Flexi Days build a flexible day of learning with GBS bite size courses

In today’s busy work climate, with challenging deadlines and limitations on time spent away from the desk, GBS recognises that some staff would benefit from greater degrees of flexibility in their learning.

We have launched our suite of short courses which can be combined to create a “Flexi-day” of bite sized learning which allows organisations to build a day of learning with multiple, short components.

Your GBS Account Manager will be able to assist you with creating the most flexible, cost-effective combination to meet the organisation’s needs.

Our Course Range

• Appraisals For Employees - Introduction to Appraisals

  Appraisals For Employees - Introduction to Appraisals, will demonstrate the purpose of Performance Appraisals and the value of ongoing performance management. It will also explore the concepts of Performance Appraisals (what to measure performance against, evaluating performance not personality; use of Job Descriptions in the process, acceptable performance vs exceptional performance and getting actively involved in the process)

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the aims of performance appraisals
  • Understand the main concepts of performance appraisals

  
  This course is ideal for those who would like an introduction into the appraisal process.

• Appraisals For Employees - Managing Development

  Appraisals For Employees - Managing Development, will explore Honey & Mumford’s Learning Styles and Kolb’s Learning Cycle. You will also learn to use the 40 Methods of Self Development and encourage personal development.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the concept of learning styles plus their own personal style and how they fit into the learning cycle
  • Be able to use the 40 Methods of Self Development
  • Develop their own Personal Development Plans

• Appraisals For Employees - The Appraisal Meeting

  Appraisals For Employees - The Appraisal Meeting, will help you to structure the Review Meeting effectively, provide constructive feedback and know how to agree objectives.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Be able to conduct effective appraisal reviews of performance
  • Agree SMART objectives

• Appraisals for Managers - The Appraisal Meeting

  Appraisals for Managers - The Appraisal Meeting, will help you develop the skills to structure the meeting and use appropriate tools to provide effective and constructive feedback. You will also learn to agree objectives, set SMART objectives and involve team members in the process.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Be able to conduct effective appraisal reviews of performance
  • Agree SMART objectives

  
  It is ideal for those who would like to develop the skills to structure an effective and productive appraisal.

• Appraisals for Managers – Introduction to Appraisals

  Appraisals for Managers – Introduction to Appraisals, will show you the purpose of Performance Appraisals (including the barriers, responsibility for getting the best results from staff, structuring expectations, importance of planning, reasons for managing performance and the value of ongoing performance management). You will also explore the concepts of Performance Appraisals (what to measure performance against, evaluating performance not personality, use of Job Descriptions in the process, acceptable performance vs exceptional performance and encouraging employees to be actively involved).

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the aims of performance appraisals
  • Understand the main concepts of performance appraisals

  
  It is ideal for those who wish to explore the purpose and main concepts of the appraisal process.

• Appraisals for Managers – Managing Development

  Appraisals for Managers – Managing Development, will explore Honey & Mumford’s Learning Style and Kolb’s Learning Cycle. You will also learn to use the 40 Methods of Self Development and encourage personal development.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the concept of learning styles plus their own personal style and how they fit into the learning cycle
  • Be able to use the 40 Methods of Self Development
  • Be able to encourage their own staff to develop their own Personal Development Plans

  
  It is ideal for those who would like to manage the development of their employees through the use of an effective appraisal process.

• Building Personal Resilience

  While people vary dramatically in the coping skills they use when confronting problems, there are some key characteristics of resilience that have been identified. Many of these skills can be developed and strengthened, which can improve your ability to deal with life’s setbacks.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Be able to identify the characteristics consistent with climbing mountains and consider how to apply these in the real world
  • Understand what their normal default response to certain situation is and consider tactics to think differently
  • Learn the importance of controlling the controllables and be able to extend their circle of influence
  • Utilise techniques to prioritise activities and appreciate that in doing so enhances the ability to be resilient

  If you need to build your personal resilience, then this course is for you.
• Business Finance - Budgets and Budgetary Control

  Business Finance - Budgets and Budgetary Control, will help you to understand the impact of decisions, types of budget, how budgets link to strategic and business plans, terminology, budget guidelines, budget periods, budget manuals, formats and forecasting.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Be able to construct and manage budgets
  • Understand how budgets link to the strategic and business plans

  
  It is ideal for those who would like to understand more about budgets and budgetary control.

