While the technology of communication has advanced tremendously, individual skills have not. In fact, many people's communication skills (writing, speaking, and managing) have actually declined. Some believe that there is a direct correlation between the two - that is a debate for another day!

Some in-house-managed training programs or meetings work well. However, many are ineffectual and expensive. Why? It's hard to be objective when you're too close to a problem. Employee buy-in is often low, when the program originates inside. Unless the team leaves energized and motivated, you risk the high cost of slipping backwards.

Over the years, a number of clients have asked for training. Knowing of our experience in video direction and presentation development, they asked for help in public speaking. Others wanted to use our consulting skills to help their staff find more innovative solutions to everyday business challenges.

The Guild was established to provide meaningful, hands-on training in a variety of personal communication skills. People need to be able to relate to people. If you can't make yourself understood clearly, you will not be successful in business.

Here are the most popular courses we've developed:

PRESENTATION SKILLS

This workshop focusses on helping people look and feel more comfortable when speaking in public. We emphasize finding a style and approach that works for each individual and their particular audience. Group size is kept small to maximize the learning for each participant.

Participants will:

• build speaking confidence,
• refine presentation content,
• receive feedback on their presentation style,
• understand the use and power of support visuals.

IMPROVE YOUR MEETING FACILITATION SKILLS

Most people in business have to lead or facilitate meetings during their careers. We teach participants the fundamental skills needed to make the process more efficient, effective and enjoyable. Participants practice new skills and get feedback from their peers and instructors.

Learn tools and techniques to:

• encourage participation from everyone in a meeting,
• stay focussed on the agenda,
• leave meetings with an action list,
• deal with conflict or negative behaviour,
• energize the team!

EFFECTIVE BUSINESS WRITING

Clear communication is the key to success. This interactive one-day course takes participants through the basics of effective business writing. They leave with practical tools to help improve and simplify their documents. During the workshop, participants practice using a simple three-step plan for organizing and producing more effective memos, letters and reports.

Participants learn how to:

• use a simple writing process to create more effective communications
• transform complex ideas and information into easy-to-read documents
• apply Plain English writing techniques to increase reader comprehension

MANAGING STRESS & STAYING SANE

Stress has become a fact of life in business today. The challenge is to find ways to manage it so that your health, productivity and mental well being don’t suffer. This is a highly interactive one-day workshop in which participants will be asked to take a hard look at how they are (and are not) coping with stress today.

Participants will:

• identify what stresses them and how they currently react,
• review the reasons they must control stress,
• learn and practice a variety of stress-busters,
• create a personal plan for staying sane in stressful situations.

THINK FASTER ON YOUR FEET

We use improv techniques to exercise brains and loosen tongues in this high-energy training. Participants are asked to step outside of their comfort zone and to be very honest with themselves and others. It can be incorporated into a presentation skills session, or stand alone as an excellent 'energizer' for a group.

Through a variety of facilitated exercises participants learn ways to:

• stick to their subject / stay focussed,
• speak with authority,
• listen to themselves more effectively,
• reduce "foot in mouth" episodes,
• maintain a sense of humour!

EVERYONE IS CREATIVE

This hands-on workshop sparks innovative and enthusiastic thinking in a group. We use a wide variety of exercises, tools and techniques to lead discussions or idea-generation sessions.

There is scientific proof that everyone has the ability to bring fresh, creative ideas to the table. The key is helping people develop the skills and behaviours needed to leverage this powerful tool.

This training provides you with ways to:

• energize project teams,
• develop hundreds of suggestions on how to approach the task at hand,
• create an action list of outstanding, viable ideas,
• utilize the creative abilities of all participants.

SALES TRAINING

The Guild offers sales training courses ranging from one to three days. We begin by reviewing the company's past history, customer base and current training. After interviewing members of the sales team and executive, we design a targetted program to meet their objectives. This may include an offsite sales meeting, motivational speakers, experiential training and/or interactive workshops, such as -- Projecting a Professional Image, Outstanding Customer Service, Presentation Skills, Developing Your Vision and Values and Writing in Plain English for Business.