This training day will help managers explore what they need to do to create a motivating environment at work and learn some theory, tools and ideas to inspire motivation at individual and team level. Motivation is a key factor in effective people management and successful team performance. It involves engaging and inspiring your people and developing them in such ways as to improve their effectiveness and thus have a greater benefit to customers. It can also involve having tough conversations with those who do not seem to be motivated. By the end of the workshop participants will be able to: Identify key motivating factors at work and learn and create ideas to better engage staff Learn a conversation tool to use for challenging discussions Explain their role in motivating staff and understand a range of techniques and approaches to use in the workplace Review learning and have an action plan to take back and implement at work 1 Welcome, housekeeping, objectives Breaking the ice Setting personal objectives 2 Group work: identifying personal motivators and where they come from 3 Defining motivation The characteristics of a motivated team Input and group discussion 4 Factors impacting on motivation at work Using pre-work to identify challenges, hotspots and obstacles Feedback in plenary Exploring the benefits of motivation that address current challenges and agreeing outcomes for change 5 Commitment vs. compliance - organisational engagement and the manager's approach to buy in 6 Team challenge task using a theory about motivation Trainer input and review in plenary 7 Group task - complete a plan for individuals identified in pre-workshop task 8 Skill / will - a motivation tool: trainer input, followed by tasks that are assessed and discussed in peer groups 1-2-1 feedback task on approaches and plans to be taken back and used at work Feedback and plenary review 9 DEAL - a conversation tool: how to construct a conversation plan about motivation with an individual Peer professional 1-2-1s to practice the discussion planned and gain feedback 10 Review, evaluation and action planning
This course has a simple objective: to help gain appointments with potential clients. In most consultative selling situations clients won't commit to purchases over the telephone. This means setting up a meeting to discuss the options with them face-to-face. But getting 'face time' can be tricky. This practical workshop can help. Participants will acquire essential tools, skills and methods; discuss specific organisational issues; and identify areas for improvement. They will discover how to: Increase their effectiveness through proper preparation Construct attention-grabbing opening statements Help potential clients feel comfortable agreeing to a meeting Develop tactics for responding to difficult excuses and objections Stress the benefits of a face-to-face consultation Develop and enhance their questioning and listening skills Prevent customers cancelling booked appointments 1 Introduction to appointment setting Key trends that have changed the way people buy today - and will buy tomorrow Why many sales people avoid picking up the phone The difference that makes a difference - what makes a good appointment-maker? 2 Before you pick up the telephone It all starts with a plan... Who and what to focus our attention How much research should we undertake and why? Setting primary and secondary objectives 3 Making your approach Key considerations Every call is an opportunity - creating a positive mind-set Using a structured approach Using partnership language 4 Gaining an insight into the customer's needs How to quickly 'tune in' to your customers, so that you can serve them more easily Developing speech patterns that put customers at their ease Using effective questioning and listening skills Finding and building pain points 5 Dealing with excuses and objections Pre-empting potential excuses Developing techniques for responding to client objections Keeping the door open for future contact 6 Securing the appointment Selling the benefits of a consultancy meeting Techniques for avoiding cancelled appointments Gaining commitment 7 Action plans Course summary and presentation of action plans
The aim of this course is to expose the commercial context within which technical work is carried out. It is to allow technical staff to understand how they fit into a larger picture, why they may be asked to undertake tasks that may not appear to be technical and the impact their interactions have within the commercial context. The scope of the programme includes: The course emphasises the collaborative nature of delivery and the need to offer value to customers. The principal training objectives for this programme are to help participants: Understand why technical roles are broader than we might assume Appreciate the importance of, and the need to support, sales Value the idea of 'Good Enough' Recognise what can affect profitability Realise the future needs protecting 1 Introduction (Course sponsor) Why this programme has been developed Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 That's not my job! How we see our own role in work How other people see our role Stakeholders: who are they and why do they matter? The organisational backdrop What is my role really? 3 Sales and marketing Where does the money come from? Where do we find customers? The sales process One-off sales versus repeat business Customer/supplier relationships What something costs versus what the customer will pay The value chain 4 Estimating Purpose of estimates The problem with precision Five estimating techniques 5 Change control Can you just do this for me? When being helpful leads to bankruptcy How to deal with change requests 6 Risk management Risk in projects Risk in operations Categories of risk 7 The value of intellectual property Issues with sharing information Commercial in confidence Non-disclosure agreements 8 Course review and action planning (Course sponsor present) Identify actions to be implemented individually What actions should be implemented to improve working with non-technical people? Conclusion
