Most organisations and businesses are trying to navigate the best way back to a functional working framework. But two things need to happen - 1. The working practices need to be efficient, sustainable and compatible for meeting the demands and needs of the organisation; it’s clients, it’s workforce and it’s Leaders 2. The culture needs to be welcoming, authentic and supportive otherwise there will be disenfranchisement and potentially a churn of staff and loss of talent What has been proven to be a very successful approach to mitigate the dangers of demotivated team members and poor efficiency levels is a bespoke ‘Ushering the Team Back to the Workplace’ workshop. Programme Outline Below is a template of an actual Programme that has been delivered very successfully for clients such as the NHS; Claranet; Jotun Paints & Workspace. This, however, can be modified to suit any group or size. It will be designed to reflect the Organisation’s preferred Hybrid working framework and communication systems. The options of having the innovative Real Play technique to help handle delicate conversations is especially effective. The biggest gain is to reconnect the relationships via the activities and exercises, which would be selected carefully. Key commitments and buy-in is always the priority outcomes - which this programme will help deliver in just 1 day. The objectives include: Making the transition back to working as a collaborative team Enhancing the Leadership skills of the team Reviewing/establishing the Hybrid working protocols Galvanising the Team spirit Maintain inclusivity among full-time; part-time and Region based team members Energising and motivational Fun! Exercise – Round the Bend The team are to follow the instructions delivered as they walk (and jump) through the route – always keeping a safe distance apart. The instructions become more complicated as they progress. Debriefing points: Dealing with Change Attention to Detail Adapting approach Optimising results Exercise - Number Crunch (3 x Cohorts of 12/13) The team must be effectively led and motivated to work as one unified group to reach their objective of visiting each numbered location within a very tight deadline. Debriefing points: Support and co-ordination Strategy and planning Adapting approach Optimising results Tutorial – Team Dynamics Tuckman model Phases of Development towards Maturity Exercise - Juggling (3 x Cohorts of 12/13) The group(s) will be invited to optimise the number of ‘clients’ (juggling balls) they can manage at one time. This involves devising a sequence between the group to achieve maximum results without making any mistakes. We introduce different balls which represent different degrees of complexity, challenging the group’s preparation and approach to a variety ‘customers’ needs. Debriefing points: Ensuring effective communication Clarifying the approach for dealing with the unexpected Setting expectations and reviewing delivery Treating every colleague with care and respect Tutorial - Email Etiquette The primary standards – best practices ABSURD model Preparation and planning Top Tips World Cafe The team are split into 5-6 sub-groups – each with a specific review focus:- What recommendations do you have to engage the team back into the Workplace? How do we ensure the framework is efficient? What are the best ways to optimise team working strategically when most/all team members are in the office? What potential barriers are there? How do we accommodate for the Regional team members? What are the benefits to bringing the team back to the workplace? Each session has 2 – 3 rounds with each table’s ‘host’ sharing feedback for applying to the Team Action Plan – or Charter. Debriefing points: Each Syndicate’s recommendations and capture the key actions they generate 'Real Play' We offer an innovative solution to bring real Leadership/team scenarios to life. We use actors who improvise scenarios which have been specified by the group. The group is split the group into 2 sub-groups, one with the Actor, the other with the Trainer. Each group has a brief and has to instruct their Trainer/Actor on how to approach the scenario supplied. The Actor and Trainer perform the role play(s) as instructed by their respective teams; however, during the action they can be paused for further recommendations or direction. The outcome is the responsibility of the team(s) – not the performers Assign 24 x ‘Directors’ (4 for each Player – Phil & Julia – for each Real Play. Potential Real Play Scenarios: Engaging with a team member as to how the new working plans will be applied. Overcoming concerns to the new working practices/framework Addressing issues where a team member feels excluded from the teamworking practices/culture Debrief the Programme Individual Action Plans Team Priorities for application into the workplace
