ENGAGE YOUR PEOPLE - SAVE MONEY - IMPROVE RESILIENCE
The Learning Architect is keen to support organisations through challenging times and as a result have carefully researched and developed a portfolio of Modern Life Skills. These have been designed to help you to support your people, to deliver effective and flexible learning and to reduce your spending significantly.
- Take a pick ‘n’ mix approach, choosing from the portfolio available
- Each of the 20 life skills are 60-minute interactive bite-size sessions
- We recommend a maximum of 4 modules to be delivered per day
- Longer sessions can be designed and tailored to suit your requirements
- The sessions can be tailored to accommodate any size audience
- They are suitable for bespoke learning programmes,conferences and team builds
- Annual license fee for organisations to use as an on line learning option is available
- Modern Life Skills book is available with additional support information
- Sustainable post event support learning including our dedicated e - line service
- In house Train the Trainer programme options are also available
Background Information
The Learning Architect, in collaboration with key experts, have researched the skills and competencies required for individuals to cope with modern living. The portfolio of essential Modern Life Skills has been designed working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) model which divides Life Skills into subsets of categories which include the following:
- Learning to know (cognitive abilities)
- Learning to be (personal abilities)
- Learning to live together (interpersonal abilities)
Modern Life Skills
These Modern Life Skills have been designed to help you to support your people and return on investment through easily sustainable behavioural outcomes.
Each bite-sized module can be adapted to align itself to suit the exact requirements of the organisation. Here are the overviews and outputs for each one in alphabetical order:
Change Ability
Change and the ability to manage change is becoming increasingly important. It affects the way that we work, the way that we communicate and the entire way that we live our day-to-day lives. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Understand the change process
- Examine the emotions that change brings
- Understand the benefits of change
- Be more positive about change
- Take responsibility for your own change management
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to change
- Discussion about change and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on change
- Group interactive session
- Tips on coping with and managing change
- Reflection time and personal action planning
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, or the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change - Charles Darwin
Communication
Communication occurs when someone understands you, not just when you speak. It is a lot easier to see something from our own perspective and much more difficult to look at it from another person’s. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Actively listen and focus
- Understand your communication style
- Understand the effects of non verbal communication
- Manage technological communication
- Communicate more effectively and positively
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to communication
- Discussion about what makes someone an excellent communicator & sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on communication
- Group interactive session
- Tips on becoming a better communicator
- Reflection time and personal action planning
The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has been achieved - George Bernard Shaw
Conflict Resolution
Conflict is when two or more values, perspectives and opinions are contradictory in nature and haven’t been aligned or agreed about yet. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Diffuse your own or the other person’s anger
- Listen to what the other person has to say
- Genuinely consider the other person’s point of view
- Understand your own limitations
- Seek win-win outcomes
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to conflict and why it happens
- Discussion about conflict and sharing experiences
- Presentation on conflict
- Group interactive session
- Tips on handling and managing conflict
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional - Max Lucade
Creativity
Creativity is a very useful tool when we are not able to solve problems or we need to explore new and innovative ways of doing things. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Understand the benefits of creativity
- Explore different methods of creativity
- Develop a creative thinking toolkit
- Develop the confidence to embrace creativity
- Implement new and appropriate creative ideas
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to creativity
- Discussion about creativity and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on creativity
- Group interactive session
- Tips on developing a creative mind set
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way - Edward de Bono
Decision Making
Decision making is something we do every day of our lives. Some decisions have high-risk consequences, and the impact of the decision may be significant for yourself and for others. This life skill will enable you to:
- Identify your decision objective
- Establish who else is involved
- Explore the alternatives that you have available
- Analyse your options and conduct a risk assessment
- Make your decision and positively implement it
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to decision making
- Discussion about decision making and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on decision making
