A UK Gas Alliance business were carrying out a company wide ‘resetting’ of work standards and compliance for their pipe laying teams. This included soft-skill training for team supervisors.

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I evolved and co-delivered a series of two and half day training workshops in 'soft' skills to improve gas pipeline supervisors' competences in delivering safe working and compliant pipe installation from their teams.  The course increased supervisors' understanding of how they could most effectively influence their work teams, developed their skills in using these techniques while building on their own personal styles, and identified how they could most effectively use their available time to achieve their work tasks; by changing their current working practices and suggesting helpful organisational changes that would reduce their time on administrative tasks which impacted on their available time to be ‘eyes on the ground’

Outcomes - feedback six months after training programme

Managers’ perspective

“Supervisors are stopping jobs more often following the course, as they are more confident that they should and that they will be supported in doing so.  They are also raising issues with more senior staff in relation to resources they need to do their jobs well which they would not have done before.“  Construction Operations Engineer (Compliance)  - Team Leader

“I am not having to give up as much precious time dealing with Q1 [major non-compliance/ technical failures] incidents and can start to focus on improving the many other performance aspects. I’m also quickly finding out the individuals that who, no matter what training/coaching is provided, will not cut it. This has been vital as we look forward to reorganising the ops team.”  Senior Manager

Attendees’ perspective

“Course changed my approach to people. Now think about other people’s perspective when thinking how to put something across to them to make it comprehensible. Make sure it will be meaningful to them.  I ask they to tell me what they have to do rather than just telling them from my list. “

“This course was different because it was so interactive and participative. I remember all the role-play situations and what was taught in them because they were all relevant to work.  I did come out of the course and use the methods that were taught to us.” 

“I feel now, as a result of the course I am now getting better results as I am listening more to people for longer, before deciding what has to be done. Before I would make assumptions and leap to conclusions that could be wrong.”

“With this approach people seem to pay more attention to what I do say, and they seem to have a better understanding of what I want.”