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Create a Marketing Plan that Rocks with an awesome Marketing Team

Write a Marketing Plan that Rocks

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Marketing & Sales.

Write a Marketing Plan with Systems to Promote Your Business, Drive it Forward and Beat your Competition

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

You need to write a Marketing Plan for your business, if you want to prosper and grow. A marketing plan focusses on winning and keeping customers, and lays out your strategies to achieve your sales goals. It’s your action plan – what you’ll sell, who wants to buy it, and how you’ll generate leads that result in sales. A great marketing plan allows your business to be proactive, evaluate new opportunities and have clear, measurable goals. It doesn’t have to be long either – just use bullet points, and get to the point!

 

Create a Marketing Plan that Rocks with CTO TrainingDescribe your Current Situation

Begin with a snapshot of your current situation, which describes your organisation, your products and services, and how the benefits you provide set you apart from your competitors.

Provide an overview of the Strengths and Weaknesses of your orgnaistion, which refer to charachteristics that exist inside your business.  Strengths could include your superior products or more comprhensive services. A weakness could be that you are struggling to meet deadlines or have poor record keeping.

Next, list the Opportunities and Threats to your business.  These refer to factors outside your business.  Opportunities could include loyal customers or having new products ready for sale before Christmas.  Threats could be that your competitors have similar products, or have recently launched a new advertising campaign.

 

Who is your Target Audience?

Understand who your customers are and where they are. This can be done by using online analytical tools, customer surveys, visiting business groups and more.

Who is likely to purchase your products? Does your buyer want convenience, lower prices, great quality? If you know what your target customer wants, it will help you to describe them.

Develop a simple profile of your target customer.  If you are marketing to consumers, develop their profile based on age, gender, family, locality, income, hobbies, interests and lifestyle.

If you are marketing to businesses you can also add categories such as the types of industries they work in, job title, size of business, etc.

Then give your customer avatar a name, address and even a photograph.  Thinking of your customer as an actual person allows you to talk directly to them in your marketing campaigns.

 

What is Your End Goal?

When you prepare to write a marketing plan, start with the end goal in mind.  Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve.

  • More customers
  • Increased revenue
  • Sales growth
  • Greater customer satisfaction
  • Customer retention

It may be that your goals include a combination of all these things and more.

Once you have written down your marketing goals, make them measurable.

For instance:

We will achieve a 20% increase in sales of our best-selling product or service per quarter, by running Facebook ads each week; special offer promotions to our prospect list each fortnight; and sending monthly emails to our existing customers.

Writing an actionable marketing plan gives your marketing team a roadmap they can easily follow.

 

Your Marketing Strategy

Create a Marketing Plan that Rocks with CTO Training

 

How will you find and attract your most likely buyers? Your strategy needs to outline the answer to this question.  Start by considering your customer avatar and which media they would use for information on the types of products or services you sell.  Then list the activities that will help you gain access to similar customers.

 

 

These can include:

  • Blogs
  • Social media
  • Email marketing & Newsletters
  • Website marketing via Google Ads or SEO
  • Direct mail
  • Public Relations
  • Webinars
  • Events and Seminars
  • Trade Shows
  • Joint Venture Partnerships
  • Loyalty Programs

Once you have settled on the marketing activities you will use, put systems in place to ensure you stick to your marketing plan.  Then, be persistent.  Market, analyse the results, adjust your strategy, repeat.

 

Set Timelines and Budgets

The general consensus is that you need to spend between 3% and 7% of your total revenue on marketing each year to maintain your current position in the market.  However, you need to consider that this may be less if you are already an established brand, or more if you are a start-up.  You will also need to increase marketing spend when you launch new products and services.

One you have settled on amount you will spend, create an annual budget based around a monthly schedule.  You can then plan how much you will spend on marketing each month, which will ensure you stay on track.

Identify specific monthly marketing activities, the budgets associated with each individual activity, and at which point you will stop an activity if it is not generating a good return on investment (in money or time).

It is critical to know how much budget is available to spend on marketing.  There is no point in allocating funds if there is no budget.  Your available budget will have an impact on the marketing strategies that you choose to action.

 

Keep Your Plan Brief and Regularly Updated

Your marketing plan should be concise. Aim for no more than 5 pages, and if you can distil it down to a 1-page plan, that is even better. You can then print it out and stick it to the wall, where you can view it on a daily basis. A brief, concise Marketing Plan keeps it clear and to the point, and easy for your team to follow and to action.

Your plan also needs to be reviewed regularly. Your team should look over your marketing strategy on a regular basis and ensure that it is meeting your organisation’s best interests, as well as your short-term and long-term goals.

Developing a marketing plan is an ongoing process. Change is constant, so review and refresh your plan on a regular basis.

 

Tips for Beginners

  • Concentrate on finding customers who provide you with ongoing or repeat business.
  • Develop your customer profile by surveying existing clients. When you know why a customer comes back, you can work on finding prospects with a similar profile.
  • Stay focused on your target markets.
  • Choose just one or two strategies to begin with, then be persistent. Marketing usually needs to be repeated over and over before you start to see results.
  • Revise your plan as you learn what works and what doesn’t.
  • Don’t be afraid of failure. If a strategy fails, learn the lesson, and view it as a natural part of the process.

 

Your Marketing Plan that Rocks !

Remember when you write a marketing plan that you are creating products and services to serve the needs and wants of your target market.  Your marketing plan should outline how you’ll inform and educate them about the benefits of your products and services, and how they will improve their lives.

Continually track your marketing successes, evaluate your results and repeat programs that are delivering leads, sign ups to your email list, or direct sales.  If you are not bringing in leads, then revise your plan, and keep going. Persistence will provide you with a marketing plan that rocks !

 

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The CTO course in Writing & Implementing a Marketing Plan helps you to create a great marketing plan for your business that is actionable from day one.

You will develop an effective marketing plan, understand the methods needed to implement your plan, create strategies to attract and keep new customers, and much more.

