Participants' Feedback - Good & Bad!
Link to a Journalist Review of Langdons' Course
Link to a review article of a course for the University
Email feedback after Selling Skills training. Dec 2010
"Hello Andy & Steve, Thank you once more for great training! I was travelling last week in Brazil and selling ideas to my Brazilian colleagues. Your stuff really works and we get great results from our meetings/Negotiations through last week. Furthermore I was practicing your "small talk" tips on the plane going down to San Paolo. There was an English lady sitting beside me: Divorced with two children, Divorce cause of cheating husband and going to see her new boy friend - pro polo player. There is no way I could get that much information/discussions on the flight without your tips. Thank You - Keep up the good work!
Feedback from some Sales & Support Experts after some
Selling Skills training. May 2010
"I liked very much the practical training. The feedback from the colleagues was the most important. Note – one of the key things after the door has been closed today and you fellows leaving, is the possibility to brief each other before customer meetings.
Andy and Steve as persons Topics we went through were ones we can really use in real life. Practices.
Very nice to have a training that is not a slide show but a lot of practice on what we really need. Inspiring trainers and good material – 10 points!! Teaching style. Seeing teachers as excellent role models of their own teachings.
Adoption to customer needs highly appreciated You can help us make a difference. Liked the proactively “teaching to learn” Lots of action instead of just listening. I will need to summarize the input a bit in order to integrate it into my own behaviour so to speak but I think my customers will notice the difference. Thanks!!! I liked the relaxed atmosphere during the whole training.
Also there was not one single dull moment , so my wish “to have fun while leaning” came true – thanks a lot Andy & Steve!!!"
Feedback from some Restaurant Local Area Managers after some
negotiation training. Dec 2008
1. ensimmäinen päivä ( Langdonit) oli loistava! Erilainen ja rentouttava opetamistyyli. Kaikki erinomaisen hyvin mukana. Paras päivä koko kurssissa!!
2. Andyn ja Steven päivä oli paras koko Jetissä!!Kiitos siitä
3. Erittäin hyvä kokonaisuus.
4. Andyn ja Steven päivä oli erittäin antoisa. He antoivat neuvottelutilanteisiin uuden näkökulman, joka herätti suuren oivalluksen tunteen itsessäni. Päivän rytmiikka oli hienosti suunniteltu, ryhmätyöt kiinnostavia ja sopivan hektisiä.
5. Steven ja Andy olivat erittäin "lumovia", innostavia ja "hyvin ryhmää lukevia" kouluttajia. Heidän tapansa lähestyä neuvttelutilanteita poikkesi perinteisestä, antoi ajatuksenaihetta ja syytä miettiä itsekin, kuinka me voisimme eri tavoin hoitaa neuvotteluja. Kiitos !
6. En valitettavasti päässyt mukaan Ohtosen kurssille mutta Lagdonit olivat loistavat :) Kiitos ja hauskaa pikkujouluaikaa. Krisu
7. Mielestäni koulutusjaksomme paras kaksi päiväinen!!!! Kiitos siitä! Nolotti vain vähäinen osanottajamäärämme!
Selling & presenting ideas workshop,
Technical, R&D, & a few marketing participants, June 2008:
"I liked the "informal" teaching. When something happened I did not know what to expect! Very nice 2 days! Thank you!"
"Energy, positive atmosphere, very skilled trainers, good students"
"the short films were good, learning from the 1st attempt and improving in the 2nd and 3rd attempts. You managed to communicate why benefits and the "YOU Appeal" are important"
"very nice course but being in front of the video camera felt awkward when you're not used to it, but I understand its an effective way to see how you actually act."
"all the situation simulations gives us a lot to be able to monitor my own and others' behaviour , will be interesting to test this in practice."
"I like new style, no power point etc. maybe too much speed to slow Finnish….
"Different!"
"overall Excellent! I can't come up with anything to change! Thank you guys"
"new ideas – A LOT, New ways of thinking…style too fast for me"
"I'm sorry but I don't have anything negative to say about this course. Great workshop"
"I liked it that everyone participated in the "exercises" no-one got "left-out". Don't change your concept, I love it!"
"best training in my career to get people activated. I will remember these things much better after learning it by going like this. THANKS!"
Selling & negotiating ideas workshop, a Finnish Bank, April 2007:
Practical examples were helpful. Using videos was extremely skilled and useful; takeaways were easy to spot"
"methods what you use. Ottaa mielipiteita huomioon ryhmä jaossa"
"Did not touch body language very much. Practice in small teams was excellent. Excellent atmosphere very much due to the trainers"
"I liked lots of active doing, lots of time for comments and discussions, nice to challenge myself analysing own behaviour in different situations"
"I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere very much due to Andy & Steve getting people to "come out of their shells" The video worked extremely well (It was not a traditional way of doing). Could have used more English on the second day! Excellent atmosphere and practices! Good job! Lots of things to practice "at home"
"nice and relaxing atmosphere. Excellent material (booklet) Great methods of learning (concrete examples)."
