Jozefa Fawcett VO | Professional Female Voice Over Artist | BLOG

MY 'SPEAKING' WORLD TOUR 2012 / 2013

2012-01-06T10:19:00.000Z

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!

2011-12-18T14:23:00.003Z

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!

2011-12-11T07:12:00.001Z

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!

2011-12-06T13:46:00.004Z

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

Some of the Eurofortis team: Adela, Evija and Juris

who are also the distributors of my audio learning vocal coaching

programmes across Eastern Europe

* * * * * * * *

Then it was off to Moscow, and in between running a couple of masterclasses at Moscow State University for Economics, Statistics and Informatics (MESI), we laid down tracks for the same programme but this time in Russian.

Taking a break from recording and teaching 50 Russian students

Knowledge Management at MESI in Moscow

And now here are my Russian recording team!

Oksana reading her script

Max organising us all

* * * * * * * *

Then it was off to Madrid, and there was absolutely no time to take photos as I was both chairing and speaking at the Internal Social Media Forum as part of the Forward Networking Events team.

* * * * * * * *

This is us at Forward Networking in Dubai: Greg, Martin (MD), Sarah and me

And so to the last trip for this year, and my first time to the Middle East. First to speak and facilitate at the Evolving Corporate Universities Forum in Dubai - again with my Forward Networking colleagues - and then a private business visit with my colleague Dr Alaa Garad at IPE (International Performance Excellence) in Abu Dhabi, and his team of experienced Quality Management consultants.

Delivering my talk and opening

the ECU Dubai Forum

On my way back and forth from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

With the IPE team in Abu Dhabi - who have just agreed to be distributors

of my audio learning vocal coaching programmes as soon

as they are recorded in Standard Arabic next year

I cannot pretend that the last six months haven't been absolutely amazing, they have, but also very tiring. My voice has remained clear and healthy as I have drunk loads of water (ok perhaps just a few wodkas, after all I was in Russia). I have also used my own breathing techniques to ensure that I didn't strain my vocal chords, after all, next year looks even busier as I go on a world tour - speaking all the way!

If you speak for a living then consider getting in touch with me, perhaps I can help you to get the best from your voice and keep it powerful, effective and clear.

Józefa

Website: JozefaVO.TV

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU DARLING!

2011-06-02T16:14:00.003+01:00

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!

2011-05-26T08:00:00.002+01:00

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

2011-04-05T12:49:00.001+01:00

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!

2011-03-18T18:05:00.004Z

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!

2011-03-11T09:45:00.013Z

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

2011-03-07T09:30:00.003Z

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?

2011-02-28T09:34:00.003Z

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!

2010-11-03T14:14:00.005Z

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

2010-09-18T08:20:00.000+01:00

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

The learning journey continues...

CUTTING YOUR TRAINING BUDGET

2010-09-05T12:19:00.000+01:00

Józefa guides you in how to cut your training budget

The learning journey continues...

ATTITUDINAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHANGE

2010-08-19T12:14:00.002+01:00

Józefa talking about how to better affect change in the workplace

The learning journey continues...

KM UK IN LONDON

2010-06-15T11:21:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-05-04T12:03:00.000+01:00

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

2010-03-10T12:13:00.003Z

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? …

Great creative teams are diverse. They are composed of very different sorts of people with different but complementary talents. ..
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.
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'

2010-02-27T15:43:00.006Z

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

2009-11-13T08:26:00.003Z

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!

2009-11-06T11:22:00.001Z

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:

my overwhelming professional desire to improve the learning capability of those working in organisations (and the organisations themselves)
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

2009-09-20T21:53:00.000+01:00

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

2009-08-12T08:23:00.000+01:00

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

2009-07-08T11:04:00.003+01:00

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?

2009-06-01T21:18:00.004+01:00

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

2009-05-08T15:56:00.005+01:00

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

2009-05-04T17:28:00.002+01:00

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

2009-03-31T14:06:00.002+01:00

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

2009-03-12T08:51:00.007Z

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!

2009-01-21T14:47:00.004Z

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

2008-12-03T08:11:00.012Z

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!

2008-10-07T15:51:00.007+01:00

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!

2008-06-03T15:59:00.003+01:00

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!

2008-05-03T09:23:00.000+01:00

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:

What tasks did I do today?
What were the skills that I used in these tasks?
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!

2008-04-15T11:14:00.004+01:00

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!

2007-12-09T11:24:00.001Z

The learning journey continues...

Click here to start the 2007 festivities...

NEW SKILLS TO BRING TO CLIENTS

2007-10-19T07:27:00.000+01:00

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

2007-09-24T00:35:00.000+01:00

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

2007-04-16T08:09:00.000+01:00

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

2007-03-17T07:34:00.000Z

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
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.
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.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose takes the lead.
The geese at the back of the 'V' honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
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?

2007-02-11T10:47:00.000Z

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!

2007-01-02T12:46:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

...well into 2007!

Józefa

NEVER TO OLD TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!

2006-12-17T19:14:00.000Z

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

2006-11-17T17:50:00.000Z

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...

2006-11-08T20:54:00.000Z

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

2006-09-11T12:14:00.000+01:00

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!

2006-09-04T21:55:00.000+01:00

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

2006-07-21T14:20:00.000+01:00

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

2006-06-27T10:57:00.000+01:00

Latest news and information from The POL Experience

ABOUT ME AND THE POL EXPERIENCE

2006-06-19T09:10:00.000+01:00

Just getting used to this new toy!

