Derrin Kent ( Link to Derrin's BLOG )

Personal Professional Development Courses:

Individual sessions, short programmes or longer-term courses available

The most rewarding thing about training and development is that it broadens the effectiveness of personal contribution. A highly motivated person is the one who can see how they fit with the overall company objectives and feel that they can make a difference to business success. A continuous process of learning and development equip staff with the skills necessary to make that difference. A business is driven by the skills and knowledge held within its workforce. That human capital is key to business growth and requires constant investment to realise its full potential and future value.

Once the programme delivery day is over, The Development Manager goes on to coach all participants - by means of an online programme of task-oriented, flexible 24/7 study - as they apply their learning and techniques gained to their everyday working practices.

Derrin understands that most training programmes cease to be useful the moment the trainer closes the session. That is why each and every training day the Development Manager offers is followed up by an online learning consolidation programme: focussing on the application of the learned principles and techniques to each participant's everyday working environment. A motivated learner is one that is actively involved in their learning and can see the benefits of the training process to both themselves and to the business as a whole.

Derrin delivers the following Personal Professional Development Courses:

Assertiveness
Assertiveness is essential. It enables people to deal confidently and successfully with the people around them. This programme provides delegates with techniques to improve assertive communication. If practised these techniques will enable people to feel comfortable about expressing their point of view and ultimately say no if and when necessary.
Business Writing – A Practical Approach
This programme will take delegates through the process of producing effective writing that sets out to communicate, not impress. They will learn how to organise their thinking, put together their ideas and structure their work.
Confidence Building
Being confident is an essential component in effective communication. Being confident enables individuals to contribute their own ideas and opinions without feeling that they should always comply with those of others. This programme provides delegates with the knowledge and techniques to build on their current confidence levels.
Conflict Management
Few interpersonal skills draw upon other skills in the way conflict resolution does. Specifically, resolving conflict requires the use of goal setting, giving and receiving feedback and persuasion skills. To manage conflict we must know ourselves, we need to understand the situation that has generated the conflict and the options available to all parties involved.
Effective Communication
Communicating effectively in the workplace is a vital requirement in today’s fast moving customer-focused workplace. This course aims to examine the way we work with others to reach decisions about work related issues and effectively prepare information for communication to colleagues. It also examines the key reasons why communication breaks down and how this can be greatly reduced.
Effective Telephone Techniques
The telephone plays a vital but often undervalued role in any business. It is an essential tool and often the first point of contact with customers/clients. The ultimate success or failure of this contact is dependent upon the communication skills of those involved. This course is designed to promote effective and efficient telephone skills for all staff – especially those on the ‘front-line’.
Influencing, Persuading and Negotiating
Confident, successful business people use skills to influence the behaviour, performance and thoughts of others. They are able to act as a catalyst to compel others to make changes. This course has been designed to assist delegates to explore and enhance their personal communication skills.
Presenting with Confidence
Speaking to groups can be an extremely stressful and difficult task, yet it is becoming more and more popular as a form of communication in business today. This course is intended to help delegates to develop the skills and confidence levels when approaching a presentation.
Managing Stress
Most things that have pressure applied to them bend or change to a certain degree. Problems emerge when the pressure of stress seems to be pushing past the point of flexibility. This course examines the causes of excess stress at work and details how negative stress can be identified measured and minimised. Delegates will identify their individual stressors and learn how to handle stress in the workplace and on a personal level. This will aid to improve productivity, performance, motivation and health.
Time and Priority Management
Time is one of the most wasted resources. To be effective, people must be able to manage their time. They must learn to delegate and prioritise in order to reduce stress and conflict and to meet deadlines. This course gives delegates the tools and strategies to plan and prioritise their workloads. Delegates will learn how to eliminate time wasters, delegate effectively and how to set goals.

In addition to the above courses, in the West Midlands region only, Derrin can provide Spanish Language courses and support for your staff. Please contact Derrin to discuss further details.