35
A Learner’s Review
Course evaluation
Learner
we work, individually and within a team, objectives were set and revisited each
what motivates us to work and how we day. With a host of people analysing your
can best deal with other animals (our work on the course, and referring back to
work colleagues!). Aside from it being a individual objectives, this helped to draw
on board
rather fun activity, analysing our animal
the relevance back to my personalised
characteristics does have real value that
learning. The course outline was referred
can be taken back to the office and put to
to throughout the two days so that we
As a nation of animal
good use. Understanding our motivations
could see how each section would fit with
to work and the most productive styles can
our goals. This helped to ensure we stayed
lovers, it’s no wonder we
bring many benefits to the whole team.
on track.
compare ourselves to
I spend so much of my time learning
Furthermore, prior to and after the course I
more charming creatures,
about the learning industry and
also spent time with my manager, who used
understanding modern learning
a coaching style of questioning to explore
but can we really use
techniques, that it was refreshing to
what I was hoping to achieve and to draw
animal characteristics to
put theory into practice in the form of a
up an expanded set of objectives. A series
two-day intensive training programme
of exercises to provoke thought on potential
understand our behaviour with a small group of attendees. The
scenarios using my new skills was also
extremely useful in cementing the learning.
in the workplace?
learning curve was pretty steep, with
a huge wealth of information given by
For any training to be useful it really is
Anita Peach takes a seat
trainers who have a fantastic knowledge
essential to have managers on board and,
if they understand the value of the learning
in the training room at a
of working environments and dealing
exercise and the end goals, then you, your
with different types of people. Various
Speak First training course
manager and the rest of the team will all
training techniques were used to keep our
gain from the course.
attention, and often involved feedback.
I got a real experience of a training course
W
e’ve all seen the slightly
Outside the comfort zone
that was truly valuable to my working
disconcerting dog owners
The most useful technique involved the
life as well as my personal life. I believe
walking dogs with whom they
use of video – on several occasions! We
some of the tips and techniques that I
seem to share similar facial features;
were tasked with producing some rather
observed will stay with for me a long time
maybe a long face or a droopy, wide
tough role-play scenarios that might take
to come. I often stop during the day and
mouth. Furthermore, we could probably
place at work, such as a presentation or
think about how the course has taught
easily associate an animal with each of
meeting with external clients or team
me to deal with a particular situation, or
our familiar friends. I’ve always seen my
meeting. With the nerves, the fight or
at other times I notice that I am slowly but
close friend as a bit of a tiger; loud, proud
flight reaction kicked in – I was desperately
naturally starting to integrate my new skills
and quite a sexy feline. I think she would
trying to think of an escape route, but
into work relationships. I also found that
suggest I be compared with a donkey; a
thankfully I stuck with it. The role plays
involving the whole team in my learning,
little clumsy and often accident-prone!
were recorded and then replayed in front
via the animal characteristics tests, has also
of the trainer and other trainees who were
helped us to all understand better ways to
We tend to see ourselves in a very different
asked to give feedback. At first I found the
work together.
light to how others see us. Having analysed
exercises embarrassing – both critiquing
the characteristics of the four main styles of
other people’s behaviours and watching
This really isn’t a training course that you
behaviours during the Speak First training
my own on a large screen was daunting.
can attend then go back to the office and
course, I pictured myself as a wise owl
But, it quickly became easier to analyse in
bury the manual on the bookshelf. Its impact
– serious, persistent and methodical with
this way, speaking openly and highlighting starts to consume so many aspects of work
perfectionist tendencies. However, I was
areas for improvement without negativity. that you cannot help but learn, digest and
shocked to find I veered heavily towards an improve. And, of course, spend some time
attention-acquiring monkey – spontaneous,
I’m fairly convinced that my initial reaction analysing your animal instincts.
quick-paced and … dramatic. Those who
to this arduous task is also the reason
know me well have also agreed I am a bit
that the learning will stick. We tend to
Powerful influencing and persuading
of a cheeky monkey – fun-loving, enjoying
remember when we’re taken out of our
techniques will be featured in the winter
a good time and more than just a little
comfort zone. By the end of the course
issue of Learning Magazine courtesy of
‘curious’. I diverge. we had improved rapidly. Each trainee
Speak First, who has launched a new
had taken on board the comments and
course – ‘Influencing with Impact.’ For
more information call 020 7253 2117,
Generally, we all have more than one suggestions of the trainers and peers.
email enquiries@speakfirst.co.uk or visit
behaviour style and we will often cross
stand E250 at the World of Learning
through two or three styles. From here I Meeting objectives Conference & Exhibition.
began to understand the way in which Before the course commenced individual
Learning Magazine
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