Latest news and information from The POL Experience

I'M BACK AND WITH SOMETHING BRAND NEW!

2006-06-17T10:19:00.000+01:00

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

2006-02-26T19:27:00.000Z

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

POL GOES ALL EUROPEAN

2006-01-24T12:33:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

As part of my continuing learning journey I am often in deep discussion with individuals and clients alike about what it means to be a Learning Organisation. Is this an unattainable goal or do organisations really stand a chance to benefit from their existing expertise to further business improvements, reduce risks and enhance quality control?

E.C.L.O (European Consortium for the Learning Organisation) - the longest serving Community of Learning in Europe - certainly believe that this is a concept worth fighting for and encourage individuals from around Europe to join and develop a deeper understanding of what makes a organisation learn from itself.

This year, I have again been invited (with my colleague from KnowledgeWorx) to speak at their 13th International Conference which focuses on 'Creating Capacity for Change' the four key strands are:

Understanding Organisation Dynamics (academic papers)
Organisation Dynamics in Action (working case studies)
Leadership and the capacity to change (leadership and management)
Facilitating the capacity to change (corporate universities and other innovative tools)

As a member of the conference committee I can tell you that there are some exciting proposals for the programme outline. In addition to the conference E.C.L.O is also revamping its Academic and Professional Practice Board who are already working on developing a variety of very intersting research projects for 2006.

It seems like the LO concept is NOT dead in the water and with this European emphasis more organisations from the corporate and academic worlds as well as consultancies and the public sector remain committed to explore new directions for successful business and people development in a learning organisation perspective.

Józefa @ The POL Experience
Link to website

NEW INTAKE OF STUDENTS

2006-01-18T12:11:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

As a part-time lecturer, I am now embracing the start of another academic year, you know it is easy to forget that tutors can also gain so much from teaching such eager and enthusiastic Post-Graduate students. Many of my students are part-time, balancing a busy job during the day and then studying until 21.00hrs at night twice a week however, they come to class with smiles on their faces and a level of energy that makes the evening appear to just fly by.

Some of us have of course been there and done that ourselves and so can empathise with the tiredness and the frustration of trying to fit it all in within the extended working day.

Still - that aside - I had 11 eager students on Monday [with more to follow in the next two weeks] on this HRD specific 'Management Development module', and I am certainly looking forward to some healthy debates each week.

In my opening address I directed them here to learn about blogging, so if you have made it and are reading this posting - welcome!

Hopefully this PG programme will increase the profile of HRM & HRD as bona fide professions in their own right, then HR can finally start to have a real influence on business development issues as well as improving people management skills in the workforce.

We have a long way to go, but it will be worth it!

Józefa @ The POL Experience

Link to website

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2006-01-01T09:03:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

After a few weeks of eating, drinking and being merry it is time to pull in those waistbands, make and break those New Year resolutions and start to ponder what the next twelve months will bring.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Józefa

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

2005-12-13T07:50:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

Like many people around the world who celebrate Christmas, the next few weeks are packed with shopping, card writing, present wrapping, food organising and then collapsing in a heap in a warm cosy place with a drink in hand to enjoy the festive season - and I am no different.

Many thanks to all of you who come and read this blog and here's wishing you a wonderful Christmas season and a very Happy New Year!

See you in 2006.

Józefa
Click here for some special tuneful greetings and cheers!

ONGOING ANNIVERSARY OFFER:
Help me celebrate my first three years in business by sending this blog to just ONE person you know that would find the contents helpful to further their own personal and/or organisation's training & development plans. If your referral turns into their company commissioning work from me, YOU will earn 12 weeks personal eMentoring support across a wide range of Learning & Development, Training Design & Delivery or Management Development areas - totally FREE OF CHARGE (normally worth £300).

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

2005-11-10T09:31:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

I hope you are all enjoying the 'virtual me' that welcomes you to this weblog. Those that are re-visiting will notice that I have recently had a major hair re-style, hope you like it!

One of my newest ventures is to re-start my voice over work for corporate training videos. Meeting with my voice coach recently got me thinking about offering this as part of my business portfolio. So if your company is considering making an in-house information series, online virtual newsletter, training or eLearning production, then why not send me an e-mail or even give me a call on +44 (0)7778 382 056 and learn how I could help you promote your message with clarity and impact.

Józefa

ONGOING ANNIVERSARY OFFER:

Help me celebrate my first three years in business by sending this blog to just ONE person you know that would find the contents helpful to further their own personal and/or organisation's training & development plans. If your referral turns into their company commissioning work from me, YOU will earn 12 weeks personal eMentoring support across a wide range of Learning & Development, Training Design & Delivery or Management Development areas - totally FREE OF CHARGE (normally worth £300).

LET'S CELEBRATE - IT'S MY THIRD ANNIVERSARY!

2005-10-07T08:13:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Well it is precisely three years today (7th October 2002) that I set up as an independent learning practitioner operating through The POL Experience and what a jam packed three years it has been.

So many different clients, a wide variety of international conference speaking events, exciting learning opportunities, blogging and the chance to share my range of learning and knowledge development expertise with a wide range of readers from across UK and Europe.

Talking about this blog, I started it in February 2004, and so far have had 326 visits from people across 33 different countries reading my postings on a regular basis (see last posting SO WHO ARE YOU).

I am now eagerly looking forward to many more years of building upon this success and finding ways to improve it all the time. My newest addition is a brand new 'virtual me' (and yes, that is my real voice). Turn up your volume or load a sound card and you will hear what I have to say. Just be aware that if you click from one posting to another on the blog, I WILL keep popping up again and again, if you get fed up of this, just turn the volume down!

