Last week we conducted our Circle of Influence Networking evening for PA’s and EA’s. We were delighted to have more than 120 participants. The feedback was excellent and we will certainly organise another similar event before Christmas. If you would like more information just email us.
Our next event is very exciting. We are combining the skills of networking and learning simultaneously. The theme of the night is ‘How to overcome the 4 most common dysfunctions in teams’.
How many times have you left a networking session with a bundle of business cards that you have later thrown in the rubbish bin? How many times have you found yourself seated between two uninteresting characters at a long drawn out presentation?
The Speed Learning Network is a breath of fresh air and the first event of its kind. Learn a brand new skill and be engaged by a key note speaker, whilst also reaping the benefits of your networking session. The Speed Learning Network was developed specifically to connect high achievers, professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs with like minded individuals.
The next Speed Learning and Networking Event will be conducted on Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm at CQ, Level 1, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne. To get a brochure and registration form click here.
Feel free to visit our site for more training programs.
> Instructional Design - Facilitative Leadership - Train the Trainer
So you did not win the lotto or did you?
Our people at Preferred Training Networks are always positive, enjoying the comradery and banter. However, the faces on Friday morning were not happy when we discovered we did not win anything in our pooled resources for the $80 Million Jackpot.
So like us you probably did not win either. Now think of what would happen if at the very end of your life you opened a drawer in your attic and there was a government bond Pay Bearer $80 Million. How would you react? All the hardships you endured and you had this $80 million all this time that could have been cashed much earlier.
Now back to reality. You are probably reading this in a very rich country. You have a computer and you probably have a job. Hopefully your health is good too. You might have beautiful children, siblings and parents. When you think of your friends you reflect on how lucky you have been. You might think of your partner and all the people who love you in this world.
Do you see – You have already won the lottery. You have been blessed with such a fortune.
My lottery win is 3 beautiful children, a beautiful partner, a reliable car, a great team of people to work with and working in an organisation that can positively change people’s lives.
So remember you have already won the lottery and do not waste a minute whinging and complaining. Embrace and cherish what you have already won.
So like us you probably did not win either. Now think of what would happen if at the very end of your life you opened a drawer in your attic and there was a government bond Pay Bearer $80 Million. How would you react? All the hardships you endured and you had this $80 million all this time that could have been cashed much earlier.
Now back to reality. You are probably reading this in a very rich country. You have a computer and you probably have a job. Hopefully your health is good too. You might have beautiful children, siblings and parents. When you think of your friends you reflect on how lucky you have been. You might think of your partner and all the people who love you in this world.
Do you see – You have already won the lottery. You have been blessed with such a fortune.
My lottery win is 3 beautiful children, a beautiful partner, a reliable car, a great team of people to work with and working in an organisation that can positively change people’s lives.
So remember you have already won the lottery and do not waste a minute whinging and complaining. Embrace and cherish what you have already won.
Spotting Middlers
Middlers are fantastic at stringing along tasks. No matter what the task is, middlers are always in the middle of it. Deadlines are seldom met and it is always someone else’s fault.
Middlers often operate beneath the radar; as their performing neither exceptional or poorly. Middlers are at the opposite end of the continuum to action orientated people.
4 reasons to confront workplace middlers:
Feel free to visit our site for more training programs.
Middlers often operate beneath the radar; as their performing neither exceptional or poorly. Middlers are at the opposite end of the continuum to action orientated people.
4 reasons to confront workplace middlers:
- Improved performance – Once a middler knows they have been spotted their performance picks up immediately.
- Middlers like company – Unless middlers are confronted they will attract some higher performers to become middlers.
- Middlers often carry resentment – Resentment is a productivity killer. This course helps unearth any resentment killers.
- Improved Engagement levels – Middlers are not engaged employees and often fool surveys with their pretended enthusiasm.
Feel free to visit our site for more training programs.