The ability to influence others is a life skill but also one that has never been so critically useful at work. This one day workshop will set you on the road to discover what you need to be able to think and do that will help you take people with you. This involves learning some new tools and strategies that fit the situation you are in and making sure you use the right skills and behaviours to influence well, whether it is a single person or a room full of cynical expectant people! This workshop will enable you to: Learn about and understand influencing styles and strategies available and formulate plans and ideas on how to use them in influencing situations Understand which skills and behaviours to use to be the most effective influencer Have greater confidence in situations where they need to influence someone Use thinking, speaking and behavioural techniques that enable influencing to be effective and positive Review and evaluate learning and have an action plan to take back and implement in the workplace 1 Welcome, introductions & getting to know you and why you are here Course objectives 2 Personal objectives Introducing a learning diary 3 Gallery exercise - using images of exemplars brought by participants Plenary discussion The skills and behaviours of an exemplar influencer 4 Group task - what does your self-evaluation say? Discussion and conclusions 5 Influencing - what is it? - why do we need it? The current organisational landscape including values and behaviours the influencer operates in 6 Pit Stop - 'pull / push', 'the lost horse' and 'talking at' 7 Direct / support / delegate / coach: the different choices and approaches to choose from 8 Updating the learning diary 9 Power and types of power - its impact on influencing ability and approach and what is within your control Group task and discussion 10 The 5 influencing styles tool Series of tasks and exercises Drilling down to a personal action plan for maximising influence 11 'The person with the most flexibility has the most influence' Skills and behaviours for effective influencing Exercises and techniques that develop skills for influencing 12 Review and evaluation Action planning
This one-day introduction workshop is intended for users who need to get to grips with the essentials of Microsoft Outlook. It will provide you with the basic skills you need to effectively start using Outlook to manage your emails, calendar, contacts, tasks and notes. This course will help participants: Send messages with added email options applied Quickly file messages away for safe keeping Manage messages and attachments Organise calendar meetings and check other people's schedules Respond to a meeting request Create a contacts list Manage daily tasks Use reading and folder panes Create and manage folders Use auto reply Use notes Utilise Outlook's printing functionality 1 Getting started Using the reading pane Using the folder pane Changing inbox views Managing the to-do bar 2 Emailing messages Replying to and forwarding messages Adding message options Attaching files to an email message Opening and saving attachments 3 Outlook folders Creating and managing folders Moving messages into folders Adding folders to favourites Using search folder Always moving messages in conversation Automatically move messages with rules 4 Managing messages Using instant search Finding messages by criteria Grouping and sorting messages Categorising messages Adding message follow up flags Filtering messages with the people pane 5 Using auto reply Replying to messages whilst you are away Managing auto reply settings Applying rules to auto reply 6 Outlook calendars Adding and editing appointments Adding calendar reminders Moving and copying appointments Creating all day events Recurring appointments Sharing your calendar Opening another user's calendar 7 Planning a meeting Arranging meetings Inviting attendees to meetings Responding to meeting invites 8 Outlook contacts Creating and editing a contact Saving emails as contacts Finding contacts Sending messages to contacts Creating contact groups 9 Adding tasks Creating and editing tasks Completing tasks Assigning a task to another user Responding to a task request 10 Notes Creating and editing tasks Emailing notes Sticking notes on your desktop 11 Printing Printing messages Printing calendars Printing contacts