- Group interactive session
- Tips on developing a decisive mind set
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Decision is like a sharp knife that cuts straight and clean, indecision a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges - Graham Gordon
Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience is a core life skill and one that is becoming increasingly important when coping with the challenges and changes that life brings. Learning to be emotionally-resilient and cultivating the ability to bounce back is certainly very useful and this life skill will enable you to:
- Understand your reactions and emotions
- Handle challenging situations positively
- Be open to learning about yourself
- Embrace past mistakes and tap into future potential
- Bounce back quickly and confidently
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to resilience
- Discussion about resilience and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on creating a set of coping mechanisms for challenging times
- Group interactive session
- Tips on how to become more resilient
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall - Confucius
Empathy & Understanding
Empathy and understanding is the emotional process that builds connection between people. It is a state of perceiving and relating to another person’s feelings and needs without blaming, giving advice or trying to fix the situation. This life skill will enable you to:
- Demonstrate real interest in how others feel
- Put yourself in another individual’s shoes
- Become more compassionate towards others
- Be fully present when you are with people
- Understand another perspective and viewpoint
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to empathy & understanding
- Discussion about empathy & understanding - sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on empathy & understanding
- Group interactive session
- Tips on how to become more empathetic
- Reflection time and personal action planning
If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own - Henry Ford
Energy Management
Managing your energy levels is very important for you to achieve everything you set out to do each day. Understanding how you can balance your energy so that you avoid the slumps and feel energised and in great condition to be able to cope with our work/home lives will help you to get the best and most out of what you do. This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand your own personal energy levels throughout the day
- Make the most of your peaks and manage your troughs
- Know what zaps you and what fires you
- Understand food and drink as energy resource
- Create a personal toolkit to help you develop sustainable physical and mental energy
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to energy management
- Discussion about energy management and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation about energy management
- Tips on becoming more energised
- Reflection time and personal action planning
And what is a man without energy? Nothing, nothing at all - Mark Twain
Feedback
Feedback is the food of progress and like any food it may not always taste nice however it may be very good for you. Learning to give and receive feedback is key to personal progress.
This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand the importance of feedback
- Know how to deliver feedback positively
- Understand the difference between criticism and feedback
- Manage your emotions positively during the feedback process
- Actively seek feedback as a personal development tool
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to feedback
- Discussion about giving and receiving feedback and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation about feedback
- Tips on feedback
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Feedback is the breakfast of champions – Ken Blanchard
Goal Setting
Goals unlock your positive mind and release energies and ideas for success and achievement. Setting goals gives us direction, purpose and focus in our lives and learning how to set objectives and goals is the key to personal success. This life skill will enable you to:
- Embrace the benefits of what you want to achieve
- Set goals that are personal to you and that you are committed to
- Understand specifically what it is you want to achieve
- Know how to measure the outcomes of your goals
- Ensure that your goals are realistic and achievable
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to goal setting
- Discussion about goal setting and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on goal setting
- Group interactive session
- Tips on goal setting and tracking
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals - Aristotle
Impact & Influencing
Making a positive impact and having the ability to influence people at all levels and in a range of situations is a very powerful skills and even more so in the competitive world we live in. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Develop enthusiasm and positivity
- Be confident, energised and assertive
- Make an impact and a positive impression
- Persuade people towards positive outcomes
- Express yourself fluently - with passion and facts
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to impact & influencing
- Discussion about impact & influencing and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on impact & influencing
- Group interactive session
- Tips on impact and influencing
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another - Napoleon Hill
Life Balance
Life balance is about how you approach your work and home life. It is about recognising the importance of getting the balance right so that you can be more in control and enjoy a happy fulfilling lifestyle.