• Business Finance - Interpreting Accounts

  Business Finance - Interpreting Accounts, develops the skills to understand accounting principles and policies. You will also learn to interpret Reports and Accounts and the legal requirements involved in Corporate Governance.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the legal requirements on a company regarding finance
  • Be able to read, understand and interpret financial information

  
  It is ideal for those who require the understanding of the legal requirements involved in Business Finance. Please note that you will need an understanding of Profit and Loss accounts and Balance sheets before taking this course.

• Business Finance - The Main Documents

  Business Finance - The Main Documents, is ideal for those who wish to understand Profit and Loss (P & L) accounts and terminologies. You will learn to use Balance sheets accurately and effectively.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the two main financial documents, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets
  • Know the financial implications of their plans and decisions
  • Understand the main financial terminologies

  
  This course is ideal for learning more about the main documents used within business finance.

• Business Writing - Letters & Emails

  ​Business Writing - Letters & Emails, is designed to develop effective letter/email writing skills. You will learn the skills to plan, structure and layout a letter, whilst keeping it concise and straightforward and also deal with a written complaint. You will also learn to recognise the difference between emails and letters, email etiquette and the do’s and don’ts of emails.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Be more confident with their business writing skills
  • Know how to be more systematic in preparing and structuring letters and emails
  • Be able to produce letters and emails that are clear, concise and effective

  This course is excellent for those who wish to produce clear and effective written communications via letters or emails.

• Business Writing - Reports

  Business Writing - Reports, develops the skills and knowledge to plan and prepare reports to keep in line with its scope and purpose whilst also maintaining confidentiality - you will also understand how to structure and sequence the report (e.g. using appendices, introductions, summaries etc.). The session also covers the most effective ways in which to display the report (e.g. the use of headings, gaining the reader’s attention, clarity and brevity)

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Have more confidence with their business writing skills
  • Be systematic in preparing and structuring a report
  • Produce reports that are clear, concise and effective
  • Effectively use illustrations, charts, graphs, tables and appendices

  This session is ideal for those who wish to produce consistently effective and efficient reports.

• Business Writing - The Basics

  Business Writing - The Basics, develops the use of Business English (including grammar, punctuation etc.) and explores the barriers to communication through the written word. It allows delegates to become systematic in their writing (e.g. what is the purpose of the communication) and analyses the advantages of using a systematic approach and in using plain English

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the benefits of using a plain English approach to writing
  • Be more confident with their business writing skills

  
  This course is ideal for those who wish to improve their business writing skills.

• Coaching Skills

  Coaching others effectively has been proven to positively alter belief systems, skill sets, confidence and ultimately performance, no matter what environment in which it is conducted. A great skill to develop, coaching is immensely rewarding for both parties and the impact to the bottom line in a business context cannot be ignored. Come prepared to practice your coaching skills.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Become clear about the purpose and role of a coach
  • Be able to demonstrate the skills and behaviours of an effective coach
  • Utilise the widely recognised coaching framework: GROW
  • Actually coach someone and be given feedback

  Whether you are a manager or just someone with a genuine interest in having a positive impact on someone else’s performance, this course is for you.

• Communicating With Just About Anyone

  Do you sometimes struggle to understand someone’s motivation? Or find some people more difficult to build rapport with than others? In business, we can’t always choose who we work with, yet we all know the saying that people buy from people.

  Research shows that the ability to communicate effectively with anyone and everyone, no matter who they are, is not only a valued skill but also one that reaps huge benefits in both your business and personal life.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand their own, and others’, natural communication style and know how to adapt their style to match others
  • Recognise that assertive behaviour is the key, and how to be assertive, even when under pressure
  • Be able to establish rapport, gain respect and get the results we need in our relationships with others

  If you want to be a brilliant communicator inside and outside of work, then this course is for you.

• Dealing With Challenging Behaviour

  Every single one of us has been challenging from someone’s point of view at some point in our life. It is inevitable in business that we will occasionally find the behaviour of others frustrating in some way. What matters, of course, is how we handle these situations and what we do about it.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the drivers of challenging behaviour - there is always a reason
  • Learn techniques to think differently about situations, which drives positive feelings and outcomes
  • Consider how their own behaviour may contribute to the situation and develop actions to change
  • Improve their demonstrated listening skills as a tool to resolve conflict and inspire confidence

  If you need to handle challenging behaviour in others, then this course is for you.