This one-day workshop is designed to help users work with advanced features within Word. It includes hands-on exercises to help make complex documents more manageable. Participants will learn how to share and collaborate on documents and track document changes. This course will help participants: Add document links to files, websites, bookmarks and headings Create and revise footnotes and endnotes Use cross-referencing Insert and mark a document index Use comments within a document Create and edit document templates Set up picture and table captioning Work with tracked changes, including viewing, accepting and rejecting changes Use tables of contents Transfer styles across files using styles organiser Protect and restrict the opening and editing of documents Work with document themes Work with subdocuments Use ribbon buttons and groups 1 Adding document links Adding links to a document Linking to files, websites and email Adding and linking to bookmarks Linking to document headings 2 Captioning and cross-referencing Inserting picture and table captions Creating and updating a table of figures Adding and revising endnotes and footnotes Understanding cross-reference types Creating a cross-reference Marking and inserting a document index 3 Collaborating on documents Inserting and viewing documents Navigating through comments Replying to a comment Printing comments 4 Tracking changes Using tracking changes within a document Choosing how to view document revisions Accepting and rejecting changes 5 Comparing documents Comparing two documents Combining changes into a single document Accepting and rejecting changes 6 Protecting a document Restricting opening or editing of documents Defining regions for editing Restricting document formatting 7 Outline view Collapsing paragraphs with heading styles Managing files with subdocuments Editing and locking subdocuments Sharing subdocuments 8 Document themes Standardise document formatting with themes Using a theme to match corporate branding Transferring themes across files 9 Creating templates Creating and editing document templates Adding font and heading styles to templates Defining file locations for shared templates Copying styles across templates and files 10 Customising the ribbon Customising ribbon buttons Adding new ribbons Adding buttons to ribbon groups
Project management can seem scary and rather intimidating. The whole aim of this programme is to give people a simple and straightforward way of dealing with projects without having to use complex and confusing systems. This two-day course is designed to introduce the apparently complex world of project management in a simple and practical manner. The programme is for anybody who has to run a project of any nature. It has been attended by people from as diverse fields as events management, fashion, charities, oil companies and so on. The programme is run without using any IT project management systems although an introduction can be given if required. At the end of the programme participants will leave understanding: What a project is and why projects are so important today The roles of a project manager Some key language and concepts A simple 5-step model for organising projects How to make sure you understand what your 'client' really wants A set of three simple tools to plan the project How to make decisions What to monitor when the project is running How to close the project 1 Introduction What is the aim of this programme? 2 Background thinking What is a project? The project manager's eternal triangle (cost-quality-time) What are the characteristics of successful projects? Who are the key characters in a project? What are the roles of a project manager? 3 The project process Why have one? 4 Project initiation What is the aim? Identifying key information Key skill: mission analysis Initial risk analysis Document and sign-off 5 Decision-making - 'Stop, Think, Act!' The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique Recognise the opportunity to make a decision The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make Identifying options Making your decision Taking it to action 6 Creativity 7 The planning stage Identify all discrete tasks Sequence and dependencies Time line - critical path Resources Project base-line 8 Execution stage - delivering the result Monitor Evaluate Adapt Control Review 9 The project close Review Documentation Have we delivered? What have we learned?
In the fast-changing world of business, and especially IT, everyone in the organisation should be involved in sales. One of the best ways is to give the customer an outstanding experience. The customer experience is the competitive battlefield of today. Sales may be won or lost here. You can either close a sale for a quick buck, or open a long-term relationship to create a high lifetime value customer. By developing excellent communication skills, rapport and, most of all, a desire to serve and listen to the needs of the customer to the best of their ability, both sales teams and other IT professionals will create trust, nurture relationships and develop awareness of other opportunities with the customer. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand the power of a positive customer experience in developing sales opportunities Recognise and develop a sales opportunity when it arises Engage with customers and develop rapport and trust Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and pick up on signals Ask powerful questions - and listen to the answers Create 'magic moments' for the customer Turn a complaint into an opportunity Know when to ask for referrals and testimonials Pass on leads to the relevant people 1 Introduction Aims and objectives Beliefs about sales 2 Building rapport First impressions Short cuts to rapport Finding common interests 3 Selling or serving? Managing emotions and behaviour - Transactional Analysis Moments of truth - creating 'magic moments' Speed sells - the follow-up 4 Meetings Planning a successful meeting Pre-meeting connection and assistance Sales meeting failure reasons Right v wrong mindset 5 Communication - verbal and non-verbal The 3 Vs - Visual, Verbal, Vocal Picking up on signals 7 power questions Questioning techniques LISTEN - 3 types of listening skills 6 Influencing 6 levels of influence Framing to change perspectives Turning complaints into opportunities 7 Referrals The power of referrals How and when to ask for a referral 5 steps from rapport to referral 8 Presentation and pitching (optional session) Basic presentation structure and delivery Creating powerful impressions Creating a 60-second pitch The elevator 10-second pitch - answering 'What do you do?' Sales presentations Emotion v Intellect - how to engage Using visuals
