It’s been a pleasure to work with you in 2020 and welcome you to our webinars and events. We’ve learned so much from you in this unprecedented year. Some of you are heading back into lockdown and it’s very tough, but there is light ahead, too.

We have much we’d like to share as we step into the new year and a few reflections to look back on too. A brand-new website, webinars, articles as well live streaming events where we explore tools and techniques around Natural Business Development, Management and Leadership and a whole range of ‘Power Skills’ to help you and your people perform at your best.

A brand new website (you’re on it!)

Masterclass mini Live Webinar: Resilience in 2021 – Register Here

For Real Leaders – 4 leadership tips will turn your struggle into a good thing

Masterclass mini Live Webinar: “Importance of Wellbeing” – Register Here

Meetings need a boost? Check out this feature: Inspiring and enabling your team through business briefings

How we changed what we did

The first lockdown in March seems an age ago. We moved quickly to support our many clients virtually with Masterclass Digital on Demand. From small start-ups to some of the largest global brands, in 9 months have delivered over 300 Virtual Instructor Lead Training (VILT) sessions. Depending on the subject and programme these range from 60-minute, high intensity sessions up to 120 minutes followed by break out skills practise in smaller groups. We’ve done them on Zoom, Blue Jeans, Webex, Skype, Teams – you name it. Using our ‘Mindset, Toolset, Skillset’ principles we help people think differently, access practical tools and techniques and then build their confidence and become skilled. Practical, focused, relevant. Feedback has been fantastic with delegates able to put their new tools into practice straight away. One global technology client booked a series of sessions including Productivity and Time Management, Speak up, Speak Out Virtually, How to Build Resilience and Supporting Mental Wellbeing as part of their Covid-19 response package. These were delivered at 5.00 am for their AsiaPacific teams, mid-morning for EMEA and into the evening for their people on the West Coast. A great example of how Masterclass can support WFA (work from anywhere). The next projects is to develop their agile skills in the new ‘hybrid’ world of work.

Masterclass VILTS are a powerful, flexible way to keep people engaged, motivated and skilled in an ever-changing environment.

Yes, you can launch a book in lockdown – who’d have thought it?

In June 2020, Isobel Rimmer launched her debut book, Natural Business Development and despite the challenges of doing it in the middle of a pandemic, it reached number 1 in two categories on the Amazon bookstore – Sales and Marketing and Customer Service. None of us had done a book launch before, but what an experience it was… a great highlight of 2020!

Masterclass minis

Masterclass mini live webinars are how we showcase our services. The topics we deliver come from you and the issues you tell us that you face as managers and leaders. In 2020 we did over 40 – a record for us. We had great uptake and bigger numbers than ever before. Get in touch, tweet and message us on LinkedIn and tell us what you want to see from our Masterclass Minis in 2021.

Upcoming webinars:

– Masterclass mini Live Webinar: Resilience in 2021 – Register Here

– Masterclass mini Live Webinar: “Importance of Wellbeing” – Register Here

Taking the office home.

Yes, you can work anywhere. When the first lockdown hit in 2020, we were all in shock, but we’ve come out stronger. It took a positive mindset and for the team to be open to trying new things, be curious and prepared to be challenged but through trialling and testing out new software, regular communication and great TEAMWORK, we made it work. We have found it amazing that the entire operation can work remotely and globally. This is most definitely the new normal and it’s worked brilliantly for us at Masterclass.

“Be Silly. Be Honest. Be Kind.”*

We can’t stress enough the importance of wellbeing. Whatever is happening, you don’t have to stop being kind. Our wellbeing is fundamental to our overall health and allows us to overcome difficulties, challenges and achieve success in life both professionally and personally. So, remember to take that time in your day for yourself and others, a simple “How are you today?” can go a long way.

Our colleague Cindy (* inspired by her countryman Ralph Waldo Emerson) produced some fabulous videos throughout the year – you can click to find them here.

Click here to access a Masterclass mini on wellbeing

Share and share alike – things that have worked for us:

Check your technology – be prepared and rehearse – things can and do go wrong but good preparation really helps
Why not experiment with new ways of getting your message out? Our very own Cindy produced a series of motivational videos. You can find them on Cindy’s LinkedIn profile, Or listen to Isobel Rimmer’s podcast on how to unleash the potential of everyone in your team (Click to listen)
Find new ways to communicate and share – don’t just default to email
They say a picture paints a thousand words. Learn from our expert Sue how to use images in PowerPoint (click here to view Sue’s Masterclass mini on this)
We’re human – we like to see each other – you might not want to put your video on but it really makes a difference when you do 😊
Because we’re all on TV now – there are some great things you can do to boost your charisma, gravitas and presence on the small screen – see how quickly you can come across at your best with our Speak Up, Speak Out sessions
There are plenty of ‘neg ferrets’ in the world. We don’t need any more. Think what’s possible, not what’s impossible – positivity really is infectious
Take each day as it comes, accept that things are different and that you have to do things differently, rise to the challenge

Just one thing we can do differently

We asked the team to share one thing that can make a difference – here’s what they said:

Can’t travel – but we can connect online, even better with video
Work your own asynchronous timetable – build exercise into your day – work out your own body clock
Stay motivated and focussed – set goals and reward yourself when you achieve them
The lines of work and home can easily blur – there’s no perfect balance – don’t be too tough on yourself
We all have way too much stuff – it’s time to scale back and minimise. Isobel, “I spent six months living in flip flops, felt better for it and not one client noticed or cared!”
Curiosity really is a superpower – encourage lots of it
Stop and reflect, is what you’re doing helpful or harmful? Listen to this amazingly powerful TED talk from Lucy Hone here
We all missed our coffee chats and kitchen conversations. But you can do it online if you plan for it.
Dealing with grief is always hard – share and support each other
Take stock of all the positive things you have around you – we are fortunate in so many ways
Never stop learning – they say the greatest learners make the greatest leaders (Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge)

As we step forward into 2021, we’d love to hear from you.

The topics you’d like to see in our Masterclass Minis.

How our webinars and VILTs can help your people perform at their best.

What would you like to see from Masterclass Training in 2021?

Thank you, stay connected.

Contact us at Info@ masterclass.co.uk or 01753 676666