Tag Archives: staff motivation

It’s all in the preparation

You know what it’s like – bullet pointed tips, page-upon-page of text, explanations of how to do this and why you shouldn’t do that, how to stand, what to say and things you must include. Before you know it, you feel even more anxious then before you researched: “How to prepare for a presentation.” Your eyes start to glaze-over, concentration slipping away…How to prepare for a presentation

Common phobia

Skylark specialise in making training video for businesses from the smallest of firms to national government bodies. The company knows that giving a presentation to work colleagues is a common phobia in the work place and wanted to help.

“Many people worry about this topic in the run-up and look to the internet for advice. So we thought, a video that was short, snappy and a little bit tongue-in-cheek would be a breath of fresh air compared to what is available on the web at the moment,” explained Skylark director, Jo Haywood.

The video has been created as an online resource and also a tool for trainers to use when advising on corporate presentations. “A training manager is welcome to play our video as a visual aid. A short film is an extremely effective tool for keeping your delegates alert.” Jo explained. “The video is also a good excuse for employees and managers alike to take a break and have a bit of fun!”

By producing this light-hearted piece, Skylark hopes to provide some much needed relief and guidance in an area where confusion and stress seem to reign.

Skylark has continued to illustrate how effective a video can be for business training, whether it’s recruiting new staff or re-training current employees. The video was also a way of showing how complicated tasks can be broken down into digestible bites, and how effective learning through video can be.

Using a video to illustrate a particular business aspect can be an effective tool for different types of learners as video simplifies complex subjects and the retention of information from video is 6x greater than when information is delivery orally only.

Concept of the video

“We decided on a dream-like landscape and to have the main character living in the dream, but the voices that you hear are coming from the conference room, back in the real world. He has fallen asleep in the conference room.”

Skipping through fields, playing in a park and eating ice-cream, things most of us would rather be doing than presenting to a room full of people, and these are the things we see the main character dreaming about, all the while we hear advice and pointers on how he should have prepared for his presentation. These tips are echoing to the character from the conference room.

“A lot of people will be able to relate to the film, and hopefully it will help them to see that they are not alone in being nervous about presenting,” continued Jo.

This will be the first in a series of how-to videos aimed at giving advice and direction for business training. Follow Skylark on Twitter and You Tube for more in the series.

Video e-learning continues to grow

Those of you with an interest in the use of video online may be interested to see that digital marketers, Econsultancy, have published a report on ‘Best Practice for Online Video’.

The 60-page report contains practical tips and a number of case studies for companies who want to use the medium to better their business.

Independent digital specialist and author of the report, Steffan Aquarone, said: “This guide to online video is specifically aimed at brand or marketing managers, content owners and digital marketers who are using video as a strategic tool. It aims to lay out everything that’s happening in online video so you can choose the tools and techniques that will work for your project and achieve clear, measurable business objectives from online video.

“The report is full of examples from some of the top people in online video to help you anticipate what will be relevant to your organisation in the future.”

Video is fast becoming the most popular technique in online communication, overtaking the written word and still pictures. Aimed at enhancing our enjoyment and keeping us engaged, some of the benefits associated with video as part of e-learning include: immediate visual feedback, green and sustainable learning, support for different learning styles – such as audio and visual learners.

The report contains: an introduction to online video strategy, a report on why video works: strategic benefits and Online video essentials, including formats, platforms, channels, social sharing and digital rights management.

It also includes the following topics:
-) Getting an audience, including email distribution, seeding content and video search engine optimisation
-) Measurement
-) Producing content
-) Legislation
-) Future of online video
-) Glossary

Expert contributors to the report include Chris Gorell Barnes (Adjust Your Set), Will Grant (Buto), Mike Johnston (Boss Creative), Lee Kemp (Fullrange), Bismarck Lepe (Ooyala), Stuart Maister (BroadView Communications), Manley (LBi), Joe Pélissier (independent marketing consultant and producer) and Sarah Wood (Unruly Media).

Skylark Media Group, a video production company based in Bristol, not only creates online video, but also offers advice on video SEO and its strategic use online.

The Skylark Media Group blog discusses the changing world of video.

Email the online writer: Rebecca@skylarkmediagroup.co.uk

The Benefits of Video for Business Training

How to engage your staff

We’ve all seen it before, the boredom on the faces of the candidates, ‘I’ve heard it all before’ racing through their heads, when suddenly the presentation includes a video – an amusing dramatisation, an inspirational speaker, a company promo set to uplifting music.

Suddenly the energy level picks up.

People feel more inspired and focused.

Whether you’re offering training online at the desk or face to face, video is one of the most effective methods of business communication.

Training videos are often used to welcome new staff, as part of the induction programme. They can also be used to introduce new working practices or new technology. A training video is the ideal way to get the information on how to use new systems across your entire workforce quickly. It could take weeks to train the staff in individual or group sessions, especially if you operate from more than one site. Using an online video will save you both time and money.

Training videos can be used to train staff on new policies, health and safety issues, customer service standards or simply the latest features of a new product. You might also use it to get a message from your CEO to all staff. Another way that some companies communicate is to allow staff with expertise in a particular area to make their own films to post on the company website. Highly motivating and economical to make.

Every company must offer their employees training from the initial training at orientation to ongoing development. “The way you train your new employees is important in not only enabling them to do a good job, but also with their retention. Recent studies have shown that when a new hire is adequately trained in the beginning, they feel more confident in their job and therefore will stay with you longer.” Peggy Morrow, ‘Training for Success’.

The better the training that you give your staff the more confident they will be about doing their job. They will also be more productive. It can also reduce training time by 20%.

Skylark Media is one of the UK’s leading training video production companies. With a background in BBC documentaries and business training for The Sunday Times, we employ some of the industries brightest talent to liven up your corporate communications.