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| Effective management - Management & Communications |
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The great communicator ( Communication skills for all) |
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 The aim
To give people the skills to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers.
About the programme
Good communication is a two-way process - you need to put yourself in the other person's shoes. This programme contains practical lessons as to how to achieve this, using the example of two people who work alongside each other but find it very hard to get through to each other. Even though their fortunes are inextricably linked, they harbour different ambitions.
By learning how to communicate better they are both able to get what they want. The main video shows how everyone can do this if they try. There is also a short tape that summarises the steps and provides role plays.
The benefits
- Suitable for people at all stages of their careers
- The problems caused by poor communication and the ways to overcome them are clearly presented
- Six-minute summary is perfect for analysis and discussion |
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| The grapevine ( Communicating in a world of change) |
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The aim
To avoid creating the situations in which employees spread rumours to fill the gap left by a lack of formal communication.
About the programme
People do need to know what is going on, especially if there's something afoot that could affect them personally. And once the rumour mill starts grinding it's very difficult to stop - and even harder to correct any misinformation once it has gained currency.
The grapevine shows what can happen when people suspect the worst and start to make up things for themselves. One of the largest customers of a fictional company has called in the receivers; the MD has made contingency plans and is confident that new contracts will forestall the need for compulsory redundancies.
The message that managers were to pass on was one of reassurance but the production head doesn't brief his team properly and their fears mount, fuelled by the fact that people in other departments seem to know more than they do.
Only when a key member of staff hands in his notice does he realise his mistake and the importance of structured communication .
The benefits
- Everyday settings and realistic situations demystify the concept of internal communications and emphasise the potential problems
- Sets out proposals for achieving a professional communications process
- Highlights the benefits of holding regular team meetings and encouraging staff to contribute ideas
- Engaging use of humour to make messages stronger |
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| Negotiating: tying the knot (A skill for life) |
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The aim
To give staff at all levels the skills to achieve an equitable outcome to any negotiation.
About the programme
Wherever two people get together to do a deal, there's the possibility that at least one will end up feeling cheated, angry or resentful, even though both set out believing that they could achieve a solution that would benefit each of them.
The programme plots the course of a negotiation from first meeting to successful conclusion, using the analogy of the developing relationship of two people.
In the case of marriage, the aim is not for either side to win but to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement. Stage by stage the main characters negotiate their way to the altar in scenes that illustrate the training points defined by the presenter.
The medium of video is unbeatable for demonstrating the various techniques and body language that can be employed and how emotional behaviour leads to totally unproductive rows. There are also textbook demonstrations of how to deal with threats and ultimatums and to overcome deadlocks.
The benefits
- Valuable lessons for all staff, especially anyone in regular contact with customers and suppliers
- Easy-to-understand, well-demonstrated training points
- Defines and illustrates the three main stages of a negotiation
- Shows how to establish aims, priorities and bottom lines and which points are subject to negotiation |
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| The art of assertiveness |
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 The aim
To equip people with the confidence to get their views and ideas noticed.
About the programme
Techniques of assertiveness are shown in action in a series of different settings from a management meeting to a one-to-one conversation between colleagues.
Straight talking shows that the basic rule of assertive behaviour is honesty and that it's usually for fear of the response that honesty is avoided. However, this fear is generally over-exaggerated. The video is highly reassuring on this point for anyone who has doubts about volunteering what they think - even when asked to do so.
It also demonstrates why aggressive behaviour doesn't work in the long run and why it's important to establish a negotiating position and stick to it.
The benefits
- Particularly suitable for junior management, sales personnel and purchasing staff
- The key lessons are explained by a presenter and illustrated by realistic action sequences in a variety of situations
- Dramatic sequences and subtle humour deliver the messages in a powerful, convincing fashion |
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| Meetings, bloody meetings (Making meetings more productive) |
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 The aim
To enable people to organise and chair meetings that are more effective and more motivating for those who attend.
