Practice Notes

Tea and Toast learning sessions - reminder

If you haven't been along already, then come along to one of our hour-long sessions. They're free and open to everyone.

It's a funny thing humour - particularly at work

Get an overview of the role humour plays at work.

Date Wednesday 4 August

Time 8am - 9am

Venue The Training Practice Boardroom, Level 5, Newspaper House, 93 Boulcott Street.

All welcome - email katherine@trainingpractice.co.nz if you want to come.

Coaching and mentoring - practical tips and approaches

Approaches to help you coach and mentor staff and recognise the value of coaching and mentoring.

Date Monday 16 August

Time 8am - 9am

Venue The Training Practice Boardroom, Level 5, Newspaper House, 93 Boulcott Street.

All welcome - email katherine@trainingpractice.co.nz if you want to come.

Speechwriting tips

If you've attended one of our training or Tea and Toast sessions on speech writing and delivery, you'll not be surprised to hear we've been analysing the American presidential candidates' speeches.

Check out

www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0729.html for a transcript of John Kerry's speech last week to the Democratic Convention.

You will notice:

short sentences strung together consecutively :

I'm not making this up. I was born in the West Wing.

But we're not finished. The journey isn't complete. The march isn't over. The promise isn't perfected.

questions and answers

We believed we could change the world. And you know what? We did.

And what can I say about Teresa? She has the strongest moral compassion of anyone I know.

war and soldiering metaphors throughout

I am accompanied by an extraordinary band of brothers.

I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war.

repetition of key words and phrases:

Tonight, I am home. Home where my public life began and those who made it possible live. Home, where our nation's history was written in blood, idealism, and hope. Home, where my parents showed us the values of family, faith and country.

And that is the choice in this election. (Repeated three times)

America can do better. Help is on the way. (Repeated five times)

contrasts:

I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as President.

Stories including repetition of key phrases:

What does it mean when Dave McCune, a steel worker I met in Canton, Ohio, saw his job sent overseas...?

What does it mean when Mary Ann Knowles, a woman with breast cancer I met in New Hampshire...?

What does it mean when Deborah Kromins from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania works and saves all her life...?

Lists of three

These aren't Democratic values. These aren't Republican values. They're American values.

Our strengths. Our diversity. Our love of country.

This is textbook American political rhetoric, with lessons for anyone presenting or writing speeches.

Government's work/life balance report released

Achieving Balanced Lives and Employment outlines the work to date of the government's work/life balance project. You can download a copy from www.worklife.govt.nz. Get a hard copy by emailing worklife@dol.govt.nz or phoning Dept of Labour on 04 915 4409.

The report states that the main barriers preventing people from achieving work/life balance are:

lack of affordable childcare

low pay that means long hours are needed to earn a decent wage

"precarious" employment arrangements

lack of workplace policies and unsupportive workplace cultures

pressure on small businesses to 'do everything'

the need for the government to lead by example.