MY 'SPEAKING' WORLD TOUR 2012 / 2013

The learning journey continues... ...now those that know me, also know that I LOVE talking.

Whether it is professionally as a speaker at a conference or running a training session or speaking into a microphone as someone else's voice, whatever the medium - I just love talking.

The really important thing is making sure that I'm saying something meaningful, and not just talking for the sake of talking. I also love helping other people, through my vocal coaching sessions, achieve the same and in so doing "find their inner voice" at work.  It it is wonderful to watch someone get really motivated when they find the right words to use and discover that people are actually listening to what they have to say.

I'm going to get a lot of opportunity to practice my talking over the next 10 months during 2012 as I go on a 'Speaking World Tour 2012 / 2013' starting on Sunday when I fly off to Latvia to record two more vocal coaching programmes in Latvian.  After this another eight countries (that I know about so far) will certainly keep me busy and my suitcase always packed :D

2012
January - Latvia (recording sessions)
February - Zurich (conference speaking)
March - Kuwait and then Amsterdam (conference speaking)
May - Abu Dhabi and then Moscow (conference speaking)
June - Hong Kong and then Brazil (conference speaking)
August - Latvia (recording sessions)
September - Moscow (recording sessions and lecturing)
November - Jordan (conference speaking)

2013
February - South Africa (conference speaking)

I'll bring some of the key learning points from each of these speaking 'gigs' here to this blog along with the research I'll be undertaking for each one.

Now all I need to do is make sure I don't lose my voice along the way ;-)

Józefa
JozefaVO.TV

LECTURING AT UNI IS STILL A JOY!

The learning journey continues...

I have been working as a Senior Lecturer at University of Westminster in London since 2004 and still enjoy every minute of my time there.  I love speaking to my Post-Graduate students through my lectures, though these tend to be more like conversations with some theoretical constructs thrown in for good measure PLUS a good dose of practical application.

One of my favourite times in semester 1 is watching my students present back their findings and research in a special 'mini conference'.  They choose from across a range of interesting topics to do with Learning and Development and this forms part of their formal assessment.  Here I am setting the scene last Friday for one such assessment day talking about the future of Human Resource Development.

A great day was had by all, especially when they got the formalities over and could relax a little.

Józefa

UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ARE THE BEST!

The learning journey continues...

I am awake early this Sunday morning to get a few work things done before some very dear friends that we have known for years arrive here for lunch for our annual pre-Christmas 'get-together'.

Little did I know that I would be woken up by just two most wonderful gifts, that have certainly brightened the still dark skies outside.  We all know how lovely it is when people say nice things about our work.  We are told to ask former clients to comment about our work with them, I am no different, however, I often forget to ask my clients to do this.  Yes, shock horror, I do forget, and I know that those of you who teach small business marketing techniques and bestow the virtues of  capturing as many testimonials as you can, will be holding their hands high in the air and crying "no, that is not how you are supposed to do it"

So imagine my delight and surprise when I went to my computer this morning to find, not one, but TWO, completely unsolicited testimonials!

The first is from a lady who has just completed her dream, to create an audio book about breathing techniques for asthmatics which will help them control their condition.  Here is her lovely email to me...

HI Józefa

Hope you are well, I know you have not asked for a testimonial from me, but I would like to provide one anyway:-)

Józefa has been instrumental in supporting me in getting my first audio out for public distribution, her support throughout has been professional and she brings with her a depth of experience and knowledge of vocal training and enterprise support.  I am truly grateful to Józefa for helping to turn an idea into reality, and for supporting the essential first steps of turning an distant dream of reaching out to many into a real possibility.  Thank you Jozefa.  

Gurmit Kaur

Founder Gentle Breathing For Asthmatics

The second, is from just the most wonderful, unique and thoroughly amazing British commecial poet, Amy 'I Want A Poem' Catherine.

Here is the short film that she made for me...

Words cannot describe how wonderful it feels to be appreciated, especially when you work independently as I do and not for a large organisation surrounded by work colleagues affirming your value on a regular basis.

Having a few really meaningful testimonials freely offered are worth more to me than a whole clutch of them that I have asked for along the way.  Thank you so much Gurmit and Amy - you have truly made my day :-)

Józefa
JozefaVO.TV

16,767 MILES IN SIX MONTHS!

The learning journey continues...

Looking back to June this year, it is hard to believe exactly how much has happened to me since I last posted here on this blog, and how far I have travelled, just take a look..

UK to Riga, Latvia in August (1800 miles); Latvia to Moscow, Russia in September (555 miles); Moscow back to UK (2182 miles); UK to Madrid, Spain in October (2690 miles) and back again.  Then UK to Dubai, UAE in November (4770 miles); Dubai to Abu Dhabi, UAE, FOUR times back and forth (368 miles) and then finally Dubai, UAE home to UK (4770 miles)

Phew!

In each of these exciting venues I have been developing a series of products and services offered from my brand new JozefaVO website and managed by my PR and International Bookings Agent, Sarah Mercer who is based in Barcelona, Spain.

In Eurofortis, Riga, Latvia

In Riga, I was with the Eurortis team and we laid down tracks for my first, soon to be released, audio learning programme in Latvian.  These programmes are designed to help individuals learn how improve the quality, impact and effectiveness of their business voice.

Here are my Latvian recording team

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU DARLING!

The learning journey continues...

While I have been creating a brand new website for my VO work, I found and uploaded this archive film of me from 2006 supporting the Institute of Healthcare Management.





Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did making it :)

Józefa
< BACK TO MY MAIN VO WEBSITE

MY VOCAL TEAM!

The learning journey continues...

A performer is only as good as the production team behind them and in so doing makes sure to surround themselves with the best support that they can find - to coach and mentor, to guide, critique and congratulate.

Well I am very fortunate to have created an illustrious team to support me on my journey towards becoming a successful VO recording artist.

