677 Improv courses in Leeds

R&D work is often carried out in entrepreneurial companies with the aim of developing solutions to scientific or technological problems for a wide range of customers. Projects can include longer term 'frontiers of science' research, medium term product development/manufacturing or more immediate troubleshooting or contract research assignments. In all these contexts, the ability to create innovative solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner is the essence of successful R&D. Whilst R&D groups typically excel in technical expertise, those involved often recognise that there is scope for improving the way that projects are managed. The aim of this training programme is to address this need whilst ensuring that the creative, entrepreneurial spirit that is fundamental to good R&D continues to flourish. MODULE 1: Creating the foundations for success Off-line video tutorials and exercises Total time ~ 1 - 1.5 hours Video 1: Making the most of project management in R&D Characterising R&D projects Applying project management to R&D work Exploiting the potential of project management in R&D Video 2: Promoting success in R&D project management Modelling successful project management Evaluating performance and promoting success The role and skills of the project manager/leader MODULE 2: Initiating and defining R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Selecting and initiating projects Recognising worthwhile opportunities; initiating projects Identifying stakeholders and their goals Characterising and engaging stakeholders Session 2: Defining goals and agreeing deliverables Establishing the full scope of the project Clarifying and prioritising project deliverables Defining and agreeing deliverable specifications MODULE 3: Planning R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Identifying and organising activities Creating effective plans; avoiding planning pitfalls Identifying tasks and assigning responsibilities Sequencing tasks and estimating durations Session 2: Developing the timeline and resource plan Identifying the 'critical path'; creating a resource plan Dealing with estimating uncertainty Accelerating the programme MODULE 4: Leadership and teamwork in R&D projects Off-line video tutorials and exercises Total time ~ 1 - 1.5 hours Video 1: Working effectively in project teams Building teamwork in contemporary organisations Recognising each other's skills; building synergy Building good working relationships; handling conflict Video 2: The role of the R&D project team leader Building teamwork: the role of leadership Creating an effective team culture Delegating work and motivating team members MODULE 5: Managing uncertainty in R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Characterising uncertainty; identifying risks Exploring uncertainty; applying risk management Focusing the risk management process Identifying and defining risk events Session 2: Managing and controlling risks to the project Evaluating risk events Selecting between risk strategies; setting contingencies Updating and controlling exposure to risk MODULE 6: Implementing and controlling R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Initiating assignments and managing changes Creating a pro-active implementation and control culture Establishing effective implementation and control procedures Assigning work and managing changes Session 2: Monitoring, managing and developing performance Adopting meaningful monitoring techniques Responding to problems; building performance Managing and controlling multiple project assignments

Wouldn't sales be a 'walk in the park' without challenging customers? Why is it that some customers are so difficult to please, so quick to call 'foul' at the slightest blip and so mean with their gratitude after we've bent over backwards to accommodate them? Whether we are looking at prospective or existing customers, there is a toolkit for dealing with the most challenging of them. This course will help participants: Use broad open questions to give the customer a platform for their opinions or issues Improve listening skills to really understand what's behind the customer's challenging style Probe specific phrases to show listening and earn deeper disclosure Use silence to let challenging customers 'blow off steam' Understand the negative impact of certain phrases on a challenging customer Summarise effectively and reassure the customer of our understanding of their needs Recognise the 'behaviour cycle' and avoid emotional escalation Understand 'transactional analysis' and how to bring people from 'child' to 'adult' state Create loyalty in customers who are slow to give trust 1 What makes a customer 'challenging'? Why customers challenge us - understanding their drivers 'Wearing their shoes' - seeing things from their perspective Understanding our own personality style How to flex with a style that is different from our own Ways to quickly recognise a customer's style The benefits of flexing with a challenging customer's style 2 Practical exercise - forum theatre Participants take it in turns to deal with the trainer (who plays the role of the challenging customer) Observers stop the action when they hear or see something they deem wrong The participant in the seat gets a chance to use a suggested alternative line The participant who makes the suggestion has the chance to occupy the seat and deliver it themselves Frequent feedback from the trainer as to how the participant's