Here is my promise to you. In the next four minutes you will pick up three practical tips you can use today, including one simple tool called CULRA that improves any conversation, and a short checklist to squeeze more value from the show. Turn up at World of Learning in Birmingham already warmed up and ready to learn from talks, exhibitors and the coffee queue.
I met the three people below at different events over the years. Each gave me tips with real value that I still use, so I thought I’d share some of them, and point you to others
Priscilla Leigh, psychoaudiologist
“Listening is the real influence.”
Priscilla showed me how to switch on focused listening before a conversation starts. Try the finger purr. Bring thumb and index finger close to your ear and gently rub them together until you hear a soft purr beat. Keep a steady rhythm for ten to twenty seconds. This primes your auditory system so you move from hearing to true listening. You arrive calm, present and ready to understand.
Try it at the show. Do ten seconds of finger purr before you join a session or step onto a stand. Notice how much more you take in and how much sharper your questions feel.
Go deeper in our blog: Managers, use your ears. Practical tips from Priscilla on tuning in, staying calm and processing faster. https://upskillpeople.com/resources/managers-use-your-ears/
Jack Milner, communication coach and comedy writer
“Humour isn’t just a nice to have, it’s a superpower.”
Jack taught me to add a small KAPOW on purpose. One interactive moment, one short story or one dramatic reveal. Keep it tied to your point so the message sticks.
Ask a quick human question such as, “What is one thing you want to fix this quarter?” Tell a thirty second story with a clear so what. Or reveal a number that matters and say how you will move it. No clowning. Just clear communication that people remember.
Try it at the show. When you visit a stand ask, “What changed in your product this year and why?” In a session capture one stat then write the story you will tell your team tomorrow.
Go deeper in our blog: Stop boring your audience. Jack’s short videos on borrowing a joke with care, recovering when one dies, and building stories that land.https://upskillpeople.com/resources/presentation-skills/
Emma Weber, turning learning into action
“What am I going to do differently?”
Emma’s work is all about making training stick. Shift from knowing to doing. After any session ask, “What am I going to do differently?” Then write one action, explain why it matters, and share it with a colleague or manager so you create gentle accountability. Use whatever support fits you best. A peer, a coach, or an AI check in. The tool is less important than the momentum it gives you.
Try it at the show. Right after a talk or chat with an exhibitor, take sixty seconds to capture one next step, one person who will nudge you, and one date to report back. Say it out loud to someone on your team as soon as you can. Put a reminder in your calendar before you leave the show.
Go deeper in our blog: What managers do after the course matters most. Practical prompts from Emma on how to make training stick. https://upskillpeople.com/resources/how-to-make-training-stick/
Plus, a useful extra from me, Pete Fullard, CEO of Upskill People
“Better Managers = Better Business”
In sales, coaching and conflict, the skill that changes everything is listening for emotion. I use a simple check called CULRA.
C is for Concerned. Someone feels uneasy about something and wants help.
U is for Upset. They feel let down and need things put right.
L is for Limited. They feel stuck or restricted and want a way forward.
R is for Relief. They want something resolved so they can move on.
A is for Ambitious. They have goals and want to stretch further.
When you detect one (or more) of those emotions, people are looking for change. Play back what you heard, check you have it right, then see if you have a solution.
Try it at the show, browsing stands or after a session ask, “Which of these matters most for you and your organisation right now?” Is what I’ve just seen a good fit? If you’re looking to go back to your team and sell an idea, what are the stakeholders’ CULRA’s?
Go deeper in my blog: How to be good at sales. The CULRA approach in under a minute.https://upskillpeople.com/resources/how-to-be-good-at-sales/
Make the most of World of Learning
Here’s a few tips and ideas.
Plan one session, one stand to visit (E70’s a good one), one wildcard. Choose a talk you do not want to miss, a product to explore hands on, and a name you have never heard of.
Ask one sharp question. What problem does this solve best right now and for whom? That gets you past the demo to value.
Leave with one action you will do the next day. Write it on your phone before you leave the hall. Share it with your team right away.
Listen like it matters. Finger purr to focus. Mirror back what you heard. People open up when they feel heard.
Tell one tiny story. Thirty seconds. Real and relevant. It is how your message survives the train ride home.
Shows work because they mix prepared ideas with chance moments. Come for the programme. Stay for the conversations. Leave with actions you can use straight away.
See you in Birmingham. If you spot someone doing the finger purr in the coffee queue, it might be me.
Article by Upskill People
Need your team to perform at their very best? Discover a truly remarkable approach to upskilling your managers and measuring the impact on their skills. Who are we? We are Upskill People, innovators in online learning you can rely on. For 30 years we’ve been creating courses that don’t just train your people, but transform them. Ready to raise your expectations of what you can achieve? Let’s talk.
Upskill People will be exhibiting at the World of Learning Conference & Exhibition on 7 & 8 October, NEC Birmingham, Stand E70