Conflict is a word that conjures up many emotions. It is something that most people would prefer to avoid, if possible. Work can be an emotive place. Positive relationships can make your life at work exciting, motivating and challenging, whilst relationships that do not hold value to you could make your life very difficult and stressful, especially if there is conflict between you and your manager. This course is essential for people who want to understand where conflict can be used to positive effect and how to manage conflict in your working relationships and see it as something positive that can stimulate the environment. Research has shown that relationships at work are an extremely high motivational factor, and for a lot of people it has a higher importance that salary! Therefore, it is essential that we invest in relationships and search out new ways to make them better in order to have a more positive influence on our surroundings. By understanding why other people are in conflict we can manage the conversation a lot better, with outcomes managed more effectively so the 'conflict' will add value to the organisation. This participative event will cover a wide variety of exercises and personal stories, and leave course participants with a clear strategy to identify when they are in conflict with someone and how they will structure their approach to get to a satisfactory outcome. This is a workshop that targets anyone where conflict needs to be managed and cannot seem to resolve it, whether internally or externally. At the end of the day, participants will: Know their key relationships and the strength of those relationships Complete the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) to identify where you deploy your strengths Understand what is important to you and your key stakeholders Know how motivational value systems can influence behaviour Tailor your communication style to match that of your opposite party Know conflict strategies to resolve conflict in others Learn to be more assertive when challenging Achieve key personal, departmental and organisational objectives 1 Where are you now? How effective are your current working relationships? Can I work effectively without the input from others? Who do you need to be a success? 2 The Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) Completion of the SDI questionnaire An understanding of the theory A 'trip around the triangle' Predicting relationship interaction Your scores and what they mean in your relationships 3 Conflict theory What is conflict? The 3 flags of conflict What are your conflict triggers? Your conflict scores plotted The conflict sequence 4 Conflict resolution strategies Early warning signs Most productive behaviours Least productive behaviours Preventable / unwarranted conflict Review of the dynamic triangle Review of the day, personal learning and action planning
This foundational course will help all managers better understand what a procurement function does, including the processes, tools and techniques it employs to reach its goals and how it measures its business performance. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN HOW TO: Explain the contribution of procurement to the overall business objectives. Explain the added value that can be obtained by a business when it manages its procurement activities efficiently and effectively. Understand the complex activity of procurement and the challenges it presents for risk management. Develop good quality procurement practices that will manage the expectations of all stakeholders Identify methods by which a procurement function can be measured and performance monitored. Perform contract management activities. Understand ways in which improvements might be identified and implemented. COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE: Procurement and business objectives Stakeholder Management Commercial Specifications Whole Life Costing Targeted procurement Procurement planning Supplier Appraisal and selection RFQ & ITT & Evaluation Contract Management
Increasing sales is the core of objective for all salespeople and it is vital they are given the tools and techniques to thrive in this highly competitive environment. The landscape within which salespeople operate is ever shifting, and now more than ever it is recognised that the key to successful selling is understanding the customer's needs and working collaboratively with them to achieve their objectives. This highly practical programme has been developed to support salespeople to develop their all-round sales skills using a customer-focused approach. The course will be fun and informal, using practical exercises to help new and experienced salespeople ensure they are equipped to deal with the challenges of selling. This course will help participants: Develop core sales skills such as building rapport, questioning and presenting benefits Identify the roles and goals of key contacts and recognize the importance of consultative selling Understand how to achieve sales by uncovering needs, matching benefits and promoting value Understand how to structure and control a customer interaction and set clear objectives for each account Develop techniques for handling objections, questions and staying positive Master the art of closing a sale and gaining agreement Understand tactical selling and how to build multiple contacts and relationships Develop skill and confidence in selling to both new prospects and existing customers 1 Consultative selling - key principles for success Recognise the importance of consultative selling and being client-focused Build the right processes to achieving sales targets - questions before features Assess your core sales skills; building rapport, asking questions, presenting features and benefits, closing 2 Consultative sales call skills How best to structure and control a customer meeting or call to be client-centric: Four Cs The importance of setting clear objectives for each call and account Setting the agenda and pre-call preparation Planning sessions 3 Your mission, message and meaning - comparative advantage Defining sales messages and USPs; positioning value and quality not price Knowing your target product and services and their value to the customer Understanding your customers buying role and qualifying the opportunity 4 An effective sales meeting - part 1 Opening the sales interview - and building rapport Gaining and retaining the full attention of the customer Probing and identifying real needs using effective sales questions Planning and practice sessions for consultative selling 5 An effective sales meeting - part 2 Matching customer needs and wants to products and services available Presenting your product or service using features, advantages, and benefits Recognising and responding to buying signals and other sales opportunities Planning and practice sessions 6 Closing the sale successfully Anticipating objections and seeing them as positives, including price objections Handling objections using proven methods and models How and when to ask for the sale professionally Follow up and follow-through Planning and practice sessions
