Case Study - Goldsmiths University

Goldsmiths University

Art of Presenting, Communication Skills and Voice and Body Check-Up

The situation
 
 

Part of the University of London, Goldsmiths is the UK’s leading creative university.  Formed over 100 years ago it is now ranked 9th in the world for 4* research and has hundreds of staff over 15 academic departments.  Goldsmiths take staff development very seriously, and needed some innovative and interesting courses to shake up their in-house training programme.

 

Where we came in
 
 

Goldsmiths presented us with an exciting challenge.  The university staff is vast and diverse comprising everyone from senior lecturers, to administrative assistants to IT specialists.  Our brief was to supply soft skills training which would be useful for all no matter what their particular role.
 

Our first Art of Presenting course at Goldsmiths went down a storm, the discussion and debate around the techniques and ideas was inspiring.  University staff certainly like to thoroughly interrogate and understand an idea: which was great for us!
 

Following presentation skills we delivered Interpersonal Communication skills training with a particular focus on helping staff feel more assertive and confident in dealing with some tricky situations.  The group really relished the opportunity to try out some new approaches to their communication issues.

Next up for the Goldsmiths team was Voice and Body Check-up which gave tired lecturers and office staff a chance to restore some balance and let go some of their accumulated stresses.  Again, it was an excellent training session with all the participants keen to unwind, and take away a toolkit for maintaining their wellbeing at work.  As one participant said: 

'An excellent day, thoughtful presenters who tailored their approach to enable everyone to participate.'

The results

 

The excellent ongoing relationship we have with Goldsmiths is the best testimony to our work, both in training and in meeting their administrative needs.  As Rody Bristow-Jones MA MSc, Staff Development Advisor at Goldsmiths said:

‘When we advertised Opposite Leg's Art of Presenting workshop on our staff development programme it filled up quicker than a rock pool in Blackpool at high tide.  The participants thoroughly enjoyed the day and came away with creative and useful ideas to put into practice.  We will definitely be requesting their services again!’