Strategic Thinking Remote Delivery - Course Modules

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 25 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 55 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about how they communicate, and what unintentional messages they might be conveying to customers, colleagues and others.
• To demonstrate how words are just the tip of the communication iceberg, and how what lies beneath the service can have a serious, and lasting impact on how others perceive us, and the organisations we work for.
• To demonstrate how brand is affected by every piece of communication leaving the organisation.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link in Trainers’ Library.
• Your Activity Link PIN from the My Account section of the member homepage.

Notes:
This is a powerful exercise that really gets participants to think about the way organisations communicate. It’s a useful addition to any customer service training, but particularly useful with groups that are responsible for brand and the way the organisation portrays itself to the outside world. This could be managers within the marketing department, branch managers, recruitment managers, etc.

It’s suitable for all types of organisation, including public and charitable bodies.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 90 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To identify specific actions that will enable groups to achieve a shared vision.
• To help individuals see how they will contribute to the achievement of a shared vision.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels working in a team. It is particularly well suited to new teams formed for a fixed period to manage/implement a project.

You'll Need:
• To have pre-prepared a collaborative whiteboard for the session. We recommend using Miro and for those unfamiliar with this solution, there is an article in Trainers’ Library called Using Miro to help you.

Notes:
This module allows the group to share and develop ideas for achieving their shared vision.

The group need to be clear about what their vision is. If they’re not, we recommend using Creating a Shared Vision first.

You will need to pre-prepare a PowerPoint slide to display at the start of the exercise reminding them of their vision statement.

This is a long session for Remote Delivery, so we suggest taking a 15-20 minute break in the middle where indicated in the notes.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 45 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To reflect on how a team or organisation is viewed by its employees and customers.
• To consider a team or organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.
• To generate discussion about how to develop strengths and overcome weaknesses.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Managers at all levels and/or their teams.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link provided and your unique PIN.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 30 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To help participants understand the nature of delegation, why it’s important and the opportunities it presents.
• To encourage participants to begin to think about what effective delegation looks like.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• At least some of your participants will need access to PowerPoint and basic knowledge of how to use PowerPoint.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 45 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To agree what success looks like for everyone.
• To establish effective working relationships within groups or teams.
• To create a vision statement for the team.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels working in a team. It is particularly well suited to new teams formed for a fixed period to manage/implement a project.

You'll Need:
• To have pre-prepared a collaborative whiteboard for the session. We recommend using Miro and for those unfamiliar with this solution, there is an article in Trainers’ Library called Using Miro to help you.

Notes:
This module allows the group to share ideas and agree some common aims and values before creating a shared vision. It can be used as a stand-alone activity or combined with others to form a longer event. The module Achieving a Shared Vision naturally leads on from this module.

If you have fewer than 6 participants, split the group into 2 teams and create a Jamboard that has just two columns rather than three.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To introduce managers to the subject of employee engagement.
• To consider the differences between staff satisfaction, motivation and employee engagement.
• To help managers begin to understand why employee engagement is central to being a successful manager.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Participants with managerial responsibility (or those who will have imminently.)

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module includes an activity to be completed after the live session. If you’re running other Employee Engagement sessions, you may be able to use them to review and check progress on the action plans.

As this is quite a long session, you might wish to add a 10-15 minute break where indicated in the notes.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 35 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To identify the financial, environmental and time costs incurred by commuting.
• To identify how home working could benefit employees, employers and society.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Managers and anyone interested in promoting home working as part of a long-term strategy within their organisations.

You'll Need:
• Your participants to bring a sheet of blank A4 paper and some coloured pens/crayons/pencils to the session.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this workshop can be completed in about 75 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 120 minutes for this workshop.

Aims:
• To build an understanding of the key steps in strategic planning.
• To encourage participants to analyse financial and other data using a SWOT analysis.
• To encourage participants to think about where their fictional case study business is now, before moving on in the next module to consider where they want it to be.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Links and your unique PIN, which you’ll find in My Account.

Notes:
This is designed to be run as a half day workshop. There are three other workshops in the series, which cover, ‘Where do we want to be?’ and ‘How will we get there?’.

They are set in the context of the hotel industry but requires no specialist knowledge of it. When used together, they will also draw out skills relating to business planning, problem solving, influencing, team working and making presentations.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (Not required).
• Breakout Rooms (Required).

Time:
The exercise in this workshop can be completed in about 120 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 180 minutes for this workshop.

Aims:
• To give participants the opportunity to take part in a business simulation by creating a vision and generating and evaluating ideas that will help them deliver that vision.
• To identify key options that will form the basis of a strategic plan for their business.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Links and your unique PIN, which you’ll find in My Account.

Notes:
This is designed to be run as a half day workshop. It is the second in a series of four. Having identified where they are now, participants reflect on where they want to be, creating a vision/strategic plan for the future.

The workshops are set in the context of the hotel industry but requires no specialist knowledge of it. When used together, they will draw out skills relating to business planning, problem solving, influencing, team working and making presentations.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (Not required).
• Breakout Rooms (Required).

Time:
The exercise in this workshop can be completed in about 120 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 150 minutes for this workshop.

Aims:
• To develop a strategy from the options generated in the previous workshops.
• To prepare and give a persuasive presentation outlining their strategy.
• To reflect on the learning from the Hotel Doldrums series of workshops and how to apply this to the workplace.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Links and your unique PIN, which you’ll find in My Account.