So go on, help me celebrate my first three years by spreading the word of this blog to maybe another 300+ readers. Just send the URL http://jozefa.blogspot.com to just ONE person you know that would find the contents helpful to further their own personal and/or organisation's training & development plans.

And, as a very special thank you for helping me to continue to spread the word about exceptional and effective organisational learning and development practice, any contacts or referrals you instigate that result in a client commissioning work from me will earn YOU 12 weeks personal eMentoring support in any areas that link to Learning & Development, Training Design & Delivery or Management Development - totally FREE OF CHARGE (normally worth £300).

Now that's an enticement to spread the word, isn't it?

Just send me an e-mail stating who you have recommended me to and I will contact you if they purchase one of my 'Training the Trainer' learning programmes or contract some interim/temporary learning and development support. Then you can start to think about what eMentoring support you might need from me, it's as simple as that.

Many thanks and keep coming back to read this blog.

Józefa
E-mail: jozefa@thepolexperience.com

Please note that I have had to take drastic action to prevent anyone from posting comments on this weblog. This goes against my better judgement but is due to various parties abusing this system and flooding it with unwanted and highly unsuitable and material. If you would like to make a comment, then please still do so but send me an e-mail to blog@thepolexperience.com and I will post this on your behalf.

SO WHO ARE YOU?

2005-09-18T08:44:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues..

Exciting news, people from 33 different countries are regularly reading my blog - how fantastic!

With over 48% from the UK, nearly 25% from US and over 5% from Canada this is an amazing result for an independent learning practitioner like myself, and what a wide range of other countries, including:

Netherlands; Singapore; Belgium; South Africa; Sweden; Greece; Germany; Poland; Malaysia; Morocco; Australia; Ukraine; Belarus; Luxembourg; India; Hong Kong; Mauritius; Spain; Portugal; Philippines; Switzerland; Kenya; Chile; Finland; Romania; Cote D'Ivoire; Denmark; Azerbaijan and Italy - phew!

Welcome to each and every one of you, glad to have you on board.

Do come back and maybe even post a comment or two about what you read.

Józefa @ The POL Experience

Please note that I have taken certain action to prevent just anyone from posting comments on this weblog. This goes against my better judgement but is due to various parties abusing this system and flooding it with unwanted and highly unsuitable material. If you would like to post a comment, then please send me an e-mail to blog@thepolexperience.com and I will post this on your behalf.

NEW PHASE FOR THE POL EXPERIENCE

2005-09-01T08:23:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

After a wonderful summer break with the family and time to stop and take stock I have been refining the products and services that I offer through The POL Experience.

So much of my time over the last three years has been spent working with organisations supporting local changes through people involvement and training that I have decided to offer, as part of my portfolio, a small range of learning programmes that can be delivered in a organisational context and venue.

These reasonably priced 'knowledge-chunks' are a sound investment as they can really make a difference to the way an organisation approaches its learning and development. Take a look at some of my client testimonials and then at my new expertise portfolio here and the range of learning programmes here.

Once you have seen these you will start to consider how they can be of use to you and maybe to others. Do feel free to pass on the details of my learning programmes to friends and colleagues who you think might also benefit from enhancing their organisational training and development activity.

Józefa

TIME FOR REFLECTION?

2005-08-11T17:35:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Time for just a short post during what is turning out to be a typical English summer.

Time to stop and reflect upon the things in life that really matter - like family and friends and work colleagues based all around the world.

Time to make contact again with the long list in my address book, in my distribution list on MSN IM, and Skype and in the many discussion forums that I frequent. All to often time and work prevent such luxurious and thoughtful communication. The norm is usually just a quick-fire question, response and a goodbye!

Time to stop and take stock of my own personal development and the future direction for POL.

Time to nurture and develop new initiatives and exciting new projects and explore others' new ideas, like Fiona Robyn and her blog entitled 'a small stone'

So, slowly sipping my Pimms and Lemonade, watching the kids playing happily together in the garden, counting fluffy clouds as they go by, I am taking some TIME out for me!

Enjoy your summer everyone..back soon!

Józefa
The POL Experience website

CROSS-MENTORING PRACTICE

2005-07-17T09:29:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

WOW, what an awe inspiring time I have had over the last few days speaking, mingling, dancing and drinking with nearly 200 Russian, Mongolian and New Independent State [NIS] nationals from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Uzbekistan.

The reason? I received an invitation to speak about People and Change to this group of participants on an EU-funded Management Training Programme at their end-of-programme Europa Seminar at Manchester University.

Here was a group of people who were not only motivated by this programme but firmly intent on doing something with what they had learned back in their own countries to affect much needed change. In talking to them further [over a few vodka's as you do], it became apparent that this was not going to be easy for them to overturn many years of traditional management style and former regimes.

What was clear however, was their determination in the face of adversity. Former MTP1 alumni participant, Tatiana, proffered a shining example of someone who had achieved such major change in her home town through the development of her real estate business newspaper. She clearly inspired those on MTP3 with her words and the raptuous applause said it all.

My thanks go to all those that I met, I am afraid that I remember only a few names such as Max, Vadim, Natasha and Natasha, Iryna, Christyakova, Eugeni, Mikhail, Nelya, Elena, Evgeniy, Yulia, Lesya, Carine, Christiana, Sergey and of course Oleg [who danced me round the floor to the Beatles tribute band most of the night] and to those with whom I drank and sang Russian songs and finally played volleyball on the grass at 3am! [thank you for the present of the ball, my daughter loves it].