This very practical one-day programme provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to be an effective member of the procurement team and to enable them to procure a wide range of resources for the organisation, in a compliant and cost-effective manner. It also empowers them to be able to collaborate with all key stakeholders. By the end of the programme participants will be able to: Understand the basic concepts of good procurement practice Apply a range of tools and techniques for developing scopes of work and specifications Apply various methods to select and evaluate suppliers Develop robust contract award strategies Appreciate the commercial importance of effective procurement and opportunities to reduce cost and add value Develop appropriate procurement strategies depending on risk and value Appreciate the legal aspects of procurement 1 Welcome Introductions Aims and objectives Plan for the day 2 The basics of procurement The concept of total cost of ownership v price The procurement cycle The roles of the customer and the contractor Impact upon profit 3 Specification process Importance of effective specifications Specification development process Types of specification Team approach Use of performance specifications Early supplier involvement (ESI) / early contractor involvement (ECI) 4 Quality Concepts and practices Defining 'fit for purpose' Conformance to requirements Compliance to standards Role of the supplier Quality assurance tools and techniques 5 Procurement methods RFP RFQ ITT Negotiated procurement Strategic partnerships Outsourcing 6 Tendering How to undertake a formal tendering process Business case to award Critical stages in the process Risks and benefits 7 Tender evaluation How to undertake a quotation analysis Tools of analysis Use of VFM models Role of the customer Comparisons around cost, quality, and delivery 8 Supplier selection and evaluation Developing critical selection criteria Using the 10Cs model Importance of effective selection process Weighting systems Importance of validity and evidence 9 Capital equipment procurement Life cycle cost issues Payback calculations Compatibility issues Maintenance and training issues After-sales support 10 Supplier relationships Corporate social responsibility issues Communication 360 feed-back Open and ethical Initial understanding Clear and fair terms and conditions 11 Close Review of key learning points Personal action planning
When staff are new to sales it can seem daunting, especially when they have targets to meet. If the staff you need to promote your products and services get it wrong then it can knock their confidence and negatively impact how your customers see you as an organisation. This programme provides staff with the basic skills they need to sell. This course will help participants: Profile customers Research and identify potential new customers Use the consultative sales process Build effective rapport with customers Identify customer needs through effective questioning and listening Position products and services effectively Close the sale or gain commitment to further action Manage their customer portfolio to maximise sales 1 Introduction Aims and objectives of the training Personal introductions and objectives Self-assessment of existing sales skills Overview of content 2 Knowing your customers Who are your customers, and what do they want from you? What are your strengths, compared to your competitors? Who are your new potential customers? How do you communicate with new customers? What do you need to know about your customers before you start to sell? Making the initial approach Planning your pipeline - keeping the customers coming 3 The four-step sales process Overview of the consultative sales process Key benefits of using the consultative sales process Focusing on behaviours not targets The behaviours of a good salesperson Common pitfalls and mistakes Personal strengths and weaknesses 4 Building rapport First impressions - Mehrabian theory of communication Short cuts to building rapport Looking out for clues as to how the customer is thinking Looping back to keep the conversation flowing Acknowledging past communication Dealing with emotions such as anger Setting the agenda to keep control Getting past gatekeepers 5 Questioning and listening How to ask open questions to uncover information Left brain questions When closed question can be useful What stops us listening? The four levels of listening How to develop your listening skills 6 Presenting products and services to customers When to present Using benefits not features Making it personal Using reciprocity The tendency towards the middle Using consistency 7 Gaining commitment Testing the water Dealing with objections using ACLEO Asking for the business Getting referrals Ending with a personalised close Following-up 8 Managing your customer pipeline Spotting opportunities for cross-sales Managing your portfolio Maximising sales proactively Review meetings Customer satisfaction measures and surveys Mystery shopping 9 Putting it all together Skills practice Personal learning summary and action plans