The great Myth of Teamwork
Kim Coe, CEO of the The How2 Group, sees successful group working as a matter of removing internal competition. Many speakers and writers have done a much better job than I ever could in illustrating team work and team building in the worlds of sport, great exploration and even war, so I am going to […]
Workplaces provide a sustaining community to employees – research
New research by Penna Sanders and Sidney explores the social and commercial advantages of workplace friendships. The context for the study was the breakdown of the traditional networks that support individuals – family, neighbours, the church and so on – and hence the importance of the workplace as a source of social community and friendship. […]
Leading teams on the high seas – research
Jane Cranwell-Ward, Director of Henley Learning Partnership at Henley Management College and co-author of “Inspiring Leadership: Staying afloat in turbulent times”, describes some of the lessons about leadership and teamwork that emerged from research during the BT Global Challenge Round the World Yacht Race. The research was conducted by Henley Management College and Inspiring Performance. […]
Team Building – what does it really mean? A provider speaks
Do managers know what they mean when they look for team training and building? Julian Dodson, Director of Active Learning Events Ltd and the 7 Seas Challenge, looks at definitions and at the expectations of clients, and suggests what to look for. Has the term ‘team building’ become diluted and confused?At briefing stage we always […]
How do you get through meetings? – Research
Office workers spend an average of 15 hours per week in meetings and as a result are devising quirky and ingenious ways to break up ‘meeting monotony’, according to a survey by the latest survey from Office Angels.The survey of 1,500 office workers suggests that over two thirds (68%) admit having a pre-meeting routine where […]
Steps in successful team building
The Chartered Management Institute provides some principles to rely on when setting out to work with a team. This checklist explores the essential aspects of planning, setting up and maintaining an effective team for specific projects or assignments.DefinitionTeams are not the same as other groups; they need to be planned, built and maintained. A number […]
What do you want from a team?
David Archibald, Senior Consultant at ukIdea shares his analysis of the qualities common to the best corporate teams. These comments are simply based on personal experience of teams, ranging from the mediocre to the dazzlingly effective. It’s my summary of 20 years in the corporate and multinational environment.The best teams normally have: 1. Members of […]
Developing teams – a fire officer’s view
In this contributed member feature, an experienced operational Fire Officer looks at the issues involved in running a successful team in critical situations. As an experienced operational Fire Officer (of some 24 years), the main aspects about a strong team that come through at every incident I attend or command are: 1. Effective communication2. Sharing […]
More development for leaders, except at the top – research
Despite public concern at failing leadership at the top of the corporate world, UK business is focusing more attention on the leadership skills of its junior managers than its CEOs, according to research by The Work Foundation.The survey – Developing Leaders – shows that company directors are the management group least likely to receive leadership […]
Management development at Abbey National
Tracy Toon describes how Abbey National handle management development. Who is responsible for Management Development in Abbey National?The Management Development and Education Team is responsible for helping Abbey National leaders to identify their learning and development requirements, arising from business objectives and Group strategy, and to provide the learning and development solutions to meet these […]
TrainingZONE’s theme for January: Management development
Becoming a managerWe opened our series of features on management development, appropriately enough, by going back to the beginning and asking what happens when someone becomes a manager, and what should happen. Mark Cole looks at the social, skills and performance aspects to becoming a manager, and wonders if we take any of these seriously […]
UK Productivity improving but workplace tensions are rife
Britain’s managers believe their organisations have become more productive after introducing new working practices and successfully implementing large-scale changes, according to an annual survey by Roffey Park into the state of the workplace. However, this year’s “Management Agenda” also uncovered an undercurrent of tension made apparent by escalating workloads, increases in workplace conflict, bullying and […]
The future of facilitation – feature
As facilitation continues its unstoppable rise, Michael Dawson talked to the directors of Roffey Park about why some commonly-held views about it need to be updated. Some see facilitation as confined to the world of training and development. This is where many facilitators started out but others came to it through the world of participatory […]
Management training: overhead or asset?
Prof. David Towler, CEO of Cambridge Online Learning, looks at the growing interest in and demand for management development. Before examining the ins and outs or, more specifically the inputs and outputs of management training, it would be useful to explore what UK businesses think ‘management’ actually means.What is management?A recent report by the Chartered […]
New structures for developing management – Investors in People interview
Investors in People has launched a new model for Leadership and Management. TrainingZONE talked to Chief Executive Ruth Spellman about the growth of interest in management and leadership development.TrainingZone Where did the impetus first come from to develop the leadership and management model?Ruth Spellman We have done a lot of research and consultation among existing […]
Management development – damned if you do and damned if you don’t?
Kim Coe, CEO of the The How2 Group, looks at the main obstacles to good management: arrogance, stupidity and fear. Let me state right at the outset that I believe every corporate failure and every corporate success is brought about by Management.Yes, there are enormous influences and pressures created by circumstances, markets and competitors but […]
Higgs report sets out roles for non-executive directors
Derek Higgs’s report into the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors focuses directly on their effectiveness in promoting company performance, as well as on issues of accountability. The recommendations aim to increase rigour and transparency in the appointment process to foster meritocracy and widen the spread of experience in UK boardrooms. Recommendations– Proposals to promote […]
Keeping management fit
This feature was contributed by Steve Bruzzese, Training Consultant, Training for Advancement. The Times They Are A Changin’Times are hard in corporate Britain, you know. Although we haven’t felt the effects of the global economic slowdown as heavily as our US colleagues, those heady dotcom days of limitless spending are well and truly behind us. […]
Questions for a training manager on management development – Niall Gavin
Niall Gavin, FIITT, DipMan, IT Training Manager for Sussex Police, gives his annswers to our questions.1. What do you think are the crucial generic management skills?Financial management – revenue and capital budget management – being able to measure and/or evidence return on investment for budget buildingPeople/Communication skills – listening, emotional intelligence, reflecting, 2. Do you […]
Aspiring managers let down by UK employers – research
Nearly 85% of young professionals aspire to be tomorrow’s managers, a survey commissioned by Investors in People reveals. In stark contrast, many respondents say their careers are restricted by current working environments. Only 52% of those surveyed are satisfied with career developments on offer and only 45% feel employers encourage them to gain promotion.Ruth Spellman, […]