PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CABA offers a range of professional and personal development courses designed to meet the needs of past and present ICAEW members and ACA students. The sessions outlined below can all be adapted to meet your specific requirements. For more information please contact CABA s training team on +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or by emailing training@caba.org.uk CORE PROGRAMMES Introduction to mindfulness Mindfulness is everywhere at the moment but is it as good as its positive press? During this session you ll explore the concept of mindfulness and how using it can enable you to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, you're better able to manage them. You ll examine the foundations of mindfulness, the empirical evidence behind it and its many applications in everyday life. You ll also have the opportunity to try out a number of mindfulness strategies and with regular practice you ll be able to: Improve your mental and physical health Manage stress Enhance wellbeing Reduce anxiety Increase emotional intelligence Improve mental clarity and focus Reduce emotional reactivity Improve relationships at home and at work Authentic happiness: The theory and practice of wellbeing What makes us happy? This is a question which has been contemplated since the Ancient Greeks and now there is a science of happiness which shows what does and doesn t make a difference to our wellbeing. This workshop explores the two dimensions of happiness. Hedonic wellbeing - the happiness we get from pleasure and enjoyment and Eudaimonic wellbeing - the deeper kind of happiness which comes from having meaning and purpose in life, playing to your strengths and realising your potential. You will be introduced to the science and practice of wellbeing. You will get to know the 3 pillars of authentic happiness - the pleasurable life, the engaged life and the meaningful life. You will sample some of the scientifically-grounded tools that raise the bar on your happiness, inspired by Prof Martin Seligman's model of authentic happiness. After completing this session you ll be able to: Identify the different forms of happiness Know how to increase your experience of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing Have a greater understanding of your strengths and what gives life meaning and purpose. Create a happiness action plan Build your resilience The way you react to challenges and setbacks is a reflection of how resilient you are. Resilient people don't dwell on the fact that things don't always go quite as planned. They simply learn from their experiences and move forward. Our resilience sessions explore ways of boosting your self-confidence and coping more effectively with setbacks, both in and out of the workplace. You ll explore the tools you need to develop a resilient attitude and examine the differences between pressure (which can be positive and motivating) and stress (a natural reaction to too much pressure). After completing this session you ll be able to: Recognise the difference between pressure and stress Identify what causes you stress Understand the foundations of resilience Assess your personal level of resilience Use a range of tools and techniques, including mindfulness strategies to increase your resilience Design a plan to continue to build your resilience
Emotional intelligence for success Ground-breaking research by Daniel Goleman has redefined intelligence and success. In his best-selling book Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ Goleman argues that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow and that our emotions play a major role in thought decision making and individual success. During this session you ll explore why emotional intelligence (EI) is an important part of career adaptability and how it can improve your success and wellbeing, both personally and professionally. You ll look at ways of developing your EI, leading to increased self-awareness, improved performance and motivation and stronger relationships. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand the basics of emotional intelligence Assess your emotional intelligence Use strategies to develop your emotional intelligence Understand how emotional intelligence affects your focus Start to develop your social awareness and effectiveness Design a plan to continue to develop your emotional intelligence Developing and maintaining a growth mindset Your mindset impacts on everything that you do. Having a growth mindset can help you to become more positive and motivated, leading to more opportunities and success. It can help you to solve problems creatively and improve your ability to learn and develop. During this session you ll identify your current mindset and, if needed, challenge it so that you can pursue your professional and personal goals more effectively. After completing this session you ll be able to: Tell the difference between a fixed and growth mindset Assess your current mindset and identify areas you want to develop Understand how your mindset affects different areas of your life Identify some techniques and strategies to develop and maintain a flexible attitude and a growth mindset Managing change effectively Like it or not, change is a normal part of life. It affects everyone, personally and professionally. This session will look at how your reaction to change can impact your wellbeing