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 […]
Free thinking: Beyond plain English
Martin Shovel explores why speaking plainly just isn’t enough when it comes to leadership, and how poetry and the ancient art of rhetoric can help… How would your colleagues react if you turned up at the office one day in your pyjamas? Chances are, you’d struggle to get them to take you seriously. And if […]
Life after PowerPoint: Alternative software tools for great presentations
It may seem that Microsoft PowerPoint has the presentation software market covered, but there are other solutions available, both for your desktop machine and via the web. Technology correspondent Jon Wilcox investigates alternative presentation tools and resources. For many users, Microsoft PowerPoint is the default presentation tool. Long-standing, largely stable, and an integral part of […]
Practical tips for projecting your voice
As we wind up this month’s focus on presentations Helen Sewell delivers an updated version of the TrainingZone guide to projecting your voice, including tips for voice projection exercises. The art of voice projection is perhaps nowhere better illustrated than in the Blackadder episode ‘Sense and Senility’ when the actors Keanrick and Mossop attempt […]
Training awards: Why they matter – and how to win!
There are plenty of awards open to training professionals and these could present you with the opportunity to benchmark against the best whilst boosting employee relations and external business at the same time. Stephanie Sparrow examines the power of training awards – and shares some secrets on how to produce award-winning applications. Training AwardsThe following […]
The compelling presentation
Kicking off TrainingZone.co.uk’s April focus on presentations, Hilary Fraser examines how to deliver persuasive presentations – in other words, persuade your audience to do what you want! We all need others to do what we want sometimes: give me the job; sign off on the deal; lend me a fiver; do it my way. We […]
Employers lead design of vocational training and education
By 2010, all vocational qualifications will have to sit within the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). Alix Dees and Lyndy Pullan explain how employers are shaping vocational training and education through Sector Skills Councils. The 25 Sector Skills […]
Video: The real apprentices
Leading retailers reveal how their businesses are reaping rewards through apprenticeships in the video below.More than 80 major players in the retail sector gathered at London’s Excel Centre for a Skillsmart Retail Apprenticeship event hosted by Theo Paphitis. Speakers include Theo Paphitis – the retail apprentices’ champion, Hayley Tatum, Tesco’s UK operations personnel director and […]
Diary: And now for something a little bit different
As the new restructuring beds down, training manager and diarist Nathaniel Wallace faces up to the challenge of providing some innovative learning solutions in 2009. He starts by hiring a trainer who is just a little bit odd… We have reached the final lap of the financial year. Heads and senior managers are putting the […]
An introduction to Visio: organisational charts and much more
IT trainer Trevor Eddolls presents an introductory tutorial to Microsoft Office Visio, the drawing program for people who think they can’t draw. According to neurolinguistic programming (NLP) theorist Richard Bandler, learning can be auditory, kinaesthetic and visual. He would be the first to admit that most people absorb a combination of all three approaches. So […]
Climbing the training career ladder
So, you want to make training a career? Bob Selden has some essential, practical advice for those just starting on the training career ladder. I recently had an enquiry from a young trainer asking how she could improve her career prospects. My answer? “Become an expert”. Not an expert trainer (that is taken as a […]
Free thinking: Obama’s magic
Barack Obama can hold his audience spellbound, so what can the rest of us mere mortals learn from him about his magnetic speaking style? Martin Shovel looks at what makes Obama’s presentations so successful, and says it’s possible to spread a little of his magic. "Having heard someone speak, as time passes, you may find […]
Training to save lives
For Geraldine Grainger, training people to deal with choppy waters is all in a day’s work as she takes the helm as college principal at the RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset. The former head of L&D at John Lewis talks about about her transition from commercial to charity sector. Geraldine’s departure from the John Lewis […]
How to: Set a fee for your training services
How do you decide on a fee for your training that won’t undervalue your services or make the client run a mile? Peter Mayes tackles the age-old conundrum. A common question on TrainingZone.co.uk’s Any Answers forum is;“How much should I charge for my training?” This question suggests one of two things: The individual is, or […]
Tony Buzan answers members’ questions
Before Christmas in an interview with Tony Buzan, we gave members a chance to ask him questions. You came up trumps – the breadth, depth and quality of the questions impressed the great man himself. But what of the answers? Here is Tony Buzan’s second set of replies to your questions on creativity, mind mapping […]
