Developing the high performing team takes time and effort. But above all, it requires an understanding of the dynamics of high performing teams. This programme helps managers and leaders understand what high performing teams do and how they do it. It focuses on enabling managers to see their teams from different perspectives, allowing them to adapt their styles to maximise team outputs. A core theme is the need for managers of teams to 'hold up the mirror' to themselves and to see themselves as a leader of people, to reflect on how others see them and to modify their style accordingly. This programme will help managers / team leaders: Analyse the constituents of a 'high performing' team Apply essential influencing techniques Use a range of communication techniques to support effective teamwork Create and articulate team vision Generate common values Assess team effectiveness and take/recommend the appropriate actions Make more efficient use of team time Understand and agree on techniques to manage conflict Define and implement team meeting protocols that will facilitate team effectiveness Use the Prime Focus model to create the environment and framework for a high performing team Draft your team strategy to take them to the next level Day 1 1 Welcome and introduction Participants are welcomed to the programme and invited to share their personal objectives and people challenges Participants are given an action plan template to complete throughout the workshop 2 Your team The concept of 'positive intention' The difference between a team and a high performing team Assess your team effectiveness What is your 'interference'? 3 The team environment Setting the scene Building rapport Active listening Team goals and role profiling 4 Your style Tuckman model of team stages - how do you manage each stage? Team standards and goals Your team vision 5 Effective team meetings Influencing in team meetings How to make them interesting and relevant The pure role of the chair Day 2 1 Effective communication techniques Giving and receiving feedback Your communication style How to adapt, pace and lead to build rapport The Mehrabian theory of communication 2 How to manage conflict What is conflict? What is your default conflict approach? Tools and tips for managing conflict Practice sessions 3 Team skills Undertake a team skills analysis Types of team member Motivating team members Reframing situations 4 Setting your strategy Seeing the bigger picture The Prime Focus Model Your strategy for success Articulating your strategy Action plans revisited
If your organisation manages contractors then your staff need to understand the health and safety issues. This course is the answer. The expert trainer will set out clearly the legal responsibilities of all relevant parties and explore the practical application of these responsibilities with the course participants. The course will then examine the issues associated with the planning of work to be contracted out and the evaluation, selection, control and monitoring of contractors engaged to undertake the work. Although the main focus is on health and safety, the course will also explain how health and safety issues need to be integrated into your organisation's functional management processes to ensure effective control of contractors. The course will consider all types of contracted activities, including construction and maintenance, cleaning, security, plant installation, etc. This programme will give participants: A clear understanding of the organisation's legal responsibilities for managing contractors The information they need to assess the competence of contractors A practical understanding of risk assessment principles and the transfer of risk to contractors A step-by-step guide to the key aspects of managing contractors in practice, covering:Planning of the workSelecting contractorsHandover prior to work commencementDuring the workReviewing the work on completion Practical guidance on the integration of health and safety controls into organisational procedures for contractor management 1 Introduction Who are contractors? Why manage contractors? Different types of contractors Costs of poor contractor performance 2 Overview of health and safety law and liability Health and safety law and statutory duties Relevance of civil and criminal law Enforcement and prosecution 3 Relevant legislation for controlling contractors Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (as amended, 2007) Other relevant legislation Contract law 4 Managing contractors in practice Exercise - how well is it happening? The objectives Five step approachPlanning of the workSelecting contractorsHandover prior to work commencementDuring the workReviewing the work on completion 5 Planning the work Scope and extent Risk assessment Interface and other activities Who controls what? Contract arrangements 6 Selecting the right contractor(s) Locating contractor organisations Selection the right contractors Assessing contractor competence Approved lists/frameworks Tender process 7 Pre-work commencement Co-ordination and co-operation Exchange of information Contractor risk assessments and method statements Permits to work Case study exercise 8 During contract work Communication and liaison Supervision and inspection of the work Inspection and reporting procedures Security issues Facilities and access 9 Reviewing work on completion Why, what and how? Achieving continuous improvement in contractor performance 10 Questions, discussion and review
