Feedback is very important to us as it helps us to monitor the quality and the effectiveness of what we do. We always ask for comments post-course rather than on the day because whilst this approach means we tend to get fewer responses, when we do, people have had time to digest the learning and will take time to give us their thoughts and honest opinions.

Over the summer there has been a nice mix of sessions to keep us on our toes and give us something different to think about each week!

We are very pleased to continue working alongside BAE Systems running different types of communications training for various divisions. Jonathan spent a day at the week-long DSEi event at Excel for a look round at the latest technology. He also enjoyed meeting and catching up with many graduates of our courses and getting feedback from the various sessions we have run. It is important to us that we consistently strive to meet and exceed expectations as far training goes and comments were very positive, which really pleased us. Our CIPR Crisis Communications workshops are still well received and feedback has been good. These sessions run for up to 12 people at a time and give general hints and tips on good, bad and indifferent ways of dealing with a crisis. We are pleased to have worked again with Nippon Gohsei, this time to deliver a combined media/crisis course. Verbal reports from participants were good and they thanked us for a well organised and administered course.

Think about what would constitute a crisis in your own organization (there may be more than one answer!) then ask yourself how you would deal with the media interest and questions from journalists and reporters, while bystanders perhaps send out pictures and video images from camera phones to create a running commentary on what is going on.

This is exactly what the BBSRC considered and as a result they asked us to deliver a Crisis Communications course to orientate some spokespeople to handling an incident, should it ever arise. It was an intensive day worked around a realistic scenario, with lots of interactive activities in which everyone got involved. We are very pleased that feedback was really positive and participants definitely felt they are much better prepared to deal with a crisis situation. We do hope they wont need to put this into practice for real.. but they have asked the question and done the preparation!

Media training has continued to be the most requested course and comments from participants included I overcame my nerves and learned how to be proactive in response to questioning. Three things have stuck with me: it never looks as bad as it feels; with preparation you can gain control of your message; planning your opening conclusion ensures you get what you need from the interaction. Someone else said Jonathan was very good, providing a balance of good interview technique with constructive feedback. Rather than the scaring experience I have heard other similar training employ". Remember, you have been asked for an interview because you know your subject. Interviews are much less scary when you know how to prepare and manage them, so you say what you want to say and can stay on-message no matter what direction the interviewer is going in.

We travelled to Greater Manchester West Mental Health Foundation Trusts offices in June to deliver two sessions for senior staff, from whom we had excellent feedback, including the content was spot on. It has given me the confidence to deal with any level of media enquiry from written through to live TV broadcast. I would view any interaction in a positive but knowledgeable way. Jonathan and Robin, our cameraman, had a trip to Germany in late spring to run a successful course for Eurofighter GMbH. That was one course which did not involve the traditional trip to a curry house: it was eat-in at the very pleasant hotel restaurant!

We have this year introduced and delivered the baby brother of Presentation Skills training - Briefing Skills (also known as a brilliant course!). These sessions focus on getting information across to an audience when you may only have a few minutes to do so - in fact just a quick conversation can be used to brief someone. You can be called upon to say a few words at short notice and this session looks at structuring your brief, delivery, your body language, choice of language and intonation. All these are very important when you only have a short time to create an impression and a result. Cant wait to give my next briefing or elevator pitch (which I would have found difficult before)!

Many thanks must go to all those who have made the effort and taken the time to let us know their thoughts about their experience of Positive Impact. We do appreciate it. Sept 09.