Courses offered by Adastra Associates

When undergoing instructor training in the RAF, I was taught that first you must learn the process and then you add the content. Nothing I’ve seen or heard of since makes that dictate any less suitable today. The RAF taught me the principles of instructional technique and design. To be fair, the RAF did not care whether I understood why things were done in a certain way, they were content that I just followed orders! Through my own studies, especially the full time Post Graduate Certificate in Education and the more recent Masters degree in Education from Brunel University, I now understand why the tried and trusted principles that I have always adopted actually work! More recently since leaving the RAF, I have gained much benefit from training in accelerated learning techniques – I can recommend the training provided by Kaizen Training (www.kaizen-training.com) for anyone interested in this exciting area of development in training design

Course Outlines

The following notes describe some of the processes and or thoughts behind the training that I offer and replace the more usual course outlines or timetables. I can of course supply outlines if required but I prefer to do so only after discussion with the client to determine, as accurately as possible, the exact training need.

Interpersonal Relationship Improvement

The Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) is the most effective training tool that I have come across in over 23 years of training. In essence it is a simple to use and easily understood questionnaire based instrument that allows an individual to understand their basic preference for their behaviour and how that preferred behaviour will change when they are faced with conflict. I have enjoyed great success with the SDI both as a stand-alone activity and as an integral element of longer courses. Please see the case study from RAF Cosford for more information.

Leadership

Having enjoyed 28 years in uniform, I have encountered many different leaders and just about as many different styles of leadership. There were leaders that I would literally have died for and others, sadly many more, that I would not even follow out of curiosity to see where they were going. I bring that experience and years of directed learning to bear when designing and delivering leadership programmes whether for newly promoted junior managers or board level executives.

Management

As with leadership, my RAF experience is the foundation of my management skill base, which along with my own subsequent developmental training provides the underpinning knowledge and that enables me to meet the needs of managers at every level from basic to executive.

Director Development

Not surprisingly perhaps, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has an excellent programme for the induction and development of its non-executive directors. Having been through the process, I am able to use that valuable experience coupled with research, to offer focused training programmes for executive board members to enable them to improve their effectiveness individually and collectively.

Communication Skills

Having begun my RAF career as a communications specialist, albeit using Morse code, communications has remained a favourite area of mine. My understanding of interpersonal communications has been enhanced by my studies largely in the areas of psychology, Transactional Analysis and NLP.

Conflict Management

Whilst I prefer to run courses in conflict management with the SDI included as an underpinning basis, I am happy to utilise other resources if only limited time is available.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Like many trainers, I regard these two topics as almost inseparable. I have access to a wealth of materials and I am able to utilise the most appropriate for any given requirement.

Project Management

My rather rude introduction to project management training came when I was posted to the RAF Training Development Support Unit. It seemed that whoever was posted into the job I held was by default the project management specialist! That said, of necessity, I quickly got up to speed and have enjoyed providing courses ranging from one to five days in length both with and without the use of the Microsoft Project software program. Since last year I have been qualified as a Prince2 practitioner and can provide training the use of the methodology.

Influencing and Negotiation skills

Two more topics that I feel are inextricably linked although of course, they can be dealt with separately. My preference is to use the two together and once again, I have a wealth of resources to ensure that the training is as interactive and effective as possible.

Team Building and Team Working

I always differentiate between these two titles and prefer the latter – I have experienced team building courses where much fun was had and the group truly bonded well and performed well as a team but then broke up at the end of the course to return to their former environments without the knowledge to enable them to utilise their learning with their usual work colleagues.

My time as a member of the 12-man crew on Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft has provided me with a unique set of experiences and a very useful insight into teamworking. Although we generally flew with the same crew-members at all times, we were all ‘interchangeable’ and could be tasked to fly with any other crew to cover postings, leave or sickness. The ability to work and fit in with other established crews required team working not team building!

Motivation and Empowerment

Although I usually link these two topics, I can of course cover them separately if required. Together, I feel that there is a useful degree of synergy that enhances both topics and my experience with a range of clients supports this view.

Creativity and Innovation

I have been fortunate to work with John Rainford, a marketing specialist who doubles as a tutor with several university business schools in innovation and creativity. John and I have designed training activities for clients that have made significant improvements to the way that they do business and this training is now available to all clients seeking assistance with these topics.

Appraisals

From my earliest days in training I have been involved in appraisals whether appraising members of my own staff or guiding others in improving their skills in the area. The skills I gained during my RAF service has been enhanced by my own learning since retiring from the Service and form the basis of any training that I offer in this important area.

Meetings, Minutes and Report Writing

I have very strong feelings about these topics – once again as a result of my largely negative experience in the RAF. Having experienced mostly bad, but admittedly, some very good practice especially in the area of report writing, this is a favourite area where my military skills are extremely useful. The military spend a lot of time and effort in making sure that officers, especially senior ones, can write reports that achieve their aim. All one had to do was to follow the ABC of report writing – accuracy, brevity and clarity. All the very good elements of the military way of dong things in these areas are included in my training.

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