Fraud should not happen, but it does. It can happen at the highest to lowest levels in an organisation. Recent surveys show that incidents of fraud are not decreasing. Fraud costs companies money and, perhaps even more importantly, reputational damage. The losers are not just the shareholders, suppliers, customers, etc, but society as a whole. This programme shows why frauds happen, how organisations put themselves at risk and what they can do to prevent it. This programme will help directors and others understand: The motives for committing fraud Directors' responsibilities for identifying and reporting fraud What types of frauds there are How frauds are perpetrated How they can be prevented How regulators deal with fraud Above all, the principal objective of this programme is to help make your organisation as secure as possible from the threat of fraud. 1 Motives for committing fraud - drivers of fraud Session objective: to understand why people might commit fraud Drivers of fraudulent behaviourAmbitionGreedTheftConceit? And more! 2 Accounting mechanisms that allow fraud Session objective: to review the elements of the accounting, internal control and management processes that allow creative accounting Income or liability? Asset or expense? Coding errors and misclassification Netting off and grossing up Off-balance sheet items 3 Structures that allow fraud Session objective: to consider company and trading structures that allow frauds to be perpetrated Group structures Trading structures Tax havens Importing and exporting 4 Interpretations and other non-compliance that allow fraud Session objective: to look at how creative interpretations of law and accounting practice may permit fraud The place of accounting standards Accounting policies Trading methods The place of auditing standards 5 Money laundering Session objective: to review what constitutes money laundering Types of money laundering Identifying laundering Preventing laundering 6 Preventing fraud - proper management structures Session objective: to review the place of proper corporate governance Corporate governance Company management structure Audit committees The place of internal audit 7 Preventing fraud - proper accounting Session objective: to review best accounting and auditing practice Accounting standards Internal accounting policies Adequacy of internal controls Internal audit 8 Preventing fraud - regulation Session objective: to look at how regulators aim to prevent fraud The regulatory environment Financial services regulation 9 Conclusion Course review Open forum Close 10 Course summary - developing your own cost action plan Group and individual action plans will be prepared with a view to participants identifying their cost risks areas and the techniques which can be immediately applied to improve costing and reduce costs
Telephone selling can be a challenge. It can be a pressured environment and sales professionals need to be able to maintain peak performance in order to meet - and preferably exceed - their targets. This programme will help make it easier for them. The expert trainer covers the whole process, to help participants see it from their customer's perspective. The focus is on how to use a practical understanding of sales psychology, and of the nature of the telephone sales conversation, to help make it easier for customers to buy. This programme will give your team the skills to: This course will help participants: Understand why people buy - and how that makes it easier to sell Manage the sales process better Steer their sales calls to a more positive outcome Recognise - and respond to - customer buying signals Meet and overcome objections Choose the most appropriate techniques for closing with confidence Enhance their resilience Improve their communication skills on the telephone 1 Introduction Aims and objectives Overview Self-appraisal of current skills and development areas 2 The sales approach What selling means Why selling is like nature 3 The telephone as an instrument of communication Qualities of the telephone How telephone communication differs from face-to-face Advantages and drawbacks of the telephone How to optimise selling over the telephone Communication techniques to help you stand out from the crowd 4 Creating a relationship Professional telephone etiquette Building a rapport Connecting with the customer so that they feel you are on the same wavelength 5 The structure of a sales call Opening the call - creating a positive first impression Effective questioning to gather information and establish need Identifying and presenting the features and benefits of the product or service Matching the benefits to customers' needs Recognising and responding to buying signals Anticipating, meeting and overcoming objections Closing the sale and asking for the order - different closing techniques The importance of testimonials - how to obtain them and when to use them 6 Listening skills The challenges of accurate listening How to enhance listening skills Ensuring the customer feels heard and understood through empathetic listening 7 Shaping and using a script Developing a script to increase levels of confidence Leaving the door open 8 Managing the campaign Organisation and call planning Identifying your target market group Planning who and when to call Logging constructive information 9 Personal management The importance of persistence Is there a time to back off? Stamina - optimising energy levels Bouncing back 10 Practising the new information Pulling the details together Practising in a supportive environment 11 Action planning Personal learning summary and action plan
