Strategic Business & Leadership

Introduction:

When did you last stop to think about how you work at work – and whether the way you work could be changed to help you be more successful? The Business Brain Train Seminar provides a thoroughly enjoyable environment for you to explore these questions. It shows how to make yourself more effective using mind mapping; teaches techniques for faster, more effective reading, and shows how to use memory systems to remember information. It examines techniques for idea generation, creativity and problem solving; planning; time management; and inter-personal communication skills (including making a speech and how to improve meetings. It focuses on the core skills required for success in any enterprise. 

Targeted Groups:

• Managers, Supervisors, and Team leaders
• Human Resources
• Employees among all departments

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course the participants will be able to:

• Read faster and more efficiently.
• Tackle reading tasks with more confidence
• Combine fast reading, mind-mapping and memory skills with time management techniques to help handle “information overload”
• Develop effective strategies for managing time, priorities and pressure
• Explore and develop new ideas and approaches
• Be more confident in your ability to work in groups, to contribute ideas and to take initiative and responsibility
• Understand how to create a “success culture” using “business brain skills”
• Learn how to use mind mapping for planning, note-making and clearer-thinking
• Learn the secrets of memory systems – and how to use them to remember information
• Generate ideas and use problem-solving techniques
• Develop strategies for managing time, priorities and pressure
• Understand the importance of the whole brain effect on business effectiveness

Targeted Competencies:

• NLP & Emotional Intelligence
• Brain skills
• Reading strategies
• Mind mapping
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Communication skills

Course Content:

Unit 1: Brain Skills, Fast Reading and Mind Mapping:

• Thinking about reading - and challenging your existing assumptions
• Check current reading speed and understanding of the reading process
• How the brain works and its relevance for reading more effectively and remembering more
• The mechanics of how the eye works in tandem with the brain
• Breaking delusions: challenging beliefs and assumptions about reading
• Reading environment
• How to be a 'successful' reader
• Different approaches to note-making
• How to mind map

Unit 2: Reading Strategies and Memory Systems:

• Reading strategies: the theory
• Successful reading: increasing reading speed and effectiveness
• Reading practice
• Thinking about remembering
• Memory systems introduced (Memory magic?)
• Remembering numbers
• Using mind mapping to help you remember what you have read

Unit 3: Reading at Work, Memory Rhythms, and Thinking in Groups:

• More memory magic
• Different approaches for reading documents, textbooks, emails and the web
• Getting control (how to read a book in a hurry)
• How we remember - and how we forget (and what to do about it!)
• Using mind mapping and reading strategies together
• Thinking and working in groups
• Project: mind mapping in teams

Unit 4: Time Management and Outcome Planning For Better Results:

• Team mind mapping presentations
• Outcome planning for better results
• Better time management as a tool for handling information overload
• Reading: understanding an article and extracting key points
• Mind mapping software (e.g. Mind Manager, iMindMap, NovaMind)
• Mind mapping: when to use the software, when to use paper
• Developing listening skills as part of the note-making process
• Revision in context

Unit 5: Problem Solving, Meetings and Planning for Success:

• Putting it All Together: Your Toolkit for Handling Information Overload
• Reading, remembering
• Communicating in working life
• Preparing for and participating in meetings
• Reflective review (what have you learned and how can you apply it in the real world?)
• Planning for success and planning to practice

Unit 6: Planning for Success:

• Tools for Handling Information Overload: review
• Using the tools during the week
• The 4 Steps to Successful Time management
• Getting control of your in-tray
• Tackling time stealers
• Planning to succeed
• Reading research project
• Barriers to communication

Unit 7: Creativity Unplugged:

• Creativity: what is it, why is it important and can it be learned?
• Great modern thinkers
• Creativity unplugged: approaches to problem-solving
• Creative thinking tools
• Balancing information and creativity to get results
• The power of perception - a business brain tool
• Silo thinking versus other people’s views
• Using Memory Systems for business?

Unit 8: Understanding Groups and Organizations:

• How organizations work (understanding the OTHER parts!)
• Proper housekeeping: why money matters in your job and your organization
• Getting to grips with numbers
• Being better at business
• Memorize a speech (plus tips for speaking in public)
• Thinking and working in groups
• Group mind mapping project: ‘Dilemma’
• Results planning (the ORCA strategy)

Unit 9: Creating a Success Culture:

• Self-confidence and initiative
• Assertiveness, fluff-busting and attentive listening
• Getting your point across (outcome planning)
• Body language: speaking without words
• Making a presentation
• The whole brain effect in leadership and management
• Working with multiple stakeholders to get results
• Creating a success culture

Unit 10: Managing Personal Effectiveness to Get Results:

• Manage time and pressure
• Open thinking and learning
• Understanding meetings: hats, humor and how to get out of a hole
• Teamwork: your role and job in the context of any organization
• Perceptual positions
• Managing Personal Effectiveness to Get Results
• Planning for success and planning to practice
• Feedback and final presentations