Don’t forget the soft stuff

More and more research validates that universities are not equipping graduates with the real skills they need to succeed in the workplace.

Employers are saying that it’s not enough just to have technical or academic ability. Understandably, they want to recruit candidates who will be a good ‘fit’ in their organization. Usually this translates as: will they get along with other people? Can they cope with life in the workplace?  Are they adaptable as things change? It seems what is missing, for many graduates, are the ‘softer skills’ that relate to their ability to empathize and interact effectively with others, to communicate well, and to work in teams. And these are the key skills for aspiring professionals and managers!

These issues aren't likely to go away, and in my opinion if anything will be exacerbated by other environmental shifts.  I grew up in a generation where my social interactions with others were constant, and face-to-face.  Matter of fact, I can still remember my only negative report cards from early education typically containing some language to the effect of cautioning about the extent of my ‘socialness’.  Not only didn't my educators recognize how this aided my development, they actually felt I was hampering others in their noble quest to diagram a sentence or memorize the periodic table!  Today’s generation (our up and coming workforce) has developed in a much more ‘heads down’ mode.  While a more technology-agile workforce will have some advantage, a workforce whose primary method of communication is texting, may not.  What’s worse is that this generation is entering the workforce at a time when many organizations, looking for budget cuts, aren't investing as heavily in the very skills that will be needed for survival.

Back in 2012, we highlighted that business should really be looking for five specific traits and a mind-set for success, in new recruits.  Because the days of hiring people for a steady job - with a predictable workload - are over, our argument is that employers now need to recruit and develop individuals who are talented, resilient, adaptable, imaginative and trustworthy. These five traits form the mnemonic TRAIT. Adaptability is vital, as today’s recruits will need to become, to some extent, a Jack or Jill of all trades. The most important thing, though, is having the right mind-set, because that will impact on whatever job they’re asked to do.

So, why aren't these skills overtly learned at universities or business schools? Perhaps because ‘soft skills’ can actually be the hardest skills to teach? Getting people to behave differently, take a different approach, or have a different attitude, takes a more sophisticated approach to enabling learning.

Two things are needed to resolve this situation. First, students themselves must take more responsibility for developing the skills that will make them more employable. Secondly, universities and business schools need to update their formula. This could mean supplementing their capabilities with an alternative approach, partnering with soft skills providers to provide subject matter expertise and delivery know-how. Not only will the result be valuable for students in their work, but it is likely to help them in their lives generally.  And even then, the workforce must be ready to accept new graduates and understand the fundamental shift that occurs during that first transition to the working world.

So, the real challenge for organizations is to identify and develop candidates that not only have the technical skills required for a task, but also have the right traits and the right mindset for success.

I have an idea…

These are likely the 4 words most dreaded by anyone who has ever worked or lived with me, as they are typically used in conjunction with some home or workplace beautification project.  I’ve actually heard tell of former employees warning current teammates to steer well clear of being sucked into a renovation project with me.  It seems people think I’m difficult to work with on such projects – I personally have no idea why.  I will point out that they all seem to enjoy the resulting product when it is done, so hopefully we can at least agree that the end justifies the means.

I have an idea!

I have always been a firm believer that a great working environment brings out the best in people.  When done correctly, it not only looks better, but space is utilized more efficiently, team communication improves, levels of professionalism seem to rise – the overall mood of the place is lifted.  Believe me; I’ve proved this many times over.

Folks at Hemsley Fraser heard me utter the dreaded 4 words a little over a year ago.  In my opinion, if we were to embody our corporate strap, ‘learning is changing’, it simply wasn’t enough to continue our focus on great content and great facilitators, but equally the environment for learning had to be perfect as well.

What makes a best in class, class?  After considerable research and polling of our delegates, we think we know:

• Mobile furniture configurations, allowing the classroom to be mixed up
• More free space for thinking and working in small groups
• Fun zones that spur creativity and innovation
• Modern technology (including flat screens for easy viewing)
• Quality audio 
• Paperless, or paper ‘light’, courses utilizing videos and apps to bolster learning
• Bright and fresh décor, increasing energy levels
• Time and space for networking, and learning from others
• White board walls – no longer constricting big ideas to little flip charts

As a result of this vision, I’m proud to say we have invested significantly in all of our core facilities (London, Cornwall, and Washington).  We have shown that a next generation classroom is effectively a place where clients can free their imagination.  If you want to see how (and see me learning to play Jenga), click here!

