Skills

We conduct many separate sessions aimed at improving the skills of participants.  These are strongly focused on experiential learning, theory is kept to a minimum.  Clients frequently view these sessions as a follow up to our Managing within the law interventions; in those sessions we tell people to engage with their team – in our skills sessions we offer tools.

The centrepiece of these sessions is almost always actor based, with participants having to deliver (or watch a peer deliver) messages in relevant, fully researched situations.

Performance management (for line managers)

Our sessions aim to give participants greater confidence to deliver performance management messages, to enhance the skill level of participants and to provide an understanding of how these meetings should be run on a transactional or process level.

Participants should also understand the severe adverse consequences of a failure to engage early in performance problems.  They should have a greater understanding of the types of situation that may require their early attention and recognise that avoidance is the typical management behaviour that feeds employment relations issues.

Delivering difficult messages

Using the same methodology we can help participants to deliver difficult messages about matters as diverse as sickness absence, maternity or remuneration. 

Handling procedures

Those managers (both line and HR) involved in running disciplinary or grievance procedures frequently need some help and support to understand the mindset that needs to be adopted and the manner in which to conduct the meetings.  In addition we have frequently helped specialist HR teams with the skills required to conduct thorough investigations that will withstand scrutiny. 

Skills for lawyers

Being lawyers who facilitate and present for a living, we are ideally placed to pass on these skills to other lawyers, together with other skills such as negotiating.