Description:

This one-day course on working SMART covers an important general topic.

SMART is an mnemonic with many meanings, but here it is intended to refer to the intellectual approach of being more considered, more savvy and more intelligent. We all work in some way automatically, mainly because the environment and the bureaucracy influence our behaviour. We say “this is how things work around here”, meaning that we work as well as we can within the confines of the situation. Nice try but the fact is we are also part of the problem. We simply get in our own way. SMART working is a process designed to help us recognise why we are not as efficient as we wish to be and what we can do about it.

SMART working involves many different issues. What affects one team may not affect another. On the other hand, there are common issues which might affect all of the teams equally such as the filing system, the recruitment system or the procurement system.

The intellectual approach is a study of the work itself, the business need leading to it, the methods used, the environment and the individuals concerned. We must question the work itself, how much of the work is actually necessary and how much work could be removed altogether. We must consider how else the work could be achieved. We must look at the processes and methods and see what can be changed and developed to improve the outcome. The next thing to look at is the environment, with the bureaucracy on top of the list. How much do we interfere with efficiency by expecting or demanding an action which is actually not helpful and has no useful purpose. Finally, and most difficult are the individuals and their habits and behaviours. There is indeed a lot to look at if we are to consider all the angles.

The management of people is a large subject on its own but the course will concentrate on the part which is relevant to this issue. It will look at habits, time management, continuous improvement groups and other significant ways of rapidly increasing performance in order to avoid waste and redundancy.

This is a very important general skill which will lead to marked performance benefits.

An Attendance Certificate will be provided at the end of this skill course.

Vital Benefits:

There was once a recognition that there is “one best way” to do things. However, there is a reluctance nowadays to intellectually consider how best to do things. In its place is a reliance on the employees’ goodwill to do the best they can. This course provides you the following vital benefits:

• A thorough understanding of the nature of work
• An understanding of habits and behaviour
• Learning new habits and creating a corporate culture to be proud of
• An understanding of measurement of work
• Understanding the science of work
• Understanding negotiations and the happy workspace
• Understanding conflict and management of difficult people
• Understanding how to use motivation techniques

Objectives:

The smarter working skills are accessible and can have a huge impact on the business’ bottom line. They also make working more fun and enjoyable generally. Through this course it is our objectives to:

• Provide a clear understanding of the nature of work
• Recognise the value of positive habits in the development of corporate culture
• Benchmark productivity and performance
• Provide an understanding of motivation in the workplace
• Provide an understanding of group dynamics
• Provide good case studies to consolidate the learning
• Discuss how to manage work through teams

Topics:

The course covers the following topics:

• The science of work
• Behaviour and habits
• Benchmarking across people, teams and departments
• Negotiation, conflict management
• Workplace dynamics
• Motivation
• Communication
• Group dynamics
• Delegation and work sharing

Who to Attend:

This is a very positive way of working which will bring benefits to everyone. We would recommend the course to the following project people:

• Business leaders
• Business executives
• Business managers
• Marketing and sales managers
• Operations managers
• Line managers
• Those who make important decisions for the business
• Those who face the clients or customers
• Those who want to develop their business skills