Surviving and thriving despite Coronavirus

We appreciate the extreme uncertainty many companies are facing, as we are similarly affected at Azesta. We want to reassure you that we are continuing to operate, working hard with clients and learners to find alternative ways of delivering our interactive training and of supporting leaders as they seek to guide their teams through this crisis.

All our contact is now via telephone or online and we are making good use of video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype to maintain team connections as people work from home, and to enable apprenticeship workshops to go ahead as planned. Adobe Connect is also a fantastic tool for truly experiential virtual workshops. 

Your priorities have necessarily changed and you will not now be thinking of face-to-face workshops and away days for personal development. However, strong leadership and teamwork has never been more vital and Shirley can offer a number of ways to support your organisation in these difficult times:

* virtual coaching for leaders and managers

* facilitating remote meetings

* hints and tips on working remotely

* delivering vital training using online tools

* online behavioural profiling

* virtual CPD for trainers (see details below)

This article on our website might be useful for your teams beginning to work remotely: Developing virtual teams

If we can give you any informal advice or support as you look at ways to operate virtually, please get in touch. We are here to help in whatever way we can.

In this time of global emergency with a national lockdown in place we are all hastily reassessing what we do and how we do it, whether that is on a personal or a business-level. Our thoughts are with all our friends and clients, especially those who have  experienced the virus first-hand.

Supporting leaders

Operating in such an unprecedented situation Shirley has been asked by regular clients, Ongo, to work with all their managers and directors to support them. This is taking the form of check-in phone calls, and using Zoom and Skype for video calls and coaching around staff issues.

At the same time she is working on a virtual management development programme with marketing agency, Ledger Bennett, including delivering virtual action-learning sets.

If you would like Shirley to help support and inspire your leaders contact her at:

shirley@azesta.co.uk

Trainers Development Network Yorkshire got off to a good start with Krystyna Gadd's session looking at how to collect and use data to drive performance improvement. And we are continuing to offer top-quality non-profit professional development but online due to the current situation. Our upcoming workshops are listed below. Why not book your place now?(Sessions usually take place between 10am and 2.30pm.)

Friday 24th April 2020

'Carbon Literacy Certification'

with Tami Pein

Click here for more details and to book

Friday 1st May

‘TetraMap’

with Nicki Davey

Click here for more details and to book

Friday 19th June

'Sketchnoting'

with Rachel Burnham

Click here for more details and to book

Hints and tips

Working from home is a new experience for many so here are some practical suggestions aimed at making the transition easier and more productive.

1) Create a structure

Decide on a schedule, one that works for you, your household and your organisation; this helps to create routine.

2) Set boundaries

As far as is possible set up a dedicated work area in order to separate your work and home space. Set rules and expectations for  kids (and partners!) Don't be tempted to work in your PJs; being dressed changes your mindset and prepares you for working. 

3) Take regular breaks

It's relevant when you're in the office but even more important when you are in the same place 24/7. Get up every hour or so, stretch your legs, get a drink, change your visual focus or grab a breath of fresh air. It's necessary for your mental as well as physical wellbeing.

4) Be organised

With no-one around to prompt you, you will need to prioritise your tasks, have checklists to keep track of things and set alarms or reminders for online meetings. Have a backup plan for if the technology fails e.g. phone conferencing if the internet goes down.

5) Stay in contact

Communication is everything - if in doubt over-communicate! Write succinct emails with helpful subject lines. If you're isolated make use of video conferencing tools like Skype or Zoom instead of just emailing or making a phone call as it increases the level of human contact.

These are some of our suggestions but there are plenty more online to help you.

After a very positive full inspection by Ofsted in early March apprenticeship delivery continues apace.

Responding to the current situation we are adapting our face-to-face workshops to take place via video conferencing platforms, aiming to maintain the high level of interactivity we are known for. Many of earlier cohorts of learners are completing their courses, with the majority gaining merits or distinctions; fortunately the pandemic isn't greatly affecting End Point Assessments as these have always been carried out remotely.

We are also moving ahead to sign-up two new cohorts for Freemans Grattan Holdings and another for Ongo. And so the cycle begins again ...!

Apprenticeship workshop goes virtual

When the going gets tough, the tough innovate! And that's just what we've done with our recent Finance workshop for the Level 5 Leaders and Managers Apprenticeship.

With only a couple of weeks' notice we have turned our famous flipcharts into PowerPoint slides, got to grips with some of the more advanced features of Zoom, such as polling, annotation, screen sharing and break-out rooms, and have redesigned the interactive elements to allow learners to participate remotely. Who would have guessed that going online doesn't have to mean an end to experiential learning?!

NEW website for Azesta!

Watch out for our brand new website which will soon go live. A bright fresh look with improved functionality, a shop for resources and online event booking.