Achieving goals
Settings goals
Yes, I'm sure we all know the theory - especially the well known SMART acronym:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound
But setting our goals in order to bring our visions alive is just the start of, what can be, a lengthy process of strategising, action planning, reviewing and refining. In principle this is all good stuff and all well documented in any book or article written about time management or project management. There is nothing better than having a good plan. As the old saying goes - 'when all else fails, you can always fall back on the plan'.
The trouble is; following through on a plan can take an enormous amount of time and energy - to say nothing of resources. This is often where we can fall down in achieving our goals - we can become distracted, disillusioned, lose our focus and lose sight of the big picture or vision we originally set out to achieve.
In terms of achieving our goals we need to turn theory into a highly practical experience laced with a variety of human traits such as single mindedness, tenacity, concentration and having the spirit and the will to succeed. I saw all of this in spade loads recently when our daughter Tamara - aged 10 years - decided she would like to experience what it would be like to be a fashion designer.
She set her dream in place and followed through with simple goals and objectives and a structured plan - but most of all she set out with great determination.
And so it was that after many drawings and sketches, visits to fabric shops, asking for advice on sewing and such matters that she finally; this weekend; presented her first creation to the fashion world - Versace and Coco Chanel should be afraid; very afraid!
In achieving her ambition to design and produce her first dress I saw Tamara immerse herself in her project with a clear set of goals and a single minded determination to stick to her process, problem solve all the issues that arose and keep going until she was entirely satisfied with the results of her extensive labours.
I have certainly learned a few lessons about focus and concentration from watching Tamara over the last week or so.
I am looking forward to seeing more of her creations and picking up more tips about establishing a vision, setting goals and achieving the plan.
Well done Tamara and we all look forward to the forthcoming Tamara Alice Collection.
Charles Jack
(aka Proud Dad)
posted by Charles Jack : 09:50 location.href=http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=921944635581818798&postID=7795026144097203601;>0 Comments
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Introducing our at desk training and online meeting services.
We can deliver training to your staff at their desk in the office, or at home if they cannot travel. Fully interactive sessions last one hour and you can choose from an extensive list of subjects. Also - see below for details of our hosted online meetings service.
At desk training
Gateway Training is now offering all of our clients two new services which are:- Low cost
- Quick to implement
- Travel saving
- Time saving
- Money saving
So; no travel - no venue costs - no overnight stays - just quickly delivered quality training.
Just ring 07970 150 156 to discuss exactly what training you need delivered in this way and we will quickly design a solution for you.
Costs are from £35 per person.
Online meetings
Using the same system we can set up an online meeting for you and your colleagues wherever you and they are (within the UK and Europe), as long as you all have access to a pc or laptop and a phone. Share documents and presentations as if you were in your own meeting room.
Don't let the snow reduce your productivity!
Ring us now on 07970 150 156 to book your own meeting.
Costs are from £15 per person.
Although these services are an ideal solution to the current weather and travel problems, they are primarily designed to help organisations and businesses deliver quality training to staff and employees during a time of tight budgets and the need to reduce external training, venue and travel costs.
The only thing you really can't use these services for is your office Christmas Party. I think - for that - all of you have to be there in person!
Cheers!
Costs are from £15 per person.
Although these services are an ideal solution to the current weather and travel problems, they are primarily designed to help organisations and businesses deliver quality training to staff and employees during a time of tight budgets and the need to reduce external training, venue and travel costs.
The only thing you really can't use these services for is your office Christmas Party. I think - for that - all of you have to be there in person!
Cheers!
Labels: desk top, low cost, meetings, online, snow, training
posted by Charles Jack : 09:53 location.href=http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=921944635581818798&postID=2051490236907810553;>0 Comments
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Reflections
Hi, I'm Charles. Do you know who you are?
On a walk through town a few weeks ago my life changed. I caught my reflection in a shop window. It was, for a split second, like looking in a full length mirror. Strangely I really wasn't sure who I was looking at - yes, of course it was me but in that instant I wondered who me really was. Which of my many personas was staring back at me? Charles the dad; the husband; the businessman; the coach; the trainer; the facilitator....... The list - no doubt like yours - could go on!
But where was the real Charles that adopts these personas? Where was the real me? Where now was the core person who was born before all these personas were developed? Don't get me wrong, I know that we need different personas for survival, to get things done, to influence people and to progress through jobs, careers and life in general - no problem with all that!
But, just for a moment, I wanted to connect with the real me. I started asking myself some questions:
- What is my dream; my vision; my big picture?
- What are my values; my standards; my principles?
- What traits or aspects of myself do I like and dislike?
- What do I trust and distrust about myself?
- What do I really appreciate about myself?
My reflection in the window was gone in a second but the questions are still with me. Happily a few thoughts and answers are beginning to formulate in the old grey matter. And most profound and enlightening some of these thoughts are too! A couple have really made me stop to think about and review what I'm doing with my life, my family, my career and my business.
Although my walk through town was only a few weeks ago addressing these questions seems to have had quite a profound affect, there is movement; things are changing, opportunities are appearing and (strangely!) I have a greater sense of the core me - of the real Charles.