The core principles gained from this course will help delegates have a better understanding of how to manage the relationships between sales and marketing stakeholders on the demand side and the manufacturing and other operational stakeholders on the supply side. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN HOW TO: • Take a different perspective on traditional data such as sales history and forecasts, as well as time-phased inventory projections and production capacity. • Recognise how their forecasts impact manufacturing schedules and inventory levels. • Assess whether they are producing enough products to meet sales demand. • Recognise how production is tied to finance and see the financial impact of production decisions, so appropriate adjustments may be then undertaken. COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE: What is S&OP? – Introduction – Definition and benefits S&OP processes – What information is required? – The stages of the S&OP process (including inputs & outputs) The integration of S&OP into a business – Critical success factors for an effective implementation – Typical roles and responsibility matrix
This foundational course will help all managers to better understand what a supply chain is and how their roles impact and interact with, their end-to-end supply chain process. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN HOW TO: • Understand the role of the supply chain within the wider business context • Become aware of the fundamental trade-offs in the supply chain (e.g. supply chain cost vs service level, efficiency vs flexibility etc.) • Understand the importance of supply chain planning and be able to identify its key components • Develop awareness of the key challenges in modern inventory management and distribution; become familiar with tested practices that allow responding to these challenges • Understand the meaning of essential supply chain terminology • Understand how supply chain performance affects company financial results COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE: • What is supply chain management? Why is it important? • The importance of cost versus service • Purchasing and procurement • Manufacturing processes • Demand management • Warehouse and inventory management • Logistics and transport • Risk management
It is essential that those charged with responsibility for credit control and debt recovery have a full appreciation of the relevant law: no-one can negotiate effectively to recover a debt if they don't understand the ultimate sanctions they can apply. This programme is designed to give them a practical, up-to-date understanding of the law as it applies to your particular organisation. This course will help ensure that participants: Understand the relevant laws Know how and when to invoke legal processes Avoid legal pitfalls in debt collection negotiations Specific, practical learning points include: Definition of 'harassment' How to set up an in-house collection identity Whether cheques in 'full and final settlement' are binding The best steps to trace a 'gone away'... and many, many more. 1 Data protection and debt recovery There are a whole range of things which can be checked on members of the public and which are not affected by the restraints of the Data Protection Act. These will be explained in simple, clear terms so that staff can use this information immediately. 2 County Court suing The expert trainer will show how to sue for money owed, obtain judgment and commence enforcement action without leaving your desk. This module is aimed at showing how to make the Courts work for you instead of the other way around! 3 Enforcement of judgments There are many people who have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against their debtor but who still remain unpaid. This session explains each of the enforcement methods and how to use them to best effect. Enforcement methods covered include: Warrant of Execution Using the sheriff (now known as High Court Enforcement Officers) Attachment of earnings Third Party Debt Orders Charging Orders (over property and goods) Winding-up companies and making individuals bankrupt 4 Office of Fair Trading rules on debt recovery Surprisingly few people are aware of the Office of Fair Trading rules on debt recovery and many of those that do know think they don't apply to them - but they do. Make sure you know what you need to! 5 New methods to trace elusive, absentee and 'gone away' debtors Why write the money off when you can trace the debtor and collect the money you are owed? 6 Credit checking of new and existing customers It makes sense to credit check would-be, new and existing customers to evaluate the likelihood of payment delays or perhaps not being paid at all. This session shows a range of credit checking steps, many of which can be done completely free of charge, including a sample credit application/ account opening form. 7 Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations Do your staff understand this legislation and how to use it to make people pay quicker than ever before? The trainer shows how. 8 The Enterprise Act The Enterprise Act made some startling changes to corporate and personal insolvency. What are the implications for credit control and debt recovery within your organisation?
