Welcome to our Management Training site full of Management Tips and Tutorials.
We also offer a range of Management Training Courses in Brighton, Sussex.

Managing Awkward People

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

managing awkward peopleIn the workplace you are always going to come up against awkward people, and unlike in your personal life you can’t just ignore them.

These are the people who seem to go out of their way to derail a project or create dysfunction in the office. There are a number of types to spot from the incompetent & indecisive to the control freak & villain. Common words include ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’ and there is a distinct tendency to place the blame on others in every situation.

No matter how much you don’t like it, these people are a part of every team and every office and so it is better to learn how to deal with them rather than wasting time fighting them.

Many problems are caused by change but these can be negotiated with Change Management training. Our Leadership and Management Skills courses also have modules on dealing with uncooperative co-workers.

Use these tips to try and create harmony, rather than division, in your team.

Stay Action Focused

Awkward people enjoy two discussions: what went wrong in the past & what will go wrong in the future.

Neither discussion is useful and does little to move forward. Do not indulge in these conversations and seek to avoid them. Explain why you need to move forward and look to them for options. Read the rest of "Managing Awkward People"

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4 Tested Ways To Increase Employee Productivity

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

Over the years, ideas about keeping employees productive have definitely changed. While some people from the old school of thought believe that a tight ship increases employee productivity, more and more studies have shown that the key to productive employees lies in happy and valued hires who look forward to attending work each day. Motivation comes from encouragement, great relationships and a comfortable work environment, and as a manager it can be your job to provide these things.

How to Increase Employee Productivity

Set The Tone

From the very first moment that you hire on a new member of your team, set the tone that productivity is expected and rewarded. Ensure your staff members have the resources that they need to meet deadlines and to prove themselves as useful members of your companies’ workforce. The overall tone in your office should be one of comfort, but expectation equally. Challenge your employees by brainstorming with them for solutions to common workplace problems. Allow your employees to be heard.

Communication skills are important when managing teams. The better you communicate, the more likely that your staff will do exactly what you ask.

Offer Incentives

When you find useful staff members that you can rely on, show them your appreciation with things they can use. A company lunch is nice, but not nearly as beneficial as a proactive group insurance package after an initial probation period. For staff who stick it out and prove their worth, the benefits that come with reliable employee perks are likely to keep your most excellent staff right where they belong, working to improve your business every step of the way. Read the rest of "4 Tested Ways To Increase Employee Productivity"

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How to Resolve Workplace Conflicts without Taking Sides

Posted on April 30, 2012 by

managing-workplace-conflictsAs much as we hate to admit it, everyone at some point or another brings a personal issue to work.

When personal issues start affecting professional behavior in the workplace, managers are presented with a particularly tough problem – especially when the issue is between two coworkers. It’s bound to happen, so it’s best to consider solutions now, before a problem gets out of hand.

Conflict resolution can be one of the most daunting tasks for new managers as employees look to them to solve their problems. Our Management Skills and Leadership courses both teach you how to deal with conflict in the workplace and keep things running smoothly.

Here are some suggestions for how to resolve workplace conflicts without taking sides:

Know your place

As a manager, it is important that you rise above the personal aspects of the conflict and assume nothing less than a managerial role.

Your employees look to you for guidance, and whether they are aware of it or not, you set the tone for their behavior in the office. Therefore, as tempting as it may be for you to involve yourself in the emotional side of an office dispute, you must stay level headed and strong as a leader. Read the rest of "How to Resolve Workplace Conflicts without Taking Sides"

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Management 101: How to Improve Your Communication Skills

Posted on April 23, 2012 by

It is safe to say that communication is the single most important thing there is when it comes to working with others, resolving conflicts, and spreading ideas and information. Therefore, as a manager, you simply cannot afford to overlook the importance of good communication.

communication-skills-training

Communication skills are a vital tool for managers and so are taught as part of both our management training and leadership training courses.

If things in the workplace are not running as smoothly as they should, you can bet that poor communication is at least partly at fault. Fortunately, there are things you can do to remedy problems caused by faulty communication. Here are some suggestions for how to improve your communication skills:

Practice effective listening

Many people focus their attentions on what they want to say next, even when others are talking to them. This is counterintuitive to effective communication. Read the rest of "Management 101: How to Improve Your Communication Skills"

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The 5 Steps to Effective Personnel Management

Posted on April 19, 2012 by

Managing a large team can feel like a never ending task. As soon as you think you are on track of everyone’s availability and capabilities – and start to make plans accordingly – something changes and you’re back to square one. You need to make sure you approach the different aspects of people management in the right order, at the right times, to give you the best chance of success.

Effective Personal Management Training

Specialised management training will teach you an awareness of best management practice as well as specific tips like these. In particular, an understanding of Management Skills for New Managers is essential to ensure success for your team and your business.

Step 1: Understand your team

Managing flexible schedules can be time consuming; but recording leave, meetings, training days and other absences in one live calendar will help. This means that any changes made by the team are at your fingertips in real time. As long as the team are aware of what changes can be made with and without your authorisation, this will give you the platform to plan ahead for the team and the business. Read the rest of "The 5 Steps to Effective Personnel Management"

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Don’t Forget the Importance of a Team Brief

Posted on April 2, 2012 by

In the 90s and 00s, holding team briefs was an essential part of a manager’s role and a regular feature of office life. Since the rise in popularity of cloud computing and remote working, briefings are much more likely to be done digitally – and opportunities are being missed by managers who have forgotten the benefits that a proper meeting can give the whole team.

A team brief is an opportunity to discuss issues and change from the very top of the business down to smaller issues within the team. The open nature of the meeting worries some managers, who feel that imparting information via email can save them time.

Regular face-to-face briefings with your teams are still important opportunities to check in, give and gather information and – most importantly – to gauge understanding.

Management training will teach you both time management and effective communication skills. In particular, taking a course in management skills for new managers will mean guidance in which methods of communication are more appropriate for the situation, to ensure the understanding and support of your team.

Read the rest of "Don’t Forget the Importance of a Team Brief"

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