words are making him feel Opportunities to rewind the action if an ill-advised line is suggested and delivered Flipchart for capturing what worked, what didn't work and why Mehrabian principle - the importance of body language and tone over words used 3 Questioning and listening skills How to use open questions to get the customer talking What questions to avoid and why The use of pauses and silence to reduce tension and build trust What listening is and what it isn't Question funnelling - how to earn deeper disclosure through probing The power of summary 4 Transactional analysis explained What is transactional analysis (TA)? Exploring the TA states and why people behave in that way under pressure How to bring challenging customers to 'adult' state to reduce tension How 'parent' or 'child' behaviours can be inadvertently triggered Understanding the 'behavioural cycle' and how to break it Mini-role play 'vignettes' to demonstrate real time impact of ill-chosen words 5 How to build trust with challenging customers Techniques for placating current challenging customers Methods that the participants have already used effectively - understanding why those methods worked and how other participants can model them Participants' experiences of trust having been lost - understanding why those experiences had that negative outcome How to 'go the extra mile' with challenging customers 6 Bringing a 'real' challenging customer to life Participants give the trainer a brief profile of a specific challenging customer of theirs 5-10 minute roleplay in which the trainer brings that individual to life Observing participants - without interrupting - make notes on what is and isn't working Trainer stops the action half-way through to give feedback on how he is feeling Participant goes back into the roleplay having recalibrated their approach based on feedback Observers give feedback on what did and didn't work Trainer comes out of character to explain the impact of the participant's words and behaviours 7 Wrap-up Key learnings from each participant Individual action planning - steps that can and will be implemented in the workplace

What do engineers and project managers need to know of finance? 'Nothing - leave it to the accountants!' No, no, no! Engineers must be conversant with the terminology and statements that accountants use. Technical expertise in projects, service delivery, production or other areas can only really be harnessed if the managers understand the accounting and reporting that drives businesses. This course gives the necessary understanding to project, production and technical managers. It develops their skills in understanding financial and management accounting. Accountants may not always like it but a major part of their work is to be the 'servants of business' and to gather, compile and present your figures. So you must understand the figures - they belong to you, your processes or projects. There are many reasons for maintaining accurate accounts. This course focuses on the strategic issues (those over-used words) - what figures reveal about the drivers of business and what they reveal about the day-to-day issues that accountants bother you with. The course will enhance your understanding of finance and of the accounting issues which affect your projects, production and technical areas of business. This course will help you: Understand the business world in figures - make sense of what the accountants are telling you Appreciate what drives business - and how this affects your role in your part of the business Relate your activities to the success of the business - through figures Gain the skills to advance in management - financial awareness is a 'must have' if you are to progress in your career 1 What do accountants do? The finance function, types of accountant, financial v management accounting and the treasury function Understanding the role of the finance function and how the information you provide may be used 2 The basic financial statements Balance sheets and income statements (P&L accounts) What they are, what they contain and above all what they can reveal - how to read them The accounting process - from transactions to financial statements What underpins the statements - accounting systems and internal controls 3 Why be in business - from a financial perspective The driving forces behind financial information Performance measures - profitability, asset utilisation, sales and throughput, managing capital expenditure 4 Accounting rules - accounting standards Accounting concepts and the accounting rules: accruals, 'going concern' - substance over form and other 'desirable qualities' Accruals - why the timing of a transaction is so important to the finance function Depreciation and amortisation - the concepts and practice Accounting standards - the role of International Financial Reporting Standards 5 Cash The importance of cash flow - working capital management Cash flow statements - monitoring overall cash flows Raising cash - levels of borrowing, gearing Spending cash - an outline of capital expenditure appraisal 6 Budgeting Why budget? - good and bad practice Determining why budgets play a key role and should not be simply an annual ritual Justifying your budgets - the link between the strategic plan and day-to-day budgeting - alignment of company culture Budgets as motivators - the importance of the right culture Techniques to improve budgeting - whether day-to-day or capital budgeting 7 Costing The type and detail of costing very much depends on your business - eg, manufacturing piston rings is quite different from the construction of a power plant Issues with overhead allocation Accounting for R&D 8 Reading financial statements Annual financial statements - why they are produced, what's in them and what you should look for Learning what a set of accounts reveals about a company's current situation, profitability and future prospects 9 Performance measurement - analytical reviews and ratio analysis ROI/ROCE Profitability, margins and cost control Sales - asset turnover Efficiency (asset / stock turnover, debtor / creditor days) 'City' measures Investment (interest / dividend cover, earnings per share, dividend yield)

