Articles

Development of Professional Skills in the High Tech World

The need for professional skills to be developed in a group tapped as future leaders was recognized by a global high technology organization. The individuals in this group are enrolled in a three year program and serve three to nine months within a wide range of different divisions in the organization. As they progress, they are required to conduct presentations to senior management. The organization hired consultant Nyda Bittmann to develop a curriculum for the group that would span the three-year course. To create the training curriculum, research was conducted with the group and management to understand the short and long term requirements. The results reflected the need for developing presentations, public speaking and communication in the areas of teleconferencing; email, voice mail, telephone and technical writing. Additionally, managing and leadership were identified as needs for the group. The designed curriculum begins in the first year with presentation and facilitation skills. The individuals come to the workshop with a ten minute presentation to deliver to the group and they are video taped. They also learn how to design a presentation to be clear, concise and compelling. This two day program is intense and results-oriented. The second workshop focuses on technical writing skills. Again, they bring to the workshop several examples of their writings which are shared with the group for critiquing. The second year the group focuses on communications. The workshops include telephone and the “wired world” of voice mail and email. The second workshop targets teleconferencing and how to be a chair or project leader as well as a participant. The third year concentrates on management and leadership. At this time the individuals in the group are preparing to graduate and interview for their desired positions within the organization. They now need to know how to manage in person and in virtual teams and provide the leadership to gain followers. The program has been results-oriented and continues with new workshops being created as needs change with the environment. «Back