Target Training Associates

It’s a natural reaction to get tied in emotionally with something you’ve put a lot of time and effort into like when you’ve designed and delivered training to the best of your ability.  If you’re pro-active, you may have asked for feedback in good faith but how do you feel when someone tells you something you don’t like or don’t want...

On many courses, we discuss the difference between management and leadership.  Unfortunately, most don’t understand the difference in the beginning but leave the class with a much better understanding of the traits of a leader vs the characteristics of a manager.  I then ask them what do they consider themselves to be a leader or manager? In my experience leadership is either...

If you want to make progress or significant changes in life, then get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I feel this is linked with stepping out of your comfort zone because being uncomfortable is good for you; it can help you develop in life. My background taught me that it was important to be slightly nervous before controlling aircraft, it is the...

Well, that's what some people do right?  Picture the scene, the Manager says, “we need Training in this, can you get some organised?” and all of a sudden, the pressure’s on.  If we know no better, then the easiest thing to do is create lots of slides with tons of information and words and talk through them.  Looks good right?  Might even impress the...

All managers are required to listen to others; this could be a member of staff with a particular issue or concern.  It could be a customer with a complaint.  The reality is we are all going to be involved in listening to other people. When we are listening to people, it is easy not to listen.  Most people listen for one reason, to...

Four weeks on from the New Year, how many of you are sticking with the changes you have decided to do.  If so how have you done it? Have you been making notes, maybe reviewing for 5 mins at the end of the day and then have you been looking at those changes at the end of the week? Has this...

Many attributes make a trainer great, but if someone asked me what were the key things that make a great trainer, what would they be? I’ve been fortunate to have seen many great trainers that have acted as an inspiration to me as I was learning my trade.  I got thinking about them all, the way they taught and the things...

As many people know I am a massive fan of having goals.  I believe goals are dreams with deadlines and I believe you can achieve anything you want if you put your mind to it.  I find goals give me a structure and I think the best things I have ever achieved are the things I have set as goals. I have...

I felt I wanted to write a blog on why it is essential that managers need coaching skills to encourage their staff.  First of all, I continuously hear managers tell me how they coach their staff and then witness quite the opposite. The problem is people don’t fully understand what coaching skills are.  Furthermore, they don't understand the boundaries between coaching...

When watching many trainers, quite often I see people getting so caught up in the moment they lose track of their audience and the level of engagement.  Many factors make up a great training session but too often, one of the essential human needs is forgotten about in the quest to get everything covered in the time frame: I’ve often talked...