Training Programs Outline
Our work revolves around the field of expanding peoples' productivity, effectiveness, efficiency, quality of life, and of course increasing the bottom line profits of a company.
Time Management Essentials
To help you with the vital concerns of productivity and planning, effectiveness, employee burnout, work/family balance, delegation (a key time management skill) and electronic and paper information overload we've spent over fifteen years studying and developing some of the most practical, effective, and easy-to-implement productivity programs in the marketplace. What's more, the course material has been constructed in a modular way, so that the participants can get the benefit of rehearsal and follow-up - the best way to learn new habits and improve old ones.
The first two modules described below are the core of the productivity programs. If your company cannot, for geographic or time reasons, have an extended program, these two modules and some selected key elements from one or two of the other modules provide the best one-day program in the marketplace.
However, our strong recommendation is to spread your selected modules out, usually a week between each session. Click here for further discussion on How to get the best value for my training dollar.
All modules can be run as 3 or 4-hour sessions, but we also have extended programs, with more interaction and material. Recommended times are noted beside each module description.
Getting A Grip On...
Getting a Grip On Planning and Prioritising
Getting a Grip On Time Wasters
Getting a Grip On Delegation and Communication
Getting a Grip On Effective Meetings
Getting a Grip on the Everlasting Battle with Paper and Information
Getting a Grip On Email and Electronic Information Overload
NEW PROGRAM For CEOs and Senior Management Only - NEW
Getting a Grip On Planning and Prioritising 3-4 hours
Did you know that only about 15% of a group will continue to use a traditional diary system they've been on a course to learn about, including very expensive diaries with excellent training programs?
Reason?
Many diary systems try to force the user into a particular method, with little room for personal preference and individual style.
Our experience is that people need only to be given the basics of planning and prioritising, and they can then easily adapt those principles to the style and method that suits their personal style.
Getting a Grip On Time Wasters 3-4 hours
This is a very powerful and practical module - you'll get the chance, with your workmates, to solve your specific problems.
In today's flat-out busy world we rarely take time to discuss and brainstorm solutions to everyday time-stealers. In fact, the majority of the answers are always within the minds and experience of the group. What is needed is the opportunity for discussion and an experienced external facilitator with the knowledge to fill in the gaps.
How often have you:
- Wasted time at a meeting?
- Or been deluged by unnecessary e-mail?
- You've thought, "Kill that phone"?
- Had a garrulous staff member park their butt in your spare chair for the third time today?
and there's much much more!
Getting a Grip On Delegation and Communication 3-8 hours
Delegation is a vital management tool - but very few managers know how to use it successfully. Instead, they work longer and harder, and feel as if they constantly spin in ever-widening circles. Their families complain that they never see them. Their work mates complain, no matter how hard they try. They feel stressed and out of control.
The transfer of instructions and information is a skill, which all members of staff should understand. Everyone has a responsibility to know how to receive instructions as well as give them.
In the 3-4 hour module you will learn:
- How to delegate tasks effectively
- How to get co-operation from your associates
- What to do when your staff are delegating to you!
- If you are delegated to, how to help your boss delegate better
- How to be pro-active about clear instructions and deadlines
- Tips to help you recognise ineffective delegation (including your own)
What you can delegate, and what should not be delegated
- How to train other people
- Personality styles and how they relate to delegation
- Learn when and how to say 'No' graciously
- Reduce your workload by learning how to recognise when you're taking on someone else's work
- Manage your priorities without conflict - even when instructions and requests come from two or more associates
The extended full-day module also covers a wide range of communication issues such as:
Getting a Grip On Effective Meetings 3-4 hours
Purpose:
- To help participants develop strategies to run meetings with excellence
- To give staff a chance to practice the skills necessary to run effective meetings
Content:
- To know when and which meetings to attend;
- How to not waste time in meetings
- How to chair a meeting effectively;
- Making a meaningful contribution
- How to involve all participants, including the quiet ones
- Using the company Intranet to assist in scheduling meetings
- Rapid minute-taking, and effective use of minutes; How to handle conflict in the group;
- How to set and run an effective agenda;
- The issue of time, in relation to meetings;
- Physical matters of layout and time of day, to ensure maximum participation;
- Regular evaluation and improvement
Getting a Grip on the Everlasting Battle with Paper and Information 3-4 hours
A look at simple, practical and efficient ways of handling the never-ending flow of paper and information in our offices
- How to structure our office, our filing systems, and our electronic mail for maximum efficiency
- Reduce the paperwork and administrative detail
- Feel that you control your paperwork instead of it controlling you
- Learn useful filing techniques
- Be able to decide quickly what to throw, and what to keep
- Make your space work better for you
"Very worthwhile. Weeks later our accounts department is still much more efficient with their paperflow. Productivity is up, and the end-of-month is much less stressful." Company Secretary, A.E.I. Banner.
"I estimate that our teams have become at least 10% more efficient since doing your programme. Not only is everyone more aware of other people's time needs, but now we wonder how other divisions with messy desks operate!" Senior Engineer, Road Transport Authority, NSW, Australia.
Getting a Grip On Email and Electronic Information Overload 3-4 hours
Ever felt overwhelmed by too much mail in your Inbox? Have you noticed how addictive email can be? And have you ever wondered if there are guidelines for email writing - it certainly requires different kinds of responses.
Learning Objectives:
Target Audience:
- This course is designed for those with a low to medium skill level with email. Advanced users may get some new tips, but it's not really designed for them.
- We have different programmes for both Lotus and Outlook users.
- This is not a traditional computer course. Instead it's a 'how-to' of practical and easily-applied productivity principles, tips and techniques
- Participants will receive comprehensive take-home notes.
- Participants will not use a computer during the session.
Seminar Contents:
- Efficient set-up
- Efficient habits
- Netiquette
- How to write email so the recipient can hear, see and action quickly
- The power of email as a marketing tool
- Email as a business tool
... and much more
NEW PROGRAM For CEOs and Senior Management Only
If you're a leader in your organisation and want to uncover ways to plug the gaps in your company's profitability and productivity, this may be the program for you.
Rather than just a major focus on the regular time management issues such as planning and prioritising we drill down together, discussing some of the latest findings and trends to keep you ahead of the pack.
We'll also uncover practical strategies to deal with information overload, interruptions, poorly run meetings, and the gamut of common time problems from the perspective of a senior executive.
Typical Topics
The specific agenda is created by the participants at the start of the session.
- How to use the energy levels of your team to find and fix 'hot spots' of poor productivity
- Discover ways to help your people integrate a better work/life balance
- Learn the latest findings on health, obesity and environment disruptors and how they are impacting your workforce. (If you've ever said 'I can't find young people, especially young men, who want to take their work seriously' this issue will blow your mind!)
- Information management - if they can't find it they'll recreate it. How to deal with this
- Practical strategies to deal with information overload, interruptions, poorly run meetings, and the gamut of common time problems, from the perspective of a senior executive.
|
