Leadership: the problem with managers and how to upskill them
Poor old managers. They really get it in the neck, don’t they? They’ve got top-down pressure to deliver more with less, little time to translate or enthuse their own teams with the need for more, better or faster work, and still less time or encouragement for personal or professional development. In learning and development we […]
The first secret of accelerated learning – finding the balance in priorities
In 2013, I developed my ‘five secrets of accelerated learning’. These ‘secrets’ as I call them, were the culmination of research into a fascinating area. This area had many contributors but, up until then, there was no one unifying model to cover everything we had learned about how to accelerate learning through an organisation. This […]
Leadership: why adaptability is the must-have skill for leaders today
Leadership programmes are littered with coaching models, strategic planning canvases and commercial awareness simulations. Whilst all this stuff is still relevant and important, it’s not what will make a leader successful, only passable. Every industry and workplace will continue to be disrupted by technology, and therefore adaptability is often cited as the number one attribute […]
Leadership skills and development
Presentation skills: take a deep breath and drop the corporate mask
Connecting with an audience in a business setting isn’t just about content – it’s about being able to bring your authentic self to the room. To get better at giving presentations, we first need to look within ourselves. In a corporate training room in London, an inspiring space with lots of natural light, creative décor, […]
A level playing field: why it’s time to rebrand vocational education
With the skills gap now wider than ever, the UK’s young people and employers need to embrace vocational education paths more than ever – but why are people so reluctant? With the summer drawing to a close, many of the UK’s young people have now received their exam results and are weighing up their options. When […]
VIDEO: What’s your work/life tipping point?
Struggling with your work/life balance? Maggie Buggie, SVP, Global Head of Innovation Services & Solutions at SAP (formerly at Capgemini) suggests finding your tipping point, and asks whether there’s a more important underlying question to face. “A lot of people ask me about work/life balance, and I have to be very honest here, I genuinely don’t […]
Transformational leadership: it’s not what you think
Don’t be fooled by the name – transformational leadership is charismatic leadership with a fancy title. The idea of transformational leadership sounds good when taken at face value. A transformational leader is someone who instills pride, respect and trust in their followers. They inspire and motivate people beyond expectations, sparking innovation and change. If you […]
Why apprenticeships are thriving alongside Brexit uncertainty
Amid the uncertainty that Brexit brings for business, apprenticeships are growing in popularity as a practical and cost effective way to upskill the nation’s workforce. The tide is starting to turn when it comes to attitudes towards degrees versus apprenticeships. Years ago, apprenticeships were seen only for those that were unable to get into university. […]
Digital transformation: how to help your people navigate through uncharted territory
Digital transformation is not all about technology. It is easy to forget, but a critical element to consider as your company’s tech evolves is how to support your people as you take them along the journey with you… In 2016 it was predicted that global investment in digital transformation initiatives would reach $2.2 trillion by 2019. […]
Why memory is the most important skill to train employees in
Training employees to have better memory skills makes logical and financial sense – after all, why spend money training them in other skills if they won’t be able to remember them? Here are some tips to help improve memory recall. What if you could not only help your employees to improve their performance, but at […]
Better tailoring education and training for your employees
A ‘one size fits all’ approach to learning is no longer appropriate in today’s working environment. It’s time for organisations to offer truly tailored learning solutions to ensure that the learning needs of employees and the business are met. Transformational changes are happening in every industry and if someone received a degree five years ago, […]
Holistic learning: engaging the mind in learning
How to create learning experiences that mentally engage learners to generate changes in the brain.
Personal development: five ways to improve your critical thinking skills
Rapid technological change has created unique and complex problems to solve, which means critical thinking is now an important skill to nurture – but what are the main traits of a critical thinker? How can you awaken your skills in this area? Lots of people throw around the term ‘critical thinking’, but seem to use […]
Power to the people: creating a learning culture to reach every learner
The rise of the machines is upon us – technology is already changing the way we do business. Companies where employees aren’t adequately trained for this new working environment will soon find themselves left behind. We’re in a time of widespread disruption across the workforce. The development and rapid adoption of technologies such as automation, the […]
Soft skills: the four cornerstones of a great conversation
I believe that the most important things that happen at any organisation are conversations. They are the reason we innovate, collaborate, sell, lead, coach, change, succeed, or fail. A salesperson who struggles to have meaningful customer conversations, a leader who is misunderstood when implementing strategy, or a manager who prefers to avoid coaching conversations are […]
Questioning Skills Exercises/role plays.
Hi, I know it's a bit of an old one this, but I'm going to be running some half-day sessions with some recruitment people who need to enhance their questioning skills as a means to understand their client's needs. I need to get them to be asking questions – a lot – in order to […]
Learning culture: six ways to tell if your employees are learning
Your efforts to create a culture of learning within your organisation are worth nothing if your employees don’t truly embrace learning as part of their everyday activity. Here’s how to tell if the message is really getting through. In every facet of a business, there is a need for continual development and any employer needs […]
UK skills gap: are Institutes of Technology the answer?
The government’s new Institutes of Technology are a step in the right direction for plugging the UK’s skills gap, but there are some key elements missing that must be addressed to ensure their success. The government recently announced that it is creating 12 Institutes of Technology across the country. Backed by a £170 million investment […]
Train, don’t torture: how to avoid another boring, useless training session
Many employees view skills training as a waste of time – so how can you engage and inspire these people and ensure they take something useful away from your session? Skills training is a proven draw for talent, yet it remains a source of dread for many busy workers. Common concerns include: ‘how will I […]
