Management and Supervisory Skills
Recruitment and Selection Interviewing
Recruitment and selection errors are costly. This course aims to equip those with responsibility for recruitment with the necessary skills that minimise the risk.Delegates are taken through the various stages of recruitment - Identifying that a job need does exist; undertaking a task analysis; writing Job Descriptions and Personnel Specifications and interviewing techniques.
Listening and questioning skills are developed throughout the course in practical sessions. There is an opportunity for role-play to practice the acquired skills that can be recorded on video. The various requirements of relevant Employment Law legislation are dealt with so those delegates have a good understanding of good practice.
Induction Programme Design
This programme can be an extension of Recruitment and Selection Interviewing as well as a stand-alone session.High labour turnover is often associated with poor induction. This course examines the features of good induction that is regarded as a process rather than an event.
The course deals with such topics as - what is induction; who is responsible; who is involved; how long should it take; what is included’ The writing of Induction Training Programmes using a clear format is also dealt with.
Delegates will take away from the course an Induction Training Programme outline which they will have worked on during the course and which relates to a job within their own organisation.
Performance Appraisal
Often referred to as the Annual Ordeal, the appraisal process may be viewed as a bureaucratic process rather than the developmental tool that it is.This course examines the benefits of appraisal to the appraisee, the appraisor and the employer. The detail of the course can be modified to match the particular requirements of documentation of an employing organisation if necessary.
Content includes - what to appraise; planning for appraisal (by both parties involved); objective review of performance; dealing with particular issues; setting of objectives; designing development activities and dealing with different personalities. The importance of body language is also reviewed along with the structure and planning of the activity.
Performance Improvement
This course is designed to deal with two particular situations - the long serving employee whose performance has deteriorated and the more recently appointed employee who has failed to reach experienced worker standard in a reasonable time scale.Delegates are taken through the various actions that can be undertaken jointly with the ‘offending’ employee in order to achieve a correction in the performance currently being achieved.
These include looking at the potential causes of the shortfall. Is the shortfall the result of inappropriate attitude, lack of skill or failure to understand what work has to be done and the standards expected.
The ultimate aim is for the employee to meet the standards of performance, which are regarded as acceptable. In some circumstances this may require the adoption of a formal procedure. Delegates attending this course will take away with them a work book which can be used in the formal situation as well as being a step by step guide to the improvement process.
Time Management
Identifying current use of time is dealt with by asking delegates to complete a time log prior to attending this course. On the course they are helped to analyse their current use of time, and to identify ways of reducing the time spent on non-productive activities.The various time stealers are identified, and delegates are encouraged to think of the impact these have in their own situation. Simple techniques such as the TRAF system are introduced (Toss it; Read it; Action it; File it) which can easily become habits of the good variety.
The use of time planners ranging from simple wall charts to more complex personal planning systems and computer based systems are considered, with delegates able to decide themselves which is the most appropriate in their particular case.
Most people have meetings to arrange or attend, and some attention is given to this aspect of time management. Planning for an effective meeting as well as how to get the best use of time from meetings attended are both topics addressed in this course.
Developing Your Staff
The role of line managers in the development of their staff is dealt with in this programme. It recognises that success comes from a well-trained and motivated workforce, and then examines how to achieve that.Delegates are shown how to write their own training programmes for use in their own departments / sections etc. The skills of coaching are developed in this programme, as are the techniques of effective instruction.
During the course, delegates will begin the writing-up of a training plan for at least one member of their staff that can be completed back at the work place.
Briefing Meetings
Effective communication is vital in any organisation. This course deals with a well-proven tool of communication - the briefing meeting.Keeping staff informed is considered essential, yet is important to avoid ‘information overload, or providing information that is not relevant to the recipients. In this course delegates will define and redefine what is and what is not relevant in their own organisation.
The process of communication is dealt with, recognising the filters that apply in both the upward and downward flows. Consideration is given how to minimise the effect of these filters. Not everyone feels comfortable to contribute in meetings and delegates are shown various ways of ensuring that everyone is encouraged and given the opportunity to make known their particular views.
The use of various tools e.g. desk top presenters, is considered along with the overall planning and preparation required for an effective briefing meeting.
Motivation
Delegates obtain a clear understanding of what motivation is and recognise basic motivators. The theories of Mazlow, Herzberg, McGregor and Taylor are considered within the context of ‘What they mean to you and your teams’.Delegates will complete a self analysis questionnaire during this course which is used to assist them in developing a motivational climate within their own place of work.
The attributes of the ideal manager are examined, as are the ‘push’ v ‘pull’ styles of management. The course also considers both financial and non financial rewards as means of producing motivation.
Leadership
This course starts by defining Leadership and Delegation, then goes on to identify the benefits of using leadership.
The various leadership styles are reviewed within the context of ‘What are they’’; ‘How to use them’ and ‘When to use them with differing situations and differing personalities’ Delegates will also complete a Leadership Behaviour check list for self analysis.
The process of delegation is examined, ‘What makes for good delegation’. Delegates will provide good and poor examples of delegation within their own experience.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Delegates will be invited to bring to the course an actual problem, which will be worked on using the techniques learned on the day.
Participants will learn how to identify the problem and then undertake a cause analysis using a variety of techniques. The eight stages of problem solving are used in order to arrive at a solution and/or identify alternatives.
Decision-making is dealt with by looking at how opportunities are turned into action - the decision making process. The main decision making steps are identified as well as the common causes of careless decision-making.
Effective Project Management
This course relies entirely upon manual methods and techniques which can be used anywhere and for any project.
The course starts with delegates working on a practical task. When the task is concluded a review takes place. These enable delegates to identify what went well, and what could be improved upon. This inevitably includes key components such as timekeeping, objectives, lack of planning and delegation.
Critical Path Analysis and Gantt Charts are techniques which are fully explained with practical exercises to reinforce the learning. Problem solving techniques are also covered and each delegate takes away with them a comprehensive guide to problem solving.
The course ends with a comprehensive practical exercise which ensures delegates use all the techniques covered on the course. This exercise is competitive with final decisions being processed by computer in order to determine the ‘winner’.
This course can also be designed to incorporate use of MS Project 98. As a result, participants have an excellent understanding of the techniques of project management, together with developed skills in using this excellent project management tool.