Effective communication is a skill. This half-day workshop is very interactive - participants can practise their communication skills in a positive, supportive environment. 1 Welcome, introductions and objectives The definition of effective communication Exercise: sending a message 2 Verbal communications Effective communicators - who are they? What skills or attributes do they have? Listening skills, clear use of words, presence, eye contact, body language 3 How good a listener are you? Exercise: listening skills questionnaire and evaluation 4 Impact versus intent - what did you really mean to say? Attitudes influence behaviour and behaviour breeds behaviour Exercise: 'I never said she stole money' The need to avoid misunderstanding or misinterpretation 5 The 5 key principles to effective communication Exercise: 'What would you say?' 6 Written communication What makes an effective written communication? Kipling's 6 Honest Men: who, what, where, when, why and how Planning to write an email 7 Fuzzy meanings Probabilities for misunderstandings and misinterpretations 8 Practical exercise Hone written communication skills and put into practice hints and tips from the session 9 Review of key learning points and objectives
Taking minutes is a much under-rated skill. It can be challenging at the best of times. So how do you do it for virtual meetings? This trainer-led session will help. It's a very practical programme which explores the issues specific to minuting on-line meetings and gives solutions to some of the trickier problems. Full of useful tips, the session will enable participants to: Identify how to adapt their current minute-taking skills to on-line meetings Plan and prepare for a meeting Follow a line of discussion Work in partnership with a remote Chair Deal confidently with minute-taking challenges. 1 Welcome Programme objectives Personal introductions 2 Adapting minute-taking to virtual meetings How is it different? What changes in approach are needed? 3 Preparation Preparing for the meeting Technology and equipment Dress and personal presentation Liaising with the Chair Practical preparation tips 4 Minuting tips Managing the 'techie' elements, eg. poor sound/visual quality Knowing who is speaking Following a line of discussion What if I don't hear or understand? Tips for producing a set of minutes 5 Session review Summary, key learning points, feedback and close
Budgeting is more than mere vague oversight. Budgeting should deliver the corporate strategy, add shareholder value and lead to a well-run business - for the benefit of all involved in it. Effective budgeting leads to real control - effective day-to-day operational control and more. This course demonstrates what proper budgeting and operational control can do. This course will help ensure that participants: Appreciate the importance of the budgeting process Take ownership of it Use it as a daily working tool - not an annual exercise - to help run their part of the operation Improve their reporting against budget Ensure their delivery against budget 1 Objectives of budgets The budget process Stages - what is the prime aim of a budget? What is forecasting? ObjectivesPlanningImplementation 2 Budget and cost control focus Choosing objectives Links with corporate strategy Links with resource management Can the accounting systems cope? 3 Traditional budgeting and control Benefits and drawbacks The process Control and feedback Reporting - what can be expected? 4 Advanced budgeting and control Understanding the business process Taking out costs Cost awareness ZBB - as valid as ever 5 Reports Reports for action The purpose of a report Content - deliverables and feedback Culture is so important
How to protect your cash flow In the current economic climate more and more companies are finding that their customers are taking longer to pay - or are not even paying at all. As cash flow is key to the survival of any business, effective debt collection tactics are vital for all businesses. This workshop concentrates on the telephone skills and techniques you can use to achieve the most positive outcome in any debt collection situation - payment of money owed, as soon as possible, whilst keeping the collection cost as low as possible. The course will help you: Understand your debtors and communicate with them accordingly Develop a strategy for more effective debt collection Make every call count Handle difficult calls Reduce the amount of time you need to spend on chasing payment Increase your collection rates 1 The debt collection process Understanding the reasons behind payment default Looking at the debt situation from the customer's point of view Developing a strategy for effective debt collection 2 Advanced telephone communication skills Techniques for speaking to the person responsible for paying the debt How to gain the customer's trust when discussing debt Telephone collection skills best practice Key phrases that keep the conversation positive and open 3 Questioning and listening skills for gathering information Different types of question Using high-gain questions to uncover key information Active listening that will help you understand what customers are really saying Leading with examples and high-impact questions Summarising and restating 4 Overcoming objections and excuses Identifying objections Preparing suitable responses Probing objections and ways to overcome them 5 Gaining commitment and ending the call Learn how to negotiate an agreement to suit both parties Summarising actions for you and the customer Ending the call professionally 6 Dealing with difficult and challenging situations Understand different personality types The correct way to respond to an upset customer Ways to calm angry customers (and handle verbal attacks) 7 Action plans Course summary and presentation of action plans