• Dealing With Change

  ​Change is an unavoidable component in our working lives. More often than not the change is out of our control, however fortunately there are ways that you can adapt to the change, and even take advantage of it.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand that it is perfectly normal to struggle when coping with change
  • Analyse why change is seen as a negative
  • Recognise the importance of identifying the drivers of change
  • Control the controllables by adopting a powerful tool to help restore a positive mind-set when change occurs

  If you want to deal with change more productively, then this course is for you.

• Developing High Performance Teams

  Success in today’s world of work is more about team, rather than individual, performance. High performing teams are interdependent (i.e. they must rely on one another to get the job done) and are the essential component of whether a Business thrives, or simply survives.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Recognise the difference between a team and a group
  • Understand the various stages a team goes through in its development
  • Note the 6 aspects of a high performing team
  • Be able to reflect on their own team and consider ways for improvement

  If you would like to evolve your team into one that works interdependently then this course is a must.

• Effective Delegation

  Many people use delegation as a way of offloading routine tasks they do not enjoy or do not have time to do. Delegated tasks should be challenging and, wherever possible, the responsibility for achieving the task should be delegated. It is also important to delegate tasks at the right stage for the person taking on the work, and not just when your workload becomes too much.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the difference between delegating and dumping
  • Understand and value the importance of learning to delegate and ‘letting go’
  • Learn how to delegate effectively

  If you want the confidence to delegate the right activities to the right people, giving you more time to devote to creative and strategic work, then this course is essential for you.

• Effective Negotiation

  “During a negotiation, it would be wise not to take anything personally. If you leave personalities out of it, you will be able to see opportunities more objectively.” Brian Koslow

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the aims and processes of negotiation
  • Learn the negotiation cycle
  • Fully explore how to plan and prepare systematically

  If you need to negotiate effectively with colleagues, suppliers or customers then this course is for you.

• Emotional Intelligence Tips

  Emotional intelligence, or Emotional Quotient theory (EQ), is a way to understand and assess the potential of individuals, staff behaviour, styles of management and the dynamics of relationships at work. The theory states that to be successful the individual must be aware of and manage their own emotions and understand the emotions of those around them.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand what is meant by the term Emotional Intelligence (EI)
  • Have considered people with high levels of EI and the impact that they have
  • Have explored each of the constructs of EI and associated competencies (Self-Awareness, Self Regulation, Social Skills, Empathy, Motivation)
  • Be able to self-assess

  If you want to understand the theory and, more importantly, how it can be put to good use in the workplace, this course is for you.

• Exceeding Customer’s Expectations

  Everybody has a nightmare story of bad customer service they have received. This highly practical session will help you to recognise the features of good customer care and incorporate them into how you handle your own customers in the future.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the importance of exceeding expectations
  • Have explored options for exceeding expectations
  • Know how to analyse specific relationships and explore what barriers/enhancers exist
  • Know what actions are needed to negate the barriers and improve the relationship
  • Appreciate the importance of feelings in driving behaviour

  If you want to have an impact on how your organisation is perceived by its customers, build on the organisation’s credibility, reputation and overall success then you should attend this course.

• Getting The Best Performance Out Of Others

  Successful organisations understand that managing and motivating others to maximise their work performance, and achieve business objectives, is a skill in its own right. It is one that needs to be developed separately to the development of their peoples’ technical skills.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand what management is really about
  • Be able to visualise what the very best Managers actually do and how they do it
  • Recognise what motivates people and how they can consistently motivate their team to achieve their best, using a variety of motivational techniques
  • Know how to use Situational and Performance Management skills
  • Be able to use and adapt their natural communication style in order to get the desired outcomes

  If you are a busy people manager who takes your managerial responsibility seriously, then this course is for you.

• Giving And Receiving Feedback

  Feedback is a gift. It should be given as a gift, and received as a gift. Feedback handled well by both parties is a powerful way to grow relationships, as well as improve performance. Too often, it is seen as a negative experience, and this creates resistance to listening to the message. Too often, it is not given professionally, and it is this, that creates the resistance in others to willingly receive it.