About the programme
Meetings, bloody meetings is the best-selling video that defines the five disciplines that transform a gathering into a professionally run business meeting.
In a nightmarish court, a cynical manager is found guilty of failing to prepare himself and inform others of what a meeting was about (even omitting to invite all the relevant people); failure to plan the agenda; failure to control the discussion and failure to record the decisions.
The judge demonstrates how the rules for running a meeting parallel those of a court and the chaos that would result if he ran his court in the same way.
The nightmare is so vivid that the guilty-as-charged manager resolves to apply the rules - as will your organisation's staff when they view this very humorous, sharply observed parable.
The benefits
- Suitable for all staff who might be expected to organise and run meetings
- Key learning points are dealt with in clearly-defined segments that can be reviewed and discussed
- The combination of a realistic business meeting and nightmare court makes it easy to understand the problems and the solutions
- Humorous content engages people's attention and aids learning |
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| I wasn't prepared for that (Overcoming the fear of making presentations) |
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The aim
To give staff at all levels the confidence and skills to prepare and deliver effective presentations.
About the programme
Originally quite comfortable with the thought of submitting a written report on an office relocation, a young executive is panic-stricken when she's told that she has to present it in person to the board.
Her first run-through is a disaster, but with encouragement from a colleague she soon learns the secrets of making an effective presentation. He reassures her that she knows more about the project than anyone else. She has no reason to worry providing she approaches the task methodically.
By following a number of simple steps - Position, Options and Proposal - she is able to conquer her fears and make a successful presentation. She then discovers that no two audiences are the same and that she must adapt her presentation accordingly.
The benefits
- Ideal for first-time presenters and for experienced presenters wishing to review their technique
- Proves that you don't have to be a 'natural' presenter to make a professional presentation
- Teaches people how to communicate complex proposals effectively
- Shows how to tailor presentations for different audiences |
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| Body language: What the window cleaner saw |
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The aim
To help people understand how others think and feel by how they behave.
About the programme
The window cleaners in this drama have a ringside view of corporate life, seeing behaviour and interpreting it without hearing the words.
By learning from them, this video will help managers, supervisors and salespeople be aware of the signals they are giving and the effect they are having on other people. They will see examples of body language to look for in the future, modify their behaviour to achieve their objectives, and have an insight into what other people are thinking and feeling.
The benefits
- Targeted at anyone in a people-facing role
- Fascinating insight into body language that will benefit all aspects of working life |
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| Report writing (The art of writing a good report) |
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The aim
To appreciate the skills required to write and present an easy-to-read, informative and forward-thinking report.
About the programme
A good report is a tremendous asset. It takes minutes to read, holds its value for months and can be made available to many people within the organisation or around the world. It can also demonstrate the writer's knowledge of the subject and quality of thinking.
This programme outlines the six steps to successful report writing. By focusing on the objectives, organising points into related groups and using the four Ps (Position, Problem, Possibilities and Proposals) report authors will ensure their document forwards a constructive and compelling argument.
The video shows how avoiding the use of jargon and keeping words, sentences and paragraphs short and simple, will contribute to a report's overall effectiveness. Additionally, making the report look readable will encourage its recipients to read and respond to it.
By including headings, sub-headings, double line spacing and appendices, great ideas that may have otherwise been overlooked stand a better chance of becoming reality.
The benefits
- Suitable for any staff member at any level who may need to write a report
- Engaging and humorous plot to make messages memorable
- Clearly defined report-writing structure incorporating the four Ps
- Promotes freedom of thought within an organised framework |
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| Telephone behaviour (The rules of effective communication) |
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The aim
To give all staff members the skills to use the telephone effectively in a business context.
About the programme
The telephone is at the heart of business communication. But because people use the phone so much at home, they assume they have the skills to use it at work. This is not the case, and good business telephone skills have to be learned.
In this engaging, amusing and highly memorable story, an assistant manager of a marketing department is preparing to give the local business community a short seminar on professional telephone skills. But her own skills leave a lot to be desired.