This Life Skill will help you to:
- Understand how to balance work and home
- Prioritise what is important to you
- Manage your time more effectively
- Create a plan that helps you to balance your life better
- Live a more satisfying and fulfilling life
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to life balance
- Discussion on the importance of balance and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on balance
- Group interactive session
- Tips on how to take a holistic approach to work/home balance
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being - Orison Swett Marde
Positive Thinking
Positive thinking is the key to happiness and health, and pretty much dictates the way we go about our work and live our lives in general. A positive attitude recognises the negative aspects of a situation, but chooses to focus instead on the opportunities available. This life sill will enable you to:
- Understand the benefits of positive thinking
- Be aware of the key principles of positive psychology
- Use positive thinking techniques to condition your mind
- Appreciate your life more and practise gratitude
- Seek out possibilities where others see obstacles
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to positivity
- Discussion around positivity and sharing experiences
- Presentation on positivity
- Group interactive session
- Tips to develop a positive attitude
- Reflection time and personal action planning
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty - Winston Churchill
Problem Solving
Problem solving is a key skill with regards to dealing with some of the challenges we face each day. Learning to be resourceful, creative and positive can help you to find a way through a variety of obstacles. This Life Skill will enable you to:
- View problems objectively
- Look at problems from all angles
- Identify appropriate problem solving techniques
- Use creativity to tackle problems
- View problems and opportunities
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to problem solving
- Discussion about problem solving and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on problem solving
- Group interactive session
- Tips on problem solving
- Reflection time and personal action planning
If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail - Abraham Maslow
Relationship Building
Building relationships is key to our ability to co-exist with others in society, at home and in the workplace. Positive relationships can help people to feel better connected, supported and altogether happier and healthier. This life skill enables you to:
- Develop a positive relationship with yourself
- Adapt your behaviour to create rapport with others
- Understand other people’s behaviours better
- Improve your communication skills
- Be more empathetic and compassionate
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to relationship building
- Discussion about relationship building and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on relationship building
- Group interactive session
- Tips to build better relationships with others
- Reflection time and personal action planning
The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people - Theodore Roosevelt
Relaxation
Building relaxation time into our lives is so important and can help to keep our stress levels down, and consequently improves our health. Too much work and not enough time out for ourselves can result in physical and mental health problems. This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand the health benefits of relaxation
- Create situations where you can relax
- Be able to relax at work and at home
- Explore a range of relaxation techniques
- Create a personal relaxation plan
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to relaxation techniques
- Discussion about relaxation techniques and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on relaxation techniques and the benefits
- Group interactive session
- Tips on relaxation techniques
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop - Ovid
Self Confidence
The real key to self confidence is about believing in yourself and trusting your own views and opinions. Every human being has the ability to take control and make positive changes.
This Life Skill will enable you to:
- Improve your personal intelligence
- Use positive self-talk to develop self-confidence
- Be grateful for what you have and make the most of it
- Identify your hidden potential and cultivate it
- Be the best that you can be
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to self confidence
- Discussion about self confidence and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on the psychology of self confidence
- Group interactive session
- Tips to developing self confidence
- Reflection time and personal action planning
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval - Mark Twain
Stress Management
What is considered stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. We all react differently, with some people thriving on it while others can become ill. This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand stress and the effects it can have
- Be more aware of your personal stress triggers
- Get more done in a day without getting stressed out
- Deflect and manage other peoples stress
- Develop a toolkit of stress busters and techniques
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to stress
- Discussion about stress and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on stress and what it is
- Group interactive session
- Tips to alleviate stress
- Reflection time and personal action planning
Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are - Chinese Proverb
Time Management
Time management is one of the most important skills that we can possess. Knowing how to prioritise and get the best and most of the day can alleviate stress, help you to achieve more and result in higher levels of personal satisfaction. This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand the importance of time management
- Explore the obstacle for managing time
- Implement time management techniques
- Learn to prioritise with confidence
- Develop an organised system for everything you do
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to time management
- Discussion about time management and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on time zappers
- Group interactive session
- Tips and toolkit on time management
- Reflection time and personal action planning
But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day - Benjamin Disraeli
Trust & Respect
Feeling valued by others is about feeling that they trust you and respect your opinion. Learning to trust can be challenging and is an important part of demonstrating that you respect and value someone.
This life skill will enable you to:
- Understand the importance of trust
- Learn how to develop the confidence to trust more
- Understand the importance of respect
- Show respect for others
- Empower and value people through trust and respect
Bite Size Session Overview
- Introduction to trust & respect
- Discussion about trust & respect and sharing positive experiences
- Presentation on trust & respect
- Group interactive session
- Tips on trust & respect
- Reflection time and personal action planning
To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved - George McDonald
The Learning Architect provided a very enjoyable and energetic day for the team. We received lots of tips on having a positive approach to work and life and how to manage our own emotions. We were encouraged to look for opportunities and to make sure we take care of ourselves in times of change.
Janet Baker - Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, Department of Health
Modern Life Skills brings to life a subject we all need to embrace and simple actions and solutions we can all benefit from in difficult and challenging times.
Dr David Batman - Workplace Wellness Expert
The life skills workshops were informative, interactive and will enable organisations and more importantly individuals, the choice and ownership of actions that will improve health and well-being and improve service delivery and quality to our customers.
Martin Wilson, Head of Health and Well-being - Lincolnshire County Council