Increasing sales is the core of objective for all salespeople and it is vital they are given the tools and techniques to thrive in this highly competitive environment. The landscape within which salespeople operate is ever shifting, and now more than ever it is recognised that the key to successful selling is understanding the customer's needs and working collaboratively with them to achieve their objectives. This highly practical programme has been developed to support salespeople to develop their all-round sales skills using a customer-focused approach. The course will be fun and informal, using practical exercises to help new and experienced salespeople ensure they are equipped to deal with the challenges of selling. This course will help participants: Develop core sales skills such as building rapport, questioning and presenting benefits Identify the roles and goals of key contacts and recognize the importance of consultative selling Understand how to achieve sales by uncovering needs, matching benefits and promoting value Understand how to structure and control a customer interaction and set clear objectives for each account Develop techniques for handling objections, questions and staying positive Master the art of closing a sale and gaining agreement Understand tactical selling and how to build multiple contacts and relationships Develop skill and confidence in selling to both new prospects and existing customers 1 Consultative selling - key principles for success Recognise the importance of consultative selling and being client-focused Build the right processes to achieving sales targets - questions before features Assess your core sales skills; building rapport, asking questions, presenting features and benefits, closing 2 Consultative sales call skills How best to structure and control a customer meeting or call to be client-centric: Four Cs The importance of setting clear objectives for each call and account Setting the agenda and pre-call preparation Planning sessions 3 Your mission, message and meaning - comparative advantage Defining sales messages and USPs; positioning value and quality not price Knowing your target product and services and their value to the customer Understanding your customers buying role and qualifying the opportunity 4 An effective sales meeting - part 1 Opening the sales interview - and building rapport Gaining and retaining the full attention of the customer Probing and identifying real needs using effective sales questions Planning and practice sessions for consultative selling 5 An effective sales meeting - part 2 Matching customer needs and wants to products and services available Presenting your product or service using features, advantages, and benefits Recognising and responding to buying signals and other sales opportunities Planning and practice sessions 6 Closing the sale successfully Anticipating objections and seeing them as positives, including price objections Handling objections using proven methods and models How and when to ask for the sale professionally Follow up and follow-through Planning and practice sessions
This programme has a simple objective: to help a sales team create and implementa comprehensive account development plan. If you want to earn strategic partner or preferred supplier status with your clients and customers then you need to add value to their business, consistently, and you can only do this if you have a plan - a key account management plan. This programme will help participants: Discover opportunities - through a deeper understanding of the customer's business Develop partnership - through a better 'value proposition' for the customer Increase repeat business - based on higher customer satisfaction Improve synergy - by getting everyone to 'sing from the same hymn sheet' Develop a collaborative account plan - validated by the customer and their own management Secure resources - management will align resources to execute soundly based account plans Win an increased share of 'customer wallet' - through systematic account development 1 The six principles of strategic account development Introduction to the PROFIT account development model:- Performance- Relationships- Objectives and goals- Feedback- Integration- Teamwork Practical account development strategies: overview and case studies 2 Performance Use practical tools to help you manage and measure account performance and success Design and build a monthly account dashboard for all sizes of account Prioritise and manage accounts and customers pro-actively and successfully, using proven planning tools Develop a cross-selling strategy to integrate products or solutions into the customer's business as closely as possible 3 Relationships How to build and manage key relationships within an account Qualifying and managing key influencers accurately Producing a 'relationship matrix' for each account quickly and easily Approaching and developing new contacts strategically Tools and techniques for successful tracking of contacts and call-backs Developing a coach or advocate in every customer organisation pro-actively 4 Objectives and goals Where are you now? - how to