Hobbling back to the hotel [to do with my having broken the heel off my shoe - never play volleyball in high heels - and not from the drink or my age you understand] I carried with me some wonderful memories from a group that I hope get to realise their ambitions and dreams.

Perhaps, this then reminds us in the UK that it is good to have ambitious and far reaching dreams and strive each day to turn them into a reality. For those of you who have promised to get back in touch with me, please do, and also when you read this blog, perhaps post some comments in the box that pops up with your own memories of your trip to UK.

Some pictures that captured the themes and the feelings are posted here..

Józefa
The POL Experience website

CYNEFIN PRACTITIONER PROGRAMME

2005-07-04T10:36:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

After a wonderfully tiring and brain stimulating four days, I return home from Greenwich, London with a wealth of ideas and applications for Dave Snowden's Cynefin approach.

This medley of pictures shows only some of the story, but serves to highlight the concentration levels that were needed (even when we were set to task to communicate with our eyes closed). It will take a while to truly understand this completely different approach to changing organisational mindsets and supporting knowledge development and sharing, however, the potential benefits are so great that it won't be long before I am using some of the techniques in my work with existing and new clients.

I will have more to say about this once I have recovered from a now (half expected) nasty cold..

CPD - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2005-06-01T18:15:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

CPD has always been important to me and I have been an active participant for over 15 years, thanks to an old healthcare manager of mine, Steve, who clearly explained why it was so vital and was a good role model himself.

Managers like him are far and few between, mainly because he relished in the fact that I was learning and developing and challenging him and his ideas, often during our time in the photocopying room preparing for an imminent training session, he and I would play mental ping pong and find that from such an exchange, new and interesting models and concepts would be explored and created.

Keeping up to date with professional practice, irrespective of whether your professional body requires it of you for re-registration or not, is an absolute must, and certainly something that should be offered as evidence of competence and quality when speaking to clients during the commissioning process.

My current involvement in CPD is extremely active here are just a few of the things I am involved in: attending and speaking at conferences, doing research and writing papers, undertaking additional training and qualification, participating in new and exciting discussion forums and public speaking.

Phew, this should keep me busy for a while!

Why not try it for yourself?

Józefa @ The POL Experience

COMMITMENT IS OUR GREATEST RESOURCE

2005-05-02T13:28:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

So often we find ourselves coming up with ideas regarding things that we would love to do, some needing just us and some needing the support of others to fulfil these dreams.

In our personal lives as well as our business lives commitment features strongly and without it momentum and motivation is lost and slowly the idea dies. As someone who is just in the process of starting up a new organisational venture, I find myself dependent on the commitment of others to make it work.

Which is why I was so encouraged to read the set of 5 guiding principles from a group of young individuals calling themselves 'Pioneers of Change'

Their five principles are centred around:

Be yourself
Findwhat really matters to you
Start now
Engage with others – don’t go it alone
Never stop asking questions

In terms of 'engaging with others' they go on...

"Engage with others.. Connect with something bigger than yourself. Search for those who are working on similar or related things, share ideas with them,ask them for help and work with them where useful. Be willing to offer them help when they need it as well. Engaging with others is about engaging with those who share your visions, but also about engaging with those who think differently from you and are doing something that may seem completely different and unrelated. Engage across diversity, for that is how we learn. That is how we will create and make new discoveries. If you cannot engage directly with those who conflict with you, then seek to understand and to learn from your differences and work based on that learning. Engaging with others is about recognising interdependence. And about practicing humility."

Perhaps,one final addition to the above, as this takes time to develop and nurture is - have patience and understanding and allow others to catch up in their own time.

Commitment it seems really IS our greatest resource, and as such we should use it well.

Józefa @ The POL Experience

WE CLEARLY NEED HELP!

2005-04-14T10:08:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Well what has it come to when we need the expertise of David Gurteen and Mick Cope to get us to talk to each other?

Have our communication skills deteriorated so much with the increased use of computers that we need to attend a Knowledge Café and have Mick encourage us to stand up and walk round and introduce ourselves?

Speed dating was muted, same principle, but you didn't necessarily leave with a 'partner' for the evening, though it has to be said a few of us DID frequent the local hostelry to continue with the 'relationship -building' - and a great time was had by all!

My thanks to David and to Mick and and also to those that I did meet and would have like to talk to for longer, these included Jonathan [from Oxfordshire] , Lloyd [podcasting], Tricia [weblogs], Lesley [HMCE], Diomiu [ex-student], Andrew [IS], Jason, Mark [Middx] and two guys in the pub [one American and one Sri Lanken sorry I don't remember your names] who always had 'just one more question'. Just to let you both know, I did finally catch my train, but only just.

Look forward to seeing some of you again at the Knowledge Barbeque at University of Greenwich on 9th June.

Józefa @ The POL Experience

IN MEMORY OF KAROL JOZEF WOJTYŁA 1920-2005

2005-04-04T12:34:00.001+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Pope John Paul II
1978-2005

Click here for details of his last will and testament

Polish version

English version

Italian version

German version

Audio version (English)

Vatican radio (Other languages)

Józefa @ The POL Experience

SEEMS FLICKR IS REALLY TAKING OFF

2005-03-23T17:18:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

Just a few posts ago I was extolling the virtues of a new online photo management system I had discovered called Flickr. Well it now seems like others are catching on aswell, because it has just been bought up by Yahoo and is being heralded by no other that the award winning Tom Coates, recent winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award for his weblog plasticbag.org.