High quality specifications are of paramount importance in achieving the right technical performance and value for money. This long-established training programme has been developed to help those involved in producing specifications to create high quality documents in an organised and effective way. It provides a sound foundation for those new to the topic whilst at the same time offering new insights to those with more experience. The programme emphasises the need for a clear definition of requirements combined with the ability to communicate those requirements effectively to third parties. A structured method of preparing specifications is provided, and a range of practical techniques is presented, to enable participants to put the principles into practice. The commercial and contractual role of specifications is also addressed. The objectives of the workshop are to: Provide a clear understanding of the role and purpose of specifications Present a framework for organising and producing specifications Define the key steps involved in creating effective specifications Demonstrate methods for assisting in defining requirements Provide tools and techniques for scoping and structuring specifications Show the role of specifications in managing variations and changes to scope Present methods to assist the writing and editing of specifications Review how specifications should be issued and controlled DAY ONE 1 Introduction Review of course objectives Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 Creating effective specifications The role of specifications in communicating requirements The costs, benefits and qualities of effective specifications Understanding the differences between verbal and written communication The five key steps of 'POWER' writing: prepare-organise-write-edit-release Exercise: qualities of an effective specification 3 Step 1: Preparing to write - defining readership and purpose; the specification and the contract Designing the specifications required; applying BS 7373 Defining the purpose, readership and title of each document Effective procedures for writing, issuing and controlling specifications The roles and responsibilities of the key players Understanding contracts; the contractual role of the specification Integrating and balancing the technical and commercial requirements Writing specifications to achieve the appropriate contract risk strategy Deciding how to specify: when to use functional and technical specifications The role of specifications in managing variations and changes to scope 4 Case study 1 Teams review a typical project scenario and identify the implications for the specification Feedback and discussion 5 Step 2: Organising the specification content Defining the need and establishing user requirements Deciding what issues the specification should cover Scoping techniques: scope maps, check lists, structured brainstorming Clarifying priorities: separating needs and desires Dealing with requirements that are difficult to quantify Useful techniques: cost benefit analysis, QFD, Pareto analysis 6 Case study 2 Teams apply the scoping techniques to develop the outline contents for a specification Feedback and discussion DAY TWO 7 Step 2: Organising the specification content (cont) Deciding what goes where; typical contents and layout for a specification The three main segments: introductory, key and supporting Creating and using model forms: the sections and sub-sections Detailed contents of each sub-section Tools and techniques for outlining and structuring specifications 8 Case study 3 Teams develop the detailed specification contents using a model form Feedback and discussion 9 Step 3: Writing the specification The challenges of written communication Identifying and understanding the readers needs Choosing and using the right words; dealing with jargon Problem words; will, shall, must, etc; building a glossary Using sentence structure and punctuation to best effect Understanding the impact of style, format and appearance Avoiding common causes of ambiguity Being concise and ensuring clarity Choosing and using graphics to best effect Exercises and examples 10 Step 4: Editing the specification Why editing is difficult; how to develop a personal editing strategy Key areas to review: structure, content, accuracy, clarity, style and grammar Editing tools and techniques 11 Step 5: Releasing and controlling the specification Key requirements for document issue and control Final formatting and publication issues; document approval Requirements management: managing revisions and changes 12 Course review and action planning What actions should be implemented to improve specifications? Conclusion

English Language courses at Bath Academy are suitable for every type of student. Join classes every Monday.