Now we have gone further…

Before we even get to the venue, the learning starts well in advance, during our creative design process. As with most professional services firms, our standard practice has always been to go to the client.  It does seem the most polite and customer friendly approach after all.  But is it the most effective?   I don’t know why the light bulb was so slow to go off for me, but during our recent office refurbishment and after many meetings with our building designers - each time them bringing me sample books of the carpet, wallpaper, and furniture books they thought I would like – it finally occurred to us…why aren’t we going to the showroom where we can see everything in one place and hopefully find some inspiration?

And in just the same way, as an L&D provider we can only take just so much when going to the client.  What if their needs are slightly different than what we anticipated?  What if their budget is different?  Frankly, what if they aren’t sure what they want yet?

At this moment I realized that we needed not only a next generation venue, but a design showroom as well.  I had an idea!

I’m proud to say we have now created just that – a first-class Learning and Development shop window – right in the heart of London.

In this space, just now opening, clients can see all that we have to offer.  For one thing, technology is transforming the creative design process. Interactive design boards allow you to create, play, share and approve your designs; knowledge assets all on display; standard content and alternative delivery media all ready to be previewed.  Quite simply, this is game-changing the ‘art of the possible’ in learning design.

Of course it has to spur imagination, so throw in ‘inside/outside’ space, a client creation zone, some AstroTurf, and Underground ‘quiet carriages’ and you’ve got something very different to experience!

Whether a customer is looking for a high-end customized solution that challenges their thinking, or simply a chance to innovate and improve company-specific learning programs, we have seen our new visual and interactive approach to design really help push the creative envelope.

When you can experience an ideal learning environment, talk to subject matter experts on learning, and participate in game-changing design, isn’t that worth leaving your office for?

Plus, our fresh coffee and pastries are pretty good too ;-)

The power of music - Sing it loud… this holiday season

"....music is the universal language of mankind”, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

It might sound over the top, but the fact is that music is one of the most fundamental aspects of human culture and researchers even think music may have pre-dated language itself.  Music can transcend cultural, geographical and language barriers and, as we know, can unite people.

Whenever humans come together, the chances are that music is there... Significant life events, like weddings or funerals, religious ceremonies, entertainment, even company conferences and events. So, what makes music so compelling to us?

Leonard Bernstein in his Harvard Lectures suggested music may have come about from… The universal word, “mama...”… If you sing it a little faster and a little louder, mama will hear you and come and feed you. In this sense, music had a survival necessity. Beyond survival though, music is about play, storytelling, communication and bringing people together. Not only does it help us to connect and make meaning of things, but it helps us release endorphins and feel pleasure.

For this holiday season blog, I thought it would be appropriate to focus on the significance of music and singing as a medium to overcome cultural or geographical differences.

“Music transcends the limits of language…” Moby.

I guess many of us will have experienced big company events that use music, at some stage, to hype up the audience!? But, there is much more potential than just that. I’ve experienced music used in quite innovative ways at multi-nation events, to communicate a point and get alignment and buy-in. Depending on how it is used; it can be a great motivator and can really help get teams of people engaged together behind a particular message. It can work really well across boundaries and with teams that are not used to working together. I have seen it used very effectively as the ‘glue’ at team working sessions, where language could have been a barrier to communications.

I was reflecting on the power of music the other day after watching a YouTube video forwarded to me by a work colleague… It was of a flash mob event at an airport.  I noticed that I couldn’t tell what nationality the singers were. They seemed to have lost any accent when they sang – and frankly not that it mattered, as what was really interesting was the message!

I’ve included a link to the video.  If you have the time to listen, I encourage you to do so twice.  Hit play the first time and simply listen with your eyes closed.  It will be silent for a few moments as a message (which you will be able to read the second time) is played in text only.  You will then hear the lovely sounds of a traditional holiday carol.   Then watch it the second time.  Not only will the context of the flash mob become clear, but I think you’ll be amazed that the singers aren’t what you would have pictured at all.   What was particularly fascinating to me is that I understood every word they said, whereas had this same group been speaking I would have likely struggled to understand a stronger accent.

Music is a social communication mechanism that has a powerful influence on human feelings and on the interpretation of events. We simply cannot ignore the profoundly deep emotional connection we have to music.

So, why not give some thought to how you might use music in an innovative way to engage your team? Plus, this holiday season make sure you take time to enjoy some music and maybe even join in… 

"...To create and perform music is a human instinct. It is one of the true universals of our species.” Biologist and author E. O. Wilson, essay in Harvard Magazine.