First is Fergus McClelland, child film actor (Sammy Goes South, 1963); TV star (Emergency Ward 10 and Z Cars,1968); Business Speaker/Coach and Vice-President of the Professional Speaking Association. He is superb at helping people use their speaking voice effectively and expert at recording, editing and production.

Secondly, Gary Owston, voice and speech tutor specialising in teaching accents to students at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, originally opened in 1946 by Sir Laurence Olivier.  Gary helps actors learn how to sound different and from our first meeting I knew he would be able to extend my range, pitch and tone in order to make MY voice sound interesting and varied.


And finally, two of the newest members of my team: Kevin Delaney, an actor and VO living and working in Hollywood.  He has performed character voices for Looney Tunes, Warner Home Video, ScoobyDoo.com, Disney on Ice, Fox Sports Net, Cartoon Network and many more.  His knowledge about auditioning and the commercial side of VO is second to none.  Kevin is helping me create a more varied portfolio of genres including infomercials.

And Roger Burnley, also from Hollywood, a vocal coach to singing artists Macy Gray, Brandy, James Tormé and Nona Gaye. Now singing is NOT my thing, however, Roger is going to put some TUNING into my voice to create the kind of voice that is interesting and holds attention - two things so needed by lecturers, trainers and VO's alike. 


Now, all it leaves me to do is to practice, listen to the guidance and direction from my 'support team' and start laying down some tracks.

Józefa
< BACK TO MY MAIN VO WEBSITE

WORKING ON REPAIRING MY VOCAL ONSET

My VO learning journey continues...

...with a first session with my new vocal coach, Gary Owston, Voice and Speech Tutor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, who is just amazingly wonderful at extracting the 'best bits' of my slightly damaged voice.

The sun was shining on the school as I arrived in Bristol yesterday, which in itself lifted my spirits to the heavens.  Then meeting Gary was the pinnacle of the day.  To say that he is going to be tremendous for me is an understatement.

We started work by analysing my VOCAL PITCH, and discovered that I have a habit of over compensating that needs to be addressed and brought back to an optimum pitch, which can be done with a few well chosen exercises.  I was practising these all the way home in the car, and must have looked a real funny sight to those driving by.

Next we focused on VOCAL ONSET where my breath meets my vocal folds and are looking to achieve more of a 'modal' and not a 'breathy' sound.  I 'got' it right away and apparently a good level for me is Bb (that's B flat to all of you who, like me, might know nothing about music).

Just cannot wait for our next lesson.  In the meantime, all that is needed is for me to practice, practice and practice.

Józefa
< BACK TO MY MAIN VO WEBSITE

REALLY MEAN BUSINESS NOW!

My VO learning journey continues...

So, now I have announced to the world that I intend to make a 'go' of my voice over work, it seems the pace has hotted up a bit.  During what has been an amazingly busy week with my learning and development work, I found some time to listen to some wonderful webcasts from the VO Ninja himself, Kevin Delaney and his awesome interviews with casting producers such as Steve Reisberg and Ilko Drozdoski from the TGMD Agency in Hollywood.

No, I am not thinking of emigrating however a trip there WOULD be nice at some point.  Picked up some really cool tips about how to audition and produce a showreel that stands out so now the challenge is to do something with what I have learned.

This week I have also found myself a wonderful new voice coach who has complimentary (yet quite different) skills to my existing voice coach and dear friend, Fergus McLelland, who is just the most amazing recording VO artist, ever (and his live speaking performances are just so powerful).

My first visit with my new 'guy' takes place next week and will write more after this which is to see if we can work together.  I really hope we can as I am looking for him to use his background and experience to bring out the 'characters' that lurk inside of me - an absolute must if I want to progress at some point in the future from just straight corporate reads.

More next week!

Józefa
< BACK TO MY MAIN VO WEBSITE

SPLIT PERSONALITY!

The VO learning journey continues...

...Something I have discovered during the last 9 years of working for myself is that I love diversity.  During this time I have done many things in many different places here in the UK, across the rest of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.  None of this would have been possible, had I not taken the chance to work for myself. It also appears that along the way, I have adopted quite a few different personas depending on the work role, these have included:

• Formal educator (aka Senior University Lecturer)
• Instructional Designer
• Trainer
• Facilitator
• Learning Specialist Adviser
• Conference Key Note Speaker & Chair
• Career Coach
• Professional Supervisor
• Mentor
• Quality Assessor

and now.... VOICE OVER ARTIST!

I have long harboured the dream of becoming an musical performer and actor, but as someone who cannot sing a note, felt it was beyond my reach - if I had known then what I know now (as demonstrated on X Factor), I could have simply used microphone technology and software to alter my dreadful singing voice.  Whereas I cannot sing, I can certainly speak and now am splitting my personality even further by exploring and expanding the Voice Over side of my business interests.

To reflect these changes, this blog will now focus exclusively on my journey into the world of the voice-over (VO) artist, whilst my other business developments will feature on my LearningVoice Blog.

A new VO website is planned and some new recordings will soon be in production - so listen up and enjoy my split personality.

Józefa
< GO TO MY MAIN LEARNINGVOICE WEBSITE
< GO TO MY NEW VO WEBSITE

TOPPING UP YOUR LEARNING

The learning journey continues...

Last Friday, I attended another wonderful ‘Trainer Talk Live’ event with the superb Sharon Gaskin from the Trainers Training Company at which I met Jo Dodds, an authoritative and engaging speaker who proceeded to tell us all how to use social media.

Not only did we learn so much, it was fun too – a rare combination!

The important thing I reflected upon after the event is a) how much I already knew and was doing and b) how valuable it was to have what I knew endorsed – and then some!

It is so easy to assume that just because you have done something quite successfully for years and there are no particular problems, that you know it all – in fact it is quite dangerous as we can all slip into bad habits or even the perennial, “I know I should be doing X, but haven’t got round to it yet”. This can compromise the quality of what we do, which becomes much harder to rectify as time goes on.

This is also true when trainers start to think about their training, facilitating and coaching ability.  Those who have done it for a long time,  should also consider reviewing their skills and performance with another professional.

