A full article featured in the May 2008 newsletter “North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and their association with The Baobab Centre”.
Below is a selection of opinions gathered from the various personalised training sessions we have run. (For confidentiality purposes only initials are used and only testimonials are given where permission has been granted).
Listening Skills
7th May 2009
'Think all managers should attend (low and high) and anyone who communicates with people'JK
'Very interesting and beneficial' SS
'Thought provoking' KK
28th April 2009
'Good, informative and very good knowledge given'
'Applicable to my role as a manager, coach and mediator'
'Very useful.' IP
3rd April 2009
'Very effective and interesting'SR
'Eye opening, very useful'
'Benefitted a lot day'. BP
23rd March 2009
'Very informative, in depth knowledge into the subject present in a good manner' PS
Self Reflective leadership and Management
12th January 2009
'Excellent. Definitely need time to put into practice and come back to talk' CF
'An essential course for managers who take people seriously' CB
'A fantastic opportunity to enhance self learning & personal development' DP
Customer Services
13th February 2009
'Extremely worthwhile and informative. Well presented' AT
'Informed, useful information. Adaptable - focused on the group needs. Enjoyable - thought provoking' DW
'Excellent - a two way process that was enjoyable and educational' CH
'Very informative. Well adapted to group and individual needs' DW
Equality and Fairness
14th October 2008
'Very challenging and different delivery methods based upon differentiation of group' JF
'Excellent introduction on E&D delivery (How to do it)' DP
'Beneficial, interactive, illuminating' PE
Managing stress
17th April 2009
'Positive, motivating'
19th March 2009
'So useful. Stress management & advice on reducing it should be rolled out to all employees'
16th December 2008
'Extremely well structured, prepared and presented. Good interpersonal and group dynamics. Well pitched to a range of staff' JD
18th November 2008
'Excellent, very useful & a huge learning curve. Thank you.' JS
16th October 2008
'Very positive & supportive. Thank you.'
15th September 2008
'Would highly recommend it. Very clear, accessible, helpful, realistic, constructive and interesting' NM
20th August 2008
'Very useful and time well spent for self and organisation' IA
18th July 2008
‘Excellent, very informative.’
16th May 2008
‘Very informative and I hope constructive in behaviour changes.’ RD
‘Excellent.’
14th April 2008
‘Given time to reflect and look at issues close to me.’
‘A really useful run through lots of the issues – which would be valuable for others to attend.’ KK
19th March 2008
‘Insightful and personalised (so that people brought their problems to the workshop).’ CL
18th February 2008
‘Fascinating, exciting, invigorating and engaging – definitely worth attending.’ CA
22nd January 2008
‘Excellent – thought provoking, thorough and fascinating.’ PB
‘Very practical course that was excellent at linking strategies together.’ DJ
Understanding and managing bullying behaviour
29th July 2009
'Very interesting, useful, informative and helpful'
16th June 2009
'Fact filled, informative, interesting, very un-boring. Very practical'
'Very good & very informative. Very friendly & would recommend it to everyone'
'Very informative and enlightening. Well presented/facilitated. Lots of good handouts and reference materials' MK
12th February 2009
'A great eye opener' JS
'I feel it would benefit all staff to attend' SM
26th January 2009
'Good - I feel
everyone should have this training' AP
'Excellent! Well delivered - fully engaging - thought provoking' RJ
4th December 2008
'Excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it' AD
7th November 2008
'Brilliant - probably the best I have been on. The bit about confronting a bully respectfully is something I can use in my life and teach my children' FB
1st October 2008
'Very informative, very helpful - will use what I have learnt to help myself and others' SM
3rd July 2008
‘I’d highly recommend it as an energising and highly informative way to tackle a very important issue.’ NM
‘Thought provoking.’ TR
13th June 2008
‘Kept my interest throughout – an excellent experience – gave me useful tools.’ VH
2nd April 2008
‘Good, lots of information allowing you to look at self and some of the skills you may use.’
‘Intense, hard work but worthwhile.’’
‘Very engaging, refreshing, informative and fun.’ PH’
28th May 2007
'Very informative and easily understood. Most significantly provided new ways of dealing with ongoing problems.' SC
'Productive, interesting and effective. The information provided is very useful. On a personal and organisational level I have learnt a lot and will hopefully therefore benefit greatly from this workshop.' HS
'Excellent workshop. Brought things into perspective and will bring about a change.' LW
'Very informative. Made me understand better the causes on both sides.'