When the cranial dust has settled on all my musings I may share some of them with you.
In the meantime why not look in the mirror - ask yourself some questions - and reflect on who you really are.
It just might change your life. ..............!
www.gatewaytraining.net
posted by Charles Jack : 11:07 location.href=http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=921944635581818798&postID=3282131230218038302;>1 Comments
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Active Listening
There's a song that goes I can't dance - so don't ask me! Well I can't dance and, by the way, I can't sing either; but as a management trainer and coach I did think I was a good listener.
We had just watched Spooks on BBC IPlayer. The main story line was freaky enough but the ending was a bit of a cliff hanger. A few minutes after the last credits rolled into the laptop's keyboard I was still contemplating whether Harry was a rotten egg or whether he had been stitched up like a kipper in an Arbroath smoke house when I heard the Voice say "........... and I'll email tomorrow"
Email who tomorrow - email what tomorrow?
It was a simple enough enquiry - or so I thought! But the Voice was on her very own MI5 style character assassination mission and the accusations came thick and fast.
"You never listen to me" "You only listen to half of what I say" "Well if you think I'm going to repeat myself ....." "And by the way you're just like....." (The list was long - don't laugh I'm sure I heard your name mentioned.)
Too tired (and Spooked out) to argue against the onslaught I considered putting up a robust defence but instantly judged this strategy to be deeply flawed and doomed to failure - those of you who know the Voice will fully understand why.
On balance I felt a swift retreat was the better part of valour but as I reached for the Daily Torygraph - behind which, on these occasions, I always think it is wise to hide - the brain snapped and the mouth opened.
"But I was listening!" I heard myself shout softly.
"Oh yeah, while I was talking you were watching Sky News reporting the bombings in Mumbai at the same time as reading the latest on the same item on BBC News online and ... (pause for small breath/large sip of wine) ... and ('and' repeated for increased dramatic effect) ... and probably still wondering if Harry is going for an early pension or not!!"
Oops!
I've been preaching for years that proper listening is an active skill that requires total engagement with the information giver, ergo the Voice.
Active listening involves blocking out all internal interference - I wonder what's for dinner tonight? - and external interference - phones, other people, passing traffic; you know the problems! - by applying total concentration to the incoming data and body language of the speaker.
We need to maintain good eye contact (bearing in mind that in some cultures this may not be appropriate) whilst at the same time nodding sagely in all the right places.
These techniques ensure the other person feels that you are listening, knows that you are listening, believes that you are listeneing.
I'm exhausted just thinking about it - no wonder I (you?) find it so hard to do.
Well, lesson learned - yet again. Just need to practice more; active listening I mean; not dancing.
Talking of which, I had better be on my toes tomorrow night. We're watching the next episode of Spooks on IPlayer and if the Voice asks a question, I better be listening - venturing the wrong answer would be like jumping in with two left feet! Anyone know a good dance teacher?
Labels: active, attention, information, listening
posted by Charles Jack : 22:47
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
The importance of training in a downturn
To train or not to train
My colleagues and I passionately believe that taking care of people takes care of the business. We know we are in difficult times right now and that the instinct of the average UK plc enterprise is to cut back on, or axe completely, any spend on training. This strategy may make sense in the short term in terms of cash flow etc. but can have disastrous consequences when markets pick up and demand for high quality goods and services is back to normal or better.
Maintaining morale
There is another aspect and that is staff morale. In tough times those people who remain in leaner businesses often feel under pressure to produce or provide more with the same or less resources. They may be asked to take on additional roles or jobs – some of which they may not have been trained to do - or are competent in. This can create a huge amount of stress and unrest in a previously content workforce. Morale can plummet quickly unless staff feel supported and valued. Additionally in times of downsizing there is also the question “Who’s next?”
Support and feeling valued
Support can be as simple as giving help and guidance (and extra resources where possible) on the job and giving the opportunity to learn new skills to cope with additional (or new or unfamiliar) tasks and responsibilities. Making people feel valued can be equally as simple as listening and responding to their current issues and problems, keeping them informed of company events and – wait for it - saying “Thank you”.
Does size matter?
By the way, the same applies whether the workforce is large or a very small handful of dedicated people. Although the logistics are different, the principles are the same.
Five steps to surviving a downturn
You need a flexible motivated workforce so:
- Offer on the job support and coaching
- Review available resources – what can you re-engineer – what else can you offer at low/no cost?
- Consider short off job training courses for staff who need new skills
- Keep your workforce informed, listen to them and react to their needs
- Ensure they feel valued; recognise hard work and say thanks!
Here is the link to some information about our training courses:
http://www.gatewaytraining.net/
Labels: coaching, motivation, training
posted by Charles Jack : 19:02
About Me
I have worked in training and management development for more years than I care to remember. I am passionate about helping people develop their businesses or organisations through developing their people. I specialise in designing and delivering Leadership and Management development strategies and, over the years, I have built up a team of professional trainers and coaches - all of whom are highly professional and great fun to work with! |
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