At the above event, I mentioned a brand new service that I have introduced whereby trainers can do just that, engage in Professional Supervision, to improve the quality of their provision.

“Learning is an ongoing process”, or so we say to those who take part in our various sessions – so then it must apply to us too!

Józefa
< GO TO MY MAIN LEARNINGVOICE WEBSITE
< GO TO MY NEW VO WEBSITE

PROBLEMS WITH ONLINE TRAINING?

The learning journey continues...

I posted this tweet this morning in an attempt to kick start discussion, not least of all with my University students (Post Graduate Masters in HRM) on my current 'Designing and Delivering Training' module.

Problems with online courses: money, quality or inertia and is this why so many are against this method of learning? http://dld.bz/PMEg

This week we are discussing how to incorporate learning 2.0 into training activity and what better way to start this off than to engage in a debate about whether online learning will really reduce the number of trainers, lecturers and professors that are needed in the various learning establishments. I am not convinced that this will be the case, despite the early warnings from the New York Times which have predicted this so eloquently http://ow.ly/44Aqj

Having just secured FOUR virtual tutor/assessor/facilitator positions for 2011, covering a wide range of programmes at level 7 (Post Grad equivalent) each in part being delivered in a blended approach using trainers, open learning material, online learning material and discussion boards this highlights, if nothing else, the changing role of the trainer in today's learning 2.0 world.

So, I wonder where the problem lies? IMHO, the quality of the training products, irrespective of how they are delivered, in person or online is becoming of paramount importance. Poor content creates a negativity and possibly this is what has put many people, trainers included, off engaging in online training.

What do you think?

Józefa
http://learningvoice.tv/instructional_design_training.html

< GO TO MY MAIN LEARNINGVOICE WEBSITE
< GO TO MY NEW VO WEBSITE

MY BUSINESS MEETS THE ARTS!

The learning journey continues...

I just love meeting new people and last night was no exception. I am part of a business networking group called BBA (British Business Alliance) who organise meeting events in some fabulous places.

So far this year I have been to dinner with David Blunkett MP at the House of Commons, had a guided tour around The College of Arms which is the official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families and their descendants history, had dinner with three former Olympians at The Leander Club in Henley, even got to hold their Gold medals.

Last night, I was attending a BBA event in a Post-Production House in Central London that had been turned into an art gallery for the night with some amazing pictures by the celebrity artist, Sam Shaker. The sound studio in the basement had my mouth watering, even got to touch a beautiful U87 Neumman - oh, dream on. I will need to do quite a few more voice overs to be able to afford one of those. Mustn't say that too loudly or my little 2200a will get upset, very sensitive these recording microphones you know.

Afterwards, I joined Sam, and some of my new film production colleagues, for drinks at his jazz club on Greek Street, called Jazz After Dark.

I think I could get used to this arty life - and tomorrow?

Just been invited to a Thames cruise followed by a clay pigeon shoot as part of a photo /PR event to publicise a new service that will be available to visitors here for the 2012 Olympics - I might even feature in the promotional literature!

Life is certainly starting to get exciting.

Especially as I am heading off to Latvia to close down and report on a EC funded project looking at quality management standards in training companies.

More soon with pictures and film.

Józefa
Trainer | Learning Specialist | Voice Over Artist | Quality Assessor

Check out The POL Group - Collective Intelligence Portal

< GO TO MY MAIN LEARNINGVOICE WEBSITE
< GO TO MY NEW VO WEBSITE

LEARNING 2.0

Training tools are varied and can be used together to support the process - listen here

The learning journey continues...

CUTTING YOUR TRAINING BUDGET

Józefa guides you in how to cut your training budget

The learning journey continues...

ATTITUDINAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHANGE

Józefa talking about how to better affect change in the workplace

The learning journey continues...

KM UK IN LONDON

The learning journey continues...

Fantastic blog post from Amy Sample Ward who is in London at #KMUK10, also known as the Knowledge Management UK Conference. She has captured some great thoughts from keynote speaker, Lee Bryant of Headshift and his opening talk. See below...

KM = sense making. We are currently suffering from filter failure; which means the need to help people navigate and work within this world is really huge; we need skilled sense makers!

KM is about helping people make better decisions

KM has a purpose, skills/values/practices related to it have a real purpose today – but why are we not succeeding? why is there not a bigger impact on organizations today?

• km has dysfunctional relationship with IT
• km people are not the IT people and the IT people are not part of the KM development process
• km people need to have more confidence and either find budets or other people with budgets so that they aren’t dependent on IT dept

Where does km sit within in the org? how much influence does it have?

Value of knowledge is contextual and relative – trying to give it value is a mistake; instead focus on the value of having it and sharing it. We need to free up knowledge in order to have healthier networks to work with.

Structure emerges with content – not the other way around. There’s a great deal of misunderstanding about psychology, human nature, and incentives.

Let’s take a critical view of process: “Process is a response to prior stupidity.”

I am following #KMUK10 on Twitter throughout today and tomorrow for more highlights that emerge from the conference!

Józefa

Learning Specialist | Interim | Trainer | Voice-Over | Quality Assessor

http://thePOLgroup.com (Collective Intelligence Collaboration)

CATCH 'EM DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!

The learning journey continues...

As I begin training a new cohort of healthcare managers in a London hospital, I have already discovered a wealth of expertise and motivation amongst them.

All too often, the media would have us believe that there are too many managers in the health service (maybe at senior level???), they are too expensive (salaries are not as high as people would imagine) and there is too much bureaucracy (the last point is probably true).

However, having already completed the first group just last month, I was witness to a wonderful array of practical, low or no-cost ideas from them about how to improve things for the end user i.e. THE PATIENT.

I have no doubt, this new group will be just as motivated.

What a shame that the media overlooks this fact - but then that wouldn't sell papers would it?

Józefa
http://thePOLgroup.com

CREATIVE TEAMS

The learning journey continues...

Just received this from a dear work colleague who clearly appreciates our differences and our strengths in working together.