Enrol online today or for more information on the range of Marketing Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is a Business Training Company, which provides you with training in essential business skills via customised, onsite courses Australia-wide.

The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff develop strong skills in:

  • Leadership & Management
  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Project Management
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Customer Service & Relationship Management
  • Business Administration
  • Finance & Accounting Skills
  • People Management & HR
  • Computer Training

CTO’s Training courses are tailored to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

For more information on the range of Business Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

training@cto.com.au

cto.noesis.chat/

 

 

CTO's Strategic Plan Training

7 Steps to Create your Strategic Plan

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Planning & Organisation Training.

What is a Strategic Plan?

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

A Strategic plan is developed by your organisation’s leaders as a process to determine their vision for the future, as well as identify their goals and objectives for the organisation.

CTO’s Strategic Planning course – for management planning techniques that work.

A Strategic Plan looks much further ahead than a Business Plan, and helps organisations make the sort of decisions that affect the entire destiny of the organision for years into the future. These decisions are not about small adjustments, but address the really big, important issues facing the orgnisation. These are the decisions you must get right in order to thrive.

 

Why do I need a Strategic Plan?

Your Strategic Plan is used to:

  • set priorities to achieve your organisation’s goals
  • establish agreement around intended outcomes and results
  • ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working toward the common goals
  • make decisions on allocating resources to pursue the strategy

Strategic planning can be extended to include the control and quality assurance procedures for managing the strategy.

A well written Strategic Plan can mean the difference between your organisation  meeting its goals, or falling short.  As a strategic plan is usually implemented by senior management, if your senior staff members don’t make a commitment to this process, it can cost your organisation time and money. So it is important to get your planning processes right!

What’s Included in a Strategic Plan?

Strategic planning includes:

  • Determining your organisation’s Vision for the future
  • Writing or updating your Vision Statement and your Mission Statement
  • Setting Goals for your organisation
  • Determining Actions to achieve these goals
  • Allocating or purchasing Resources to execute the actions

 

Strategic Plans Streamline Your Processes

Strategic Planning can assist you to streamline your organisation’s management processes, to provide you with a sense of direction. This will help you obtain your written, measurable goals.

Strategic planning allows management to set, achieve and review goals efficiently and purposefully in relation to your mission statement.

Your businesses processes then become streamlined and goal orientated.

7 Steps to Create your Strategic Plan

A Strategic Plan takes time and effort.  However, a well devised plan can describe the purpose and ethical conduct for your organisation, together with the specific strategies required to achieve the business goals you have set.

The Strategic Planning course from CTO will teach you everything you need to know about creating, implementing and managing a Srategic Plan.

This includes the seven steps below, which have been proven time and again to bring results for those organisations that implement them.

 

  1. Use the Right People to create your Strategic Plan

When creating a strategic plan, enlist a diverse range of people. People with different skill sets, perspectives and viewpoints will see that the team has a broad range of experience and outlooks.

Include on your team:

  • Staff with the front of line business experience. This can be operations staff, sales staff, customer service staff, and finance team members.
  • Team leaders from various departments
  • Creative team members

 

  1. Match Your Strategic Plan to Your Business Needs

List your oranisation’s long term goals. Your goals need to be clear and measurable. Goal setting is the basis of strategic planning and your team needs to spend considerable time on this step for best results.

Brainstorm what your precise business needs are in relation to your mission statement and your company’s goals. Ensure that everyone on the team has some input so that you get a range of opinions and perspectives. Don’t let a select few do all the talking!

 

  1. Use a Template to Write your Plan

You want your Strategic Plan to be easy to manage. Therefore, use a template to write your plan. The CTO 1-Page Strategic Plan templateis available for download at the end of this article.

Include clear procedures to set objectives, monitor results, clarify issues and engage participants.  Ensure that each step of the process is efficient, saves time, and works towards the end goals.  Brainstorm and have fun, and encourage all team members present to participate.

 

  1. Carry out a SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique used to help you identify and analyse the internal and external factors that can have an impact on the viability of your organisation.  The 4 key elements of a SWOT Analysis are:

  • Strengths
  • Weaknesses
  • Opportunities
  • Threats

By examining each of these factors you can maximise those areas where your organisation is strong, minimise weaknesses and pursue opportunities that might otherwise not be explored. Your research should also identify threats to your organisation and create contingency plans to manage them. The SWOT analysis process is extremely enlightening – and a valuable part of the strategic planning process.

 

  1. Include Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

By including KPIs, you can determine your organisation and team member’s performance in relation to your plan’s relevant goals. Without periodic assessment of your progress, your strategic plan could fail.

So what KPI’s should you include in your strategic plan?  What you need to track largely depends on where you are trying to go.  A good rule of thumb for measurement is going from X (current state) to Y (desired future state) by date (goal deadline).

Remember – what get’s measured, get’s managed.

 

  1. Analyse Your Industry

Investigate trends in your industry. Who are your competitors? What are their strengths and weakness? What are the current trends and where are there opportunities for growth?

 

  1. Choose Processes that Fit with Your Organisation’s Strengths

When choosing processes, choose methods that will match the strengths of your organisation and your team. Can you count on resources to implement every strategy? Select the best steps to match your organisation’s circumstances.

Everyone in your organisation should be aware of your strategic plan. Conduct regular meetings to check the progress of the plan. Make adjustments to your planning and take action if you are not getting the results that you want.

 

 

The Corporate Training Options Strategic Planning Course is ideal for business owners and managers. We will teach you and your team to:

  • Prepare for the strategic planning process
  • Define a vision for your organisation
  • Develop a mission statement
  • Assess internal and external factors that influence your business
  • Apply the information you have gathered
  • Apply the values of your company’s mission statement to create a successful strategy
  • Put the plan into action and work toward the vision
  • Monitor and manage the plan

 

For more information on how our innovative Strategic Planning course can help you and your team learn to streamline business processes, maximise efficiency and meet your businesses goals contact us at Corporate Traning Options.