and the difference having a positive mindset can make. You ll explore how to accept or adjust to change and how to be open to the opportunities that change can bring. After completing this session you ll be able to: Recognise the change process and how it impacts on you individually Be aware of your own individual response to change Understand how your response to change can impact your performance and motivation Use effective strategies to manage personal change See the benefits change can bring Career mapping & taking charge of your career Research has identified 4 key competencies which make up career adaptability: Concern for the future: an interest in the future helps you to look ahead and prepare for what might come next Control: taking responsibility for your career development enables you to influence and shape it Curiosity: imagining and exploring different potential scenarios opens up new possibilities Confidence: having belief in your capacity to pursue and achieve your goals Each of us has different strengths and our own unique blend of these 4 attributes. By developing your career adaptability, you can learn to use each competency effectively, so that you can have the career and future you want. This workshop will help you understand your strengths in these four areas and identify how you can develop to have the career you want to have. After completing this session you ll be able to: Set goals for the career you want to have Identify strategies to help you take control of your career Be alert to different and emerging opportunities Increase your confidence in your ability to achieve
Develop your personal brand Everyone has a personal brand, a uniqueness that helps them stand out from the crowd - whether or not they're aware of it. We all have qualities that shape and influence how people see us and how we see ourselves. After completing this session you'll understand why personal branding is an essential aspect of career adaptability. You ll learn how to undertake an open and honest review of yourself, understand how others see you and discover how you can use your strengths, skills, passions and values to send a clear, consistent message about who you are and what you offer. You ll also have the opportunity to practise the skills you need to develop your personal brand, helping you to create a powerful first impression, communicate more effectively and build strong relationships both in and out of work. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand the importance of personal branding Identify what sets you apart from others Develop strategies to build your personal brand Use effective non-verbal communication Improve your social awareness and effectiveness Design a plan to continue to build your personal brand Networking In some ways, one's address book is one of the most important things one has. It s about who you know, the gatekeepers to new work and it helps enormously if they know you as a person not just as a name. We all ought to think of ourselves as self-employed, even within the organisation. (Charles Handy) This workshop will help you identify what networking really is and why it is important along with providing you with practical tools to be able to network and to do it effectively and efficiently. In addition as well as face to face networking, social media platforms such as LinkedIn will be examined to see how they can help you raise your profile. After completing this session you will be able to: Reframe how you think about networking. Understand the best use of informal, formal and social networks to help you develop your career. Be able to use techniques for effective networking, both on and offline. Where next planning the next step in your career Nowadays few people stay in the same job for the whole of their working life. Flexible working patterns and the concept of 'portfolio' careers are becoming increasingly popular. As the world of work changes, career adaptability becomes ever more important, whether you're standing out, looking for a new challenge or considering semi-retirement. Being adaptable makes you more responsible for your own career development. Learning to explore and experiment can also help you identify career opportunities that you may not have otherwise considered. After completing this session you will be able to: Complete an audit of your current position Identify your personal values and realise how this can support your next steps Explore areas of interest Examine your options Design a three stage map for your next career move Interview Skills Some of us enjoy interviews, for others the experience has been described as feeling like walking on a drawbridge over hungry crocodiles. This session will help you to prepare thoroughly for interviews, to reduce anxiety and maximise your chances of success. Providing you with a range of skills to make the impression you desire throughout the interview from making an impact when you walk in the room to asking great questions at the end. After completing this session you will be able to: Answer to the tricky so tell us about yourself. Prepare for situation, competency based and panel interviews. Know how to complete the research you are expected to do. Answer common interview questions and wildcard questions you can t prepare for. Identify great questions to ask interviewers Understand best practice for psychometric and aptitude tests and other assessment methods.