"I especially liked that the course was made fun YET useful. Practical examples very good, although we could have spent even more time thinking solutions to real banking problems/situations. I don't think the "teaching others" method really worked"
"I liked the atmosphere and personal touch. Yours and the teams way of giving feedback and improving hints is positive and easy to accept. Its hard to say what to improve. I enjoyed all the time"
"I liked the inter-active parts the atmosphere was relaxed from the beginning thanks to you both and my colleagues. Murder Mystery was a clever and funny exercise. I got tools to my working place and new ideas/angles to selling our services"
"I did enjoy the experience, thank you! The ideas are old but the way to present them was new"
"more personal feedback..seeing a video of myself selling to pick own manners up"
"very structured and well presented approach to fairly unstructured area. Perhaps more personal feedback, also negative."
"I liked group works they were useful and taping really helped to look at yourself and see how other people see you. I can't say anything should be changed. THANKS!"
"Training was interactive and interesting, even funny. I have a feeling that everybody enjoyed the course. I wouldn't change anything."
"exercises were clear and helpful but not too difficult. Atmosphere was good and relaxed. Murder mystery was interesting experience. Very helpful information."
"very useful, given new alternative to my job, way to think business and small talk in a new way, clear examples, the atmosphere was relaxed."
16 people "Selling Ideas" August 2006, their feedback:
Learning Solution Free-text Question Free-text Answer
What do you think was good in the learning solution?
Alternative way of giving a training
Excellent trainers with good motivation skills. Lots of practical anduseful role
plays.
Having two trainers was brilliant. The key risks with soft skill trainings are
- too much theory in too long sessions, with ppt - "dead" periods when the (only) trainer catches his breath, handles the paperwork, etc.
The double-trainer scenario simply got rid of such problems in advance.
It was a very practical workshop (95%)
Many practical examples.
Going into the needs of the individual.
The athmosphere and "easiness" the topics were presented.
The lot of pratice.
The trainers were absolute professionals in their job and thus learning was really an experience this time. Perfect!
The way the course was structured and presented, no powerpoint!. a lot of useful practical role plays with fun included.
Very good level of activity, participation and excercises. Background information,instructions and practical part well-balanced. Inspiring and opportunity to re-gain insights.
Very short and compact theory part with extensive practice.
Very skilled trainers, who were living the concept they offered
What would you improve about the learning solution?
Even though we were having several exercises in smaller groups (2-4 people) we
all still had to use the same (crowded) room. conversation was a bit difficult then.
For this course it would be perfect to have 2 or 3 additional (small) rooms.
Give some more summary information after a "training session" done by other
course participants to make sure that all important information has really been
covered.
It would have been nice if tea (not just coffee) had been on offer during the
breaks.
hard to say ...(it met my expectations ;-)
Nothing in particular. Maybe I'd reconsider case with phone calls to make it a bit closer to reality. But even in it's current state it is usefull and challenging.
Nothing, it's perfect
one day more in order to increase the practical exercises
the "red line" was sometime missing
Other comments.
A really recommendable training course!!
Best non technical training I ever had
I somehow lost the "red-path" during the two days and found it back during the wrap-up session in the end.
I think we need to be careful not to get too involved with the technical content and details of the subjects for ther role plays, so that we focus on the selling skills not trying to understand the technologies being discussed.
the trainer have very good teaching skills
This was the best and most useful training I ever had.
Any other comments/regards to the trainer?
Highly competent in presenting, involving very diverse persons, giving feedback
and offering a whole bunch of methods. Very good sense of humour, easy-going way of using video. Caring for others.
humorous
It has been a pleasure to work with andy and steve.
It was a very good experience to participate this training. Well done
Compared to the other trainer (Steve) Andy's strength was the motivational side.
They made it fun as well as useful course. They both work really well together as a team.
Compared to the other trainer (Andy) Steve's strength was the analytical side
Nov 2005 & and an e-mail "chain" generated from particpants after a course:
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 12:12 PM
Subject: The Influential Communication on 27 & 28 October
Hello friends,
After a one-week holiday I am back to the daily business.
But not as before, indeed armed with some new useful tools, offered to all of us on a fabulous way by Andy & Steve.
It was also great to meet all of you and having together this two days residential course.
2. Dear Friends,
Thank you for your company! I really enjoyed the whole course - it must of
been the most eye-opening training that I've ever had.
Hoping to see all of you again.
Ps. I'm now enjoying the view from the building, if you ever stop by -
I'll offer the coffee
> Subject: RE: The Influential Communication on 27 & 28 October
>
> Hello everybody,
> Greetings from a dark and rainy Stockholm (a good introduction to the
> Halloween-weekend actually!)
>
> I do agree that this training was a really good and fun experience.
