Through a series of focused workshops for specific teams and lunchtime learning sessions for the general staff, we helped the team at RCI Insurance raise their game throughout 2020 completing the programme in person when we could and remotely when necessary. We asked HR Manager Maria Virginia Ghillani, to give us her reflections on the training :
What was the initial scope of the training?
The reason why we decided to launch this training plan was that we had identified some areas of improvement that were common to the majority of the staff. The objective of the programme was to enhance performance of the staff through unlocking leadership potential, improving mental clarity, increasing emotional flexibility, creating a performance mindset and generating business performance through sharing and team-work.
How was the delivery of the training received by your team?
Our team on the whole looked forward to the training. Given that the sessions were held online starting from the period when we had to work from home due to the pandemic, having the possibility to spend some time together around ‘non-business’ related topics gave everyone the chance to switch off and have a moment of self-reflexion and personal enrichment.
How did Up help you reach your objectives?
We monitored the sessions and realised that most of the participants increased awareness of some topics such as resilience, communication, change management and the way we take decisions. We did not set specifics KPIs to measure the impact of the sessions but we believe that these were moments of exchange for the teams and ways of learning and understanding how and why we behave in certain ways.
What major reflections / observations came out of the training?
The training overall was interesting. It was more interactive when it was done at office physically than when it was done online when the team members did not participate that much. Although having said that when the staff went into the breakout rooms they interacted very well and a discussion ensued when they were all back together and they had to deliver what was discussed.
Here are some comments that participants left in an anonymous survey after the workshop/s:
On the trainer: Julian Azzopardi:
We asked if the programme helped them ‘think differently’ about raising their game:
What participants enjoyed mostly about the sessions:
Take-home from the “Change Management” Workshop:
The programme inspired me to learn more about how our brains work to anticipate better future situations. I will embrace the change management process with the knowledge of the different steps ahead”
Mohamed – Actuary
Take-home from the “Conversational Intelligence” Workshop:
Take-home from the “Resilience” Workshop
The session inspired me to think more positively and be more motivated and forward looking. Having a zest for life whatever it throws at me! Going forward I will adopt an “I can” attitude and treat each challenge as a learning experience. When I fall I will take a few moments to pity myself, then get up and move forward again, hopefully stronger than before.”
Elizabeth Camilleri Fava, Office Administrator
Take-home from the “Emotional Intelligence” Workshop
“The session inspired me to develop a better self-awareness and self-management.”
Jessica Lessinger
Our Take
It was a great experience delivering these workshops, despite the challenges brought about by Covid, where most of them had to be delivered remotely. We’re thankful to the team for being so flexible and accommodating and even though participation online was lower than in person, it’s all part of the learning curve and we were very pleased that on average 86.7% said would recommend the Up workshop series to others.
If you would like to run a similar programme for your team get in touch!