Time management Everyone can benefit from effective time management naturally you ll notice an improvement in your focus, reduced stress, increased control and work-life balance but so will those around you. During this session you ll explore how through planning, communication and delegation you can improve your effectiveness, confidence and productivity, without impacting negatively on your wellbeing. You ll understand the importance of setting clear objectives and of identifying the difference between important and urgent. After completing this session you ll be able to: Identify how effective time management can benefit you The cost of ineffective time management Identify goals you can set and how to achieve them Set priorities Handle interruptions effectively Know how to say no without giving offence Handle the technology deluge Take control of your personal effectiveness Explore how you can achieve success without sacrificing your wellbeing. During this session you ll look at ways of overcoming common obstacles to personal effectiveness and the importance of your mindset when approaching challenging situations and relationships. You ll explore the importance of self-awareness and of working in alignment with your strengths and values. You ll also begin to develop a toolkit to increase your capacity to be resourceful, productive and respected. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand your strengths and focus on developing them Identify strategies to build and improve your confidence Communicate effectively and increase your assertiveness Improve your ability to understand and influence others Understand the value of feedback Improve your wellbeing by learning how to manage your reaction to stressful situation Persuasion & Influencing Skills How do you persuade someone to do something? Do you rely on your job title to have authority over them? Or sell to them? In this session you will explore more effective ways to persuade people and discover the behaviours that create influence. This course is essential for your personal development if you want to get yourself heard, create a more positive first impression and communicate more confidently with peers, senior colleagues and clients. After completing this session you ll be able to: Identify the difference between influence and persuasion Understand the theory of reciprocity and how to use it Communicate in a more assertive, win-win, manner Understand he importance of first impressions Outline the Five Levels of Listening Use various questioning techniques Work/life balance When we re working in alignment with our strengths and values, everything seems straightforward but sometimes things can seem to spiral out of control and we can feel pulled in different directions. This session will explore the factors that help you achieve success without sacrificing your wellbeing. You ll discover how focus, intention and mindset can help resolve challenging situations and relationships and learn how to get things done productively and creatively whilst maintaining a healthy work/life balance. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand your strengths and focus on developing them Be aware of strategies to build and improve your confidence Be able to communicate more effectively and assertively Understand the importance of improving your ability to influence others Have more confidence when dealing with challenging situations Use tools and techniques to remain focussed and calm Improve your wellbeing by learning how to implement a work /life balance that works for you
Dealing with difficult situations & conversations For anyone who has to deal with an angry, aggressive, demanding or emotional individual; this workshop will provide some simple and effective techniques to help you remain in control, composed and able to resolve these situations positively. After completing this session you ll be able to: Identify the behaviours present in confrontations Understand assertiveness and conflict resolution techniques Understand how to defuse difficult situations Understand the skills necessary to remain calm, manage words, phrases and body language
PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS Managers Developing team resilience a strategy for managers It s essential for your wellbeing as a manager or leader that you can effectively support the wellbeing of your team. This session will enable you to recognise signs of stress in others and implement strategies to develop your team s resilience, improve their wellbeing and boost their performance. You ll explore practical tools and techniques to help you manage stress and build a resilience management framework. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand your wellbeing responsibility when managing others Identify the early signs of stress in yourself and others Start to take a proactive approach to creating an environment of openness and support Work with your team to manage stress and increase resilience Review your own coping strategies Design a plan to support your teams resilience Those in or approaching later life/retirement Strengths in later life We are living longer around 30 years has been added to the average lifespan. The transition to later life raises many questions such as what to do next? This workshop explores your strengths, the positive characteristics and abilities which can support you in this next stage of life. These are the inner resources you can draw on to build your well-being and move forward in a positive direction whether that s an encore career, pursuing a passion or contributing to the greater good. After completing this session you ll be able to: Identify and understand your personal strengths Apply your strengths to your passions and goals in life Discover further purpose in life via your strengths Plan how to put your strengths into action. Sole practitioners / lone workers Lone working