establish your competitive position within an account Know how to set, monitor and track key objectives for accounts over the short, medium and long term Selling against the competition - developing both long- and short-term sales strategies 5 Feedback - building loyal and satisfied customers The correct way to manage customer expectations and create listening loops within an account How to monitor and track your customer's perception and satisfaction with your organisation Building a personalised satisfaction matrix for each account Customer review meetings - best practice in building loyalty by regular joint planning events Understanding the concept of long-term customer value and the importance of adapting a customer-focused attitude 6 Integration How to integrate your products or solutions with the customer's business needs and processes Spot and react to early warning signals that may cause an account's loyalty to fade, reduce revenue or switch to a competitor Developing a loyalty strategy for key accounts or groups of smaller accounts Getting your message and strategy across to C-level contacts 7 Teamwork Working with others to achieve your account goals Gaining internal commitment from your organisation Managing and working with a virtual team Creating cross-departmental communication loops 8 Putting it all together Personal account reviews Personal learning summary and action plans
A question of trust. Leadership implies followership. And that means trust. Because who's going to follow a leader they don't trust? This programme takes a values-driven approach to leadership. It gets current and aspiring leaders to hold up the mirror to themselves and to see their reflections as leaders of people. It asks them whether what they see justifies their view of themselves as leaders. It helps them understand just what it takes to be an effective leader. And it does so in a highly practical, constructive manner. It helps the course participants to truly understand the core skills of effective leadership. It focuses on the difference between leadership and management, defining what high performing teams do and how they do it. It helps people to see their teams from different perspectives, allowing them to adapt their styles to maximise team outputs. And it explores concepts such as emotional intelligence, authentic leadership and the RAIV approach (relationships-achievement-independence-vocation) to help explore underlying values and use them to drive effective leadership. Because what worth do our values have unless we put them into practice? The course will help you:• Appreciate the key skills a leader needs to be effective• Understand what the organisation expects of you as a leader• Recognise your leadership style and the impact it has on others• Consider your role models - who inspires you?• See leadership from the 'followers' perspective - how do you like to be led?• Discover what holds you back - limiting beliefs• Examine your core values -do they support your ambition?• Explore the concept of Emotional Intelligence - how do we manage ourselves?• Discover how to lead through change• Explore the concept of 'Authentic Leadership' - consider how it can work for you• Practice some of the skills essential to motivating and influencing for success• Use the RAIV approach to generating enthusiasm and commitment• Plan how best to 'walk the leadership talk' - in your role, in your organisation Above all, this course will help you put theory into practice, values into actions, in a mature, considered, effective way. Day 1 1 Welcome and introduction Participants are welcomed to the programme and invited to share their personal objectives and people challenges Participants given an action plan template to complete throughout the workshop Participants required to bring an inspirational quote to share with the group 2 What is leadership? The concept of 'leadership' The role of a leader Skills assessment for all participants# Leadership v Management Assess your team effectiveness 3 Your leadership style Leadership questionnaire You and your role models Push v Pull styles of leadership Empowerment v Control Team goals and role profiling Day 2 1 You, the leader Your core values Your communication style Situational leadership The Emotional Bank Account Buy Me Today 2 Are you Emotionally Intelligent? (EI) What is emotional intelligence? Self-assessment exercise Manage your emotions Nine strategies for promoting EI 3 Leading through change Identify the major changes affecting you / your team Types of change The roles of resistance How safe are you to talk to? Forcefield Analysis Day 3 1 Authentic Leadership (AL) What is AL? Managing perceptions is managing their truth A leadership challenge 2 Motivating and influencing for success What motivates you? Motivational theory Leading by example Influencing skills required Influencing styles The influence challenge! 3 Creating enthusiasm and commitment The RAIV approach (relationships-achievement-independence-vocation) Building self-worth What drives your team? Your leadership legacy Your commitment to leadership
