About this Course This 5 full-day course provides a comprehensive understanding of all the commissioning procedures for combined cycle power plants. The Commissioning Management System (CMS) of combined cycle power plants is covered in detail in this course. This includes all the commissioning procedures and documents, purpose of commissioning, responsibilities, system description, organization, working parties, test teams, documentation, testing and commissioning schedules, test reports, safety, plant certification, and plant completion report. The course provides also a thorough understanding of all the commissioning requirements for gas turbines, steam turbines and auxiliaries, generator and auxiliaries, electrical equipment, switchgear equipment, switchgear and transformers. All the stages of the commissioning procedure are covered in-depth in this course. This includes preparation - planning various activities, pre-commissioning checks and tests, typical commissioning schedule, detailed tests and commissioning procedures and instructions for every component in a combined cycle power plant, instrumentation, trial run of the equipment, safety and precautions, commissioning of combined cycle power plant systems, safety rules clearance certificates, procedure for the control and handling of defects, commissioning reports, operational testing, first fire, generator synchronization, performance testing, heat rate testing, emission testing, contract testing, CO2 concentration tests, electrical full-load rejection test, duct burner testing, partial load stability test, and reliability test. This course is a MUST for anyone who is involved in the pre-commissioning or commissioning of any combined cycle power plant equipment because it provides detailed pre-commissioning checks and tests, and detailed tests and commissioning procedures and instructions for every component in a combined cycle power plant. In addition, the seminar provides an in-depth coverage of all preparation, planning activities, commissioning schedules, trial run of each combined cycle power plant equipment, safety and precautions, safety rules clearance certificates, procedures for handling defects, and commissioning reports. Training Objectives Pre-commissioning Checks and Tests, Detailed Tests and Commissioning Procedures and Instructions for Every Equipment in Combined Cycle Power Plants: Gain a thorough understanding of all pre-commissioning checks and tests, and all commissioning procedures and instructions for every equipment in combined cycle power plants Commissioning Management System (CMS) of Combined Cycle Power Plants: Discover the benefits of the CMS of combined cycle power plants including all commissioning procedures and documents, purpose of commissioning, responsibilities, system description, organization, working parties, test teams, documentation, testing and commissioning schedules, test reports, safety, plant certification, and plant completion report Commissioning Procedures and Instructions for Heat Recovery Steam Generators, Air Blow and Steam Blow of Steam and Gas Piping in Combined Cycle Power Plants: Learn about the commissioning procedures and instructions for heat recovery steam generators, chemical cleaning of heat recovery steam generators, air blow and gas blow of steam and gas piping in combined cycle power plants, safety valve setting and soot blowers Commissioning Procedures and Instructions for Gas Turbines and Steam Turbines: Gain a thorough understanding of all the commissioning procedures and instructions for gas and steam turbines and auxiliaries including acid cleaning of oil pipelines, lubrication and governing system (oil flushing and hydraulic testing), jacking oil system, governing system, regenerative system, barring gear, vacuum tightness test, first rolling of turbine and data logging Commissioning Procedures and Instructions for Generator and Auxiliaries: Discover all the commissioning procedures and instructions for generator and auxiliaries including generator, seal oil system, hydrogen gas system, stator water system, rolling and start-up of generators Commissioning Procedures and Instructions for Electrical Equipment: Learn about all the commissioning procedures and instructions for electrical equipment including switchyard equipment, switchgear, transformers and motors Operational Testing, Performance Testing, Heat Rate Testing, Emission Testing of Combine Cycle Power Plants: Gain a thorough understanding of operational testing, first fire, generator synchronization, performance testing, heat rate testing, emission testing, contract testing, CO2 concentration tests, electrical full-load rejection test, duct burner testing, partial load stability test, and reliability test of combined cycle power plants Target Audience Engineers of all disciplines Managers Technicians Maintenance personnel Other technical individuals Training Methods The instructor relies on a highly interactive training method to enhance the learning process. This method ensures that all the delegates gain a complete understanding of all the topics covered. The training environment is highly stimulating, challenging, and effective because the participants will learn by case studies which will allow them to apply the material taught to their own organization. Trainer Your specialist course leader has more than 32 years of practical engineering experience with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), one of the largest electric utility in North America. He was previously involved in research on power generation equipment with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited at their Chalk River and Whiteshell Nuclear Research Laboratories. While working at OPG, he acted as a Training Manager, Engineering Supervisor, System Responsible Engineer and Design Engineer. During the period of time, he worked as a Field Engineer and Design Engineer, he was responsible for the operation, maintenance, diagnostics, and testing of gas turbines, steam turbines, generators, motors, transformers, inverters, valves, pumps, compressors, instrumentation and control systems. Further, his responsibilities included designing, engineering, diagnosing equipment problems and recommending solutions to repair deficiencies and improve system performance, supervising engineers, setting up preventive