Course Duration: Half-day or full-day (can also be delivered as a 3-part virtual workshop series) Target Audience: Professionals in non-technical roles (e.g. executive assistants, HR, marketing, project managers, operations staff, trainers, and admin support) who want to use generative AI to enhance their work—without needing coding skills. Course Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand what generative AI is and how it works in plain language. Identify use cases relevant to their role or industry. Use popular generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot) confidently. Write effective prompts to get better, more relevant results. Apply AI ethically and responsibly in the workplace. Course Outline Module 1: Demystifying Generative AI What is generative AI? (Plain language explanation) How AI models like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini work Examples of what generative AI can (and can’t) do Myths, risks, and benefits of AI in non-tech roles Module 2: Everyday Use Cases for Professionals Time-saving applications: Drafting emails, reports, meeting summaries Creating checklists, plans, or SOPs Enhancing creativity: Brainstorming ideas for events, campaigns, or training Writing social media posts, newsletters, or job ads Organising information: Summarising documents Structuring spreadsheets or creating templates Supporting communication: Improving tone and clarity Translating or simplifying content Module 3: Prompting Essentials What is a “prompt” and why does it matter? How to write clear, specific, and effective prompts Prompting frameworks (e.g., “Role–Task–Goal” method) Live practice: transforming a vague prompt into a powerful one Troubleshooting: when AI gives poor answers and how to improve them Module 4: Hands-On Exploration Try-it-yourself exercises using ChatGPT or Gemini (guided) Real workplace examples and team challenges Create an AI-generated email, checklist, or idea list Optional: use industry-specific examples (e.g., HR, admin, events, comms) Module 5: Responsible AI Use at Work Understanding AI limitations and biases Protecting privacy and sensitive data When not to use AI Workplace policies and guidelines (customisable for your organisation) Ethical use: attribution, transparency, and human review Module 6: Getting Started in Your Role Tools overview: free vs paid options (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini) Building your own AI toolkit Tips for staying up to date as tools evolve 30-day challenge: how to build AI into your daily workflow Delivery Style Highly interactive, practical, and low-jargon No coding or tech background required Hands-on demos, guided practice, and scenario-based activities Group discussion and peer learning Course Materials Provided Quick-start guide: Top 10 prompts for non-tech roles AI Prompt Library for your job type Do’s and Don’ts for ethical use of AI at work “AI in Action” workbook with examples and checklists Personal AI Action Plan Optional Add-ons Team-based AI hackathon (mini workplace challenge) Tailored follow-up webinar for Q&A and deeper use cases Co-branded playbook for organisational AI use Integration with digital transformation or innovation initiatives
Course Duration: Half-day or full-day (can also be delivered as a 3-part virtual workshop series) Target Audience: Professionals in non-technical roles (e.g. executive assistants, HR, marketing, project managers, operations staff, trainers, and admin support) who want to use generative AI to enhance their work—without needing coding skills. Course Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand what generative AI is and how it works in plain language. Identify use cases relevant to their role or industry. Use popular generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot) confidently. Write effective prompts to get better, more relevant results. Apply AI ethically and responsibly in the workplace. Course Outline Module 1: Demystifying Generative AI What is generative AI? (Plain language explanation) How AI models like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini work Examples of what generative AI can (and can’t) do Myths, risks, and benefits of AI in non-tech roles Module 2: Everyday Use Cases for Professionals Time-saving applications: Drafting emails, reports, meeting summaries Creating checklists, plans, or SOPs Enhancing creativity: Brainstorming ideas for events, campaigns, or training Writing social media posts, newsletters, or job ads Organising information: Summarising documents Structuring spreadsheets or creating templates Supporting communication: Improving tone and clarity Translating or simplifying content Module 3: Prompting Essentials What is a “prompt” and why does it matter? How to write clear, specific, and effective prompts Prompting frameworks (e.g., “Role–Task–Goal” method) Live practice: transforming a vague prompt into a powerful one Troubleshooting: when AI gives poor answers and how to improve them Module 4: Hands-On Exploration Try-it-yourself exercises using ChatGPT or Gemini (guided) Real workplace examples and team challenges Create an AI-generated email, checklist, or idea list Optional: use industry-specific examples (e.g., HR, admin, events, comms) Module 5: Responsible AI Use at Work Understanding AI limitations and biases Protecting privacy and sensitive data When not to use AI Workplace policies and guidelines (customisable for your organisation) Ethical use: attribution, transparency, and human review Module 6: Getting Started in Your Role Tools overview: free vs paid options (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini) Building your own AI toolkit Tips for staying up to date as tools evolve 30-day challenge: how to build AI into your daily workflow Delivery Style Highly interactive, practical, and low-jargon No coding or tech background required Hands-on demos, guided practice, and scenario-based activities Group discussion and peer learning Course Materials Provided Quick-start guide: Top 10 prompts for non-tech roles AI Prompt Library for your job type Do’s and Don’ts for ethical use of AI at work “AI in Action” workbook with examples and checklists Personal AI Action Plan Optional Add-ons Team-based AI hackathon (mini workplace challenge) Tailored follow-up webinar for Q&A and deeper use cases Co-branded playbook for organisational AI use Integration with digital transformation or innovation initiatives
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.