“Why can creative teams achieve more together than they can separately? …

1. Great creative teams are diverse. They are composed of very different sorts of people with different but complementary talents. ..
2. Creative teams are dynamic. Diversity of talents is important, but it is not enough. Different ways of thinking can be an obstacle to creativity. Creative teams find ways of using their differences as strengths, not weaknesses. They have a process through which their strengths are complementary and compensate for each other’s weaknesses too. They are able to challenge each other as equals, and to take criticism as an incentive to raise their game.
3. Creative teams are distinct. There’s a big difference between a great team and a committee. Most committees do routine work and have members who are theoretically interchangeable with other people … Creative teams have a distinct personality and come together to do something specific … “
   

Robinson, K. (2009) The Element London Penguin

Józefa
The POL Group - a unique community of learning practice

LEARNING 'MOODS'

The learning journey continues...

...and so it does following my recent business trip to Antalya in Turkey, where I stayed in what must be the most extraordinary concept hotel - ever!

Really a 'couples' hotel, the Adam & Eve, was chosen by my fellow European project partners as a welcome change from the norm, and this it was.

Outside walls lined in astro turf, inside all white and mirrors, a bar the length of a football pitch and black dark corridors leading to your room. The concept being that you leave your negative vibes outside your white mirrored room. Of course, as you enter the room, you have the choice to impose whatever mood you like and change the colour accordingly. From black to white, to red, green, blue and pink!

Needless to say, having a jacuzzi in a totally red room with all the bubble flying everywhere was a surreal experience.

Given that the nature of the European project is about quality and excellence of management, it would be good to question, was all of this 'luxury' high quality? After all, what is quality and of value to one person might not be so for the next, and is it sustainable?

I have to admit, that after just three nights, I felt that was enough of the multi-colour rainbow experience and longed for normality (and a good old B&B again).

What did I learn?

Well we were all much more creative and I learned not to put a whole bottle of bubble bath into the jacuzzi!

:-)

Józefa

OPEN DECLARATION ON PUBLIC SERVICES IN EUROPE

The learning journey continues...

Every two years, EU Ministers gather to agree on a Ministerial Declaration on e-government, which is the main European strategic document. This is usually accompanied by an Industry declaration.

In November 2009, I joined the such an Industry Declaration on Public Services in Europe and the group on Facebook supporting this declaration.


This is an open declaration, collaboratively built and endorsed by EU citizens who share the view that the web is transforming our society and our governments. We feel e-government policies in Europe could learn from the open, meritocratic, transparent and user-driven culture of the web. We also feel that current web citizens should engage more positively with government to help designing a strategy which is genuinely difficult to adopt in the traditional culture of public administration.

There is only 5% sign up from the UK so far, with the greatest support coming from Spain (23%) so far...

ES 100
DE 87
NL 78
IT 52
GR 49
UK 37
BE 20
FI 17
PT 15
DK 14
DK 14
OTH 13
FR 11
AT 10
IE 5
RO 3
SE 3
HU 1
LU 1

Grand Total 521 (as at 1 November)

Let's hope that the declaration and its supporters are given a voice that can be heard.

Józefa
The POL Group

FIVE COUNTRIES IN FIVE WEEKS!

The learning journey continues...

To say that I am exhausted is something of an understatement.

One of the reasons for not posting since September is that I have been on the road for weeks - the result? A wonderful range of travelling experiences from Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Germany and Belgium.

One of the things I enjoy the most about travel is the opportunity to meet exciting new people, and taking part in European Commission funded projects - this allows me to indulge my two great passions:

1. my overwhelming professional desire to improve the learning capability of those working in organisations (and the organisations themselves)
2. expanding my knowledge base about Europe and its culture

My latest marathon jaunt has been associated with two projects - VISIBLE focusing on validating informal learning and TI-SAETO which is looking at quality improvements for Education and Training Organisations using the EFQM model of excellence.

VISIBLE has been an overwhelming success, not just for the project but for the partners as well - after all, how often can you say that you want to continue working with the people you are thrust together with in a project? Hopefully there will be a follow up - VISIBLE2 to evaluate our findings and report on applications that help to improve the competency of project managers working in Regional Development Agencies across Europe.

TI-SAETO has started well and will take me to Turkey (twice) and Latvia next year, so more active blogging then.

Józefa
The POL Group

MUSICAL WORDS

The learning journey continues...

I am working hard at creating a home studio for my future Voice Over (VO) work - I have the microphone (Sennheiser), a mixing desk and two software packages to record, mix and edit to a final stage of completion.

I have found a source for fantastic background music at Partners In Rhyme Royalty Free Music and Sound Effects where I can download music and sound effects that I might need for my multimedia projects.

Now all I need at the clients!

Józefa

The POL Group (featuring LearningVoice)

FEAST OF STRANGERS

The learning journey continues...

I have always highly respected the work and writing of Professor Theodore Zeldin, and once again, he is pushing the communication boundaries with a truly unique event to be held in London on 22nd August - a Feast of Strangers.

Here he is orchestrating a giant discussion between strangers. This is just talking, you might say, however, consider for a moment how many societal and political problems could be erradicated simply by keeping the communication going.

For more information about the Feast of Strangers event - click here

From a business perspective, managing change, building a team, achieving business targets all benefit from good, clear and effective conversation. Theodore Zeldin believes that conversation is a 'art' and as such needs to be cultivated and nurtured - for more information and to listen to a Radio Netherlands interview - click here

Józefa
The POL Group

BUSY TRAVELLING PERIOD

The learning journey continues...and boy has it continued with some serious 'brain stimulation' and CPD!

One reason for not blogging in recent weeks is that I have been doing some extensive travelling in the UK and abroad. My brain is so full of thoughts and new ideas I hardly know where to start.

Firstly, I went to Newcastle in June, to the University of Northumbria to be precise where I attended my very first academic conference and what an experience that was! I originally thought that the presentations might be a little dry and heavy, but not so. Some superb, well researched presentations and very welcoming and friendly people meant that my note book is full and certainly the challenge now is to transcribe some of my key learnings into either papers or reflected in my current work.