Check out the BBC article and try Flickr for yourself, it is really cool

Józefa @ The POL Experience

BE THE CHANGE

2005-03-16T11:38:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

If you do nothing else this year then do investigate a wonderfully inspiring event called 'Be the Change' due to take place in London between 5th & 7th May 2005. This second event will again bring together individuals and organisations at the forefront of change to address some of the urgent issues facing humanity today - in our environment, our communities, our economic system, in our very consciousness.

At the 2004 event, the words and deeply moving presentation from Hafsat Abiola, Human Rights Activist from Nigeria and Founder/Director of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) could not have failed to inspire.

"The only way we can solve problems is when we actually say yes to the unreasonable ideas that form in our minds, that will give us new experiences that will help our mind become a different mind"

Visit their website and view the 10-minute preview from their 2004 conference and more information about this years's event, and maybe see you there?

Józefa @ The POL Experience

YOU CAN NOW 'TALK' TO ME

2005-03-15T09:26:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

I have been tidying up my communication channels and can now be found for quick Instant Messaging (IM) chats when I am in the office, my MSN address is

im@thepolexperience.com

If you don't have MSN go to their website and download the software, it is FREE. I use version 6.2 but the Beta version 7 is really great. It is just that until more people have this, the slightly lower version is better.

Why not log in and have a 'chat'?

Józefa @ The POL Experience

BRAND NEW LOGO FOR POL

2005-03-08T12:24:00.001Z

This is my new company logo and icon for my website, click on the link to find out about the kind of work I am currently involved in and previous projects and experience.

Why not visit my online slide show at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thepole/sets/121681 where there are a series of pictures of the groups I have worked with over the last few years - you never know, you might see yourself there!

Józefa @ The POL Experience

GLOBAL BLOGGER ACTION DAY - 22nd February 2005

2005-02-22T07:55:00.000Z

Today is "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day" here in Blogoshpere. Mojtaba and Arash are two Iranian bloggers currently in prison for, well, blogging. For "Free Mojtaba and Aresh Day," we free bloggers are urged to hold a day of "silence" (i.e. refrain from blogging) and to put up a banner instead.

For more information read the latest BBC news

SOLITARY TREE

2005-02-15T07:50:00.000Z

Solitary tree
Originally uploaded by estan.

testing blogging entry - liked this picture from Flickr so decided to see if I could upload it on here - whoopee I did it!

Józefa

FLICKR

2005-02-15T07:42:00.000Z

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing. There is also a companion blog to Flickr, almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world (their words, not mine, but try it and see for yourself).

This new free tool allows me to post a series of photos for a specified group to see or go public on a specially dedicated web space, and even offer a slide show facility. If I come across photos that I like I can send these straight here onto my blog - so expect a fair bit of practising for a while.

If any of you try this out do post your comments here.

Józefa
The POL Experience

WHAT A LOAD OF LOGGERS?

2005-02-09T10:57:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

Having recently been involved in a series of training sessions and University lecturing around Personal Development I find myself constantly referring to reflective practice, Learning Logs and blogging. As this was the case, it seemed sensible to share what I have been saying here in my own blog.

But hey, is this a weblog, k-log or a learning log?

David Gurteen, a lovely man and a wonderful source of knowledge about almost everything describes weblogs as a

“..an informal personal journal that is published publicly on the web. It is updated frequently - often several times a day or at the very least several times a week. At its simplest a blog consists of a number of entries or items. Each item has a title, a short description, a URL, the name of the author and the posted date. More sophisticated blogs can contain further information such as categories or multiple links”.

Another definition comes from Wikipedia and of course there are variations on a theme.

There are Knowledge Logs or K-Logs: which is blogging to record one's knowledge about work issues, this can also be used as a reflective practice vehicle instead of a paper-bound ring binder file

There are also Learning Logs – which are not necessarily online unless you adapt the format and add this to your k-log. Have a look at how Andrew Gibbons describes his approach to learning logs http://www.andrewgibbons.co.uk/documents/50tips2.doc he also offers a simple yet reasonably sufficient format http://www.andrewgibbons.co.uk/documents/logsheet2.doc

There are News Logs - these could be an information blog (online), the purpose of which is to comment on and point to web resources on a specific topic or relevant news entries pertaining to a particular site or subject. Some sites have built in functions that allow readers to post directly such as they do on Wikipedia or through an intermediary source that acts as part of an authoring process to validate the news item before it is uploaded onto the News Log.

And I am sure there are plenty more... The key point is documenting in some way, shape or form, things that you want to be reminded of for future development, or reference or to share with others.

I shall leave the last word to David who so clearly outlines how you should feel about your blogging activities.

Own it and take pride in it
Use it as a record of your thoughts and ideas
Create a learning journal
Let it be very personal - an extention to your own voice
Write primarily for yourself
There is no pressure to publish, comment or reply
Make it open and dynamic
Create the feeling of having a 'conversation' not one of 'publishing'

If David and others are right, then blogging is soon going to be bigger than e-mail and such rapid growth and development in this field of communication will undoutbtedly change the web presence but also organisational life. Happy blogging.

Józefa

The POL Experience

THANKS BRIGITTE

2005-01-25T13:23:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

My colleague (and friend) Brigitte mailed me from Wavre, Belgium last week to introduce me to the very latest in communication tools, SKYPE

It is a great new P2P (person-to-person) vehicle that allows you to actually talk to your friends and colleagues through your computer.