  Having the confidence to be able to give feedback, particularly around the difficult messages, is an important and necessary skill for anyone in business. Being able to receive constructive feedback professionally is also a key attribute for anyone in business.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the importance of balancing feedback over time
  • Recognise that feedback is a gift and should be given as one, received as one, and packaged thoughtfully
  • Have increased confidence in giving constructive feedback
  • Learn how to receive feedback in a professional manner
  • Adopt techniques to deliver feedback in a way that is both motivational and strengthens the relationship between the giver and receiver

  If you need to know how to give feedback to others and learn how to receive it thus creating a healthy progressive learning environment, then this course is for you.

• How To Be More Assertive In The Workplace

  If everyone were to become more assertive, there would be far fewer misunderstandings at work. A greater atmosphere of co-operation would exist and people would not go round thinking things like ‘I wonder what she really meant by that?’ or ‘who does he think he is?’ Genuine assertiveness not only ensures a pleasant and stress-free working atmosphere, but it is the best route to getting things done effectively for everyone in the chain.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the impact aggressive and submissive behaviour has on others
  • Learn simple and practical definitions of assertiveness
  • Adopt techniques and skills to be assertive
  • Know how to say ‘no’, disagree, or make a request
  • Feel good about themselves and increase self-confidence

  If you want to achieve your own aims whilst taking full account of the feelings of others, then this course is for you.

• How To Network And Build Stronger Relationships

  Successful people work hard at developing rapport with everyone in their business life. They know that developing these relationships can create opportunities, invitations to work on new projects and career opportunities. Could you be doing more to maximise your relationships across the business and are those wider relationships really working for you?

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the true definition of networking
  • Be able to list some simple hints and tips for networking
  • Demonstrate an awareness of basic networking skills
  • Adopt models for getting the most out of networking opportunities

  Why it is important to build better relationships – what are the benefits to us?
  How well do you network?
  How to build genuine long-term relationships that are beneficial to all parties

  If you want to be a brilliant communicator with the ability to build stronger relationships at work, then you should attend this course.

• Improving Stakeholder Relationships

  Improving strong relationships with stakeholders is important for a Business to succeed. Stakeholders are your clients, partners, suppliers, investors and employees - when a stakeholder is not taken care of then the effects can be felt across a range of different areas within a Business.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Develop a personal stakeholder map and place key stakeholders on their radar
  • Gain clarity around their stakeholders wants and needs
  • Be able to accurately identify what barriers might be in place to prevent the relationship from being healthy
  • Develop a plan of action to enhance the relationship

  If you would like to improve the relationships with your stakeholders then this course is a must.

• Influencing and Persuading Others In The Workplace

  ‘Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.’

  Napoleon Hill

  This course is aimed at managers and specialist staff who need to be more influential within their organisation, and those staff who need the agreement, commitment and co-operation of others.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand the psychology of influencing
  • Have raised self-awareness relating to the impact that their own behaviour has on outcomes
  • Recognise the importance of speaking in the listener’s language
  • Increase the number of times that they are successful in influencing
  • Adopt powerful questioning techniques to identify needs and wants

  If you want to gain support for your ideas and become more influential, this course is for you.

• Innovation

  One of the key ingredients which contribute to the success of a Business is Innovation. Innovation means bringing new ideas into reality so that operations, products or services are kept fresh. Innovation is the most sought-after skill within today’s world of work.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Gain confidence in thinking outside of the box
  • Be clear on what innovation is
  • Adopt divergent and convergent thinking tools

  If you would like to know how you can bring innovation into your Business then this course is a must.

• Leadership Is…The Basics Understood

  ​Leaders help themselves and others do the right thing. They set the direction, build an inspiring vision and create something new. Leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to ‘win’ as a team or an organisation. It is dynamic, exciting and inspiring.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand how Leadership differs to managing
  • Appreciate the major areas of focus for any Leader
  • Have an increased awareness of what an effective Leader does
  • Adopt tools deployed by an effective Leader

  If you would like to develop your Leadership skills, then this course is a must.