If you're looking to move to the next level in your career in sales, then understanding how to maximise your sales results, using a consultative and structured approach, will be key to your success. In order to develop the competitive advantage that enables you to stand out from the crowd, it is important to understand the tools and techniques to take your selling to new heights and build the confidence to apply them in work-based scenarios. We have developed this programme to be practical, fun and interactive. Learners will gain a range of practical skills that they can take back and apply to the workplace straight away, that will have a positive impact on sales and customer satisfaction. This course will help participants: Develop a structured and client-focused approach to creating high quality sales opportunities and account growth Learn persuasion and influencing skills to better define needs and develop opportunities Understand how to have better sales conversations, presentations, and proposals - leading to higher order value and increased sales Develop advanced sales questioning skills and techniques; understand the importance of listening Understand how to add value at all stages; plus gaining competitive advantage Develop proven ways to overcome and reduce price pressure Know when to use options and upselling when presenting products and solutions Develop techniques and skills for improved negotiation and closing 1 Advanced Selling - How to Increase your sales results Review of pre-course data and questionnaire The AVC model of increasing your sales results Creating a sales growth plan to achieve higher sales targets Mapping the accounts and products for targeted growth 2 The Four Cs to structure a sales call Research before the meeting or call; setting objectives, planning and preparation How to gain instant rapport and taking control - including online meetings Qualifying and initial questioning skills Creating an agenda and first-meeting structure: Four Cs Planning and practice sessions 3 Building bigger and better sales opportunities How to use questions to 'build' more opportunities Learning and using high-impact and third-level questions Advanced sales questioning techniques: five questioning techniques Qualifying and gaining commitment to the next stage Planning and practice sessions - advanced questioning skills 4 Presentation and persuading skills best practice Compelling benefits and reducing perceived risk - key messages to deliver Helping the customer choose your proposition by using options Professional and effective presentation skills Writing compelling sales proposals that improve your conversion rate Planning and practice session - presenting your solution 5 Overcoming concerns and client questions Proven techniques for answering client objections and concerns How to isolate, prioritise and answer objections, including price Overcoming delay and procrastination Planning and practice session - answering client concerns 6 Gaining commitment and closing the sale Knowing when to close for commitment How to ask for commitment professionally and effectively Key negotiation skills around the closing process - getting to 'yes' Checklist of closing and negotiation skills Practice session
The course helps participants understand the role of demand and inventory planning in the wider context of supply chain management. It aims to demonstrate how to improve the alignment between supply and demand to maintain good levels of customer service and on-shelf availability whilst eliminating excess stock and reducing inventory investment. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN HOW TO: • Understand the role of demand management and its benefits • Identify the key demand characteristics and patterns; learn how to use them to improve forecast accuracy • Develop an understanding of key qualitative and quantitative forecasting methods • Learn how to conduct fundamental inventory analyses with a view to achieving the appropriate trade-off between stock and service level COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE: The role of Demand Management • The end-to-end view of Supply Chain Management • Demand Characteristics and the Product Life Cycle • Demand patterns • Push and pull systems Background to forecasting • The forecasting Process • Time-series methods of forecasting • Calculating forecast errors Inventory Analysis • Categorisation of stock • ABC Analysis • Economic order quantity and minimum order quantity • Safety stock and stock cover Inventory Management • Materials requirements planning (MRP) • Stock replenishment systems • Practical inventory management • The cost of managing stock
Any team member with Customer interaction (including internal) are the 'Ambassadors' of the company/organisation. If they project positive professionalism - they win others' confidence. If they appear or sound like they are in any way indifferent or unprofessional - they will cost sales and lose clients/customers. With this 2 day Training course, that will be tailored to your company/organisation, each person attending will upgrade their professional standards in people skills, telephone manner and email etiquette. No training in this area may well be a false economy as there is a much greater risk of disenfranchised customers and team members - and probably increases your competitors to win business at your expense. Professional customer care is all too frequently regarded as a token issue in most induction sessions for employees. Surprisingly it is very rarely considered as a key priority, despite being essential for ensuring customer commitment is secure and supplier/partnerships are robust. Excellent customer care is paramount in our ever increasingly competitive market and making customers feel valued and looked after is often a differentiator. This 2-day course will help you understand your customers and the vital importance of customer care in any organisation. You will gain the tools and techniques to apply your learning directly back into the workplace and deliver excellent customer care. Course Syllabus The syllabus of the Professional Customer Care course is comprised of four modules, covering the following: Module One What is Excellent