Personal Development Courses

Group presentations, either face-to-face or virtually, can be nerve racking for even the most experienced of presenters. Getting your message across in a succinct and impactful way takes careful preparation and requires a variety of communications techniques.

We’ve designed this course to help presenters prepare to engage, inform and influence audiences. This practical course will develop key presentation skills alongside supporting learners with how to overcome nerves, empowering your people to become successful presenters.

Who is it for?

Anyone who must present ideas, updates, information to a group of people. This may be in a face-to-face setting or though virtual channels like Zoom or Teams.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Employ a series of mental techniques to control nerves
• Prepare and edit a presentation with benefits embedded for your audience
• Structure presentations to take your audience with you
• Deliver impactful presentations utilising a range of delivery styles, flexing depending on the setting – in-person or virtual
• Manage questions effectively
• Utilise visual aids to influence the presentation’s impact

 Learning content:

• What makes a great presentation?
• Understanding your audience and tailoring your message to a range of behavioural preferences
• Preparing your material and creating presentation objectives
• Visual aids, structure and sign-posting your audience
• Question time – how to deal with questions during and after the presentation
• Delivery – visual and vocal techniques to keep your audience’s interest
• Practice sessions – learners will receive feedback on mini presentations

Constructing a well-written report, letter or e-mail is challenging for many in the workplace. Ensuring that your written piece is grammatically correct, concise, and well-structured can make the difference as to whether ideas are adopted and actioned.

Our course covers the essentials of written communication in plain English and will ensure that your message hits the mark in an NHS environment.

Who is it for?

Anyone who communicates regularly in the written format. Those who write business reports, letters or e-mails.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Prepare and structure a report
• Use concise language to clearly communicate a message
• Respond directly to points raised in earlier written communication
• Use language designed to catch the attention of the reader
• Make clear recommendations in a report or e-mail
• Avoid common grammatical errors

Learning content:

• In preparation for the course, learners will be asked to bring sample e-mails or reports so they can work practically on real-life documents
• Planning your document – why are you writing it and what are your key points?
• Creating an impactful document, capturing the reader’s attention quickly
• Using the language of benefits for recommendations
• Editing, paragraphing, and abbreviating your document
• Grammar and NHS language
• Dealing with complaints
• Concluding your document – making a call to action
• Action planning

In both our professional and personal lives, a highly desirable skill is being able to influence and persuade other people by communicating effectively. It is based on respect, inclusion and a full understanding of the motivations and needs of those whom you wish to persuade.

This practical course looks at the psychology of persuasion, providing tools and tips on how to get people on your side.

Who is it for?

Anyone at any level within the NHS or ICS who needs to persuade other people towards a course of action. It is also suitable for those who work in cross-departmental and organisational matrix structures who do not have hierarchical power.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• List the traits and behaviours of successful influencers and identify why they are successful
• Communicate more effectively with other people based on a sound understanding of their drivers and motivations
• Develop a more in-depth understanding of other viewpoints and summarise these to demonstrate understanding
• Tailor your own point of view and use benefits to persuade the other person towards a compromise
• Present your viewpoint succinctly and with impact
• Manage conflict and maintain a forward-looking approach

Learning content:

• Persuading and influencing – knowing the difference and avoiding the pitfalls
• What makes a great influencer?
• Analysing your own style and using benefits to persuade
• Importance of assertiveness, active listening and summarising
• How to use questions to get a full understanding of the motivations of others
• Insights Discovery® reports developing an in-depth understanding of yourself and others
• Presenting with impact – how to make your point in 60 seconds or less
• Managing conflict and emotion effectively
• Practice sessions with colleagues on real-life scenarios

One of the biggest career development gaps is personal confidence. It is no surprise that some individuals are far more confident about applying for a promotional role, or interacting in meetings, but why?

While it may be due to years of experience, others can boost their levels of confidence by understanding the six key elements of confidence. By recognising and reinforcing our strengths, we appreciate and accept that confidence is purely situational.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wishes to develop their confidence levels.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Appreciate what holds us back from breaking through the “glass ceiling”
• Understand confidence and how it can be applied in certain
• Recognise your own strengths and develop positive attitudes about your own attributes
• Push yourself out of your comfort zones in any situation
• Apply and maintain these tools and techniques

Learning content:

• The 6 building blocks for the confidence
• Self-evaluation and tackling imposter syndrome
• Benefits and drawbacks of “self-talk”
• Playing to your strengths
• Breaking through comfort zones
• Managing the impact of stress on confidence
• Presenting yourself – verbal and non-verbal communication

In this course, learners will gain a toolkit on critical thinking and decision making. By asking the right questions, they’ll discover how to cut through the fog and clearly see the problem. Ultimately helping learners to form better judgements and decisions, both individually and collectively.

Who is it for?

Managers and any individual who is part of the decision-making process.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Understand how individual and organisational character drive our reasoning
• Improve judgement and decision making to drive the organisation forward
• Learn how to influence others effectively and make good team decisions

Learning content:

• The chemistry of change
• The change curve – organisational and personal effects
• Problem solving and critical analysis
• Judgement and decision-making criteria – priorities and preferences
• Power of influence – taking people with you

Ongoing feedback is part of a healthy and transparent organisational environment. Well delivered, it can provide opportunities to build skills, improve communications, enhance relationships, and improve patient safety.

Yet, for many, giving and receiving feedback can prove challenging. What if we cause offence? What might the reaction be? This course examines the key themes and benefits of creating a feedback culture within your organisation to genuinely improve team-working and the patient experience.

Who is it for?

Anyone in the organisation who wants to develop their skills and practice. Team managers who manage change and inter-disciplinary relationships.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Understand the benefits of feedback in an individual and team setting
• Provide informal and formal feedback to colleagues in a 360-degree manner
• Manage emotion and conflict when giving and receiving feedback
• Plan and structure feedback conversations to attain better outcomes and maintain relationships

Learning content:

• Feedback as part of the developmental cycle
• Understanding the difference between submissive, aggressive, and assertive behaviours
• Managing emotion – dealing with the facts
• Delivering feedback using models
• Facilitation and questioning techniques
• Developing objectives and action planning
• Managing conflict
• Practice sessions