Managing for Growth is designed for anyone who has management and leadership responsibilities within an organisation. Suitable for newly promoted managers, team leaders and supervisors through to senior managers; the objective of the programme is to develop a culture that will translate strategy into measurable outcomes by engaging these leaders to facilitate change and innovation. The programme is extremely effective at giving managers the tools and skills to deliver sustainable change and business growth. It's also been proven to reduce costs and increase profit – even before the programme has ended.   Managing for Growth is built upon three aspects common to every job:   Managing Resources. Ensuring that the resources available are appropriate for the tasks for which they are required and are being used effectively. Learning how to control and coordinate a mix of available resources for maximum efficiency. Managing Relationships. Positively influencing people’s behaviour in order to motivate them and promote effective working. Focusing on listening skills, we share ways to improve communication and teamwork to get the best from both internal and external relationships. Controlling Routines. Investigating the processes/systems/routines/series of actions that are linked together to achieve a desired outcome. Recognising the importance of controlling, developing, simplifying and following routines.   Managing for Growth shows your team leaders, supervisors and managers how to cultivate a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement within your organisation.   Focus for Action Throughout the programme the participants take part in work-based activities that will cause them to evaluate every aspect of their job and identify areas for improvement. By the end of the programme, the participants act on these action lists and implement improvement projects that will deliver measurable results.   Continuous Improvement Managing for Growth sets the framework for continuous improvement by transferring skills and knowledge enabling your team leaders to translate organisational strategies into real, measurable outcomes.   Format Designed for groups of up to 6 people, the programme is spread over 4 months with the first 7 sessions being held every 2 weeks and the final session a month later. Each session lasts approximately 2 hours.

This Key Worker Skills training course will focus on the roles and responsibilities of the key worker with vulnerable young people in line with legislation and good practice guidelines. The successful care and provisions in place in a residential setting is dependent upon how effective and supported the staff team is. This Key Worker Skills training will enable those in the position of key worker and those considering the position to gain insight and understanding with regards to the importance and difference this role can play in an individual’s life.

Our Motivational Intelligence Executive Management course is targeted at transitional leadership development to adapt to market dynamics. AWARD WINNING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Executive Diploma: Leading With Motivational Intelligence Leading your team or business through transitions or adapting to change is a vital leadership skill that most find challenging. The Power Within Training is dedicated to giving leaders, managers, and businesses throughout England and the UK the executive leadership skills needed to transform their businesses. Neuroscientists have now discovered why people perceive risk, resist change, and cling to the legacy ways they approach their role. With this discovery, we’ve found a practical approach for removing this resistance and fostering greater employee accountability, adaptability, and resilience. The answer was uncovered in the emerging field of Motivational Intelligence. This course has completely changed my outlook on my responsibilities as a manager/leader. To say I have a new perspective is an understatement; I now have the tools to make a massive difference in how I run my company and my life; it has put a new voice in my head that is now directing me in ways I had not thought of before. "If you want a better chance in life and business, do not hesitate to do this course." MANAGING DIRECTOR RBT UNDERFLOWING LIMITED The Role of Motivational Leadership Our motivational leadership courses are rooted in the science of Motivational Intelligence. Motivational Intelligence is designed as an individual’s ability to identify and manage negative thoughts and self-limiting beliefs to overcome obstacles and accomplish goals. Using motivational intelligence and our management development program provides you with the skills and tools needed to face high-level challenges and put thoughts into action while paving the way to a vision. Motivation relies on the learning process of an individual and their ability to observe the relationship between performance and outcome. Motivational leaders can evoke and see the best in their employees and inspire them to work toward a common goal. LEADING WITH MOTIVATIONAL INTELLIGENCE Objectives of our Motivational Leadership Courses The management development program we offer is the world’s first accredited Executive Diploma specifically designed to help progressive-minded leaders adapt to today’s business environment. We focus on issues and challenges created by disruption and turbulence. Our motivational leadership courses address topics ranging from leading/managing virtual teams to helping employees more readily orient to an ever-changing world. The Power Within focuses on imparting fundamental skills, tactical best practices, and powerful insights into the human side of the business. Leadership training