrum is about how to deal with a client who likes to spend their entire session moaning. Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman advise. Clients often arrive for coaching aware that it’s an opportunity for them to share their issues. Some clients take this as an invitation to complain bitterly and at […]
Mehrabian Nights: An informative tale about (mis)communication
Martin Shovel’s expose of the Mehrabian Myth has proved so popular that he has created a short animated film to illustrate his points. We’ve added it to his popular article, to illustrate this tall tale about communication, in which common sense is stretched to breaking point. Here’s an urban myth about communication that’s harder to […]
Are they really listening?
Dawn Smith says ‘lend me your ears’ as she examines what can be done in the training room to encourage delegates to listen more effectively. Universities such as Reading and Glasgow Caledonian are dishing out advice to students on how to improve their listening skills. The ability to listen effectively is a skill that can […]
Great ice-breakers and energisers
You may also find the following articles of interest: Icebreakers for money laundering training Icebreaker for Telephone Training Icebreaker for corporate induction 300 person icebreaker Pointless icebreakers Every now and then, there is a query on Any Answers about icebreakers and energisers. Here are a few of the best ideas that have been shared by […]
Approaching a customer – activity needed
Hi there, I’m looking for an activity to use as part of a customer service training programme that gets the participants using open questions. Does anyone have any good examples that they would be willing to share? I’d love to hear from you, either as a response to this message or you can email me […]
NEWS: Clean language workshop
The Association for Coaching is holding a ‘clean language’ workshop next month, on 17 June in Maidenhead at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £20 to members of the Association, £35 for non members. For more details see the Association for Coaching websitehere To read more about ‘clean language’ then read Bob Selden’s feature How clean is your […]
Diary: Learning together
In this timely diary, and reflecting on a recent unsuccessful tender, Tom Boydell explains his belief that learning together – across professional boundaries – can create greater understanding, working relationships and eventual outcomes. I have just heard that we failed to win the tender with which I closed last month’s diary entry. Quite a disappointment […]