Our Team Building Programmes are 'simply excellent' (quote from Unilever). They always deliver much greater energy' motivation and efficiently accelerates to a galvanised, integrated team for their Manager/Team Leader. They're great fun and very commercially orientated - the best of both key elements to a successful and long-lasting high performance team. A successful company is always made up of successful teams. Teams that can work autonomously with a clearly defined set of goals, roles, vision, responsibility and culture will always reach for and achieve far greater success than a team that works just as a group of individuals. Our team building solutions are individually built and geared towards teams at any level within an organisation, providing an independent and objective perspective to promote a common purpose such as the creation of a 'high performance team'. Out With The Old Traditionally, team building events have been restricted to certain levels of management where they head off site for a bit of archery, quad biking and paintballing or something along those lines. Then over some coffee and cocktails, business plans and more efficient ways to work are casually discussed. Whilst being out having fun instead of being at work may improve an individual person's mood, the effect will only be short-term, and will not go far in creating permanent and cohesive teams who are able to overcome challenges together and drive the business forward when back in the workplace. In With The New Today's business thinking is more strategic and certainly has to look for returns on the investment. That is why Dickson Training Ltd's team building programmes are bespoke and built to your requirements through research, understanding your business and, most importantly, what results and achievements you are looking to get out of the programme. Once "what success looks like" has been established, we create tasks and activities that will test your leadership, problem solving, communication and team work skills. When the tasks have been completed, the learning - both practical and theory - is debriefed to the group as well as how it will translate back in your business. Not only are our events great fun, but they provide participants with learning points they can act upon to improve or enhance the working practices/environment. Team Building That Gets Results We have a highly innovative team who design team builds to suit all budgets and time or space restrictions. Large or small, we will develop the perfect event to meet your commercial objectives, keeping in line with your values and company culture. More recently we have combined team galvanising events with ways to engage the participants with and support their local communities. This solution has proved extremely popular with our clients and we are continuing to develop more and more programmes doing exactly this. " Phil did everything in a very professional and focused manner, without losing sight of the overall aims or having 'fun'. When I moved to Airbus UK and subsequently European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), I had no hesitation in recommending Phil and the team to deliver the required training and team events. Without doubt Phil and his team are excellent providers of training, to suit even bespoke requirements, and I would not hesitate in recommending the team to any business in the future. " Glenn Brown, Systems & Expertise Manager, Airbus Personnel Service Augmented Skills – an Essay by Phil Dickson All of you, who are reading this, and all the people you meet and work with will have – ‘Augmented Skills’. So – if you are an IT Engineer or a Pharmacist; perhaps you are, or know, a Departmental Leader and you work with a Logistics Project Manager; these roles will demand core skills, whether they be technical know-how or qualifications in the discipline. But to be that bit better; more reliable; more effective & productive and therefore more valuable and, frankly, marketable – capitalizing on ‘Augment Skills’ comes into play. The I T Engineer who was a Chess Champion at Uni, which would indicate that they possess some key ‘Augmented skills’ including how they plan 3 steps ahead and are always prepared for the unexpected. The Pharmacist, who is a keen sportsperson in their private life, will likely be tenacious, team-orientated and disciplined – again these are superb qualities to have in this – or any – role. Your colleagues, as well as yourself, will have ‘Augmented Skills’ that