Excel is one of the most ubiquitous software packages in the world, enabling businesses of vastly different scales to perform both basic and complex financial calculations and data driven analysis. Learning how to utilise the vast capabilities of Excel is a very valuable toolset for either your own professional development or that of your employees. […]
Customers are at the heart of everything, whatever sector your business is in. Customers aren’t an automatic right for a business, they constantly need to be nurtured, increased and retained. Like people’s habits of consumption, purchase and usage, Customer Service trends continue to evolve and modify in line with market trends. That’s why a focus […]
Being able to manage situations in the workplace where conflict is in play is a very important element of management and leadership development in your career. Organisations need leaders, and future leaders, who are able to identify, adapt to and resolve issues of conflict to ensure they present no strategic threat to the development of […]
If you´re thinking about becoming an accountant well, take comfort. You couldn´t be joining the profession at a better time! Accountancy as a profession has experienced unprecedented growth in recent times in Ireland and in Europe. In Ireland and Britain, it amoung the largest single employer of university graduates from any discipline. Some of the […]
Poor workplace communication skills is more than simply an irritant. Paul Golden writes on how it can have a direct impact on the efficiency of the organisation, employee productivity and revenue. Communication in the workplace is the key to a successful business. Most businesses can do more to ensure their organisation has effective lines of […]
Is return on investment analysis really worth the effort? Donald H Taylor does not think so, and his article cautions fellow trainers and their clients to steer clear of this troublesome issue. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could prove training’s value in money terms? Sure, really wonderful. So why don’t we do it? A […]
This article will introduce the trainer to the world of persuasion. Successful trainers need to influence learners to create a positive learning experience. We also show you how to adopt a more influencing style in your training workshops and indeed in your life! Persuasion is not manipulation When most people hear the word persuasion they think […]
Which leadership strategies will give you the results you want? Research published in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) may just have the answer. Corporate cultural components The study used a random sample of nearly 4,000 executives. It found that the most effective leaders choose from six distinctive leadership styles. The research investigated how each of the […]
Donald H Taylor takes a hard look at informal learning and asks if it is an opportunity or threat for learning and development professionals. For a while there everyone was talking about informal learning – at conferences, in books and on the internet. But what does informal learning mean? In particular, what does it mean […]
In her popular series that looks at the trials and tribulations of a trainer, Monica Murphy helps a group of engineers to acquire presentation skills. Giving a presentation is one of the most useful skills anyone can have. The ability to apply it to numerous different situations in both a professional and personal capacity is one of […]
Lifelong learning, upskilling and continuous professional development are more important than ever before. Business and technologies are changing. As a result, it has become crucial for employees to upskill. You may have thought you were through with learning once you finished formal education, but it is unlikely to be the case. An educated workforce attracts […]
The clamour of shows, product releases, conferences and exhibitions makes it hard for people to notice your corporate event. That’s true, even of your target audience. Good publicity can be the difference between success and failure. Luckily we have is a simple step-by-step process to ensure your event is a success. STEP 1: PREPARATION Designate a […]
Phillip Khan-Panni, MBA, FPSA and ATM, discusses the many reasons why cross-cultural training is important to every business. The whiskey liqueur, Irish Mist, is sold around the world, but had limited success in Germany. Clairol’s curling iron, the Mist Stick, also failed in that country. The reason was the same for both products – mist is […]
Brian Moore and Guy Flouch outline how to improve training effectiveness by developing a greater understanding of the different learning styles of trainees. Learning is the goal of training. As trainers, you have probably noticed that some trainees appear to learn ‘quicker’ or ‘more easily’ than others. While we are all natural learners, research has […]
Continuing Professional Development or CPD is the process of continual learning. Professionals undertake CPD to keep up to date with changes in their field, as well as learn new skills, and develop their knowledge or experience. Certain industries and professional bodies require or encourage their members to undertake a certain number of CPD hours every year […]
Finding the right staff – and especially retaining them – is crucial for every company. One way to ensure you are getting the best out of your workforce is to invest in employee training. No matter how big or small your company, the quality of your employees has a huge impact to your company’s productivity […]
Whether you like it or not, you are a brand. Famous brands like Coca-Cola, the Big Mac or the iPhone, elicit an emotional reaction from us. Most people have an opinion – either positive or negative – about each of these. Celebrities are brands too. This branding is part of their star image and is used […]
How can managers track training results? Have staff achieved the training objectives? Are you satisfied with what the training has accomplished? These questions have dogged trainers, performance improvement professionals and managers since the earliest days of industrial adult education at about the turn of this century. Many adult-learning and management theorists have made efforts to provide […]
