Blog

Here you’ll find inspiration and practical advice all focused on your communication skills development, managing public speaking anxiety, improving your confidence in the workplace, developing effective leadership skills, knowing how best to find a new role or career, learning how to get promoted and understanding your strengths, skills and values.

How to match learning design with learning needs

A tale of apple strudel, interpersonal dynamics...and monkeys. And why this is important if you’re thinking of getting some training and coaching for the folk in your organisation.

At our table was coffee, apple strudel and vanilla sauce. It was perfectly appley and the vanilla sauce was mmmm-mmm, sublime. We were in downtown Frankfurt and in front of the monkey enclosure at the zoo.

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audience, engagement, public speaking Mica Allan audience, engagement, public speaking Mica Allan

Why you should know your audience

What are you doing to meet your audiences’ needs? How would you rate your connection with them? And what happens when you don’t get them and they don’t get you?

The short answer is that you look a bit daft and it teaches you to laugh at yourself. Here are two occasions when I did not do my homework about who was sitting in front of me.

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engagement, humour, learning design, training Mica Allan engagement, humour, learning design, training Mica Allan

Ten top tips on how to get more humour into learning and development

“That was a slow shuffle through hell – let’s do this again” said no-one ever. Are you a facilitator, teacher or trainer? Here’s how to use laughter to look after people’s energy and, equally importantly, your own.

Learning doesn't always have to be so serious. Here's how to get more engagement, more focus, more fun and more oomph into learning programmes and go from yuck to yay.

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leadership, kindness, teams, resilience Mica Allan leadership, kindness, teams, resilience Mica Allan

What I learned from young leaders

“The best course in leadership the school offers” is how it’s often referred to at The Hotelschool The Hague: a five day outdoor programme in The Ardennes, Belgium.

Twelve young leaders are thrown together to complete a range of assignments, 2 night time hikes with overnight camps, a bunch of new leadership theory and not a lot of sleep. Having gone as a co-trainer on a retreat here’s what I learned…

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The joy of missing out

You’ve probably heard of the fear of missing out (FOMO) but what about the joy of missing out (JOMO). Do you know about the great benefits of JOMO?

“People are worried about why you’re not going out” Martin said. I was then a 22 year old student and my friend was disappointed I was yet again not joining the crowd downtown on a Thursday night.

But I had plans.

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boundaries, career, learning, trust Mica Allan boundaries, career, learning, trust Mica Allan

The benefits of asking for help

The steel covers from man holes got stolen making the walk home a bit dicey, “anti-trouble emulsion” was sold in chemists and mutton was on every menu. My first few days in the city had been educational but I was ready for something different.

I had an appointment to meet someone new. At an interview. The conversation was flowing, we were laughing together and it looked like a good match. Then Jayne paused. “Wow. You really don’t know what you’re doing, do you?"

I smiled and nodded “I really don’t. That’s why I placed the advert.”

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How to learn new things

What kind of coffee do I want? Where are the canned tomatoes? How do I cross the street? Life is full of “big” questions that can send our brain into overdrive. Here’s how to take care of your brain when you're dealing with new stuff.

Newness is exhilarating. It’s an adventure. And it’s exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be.

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career, confidence, creativity, leadership Mica Allan career, confidence, creativity, leadership Mica Allan

Ten top tips for more confidence

I recently wrote about my recent experience at a networking event, that women were holding themselves back and that we need to talk about confidence. In this follow up blog I’m going to share 10 ways that can develop your confidence (whether you’re a woman or a man).

This means that the next time you’re given a brilliant opportunity you’ll reply with gusto “Why of course, I will be there with bells on - just try and stop me!”

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