how to be productive and look after your wellbeing Working on your own or from home brings certain advantages; you can plan your own diary, there s little or no commute and you can concentrate, away from the hubbub of the office environment. However, it s not all plain sailing. Remote, home and lone working requires a large dose of self-discipline, drive and determination. Staying healthy, happy and motivated can be challenging. This workshop will explore how to remain at your physical and mental best when working for yourself or running a small business. Sole practitioners, home workers, those running small businesses and lone workers will find this course relevant. Those who are considering a career change to self-employment will also find this a useful overview of the skills needed in this new way of working. After completing this short introduction, you ll: Understand the differences between home/lone/remote based working and working in an office environment Be aware of the impact on your wellbeing of working for yourself and on your own Be able to manage your workspace for optimal performance Practice proven time and energy management techniques Feel confident developing strong relationships with colleagues and clients with various communication techniques Understand the importance of work space boundaries Be able to use resilience building tools for sustainable health and wellbeing
Career breaks Returning to work with confidence Having a break from working life can leave you feeling you lack the confidence to return to work. Your own thought patterns and feelings of fear and anxiety can make the process even more difficult. This session will help you overcome these challenges. With a focus on overcoming negative thinking and practical tips to boost your confidence, you will develop the skills to make returning to work a smooth process. After completing this session you ll be able to: Explore the thoughts and feelings experienced when returning to work after a period of absence Know how to deal with negative thoughts Identify some strategies of how to minimise fears and manage anxiety Recognise the importance of acknowledging yourself and what you have to build self-esteem and confidence Comeback community workshop series Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover Mark Twain To support those who have taken a career break we have developed a series of three workshops to help with the process of planning to return to work. The sessions explore what you want to get out of your return to work, building your selfconfidence and taking positive steps to sell yourself to employers and your network. Each session will incorporate dedicated time to clarifying tangible next steps. Delegates will learn the keys to ensuring these positive new habits become a way of life! These workshops can either be delivered as stand-alone workshops or as a series. The learning outcomes for each session are: Session one Clarifying motivation, goals and strengths. Clarify your drivers and motivations for returning to work exploring any changes in priority and the possible impacts Creating your best self adopting the principles of positive psychology to ensure successful goal setting Understanding the range of options available to you and how to move towards these Explore and clarify your unique value and personal strengths Session 2 Your confident self Explore how having the right mindset drives change, increases confidence, supports resilience and enhances creativity Understand how to communicate effectively and assertively, ensuring we are heard and respected Recognise how change impacts you and explore effective strategies to boost your motivation and resilience through transition Create a clear plan for maintaining your future positive work/life integration Session 3 Getting out there; selling your value Clarify your rights around flexible working and how to approach this request with employers Identify your skills gaps and create a personal learning and development plan Understand how a clear personal brand and compelling narrative will help you identify, target and secure the next role Explore how to make the best of social media and networking to sell your value-add ACA students Developing your resilience to have the career you deserve Why do some people bounce back from disappointments and adversity quicker than others? In this session you will explore the concept of resilience, and develop skills to help you balance the challenges of work and study. People react differently to the same event depending on how they perceive that event: as a threat or as a challenge you can manage. You can learn to change your perception of both events and your ability to cope with them. Resilience is a vital wellbeing and career skill that allows you to adapt to new challenges, take on greater risks and responsibilities and manage stress. After completing this session you ll be able to: Understand how your mind can be your worst enemy sometimes and how to train it.
Have knowledge of how to re-evaluate events in a more rational, helpful way. Use practical tips for increasing resilience Put in place an action plan to cope with your immediate challenges with greater resilience. The road ahead: Dealing with transition and managing your resilience The move from being a full time student to the work place can be quite daunting. Whether it s dealing with the changes that are about to happen or having the confidence to network, there are strategies you can implement to help you move forward in this new phase of your life. This session will explore what change is and how you can tackle it, the skills required to network, and how to manage your time and plan your future career. After completing this session you ll be able to: Focus on dealing with change Address your current concerns Develop drive and direction Build your resilience Increase your awareness of managing your wellbeing