I have decided to write an e-book and sell it solely for the benefit of a charity called Sebastian’s Action Trust. I won’t detail the whys and wherefores here but I will post them on my website, www.coach-and-courses.com.
The e-book will be an edited selection of accumulated wisdom.
Amongst the readers of this forum there is a huge amount of experience and knowledge; if there is a nugget of learning you would like to share, and be accredited with, please send it in.
It could be related to training, business in general or even life in all its glory.
It could be a massive insight…
..or a little fact that everyone else seemed to know but had passed you by, (for example; if showing a PowerPoint slideshow you can press “B” on the keyboard to temporarily blank the screen).
You can post your input, or any comments, here or mail them to me at [email protected]
rus slater
7 Responses
Two top techie tips and two top business tips
Hi Rus,
What a good idea publishing an ideas book. I will remember the ‘b’ one. I will forward these tips, but some are worth publishing…
TECHIE TIPS:
Firstly: Got loads of windows open and want to see your desktop? Windows-key M will minimise all windows
Secondly, when browsing, don’t bother typing full dot com web addresses, just type the middle bit and then press ctrl-return and the www. and .com will be added automatically.
BUSINESS TIPS
Firstly: Wasting loads of time on customer satisfaction surveys? Stop it, the top tip I picked up from an award entry workshop was that the best source of customer satisfaction measures is to put in place systems to track what proportion of enquiries result from word of mouth. So sales & marketing rather than quality control might have that data.
Secondly: Having trouble getting your clients to sign off a case study? Stop, get them to help you write an award submission instead, they will be a lot more excited and co-operative, and the resulting case study will be far more factual and results-orientated. I believe in this one so much I have added a list of forthcoming training and HR awards, along with deadlines, to my website. Might be useful, you never know: http://www.boost-marketing.co.uk/awards
Evaluation
I was concerned that end of course evaluations only helped the next group I trained not the current one. So I designed a method of daily evaluation based on how confindent people felt about working on what they had learnt that day. This not only gave me great feedback but enabled changes to be instant. I was also able to pinpoint what subjects were difficult for the trainees in general and which were related to the individual trainer, thereby being able to improve training methods by getting the best trainers to share with others their techniques. I would be more than happy to share this in more detail with any members who are interested. Regards Steven.
Change
Any change programme – whether it covers 1 or 100,000 people requires each individual to change. OR – all change is Personal.
Turning good advice on its head
Your initiative is such a good idea, Rus…
I’d like to share a technique I use which is the reverse of the conventional wisdom that I was originally taught.
I was told that, when facing a challenging situation (perhaps a presentation to a large audience or delivering a subject that was very new to you) you should spend time envisioning yourself doing it successfuly and, hey presto!, success would be yours!
Somehow that technique never quite cut the mustard for me…
I prefer my own method, and it has a great – and energising – effect on me. Beforehand (usually before people start to arrive), I envision what might go wrong: PowerPoint fails, audience has me for breakfast, I completely ‘dry up’, etc.
I then contemplate the disappointment and imagine how this ‘failure’ is making me feel.
Then I tell myself, “But now you have the chance to put it right!” I take this ‘second chance’ with all guns blazing and go out there and do the performance I really WANTED to deliver.
Perverse – but gives me results every time!
Michael
My ahha moment
Rus
When I started in training I used to be concerned about me. Me, me, me. I’d focus on my presentation or facilitation – basically, I wanted to look good; to impress. Then I realised the very reason I was there was for other people. It is all about their learning and how they experience things. I became so passionate about this that I worked myself into the ground, say yes to everything. Then I became ill – nothing too serious, fortunately, but enough to make me stop and think. I realised that looking after me is not selfish. I can only help other people if I am at my best. I learnt that it is all about balance. I learnt that looking after my well-being, my knowledge & skills, my health is not incompatable with having a generosity of spirit. In fact, they feed each other.
All the best with this project, Rus.
Graham
Thoughts
As a trainer you find yourself using quotes and clever sayings. The one that sticks with me is “It’s not the hours you put in, it’s what you put into the hours”.
I like it because it is a response to the ‘martyr’ culture in the UK workplace – The real issue is sometimes a person’s ability to get the work done rather than too much work. And to top it all, the effective ones feel guilty for leaving on time!
Good luck with your e-book.
Colin
a thank you to the contributors
Thanks to the six folk who contributed via TrainingZone and the three who sent responses direct..
I do appreciate it..THANK YOU
653 people read the question and 9 responded….come on the other 644…do you really have nothing that you have learned in your lives that you want to share?
😉
Rus