'Interesting, meaningful and worthwhile. Provided me with a better understanding of the nature of bullying.' KC
'Very informative. Learned how to identify bullying as before I must have missed it.' BW
21st February 2006
‘The workshop has given me a lot better understanding of what bullying is and how best to deal with it. Consequently I will now be more aware to what could be happening in my workplace and feel more confident to deal with bullying.’
Understanding parenting
20th June 2008
'Rewarding, excellent' L
'Well planned, argued - delivered' HH
'Excellent, challenging, thought provoking' JR
Team development day
27th October 2008
'Very useful - a good opportunity' SW
12th November 2007
'Excellent, really inspirational. Positive, interesting trainers – Thank you.’ HN
8th November 2007
'Essential for personal work development.’ VH
15th October 2007
‘Relevant, tailored and productive.’
‘Relaxed but hard working. Enjoyable and informative.’ SH’
‘Great – really enjoyed it.’ CN
2nd October 2007
‘Very good – it relates exactly to the team and concentrated on key areas for how we can improve as a whole.’ LE
‘Extremely useful, pitched at just the right level and with some very practical advice.’ JT
‘Very enjoyable. Was wary on arriving on what to expect but really enjoyed it.’ JD
1st August 2007
‘Participative, interactive and also theoretical and knowledgeable. Excellent mix.’ BB
Working with others (through motivational gifts)
30th April 2009
'Inspirational - practical - helpful' C
30th June 2007
'Very informative. Really benefited from looking at people and understanding them.' CM
'Very interesting and enlightening. The course has made me aware of my own motivation type as well as others within my workplace, giving me a chance of understanding them and their associated responses.' SB
'Good insight into how people act/think. I will be able to use this in the workplace especially with regard to conflict, change and recruitment.'
'Very good. I now have a better understanding of individual emotions and the differing motivation factors within my team.' MD
9-10th February 2006 and 23-24th March 2006
‘I now have a greater understanding of what makes my team tick, which will make the team work together more effectively.’
‘An excellent thought provoking training course. I’m eager to apply to my everyday life.’
‘Helped me recognise my own style and its limitations which should make me a more effective manager.’
‘This workshop helped me get a better understanding of why my team members interact with each other the way they do.’
‘Gave me an appreciation of the benefits of recognising how the different styles can compliment my team.’
Learning to communicate assertively
15th May 2007
'Very informative yet practical. Useful for both professional and personal life.' NS
'I have benefited greatly from the workshop it makes you think just a bit further and is well tutored.' JM
'The workshop has given me an insight into how to assert myself better and to think upon the way I can use this in both my personal and work life.'
10th March 2004
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was very interesting and relevant to my everyday job. Thank you!’
Difficult situations, people and conversations
30th April 2007
'Incredibly beneficial workshop. Made me clearer in my mind and more confident on how to approach such situations.' EM ’
'Very useful and enjoyable. Learning how the way I react will affect how others react was significant for me.'
'Excellent. Taken away useful techniques that can be applied to future situations.'
'Very useful. Gave me increased confidence to approach situations as myself, but using different techniques.' CB
'I feel more able to deal with situations myself rather than hiding behind more senior management.' DT
'Allowed me to identify my strengths and weaknesses.' ’
'Excellent workshop. Discovered there were lots of ways to approach different issues by different styles.' JE
'Informative, helpful and eye-opening. I feel more confident in my own abilities, and more mentally/physically able to deal with a difficult situation.' HJ
Money sex and power
18th January 2005
‘I’m now not afraid to speak out in a group and it’s made me aware that everyone has inner fears.’
‘I now have a better understanding of the dynamics of the workplace.’
‘I am in charge of the workplace and I hope that a better understanding of the aspects and influences of power will help me be a better manager of people.’
Leadership and motivation
11th January 2005
‘Excellent workshop. I now have a better understanding of how to develop the people in my business and lead them onto greater achievements.’
Full Testimonial
To whom it may concern ’
I attended my first training session at The Baobab Centre in June 2004. It has changed my life, giving me confidence to go forward, make changes I have always wanted to make and above all believe in myself! ’
I have attended another training session since and am going from strength to strength on my journey of growth. ’
I recommend this route for all those who have dreams. Seize the tools and make it happen with these wonderful people.
A.M.