will be an asset if only they are explored and applied to their role and indeed, career. Everyone has their own 'Super-power' If they love gardening, they are probably strategic, patient and inclined to research; if they cook or bake, they are usually well organized and comfortable with multi-tasking. A big reader will tend to be considered and possess good critical thinking faculties, and an amateur mechanic or keen DIY person will often be practical, resourceful and very determined. I have observed that many new Parents discover they have ‘Augmented Skills’ they didn’t know they had... such as getting order out of chaos and displaying industrial amounts of patience and good grace when they really do not feel like it. They very often become far more compassionate and empathetic. Most people have their very own ‘Superpower’. Invite your team members to offer their ‘Augmented Skills’ to your work-place – and just watch as it elevates the motivation levels and improves results. It’ll be very rewarding for all concerned – and for meeting the Team’s objectives, to encourage the person who is a talented artist to be a sounding board on some of the marketing imagery and layouts; for the team member who is great at Maths or resolving crosswords to be asked for their input to solving a problem that is causing logistical or operational headaches. Never exploit a Team member’s unique special skills at their expense I would like to stress, however, that it must never be an area where a team member gets exploited by harvesting their unique special skills to coerce them into taking on greater responsibilities and tasks without providing them with the commensurate salary and status. To do so would be immoral and, ultimately, counter-productive as it would lead to resentment and disenfranchisement. This is about encouraging people’s capability and inviting their input to boost confidence and enhance the team’s capability. Often, we need to be more than what our Job Description says It is also important to highlight that whatever a person’s role or function is – they will definitely need to have additional capabilities to be effective. The best example of this is when we designed and delivered a range of ‘Advanced Customer Care skills’ training sessions for the Met Office a few years ago…we met so many remarkably super-bright Meteorologists, many of whom were having to make significant adjustments to answering questions from Customers that seemed to be illogical and often, obtuse. It wasn’t enough for these Meteorologists to be highly skilled at interpreting data and identifying patterns – they needed ‘Augmented skills’ to make that information accessible to members of the public (and Council workers and Air Traffic controllers and Shipping agents) and many other people, as to what that particular weather system was going to be like in their area and at what time. They have to know how to ‘de-jargonise’ the material and provide succinct, clear, and yet temperate, descriptions without ever appearing exasperated, impatient or judgmental in response to sometimes quite silly questions. For a highly trained scientist – that can be counter-intuitive. Being Philosophical... and a wee bit pretentious At the risk of being a little Philosophical (and probably a wee bit pretentious) – in my own role of Trainer – my core skills have to include – being a very good communicator, an active listener and have innovative and engaging ways to convert an idea, or a model, into practical application that my Delegates and Clients gain tangible benefits from. This is how it applies to me... I really enjoy composing short, light classical-style piano pieces. Now, to do this well, you need to be able to find a transition from one chord or melody to a different theme or key. It has to be worked out very carefully to have incremental transitions and pleasant-sounding developments as the piece unfolds. I think I have become better at this as I have honed my skills as a composer. But I have realized that these very same skills have ‘Augmented’ my ability to help a Manager, or a Team, move from a state of conflict; tension; disfunction; disenfranchisement; lack of confidence to a place that is more harmonious with far greater productivity. The very same process of careful listening, considering options, taking well-considered steps, having a creative, sometimes brave, move towards a resolution are at play in both Training and Piano Compositions! 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.