 

To receive the CTO 1-Page Strategic Plan template, email us at training@cto.com.au

 

To book your training today:

  • Click here to see the topics covered in the hands-on training, and receive a quote
  • Click here to book your onsite, customised training – and have your Strategic Plan underway by the end of the day!

 

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is a Business Education Training Company, which provides customised Professional Development & Business Technology courses Australia-wide.

The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO’s Strategic Planning course course is customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

 

Facebook Ads Training

2.2 Billion Reasons why you need Facebook Ads

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Computer Training Courses, Corporate Training Courses, Marketing & Sales.

Ramp up your Facebook Ads results with the CTO Facebook Ads Checklist

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

 

Trust me – you need Facebook ads for your organisation.  Facebook is without a doubt one of the most effective forms of advertising and marketing. Worldwide, there are over 2.2 billion monthly active Facebook users, making it the most successful and popular form of social media advertising.

Facebook Ads Training
CTO’s Facebook Ads for Business Training improves the ROI on your Facebook campaigns

People spend, on average, 30% of their online time on social media, with the average time being spent on Facebook nearing an hour each day. With a market such as this at your disposal, can you really afford not to use it?

Content is fire. Social Media is gasoline.– Jay Baer, Founder of LinkedIn

 

Plan your Facebook Ads Campaign

CTO has now created a Facebook Ads Checklist to make sure you get your important Facebook marketing tasks done. Facebook can be distracting and you need to remember when you are on Facebook, that you are there to market your organisation.

Use our Facebook Ads Checklist as a guide to keep you focused

There are now a wide range of options available when it comes to Facebook advertising campaigns, so you need to decide on your goals before you start your campaigns. What are you looking to achieve? It may be clicks to your website, conversions, likes, content exposure or brand awareness. Keep the end result in mind when you plan your campaign.

Ensure you keep it Mobile Friendly

A huge 90% of people using Facebook use a hand-held device such as a mobile phone or tablet.  So be sure to keep your content mobile friendly.

So here it is.

The CTO Facebook Ads Campaign Checklist

Follow this checklist to bring a percentage of the huge amount of traffic that is on Facebook every day, to your site.

 

  • Brainstorm 3-5 things that are unique selling points for your company

What makes you stand out?  What makes you different?  Why should customers buy your product or service?

  • What is the goal of your campaign?

Is it clear and measurable?

  • Choose engaging images for your Facebook advertising
  • Write your titles with clear calls to action
  • Write the content of your advertising

Consider your message. Is there a clear message that you want to get through to your audience? Does this message stand out in your ad? Who is your message for?

  • Name your campaign something meaningful so that you will remember it in the future

You can save each of your advertising campaigns in Facebook, so it’s wise to use a campaign name which explains at a glance what is is.  Use the month and the year in the filename. For example: Book sales – July 2018.

  • Create unique advertising combinations

Combine your text in different ways and test the ads to find out which type of ads get the most likes, clicks and sales.

  • Define your target audience

Test your Facebook ads in different age groups, locations, and interest groups.

  • Choose an ad type that meets your goals

There are many different types of Facebook ads, so it’s important to use the right ad type to match your desired campaign goals.

  • Set an advertising budget for your compaign

Ensure that your advertising budget is made clear to your team members who are involved in the campaign. Take the cost of the testing phase into account.

Decide how much you will pay per click. The higher the price the more clicks you will receive. Choose from cost per click (CPC) and cost per thousand impressions (CPM).

  • Define your ad set names

Divide every ad set into different audiences messages and pricing structures. All names on your ad sets need to be different and they should define the content. Make sure that the content is written to best suit your target audiences.

  • Check the ad sizes and optimal settings before you upload your ad

Facebook changes ad settings periodically, so ensure you have checked them before you upload your ad.

  • Test the campaign
  • Use the best results from your tests for your campaigns
  • Set dates for your Facebook Ads campaign

 

 

To gain a slice of the market of more than 2.2 billion users who are on Facebook every month, ensure you cover all 15 points on the Facebook Ads checklist each time you plan a new campaign.

You can also improve your current Facebook marketing skills with CTO’s Facebook Ads for Business Training.

To book your training today:

  • Click here to see the topics covered in the hands-on training, and receive a quote
  • Click here to book your onsite, customised training – and have an ad campaign up by the end of the day!

 

 

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About Corporate Training Options

 

Corporate Training Options is a Business Education Training Company, which provides customised Professional Development & Business Technology courses Australia-wide.

The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO’s Facebook Ads for Business training course is customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

 

Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills

Wow your Customers with Awesome Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Customer Service Training.

Give New & Repeat Customers the ‘Wow” Factor Experience with Awesome Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service.

Create positive influence… engage and connect.  Make a lasting first impression for all the right reasons with the power of your telephone courtesy and customer service skills.

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

 

We all want to make a lasting impression with new and repeat customers who call our businesses. So, whether you use the phone a lot or a little at your business, the fact is great telephone courtesy and customer service skills keep customers coming back and talking about you for all the right reasons.

Whereas poor telephone skills can repel them!

Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills
Provide your team with training in Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills. Your customers will thank you.

Why? Well, whoever answers the call provides the first impression someone has of your business, and first impressions count!  So, if people are welcomed, feel at ease and have a pleasant service experience when they call your business, they are more likely to do business with you.

If customers call and you’re rude, or you interrupt them, and they have a poor telephone experience, chances are they’ll go elsewhere and tell 10 other people about it as well.  Trust me – you do not want that.

So, if you and your staff use the telephone in your business, then exceptional telephone courtesy and customer service skills are essential to:

  • provide customer service
  • assist with customer ordering
  • answer enquiries
  • book meetings, and more

All of your team should be professionally trained to have excellent telephone skills, including managers, team leaders, sales staff, receptionists, administrators, and call centre operators.

 

We all know that excellent Customer Service is one of the most important aspects of your business, but sadly not all businesses take the time to practice or develop their customer service phone skills.

However, if you do, it benefits your customers, your sales, your businesses reputation and your productivity.  In fact, it benefits you and your team in a myriad of ways.