> I have already put my new competences in practice, and I believe it is
> really powerful!
>
> Take care and have a great holiday/week-end.
> I hope you are all fine ! Indeed, it was hard to get back to the office this morning after such and interesting training and a so long Finnish weekend ...> Thanks to all of you for the good atmosphere, the good experience sharing.
>
> Wishing you all the best, but this "Influential Communication training" in our luggage, life must be so easier ! :-)
>
> Best regards,
> Myriam
>
> PS .... Will, you build yourself a car ... ?? Crazy !
> > Subject: The Influential Communication on 27 & 28 October
> >
> > Hello everybody, Monday morning, back in the office, behind my desk about 100 mails to read.Several times this weekend I thought back about the training we had and can tell you, it were all positive thoughts. The way we were trained
> > (thanks to Andy and Steve), the fun we had during dinner (the murder game)etc. for me has been a very pleasant days in which I learned a lot.
> > I hope you all have the same experience as I had.
> > Well let's get back to work and use the things we've learned.
> >
> > PS, by the end of this week I'm picking-up my selfbuild car. Do you have any special plans this week? :--))
Hello friends, After a one-week holiday I am back to the daily business. But not as before, indeed armed with some new useful tools, offered to all of us on a fabulous way by Andy & Steve.
Nov 2004
The twins are a bit slick and could look a bit smarter. A suit perhaps?
The moment you walk into the room. You are pushed into the thick of things. There is no presentation of course objectives and I was feeling confused.
I just have to write and thank you guys. WHat an impressive course - impacted my life! Well, I just came out of a meeting, and realise how an objective -selling ideas, can fail so easily by just not listening to the needs. He was yak yak yak 80% and I whom he wants to seek feedback from , am left with 10% (since I lose interest and refuse to talk). I have learnt a lot thanks to your teaching methods.
(an e-mail sent from particpant to boss)
Hi, Mika!
Good news! Yesterday I implement something that was learned during the communication &
presentation course. I've finished to work on my first project (deadline 30 th of
September).So I met the contact person yesterday and made first presentation just for him.
He was satisfiedand grateful for attention. Actually this preliminary meeting makes me
confident. We went throw the questions that seemed to me hard and too technological, he
was so friendly. Communicating with him I clarified thisdoubtful points!
You know I feel myself guilty as I put not very positive ratings for Steve's
course... Would you give me his e-mail, please? I want to write him couple words and
give more objective estimate to job he has done
and then same person writing to us:
Hi Steve!
A couple days ago I implement one of the methods I learned during your course/ It really
WORKS! Thanks a lot! Also I wrote to my finish supervisers informing that the real value
of the course I was able to understand not immediately in Finland but after few weeks
during my work.
> Thanks a lot!
and another course:
ps. Next day after the course I was supposed to have just a "casual
meeting"with one of our industrial partners, but suddenly there were also this guy
from the English office" to whom I had to sell my ideas (in english). First, I was a
little bit scared, BUT then I even managed to small talk (about your
course that I had had just-in-time :) ), and everything went just perfect by being not too
pushy, but more sensitive for his needs.
"the best idea I got from the course was (a little like Sakke's but with other words) that I do not gain anything from being pushy and trying to foist something that the customer's do not want to. People have their needs and those won't change because of some desperate salespeech by a little Laura from the University."
and some others:
Lot of new real life tools. It has been a really unique experience, with superior professional "coaches" and I have never seen such enthusiasm and relaxed way of working of the whole group!
The choice of a group with different job positions is fine/team building/creating sense of belonging/favouring communication and (people) knowledge
A lot of new ways to think about communicating effectively. Overall a very good training program. Good teachers.
Thought provoking. The need to reflect on the way I communicate on a daily basis
How would this program have been more successful?
I can't find any way
Direct advice to correct errors is very good. Give more!
It's difficult to find any weaknesses to improve
Hard to think perhaps a little more time to face-to-face feedback
More organizational education
Following better the book
Very good, many role plays we did but it could be useful for us to have a track in order to let us follow better
To give more documents about the course before the starting day
May 2003
"The speed of the training was very quick and especially on the first morning I was confused what we were doing next. Some formal introduction of objectives was missing"
"Training was really more that we even could expect! And it was also wonderful see, that such people who are usually arguing against everything new were also taking this as a very positive learning experience!
Steve & Andy,
Thank you! I really enjoyed the two days and I got multiple good tips that I'm going to
use in the future. I feel a lot more comfortable about my trip to UK in two weeks. I now
have many ideas on how to improve the presentations I've prepared and how to start the
discussions during the interviews I'm going to make while there. As you said, I won't need
to prepare more, I'll just do things a bit differently.
Thanks to you both for a great learning experience! In most trainings the trouble is, that you learn only the theory, but won't ever turn that learning into practise afterwards. There won't be that mishap after this training, since we already have practised how to better influence people with our colleagues!