Registration is FREE and talking to other SKYPE users is also FREE. You can see when they are online (just like with IM - instant messaging) and if you link it through your NetMeeting facility can see them via your webcam, just like having your own large videophone. Calls to non-SKYPE lines wherever they are in the world is really cheap and you can buy credits (in euros) online.

You will need a microphone and your computer will need either built in or free standing speakers, but apart from that, downloading takes just a few minutes and you're away.

So back to Brigitte, my colleague at the European Consortium for the Learning Organisation, well she and I can now have regular update chats (the FREE bit comes in handy when we do one of our 45 mins calls) and I can also have conference calls with my other ECLO ECLO Board member colleagues aswell.

Why not try it for yourself?

Józefa
The POL Experience

REFLECTING UPON THE OLD AND PREPARING FOR THE NEW

2005-01-13T11:12:00.000Z

The learning journey continues...

A very belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you reading this Blog, and in particular to my past (and future) student groups from Westminster University, London where I now lecture on a part time basis on a range of CIPD Centre of Excellence modules including: Learning and Development; Management Development and Learning, Training & Development workshop. A special ‘Good Luck’ as you study for your L&D exams on the 17th January.

I realise that it has been some months since I last put fingers to keyboard to reflect and share key learning from my work commitments and projects on this site. This in the main is to do with family 'caring' commitments for sick and elderly relatives over the past six months.

However, like most people I now enter 2005, with the desire to consider new ways to juggle a rather hectic work / life schedule so that I can offer the best of me in each area and still remain sane.

There are many sites available offering support, one of the best I have found is from Fiona Hall, check out her blog on http://creative-living.blogspot.com/

Also worth a mention, and to create that pause in your busy working day, try out Richard Bandler television (RBTV). Richard was one of the founders of an approach called Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and offers some guiding thoughts as to how to get your life back on track. It is worth a listen with a cup of soothing chamomile or peppermint herb tea. Being on a GI healthy eating kick at present coffee, tea and chocolate are BANNED!

Just click on the link for some soothing words to start your day
http://www.richardbandler.tv/player.php?soundid=lalpqp9786534522

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy 2005!

Józefa
The POL Experience

A NEW TOOL FOR BLOGGERS AND WRITERS ALIKE

2004-09-18T06:28:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Do you ever the get the feeling that you are using the same phrase or discussion points again and again in reports, documents and blogs?

What about the feeling that you have a specific issue in a document somewhere on your computer, but can’t remember in which one and where?

If the above two questions ring true for you, then take the time to look at Blinkx. It's a free search engine that will simplify the task of writing reports and your other document and posts. It provides a fast and sophisticated search of local documents on your hard drive, your email, newsfeeds, weblogs, video clips and more.

According to the Blinkx website, it is not designed to replace current search engines like Google or Yahoo, but is a completely new way to use information on the internet. It has a slick little toolbar that floats in the upper right-hand corner of your screen and gives you immediate results from these different sources. It works with Google or with other search engines and is certainly growing rapidly.

See the recent article in July 15th Guardian on how this has been developed http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1260983,00.html

Since its low-key launch at the end of July, some 800,000 people have downloaded the technology. Hundreds of thousands more are probably using it after downloading Blinkx from other websites or from CDs cover-mounted on magazines.

Kathy Rittweger, Blinkx's founder feels that technology should take care of all the key words and be able to bring all the information to us before we ask; she says "This is about technology serving us."

My thanks go to David St Lawrence http://ripples.typepad.com/ for his original link to Blinkx.

David writes: “From what I have seen so far, Blinkx may be the workaround which allows a writer to access all of his documents as if they were entered in a database. This gives me a huge advantage, because my filing is based on the notion that I need everything spread out where I can locate it easily. The hierarchical approach to filing has never worked for me because I relate things in so many different ways. There are probably more of these "internal/external" search engines coming along, but I will continue to investigate Blinkx until I have a fuller understanding of its capabilities.”

Why not try it out and post your comments here as to how useful it has been for you.

Józefa
The POL Experience

THE GREAT AIM OF EDUCATION?

2004-09-06T08:21:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Well, that's done....both kids off to school this morning heralding the end of the summer holidays for 2004.

We have such strong memories of our school days given that they take up so much of our young lives, I especially want my two to have good memories so as to underpin the way they approach learning in the future, and in particular Lifelong Learning, for when they start their working lives as I know from my experience how important this is.

After a lively discussion, at dinner with friends last week, about the apparent failure of the British education system over the last 30 years and the emotional highs of this morning I find myself reflecting upon the work I am currently involved in (developing a scheme to help the unemployed in one small part of London to get jobs). Many of the applicants forms that I see make me think that perhaps they have long since forgotton the basics from their school days - if indeed they mastered them in the first place. This is all too apparent from the numbers that do not make the entry level grade in basic literacy and numeracy - a minimum requirement for many of the positions they want.

These job hopefuls however, can now get help with everything from pre-employment support and training in communication skills, assertiveness, interviewing etc., as well as the opportunity to refresh or re-learn their Key Skills to equip them with what they need to help them survive in business life.

How to get this message across to my two youngsters who have yet to realise the importance of school life - ah now that's a hard one. I picked up a nice quote from the presentation at my son's secondary school that emphasised the need to use what is being learned so as to avoid losing it - maybe this is where I can start.

"The great aim of education is not simply knowing, but taking action"
Herbert Spencer - 19th Century, theorist and educationalist

Józefa
The POL Experience

THE END OF THE BEGINNING?