Now, providing a seamless telephone service experience is not always easy, however, with the right training, it’s not as hard as you may think.

 

Quality Customer Service

By developing skills in telephone courtesy and customer service, you can meet your organisation’s standards, create rapport with your customers, problem solve quickly and stay calm when under pressure. We teach you to add value to your customer’s experience and your skillset, so your confidence improves and your engagement with people on the phone is always positive.

Basic Telephone Skills

Answering the telephone, using your best voice, addressing the caller, and effective listening are all important parts of quality telephone skills. Customer service is everyone’s responsibility, and these skills are needed at every level of your business, from junior staff through to management.

Some aspects of basic telephone skills include:

  • Answering the phone correctly
  • Managing multiple calls
  • Use the correct tone of voice
  • Checking if the call is a follow up call
  • Having the customer’s information available so that the customer does not need to repeat themselves
  • Clarifying information when necessary
  • Paying attention to detail
  • Closing the conversation appropriately

 

Professional Telephone Skills

Timeliness, professionalism, and patience are important professional skills to know and develop when providing customer service over the phone.

And stay positive at all times. Having a positive customer experience with the company is what will keep your customers coming back.

The following are all important aspects of professional telephone skills:

  • Managing technology
  • Negotiation and problem solving
  • Controlling the call
  • Making follow up calls
  • Taking notes while on the phone and recording all relevant information, which means that your customer does not have to repeat themselves
  • Having good knowledge of your company’s services and products, as this gives your customer confidence in your organisation
  • Confidence to handle difficult phone conversations. There may be times when you need to phone with news that you know your customer will not be happy with. Our training at CTO can help you to be confident, assertive and positive in these situations.

 

Understanding Your Customers

One of the best ways to deliver ‘wow’ telephone customer service is for you and your staff to understand why your customers are calling.

After all, whoever takes the call is the frontline of your business, so they need need to have empathy with the caller and require knowledge of how to handle the enquiry, or even a difficult situation if they occur.

Your customers will have a variety of different personalities and communication styles. Customer service staff need to be able to deal with all personality types and communication methods when answering the phone.

It is important that customers feel they are being listened to and are getting their needs met and questions answered. It is also important that you or your staff are assertive when it is necessary.

Staff need to know how to use clear communication when dealing with customers in person and on the phone. It is important to be understanding and empathetic when there is a problem or complaint.

 

That’s why so many people and businesses love our Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service course

 

Attitude and Great Service

Your attitude is everything!  Smile while you are on the phone. The customer can hear it in your voice. Really!

Take the time to understand your customers, discover their needs and motives.  Remaining positive at all times leaves a favourable impression upon your customer and keeps them coming back to your business.

A positive attitude and enthusiasm is catching and benefits the team member, the organisation and the customer.

Professional telephone and customer service skills are important to every organisation, and can increase your customer retention rates, improve sales and enhance the feeling of professionalism in your business.

Remember that ‘wowing’ customers & making a lasting first impression with the power of your businesses telephone skills, is what we’ve taught many people and businesses over the years with great success.  With our help we can teach you and your team how to make a lasting impression for all the right reasons on the phone, whatever the situation.

 

CTO’s Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills Course can teach you and your team Professional telephone skills, including:

  • phone answering
  • addressing the caller
  • practicing effective listening
  • managing messages
  • closing the conversation
  • how to engage and interact with your customers using excellent telephone courtesy, which adds value to your business

Your team can also understand how to:

  • ask questions
  • negotiate with customers
  • make follow up calls
  • deliver bad news
  • avoid statements that give the wrong impression
  • manage various customer behaviour styles

 

If these skills will benefit your team, then CTO’s Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills Course is perfect for you.

For information on how you and your team can improve your Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service skills, and for enrolment details about any of the Corporate Training Options Customer Service Courses, contact us today.

 

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is a Business Education Training Company, which provides customised Professional Development & Business Technology courses Australia-wide.

The courses provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO’s Telephone Courtesy and Customer Service Skills Training is customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site at your workplace, on dates which suit you.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website – cto.com.au

 

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

CTO Training Courses - Teaching you essential skills for the workplace

5 Business Finance Essentials you Need to Master

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Finance & Accounting Training.

There are 5 Business Finance Essentials you need to master.  

By understanding these 5 key business finance essentials, you can increase your company’s efficiency, market share & profits.

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

 

CTO Training Course - Business Finance Essentials
CTO’s Business Finance Essentials Training Course will teach you to understand and manage your business finances

Financial intelligence is essential in business.  However, when it comes to understanding crucial aspects of your company’s financial statements and budgets, you may not be very interested.  Maybe sales targets, marketing plans or product development are more your thing.

At Corporate Training Options we know that examining your company’s income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and budgets, may not be your idea of fun.  But, having an understanding of your businesses finances does in fact have many benefits.

 

Once you have a firm understanding of business finance essentials you will be able to:

  • Discover areas of opportunity for company growth and increased market share
  • Be able to identify trends and make sound competitive evaluations
  • Work with your team to keep your business reaching new goals
  • Maximise efficiency in your business, based on targets set by knowing your numbers
  • Be more confident in making decisions for the business
  • Better manage your budgets, gain knowledge of competitors, forecast future profits
  • Understand valuable information about your company’s ability to generate revenue, meet financial obligations and manage debt

 

So here are the 5 Business Finance Essentials you need to Develop & Master

1.        Design and Run Financial Reports

The ability to design and run financial reports for your company gives you a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Financial Reporting provides you with essential information on:

  • Income
  • Expenses
  • Product Sales
  • KPIs
  • Salaries
  • Staff hours
  • and more

Custom reports can be designed specifically for individual departments. The ability to report at the touch of a button allows you to make changes to your workflow and set and achieve specific financial goals for the business.

 

2.        Learn to Understand Financial Statements

Gaining expertise in reading the company income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements, allows you to then analyse these financial statements to determine income, expenses, profit and loss, cash flow projections and more.

Having an understanding of key financial statements allows you to make improvements in the business, which in turn leads to improvements in the bottom line.