Horse Trading When Dollars Are Tight
Horse trading is an innovative way of getting more resources for your department whilst trading things that you do not need.
For example every department has excesses in some areas and needs in others. No department will willingly give away its excesses as they can be gone forever.
E.g. Joanne has extra car spots for her department. Nobody knows and the excess spots are never used.
Tim has extra laptops and does not have any need for them.
In a facilitated session everyone confidentially outlines what they have excess of and what they need.
Your facilitator matches up horse trades and comes back to Joanne with something like “I have a person who has an extra meeting room that you could have and all they need is a parking spot”. Joanne weighs up the offer and if she agrees both parties are introduced.
In Horse Trading everyone comes out a winner if they are prepared to trade. There are a few simple rules to follow that your facilitator can explain at the outset.
If you would like more details on any of the above session please contact Niall Kennedy or visit the Preferred Training Networks website.
For example every department has excesses in some areas and needs in others. No department will willingly give away its excesses as they can be gone forever.
E.g. Joanne has extra car spots for her department. Nobody knows and the excess spots are never used.
Tim has extra laptops and does not have any need for them.
In a facilitated session everyone confidentially outlines what they have excess of and what they need.
Your facilitator matches up horse trades and comes back to Joanne with something like “I have a person who has an extra meeting room that you could have and all they need is a parking spot”. Joanne weighs up the offer and if she agrees both parties are introduced.
In Horse Trading everyone comes out a winner if they are prepared to trade. There are a few simple rules to follow that your facilitator can explain at the outset.
If you would like more details on any of the above session please contact Niall Kennedy or visit the Preferred Training Networks website.
Leadership Case Study
When I lived in New York, it was a very scary place. 42nd Street was a disaster and crime was everywhere. Within a few years it was one of the safest cities in America. There is no doubt that the transformation was a result of excellent leadership management.
There is debate about which leader transformed New York City and it was probably a combined result of the Mayor, Police, Transit Authority and Borough Leaders.
So no matter what state your environment is in it could not be as bad as New York with rampant murders and other terrible events.
So if you want to improve your working environment here is the checklist on how the leaders turned New York around.
Shattering complacency: The leaders reminded people that it was not OK for New York to be as bad as it was.
Fixing broken windows: Broken windows were identified as the first sign a neighbourhood was going to fall to crime. Broken windows were fixed immediately to keep a positive environment.
Charging the community: There was lots of media and effective communications ensuring everyone knew they were fighting back. It was a reminder that everyone is on the same side.
Identifying struggle points and hot spots and deploying resources: There were heaps of problems with job descriptions and demarcation lines. These had to be straightened out across all departments.
Hitting the King Pins: get these king pins on your side and half the battle is won. If you do not have the support at the top do not bother starting.
Framing the challenge: You have got to correctly label the exact challenge. This is vital and if you get it wrong everyone will be working on different directions.
Walking the talk: Many people slip up here. It is a bit like “we are going to have an open transparent workplace and do not tell the accounts people”. Your people will not get behind you and you are doomed if you do not walk the talk.
Getting beyond “This is the way we always do it”: Really successful leaders anticipate pushback and the saboteurs never get a chance to railroad your plans.
Building an environment of continuous improvement: There is a Chinese saying that states a truly great leader will never be content. Everything can be improved. An Australian organisation recently announced that they had no room to grow as they had expanded every possible area for customers. Their share price is still sliding and thankfully there is a new leader taking the reins.
Learn more about all our Leadership Training Programs on the Preferred Training Networks website.
There is debate about which leader transformed New York City and it was probably a combined result of the Mayor, Police, Transit Authority and Borough Leaders.
So no matter what state your environment is in it could not be as bad as New York with rampant murders and other terrible events.
So if you want to improve your working environment here is the checklist on how the leaders turned New York around.
Shattering complacency: The leaders reminded people that it was not OK for New York to be as bad as it was.
