Can a business owner’s personality affect his business?

Personality Development Training

If we say that certain business owners require personality development training, you might find it shocking, right? You will probably think, “a business owner is the whole and soul of a company. He is leading the company and has reached success because he is so good. How can a leader need personality development training?” Right?

Well the truth is, that not all business owners have what we would call a ‘great personality’ although they are very successful. And if you look a little closer at them, you’ll see what I mean.

But does it really matter? Isn’t his success all that matters, even if it is with not so great a personality?

There are many small and medium sized companies that are run by business owners. And to state a fact, many of these owners find it difficult to realize that their personalities affect not only their employees but also their business. How?

Well, in such businesses, many a times the owner himself meets and when the owner of the company is in a meeting, he or she is expected to create a great impression and one that will last forever. Now just imagine if the owner walks in and the client doesn’t feel impressed. It could be due to the way he’s dressed, his business etiquette or even the way he responds to the client and their requests or demands. And this in turn could affect the business. Hence, it’s very important that business owners look into not just the development of their employees but also their own developmental areas. And as much as personality development training might sound very basic a developmental area for a business owner, it might be extremely required.

So, I urge all business owners to stand in front of the mirror and take a closer look at themselves. Do you really have a personality that can influence your employees and clients a-like? Are you really happy with the way you come across to others or is there scope for improvement? Do you respond to situations rather than reacting to them? Hmmm…

If you feel you can afford to go up a few notches, then go out and attend a good personality development training. And believe you and me, it can do wonders to the impression you can create for yourself and your business.

But it is important that they do have an influential personality because the people look up to him or her.

This is how it can affect https://theyellowspot.com/

5 Important features when it comes to Training the Trainer

A few days back I attended a Train the Trainer training. It was an amazing learning experience. It helped me unfold various aspects of being a better trainer. And so I thought, let me share my learning with you all today…

The first most important feature of a train the trainer session is understanding what training and facilitation is. In the current dynamic scenario, if you 'train' people, you will end up doing most of the talking! You will put in all you have to impart the required knowledge and skills, but do you think that’s all adults really need to learn? Is there something else a trainer can do to facilitate learning? Well there is. And it’s precisely that word, facilitate! Facilitation helps in stimulating the learner inside each one of us and creates a safe space where participants can find their answers rather being told them. It allows reflection and introspection through questioning which gives participants a chance to realise what’s happening in and around them.

Next is understanding the importance of preparation. For you to deliver a programme well, it’s important that you start preparing for it well in advance. Spend time in understanding the participants, their expectations, challenges and needs well. Select an appropriate methodology and tools to cover what you need to in a way that will increase learning for the audience. It’s only when your preparation is solid can your session go well. And we all know the importance of having a strong foundation! 

The third important feature of a train the trainer workshop is clearly understanding the context of the programme you are going to conduct. You must know who the audience is, why they need this session and what they need to be able to do so that you can cover the same in the session. This gives a trainer clarity and ensures that s/he is moving in the right direction.

The fourth thing is understanding the difference between objectives and outcomes. While the former focusses on what the session is aimed at, the latter points towards what the participants will be able to do post attending the session. Having both these clear helps us in designing a session that fulfils the needs of the learners.  

Last but not the least, is how to conduct an activity successfully. Every activity has a set of instructions which we call the brief and the reflection which is done at the end called the debrief. Being able to clearly give instructions to participants and then deciphering what has happened during the activity is an art in itself. And one that needs to be taught in every train the trainer session. Its also one that can take a trainer from training to facilitation and from being mediocre to a true mirror for participants. 

Train the trainer workshops have really evolved over time. They now cover a large number of modules which help trainers cater to the adult need for learning. They have come a long way from presentation skills to facilitation. And I’m sure with changing learner needs they will keep evolving.

What are some of the stress management techniques?

A few days back, we received an enquiry from a client regarding a stress management training that they wanted to conduct for their employees. Unfortunately, on probing a bit, we realised it was what we call a ‘tick-mark training.’ In other words, a training that was to fill in a training calendar and not one that was really for employees to get rid of their stress!

It’s sad, isn’t it? But the truth is that we come across such requests quite often. But having such a situation for a stress management training really hurts. Especially in an age where stress is predominant and ever on the rise. In fact, with lives in the fast lane, there’s really no time to even get bogged down by stress and its effects!

With organisations growing and changing rapidly, stress is increasing day by day. And with everyone trying so hard to climb the corporate ladder as soon as possible, stress is a predictable outcome. However, it’s time that organisations woke up to this truth. It’s time they realised what the competition is doing to their employees and how it’s going to affect their mental and physical health in the long run. And how what started off as fatigue and burnout can turn into increased conflicts, poorer interpersonal relationships, decreasing team morale, lower productivity and eventually attrition.

Many companies complain that they can’t afford to send their employees for full-fledged stress management trainings as they would lose out on productive time. That’s where they need to think again! In fact, it’s always better to conduct capsule size stress management training workshops on a more regular basis. It helps employees stay in touch with the techniques and also gives them a chance to clear their doubts by asking the facilitator questions as and when they arise.

And if even that’s not possible, then let me help you with a few quick techniques that your employees can practise during working hours.

One of the most popular techniques for calming down is deep breathing. It helps reduce our mental chatter and connects us to the present moment. This enables us to manage our emotions and quickly get back to being calm and composed.

Another very effective technique is meditation. It is one of the best stress management techniques out there, but also one that is rather misunderstood! And that’s the reason why many people, although they have heard of its many benefits, tend to stay away from it. And that’s also an area where we can help you in one of our stress management trainings. We can show you different ways to meditate and feel relaxed and calm. In fact, mindfulness is our speciality. And apart from meditation for it, we also use a number of more fun ways that can be easily incorporated in our daily lives. And you know the best part about it? You don’t have to stop your thoughts to practice it!

There are many more corporate training techniques for managing stress effectively. These were just a few. To learn more, you can always attend a stress management training. There we can share more and practise more too.

Stress is a real issue and one that we all need to wake up to. And it’s about time that stress management trainings go beyond just being a tick on our training calendars. Let’s do it because we genuinely care about our people and are willing to take steps to look after them.