Public

Focus Group Facilitation Training

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Course duration: 1 day

Overview

Focus groups can provide a range of useful information at various stages from project inception, right through to implementation. Ideally representation will be present from all the potential audiences that have been targeted, and at the beginning of a project such groups can be convened to assist with designing, assessing or refining objectives.

Typically focus groups discover what participants know or feel about an issue, what they think they need, and how they envisage using the service or participating in the initiative. When producing plans or materials, focus groups can comment on the design and clarity of rough versions, evaluating their usability for the intended customer group and suggesting revisions. The data you gather can also suggest strategies for distributing the materials to your audience.

This Focus Group Facilitation workshop offers a broad and practical introduction to the topic, and will be adapted to suit an organisation's specific requirements.

Learning 2XL also has experience of either fully facilitating or assisting with the facilitation of focus groups on behalf of clients within the Public Sector. Please get in touch if you would like assistance in this area.

Subject Areas Covered

Identify purpose and audience. The importance of reaching clarity and agreement to ensure that the desired outcome is both measurable and reached. Includes the potential development of a screener document and the importance of selecting the correct questions to ask to achieve the desired results.

Recruiting participants. How to reach as wide an audience as is needed and practical including hard-to-reach groups. Signing up and confirming participants and ensuring that they attend.

The role of the facilitator. Defining facilitation and the facilitator needs to achieve. Pitfalls for facilitators to fall in to and what they should not do if they are to achieve results.

Focus group preparation. Developing discussion guides, setting parameters and guidelines and planning session logistics.

Post meeting. How to debrief informally and analyse notes (and/or recordings). Writing a focus group report that contains all the necessary details but is not too unwieldy.

What Next? Delegates will be encouraged to discuss their own unique circumstances and what they have learned and capture how they will use this back in the workplace.

Who Should Attend Focus Group Facilitation Training?

Any individual who is tasked with either successfully organising and/or facilitating a focus group.

if you would like more information about Focus Group facilitation Training, please contact us.

Business Writing Skills Course

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Course duration: 1 day

Written communication at work has changed dramatically over recent years, resulting in the use of various mediums such as emails and texts, and even Social Media channels such as Twitter and Facebook. This can be particularly evident when younger members of staff join an organisation.

Such communication (both paper and electronic) can have both benefits and disadvantages for the organisation. On the one hand it serves as a record or 'contract' between them and the receiver, internally or externally, and provides clarity on both sides. On the other hand, however, once written, the words cannot be changed, and it leaves a permanent image in the mind of the person receiving it. For these and many other reasons, business writing is extremely important and needs to be carefully thought about.

This Business Writing Skills workshop helps writers to think about, write and format their letter, emails and other written communication in a clear and courteous way, and includes the use of Plain English. As with all of our courses, Learning 2XL prefer to work closely with clients to ensure that their needs are understood, and we are therefore more than happy to adapt content to suit individual organisational needs and challenges.

Where possible, we also encourage the use of the actual organisational documentation that is being used by delegates to encourage best practise to be followed.

Subject Areas Covered

Effective written communications. Exploring why proper and appropriate written communication is so important for any organisation. A look at the recent changes in the workplace and the various different methods of communicating internally and externally. Examples of good and bad written communication, the impact upon the receiver and the (often unintended) consequences.

Planning and preparation. Which medium to choose and why and being clear about the desired outcome of your communication.

Tone of communication. Matching this to desired outcomes including neutral, positive, unfavourable and persuasive styles of writing.

Structure. How to structure a written document that contains the right amount of information and is easy to read.

Appropriate content. Using Plain English and avoiding jargon, slang and over-complicating text. Includes useful phrases and words to assist in conveying a message. Considering the style of language to convey the facts, ideas and messages in a clear and courteous way.

Clear formatting. Spacing text so it fits neatly on to pages and looks attractive to the reader, the use of paragraphs and bullet points and what type of text is appropriate.

The 6'C's checklist: How to be clear, concise, courteous, constrictive, correct and complete.

What Next? Delegates are encouraged to discuss their own circumstances and challenges and capture what they have learned, whilst committing to practical change when they return to the workplace.

Learning 2XL are happy to follow up such training to assist in the monitoring of progress and results, and provide coaching for individuals where required.

Who Should Attend Business Writing Skills Course?

Anyone whose job requires them to create non-template written communication either internally or externally, and who wishes to improve their skills in this regard.

If you would like more information about Business Writing Skills Course, please contact us.

Report Writing Course

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Course duration: 1 day

Managers often have to make major decisions in consultation with shareholders, colleagues, other agencies and their customers. A report is frequently the foundation for those decisions, and yet many people struggle to write them well, and the results are often long-winded, densely written and confusing; or short terse documents which lack detail and recommendations.

This Report Writing Course helps delegates to write a report that is easily readable, well laid-out with the relevant information, whilst presenting choices to the reader clearly and succinctly.

We are often requested to run this workshop for the Public Sector, covering different types of report normally used including reports to committee.We can adapt the examples used to suit the 'house style' of the organisation. The day is run as a workshop, where delegates put the training into practice on a report they currently need to write for work.

Subject Areas Covered

Purposes and styles of report. Whilst seemingly obvious, the purpose of a report is often overlooked and/or misunderstood. This session assists with how to decide upon purpose and how this will impact the style of the report.

Problems of written communication. Common pitfalls of written communication and the perception of others. The importance of knowing your audience is examined and how to best disseminate information to them.

Report structure. Exploring some classic report structures and layouts. Gathering facts and information, and 'pruning' the results to ensure that the report has an appropriate quantity and quality of content.

Style of writing. The use of language including plain English and setting the right tone. The utilisation of passive and active voice, persuasive writing and how to command interest, engage with your audience.

What next? Delegates are encouraged to capture and share what they have learned on the day, and how they can apply this upon return to the workplace.

Who Should Attend Report Writing Course?

Anyone who has to write a report for their workplace.

If you would like more information about our Report Writing Course, please contact us.