Customer Care? Internal versus external customers Why customer care is important Meeting customer expectations Module Two Making a Personal Difference How do you measure customer care? Making a difference Taking ownership Positive mental attitude Displaying professionalism both face-to-face and over the telephone Using positive language Module Three Gathering Information and Offering Solutions Asking the right questions Active listening skills Summarising and clarifying skills Module Four Dealing with Difficult Situations How to give a 'service' no Demonstrating empathy Assertiveness techniques Handling a complaint Problem solving Saying 'sorry' Making realistic promises and keeping them Real Play Scenarios with a Professional Actor (Optional Extra) This programme benefits significantly from our innovative training feature: Real Play. Using a professional actor who performs role plays as different customer characters in carefully devised situations, the delegates have the opportunity to 'pause' the role play to coach and control their character to improve their skill sets and practice the theory delivered. These scenarios can deal with difficult situations and enacting options to ensure good customer relations are intact. The outcome of the scenario is the responsibility of the delegates, not the trainer and actor. The actor will remain in character throughout the de-brief in order to bring to life the impact and possible next steps. Objectives By the end of the course participants will be able to Adopt a professional telephone manner Communicate assertively by taking control and directing the conversation Deliver information positively by offering options and alternatives Develop a range of versatile behaviours to use when dealing with difficult situations by: Listening actively Using empathy Gathering relevant information through effective questioning Finding solutions to concerns/problems quickly and efficiently Speaking positively and assertively What Is The Benefit? For individuals this course will increase confidence and ability to deal with customers in all situations, which will in turn create customer loyalty and raise their profile. For an employer, ensuring that all customer facing employees are demonstrating excellent customer care instils confidence in the customers and promotes a positive image of the company. In-House Courses Every single team member or employee that has a role which involves engaging with a customer, client and/or a key partner/supplier has a responsibility for projecting a positive image of the organisation which they represent. That may sound obvious, but how many hundreds of experiences have you had as a customer where you were treated with indifference and a distinct lack of professionalism by the receptionist, the retail assistant, the tele-agent, the delivery person, the credit controller or the departmental manager of the operation that you were dealing with? Far too many to count? This is because professional customer care is regarded as a token issue in most induction sessions for employees - and it is very rarely considered as a key priority to ensure customer commitment is secure and supplier/partnerships are robust. Yet the hugely expensive churn in customer/client commitments and staff is enormously expensive and immensely disruptive to any organisation. The Importance of Customers and Clients Every client/customer engaging person needs to recognise that it is ultimately the client or customer that pays their wages. If they gain a basic understanding of the clients' motivations and behaviours, coupled with some core skills in how to care for them, they will attain the status of 'professional'. This will very quickly translate into increased revenues, retained loyalty, high commitment and far greater security for all parties. The foundation has to be based on the authentic commitment to both the customer and also to the organisation they work for. Disenfranchisement readily curdles into sloppy behaviours cloaked in unprofessional attitudes and demeanours; plenty there to repel the most loyal of customers. If your company or organisation relies on repeat business and retaining the confidence and commitment of your clients, then all of your team members - perhaps including managers who set the example and have the biggest influence on the where the needle points to in relation to professionalism - need to be trained on the core basics of professional customer care. Customer Care Programmes from Dickson Training Ltd We are delighted to boast about the many successes we have had in providing effective and long lasting improvements for many clients, where awards have been won and, more importantly, talent has been retained because their clients and customers keep on coming back. Professional customer care extends to suppliers and partners that you value and need to get the best service and rates from, as well as any 'internal clients' such as other departments where you need to rely on their support and collaboration in order to achieve your goals. It is amazing what effective professional customer care training can do for any organisation. Without it your organisation may be vulnerable, with it you are much more likely to see increased performances and much greater security and growth. Scheduled Courses Unfortunately this course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. Please contact us for more information.
This short course introduces staff to a range of hazardous substances, the risks and controls available, and what to expect from a control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) assessment. It prepares them to contribute to the safer use of hazardous substances in their workplaces. 1 Definition and types Defining what constitutes a substance hazardous to health in the workplace Outlining the various types of hazardous substances 2 Health effects Exploring the health effects caused by exposure to hazardous substances Routes of entry - exploring how substances can enter the body and methods of prevention 3 Data COSSH register Data sheets Risk assessments Control options 4 Responsibilities An overview of the responsibilities imposed by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002