2004-08-06T08:15:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Phew! These last two weeks have been the amongst the most challenging this year. Today is the last day of my moderation at AOK STAR SERIES discussion forum (as mentioned in previous entry).

What a wonderfully rich discourse with some of the most influential KM practitioners and theorists in the business.

I cannot deny that I was a touch nervous about such an exchange, particularly as I mainly practice at an operational level with a variety of clients, the majority of which tend to be in the NHS. However the support I received from all of those who participated was very much appreciated.

Hey, I might have got a taste for this now and who knows, having hosted a similar discussion on KnowledgeBoard at the beginning of the year and now AOK, where next?

As part of my ongoing research into the interdependencies between KM and Organisational Learning and Development, I issued AOKers with a survey which will be collated, written up and then feature as an article the international Knowledge Management Journal

To participate in the survey send an e-mail to me at jozefa@thepolexperience.com with AOK Survey in the subject line and I will forward a copy to you.

I am now off on for a well earned rest with my children to sunnier climes...so more after the 22nd August.

Józefa
The POL Experience

STAR SERIES MODERATOR FOR AOK

2004-07-30T21:56:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Well, the last few weeks have been really hectic leaving me little time to reflect.

Reflection forces us to take stock with regards our actions and check out the things that worked well and those that could be done differently next time (see post about reflective practice earlier on in this blog). We can review the recipe and consider similarities between approaches applied in different contexts. Not simply to imitate so-called 'best practice' but to also adapt 'good practice'; avoid 'worse practice' and create 'novel practice' from various scenarios.

It is also a way to stretch our thoughts - often referred to as 'thinking outside of the box'

With this in mind comes my current challenge, as a STAR SERIES MODERATOR on the international Knowledge Management discussion forum run by AOK Association of Knowledgework not to be confused with my other business venture KnowledgeWorx providing online KM tools for business.

I was invited to moderate (facilitate) an online discussion board for two weeks from 26th July to 6th August, by Jerry Ash, a highly intelligent (well he must be if he invited me) former US senator, recently commissioned to be a features editor for international Knowledge Management Journal published by the ARK group

My chosen topic for the two week period, Operational Knowledge Management (OKM), generating discussion as to the application of theoretical constructs and tools as well as providing examples of case studies of practical application of KM in various organisations and hopefully receiving same from AOK readers.

To participate in the discussion forum send an e-mail to Jerry at jash@kwork.org saying I sent you - and he will outline how you can come and join the party.

These two weeks (at the height of the summer holiday period) are likely to be the most challenging of the year so far, so wish me luck, come and join the discussion and help me to swim rather than sink..

KM CELEBRITY ‘A’ LIST

2004-06-18T15:24:00.001+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Wow, what a week I have had.

I have spent three days in the company of some of the most innovative and respected brains in the KM arena.

Names like Dave Snowden, Larry Prusak, Steve Denning)

1. Families, clans, tribes and hoards (you just had to be there!)
2. Self-organising teams
3. Social Network Analysis
4. Innovative behaviours
5. Social and Value-added networking
6. Order and un-order in complex environments
7. Coaching to transform KM performance
8. Storytelling for action
9. Use of narrative in mapping
10. Systemic interventions using constellations

On their own, these were more than worth the investment in time, add to that the continuing discussions over evening drinks that I was able to have with Dave, Steve, Marcus, Verna (thank you so much for signing your book) and David - then all in all a wonderfully stimulating knowledge-sharing experience.

Thank you all, and see you in Amsterdam 8th - 10th November 2004 at KM Europe 2004.

(For information about KM Europe 2004, click on sub title at top of this posting)

Now to apply this thinking to my current work projects....ah ha!

Józefa
The POL Experience

WE HAVE SO VERY MUCH TO LEARN

2004-05-21T11:02:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

Just found this wonderful quote hidden away within a rather lengthy e-mail from a colleague who writes so beautifully and yet in such an intense and complex way that I find myself needing to devote more time and effort (than I currently can afford) to understand what he is actually saying.

When we meet up face to face I can see his eyes, I can hear the passion behind his beliefs and acknowledge his smile and enthusiasm - all of which develop my understanding. That and his patience with me which is never ending.

Whoops got carried away didn't I? Here is the quote, read it carefully:

"When you let go of trying to get more of what you don't really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have. When you make a difference with what you have it expands"

He accredits this to Lynne Twist from The Hunger Project which, if you do nothing else today, you absolutely MUST take five minutes out to view as it puts into perspective what you are working on right now, at least it did for me.

...by the way, my colleague with the intensive, visionary and complex thoughts is Chris, click on the sub title above to re-direct to his site and see for yourself.

Józefa
The POL Experience

SO THIS IS LIFELONG LEARNING?

2004-05-10T09:29:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

I have just taught myself how to add a comments function to this blog...WOW!

For a non-tecky like me this has been quite a steep learning curve. The comment button will appear at the end of each posting so you can now respond to any of my ramblings on this blog, make a comment about my main website or even ask me a question, whichever you choose it will be great to hear from you.

Just click on comment below, enter your details and then type in the box provided and click OK, it's as easy as that! Then when you click on comments again, you can read these alongside the original text - cool!

Józefa
The POL Experience

DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER?

2004-04-26T10:17:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

As an active member of no less than 6 online discussion forums, the issue regarding the use of language and participation level across large diverse online communities begs further consideration. For me it raises the question as to how well we actually understand each other and highlights our ability (or lack of it) to clearly communicate what we are trying to say through such a limited vehicle.

