Yesterday, we ran an open Art of Presenting course at Sadler’s Wells theatre in Central London.
It was a hoot! Yes a hoot.
Open courses are a great way to learn and build your skills for the workplace. In-house training is, of course, always beneficial and has the added bonus of being bespoke for your team, but an open course offers you the chance to explore and pick up new skills in a unique way.
Firstly, the venue.
It’s great to get out of the office for a day, it puts an extra spring in your step right from the off, that’s obvious. That spring in the step indicates more than an upward inflection in your emotional state, however; that spring in the step is the shift of engagement you need to throw yourself in to a learning environment with maximum gusto and squeeze every last drop of juice from it. That spring in the step is essential to jolt you out of your normal pattern and put you in the right place for learning. So stealing away for a day out of your office is more than simply a pleasant outing, it sets you off on the path for personal development.
Second, the people.
There’s nothing more refreshing than a set of new faces. The established relationships of your working life can be inhibiting, they’re defined and roles can be set. Developing new skills necessarily involves putting yourself on the line and risking a bit of positive failure, which can be difficult in front of your boss, best mate or line manager. Working with a group of new people is liberating – not only are there no preconceptions, there are also no expectations. Everyone is there for the first time, looking to learn and sharing the experience together.
Third, the kudos.
When you return to work with your new skills safely stashed in your armoury, you’ll have something others do not possess. You’ll be taking a jewel back to your workplace: expertise from another sphere, new understanding and fresh perspective. The key is to apply them as soon as you can, to allow the invigorating influence of an outside expert to impact on your working life. Make changes, rather than simply slipping back into the old routine.
Fourth, finding out.
Work can become monochrome, especially if you rarely branch out of the office. On an open course with so many people coming from so many different backgrounds, from lawyers to artists to sales people to singers, there’s so much fun to be had finding out about their lives. Not only that, you soon realise that the skills people need and are trying to grasp are similar across the working world, and sharing experiences of the ups and the downs takes some of the stress and anxiety out of your own performance.
So, if you aren’t receiving the in house training you need at work, or you feel the need for some personal development, I recommend checking out an open course. You’ll be surprised at how much there is to be learnt.
David Windle