Build successful and effective multi-cultural teams with our practical, bespoke training courses. Help team members to embrace and harness the skills and abilities their different ages, nationalities, generations and life experiences bring. Courses include: Knowing your team Communication styles Communicative competency in multi-cultural teams Cultural intelligence – understanding our strengths A global mindset Breaking down barriers for better team working Experiential learning – a session in a second language Team dynamics
A powerful program for teams to participate in together in order to: Develop high-performance teamwork Work together to achieve team goals Assume responsibility and accountability Handle challenges through team communication Create mutual trust, support, and collaboration
Course Duration: Half-day or full-day program (with options for virtual delivery) Target Audience: Professionals, managers, leaders, and HR teams looking to build resilience, manage stress effectively, and prevent burnout in today’s always-on, high-pressure work environment. Course Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Recognise the signs and symptoms of stress and burnout. Understand the impact of chronic stress on health, performance, and well-being. Learn effective strategies for stress management and emotional regulation. Identify personal and workplace practices that reduce the risk of burnout. Develop a personal action plan for building resilience and maintaining well-being. Course Outline Module 1: Understanding Stress and Burnout What is stress? Types of stress (acute, chronic, eustress, distress) Defining burnout: symptoms, causes, and long-term effects The impact of a 24/7 world on mental health and performance How stress and burnout affect physical health, cognition, and relationships The role of work culture, technology, and societal expectations in stress Module 2: The Physiology of Stress and Burnout Understanding the body's stress response: fight or flight, cortisol, and adrenaline The effects of prolonged stress on the nervous system and health How burnout manifests in the brain and body The difference between stress and burnout: a deeper dive into emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment Module 3: Identifying Personal Stress Triggers and Early Warning Signs Conducting a stress audit: when and where does stress show up? Personal stress triggers: how work, environment, and relationships contribute Warning signs of burnout: physical, emotional, and behavioural red flags Self-assessment: Are you at risk of burnout? Understanding your personal stress responses and coping mechanisms Module 4: Effective Stress Management Techniques Mindfulness and relaxation practices: breathing exercises, meditation, and guided imagery Cognitive reframing: challenging negative thoughts and building resilience Time management and prioritisation: setting boundaries, saying no, and avoiding overwhelm Progressive muscle relaxation: tension release for mind and body Movement and exercise: how physical activity reduces stress Sleep hygiene: strategies for better rest and recovery Module 5: Building Resilience and Preventing Burnout The concept of resilience: bouncing back and growing stronger from adversity Strategies for emotional regulation: staying calm under pressure The role of social support: leaning on peers, mentors, and family Building psychological flexibility: accepting what we can’t change and focusing on what we can Creating work-life boundaries in a 24/7 world: disconnecting from work and technology Cultivating gratitude, positive psychology, and self-compassion in daily life Module 6: Creating a Sustainable Work Culture How leaders can foster a culture of well-being and prevent burnout Encouraging breaks, time off, and restorative work habits Organisational practices that support mental health: workload management, flexibility, and support resources Role of HR and leadership in promoting a healthy work-life balance The importance of feedback, recognition, and regular check-ins to prevent stress escalation Module 7: Personal Action Plan for Stress Management and Burnout Prevention Reflecting on key learnings and takeaways Developing a personal stress management toolkit Building a balanced daily routine that integrates self-care practices Creating a self-care action plan for the next 30 days Accountability partners and follow-up strategies to track progress Final thoughts: Small changes for big impact Delivery Style Interactive and experiential with a mix of individual reflection, small group discussions, and practical exercises Case studies and real-life examples to illustrate stress management strategies Guided relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices Personal assessments and action planning for immediate application Course Materials Provided Stress Management Handbook Personal Stress Audit Worksheet Relaxation and Breathing Exercise Guide Resilience Building Tools and Templates Self-Care Action Plan Template Resource list: Apps, podcasts, and books for stress management Optional Add-ons One-on-one coaching or follow-up sessions to discuss personal stress management strategies Leadership or team coaching to create a stress-resilient culture A series of wellness webinars focused on specific stress-management tools (e.g., sleep hygiene, mindfulness, movement, etc.) Ongoing email support or resource sharing to reinforce learning