maintenance programs, writing Operating and Design Manuals, and commissioning new equipment. Later, he worked as the manager of a section dedicated to providing training for the staff at the power stations. The training provided by him covered in detail the various equipment and systems used in power stations. In addition, he has taught courses and seminars to more than four thousand working engineers and professionals around the world, specifically Europe and North America. He has been consistently ranked as 'Excellent' or 'Very Good' by the delegates who attended his seminars and lectures. He written 5 books for working engineers from which 3 have been published by McGraw-Hill, New York. Below is a list of the books authored by him; Power Generation Handbook: Gas Turbines, Steam Power Plants, Co-generation, and Combined Cycles, second edition, (800 pages), McGraw-Hill, New York, October 2011. Electrical Equipment Handbook (600 pages), McGraw-Hill, New York, March 2003. Power Plant Equipment Operation and Maintenance Guide (800 pages), McGraw-Hill, New York, January 2012. Industrial Instrumentation and Modern Control Systems (400 pages), Custom Publishing, University of Toronto, University of Toronto Custom Publishing (1999). Industrial Equipment (600 pages), Custom Publishing, University of Toronto, University of Toronto, University of Toronto Custom Publishing (1999). Furthermore, he has received the following awards: The first 'Excellence in Teaching' award offered by PowerEdge, Singapore, in December 2016 The first 'Excellence in Teaching' award offered by the Professional Development Center at University of Toronto (May, 1996). The 'Excellence in Teaching Award' in April 2007 offered by TUV Akademie (TUV Akademie is one of the largest Professional Development centre in world, it is based in Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and provides engineering training to engineers and managers across Europe and the Middle East). Awarded graduation 'With Distinction' from Dalhousie University when completed Bachelor of Engineering degree (1983). Lastly, he was awarded his Bachelor of Engineering Degree 'with distinction' from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He also received a Master of Applied Science in Engineering (M.A.Sc.) from the University of Ottawa, Canada. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Engineers in the province of Ontario, Canada. POST TRAINING COACHING SUPPORT (OPTIONAL) To further optimise your learning experience from our courses, we also offer individualized 'One to One' coaching support for 2 hours post training. We can help improve your competence in your chosen area of interest, based on your learning needs and available hours. This is a great opportunity to improve your capability and confidence in a particular area of expertise. It will be delivered over a secure video conference call by one of our senior trainers. They will work with you to create a tailor-made coaching program that will help you achieve your goals faster. Request for further information post training support and fees applicable Accreditions And Affliations
Overview Learn how to price equity options and the features that make them different from other asset classes. Explore how to use these products for taking equity risk, yield enhancement and portfolio protection Who the course is for Risk managers Bank treasury professionals Finance Internal Audit Senior management Fixed Income, FX, Credit and Equities traders Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now
Overview 2 day course on scorecards, rating agency frameworks, regulation and integration and quantification of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysis into equity and credit investing / lending for / to corporates, banks and other financial institutions, applied to many case study companies and industries Who the course is for Investors and analysts – equity and credit; public and private Bank loan officers M&A advisors Restructuring advisors Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now
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.
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
Overview Understand the role of corporate structure, dividends and equity indices in equity markets. Become familiar with the building blocks of repos / stock lending, futures and forwards – and how to use these products. Understand how to price, and risk manage equity swaps and dividend swaps. Gain experience in their uses in trading, corporate finance and portfolio management. Learn how to price equity options and the features that make them different from other asset classes, explore how to use these products for taking equity risk, yield enhancement and portfolio protection. Understand strategies designed to trade / hedge volatility using options. Who the course is for Risk management Finance Sales and trading Treasury Technology Financial Engineering Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now
Overview A 1-day course on inflation-linked bonds and derivatives, focusing on the UK market in particular. We examine how inflation is defined and quantified, the choice of index (RPI vs. CPI), and the most common cash flow structures for index-linked securities. We look in detail at Index-linked Gilts, distinguishing between the old-style and new-style quotation conventions, and how to calculate the implied breakeven rate. Corporate bond market in the UK, and in particular the role of LPI in driving pension fund activity. Inflation swaps and other derivatives, looking at the mechanics, applications and pricing of inflation swaps and caps/floors. The convexity adjustment for Y-o-Y swaps is derived intuitively. Who the course is for Front-office sales product control research Traders Risk managers Fund managers Project finance and structured finance practitioners Accountants, auditors, consultants Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now