Nowadays not only do we rely on our commercial and sales staff to hit that bottom line but we expect our engineers and project teams to play their part too - not only through their engineering and management skills but by behaving in a commercially minded way in their dealings with their counterparts in customer or supplier organisations. This means understanding, amongst other things, the issues surrounding the commencement of work ahead of contract, having a clear contract baseline, recognising the broader implications of contract change, the need for timeliness and the consequences of failing to meet the contracted timetable. This practical one-day programme has been designed specifically to give engineers, project staff and others just that understanding. The course is designed principally to provide engineers and project staff with an appreciation of contractual obligations, liabilities, rights and remedies so that they understand the implications of their actions. It is also suitable for business development staff who are negotiating contracts on behalf of the business. The main focus of the day is on creating an awareness of when a situation may have commercial implications that would harm an organisation's business interests if not recognised and handled appropriately and how taking a positive but more commercial approach to those situations can lead to a more positive outcome for the business. As well as providing an understanding of the commercial imperatives the day also focuses on specific areas affecting engineers and project staff, such as the recognition and management of change, the risks when working outside the contract and managing delays in contracts. The course identifies the different remedies that may apply according to the reasons for the delay and provides some thoughts on pushing back should such situations arise. On completion of this programme the participants will: appreciate the need for contractual controls and will have a better understanding of their relevance and how they can be applied, particularly the issues of starting work ahead of contract, implementing changes and inadvertently creating a binding contract by their behaviour; have gained an understanding of the terminology and procedural issues pertaining to contracting within a programme; and be more commercially aware and better equipped for their roles. 1 Basic contract law - bidding and contract formation Purpose of a contract Contract formation - the key elements required to create a legally binding agreement Completeness and enforceability Express and implied terms Conditions v warranties The use of, and issues arising from, standard forms of sale and purchase Use of 'subject to contract' Letters of intent Authority to commit 2 Change management Recognising changes to a contracted requirement Pricing change Implementation and management of change 3 Key contracting terms and conditions By the end of this module participants will be able to identify the key principles associated with: Pricing Getting paid and retaining payment Cashflow Delivery and acceptance Programme delaysExamining some reasons for non-performance...Customer failureContractor's failureNo fault delays ... and the consequences of non-performance: Damages claimsLiquidated damagesForce majeureContinued performance Waiver clauses and recent case law Use of best/reasonable endeavours Contract termination 4 Warranties, indemnities and liability Express and implied warranties Limiting liability 5 Protection of information Forms of intellectual property Background/foreground intellectual property Marking intellectual property Intellectual property rights Copyright Software Confidentiality agreements Internet
In today's competitive business world firms are under unprecedented pressure to deliver value to their shareholders and other key stakeholders. Senior executives in all parts of the organisation are finding that they need some degree of financial know how to cope with the responsibility placed on them as business managers and key decision-makers; monitoring and improving business performance, investing in capital projects, mergers and acquisitions: all require some degree of financial knowledge. The key financial skills are not as difficult to learn as many people believe and in the hands of an experienced senior executive they can provide a formidable competitive advantage. After completing this course delegates will be able to: Understand fundamental business finance concepts; understand, analyse and interpret financial statements: Profit Statement, Balance Sheet and Cashflow Statement Understand the vital difference between profit and cashflow; identify the key components of working capital and how they can be managed to generate strong cashflow Evaluate pricing decisions based on an understanding of the nature of business costs and their impact on gross margin and break-even sales; managing pricing, discounts and costs to generate strong business profits; understand how lean manufacturing methods improve profit Use powerful analytical tools to measure and improve the performance of their own company and assess the effectiveness of their competitors Apply and interpret techniques for assessing and comparing investment opportunities in capital projects, business acquisitions and other ventures; understand and apply common methods of business valuation Understand the role of business finance in formulating and implementing competitive business strategy; the role of budgeting as part of the planning process and the various approaches to budgeting and performance measurement 1 Basic principles Delivering value to key stakeholders Accounting concepts, GAAP, IFRS and common terms Understanding and using the balance sheet Understanding