The Training Practice | Practice Notes

Practice Notes - February 2004

Welcome back to work and the first Practice Notes for 2004. The year's in full swing and it's hard to believe it's February already.

Join us for two Tea and Toast learning sessions

We started these last year, and they've proved to be a hit. So, we're putting a new programme together for 2004. They're short, sharp hour-long sessions. And they're free and open to everyone.

Bullying at work

Jon Everest, Everest International Ltd is our speaker. Jon's a mediator and dispute resolutions expert. He's also a Training Practice Associate. This is a hot topic at the moment, so feel free to come along.

Date Wednesday 3 March

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.

Speech writing tips

If you get called upon to write speeches or "put some words together" for someone else, this session will give your some valuable pointers.

Date Monday 8 March

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.

The people I work with are fine, but my manager can do better

What does internal feedback tell you about what motivates and satisfies your staff? The New Zealand 2003 SEEK Survey of Employee Satisfaction and Motivation asked over 800 employees if they love anything about their job. 58% responded: people I work with.

On the other hand, 54% responded quality of management, when asked if they hate anything about their job. New or improved management styles or attitude; open and honest communication; respect; fairness and acknowledgement of a job well done, were factors staff believed needed improving.

SEEK's research suggests that improved staff management will reduce staff turnover and lead to increasing employee satisfaction and productivity.

(Our thanks to David Kerslake, writer of HR Alert, published by Brookers, for this information. To subscribe to HR Alert, email David.Kerslake@brookers.co.nz)

Sentences that make sense

Do you sometimes read sentences that take you down a deep hole and leave you there? Often, they're just to long. We're not suggesting people need to study grammar at 300 level, but an understanding of the basics helps people write clearly.

Check out this website:

http://webnz.co.nz/checkers/GramSentences3.html

We like it because it's simple and it's got diagrams. We hope it helps.