Using an excavator as a crane is a common practice in certain construction and lifting operations. Using the digger as a crane requires appropriate training and skills However, it’s important to note that excavators are primarily designed for digging and earthmoving, not lifting. Using an Excavator as a Crane involves some inherent risks, and it’s crucial to follow safety guidelines and manufacturer recommendations. To book the NPORS Excavator as a Crane training or test please contact us to schedule your Training Here are some general considerations and steps you might take when using an excavator as a crane: 1. Check Manufacturer Guidelines: Always consult the manufacturer’s guidelines and specifications for the specific excavator model you are using. Manufacturers provide load charts and other essential information to ensure safe operation. 2. Understand Load Capacities: Know the lifting capacities of your excavator at various boom lengths and angles. Exceeding these capacities can lead to instability and accidents. 3. Use Proper Attachments: If your excavator is equipped with a lifting attachment, make sure it is designed and rated for lifting operations. Using inappropriate attachments can compromise safety. 4. Stabilise the Excavator: Ensure that the excavator is on stable ground. Extend the outriggers or stabilisers to provide additional support and prevent tipping. 5. Inspect the Excavator: Regularly inspect the excavator for any signs of wear, damage, or malfunction. Pay particular attention to the boom, hydraulics, and other critical components. 6. Position the Excavator: Position the excavator in a way that allows for a stable lifting operation. Avoid working on slopes or uneven surfaces. 7. Rigging and Lifting Techniques: Use proper rigging techniques, and ensure that the load is properly secured. Lift the load smoothly and avoid sudden movements. 8. Maintain Clear Communication: Establish clear communication between the operator and any ground personnel involved in the lifting operation. Use hand signals or radios to coordinate movements. 9. Avoid Exceeding Reach Limits: Do not exceed the excavator’s reach limits. Lifting loads beyond the recommended reach can lead to instability. 10. Training and Certification: Ensure that operators are properly trained and certified for lifting operations. Holding the NPORS Excavator As A Crane bolt on is essential for lifting operations Operating an excavator as a crane requires specific skills and knowledge. 11. Weather Conditions: Consider weather conditions, especially wind speeds, as they can affect the stability of the excavator during lifting operations. Always prioritise safety when using equipment for tasks it wasn’t originally designed for. If the lifting requirements are frequent or extensive, it may be more appropriate to use a dedicated crane with the necessary capacity and features. Remember, safety is paramount in any construction or lifting operation. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is Excavator As A Crane Training, and why is it necessary? Excavator As A Crane Training provides individuals with the skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively use excavators for lifting operations. Although excavators are primarily designed for digging and earthmoving, this training ensures operators can perform lifting tasks safely, minimizing risks and accidents on job sites. 2. Who should undergo Excavator As A Crane Training? This training is essential for anyone involved in using excavators for lifting operations, including machine operators, construction workers, and site supervisors. Proper training ensures that individuals understand equipment operation procedures, load capacities, and safety protocols. 3. What topics are covered in Excavator As A Crane Training programs? Training programs cover a range of topics, including: Manufacturer guidelines and load charts Understanding load capacities at various boom lengths and angles Proper use of lifting attachments Excavator stabilization techniques Rigging and lifting techniques Positioning and communication strategies Safety procedures and weather considerations Regular inspection and maintenance of equipment 4. Is Excavator As A Crane Training mandatory in certain industries? While not legally mandated in all areas, many employers in the construction and lifting industries require operators to undergo training as part of their occupational health and safety policies. Compliance with excavator as a crane training requirements helps prevent accidents and ensures regulatory compliance. 5. Where can I find reputable Excavator As A Crane Training courses? Reputable Excavator As A Crane Training Courses are offered by various institutions, including industry associations, equipment manufacturers, and specialized training providers like Vally Plant Training. It is important to choose a program that offers accredited certification and covers relevant industry standards and best practices.
Overview This is a 2 day course on understanding credit markets converting credit derivatives, from plain vanilla credit default swaps through to structured credit derivatives involving correlation products such as nth to default baskets, index tranches, synthetic collateralized debt obligations and more. Gain insights into the corporate credit market dynamics, including the role of ratings agencies and the ratings process. Delve into the credit triangle, relating credit spreads to default probability (PD), exposure (EAD), and expected recovery (LGD). Learn about CDS indices (iTRAXX and CDX), their mechanics, sub-indices, tranching, correlation, and the motivation for tranched products. The course also includes counterparty risk in derivatives market where you learn how to managed and price Counterparty Credit Risk using real-world, practical examples Understand key definitions of exposure, including Mark-to-Market (MTM), Expected Exposure (EE), Expected Positive Exposure (EPE), Potential Future Exposure (PFE), Exposure at Default (EAD), and Expected Loss (EL) Explore the role of collateral and netting in managing counterparty risk, including the key features and mechanics of the Credit Support Annex (CSA) Briefly touch upon other XVA adjustments, including Margin Valuation Adjustment (MVA), Capital Valuation Adjustment (KVA), and Collateral Valuation Adjustment (CollVA). Who the course is for Credit traders and salespeople Structurers Asset managers ALM and treasury (Banks and Insurance Companies) Loan portfolio managers Product control, finance and internal audit Risk managers Risk controllers xVA desk IT Regulatory capital and reporting Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now
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.