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).
2011
Managing boundaries
‘Made me consider things I hadn’t before.’ AK
‘More effective management skills.’ JT
‘Very useful’
‘Improved my skills.’ VH
‘Greater understanding’ NM
Managing bullying
‘I feel I have benefited from the workshop because I have more knowledge of the do’s and don’ts.’
‘Learn how to deal with bullying, harassment, actions, line to take. Excellent content and trainers’ knowledge.’ MP
‘Must have attendance for every employee’ JT
‘Really good information given by the trainers. Good knowledge.' CL
‘Learning how issues can/should be dealt with to gain successful outcomes.’
‘An eye opener. Not be missed’ GS
‘Excellent and highly recommended.’ VH
Managing stress
‘Fabulous, really good insight and a lot to take away. Thank you.’
‘Useful and interesting’. ML
‘With the knowledge gained it may help yourself and others.’ BR
‘I’m feeling calmer!!’ HR
Skills for negotiating
‘A far better understanding in the science of negotiation, especially in the use of the six skills’ E
‘An excellent vehicle to understanding and implementing negotiation’. E
‘Good event, communication skill & negotiation.’ MD
‘Good. Informative. Relevant. Useful.’ DW
‘Very worthwhile.’ AT
Transactional Analysis skills
‘Useful to not just managers but everyone’ JT
‘Very beneficial’ BR
‘Will help myself deal with situations at work’. MP
‘A good introduction to skill, that requires you to think’ MD
2010
Building barricades and bridges in bargaining
‘Will change the way I deal with conflict/difficult situations by being able to recognise different ego states in my colleagues’ CW
‘Informative. Therapeutic and helpful. I feel I am going away with some great tools to put into practice.’ KM
‘Gives me the knowledge and understanding to sort out conflicts with other people, before serious problem issues arise.’ L
Coaching incorporating listening skills
‘Great! Confidence booster, beneficial to everyday working practices’ JS
‘Superb. All coaches should attend this course.’ SH
‘Excellent. A must for any manager.’ SH
‘A more rounded view of the whole subject. Given a hugely improved understanding of the elements of better coaching.’ AT
Managing boundaries
‘Looking at a real incident and see how changing and challenging the boundaries would have helped’ NJ
‘Within my role it is very important that I can judge situations. This course has helped’ N
‘I feel that I have the confidence to go back to work and tackle issues, regarding boundaries’ VH
‘Thought provoking, opportunities to ask questions and clarify what boundaries are, who sets them & the effects of this.’ NL
‘Beneficial at helping you to understand own personal boundaries and how to look out for others – if everyone tries to put some of this into practice then work and life situations could improve.’ KM
Managing bullying
‘It brings bullying out into the open & helps you deal with it in a good way’
‘Informative, effective and pro-active’ NL
‘Being able to express some hidden thoughts, and also realising I’m not the only one experiencing problems’ JT
Managing stress
‘A good tool to identify stress and how to cope with it’ SH
‘An important element in time management and no shame in admitting stress is out there.’ CS
Self reflective management
‘Is of great interest, challenging. Will change the way you think for the better.’ LS
‘Introduction and development workshop on self reflection as a tool to develop leadership, management and personal ability.’ DW
Team days
‘Knowledge of how to deal with situations as they rise, and some ideas of how to approach difficult subjects/personalities’
2009
Managing stress
‘Gained an in depth knowledge of the physical aspect of stress. Breaking thought processes down and being able to study reasons and reasoning.’ SB
Coaching incorporating listening skills
‘Has provided me with a resource of support that can help me be a better practitioner’ CR
‘Enlightened by the power of language and how single words can affect the duration of a conversation.’ NG
‘Very informative, in-depth knowledge into the subject presented in a good manner.’ PS
Listening skills
‘Think all managers should attend (low and high) and anyone who communicates with people’ JK
‘Very interesting and beneficial’ SS
‘Thought provoking’ KK
‘Good, informative and very good knowledge given’
‘Applicable to my role as a manager, coach and mediator’
‘Very useful.’ IP
‘Very effective and interesting’ SR
‘Eye opening, very useful’
‘Benefited a lot day’. BP
Managing bullying
‘Invaluable part of every role within organisation’ PW
‘A greater understanding of the many factors involved in workplace bullying – help me to be a better manager.’ CW
‘Increased my knowledge and confidence in dealing with & recognising inappropriate behaviour.’ SR
‘Very interesting, useful, informative and helpful’
‘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
‘A great eye opener’ JS
‘I feel it would benefit all staff to attend’ SM
‘Good - I feel everyone should have this training’ AP
‘Excellent! Well delivered - fully engaging - thought provoking’ RJ
Managing stress
‘Positive, motivating’
‘So useful. Stress management & advice on reducing it should be rolled out to all employees’
Team days
‘A greater insight into my position within the organisation and how I contribute to this.’
‘Learned how to respect others views and how I might forestall conflicts. Brought an awareness of the complexities and a resolve to change’
Self reflective leadership and management
‘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
‘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
Working with others (through motivational gifts)
‘Inspirational - practical - helpful’ C
2008
Equality and fairness
‘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
‘Extremely well structured, prepared and presented. Good interpersonal and group dynamics. Well pitched to a range of staff’ JD
‘Excellent, very useful & a huge learning curve. Thank you.’ JS
‘Very positive & supportive. Thank you.’
‘Would highly recommend it. Very clear, accessible, helpful, realistic, constructive and interesting’ NM
‘Very useful and time well spent for self and organisation’ IA
‘Excellent, very informative.’
‘Very informative and I hope constructive in behaviour changes.’ RD
‘Excellent.’
‘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
‘Insightful and personalised (so that people brought their problems to the workshop).’ CL
‘Fascinating, exciting, invigorating and engaging – definitely worth attending.’ CA
‘Excellent – thought provoking, thorough and fascinating.’ PB
‘Very practical course that was excellent at linking strategies together.’ DJ
Team development day
‘Very useful - a good opportunity’ SW
Understanding and managing bullying behaviour
‘Excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it’ AD
‘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
‘Very informative, very helpful - will use what I have learnt to help myself and others’ SM
‘I’d highly recommend it as an energising and highly informative way to tackle a very important issue.’ NM
‘Thought provoking.’ TR
‘Kept my interest throughout – an excellent experience – gave me useful tools.’ VH
‘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’
Understanding parenting
‘Rewarding, excellent’ L
‘Well planned, argued - delivered’ HH
‘Excellent, challenging, thought provoking’ JR
2007
Difficult situations, people and conversations
‘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
Learning to communicate assertively
‘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.’
Team development day
‘Excellent, really inspirational. Positive, interesting trainers – Thank you.’ HN
‘Essential for personal work development.’ VH
‘Relevant, tailored and productive.’
‘Relaxed but hard working. Enjoyable and informative.’ SH’
‘Great – really enjoyed it.’ CN
‘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
‘Participative, interactive and also theoretical and knowledgeable. Excellent mix.’ BB
Understanding and managing bullying behaviour
‘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
Working with others (through motivational gifts)
‘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
2006
Understanding and managing bullying behaviour
‘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.’
Working with others (through motivational gifts)
‘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.’
2005
Money sex and power
‘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
‘Excellent workshop. I now have a better understanding of how to develop the people in my business and lead them onto greater achievements.’
2004
Learning to communicate assertively
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was very interesting and relevant to my everyday job. Thank you!’
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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.' AM