£6.12 on Toys!!

Today’s newspapers are all reporting a survey which says that, rather than spending hundreds of pounds on games and toys, parents need only invest £6.12 on eight items, which will keep kids entertained all summer.

The researchers name things such as cotton, crayons and building bricks – saying these will stimulate the imagination, boost creativity and get children working together to make up new games for themselves.

I believe the same is true for training toys and games.  Over the years I have spent hundreds, if not thousands of pounds on fancy activities for the training room.  And, just like a ten-year old, most of those gizmos are now broken forgotten or  collecting dust at the back of a cupboard; whilst my learners get much more fun and creativity from the box they came in!!

My eight essential inexpensive ‘toys’ for the training room are:

 

1. Balls of string
2. Empty Pringles tubes
3. Drinking straws
4. A box of table tennis balls
5. Paper from the recycling bin
6. A bag of marker pens
7. Post it notes
8. Masking tape

I could, of course, now go on and explain how I use each of them – but, wouldn’t that miss the point?  Your own imagination is much better than mine.  You can already think of dozens of learning activities you could create using those simple and cheap ingredients!!

On the Trainerspace Retreat in September we are running a session called ‘Training on a Shoestring Budget’ which is all about ‘Blue Peter’ versions of great training games – and I bet our delegates will be even more creative and innovative than we are!!

To read the article about kids’ toys, look at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191243/How-child-happy-6-worth-toys-Youngsters-better-odds-ends-expensive-gadgets.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

For more on the Trainerspace Retreat, look at www.trainerspace.co.uk

 

Routes to Your Customer – a free training session from the Ten Minute Trainer

Customer Pathways – The Routes Out

Aim

For participants to consider and appreciate the different ways in which their organisation makes contact with customers, and their role in ensuring that this is a positive experience for those customers.

Overview

Groups of participants think about the different ways in which their organisation makes contact with its customers.  They are then asked to consider how they personally can contribute to the success of this route of customer service.

Numbers

Any number working in groups of three to six.

Suitable for

New starters, refresher, short session on a longer training, team meeting activity.

What you need

One sheet of flipchart paper per group plus pens

Resource 1 – Customer Pathways, The Routes Out

Handout 1 – The Brief

Handout 2 – Action Plan

Handout 3 – Report Back (for evaluation)

Preparation

 

1. Copy Handout 1 – The Brief (one per group)
2. Copy Handout 2 – Action Plan (one per person)
3. (Optional) copy Resource 1 – Customer Pathways The Routes Out for use as a handout
4. Arrange the room so that people can work in groups of three to six people

What to Do

Activity – 3 minutes – groups

Give each group a sheet of flipchart paper and some pens.  Also give them a copy of Handout 1 – The Brief.

Ask them to complete stage one of the exercise by mapping out the different ways in which the organisation makes contact with customers.

Reflect – 3 minutes – groups

Refer the groups to stage two of the brief and ask them to consider the ways in which they personally have an impact on that means of contact.

Resource 1 – Customer Pathways, The Routes Out will help you to prompt any groups that might be finding difficulty with the task.

Conclude – 3 minutes – whole group

Collect feedback from the groups and gain consensus on the ways in which individuals do have an impact on each of the different routes that have been identified.

If appropriate, use Resource 1 – Customer Pathways The Routes out as a handout.

Plan – 1 minute – individuals

Give everyone a copy of Handout 2 – Action Plan and ask them to complete it.

Evaluation

Two weeks after the training event send everyone a copy of Handout 3 – Report Back, asking then to complete and return it.

Variations

 

You could concentrate on just one key pathway, or split the pathways between smaller groups of participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Pathways – The Routes Out

Resource 1

 

Use this resource if you need to prompt any of the groups during the exercise.

Feel free to add or amend sections according to the needs of the organisation.

 

Letter	Spell names and addresses correctly Give accurate information Be timely Use correct grammar and corporate style Be aware of any mailshots that are being sent out
Advertising	Be aware of current advertising and promotions Refer to advertisements to build customer awareness
Telephone	Represent the organisation professionally Check that you are speaking to the right person Comply with outbound calling guidelines
E-mail	Use correct grammar and spellings Avoid jargon Use an appropriate heading Be clear who the recipient should reply to
Social media	Represent the organisation appropriately Be aware that this is a public medium Follow corporate guidelines
Leaflet	Make sure that all leaflets are up to date Be aware of content of current leaflets and publications
Branch Image	Keep premises tidy and clean Remember that you are representing the organisation at all times

 

 

 

Customer Pathways – The Routes Out

Handout 1 – The Brief

 

 

Stage One

 

On the sheet of paper that you have been given:

• Draw a shape in the centre which represents your organisation
• Draw lines out from the centre which represent the different ways in which your organisation makes contact with customers.

 

 

 

 

 

Stage Two

 

Now think about the impact that your personally can have on the level of service that is delivered along each of the pathways that you have drawn.

Make notes of the main points along each pathway.

 

 

 

Customer Pathways – The Routes Out

Handout 2 – Action Plan

As a result of this training session I shall take the following action:

 

 

 

 

 

I have chosen this because:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The result I hope to achieve is:

 

 

 

 

This action will be completed by (date):

 

 

Signed:

 

Date:

 

 

 

Customer Pathways – The Routes Out

Handout 3 – Report Back

After the above training session I took the following action:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The result was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I now intend to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed:

 

Date:

 

Please complete this form and return it to:

 

By (date):

 

 

Learning from Olympic Trainers

 

Like many people, I’ve been gripped by Olympic fever this week and am totalenthralled by the dedication and skill of everyone taking part.

I was fascinated on this morning (Sunday 5^th Aug) by an interview with Paul Thompson, the Chief Coach of Team GB Women’s Rowing Squad.  In response to a question about how he had achieved such amazing success he said “every day we learn and we grow”.

It was so pleasing to hear ‘learning’ being put at the heart of the achievement.  The idea of the ‘learning organisation’ has gone out of fashion in recent years, but it strikes me that Team GB is the perfect example of why we should be waving the flag for learning within all our organisations.

As individual trainers we all have our part to play in helping our employers or clients to become world class learning organisations.  And it doesn’t matter if we are full-time L&D professionals, or just people who run the occasional bit of training.

Learning from the role of the Team GB coaches, I believe we can all:

• Understand the overall aims and aspirations of our organisation and make sure we are developing the skills and attitudes that will bring about achievement
• Recognise that the smallest of changes can make a big difference
• Realise that standing still is not an option – others will always want to overtake us
• Learn from the best in the world and always stay up to date
• Use the very latest technology to its best effect
• Always be asking the question “what have I learned today?”
• Observe and coach as often as we can
• Innovate and try new ways of doing things

And, above all else, just like London 2012 – inspire a generation!!