- Written by Ralph Brown
What do we know about the science sector?
Our specialists have been training scientists for many years. One of our team has a background in physics and is a regular presenter at the Royal Society's Science Media Centre. We've trained many scientists working in regional and local government.
Presentation skills for scientists
Practical help for scientists who want to speak with more confidence.
The training is suitable for those who speak to other scientists, especially when presenting papers at seminars and conferences. And it will help those who present to non-scientists at public meetings or to their colleagues.
We can also help with that special concern felt by many scientists: how can I speak with interest and enthusiasm without losing scientific credibility? How much is too much?
We will design a programme to meet your needs. Consider such core themes as: how to prepare, how to overcome nervousness and stay in control, how to develop rapport and engage with any audience, how to handle probing questions, how to use PowerPoint so that it enhances your presentation rather than take it over.
Contact us about training for people who represent your organisation.
Media skills and science
We'll show your scientists how to work productively with reporters who have no knowledge of science. We understand the concern that a reporter will sensationalise the topic, and in the process make the scientist look unscientific and lose credibility with his or her peers. We can show how to significantly improve your control of the outcome.
We will design a workshop to meet your needs. Consider: how to handle the first call from a reporter, how to talk to the reporter about translating key ideas to a lay audience, how to prepare for an interview, how to give an interview with confidence and authority, how to handle tough questions. Also, how to influence the outcome, even when you’re in the middle of the interview.
We’ll show how handling the media in a way that benefits your organisation, the audience - and the media is not rocket science.
Contact us about training for those who represent your organisation in the media - or could.
Effective writing for scientists
We’ll show your scientists and communications staff how to write reports, articles, booklets, leaflets, proposals and web pages for non-technical readers. We'll help them explain complex issues to people who have little background knowledge and even less interest in scientific detail. We’ll encourage them to break the habit of impersonal, passive writing that may have satisfied science editors in the past, but quickly turn non-technical readers off. If necessary, we'll persuade them that writing for a non-technical audience isn't about 'dumbing down', but about effective communication and relevance. They'll end their training with some simple, practical techniques of modern professional writing.
We will design the training to meet your needs. Consider including: Skillsets simple writing and editing system (to ensure they produce plain English) how to organise your writing in a logical way, how to get the correct balance of formality and informality, how to hold the reader’s attention, how to be more interesting without losing credibility.
Contact us about a workshop for your writers.
Other topics for your organisation
Skills for trainers
Managing time and pressure
- Written by Ralph Brown
Presentation skills
Let's recognise the special challenges for speakers in the health sector. Intuitively, most people know that clear communication involves more than issuing accurate facts, especially when the topic is emotionally-charged.
We can help your speakers enhance their credbility and build a rapport with their audience.
We recommend that your training includes such core themes as: how to replace nervousness with confidence and authority, how to persuade, how to organise your thoughts and prepare, how to handle questions and interjections, how to use PowerPoint effectively. And, how to engage with any audience so that they respect you even when they disagree with you.
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Media skills
The health sector is, arguably, the most contentious of all. Health boards, working with limited budgets, are particularly vulnerable to intense public scrutiny, especially when something has gone wrong. Spokespeople must answer to a public that has little understanding of the pressures involved. We can help.
We recommend that your workshop includes such core themes as: how to take the first call from a reporter, how to prepare key messages the public will listen to, how to give a confident, convincing interview. For those likely to be in the firing line, we can also show how to handle tough, emotionally-loaded interviews.
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Effective writing
It's suitable for staff who write letters and emails to stakeholders, monthly reports to managers, or reports to the board. We include a focused approach to writing in plain English and ways of organising complex material into a logical structure.
We can show your staff ways of ensuring that readers do read everything they write. If you need it, we can include 'email etiquette' and clear up any confusion over such things as capital letters, apostrophes and commas.
We recommend that your workshop includes themes such as: the golden rule of all communication, the five keys to effective writing, how to organise your writing in a logical way, how to get the correct balance of formality and informality, how to hold your reader’s attention, how to make your writing easier to read, absorb and remember while enhancing your professionalism.
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Dealing with challenging behaviours and difficult situations
We recognise that changes in the health system have stressed both consumers and professionals alike. As a result, we are dealing with more challenging behaviours, which are often counterproductive and time-consuming. We’ll show your team how to handle themselves and others with confidence and compassion in challenging and emotive situations. We’ll give them a range of techniques and strategies to help them get the best outcome.
We recommend that your workshop includes such core themes as: recognising our own triggers in conflict, expressing and displaying empathy, defining boundaries, managing strong emotions, talking someone down to calmness, giving bad news constructively, maintaining professionalism under stress, getting agreements and resolutions.
Contact us about in-house training for your team.
Leadership skills
Many health professionals find themselves managing staff or mentoring talented new professionals without having had any leadership or management training themselves.
Let’s face it—leading a team of bright, independent, individuals is challenging. We’ll show your staff how to develop their people management, and practical leadership skills so that they can develop others and get the best out of their teams.
We recommend that your workshop includes such core themes as: leadership profiling to determine strengths and weaknesses, general principles of leadership, practical team leadership tools, people skills, conflict management, managing change, giving effective feedback, setting goals, measuring progress, developing others, modelling emotionally intelligent behaviours.
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Need something else?
If it's communication skills or the personal skills of professional development we can almost certainly help you. We'll design a workshop for you. That's the advantage of in-house traning.
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Christchurch
E-mail: info@skillset.co.nz