Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Christmas team building

The IT Crowd, Christmas baubles, team building suggestions, and getting the baby bathed….

Posted by Liz McKechnie

It’s here again.

They’ve started selling baubles in the shops, I’ve seen several Santas popping up on the telly, and Cliff Richard must surely be doing a tour. This means the festive season is inexorably creeping up and now we’re past Halloween and Guy Fawkes, for better or for worse, we’re on the home straight.

For the corporate world that may well mean a party, a jolly day out, or possibly a “team build”.

OK so let’s nail my colours to the mast for a minute; I’m a big fan of Channel 4s “The IT Crowd”. It makes me laugh and if it doesn’t work for you try turning it off and on again as they say. Anyway, the first ever episode was all about the TEAM. In fact, it starts with Denholm (boss) insisting that the workforce work together as a team. It goes like this: Read more

Presentation Skills – Handling Nerves Video Podcast

Posted by Liz McKechnie

Pitching and presenting can be a nerve wracking business.

The very best and most dynamic leaders in industry, performers, even rock stars admit to suffering from nerves when they are in the spotlight.

And its not really surprising you’re nervous – you’re in a heightened situation where you’re asking people to focus their attention entirely on what you’re saying or doing.

How will you be judged by your audience, team, boss, organization, or perhaps an even wider audience? Read more

Why we work with strengths in presentation skills training

Posted by Liz McKechnie

In this great Ted talk by Shawn Achor entitled The Happy Secret to Better Work he is not only giving an example of a brilliant presentation (some great ideas to steal here!) but also, eloquently and sometimes hilariously, he outlines why it’s a good idea to think positively about life and work.

 

So, he tells us, in days gone by his little sister fell awkwardly onto her hands and knees from the top bunk. To distract her from her pain he pointed out that she looked like a unicorn and, indeed, probably was one.
He quickly looked for and saw the positive in the situation and she was happy.

And happiness, it seems, like the unicorn has a magic of its own. Surprisingly, it supercedes IQ as a key ingredient to being an effective and successful person.

This is why in all our training programmes we try to focus on working with peoples’ strengths… and it’s not always easy. Read more