Fortunately someone is on hand to show her the mistakes she makes, and help her overcome her shortcomings. The lessons include understanding that the call starts with a verbal handshake - answer the phone within four rings and introduce yourself properly with a smile in your voice.
It shows that preparation is vital - people should have facts and figures to hand and repeat key phrases to show callers they're understood. During the call people should ask open questions to gain information, and use the caller's name frequently to establish trust.
When closing the call they must confirm that the message is understood, and make a note of what they are required to do. Finally the video tackles voice mail, showing that the same rules apply, whether someone's leaving a message on someone else's machine, or a prompt on their own.
The benefits
- Targeted at anyone who uses the phone at work to improve the way their business is represented on the telephone
- Practical rules for conducting a call from start to finish
- Highly effective presentation of the skills required, with memorable on-screen triggers |
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| Going to a meeting (Constructive and effective participation) |
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The aim
To give anyone who attends meetings the skills they need to contribute more effectively and deal with even the most awkward colleagues.
About the programme
Part 1: Messing up a meeting
Messing up a meeting, focuses on Jeremy preparing to go to a regular meeting with his colleagues. Unfortunately 'preparing' doesn't describe what we see him doing. 'Grabbing a few papers and turning up late' would be more accurate. The narrator, John Cleese, tries to warn him that this isn't good enough, but he is in too much of a hurry to listen. The meeting, inevitably, is a disaster for him. On his return, Cleese explains what he ought to have done and he gets another chance. The results of doing his homework properly produce an entirely different outcome.
Jeremy's problems are not over though. First, he irritates the chair by talking when he has nothing to say and refusing to stick to the agenda. Then he gets into a blazing row with a colleague by disagreeing with him in entirely the wrong way. In both cases, Cleese shows him what he has done wrong and how to change his behaviour for the better by keeping it simple, cool and courteous.
Messing up a meeting shows how to avoid common mistakes, how to prepare, how to get points across and win arguments. And how to not look like a fool in front of the boss! The key messages are:
- Do your homework - research the facts, present your case professionally and prepare for objections
- Keep it short - stick to the point, stick to the agenda and if you've got nothing to say, keep quiet
- Keep it cool and courteous - use questions, not contradiction, show you've been listening, respect other's arguments, admit your weak points and others' strong ones
Part 2: Meeting menaces
Meeting menaces contains five short sequences, introduced by John Cleese. These show how to cope with colleagues whose behaviour stops meetings from getting results. Jeremy fails to handle the destructive behaviour of each of the menaces and the meeting they are all attending becomes a farce.
The waffler is guilty of going on and on, wasting time and contributing nothing to the meeting. The turf warrior is only interested in defending the interests and reputation of her department. The assassin has no ideas of his own, so prefers to shoot down others, whilst the dominator would rather steamroller over other opinions. Finally, the interrupter jumps in when others are speaking just because he thinks what he has to say is more important than anyone else.
However, following guidance from Cleese, Jeremy learns the techniques for handling each menace correctly and gets the meeting back on track.
The benefits
- Staff will learn how to get the best out of going to meetings
- Quality of meetings will improve
- Better meetings will build teams and improve performance
- Demonstrates how easy it can be to handle the various personalities you encounter in the meeting arena
- By avoiding conflict between participants, meetings will become far more effective
- Suitable for anybody who attends meetings
- Very memorable programme |
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| From 'no' to 'yes' (The constructive route to agreement) |
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The aim
To give managers the skills of persuasion, vital in running meetings or trying to influence others.
About the programme
Persuasion is an art that must be learned if the road to agreement is not to be strewn with acrimony or conflict. It's not about being domineering or dismissive, but following a three-stage approach that accounts for everybody's needs: listening actively, explaining your own feelings, and inviting other ideas and building on them. Then agreement follows naturally.
The benefits
- A vital skill for managers conducting meetings or negotiations
- Supports courses on management and leadership skills
- A clear three-stage structure that's memorable and simple to put into practice |
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