Fixing broken windows: Broken windows were identified as the first sign a neighbourhood was going to fall to crime. Broken windows were fixed immediately to keep a positive environment.
Charging the community: There was lots of media and effective communications ensuring everyone knew they were fighting back. It was a reminder that everyone is on the same side.
Identifying struggle points and hot spots and deploying resources: There were heaps of problems with job descriptions and demarcation lines. These had to be straightened out across all departments.
Hitting the King Pins: get these king pins on your side and half the battle is won. If you do not have the support at the top do not bother starting.
Framing the challenge: You have got to correctly label the exact challenge. This is vital and if you get it wrong everyone will be working on different directions.
Walking the talk: Many people slip up here. It is a bit like “we are going to have an open transparent workplace and do not tell the accounts people”. Your people will not get behind you and you are doomed if you do not walk the talk.
Getting beyond “This is the way we always do it”: Really successful leaders anticipate pushback and the saboteurs never get a chance to railroad your plans.
Building an environment of continuous improvement: There is a Chinese saying that states a truly great leader will never be content. Everything can be improved. An Australian organisation recently announced that they had no room to grow as they had expanded every possible area for customers. Their share price is still sliding and thankfully there is a new leader taking the reins.
Learn more about all our Leadership Training Programs on the Preferred Training Networks website.
Working With Less Staff
The reality is if you have to work with less staff then you should start learning to cope quickly. If the manager of the department keeps complaining and becomes a victim then everyone loses. Since you are in the situation you should decide immediately that it is not an ideal situation and at the same time make a commitment to putting your best foot forward. Here is an easy to follow guide if you find your department has shrunk.
1. Choose your attitude. Positive attitudes in workplace are contagious and positive people are proven to be more productive
2. Keep effective communications flowing – Make sure your staff is informed about what is happening. Make sure to search for positive stories to talk about
3. Set an interim strategy that is aligned to the overall strategy
4. Build flexible team members and remove any role ambiguity or conflict in the workplace
5. Agree reporting lines and aim for seamless services
1. Choose your attitude. Positive attitudes in workplace are contagious and positive people are proven to be more productive
2. Keep effective communications flowing – Make sure your staff is informed about what is happening. Make sure to search for positive stories to talk about
3. Set an interim strategy that is aligned to the overall strategy
4. Build flexible team members and remove any role ambiguity or conflict in the workplace
5. Agree reporting lines and aim for seamless services
Uncertainty & Crisis Avoidance in Workplace
Uncertainty and Crisis Avoidance by Preferred Training Networks
Uncertainty, change and crisis result in low employee productivity and performance.
The two root causes of uncertainty are fear of the unknown and miscommunication at your workplace. This program is designed to give you and your people the skills to deal with unexpected changes in the organisation.
How good are you at avoiding uncertainty?
This is a short excerpt from our Uncertainty and Crisis Avoidance article. To view the full article please visit the Instructional Design - Facilitative Learning - Train the Trainer Preferred Training Networks website.
Uncertainty, change and crisis result in low employee productivity and performance.
The two root causes of uncertainty are fear of the unknown and miscommunication at your workplace. This program is designed to give you and your people the skills to deal with unexpected changes in the organisation.
How good are you at avoiding uncertainty?
- We communicate often with the employees to keep them informed of how the change is being implemented.
- We have a communication plan of more than 2 pages.
- We always explain the effect of change to our team.
- Our people can read the signals of any uncertainty.
- Our people have a proven platform to work calmly during any uncertainty.
- We have a culture that acknowledges intuition and interpretation.
- Our people know the importance of risk management.
- Our people set contingency plans.
- Our people think on their feet.
- Our people know how to effectively manage anxiety, body language and stress during any uncertainty.
This is a short excerpt from our Uncertainty and Crisis Avoidance article. To view the full article please visit the Instructional Design - Facilitative Learning - Train the Trainer Preferred Training Networks website.
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