Practice Notes

Tea and Toast learning sessions

If you haven't been along already, then come along to one of our hour-long sessions. They're free and open to everyone. In October we're concentrating on developing communication skills.

Changing the tone of your writing

How can you make your writing easier to read and change the its tone and style? This short sharp session will give you some clear pointers.

Date Tuesday 5 October

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.

Improving your one-on-one communication skills

It's always a favourite topic. Pick up some tips to increase your effectiveness with people at work.

Date Monday 11 October

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.

Ice-breaker/meeting starter

A good warm up to any session is essential. Try this one. Its advantage is it gets people moving.

Allocate one end of the room - top of the North Island. Allocate the other end - bottom of the South Island. Ask everyone to stand where they feel most at home in New Zealand. (Geographical accuracy is not essential.) Then ask each person why they have chosen their particular location.

Holding a conversation with a difficult person

How do you hold, what is often a difficult conversation, with someone you think of as difficult? Try this approach that separates content (the subject matter of the conversation) from the process (how the conversation is structured and managed).

Step one

Build relationship and rapport (relationship)

Example: Thanks for coming along today. I appreciate your time. (Also match body language, breathing and words used.)

Step two

Propose and agree rules (process)

Example: I'd like to suggest that we both take two or three minutes each to say how we see (topic in question). Neither of us will interrupt and we'll both listen to each other. Is that OK or do you have another option?

Step three

Begin to discuss the issues (substance)

Step four

If necessary, return to process if the conversation goes off track

Example: we're both getting heated. Can I suggest we have a five minute break/discuss how we're going to continue discussing this issue/meet again tomorrow/give each other another uninterrupted two minutes while the other person listens.