Then the following week, I was off to the Netherlands, to Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) to speak at an ECLO annual conference (more practitioner based). ECLO (European Consortium for the Learning Organisation) is Europe's longest serving Community of Practice and I continue to be proud to be their Secretary-General. The conferece, as ever, was an eclectic mix of speakers and participants from Europe and beyond. Apart from being around some familiar faces, it brought back some wonderful memories of the ECLO 2008 conference at which I spoke at and also had taken my son, James, with me for his work experience, first as an event co-ordinator with ECLO in Budapest and then to Berlin to work in the city centre for Regus in Kurfurstendamm. ECLO is always a very thought provoking and this conference was no different - next year it looks like it might be in Turkey.

Finally, last week, I was in Norway (Oslo) attending a special meeting as part of my current work on an EU-funded project looking at developing a competency matrix, developmental guide and game for project managers working in European Regional Development Agencies. Working (well actually playing the game that we are developing) in sweltering Oslo (cool offices though) and then an evening dip in a (nudist) lake in a forest on the outskirts of Oslo seemed an absolutely surreal experience. I will be taking the 'game' to Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia during September and October this year.

Back in the UK on Saturday, meant watching my son appear as Eddie in 'Blood Brothers' (as part of his local theatre group) and running my first UK Masterclass (How to cut training budgets and increase learning) in London on Tuesday.

All I can say after this little lot is phew!

Happy Summer everyone.

Józefa
The POL Group

NEW SEARCH ENGINE?

The learning journey continues...

Is the WolframAlpha likely to be the intelligent replacement for the Google search engine over the next 20 years?



Grab a drink as it's a long film but worth watching.

If however, you want to jump to the film that shows you how it can be used click on link below:

http://www43.wolframalpha.com/screencast/introducingwolframalpha.html

Józefa
The POL Group

KEEP ON TRAINING AND LEARNING

The learning journey continues...














Fantastic news from ITOL (Institute for Training and Occupational Learning) as they have clearly influenced the new governmental drive to encourage organisations to increase training rather than cut it.

Click on the image to see the full ITOL News bulletin.

TIME WITH THOSE YOU LOVE IS IMPORTANT

The learning journey continues...

It is so easy to get completely swamped with work things that time off (for good behaviour) eludes even the most disciplined of us. This weekend and Bank Holiday has been a lovely reminder of how precious time off with the family and friends actually is.

Amidst the (very) long list of things "to do" was a small note, hidden away reminding me to 'down-tools' for a short period of time and do something that didn't involve work.

Oh what a joy to pull weeds (no I am not joking) and plant lovely colourful flowers, even though the threat of rain has been around all day.

Oh what joy to watch young daughter 'perform' at a Parish 'fayre' with her drama group and revel in the fact that it was all so well received.

Oh what joy it will be tomorrow (Tuesday) to go off with son to attend Harry Potter auditions (fingers crossed), he has already been in one film, so maybe, just maybe, he will be in another!

During the current challenging work climate, all around find themselves scrabbling to secure new work and whilst important (to live), the downtime it affords us to open our eyes and spend a little more time doing things much closer to home is a bonus.

I feel rejuvenated and ready to face the working week again with a renewed energy from taking time out to stop and look and listen to what I am already very rich in - family!

Have a good week all of you.

Józefa
The POL Group

SKP COGNITIVE MAPPING TOOL

Check out this new SlideShare Presentation from one of my newest ventures - OFQT Ltd:

SKP Cognitive Mapping tool

View more presentations from Organisation for Quality in training.

FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES

The learning journey continues...

My 11 year-old daughter never ceases to amaze me with her wit and intellect and view of the world.

This morning she decided that she would create a set of reflection cards, one for each day and put these in her school locker to guide her actions that day - wow!

Here are her 9 thoughts http://twitpic.com/20wjd

I wonder what we can learn from this approach in our daily working lives with regards ethical behaviour, atttitudinal development, skills acquisition and knowledge creation?

Józefa
The POL Group

2009 HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF!

The learning journey continues...

After a particularly difficult 2008 (on the personal front) this year has started with an almighty BANG!

I have been chosen as one of only two UK businesses to receive the Global HR Excellence Award in HR Leadership from the World HRD Congress!

This is a tremendous honour and comes at a time when I have been consolidating my efforts into a more manageable and productive package. The result is POL Group - a collection of different business ventures that focus on:

Training (Instructional Design and Training Delivery)
Learning (EU projects, Interim HRD and Voicing)
Knowledge (Cognitive Mapping and Evaluation)
Quality (Standards in Training, ISO 10015, EFQM)

I know that in times of recession businesses often cut back on their training budgets or slash them altogether - a false short-term solution as this often leads to capacity and capability issues later when there is an eventual up-turn, resulting in more money needing to be spent on re-establishing performance levels of the workforce.

Józefa
The POL Group

WORKING IN EASTERN EUROPE

The learning journey continues... to Russia!

On the 11th December I will address the lecturers at Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics (MESI) who are in the top 100 best Russian Universities, selected from over 1500 public and private higher schools (2005).

My 2-day seminar will be about learning methods and "Effective facilitation of the learning process: face-to-face and online"

This will prove to be both challenging and exciting and offers me an opportunity to help fellow lecturers consider different methods of engagement and student inclusion to aid learning, understanding and knowledge transfer.



I will blog my pictures and responses early in the New Year...so come back again to read how UK learning methods and techniques are being accepted in Eastern Europe.

Have a good Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Józefa

6th ANNIVERSARY TODAY!

The learning journey continues...

Well would you believe it - today is my sixth anniversary of setting up The POL Experience, I can remember my first day back on 7th October 2002, as if it were yesterday.

I was working evaluating a national e-learning programme provided by LearnDirect and collating responses to a national survey I had distributed a month or so earlier.