By being able to thoroughly examine your financial statements using reports and financial ratios, you’ll obtain valuable information about your company’s ability to generate revenue and meet financial obligations.

 

3.        Know how to Create and Manage Budgets

Although budgeting may be one of your least favourite things to do, it is necessary for effective financial management. Budgeting and costing are key components of business finance essentials.

By learning and increasing your budgeting knowledge and skills, you and key members of your team can prepare and monitor budgets, manage cash flow for profit and evaluate which areas in the budget can be reduced or expanded to maximise profit and growth.

 

4.        Identify Trends and conduct Competitive Evaluations

Being able to identify trends and conduct competitive evaluations of your industry, is an important aspect of your company’s strategic planning.  It is used to establish and monitor various trends in your business financials.

Trend evaluation also supports and gives you in-depth information about how your company can be more competitive, and help you plan your company’s strategies, tactics and goals.

Learn to use your financial statements to conduct both trend evaluations and competitive evaluations.

 

5.         Learn and Understanding Financial Formulas

Understanding financial formulas helps you assess your company’s performance in many key areas and can also help you with company investments.

By learning, exploring and understanding your company’s financial formulas, including your Break Even Point, Operating Margin and Inventory Turnover Ratio, you will be able to easily track and monitor your company’s performance to identify what is working, and which areas need to be changed.

 

Financial intelligence is essential in business — and tracking and managing your finances is necessary for prosperity and profit.

So how do you improve your financial intelligence

  • Attend Training – This is the best way to learn how to take control of your finances. Training can improve your understanding of your finances, increase your financial literacy and ensure you’re fully informed before making financial decisions.
  • Learn Financial Terminology – Learn the terminology, as this will give you a better understanding of your financial statements.
  • Ask lots of Questions – If you don’t understand some areas of your financials, please ask.  There are experts out there who can assist you, including your Accountant and/or Business Advisor.

 

 

When you’re building a company, you need to continually strengthen every component – finance, strategic partnerships, executive team, and relationships.

Michael J. Saylor

 

 

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Corporate Training Options – Business Finance Essentials Course

The CTO two-day course in Business Finance Essentials teaches company leaders and team members the fundamental aspects of business finances.

We guide you through:

  • Basics of budgets
  • Ground rules of finance
  • How to read financial statements
  • Skills to evaluate business performance
  • Determining liquidity, profitability and solvency
  • The decision-making process involved in investments and project appraisal techniques
  • How changes in costs and volume can affect a company’s operating income and net income

 

The Business Finance Essentials course from CTO is ideal for accounts staff, team leaders, company Managers, and Directors.  Trainees require no prior financial knowledge.

For more information on how you and your company can operate more efficiently and maximise your profit through budgeting and understanding your businesses finances, please download the course outline – Business Finance Essentials.

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We look forward to working with you, to build your confidence, improve your efficiency and maximise your potential.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

The Power of Business Etiquette and Professionalism

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses.

The Power of Professionalism, Courtesy & Respect in Business

By: Corporate Training Options, Australia

 

Having strong skills in business etiquette and professionalism is extremely important.

Learn Business Etiquette and Professionalism with CTO Training Courses

In your business dealings and in your workplace, it’s critical you and your team display a professional attitude and demeanour, and respect towards others at all times. You will also need to know the correct business etiquette for interacting with staff and clients in a variety of situations.

Professional situations can at times be awkward, however, with an understanding of business etiquette, even awkward situations can be managed well. However, many forms of business training simply do not cover etiquette and professionalism.

 

Business Etiquette & Professionalism Training

CTO’s business etiquette and professionalism course will teach your staff to present themselves in a polished and professional manner. When you are adept at business etiquette, others that you deal with in the work environment will take you seriously. Business etiquette is, essentially, proper behaviour in a business environment.

 

Here are some business etiquette tips you can use every day.

  • Tone of Voice

 Always use an even tone of voice. Never raise your voice to others around you and always use appropriate language. Speak to others in a respectful tone.

  • Remember People’s Names

Make an effort to remember the names of those that you work with and deal with regularly in your position.

  • Managers

Respect and courtesy should be shown to everyone at your workplace. Your managers in particular, should receive extra care in your communications with them. They should be made aware of your status on projects, and you should communicate to them any achievements or setbacks as soon as they occur.

  • Promptness

Always arrive at work and meetings on time, and inform management and co-workers if you will be out of the office. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Minimise personal phone calls at work.

  • Dress

Know the dress code for your organisation and ask for clarification on this if you are not sure. This goes for casual dress days too.

  • Office Decorations

Consider who will see your office adornments and what they say about you. Are they distracting, or could they be considered derogatory in any way?  Or do you have a clean, tidy, well presented and professional work space?

 

Professionalism

Professionalism in the workplace, and the professional qualities that a person and business portray, imply quality of service and workmanship.

A professional attitude will lead to a reputation for excellence and will reflect on both the individual and the organisation.

Business Etiquette and Professionalism in the Workplace
Be reliable, honest and conduct yourself with integrity at all times

Professionalism is needed when introducing yourself to those in the workplace, when speaking on the phone, and when dealing with peers and co-workers, suppliers and clients.

It can be difficult to know how to present yourself and your organisation professionally. Training in business etiquette will teach you how to do this easily and effectively, using real life examples and roleplays.

 

The Skills of a Professional

  • Always aim for excellence in your work

Do your work to the best of your ability at all times.

  • Conduct yourself with Integrity

Professionals have strong morals and principles. They are fair and trustworthy and portray these characteristics at their place of work.

  • Be Reliable

Always do what you say you are going to do. Do not under deliver.

  • Be Honest

When you are honest, people know that they can depend on you. They will feel that they can trust you, and your organisation.

  • Be Polite and Respectful at All Times

Everyone that you deal with, including managers, subordinates and workmates, should be treated with courtesy and respect. Always be polite.

  • Be Careful what you put in Writing

Much of our communication is now done by email and as such it needs to be scrutinised and checked before you hit the send button. Ensure that the tone, grammar and wording is appropriate.