provides valuable knowledge to leaders of all levels. The management portion of our leadership training teaches participants how to define the proper team goals, translate them into actionable plans and communicate them in a way that encourages buy-in. Lastly, the leadership portion focuses on developing people by shifting negative thoughts and self-limiting beliefs such that individuals give themselves permission to learn, grow, and execute new strategies and plans. Here are some additional objects of our motivational leadership courses: To Understand the Role of Motivation in the Workplace To Develop a Deep Understanding of the Different Types of Motivation and How They Can Be Applied to Improve Team Performance To Learn How to Use Motivational Intelligence to Create a Positive and Productive Work Environment To Develop the Skills Needed to Increase Employee Engagement and Drive Business Results To Practice Effective Leadership Techniques that Foster Motivation and Engagement LEADING WITH MOTIVATIONAL INTELLIGENCE Our Leading with Motivational Intelligence (MQ) Executive Diploma Programme is specifically designed to help participants create the “complete game” of leadership and management. Leveraged by more than 40% of the largest Fortune 500 companies and implemented around the world, the Leading with Motivational Intelligence (MQ) consistently receives a participant buy-in rate in excess of 97%. However, the most important statistic is: 12 months after completing the course more than 93% of participants continue to use the skills and techniques taught on a daily basis. ABOUT THE MQ EXECUTIVE DIPLOMA Are There Different Types of Motivational Leadership? Motivation is the fuel that drives the accomplishment of a goal; without any motivation, the goal becomes another difficult task. Motivational leadership means understanding that regardless of whether you’re leading a small group or an entire business, your leadership and motivational style can significantly impact the effectiveness of your effort. There are several leadership and motivation styles, but the challenge comes with finding the most appropriate for you and your team. In our leadership development program, we’ll discuss leadership motivational skills while working with you to find the best one. Motivational leadership either takes the form of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation motivates your team to be rewarded internally, and extrinsic motivation uses compensation as a driving force. Compensation can be salary, bonuses, goods, money, or even an appraisal. Here are some examples of different intrinsic and extrinsic motivational types: Competence Motivation – This style is driven by curiosity and a willingness to know more and cultivate additional skills. This style’s central pillar is building more expertise on a subject matter as a noncompetition among peers. Achievement Motivation – Achievement motivation is similar to competence, as it aims to achieve personal development goals. This could take the form of a title within the company. An example could be in your sales department, where a leaderboard or wall of fame is used to track sales. Reward-Based Motivation – This is probably the only motivational type most are aware of, as it’s the easiest way to get a fast motivational boost. The main issue with this type of motivation is that employees get used to it, and the effects don’t last long. Understand the Importance of Motivation Skills in Leadership Motivation drives nearly every action of our lives. Motivational leadership drives the why behind every business idea that’s ever been put into action. As a leader or manager, you must understand the importance of motivating team members, and being able to do this effectively is a requirement in every manager, leader, or business owner’s toolkit. Our management development program builds on best practices, strategic insights, and lessons learned over three decades of building leadership universities for Fortune 500 companies. Focusing on imparting fundamental skills to our executive development course offers powerful insights into the human side of the business. You’ll gain the skills needed to foster a growth mindset within your team. Here are some additional reasons why motivational leadership matters: Improved Performance – Motivated employees can drive the performance of your business. When your employees are motivated, you’ll find lower levels of absenteeism, improved relationships between managers and employees, and improved worker performance throughout your business. Enhanced Innovation – Motivation is a significant force behind innovative ideas. You’re more likely to identify workplace improvement opportunities when your team is motivated. Improved Workplace Culture – Employee motivation and your workplace culture are closely linked. When you take our leadership development program, you’ll discover that a motivated workforce brings commitment, and drive, which enhances your business’s overall morale and creates a positive work culture. Register your interest Motivational Leadership Techniques That Foster Engagement When employees are unmotivated or disengaged, it’s easy to blame tools, processes, or contributing factors. Often, disengagement comes down to a lack of effective leadership. Our leadership training program will help you unlock what leaders need to inspire their employees to do their job and find purpose within their roles. Here are some ways you can apply what you learned during your leadership development program to encourage collaborative leadership and inspire your team to do their very best work: Employees Trust Leaders Whom Both Lead and Follow – Good leaders don’t needlessly exhibit authoritative behaviour. Good