At that early stage I had one lap top and a dial up connection by the front door, so there was I perched on the bottom step of my stairs entering in data as fast as I could before the connection went down.

Nowadays my computer system is far in advance of those early memories. I am wireless, networked and run a few computers and two printers from anywhere in my home office. Working from home is still a delight although I have had to find lots of ways to store my ever-growing research papers and material.

I grew out of storing backups on CD-Roms, very early on. Then I moved to WinZip disks, they were soon replaced by DVD storage and now I am using a 1 Terabyte Network storage system with two back-ups and three Exchange servers for my mailboxes - wow!

The learning has continued and I consider myself very lucky to have survived through a variety of family tragedies alongside the normal business ups and downs - here's to reaching the tenth anniversary!

Józefa

BUSY MONTH OF MAY!

The learning journey continues...

An International conference in Budapest, then a week working in Berlin (both work experience with my son, see http://jdfawcett.wordpress.com) and then...

I am working hard to set up my first Auditors certification programme 30th June – 2nd July in London, I have just been awarded Fellowship of Institute of Training and Occupational Learning, following an interview on Friday last, I have just been upgraded to Senior Lecturer at University of Westminster, I was nominated and won the Speakers Award for the presenter with the most impact at the ECLO Conference in Budapest and voted in as ECLO Secretary-General for one-year tenure. Phew, it has been a busy month, I wonder what June has in store!

EUROPE HERE WE COME!

The learning journey continues...

...this time with my son, James. Along with most 14 - 15 year olds here in the UK, it is time for many schools to get their work experience period underway.

James and I have been planning his for the last six months mainly so that he could take advantage of the opportunities that are being afforded me this May in Budapest and Berlin. His work experience school brochure states that work experience..

"..is an opportunity for students to carry out real work tasks on employers' premises and experience, as closely as possible, the hours, working conditions and disciplines they would encounter as employees"

Its aim is to

• motivate students towards further education and training
• teach students about the opportunties and realities of working life
• allow students to apply the social skills they learn back at school

To help him along the way, we have set up a blog to record his thoughts and key learning online - many of my network have written comments to encourage him. Reflective practice is paramount and is emphasised in his school record book, asking particular questions like:

1. What tasks did I do today?
2. What were the skills that I used in these tasks?
3. What did I learn today that was new?

Perhaps those of us in work (some for many years) would also benefit from such reflection.

Keep up to date with James' own learning journey and please feel free to post comments and words of encouragement too, click here for James' blog.

Józefa

2008 IS PROGRESSING FAST!

The learning journey continues...

Having been away from this blog now since December 2007, the learning has not stopped, quite the opposite.

My focus has been on my family and my elderly and infirm parent and in-law who are both now getting the level of care they need to support them through their old age years (one is 90 years the other is 83 years). Blogging came right at the bottom of a long list of things to do.

Something I learned many years ago when I was working in the NHS in UK was 'QUALYS' = Quality of life years. What was deemed important was to preserve as much of the quality of an elderly persons' life and not just elongate it and that is what the last four months in particular (and the preceding 13 years) have been about.

What do I wish I had learned earlier? To recognise and take into consideration what things were going to be necessary to have in place when one gets older and certain faculties start to diminish so as to relieve the inevitable burden on the family.

We will all get old or have to deal with elderly parents - think now about how you would cope and make as much provision as possible to help them enjoy their last years.

CHRISTMAS 07 IS NEARLY HERE!

The learning journey continues...

Click here to start the 2007 festivities...

NEW SKILLS TO BRING TO CLIENTS

The learning journey continues...

...with me acquiring a brand new skill that will be a tremendously useful addition to my portfolio offering to future clients.

I am in the process of producing TWO eLearning programmes for my current client, one on User Involvement the other on Information for non-information professionals. My usual role is that of Instructional Designer (and it was in this role I produced my first eLearning programme for this client on Benefits Awareness). Instructional Design incorporates, gap analysis, development of content and supporting material, the structural layout of the programme and the formative and summative assessment points, all of which sit within a Learning Management System (LMS).

However, since receiving further training, I can now take the content design that I produce and create the online presence and feel of the whole eLearning product aswell using flash software.

Whereas I cannot put the two finished programmes on this blog, I have uploaded part one of of a two-part film (0:33 secs) that I have written and produced which will be included in the User Involvement eLearning programme.



If you are interested in developing eLearning programmes and wish to utlise my programme development skills, then please contact me on jozefa@thepolexperience.com

Józefa
Take a few moments to look at my new POL Portal to learn about my range of learning interests.

I AM BACK

The learning journey continues...

Visiting my blog again after such a long time away made me realise how much has happened that I have not shared here, perhaps too much!

The learning has been extensive and brought me back to a realisation about work/life balance. There are times when you need to preserve what works well, not spend time worrying too much about things you have no control over but invest your time only on things that can make a difference, to you or others.

During my break I have also taken time to revisit some lovely books that put things into perspective. One of my favourites just now was a present from my business partner, it is called 'Wink' by Roger Hamilton, and it is a parable about wealth beyond words.

Without giving away too much of the books' secrets, there is just one part that I do want to share as it links so perfectly with learning and is something that I feel I will be doing for a while as I reflect upon these last five months.

Think It
Ink It
Do It
Review It

I look forward to posting here again.

Józefa

KEEP YOUR LEARNING OPTIONS OPEN

The learning journey continues...

Over the last few years there has been a wealth of information written about eLearning. People definitley fall into one of two camps - they either love it and see its huge potential or they hate it, criticising its content and format.

When I talk about eLearning at University to students I have discovered, to my complete surprise, the most critical group that falls within the latter camp are HR professionals and in particular, HR Development professionals.

This is such a shame, as technology can be used in so many ways to enhance traditional classroom based training and facilitation. Perhaps it is seen as competition. Perhaps it is seen as distracting. Maybe, it is seen as something that will negate the need for trainers and facilitators in the future.