  • Don’t Complain

Negativity at work can spread like wildfire if you allow it to. Resist the temptation to complain and commiserate with co-workers. Instead of talking and complaining about work issues, act professionally and work towards solving the issues.

  • Do not take Situations Personally

In the case of a difficult client, a misunderstanding with a co-worker or any other difficult situation, remain calm and try to separate the issue from the person. Remember that the situation is not a personal assault on you.

 

Training your team in Business Etiquette and Professionalism will result in:

  • increased morale in the office
  • fewer customer complaints
  • more confident team members
  • a greater level of staff retention
  • increased productivity
  • an improved perception of you and your business

 

Business etiquette and professionalism training will teach you and your team members to represent themselves and your organisation effectively and proficiently. It is beneficial for staff at all levels.

Click here for bookings and more information today!

 

 

 

Business Etiquette and Professionalism are important skills to know

 

 

 

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Over to you! What are your thoughts or experiences about Business Etiquette and Professionalism?

We’d love to hear them or answer any questions you have, so please contact the Corporate Training Options team today.

 

 

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Business Etiquette and Professionalism training

The above techniques on Business Etiquette and Professionalism are covered in detail in the Corporate Training Options course, so please contact us today for more information.

 

To book a Business Etiquette and Professionalism course for your team, please visit our website here

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for both business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

We have over 300 qualified instructors on call in:

  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Canberra
  • Adelaide
  • Perth
  • Darwin
  • Hobart
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • USA

Each CTO trainer has specific areas of expertise. This enables them to provide invaluable assistance to corporations like yours, seeking to maximise your investment in your teams.

We guarantee the highest possible standard of tuition, personalised to suit your exact requirements. By training onsite in your workplace, you are provided with a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are able to improve your professional skills.

So if you’re ready to upgrade your skills, contact Corporate Training Options today for friendly, professional advice.

We’ll discuss your specific needs, and tailor a training course to suit your requirements.

 

 

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For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

Handling Difficult People

7 Techniques for Handling Difficult People & Situations

Written by webplanners on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Customer Service Training.

7 Techniques for Handling Difficult People and Situations

All of us need skills in handling difficult people, because we’ve all been there.  We’ve all been in a situation where someone – often our customer – is angry, upset, disappointed and feeling frustrated.  And they are directing their frustration at us.

Handling Difficult People
CTO can teach you skills to remain calm when handling difficult people & situations

In order to manage the situation well, we need to learn how to remain calm, diffuse the situation, and assist the customer to arrive at an outcome which is to their satisfaction.  This means we need skills that will help us to keep our cool while our customer is blowing their top.

 

Who are the Difficult People in your Life?

Difficult people are just everyday people who are currently in a situation which is causing them distress.  Alternatively, you may work with someone who is difficult on a regular basis.

 

How do these Difficult People Affect You?

It is easy to let a difficult person interfere with your mood and affect your day. In different situations, some people become hard to deal with because they refuse to cooperate. Difficult people need to be handled in a logical and positive manner to ensure they cause only minimal damage and disruption.

 

Here are 7 tips and tricks for handling difficult people and situations

  1. Remain Calm

Keep your voice even and reasonable. By maintaining self control, you will avoid escalating the problem. Respond rather than react.

Take a deep breath, pause, and think before speaking. It may be necessary to walk away from the situation and come back to it when you are calmer.

 

  1. Repeat Your Position

When dealing with a difficult person you may need to repeat your position. This shows that you will stick to your guns, are not a pushover, and are adept at solving problems.

You may need to repeat your position several times if the person is angry. For example, “I understand that you would like a refund for the item you purchased, however, our policy is not to provide refunds for change of mind after 14 days.  However, we can offer you a full credit for the item”.

This process is very effective. We expand on this in our course on Handling Difficult People and Situations at Corporate Training Options.

 

  1. Focus on the Problem

Difficult people can try to make you feel uncomfortable or incompetent. They can insinuate that the problem is with you and the way you do your job. Whether this is a colleague or a customer, they can be quick to find fault with you and continually refer to the problem, rather than focussing on finding a mutually beneficial solution.

Do not be intimidated and always separate the people problem from the issue. Be lenient on the person and strong on the issue at hand.

 

  1. Never Take a Difficult Situation Personally

The person that you are dealing with may be having a bad day, the situation may have come up for them before and been a problem, or they may just be a bad communicator. You may find that you need to deal with someone who is angry or difficult simply because you are the one they are talking to at the moment.

 

  1. Know the Difficult People in Your Life

You will possibly deal with many different problematic people in your life – at work, at home, and socially. Know who they are, their attitudes and their common complaints.

If you have had instances with them in the past that you have not deal with well, think about how you would deal with the same situation in the future. What would you say, how would you act, and how would your body language be? The same or similar situations can often re-occur with difficult personalities.

Our course on dealing with difficult people outlines many common scenarios that team members face in work scenarios.

 

  1. The Degrees of Difficult Situations

Difficult situations can range from a small misunderstanding, to bullying and aggressive behaviour. Decide whether the issue is worth getting into a conflict about. For minor issues you may decide that simply walking away is the best solution, which can then allow you to get on with your day with minimal disruption.

 

  1. Avoid Being Part of the Problem

Always use empathy and be understanding in difficult situations. Be prepared to listen while the person blows off steam. Do not, however, remain passive – stand up for yourself.

Using humour is a great way to diffuse a difficult situation. Remain in control, confident and credible.

Teamwork and positive work relationships go a long way towards minimising conflict within the workforce. Effective communication is not always easy, but it can be learned.

At Corporate Training Options we will roleplay different scenarios, so your staff come away confident that they can deal with difficult situations.

 

Training in Handling Difficult People

The above techniques and actionable strategies on Handling Difficult People and Situations are covered in much more detail in the Corporate Training Options course so please contact us today for more information.

Training your team to deal with difficult people and situations will result in increased morale in the office, fewer customer complaints, more confident team members and a greater level of customer staff retention and productivity. This all affects the environment and morale in your workplace, as well as your profitability.