leaders show their team that they are willing to roll up their sleeves and work with their team to improve the business. Passion and Positivity Increase Employee Performance – Effective motivational leadership combines finding meaning in work, leveraging connection and community, converting stress into opportunity, taking actions despite the risk, and lastly, maintaining the energy of others through motivation. Show enthusiasm in your business, which will convey your passion to others and can help increase performance and employee engagement. Effective Leadership Prioritizes Business – Successful leaders are more about short-term goals than reaching the next milestone and contributing to your overall business. Practical leadership qualities include providing growth opportunities, inspiring and motivating employees, being open and trusting, and assessing and managing risks. These decisions lead to more long-term success for your business. How To Register For Our Leadership Development Program   Our motivational leadership courses are open to leaders, managers, and business owners looking to quickly adapt their team to change and effectively mentor every team member. The modules in our leadership development program are live virtual instructor-led sessions that meet twice per month for about three and a half hours. These modules incorporate insightful discussions and engaging group conversations designed to shift limiting mindsets, isolate best practices and foster actionable strategies that can be applied immediately. To apply for the course, we ask that you register your interest. Once submitted, The Power Within will contact you to discuss options for fully-funded or partially-funded training opportunities. Register your interest today Book Your Motivational Leadership Course Today   The Power Within is the Motivational Intelligence company dedicated to helping your business become more accountable, resilient, adaptable, and capable of handling all the challenges they encounter. Our leading with Motivational Intelligence Executive Diploma course has been built leveraging Nobel Prize-winning research and the latest advancements to ensure everything necessary for meaningful change is in place. Our leadership development program is fully accredited and internationally recognized for its effectiveness in developing world-class leaders. We want to give you the tools, techniques, and knowledge to think bigger, be better, and achieve more. Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our leadership development program.

Our telephone training takes place in your normal working situation, using the actual telephones and software, and the programming software clients that trainees will use when fully trained. Our trainers will travel anywhere in the world to train you face to face, or if you prefer, we can offer our whole training catalogue remotely using Teams or Zoom. On-site and live remote telecoms training sessions have a general reputation as most effective for trainees to continue to efficiently carry out their telecoms usage, programming and own in-house training of future new employees. On-site training involves employees training at their place of work while they are doing their actual job, or in pre-organised classroom training sessions, based around hands-on interaction, trainer Q&A and all carried out using your own site telephone system. Our telephone trainers also offer consultations on your new or current telephone systems: looking into how you currently use your system, making suggestions on how programming could be tweaked and changed to improve your current usage, how to improve on call handling methods, and informing you of additional products which may be available on your system that you may not be aware of. This could help improve the level of communication across your company and interactions with your customers. We believe telephone handset and voicemail training sessions are essential to the smooth and efficient running of your company, making sure your staff are aware of all the features and benefits that the telephone handsets can offer, and ensuring calls are dealt with quickly and effectively. System administration training is available to teach new administrators how to manage and control a variety of system features. This type of training is especially important when new administrators have little or no previous telecom knowledge or experience, but it is equally important at all levels to ensure the new system is utilised to its maximum capability. Administration days or Call Centre Software training days take one full day to complete. Full Day Example: 9:30 - 16:00 Day Structure  09:30 - 10:45 Handset & VM session for up to 8 people 10:45 - 12:00 Handset & VM session for up to 8 people 12:00 - 12:45 Lunch  12:45 - 14:00 Handset & VM session for up to 8 people 14:00 - 15:15 Handset & VM session for up to 8 people 15:15 - 16:30 Handset & VM session for up to 8 people Half Day Example: 9:30 - 13:00 Switchboard training takes half a day (3-4 hours for up to 3 people). If you want to train more than 3 people, you may need to extend the day to a full day, to ensure everyone gets to have hands-on training on the switchboard. Super Users and Train the Trainer Sessions Super User sessions can also be organised to show advanced system features in order to provide an ongoing training service to their colleagues, once the trainers have left the site.

Develop your consultative selling skills through 6 practical modules: Define your target market Approaches that sell The Sales Interview Discovering prime buying motives How to close sales Overcoming stalls and objections In addition, learn to develop effective work habits, daily / weekly / monthl