• Making An Impact At Meetings

  If you are struggling to stand out during meetings, or want to improve your success in being noticed, then this session is just right for you. It will help you gain the skills needed to ultimately get the results you need from every meeting you attend.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Create a powerful image in order to achieve credibility and gain respect
  • Overcome the fear of rejection, failure or embarrassment
  • Be able to handle objections with ease
  • Get their message across with impact

  If you want to make meetings work for you then this is the course to attend.

• Management Is…The Basics Understood

  ​Good management is the backbone of successful organisations. It means getting things done with, or through other people, in order to achieve organisational objectives.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Recognise the difference between leadership and management
  • Understand the role and functionality of a Manager
  • Gain the skills and competencies of a good Manager

  If you would like to develop your management skills, then this course is for you.

• Matrix Management

  ​Matrix management is ideal for sharing talents and skills across departments. It allows the ability to draw upon diverse skill sets from multiple disciplines to strengthen the overall project team.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Have increased awareness of the challenges faced by all when operating within a Matrix Management structure
  • Gain tips and adopt techniques to overcome challenges
  • Appreciate the benefits of Matrix Management structures
  • Learn the 7 key elements to succeed in a matrix organisation

  This course is a must for anyone working within a Matrix Management environment.

• Presenting With Confidence

  The ability to present your ideas clearly, confidently and with impact has to be one of the most important business skills for anyone to develop. Yet for most of us, it is when we feel most exposed and nervous, no matter how well we know our subject.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Have increased confidence when giving presentations
  • Know how to overcome nerves
  • Be able to utilise techniques to maximise impact, personal delivery style and techniques
  • Effectively structure presentations

  
  

  Should you wish to significantly boost your confidence and ability to present with power, no matter how big your audience size or important your message, this is the course for you.

• Realise Your True Potential

  The biggest thing that will stop you achieving is most likely you. Your own self-doubt, your fear of looking foolish, of failing, of other people’s opinion of you - you are being hard on yourself. You need to get out of that comfort zone and find the motivation to do what you really want.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Recognise the power of positive thinking and self-belief
  • Understand the link between self-confidence and performance
  • Overcome fear and bad habits
  • Become their own coach and set out their own plans for mastery

  If you want to truly release your potential and realise what you can achieve, then this course is for you.

• Relationship Management

  ​Relationship management is a strategy in which a continuous level of engagement is maintained between an organisation and a client. Relationship management involves any process or strategy used to build support or loyalty towards the business or its particular products.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Learn the 4 key steps in building relationships
  • Develop a deeper understanding of all things Emotional Intelligence and how this plays such an important part in relationship management
  • Have an increased self-awareness and understand the importance of being self-aware when building relationships
  • Adopt ways to strengthen their personal brand

  If you would like to improve the relationship management skills within your organisation, then this course is a must.

• Remote Team Management

  Managing remote workers and teams requires a unique skill set, specific resources and continued effort to cultivate a positive team dynamic and most importantly, ensure that remote workers feel connected to other colleagues.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Experience what it is like to manage, and be managed, remotely
  • Identify the challenges that both parties experience
  • Develop solutions to overcome challenges
  • Learn how to manage remotely
  • Create a personal plan of action

  If you manage a remote team then this course is a must.

• Setting SMART Objectives For You And For Others

  It is vitally important for Leaders and Managers to correctly set objectives as these are what drive individuals, teams and the organisation. Specific and measurable objectives are the critical component as to whether things succeed or fail.

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand what makes a good objective
  • Recognise why setting SMART objectives is so critical in business
  • Analyse what make a good goal
  • Be able to set SMART objectives for themselves and their team

  If you would like to know how to set SMART objectives then this course is for you.

• Time Management Tips And Techniques

  With today’s economic climate, more than ever we are all under pressure to achieve more in less time. With only so many hours in the day, successful people are required to make sure they use their time effectively to get the results they want.

  Are you really on top of your time? Are you making the most of every moment in your day? Alternatively, might you be wasting time through bad habits, procrastination and lack of motivation to do the right things?

  As a result of attending this 90 minute Flexi Day session, participants will

  • Understand that they cannot manage time
  • Be able to identify time stealers
  • Use learned tips to overcome personal time stealers
  • Have an increased awareness of what is urgent and important
  • Utilise a simple, and effective, planning tool

  If you would like to take a step back and learn some new tips and techniques to managing your time, this is an essential course for you.