For more information, or to receive an online quote or to book a course for your team, you can view the course details here  Handling Difficult People & Situations course details

 

 

Any thoughts or experiences you’d like share about handling difficult people or situations?

We’d love to hear about your experiences, or answer any questions you have, so please feel free to contact the Corporate Training Options team today.

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

6 Tips for Effective Communication

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Business Administration Skills, Corporate Training Courses. Leave a Comment

6 Tips for Effective Communication 

Brought to you by Rosy King @ Corporate Training Options

Effective Communication is a Vital Life Skill.

Learn Effective Communication skills with CTO Training

Effective communication skills are vital to creating positive relationships and to resolving conflicts in the workplace.  Excellent communication skills are also essential to achieving productive and meaningful interactions with your team.

However, effective communication is more than just transferring information from one person to another.  It’s about understanding the message behind what is being said.  In face-to-face communication, not only are words and tone important, but non-verbal clues can be key to getting the message across to your audience.  Good listening skills are also one of the most important factors in human interaction.

 

The problem

It would seem to be relatively simple.  You have a message you need to convey.  You present the information, you are heard by your audience and you believe you are understood.  However, ….

Fast Fact:  46% of employees leave a meeting not knowing what they’re supposed to do next.

 

The Solution

You need to ensure your face-to-face communication is clear, concise and absolutely understood by those receiving your message.  So here are 6 tips you can use every day to ensure your face-to-face communication is effective.

  1. Appreciate the advantages of face-to-face communication
  2. Learn to understand non-verbal messages
  3. Choose your words carefully
  4. Use active listening
  5. Introduce creativity in your communications
  6. Adapt your face-to-face communication skills to other communication forms

 

  1. The Importance of Face to Face Communication

Recognise the impact of face-to-face communication and appreciate the advantages over email, text or phone.  Direct communication allows you to not only convey or receive information via spoken words, but to factor in such things as individual behaviours, and personality preferences.  Being in the same room as your team, instead of at the other end of an email chain, promotes understanding, further discussion and problem resolution.

Fast Fact:  26% of employees think email is a major productivity problem

 

  1. Learn to understand Non-verbal Messages

It’s important to understand the value of the unspoken communication in the room.  Be aware of your own body language when you are delivering a message.  Be aware of the body language of your audience when they are receiving it.

A person’s demeanour can greatly influence how the recipient interprets the message. When you speak in an even tone with direct eye contact, and a friendly facial expression, your message is likely to be received as positive or at least neutral. Body language that communicates negative feelings, such as crossed arms, lack of eye contact, clenched fists and a serious expression, is likely to be interpreted in that context.

For effective communication you need to be aware of your own body language.  You can also do simple things to make your team more receptive to your message.

  • Check your physical appearance prior to your meeting
  • Consider the spatial arrangements in the room to ensure everyone has enough personal space, but still fees involved
  • Deliver your message in a timely manner
  • Take advantage of your tone of voice, to deliver challenging messages in a constructive way
  • Don’t use the incorrect tone, as this can stop your message from being understood. For instance, you wouldn’t use a cheerful tone when delivering a disciplinary message.

Fast Fact:  55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken

 

  1. Choose your Words Carefully

Realise that your words have an impact.  In order to create a positive impression, you need to deliver your message in a clear and concise manner and phrase your words in a business context.  Also, keep your language up to date, as popular words and phrases come and go on a regular basis.  If you have to deliver bad news, it is crucial that you do this without creating conflict or damaging trust in the workplace.

Also remember that last words linger – so don’t waste them.  The last words you say provide you with the opportunity to embed your message into the minds of your listeners.  Have a strong, relevant ending to your message, as this will boost your credibility, satisfy your audience and increase their trust in you. If you require action from your team, ask for it.  Deliver a call to action, or provide them with how-to steps.

Fast Fact:  Your last words crystallise your message and activate your audience.

 

  1. Use Active Listening

Remember that effective communication is a two-way information sharing process.  When you send a message, it needs to be easily understood by the receiving party.  When they respond with comments and questions, active listening helps you process messages in a focused manner and respond in a way that encourages and furthers communication.  This method allows both you and the recipients of your message to remain engaged, indicate understanding and clarify any points without interjecting or arguing.

Active listening involves eye contact, open body language and often the reframing of the message to confirm understanding.  In order to actively listen you need to:

  • Be present and attentive
  • Give the speaker your full attention
  • Mentally screen out distractions like background activity or noise
  • Face the speaker and maintain eye contact
  • Keep an open mind and listen without judging or jumping to conclusions
  • Try to picture what the speaker is saying and feel what they are feeling
  • Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your own solutions
  • Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions
  • Provide feedback and rephrase what has been said to show you understand the message

Good leaders know how to ask the right questions and then listen with both their eyes and their ears.  You need to read between the lines and listen and hear what is coming back to you.  Look for the nonverbal clues, because often body language will tell you what you need to know

Fast Fact:  Most people usually only remember about 17 to 25% of the things they listen to.

 

  1. Introduce Creativity in your Communications

It’s important to introduce creativity into your communications to keep your recipients engaged.  Try these ideas to mix it up a bit and feel more connected with your team.

  • Go for a walking meeting, to increase energy and creativity
  • Hold monthly team events which are fun and help build team relationships
  • Hold friendly competitions in the workplace – they don’t have to be work related

Increasing creativity in communications can have a powerful effecting in creating a more collaborative and transparent atmosphere, making your employees feel more connected and engaged.

Fast Fact:  Productivity improves by 25% in organisations where employees feel connected

 

  1. Adapt your face-to-face communication skills to other communication forms

Think about how much more you get out of face-to-face communication than communication that is just based on email or telephone calls.  There are so many visual cues in a face-to-face communication that it’s hard to deny its effectiveness.

How many times have you had miscommunication with someone via email or telephone that would not have occurred had you been speaking directly with one another?  When you are able to see the person to whom you are speaking, you receive visual cues on whether or not they understand what you are saying and you give them visual cues as well.