Successfully closing a sale and negotiating the best outcome for the business is a key skill for all salespeople, and often an area that is overlooked. Investing in this skill will have a positive impact on interactions with customers, both new and existing, and lead to improved sales performance. Whilst understanding how to reach a conclusion with a customer faster means increased efficiency and more time to invest in sourcing new business. We have developed this programme to be practical, fun and interactive. Participants will learn proven techniques for influencing, persuading and negotiating with clients, gain increased confidence and clarity when reviewing contract terms and prices, and understand how to structure and manage sales negotiation and contract review meetings. This course will help participants: Learn a structured and proven approach to the negotiation of contract terms Apply the key principles of negotiation, playing the person and the problem Create a contract negotiation strategy - from opening to close Recognize and put to use proven negotiation tactics and techniques Learn how to embrace conflict positively - to 'say no, then negotiate' Plan and prepare for any commercial negotiation conversations Understand the stages of negotiation and how to move through them 1 Closing and negotiating from a position of personal power The eight steps of a sales or commercial negotiation Ten ways to resist price pressure How to draw on sources of power when you have less authority The six principles of influence and persuasion and how to use them 2 Effective negotiation - planning and theory How to plan and structure your negotiation for a successful and quick conclusion Influence: knowing how to 'push or pull' to win an argument Achieving a BATNA - a range of practical skills and techniques Case study: planning for a client negotiation around contract or price issues 3 Effective closing and negotiation - practice and reality Higher-level questioning techniques to investigate and solve problems Listening to lead - active listening and structuring your conversation The most common 'unforced' negotiation mistakes and errors Case study: setting objectives, sources of value, trading concessions 4 Sales negotiation tactics and playing the game How high - how hard - how soon; why now How to identify hidden or perceived currencies and values How to use these to establish a higher base price Negotiation best-practice checklist and summary
Supporting teams with Neurodiveristy
China Tourist Welcome Programme Preparing your Hospitality Business for the Chinese Tourist in 2023 Request a free call with an accredited COTRI practitioner to learn more about how the 'China Tourist Welcome' programme can provide your business with the tools to both attract and appropriately 'welcome' Chinese visitors. Register above for a free session with us and we will contact you to schedule an online call. The COTRI ‘China Tourist Welcome’ (CTW) programme, is a bespoke accredited programme delivered in-company by the Centre for Competitiveness, as Ireland's COTRI Country Partner. Our programme is certified by COTRI, (China Outbound Tourism Research Institute), the world's leading independent research institute for Chinese outbound tourism, and is recognised by Tourism NI, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. The training and support programme helps Hotels, Restaurants, Coach Tour Companies and Tourist Destinations, Activities and Products to position themselves at the forefront of the biggest global outbound tourism source market, by understanding the different Chinese market segments, adapt products and services to meet the needs of the Chinese Tourist. It will also provide access to a networking partnership that offers exclusive benefits designed to promote your hospitality & Tourism business in the Chinese marketplace. It is designed for individual organizations or groups of enterprises within a destination, and targets management and team leaders to develop their awareness and competences so that they can create and manage a special ‘Ireland Welcome’ for the Chinese Tourists. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and the National Holiday period, or Golden Week for China is from the 1st of October to the 7th of October, so be ’China Ready’ and provide the products & services that meets the needs of this growing tourist market for the Island of Ireland. Want more information? To learn more on how the 'China Tourist Welcome' programme can help your business, register above for a free session with us and we will contact you to schedule an online call.
Qualification Number Level 1: 603/5291/7 Qualification Number Level 2: 600/3423/3 Minimum entry age 19 Guided Learning Hours Level 1: 30 Guided Learning Hours Level 2: 115 What does this qualification cover? Level 1: • Know how to deliver good customer service • Know different communication methods • Know how to provide good customer service in line with organisational procedures • Know how to effectively deal with customer queries, problems and complaints. Level 2: • The principles of customer service • How customer needs and expectations are formed • The principles of responding to customers' problems or complaints • Interpersonal and team working skills • How to meet customer needs and expectations • Communicating effectively with customers • Legislation which supports the customer service process Who is it suitable for? This qualification is aimed at learners who are new to the customer service sector and wish to improve their knowledge of this area resulting in the achievement of a nationally recognised qualification. The qualification provides learners with the knowledge and understanding in customer service for learners who deal, or intend to deal, with customers on a daily basis as part of their job role and is applicable to a variety of work environments. This qualification is suitable for learners aged 19 and above. What are the entry requirements? There are no specific recommended prior learning requirements for this qualification. How is this qualification structured? Level 1: The qualification is made up of one mandatory unit: • Unit 1 Customer Service Principles Level 2: The qualification is made up of two mandatory units: • Unit 1 Supporting the customer service environment • Unit 2 Delivery of effective customer service How is it assessed? This qualification is assessed via an internally assessed and externally verified portfolio of evidence. Funding for our qualifications This qualification is available fully funded under the Adult Education Budget funding stream and is free to the candidate.