The CIPD quotes on its website that from their survey in 2005, which focused on eLearning and its respondents' views on how it is shaping organisational learning as a whole. For the first time, over half of respondents (54%) reported that they use eLearning, and a further 39% said they had plans to introduce it in the coming year. And while eLearning accounted for less than 10% of total training time, in the vast majority of organisations, respondents expected this to rise dramatically to up to 50% in three years time.

I am busy working with one of my clients and developing three new eLearning products for their new Virtual Learning Environment, as a supplement to their traditional face-to-face education programmes. This is exciting and the resulting first product is very warmly received by users who need to find a way to acquire the knowledge they need in a fast and efficient way.

It only leaves me to send a plea to fellow HR professionals - keep your learning options open and maybe get involved in designing eLearning as a valuable tool for the future relationships between the front line and HR.

Józefa
The POL Experience

WE ALL NEED SUPPORT AT SOME TIME

The learning journey continues...

With so much of my work focusing on helping others to learn, whether it be in a traditional classroom environment (University) or at a special management network meeting (Institute of Healthcare Management), I use storytelling in lots of different ways to help participants gain a better understanding of the the subjects we are addressing.

One of my favourite stories at present comes from a lovely book call 'Tales for Trainers' by Margaret Parkin (Kogan Page, 2002)

I hope you enjoy it and can identify with the moral of the story between the lines and the words she uses.

LESSONS FROM THE GEESE

1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird flying behind. Flying in a 'V' formation adds around 70% greater flying range than if a bird was flying alone.
2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose takes the lead.
4. The geese at the back of the 'V' honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
5. If a goose gets shot down or becomes sick, two others drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is either able to fly again or dies.
   

We all need support at times, whether it is to do with work or a personal goal.

Have a good month.

Józefa @
The POL Experience

WE CAN HEAR - BUT DO WE LISTEN?

The learning journey continues...

As we start 2007 and our normal working routines, I find myself back at my part time lecturing at Birkbeck College, University of London with my class of 23. This semester, we are looking at ‘Understanding Organisations’. What underpins this subject is an appreciation of what makes up an organisation - not the bricks and mortar, environment or culture - but the people who work in it.

Communication, as ever, plays a vital role. Some of the work my students handed in just before Christmas, made clear that communication and understanding each other (they had just completed a group presentation project) was the hardest thing to get right. Yet, it was the most rewarding when done effectively and many of them highlighted this personal development in their reflection work afterwards.

Another situation where communication was highlighted as being the vital ‘change factor’ was on television these last few nights (8-10 Jan) featuring a series of programmes charting the progress (?) of a certain business guru, Gerry Robinson, who believes that any organisation can be made to run well. The programmes charted his visits to Rotherham General Hospital, which were to reduce waiting times over a six month period. Each of them seemed to have the same underlying message – lack of communication (and subsequent action) between certain parties within the hospitals themselves. The scenes that I saw showed him getting people together and talking to each other about the problems and how they wanted to see them resolved.

What struck me what not only the simplicity of what he was trying to do, but the fact that getting people to talk to each other is only part of the solution, he needed to somehow help them to listen as well as hear what was being said.

All of this is great if you can hear, but what about those who can’t? Often people who are deaf or hard of hearing, listen better than those of us who have so-called 'good' hearing.

So my three messages from this little mid week reflection?

• If you don't want to know the answer, then don't ask the question
• If you ask the question, then have the good grace to really listen to the answer
• Support those who have difficulties with hearing because they have good ideas and need to be listened to as well

Józefa

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

The learning journey continues...

...well into 2007!


Józefa

NEVER TO OLD TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!

The learning journey continues...

With Christmas nearly upon us and thoughts turning to time with the family eating, drinking and being merry, I chanced upon a wonderful example of how, even at this time of year, the new communication mechanisms that are afforded us by technology are being embraced by not just the younger generation, but us 'oldies' too!

Take a look at Marguerite Patten, who at 91 has just got into video podcasting and at the same time learn how to use other technology (like the microwave) to conjure up a tasty home cooked Christmas pudding in minutes...click here

Have a fantastic Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

RECORDING EXPERIENCES

The learning journey continues...

The 13th - 15th November has been a whirlwind of activity as I have been in Cardiff speaking at the Institute of Healthcare Management's Annual Conference.

Monday evening was a wonderful Civic Reception, hosted by the Mayor of Cardiff and NHS Wales in the beautiful Cardiff castle. Whilst Tuesday evening was a black tie Awards Dinner celebrating the services and experiences of many healthcare managers. During the conference on the Tuesday and Wednesday I spent hours talking to delegates about networking and its value to management and personal development.

A surprise opportunity also came my way, a chance to be interviewed by, not one but two, TV production companies, GBTV and NICE TV (a part of ITN consulting). Once the films are edited and produced, there will be a link to them from this blog.

Back home time is now being spent following up contacts and developing new friendships... and in a couple of weeks, I am doing it all over again in London.

Phew!

LOTS AND LOTS OF TALKING...

The learning journey continues...

October has been busy teaching on UG and PG programmes with a total of 48 new students and November is proving to be the same.

In addition to the teaching I am speaking about knowledge sharing and networking at two exciting conferences, one in Cardiff on 13th - 15th November for the Institute of Healthcare Management http://www.ihmevents.org.uk/index.php the other in London on 30th November for the NHS Networks Annual Conference http://www.ukhcc.com/event/mi/mi_prog2.html

With all of this talking, I am going to need some throat lozenges!

TIME TO STOP AND REFLECT

The learning journey continues...

Having chanced upon this reflective piece [author unknown], written just after 9/11, it seemed appropriate to post it on this blog today.

The Paradox of Life Today

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn
less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than
ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

You can choose whether to share this insight, or just hit delete. The reactions, as cited on the discussion forum where it was found were mixed with some stating that this is an “..example of overgeneralization leading to an unwarranted negative view on life.”

Make up your own mind!

IT'S THE START OF A NEW YEAR!

The learning journey continues...

