Bespoke Solutions was founded by and is run by Management Learning and Development Consultant, John Mc Cabe.
Bespoke Training Solutions have for the past 25 years have provided a range of bespoke management programmes. John will work closely with the client to analyse and clarify the issues, consider the options and design an initiative to address the specific needs. How the results will be measured is an integral part of the design process.
John has designed and delivered a range of short management skills and longer-term management development programmes. In addition, he has managed major HR, organisational diagnostic, development and change initiatives. He has worked extensively in the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA and S.E. Asia, with clients ranging from blue chip to SMEs. These have included, oil gas, electricity, aviation, public transport, food processing, manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, medical research, beauty, broadcasting, telecommunications, engineering, construction, professional services and the public sector.
In addition, he has worked extensively as an associate with SCOTWORK, the leading provider of negotiation skills training, and with KEPNER TREGOE, leading providers of Problem Solving and Decision-Making Training.
Prior to establishing Bespoke Training Solutions John spent almost 20 years in Hong Kong holding several senior executive positions with one of the territory’s most successful companies, the electricity utility China Light & Power. These included Training and Development Manager and Corporate Change Manager. In the former he was responsible for managing the corporate training group, including determining associated strategy and policy. In the latter, he was responsible for resolving HR and staff development issues arising from major organisational change.
John is a Master of Science in Training and has Diplomas in Training and Development and Training Management. He has worked with the University of Leicester as an associate tutor on their Training and Development and Human Resource Management diploma programmes.
In a rapidly changing world, managers must have the skills to deal with unfamiliar, complex and ambiguous situations. Action Learning is a process which helps managers develop these skills. This is achieved by setting them the task of resolving significant issues which are of importance to their organisation. Usually done in project groups with an advisor whose primary role is to help them reflect on what they are doing and learn and develop new skills and questioning insights, as they work to resolve the issues. The differences between conventional learning and action learning are outlined below.
At Bespoke Solutions, we believe that all our clients are different and have unique needs. Our philosophy is to work closely with them to clarify the issues and develop a tailored solution which will provide measurable ongoing results and benefits.
We employ a 5 step process and work closely with the client at every step.
An indication of the range of our experience and expertise is given below, although it is not restricted to these topics. Individual initiatives would draw from, and add to this to achieve the best match for the client’s specific needs.
Working closely with executives to help them become totally self-reliant in:
Psychometric profiling is used to help the executive understand personal style, strengths and weaknesses.
Improving the individual overall effectiveness by:
A workshop format is used to enable participants to work on their own issues.
People are not better because they have had more experience. They are better because they have learned more from their experience. This course helps the participants:
A questionnaire will be used to help the participants understand their personal learning style.
From this course, the participants will learn how to prepare and deliver presentations effectively and with confidence:
The participants will prepare and deliver a presentation. Video feedback will be used.
It has been said that change is the only constant and we certainly live in times of rapid change. To successfully deal with change, managers must be able to:
Assess & understand the current situation
Assess & understand the need for change
Understand and overcome resistance to change
Understand their own role in process
Identify key steps & action plans to implement change
A workshop format is used to enable participants to apply the concepts and processes to their own situation.
If required, facilitation can be provided for managers as they work through the implementation of change.
The ability to make the right decisions is a key attribute of any successful manager. Areas covered include:
A workshop format is used to enable participants to apply the skills and work on their own, upcoming decisions.
Primarily aimed at people who may not realise the importance of their customer service role for example, service engineers and technicians:
A workshop format is used to enable participants to work on their own issues. Psychometric profiling is used to help the participants understand their individual styles, strengths and weaknesses.
Developing the techniques and skills necessary for achieving better relationships and outcomes through improved influencing skills:
A workshop format is used to enable participants to work on their own issues. Psychometric profiling is used to help the participants understand individual styles
Aimed at assisting those new to management or supervisory roles understand the basic concepts of management and develop the required skills:
Psychometric profiling is used to help the participants understand their management style. Extensive use will be made of individual and group exercises and role-play. Where appropriate, the participants’ own issues will be used.
Please contact john@bespokesolutions.eu for details.
Performance appraisal is something which typically not looked forward to by either the appraiser or the appraisee. This course will develop the skills and confidence necessary to conduct successful staff appraisals:
The workshop will guide the participants through the process and will use role play and video feedback.
Performance management is often viewed as an add-on to their primary role by managers and supervisors. This course will enable them to carry out performance management as an integral and on-going part of their job responsibilities:
This course will enable the participants to objectively analyse situations where something has gone wrong and pinpoint the cause before taking corrective action:
A workshop format is used to enable participants to work through their own problems.
Designed for existing teams or teams formed for a specific project:
Extensive use is made of group syndicate work, with the emphasis on helping the teams address their own issues, find their own solutions and review what works well and what can be improved. Psychometric profiling is used to help the team understand individual styles, strengths and weaknesses.
In a rapidly changing world, managers must have the skills to deal with unfamiliar, complex and ambiguous situations. Action Learning is a process which helps managers develop these skills. This is achieved by setting them the task of resolving significant issues which are of importance to their organisation. Usually done in project groups with an advisor whose primary role is to help them reflect on what they are doing and learn and develop new skills and questioning insights, as they work to resolve the issues. The differences between conventional learning and action learning are outlined below.
Traditional Learning | Action Learning |
---|---|
Classroom Based | Work Based |
Individual Orientation | Group Orientation |
Input Orientation | Output Orientation |
Knowledge Orientation | Action Orientation |
Passive | Active |
Historical Focus | Concern with here and now |
Teacher Controlled | Learner Controlled |
Emphasis on Answers | Emphasis on Questions |
Syllabus Determined by Teacher | Syllabus Determined by Situation |
Sliced and Packaged | Unsliced and Unpackaged |
Aimed at preparing middle managers for senior manager positions or lower level managers for middle manager positions. A programme typically employs a combination of Action Learning (see above), workshops on specific management skills and exposure to the operations and interactions organisation’s various departments. Normally undertaken on a part time basis, over a 3 to 6-month period.
If you are new to negotiating, only negotiate on an occasional basis or provide support to negotiators, a clear understanding of the building blocks necessary for successful negotiations is essential.
Participants will plan for and carry out a negotiation which will be video recorded, replayed, analysed and critiqued.
Whether you are involved in sales, procurement or union-management negotiations, the ability to negotiate more effectively and achieve better deals and outcomes has probably never been more important.
Participants will plan for and carry out a series of negotiations which will be video recorded, replayed, analysed and critiqued.
John has worked with client organisations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, The USA and South East Asia. These have ranged from Multinationals to SMEs and start-ups.