Written by Clare Haynes, Managing Director, Wildfire

In these tough times, many economic factors are influencing us:

• The general work atmosphere – people who aren’t feeling under pressure are talking about it!
• Fear – staff can become fearful even when the company is booming
• Domestic influences – belt-tightening psychologically reduces our energy – we’re only concentrating on the little things
• Pessimism – it breeds

So perhaps a dose of optimism, positivity and progress wouldn’t go amiss?

What’s your training regime? The occasional workshop, full training plan at all levels, or the all singing and dancing investment that includes even loans to study any subject of your choice (honest, this happens!)…  or does it start and stop at the annual appraisal/review with the odd team meeting thrown in for good measure?

Regardless of your usual training measures, budget or capabilities, staff development isn’t rocket science…

Delegate - Try optimising your team’s talent by getting them involved in some development – include them in the planning because, as anyone in marketing knows, it’ll engage your audience! Choose the subjects you want to cover and the specific results you want to achieve. Then group them into similar areas. Now you have 3 options:

1. Easy on a limited budget: Ask a trainer to design combined subjects bespoke. e.g.I just delivered be-spoke “Transformational Telephone Techniques” incorporating assertiveness, customer service, linking service to sales, rapport, listening, coaching, team cohesion, staff performance and quality standards.
2. Not too tricky if you’re game: Find some fun exercises (there are many online) which can incorporate the themes you want to cover to run a workshop. People don’t want death-by-PowerPoint or to be talked at so you don’t need any material. Their brains will furnish you with the detail plus an action plan.
3. Good for staff development: Perhaps you can have regular bite-sized sessions run by staff? Get them to find simple activities/set up scenarios/create metaphors. It’s great confidence-building, it develops leadership, facilitation, creativity, chairing and it boosts presentation skills. They might produce mouth-watering results, the lowest-ranking staff member might be your best facilitator and you might just have fun.

Setting up scenarios and brainstorming takes little imagination yet generates results. A few Post-Its, colour pens, flip charts and blobs of Blu-tack can liken your office space to a primary school classroom. Your staff will learn like childsplay and exit eagerly with business-benefiting homework too!

The current climate is complicated enough. It’s in your interest to keep it simple and boost your staff. Enjoy.

For more information, please contact Clare Haynes at Wildfire on 0845 430 9101.

http://www.wildfirecoaching.com/