However, there are times when email or phone calls are your only option, so you need to manage these communications as well as you can.  Here are some tips for effective communication on the phone, or via email.

  • Prepare for the call, or draft your email before sending
  • Be clear about what you want to achieve – what is the purpose of the call or message
  • Remember the other person has no non-verbal clues
  • Speak or write clearly and succinctly and think about your tone of voice
  • Ask for clarification if there is something you don’t understand
  • Don’t be tempted to do other things at the same time – focus and be attentive
  • Summarise the conversation so everyone knows what to do next
  • If you have to leave a voicemail message, keep it short and be clear about the reason you are calling. Also let the other person know how they can best contact you.

Fast Fact:  Millennials do not like talking on the phone, with only 20% of smart phone usage being for making actual phone calls.  However, email remains popular among millennials.

 

In Summary

Effective communication is a vital skill in the workplace.  It can be used to create positive relationships and resolve conflicts.  The process of communication becomes both more respectful and clearer when both parties focus on sending clear messages and using active listening skills.  Therefore, learning effective communication skills is vital to achieving productive and meaningful interactions every time, with individuals and with your team.

 

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t being said.  The art of reading between the lines is a life long quest of the wise   –   Shannon L. Alder

 

 

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The topics covered here are drawn from the CTO Training Course – Effective Communication

If you would like to undertake Effective Communication training, visit the CTO website to receive a quote or make a booking.  CTO training is provided in your workplace, and every course is customised to suit your business requirements.

 

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/

 

Leadership Excellence training with CTO

Are Great Leaders born or made?

Written by Rosy King on . Posted in Corporate Training Courses, Management & Leadership Training. Leave a Comment

Are Great Leaders born or made?

Great Leaders can be made, with CTO Leadership training

 Great leaders can be born, but they can also be made.

To be a great leader is quite a skill.  Great leaders inspire and influence us to do our best work, to build amazing teams and to achieve business goals.  However, leading others is challenging.  Just ask parents or school teachers.  Humans are diverse, complicated and difficult, and can throw you a curve ball at any time.

Great leaders understand this, and continually focus on ways to improve the success of the individuals, as well as the whole team, the business unit and the organisation.

 

Explore your Leadership Potential

Every one of us has the potential to become a great leader.  To enable you to lead effectively, you can learn the skills required to persuade, influence and inspire others.

If you have been elevated to a leadership position, you need to understand the difference between being a leader and a manager. Managers direct staff to follow company rules and systems to achieve the company vision.  Leaders inspire and influence their teams by showing them how the company vision will make them better people.  Great leaders motivate others to do their best work.

 

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done, because he wants to do it – Dwight Eisenhower

 

Be your Personal Best

When you are placed in a leadership role, you need to demonstrate the traits of a great leader.  These include:

– positive thinking

– having confidence in your abilities

– excellent communication skills – both verbal and non-verbal

– performance management skills

– decision making ability

– serving as a role model for your team members

– being passionate about the projects you work on

– trying new things

– and always, always learning

 

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. – John F. Kennedy

 

Communicate your Vision

True leaders are visionaries, often noted for innovations within an organisation or industry.

A Vision is a leader’s ideas and plans for the future of the organisation, which shows you how it will be different from today.  Being a Visionary is an important part of being a great leader, as it gives your people something to strive for.  It gives them a view beyond today, and into the future of the organisation.

 

I will lead at the intersection of art and technology – Steve Jobs

 

Lead People through Change

Great leaders need to be key decision makers, who are capable of initiating and managing change within their organisations.  As a change agent, you should have the drive and the skills to follow your Vision and disrupt current business processes and routines if required.  If you can see new ways to improve performance, increase profits, and contribute to the growth and success of your organisation, then you should be the one who can make that difference.

 

A Leader’s job is to look into the future and see the organisation, not as it is, but as it should be –  Jack Welch

Fast Fact: During Jack Welch’s tenure as CEO of General Electric, its value increased 4,000%.

 

You as a Team Leader

Leaders play an integral role in employee satisfaction.  A strong relationship between leaders and their team members creates the basis for a productive, growing organisation.  You need to be genuinely interested in your team members and be an effective listener, so you know their needs, expectations and desires.  Make them feel important.  Set the bar high for your team, then let them know you believe in their ability to succeed.  Focus on inspiring and guiding them towards your common goals, build them up, give them credit when due, and praise and reward them when they succeed.

Remember that we are all human.  If you are wrong, or make a mistake, be honest and humble enough to admit it.  You also need to respect other people’s ideas and opinions and try to see things from their point of view.  You may find that you learn something.

 

Fast Fact: Did you know that 83% of employees agree that recognition or praise from their leader was more fulfilling than financial rewards.

 

Create your Action Plan

When you first move into a leadership role, it pays to do a self-assessment, then draft a plan for where you would like to be in 6-12 months from now.

This plan can include:

  • Identifying the skills you need to strengthen
  • Setting goals for your development as a leader
  • Seeking challenging and varied experiences
  • Planning Leadership training
  • Asking for feedback from both your team and the stakeholders in your organisation
  • Finding yourself mentors and coaches

 

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. – Douglas MacArthur

 

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The topics covered here are drawn from the CTO Training Course – Learning to Lead.

If you are ready for Leadership training, visit the CTO website to receive a quote or make a booking.   Training can be provided for up to 8 trainees for the same investment cost.

 

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About Corporate Training Options

Corporate Training Options is an Australian Professional Development Training Company, incorporated in 1992.

Our customised Professional Development courses are available Australia-wide, for business executives and corporate teams, and provide a cost-effective way of ensuring you and your staff are presenting your best image to the world.

CTO Professional Development Training courses are customised to meet your requirements, and your training is provided on-site, on dates which suit you.

 

For more information on the range of Corporate Training Courses available, please visit the CTO website here

 

Rosy King

Corporate Training Options

Professional Training  –  Exceptional Results

 

E: training@cto.com.au

W: cto.noesis.chat/