and using the profit statement Recognising the vital difference between profit and cashflow Understanding and using the cashflow statement What financial statements can and cannot tell us 2 Managing and improving cashflow Sources of finance and their advantages and disadvantages What is working capital and why is it so important? Managing stocks, debtors and creditors Understanding how working capital drives business growth Understanding and avoiding the over-trading trap Unlocking the funds tied up in fixed assets: asset backed loans and leasing 3 Managing and improving profit Understanding how profits generate cashflow The fundamental nature of costs: fixed and variable business costs Understanding gross margin and break-even How common pricing methods affect gross margin and profit Effective strategies to improve gross margin Using value chain analysis to reduce costs Lean manufacturing methodsUnderstanding Just-in-time, 6 Sigma and Kaizen methods Improving profitEffective and defective strategies 4 Measuring and managing business performance Measures of financial performance and strength Investor behaviour: the risk and reward relationship Return on investment (ROI): the ultimate measure of business performance How profit margin and net asset turnover drive return on net assets Why some companies are more profitable that others Understanding competitive advantage: cost and differentiation advantage Why great companies failWhat happened to Kodak? Using a 'Pyramid of Ratios' to improve business performance Using Critical Success Factors to develop Key Performance Indicators 5 Budgeting and forecasting methods Using budgets to support strategy Objectives and methods for effective budgets Using budgets to monitor and manage business performance Alternative approaches to budgeting Developing and implementing Balanced Scorecards Beyond Budgeting Forecasting methods and techniques Identifying key business drivers Using rolling forecasts and 'what-if' models to aid decision-making
At some point in your life you will have attended a training course or workshop, but what happens when you are asked to deliver one? Some people relish the opportunity while others are challenged by it. Whatever you feel about training others, it is a skill that is admired and can be studied and learned. With the trainer you will be learning the techniques, skills and understanding you need and you will have the chance to deliver a short training session to others, receive feedback and having the confidence to deliver it for real in your job. The training will comprise one day followed by a half day when all those able to attend will deliver and have feedback on a 20 minute training activity. To be able to create and maintain an environment conducive to learning and engagement To understand basic learning theory and practice and the difference between training, facilitating and learning To understand how adults learn and how to apply it as a trainer To be able to plan and deliver a training activity using the appropriate set of skills and behaviours To be able to review and evaluate learning and identify how outcomes are met To manage the learning process and the participant engagement in the training environment To be able to present effectively and appropriately to a variety of audiences To deliver and receive feedback on a short delivered training activity with peers To review and evaluate learning and have an action plan to take back and put into practice DAY ONE (full-day) 1 Welcome, housekeeping, how the day will be run Introductions (and making the most of them) Warm up - breaking the ice followed by review and feedback Creating an environment conducive to learning and engagement; managing expectations well as a trainer Group task with feedback and review in plenary 2 What is training and how do adults learn? Trainer input: David Kolb's Learning Cycle Group tasks 3 How to plan a session and what to include - trainer input Starting at the end and working backwards Linking outcomes to purposeful activities Practice task and planning time for day two using a template 4 The skills and behaviours of a brilliant trainer Modelling skills and behaviours Creative task and discussion 5 Mini reviewing task De-brief - using reviewing in training 6 How to manage the process Trainer input followed by practice Paying conscious attention to language (verbal and non verbal), feelings and responses in the room and managing yourself as a trainer 7 The trainer's toolkit #1 Key tools, materials and templates Choosing different tools and approaches with different audiences Know your audience 8 The trainer's toolkit #2 Key tools, materials and templates continued Addressing trainer good practice 9 Review, evaluation and action planning activities Why and what should we be evaluating and why it's important Action planning task Group review task DAY TWO (half-day) The day will comprise a series of 30 minute timed sessions where each delegate will present and deliver a training activity with the group. The training activity will be prepared and planned in advance and will take 20 minutes (+ or - 2 minutes) to deliver in real time. This will be followed by review and feedback from the trainer and peers to complete the total of 30 minutes as a time slot. Reiteration of the task and discussion can take place with the trainer if needed, and there is time included in Day One to support the training planning.