Recently I find myself witnessing a rising number of these online forums falling fowl of many, if not all of the following:

• Poor, incomplete and duplicated communication
• Lack of responses and singular self-absorbed postings
• Use of complex and confusing language
• Cultural differences and interpretations
• Arrogant on-line behaviour.

Worth noting that two of the forums are American, one is European and three are UK-based, and all have at some time experienced the above.

You could argue that normal meetings produce the exact same problems and this is true, yet these online forums are established to develop better knowledge-sharing and communication opportunities and are totally dependent on voluntary contributions. What appears to be occurring, in some of these, is a decline in contributions and worse still one or two individuals ‘battling it out’ in full glare of other ‘lurkers’ who watch from the sidelines and wonder whether to get involved or not. Others just decide that it is not worth the investment in time or energy and adopt the ‘two feet principle’ and walk away.

An online community is not a community if its players don’t contribute!

I found a very astute and accurate comment about one such forum yesterday that is worth reproducing here as it hits the mark very well. Putting this comment into context, the forum it relates to is specifically about improving electronic communications and in particular relates to Language Engine (LE) technology that is designed to help adapt highly context specific language into a common vocabulary. Here is the comment:

“In the ‘Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’ the Babel fish sat in your ear and translated any language into your own. Your [forum] headline article highlights the proportion of projects that fail to deliver the expected benefits. I believe that the problems often stem from the sound bite language used to promote projects. For example, your article carries the following quote about the benefits of standard medical terminology: “to transparently standardise information against a consistent knowledge base to drive decision-support and outcomes-based analyses." The irony that I need my Babel fish to translate a statement about improving the use of language is not lost on me, and I can see the funny side. But how will I know whether the project has delivered if I don't really understand what it's all about?

Telling isn't it?

Why not go to the brilliant Plain English Campaign website, which is an independent pressure group fighting for public information to be written in plain English, with more than 6000 registered supporters in 70 countries, it is worth a look!

REFLECTION AND LEARNING STOP: Ask someone you trust to feedback to you their impression about the way you communicate, are you clear and concise, is what you say understandable and more importantly, what does the way you communicate say about you? Only do this is if you are ready to hear what they say and take action upon what you learn!

Józefa
The POL Experience

THE NEW LEADER?

2004-04-18T06:44:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

This summary is taken from a posting on one of my many online network sites and refers to an article called 'The New Leaders' by Tom Heuerman.

This offered much food for thought as I work through the development of a new short programme of leadership training…see what you think.

".... New principles to live by emerge for us. My principles serve as lenses to experience life through:

1. I can only control my own choices,
2. I believe in something greater than myself,
3. I live my deepest authenticity,
4. I am honest with myself about myself,
5. I share myself with another person,
6. I take action,
7. I choose a life of service,
8. I am aware of my impact on others,
9. I revere all living things,
10. I reflect on my actions,
11. I communicate with that which is greater than I,
12. I share my learning with others.

The reward of this hard work is a shift of thinking, understanding, feeling, being, and behaving that is internalized and endures. Then, for leaders, instead of relying on mindless, mechanical formulas for meaningless change, aware leaders will be in a position to utilize their wisdom, maturity, and judgment to do the appropriate thing, in the right way, at the right time, to fit the unique reality of their organization."

Just click on sub title of this post to read more from Tom Heuerman's online newsletter. It certainly makes you think about how this 'New Leader' would compare with the 'Old Leader' and what kind of changes might be needed at organisational level to accomodate this type of change?

Have a good week,

Józefa
The POL Experience

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

2004-04-11T17:14:00.000+01:00

MIDWEEK MADNESS!!

2004-04-06T10:33:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

So much to do in just four days before Easter, see how I feel..

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

2004-04-03T00:40:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

What a week of highs and lows this has been, to best represent my thoughts here are 20 little words...

1. Intensity
2. Huge demands
3. Online discussions
4. Information overload
5. Excitement
6. Scanner
7. New toy
8. Happy
9. Concerned
10.Joined up thinking
11.Varying interpretation
12.Feedback
13.Thank you's
14.Appreciation
15.Work 90%/Life 10% balance
16.Respect
17.New contacts
18.Old friend
19.Ethical behaviour
20.Whistleblowing

Click on the sub title of this post to find out more about reflective practice.

Józefa
The POL Experience

THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING ONLINE

2004-03-30T07:38:00.000+01:00

The learning journey continues...

I find myself spending more and more time online taking part in many different discussion boards and posting all around the world. This can take hours and hours, sitting in my kitchen office at home, whilst 'family' life goes on around me.

I enjoy meeting people and so what better way to travel around the world without leaving my home and family commitments, however, many of the people I meet when teaching or presenting have never tried this before. If you click on the sub title of this posting, you will get a link into one of the boards that I have been using a lot just lately.

KnowledgeBoard is a European KM Forum that has a wealth of exciting and thought-provoking discussions around Knowledge Management. Don't whatever you do be put off by some of the language, there are some passionate people who post there, but look beneath this and there is much to learn.

If you wish to let me know how you got on or wish to start to contribute to this blog as an invited guest member then mail me on:

jozefa@thepolexperience.com

Józefa
The POL Experience

MY LEARNING JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

2004-02-24T06:34:00.000Z

Hello and welcome to this weblog. I am brand new to this blogosphere and the art of blogging itself and will be interested to see how it can help me and others who visit to better understand the journey of learning.

I work as an independent learning specialist and my workplace is The POL Experience