Ahh, the summer’s here. Everyone tells us so. The supermarket magazines, the ‘seasonal’ TV programmes and of course, the high street. Clothes shops are full of shorts, vests, sandals, bikinis, strappy sundresses and t-shirts. Except, that’s not what we need right now is it?
At just aged six, my son is already learning to be independent. He washes and dresses himself he could run his own bath get his own drinks, breakfast and little things like that. At the weekend I took in him for his swimming lesson, and afterwards I told him to have a shower which he did, and then handed him his towel and told him to get dried and dressed, which he did with no assistance from me.
I had a very long and insightful conversation with an Independent OD Specialist yesterday, and the conversation turned towards fees. Trainers are always very cagey about their fees, so it was nice to talk openly. Now, on the face of it, fees vary wildly, but when you start to look beneath the surface things are not necessarily so different.
And so, another (far too short) series of Sherlock has finished. Back to the brain-dead ‘choice’ of TV programmes involving so-called celebrities doing pointless things, or ‘talent’ shows that don’t seem to encourage talent that can’t be immediately exploited for a fast buck.
In the school holidays I took my kids to see the film ‘Arthur Christmas’ – it was a great family film. The plot was around the fact that the current Santa was about to retire, and his eldest son, Steve would therefore take over the role. Younger son Arthur was considered a bit useless and was left to reply to letters on behalf of Santa.
…But I love it! Yes, this weekend saw the erection of the Christmas tree in our household. An event that we always look forward to, and it’s a great family affair. The Christmas music plays, the Santa hats and bauble deeley-boppers are worn and tinsel somehow manages to get everywhere.
All of the work I’ve been involved in recently, be it running training courses or researching and designing new ones, has been about helping managers to manage. Whether it is running performance management workshops for experienced team leaders, or researching and designing a program to prepare future managers, one core idea keeps coming through: Managing people is difficult.
The recent poll on Training Zone about rates for independent trainers, has got me all fired up. Not because it seems I’m undercharging (I prefer to think that I’m offering value), but because training design appears to be worth less than delivery.
I was running a coaching workshop recently. Experience has taught me to spend time up front understanding the ‘coaching’ situations the delegates would be involved in, which always pays dividends, as coaching means different things to different people. I have completed a coaching qualification, and have my own ideas of what coaching is, but coaching is not my main business, and I don’t promote myself as a coach.
Well, I’ve finally cracked it…getting my other-half to do the housework, AND to an excellent standard. The most amazing thing was, with hindsight, it was so easy. Can’t believe I haven’t tried this before. So, what is my amazing secret?….. Ask directly, be specific and give a timescale.