No, don't worry, I haven't lost my marbles, well not yet at least. It really IS the start of a new year for many people across the country.

First of all, there are the school children, ready to go back to their new classrooms [and a new school year] and see their mates, whom they have been without for over six weeks now.

Then there are the mature, adult students, who are embarking upon new courses in a new Academic Year in Further Education [FE] and Higher Education [HE].

Not forgetting the working staff who have to find time to study alongside their normal day to day jobs, often embarking upon new distance learning and eLearning programmes around now.

Then there are the lecturers, like me, who are also starting a new year of teaching.

My newest lecturing role is part time at Birkbeck, University of London with my 'new year' for them starting in October on their Certificate in Management.

Then there is my other part time lecturing role for University of Westminster [where the 'new year' starts a little earlier at the end of September] on their CIPD Post Grad Masters in Personnel & Development.

Finally, I have just trained as a marker and assessor of student assignments for a new distance learning management programme designed to be more flexible and fit in with the working staff in the NHS across the UK.

Phew!

This New Year thing comes round really fast, in just four months time it will be Christmas, and then another New Year!

Józefa

FIRST REGIONAL MANAGEMENT NETWORK IN HEALTHCARE IN BIRMINGHAM

Transcript of short interview with participants shown below picture for those without sound card

Here is the new CEO, Sue Hodgetts at the event I helped organise in Birmingham on 20th July.

More pictures coming soon...

[Sound of knowledge sharing at meeting]

[Józefa]
“OK I am just going to start interviewing some of the participants at the first Regional Management Network here in the West Midlands. I am here with Wendy would you tell me what you have thought about this evening?”

[Wendy]
“I really didn’t have any particular expectations so it’s always a pleasant surprise and I certainly would suggest to other members of my team as a valuable learning experience by attending”

[Józefa]
“OK Wendy thank you, I am sorry I can’t see your name badge ….Chris… where are you from?”

[Chris]
“I am from the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust”

[Józefa]
“Is this your first networking event here with us?”

[Chris]
“I have been a long time supporter of the IHM I think it is important at a number of levels, for managers to keep themselves up to date, to be able to tap into the network and learn from each other and thirdly in terms of ensuring the skills of the workforce are equipped to meet the demands of the NHS that we find ourselves in today.”

[Józefa]
“Chris that’s fantastic will you come to another event, if we hold one say in a couple of month’s time?”

[Chris]
“I might do”

[Laughter]

[Józefa]
“What will we need to do to ensure that yourself and others perhaps might come along with you next time?”

[Chris]
“I think specifically targeting certain areas and projects as you’ve done tonight and highlighting whether we can reach the management service improvements in patient care if you target that you’ll get a more specific audience coming along to hear about the issues”

[Józefa]
“Would you agree with that Wendy?”

[Wendy]
“Yes, very much so, I think if you focus on areas that will bring in a very specific audience with certain developmental needs and I think that making it more specific will consolidate some extra learning for a particular group of individuals”

[Józefa]
“Thank you both very much indeed”

-end of interview-

I am really enjoying this project for the Institute of Healthcare Management and the Department of Health and learning so much as well.

If you need help with organisational learning and training, then visit my website to find out more about my range of services.

NETWORKING ACROSS WEST MIDLANDS

Latest news and information from The POL Experience

ABOUT ME AND THE POL EXPERIENCE

Just getting used to this new toy!

Latest news and information from The POL Experience

I'M BACK AND WITH SOMETHING BRAND NEW!

After about three months or so of not posting on this blog, I am back and with a brand new toy to experiment with, Audio Blogger. To hear my first posting just turn up your volume on your computer and play.

Come back soon to 'hear' more of my ongoing learning journey..

Click here for more from The POL Experience

MEETING IN BRUSSELS

The learning journey continues...

During a short trip home from Brussels where I was attending an Executive Board meeting of the European Consortium for the Learning Organisation http://www.eclo.org/ I had the time to reflect upon the exciting and stimulating and extensive discussions that had taken place over the previous 24 hours. My thanks go to Ruud (Netherlands), Olé and his wife Elly (Denmark), Ulrich (Switzerland), Marc and Brigitte (Belguim), Jim (Scotland), Mary (Ireland), Andrew and Richard (UK) for their wonderful company and innovative ideas which will help us to drive forward the latest developments planned by E.C.L.O. across 2006/2007, things like:

• an International conference in Prague on 22nd & 23rd May (mentioned in last posting below)
• a Corporate Learning Think Tank focusing on Academic & Professional Practice
• The E.C.L.O. Book
• The ECUANET (European Corporate Universities and Academies Network) an EU-funded project conducting action research into Corporate Universities/Academies and strategic corporate learning with a view to creating a best practice network of European players – adopters and providers http://www.ecuanet.info/
  
  

Thinking about Corporate Universities/Academies and from online discussions with some of my Post-Graduate students (studying Management Development as part of their Masters programme in Personnel & Development), there are varying views regarding the benefits to organisations considering developing their own CU/A.

One student wrote:

“CU’s can create a strong culture within an organisation which in itself would have advantages such as unity and understanding amongst all employees, getting everyone focused with organisational goals leading to business success”

Another proposed:

“…why not industry academies, where all organisations, regardless of size, can send their employees?”

As an alternative argument, another contribution raised issues such as:

“…CU/A’s are complex and I am not convinced that this is the right way forward…might these become vehicles for corporate socialization and propaganda?”

Wow, powerful thoughts and worthy of this further ECUANET research.

With an agenda as extensive as this, E.C.L.O. promises to be an interesting consortium to be involved with over the next few years and I am delighted to be part of these emergent themes.

If you want to get involved yourself then send an e-mail to Brigitte Jack at info@eclo.org or even try and come to the conference in Prague in May. Readers of this blog get a special discounted rate resulting in a whopping €100 off the conference price but only if they quote my name. So review the programme http://www.eclo.org/Description%20and%20Programme%202006.htm and maybe see you in Prague?

Click here for more from The POL Experience