Notes:
This is designed to be run as a half day workshop. It is the third in a series of four and is not designed to be used in isolation of those. Having identified where they are now, and where they want to be, participants develop a strategy for the hotel they were allocated in Part 1.

Although the workshops are set in the context of the hotel industry, no specialist knowledge of it is required.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (Not required).
• Breakout Rooms (Required).
• Collaborative Whiteboard (Required).

Time:
The exercise in this workshop can be completed in about 55 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 120 minutes for this workshop.

Aims:
• To review the learning from the previous three Hotel Doldrums modules.
• To identify how to apply the learning to the workplace.
• To create an action plan for implementing the learning.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
• The Miro/collaborative whiteboard used by participants to record key learning points from the last session.

Notes:
This is designed to be run as a half day workshop. It is the final one of a series of four and is not designed to be used in isolation of the others. It provides participants with a structured way to review the learning from the previous modules and think about how and when they will apply this learning in their workplace.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (Not required).
• Breakout Rooms (Required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 40 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To enable participants to consider the value and difficulty caused by organisational politics and political games.
• To create an understanding that managers cannot avoid politics, so need to know the games in which they may – deliberately or inadvertently – be playing.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
All managers, but particularly those who are new to management and may not understand the political nature of organisations, including their own.

You'll Need:
• Prepared flipcharts with simple 'cartoon' faces drawn on them - one face for each participant.
• Post-it notes.

Notes:
Politics is often seen as a ‘dirty word’ by many people, or as one in which they have no interest. The purpose of this module is for the participants to gain a more rounded understanding of what politics really means, and the importance politics play in influence and persuasion.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 55 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• Identify key stakeholders when delivering a workplace project.
• Ensure that key stakeholders have a positive influence on the outcome of a project.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels working to deliver workplace projects.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link in Trainers’ Library.
• Your Activity Link PIN from the My Account section of the member homepage.

Notes:
This exercise involves creating an Action Plan for influencing stakeholders on a real project. We recommend that you encourage your participants to identify the project they will use before they come to the training session.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To give participants the opportunity to map a real internal service chain and identify critical internal relationships.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This follow on to Internal Service Chain – The Garden Studio, is designed for use where participants work for the same organisation and provides a practical application of the learning from that module.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required - unless working with a group of 6 or fewer).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 30 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore the concept of an internal service chain.
• To give participants the opportunity to map an internal service chain and identify critical internal relationships.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 8 to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels, including managers and senior managers.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This activity uses functionality available in Zoom, which may not be available in other solutions – specifically the ability to move participants from one breakout room to another.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To identify improvements that can be made.
• To identify things that need to be taken into consideration when planning continuous improvement activities.
• To plan one improvement that can be implemented in the workplace.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s also suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 35 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 70 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To generate ideas for improving customer service, a process, department, business…any aspect of a business or organisation.
• To encourage participants to think about a problem or challenge from different and sometimes unusual perspectives.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Anyone who wants to generate ideas for continuous improvement.

You'll Need:
• To select the questions that will be in play and create a blank whiteboard before running this activity. We recommend using Miro or a suitable alternative solution. (There is an article – Using Miro - to help you if you are unfamiliar with Miro.)

Notes:
Although the brainstorm/discussion activity and discussion can be completed in 40 minutes, we strongly recommend adding the action planning activity outlined at the end of the module, which adds a further 30 minutes, unless this is incorporated elsewhere in your training.

We’ve included some wacky questions in the set of Brainstorm Bench cards. These have blue text to make them easier to identify, so you can decide if you’d like to include them.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To describe the change curve.
• To consider strategies for working through the change curve journey.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s also suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
All staff, including managers.

You'll Need:
• Article - When Change Really Hurts, available in the Articles section of Trainers’ Library.

Notes:
This can be a challenging session to run so it’s important that you feel confident in your knowledge and have lots of information to add if the group clams up. Apart from the article that you need for the session, you may also find it useful to read those by Damian Hughes and Martin Haworth, also available in the Articles section of Trainers’ Library.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 35 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about whether staff are engaged with the values of the organisation they work for.
• To reflect on how shared values and a Balanced Business Scorecard approach can build employee engagement.
• To demonstrate how values can drive innovation and performance.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
All staff, but particularly those with managerial responsibility.

You'll Need:
• Staff will need access to PowerPoint or a similar application and have the basic skills required to use it.

Notes:
You can use the five values we’ve suggested for the exercise, or you can use your own organisation’s vision and values. However, we strongly recommend limiting the number of values used in this exercise to 6 or fewer. If the organisation you’re working with doesn’t have a concise set of values, you could use an exercise like ‘Feelings Cards’ to generate discussion and identify some core values for the future.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 90-120 minutes for this module (see notes).

Aims:
• To encourage participants to consider different approaches to improving poor performance, and the relative merits of those different approaches.
• To encourage participants to think about appropriate timescales over which they might expect to improve performance and standards.
• To consider the implications of not taking action to improve poor performance.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s also suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Managers, or those who soon will be.

You'll Need:
To decide how to run this module. You can:
• Set the assignment as a pre-training task to be completed by each team or individual. (We’ve provided suggested wording to use in an email to brief team members/individuals on their task.)
• Run the whole session in real time with a break between the activity and debrief.

Notes:
There are two different versions of the team brief for this exercise.

For junior managers we recommend using version 1, which contains a list of actions that the managers could consider when dealing with the issues of poor performance.

For more experienced managers, we recommend using version 2, which does not provide any clues about the type of action they could take and encourages them to come up with their own solutions.

This module is ideally suited for inclusion in training around managing change.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms (required).