Graduate development/Early careers

Most newly employed graduates have the sector-specific knowledge required to hit the ground running, yet many lack the fundamental practical core skills needed to actually do the job and reach their full potential. These transferable skills are used across the workplace and throughout their career. Graduates need four core competencies:

• Critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Clear communication.
• Stakeholder relationships.
• Project execution - getting things done.

Critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills

Creative thinking and innovation is not just about having ideas, it’s also about improving and refining what you already have – to make effective and informed decisions. Dr Edward de Bono’s range of practical, proven thinking tools give you, your team and your whole organisation the tools to problem-solve, improve and innovate on demand:

• Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking – Empower your people to challenge current thinking, solve problems and generate new ideas. Explore Lateral Thinking…
• Edward de Bono’s Course in Creativity™ – Combine two time-tested, results-driven methodologies created by Edward de Bono, the Six Thinking Hats® and Lateral Thinking™. Explore Course in Creativity™…
• Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats® – Halve meeting times, double their effectiveness and reach group consensus. Explore Six Thinking Hats®…

Clear Communication

Our range of business communication workshops ensure your graduates are clear, concise and impactful with all stakeholders. Indigo are exclusive UK Distributors for:

• Think on Your Feet® – Add structure and impact in all formal and informal conversations, when you have little or no time to prepare. Whether dealing with tough questions, handling objections or in crucial conversations, you need to be clear, confident and think before you speak. Explore Think on Your Feet®…
• Writing Dynamics™ – A proven system, developed by award-winning writers, that helps anyone who has to write at work to be more time-effective, readable and memorable. Explore Writing Dynamics™…
• The Skilled Presenter™ – Successful business presentations don’t happen by accident. They are the result of careful planning, using the right techniques and practice. The Skilled Presenter™ provides structured techniques to ensure you deliver polished presentations with impact, every time. Explore The Skilled Presenter™…

Stakeholder relationships

It’s important to develop positive working relationships with all stakeholders by understanding them and using practical strategies to communicate with them:

• Stakeholder Engagement (including Simulation)™ – Bring to life the universal leadership challenge of understanding your stakeholders, gaining buy-in and approval across a range of interested parties, with often different and conflicting interests. Explore Stakeholder Engagement…
• Think on Your Feet® – Whether dealing with tough questions, handling objections or in crucial conversations, you need to be clear, confident and think before you speak. Explore Think on Your Feet®…

Project execution - getting things done

The above skills will go a long way toward helping your graduates become more flexible and agile in managing their workload and stakeholders. Now you need to provide them with all the tools and techniques they need to get things done and drive results:

• Project Thinking Skills™ – Introduces essential thinking skills for use during some of the key stages of a project. Explore Project Thinking Skills™ 
• Project Management Survival Guide™ – Provides a hands-on project management toolkit and an understanding of the methodologies that can be used to set up, manage or contribute to a project at all levels. Explore Project Management Survival Guide™…
• Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats® – The solution to ineffective meetings that last forever. This proven technique results in less time spent in meetings, faster, more effective decisions, and increased collaboration. Explore Six Thinking Hats®…

'Business-ready' graduates

We have developed bespoke learning pathways for many different types of organisations around the world - delivered by our global team of consultants, your own company trainers or in association with your other learning providers. 

A well-developed pathway ensures that your graduates learn the skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace, making them 'business-ready'. They are flexible and built after investigating the real challenges you face with your graduates and those your graduates feel they face in your organisation. A typical customised Graduate Pathway is detailed below. You will see that it provides Essential and Advanced levels, focusing on the soft skills that every graduate should have in their personal development skillset:

• Core business communication skills (Article: Improving how your graduates write).
• Creativity and innovation (Article: Creativity for graduates).
• Relationship management.

Our learning pathways are designed with the progression of people and their organisation in mind. Our primary aim is that your graduates learn, practise and perfect their skills for immediate impact in your business. Packed with practical learning experiences, these provide a valuable and distinct journey. Our vision is that no matter what location or role, the learning experience dramatically improves their skills and capabilities.

Our pathways are built in consultation with you. The example focuses on two competency levels:

• Essential skills to ensure your graduates can communicate and interact confidently with all levels of internal and external stakeholders, as well as work collaboratively and understand effective decision-making.
• Advanced skills, dependent on the requirements of their role, focusing on specific tools and techniques required to increase their contribution. The example shows how we can develop cross-level programmes that focus on collaboration when generating ideas, solving problems, and introducing influencing and negotiation into relationship management.

Contact us or talk to us on +44 (0)20 3836 8640, to discuss how you can cultivate a level of competency within your organisation.