Life Competencies for Growth and Success: A Trainer’s Manual

LIFE COMPETENCIES FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS is a complete guide for trainers engaged in promoting life skills training and education. In today’s complex world, life competencies play a very important role in shaping the personality of individuals, in helping them establish their self-identity and in preparing them to face the myriad challenges of life more effectively. This will coalesce into producing more conscientious, responsible and productive members of society. This Trainer’s Manual can be used for training diverse groups of participants—those working with business firms or in the social development sector, young entrepreneurs, job aspirants, young executives looking for career-promoting and growth-oriented training opportunities, and technical or vocational trainees at different technical institutes under the skill-development programme of the Government of India. The Manual will also serve as a useful guide for self-improvement and self-training by all those who may not have access to formal training opportunities. The modular approach followed in the Manual will help trainers and training institutes in designing custom-made programmes for their groups.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Introduction Life Skills Defined Life Skill Education Integrating Life Skills with Technical Skills Skill and Competency Using the Manual General Guidelines for the Trainers Special Features of the Manual Section A – The Modules Module 1 – Self-awareness, Self-confidence, and Self-esteem Self-awareness Self-confidence Self-esteem Suggested Guidelines for the Trainers Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Module 2 – Interpersonal Communication Understanding Interpersonal Communication What is Effective Communication? Skills in Interpersonal Communication Barriers to Effective Communication Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Module 3 – Interpersonal Relationships Understanding Interpersonal Relationship Interpersonal Relationship at Workplace Personal Qualities That Influence Interpersonal Relationships Skills in Interpersonal Relationship Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Module 4 – Conflict—Dimensions and Resolution Understanding Conflict—Definition and Meaning Intrapersonal Conflict (Personal Dilemmas) Interpersonal Conflict and its Dimensions Preventing Interpersonal Conflict Styles for Management of Interpersonal Conflicts Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Strategies Skills in Resolving Interpersonal Conflict Resolving Interpersonal Conflict— Suggested Steps Intra-group Conflicts Sources of Conflict in an Organisation Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Module 5 – Management of Stress Stress and People Internal Stressors External Stressors Causes of Stress at Workplace General Strategies to Manage Stress Things You Can Do to Avoid or Manage Stress Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Module 6 – Positive Thinking Understanding Positive Thinking Manifestations of Positive Thinking and Attitude On Way to Developing a Positive Attitude! Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Module 7 – Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking Understanding Critical Thinking Some Prominent Features of Critical Thinking What Critical Thinking is Not Three Parts of Critical Thinking Critical Thinking—Its Application in Our Day-to-day Life Skills in Critical Thinking Profile of a Critical Thinker Understanding Creative Thinking Creative Thinking Versus Critical Thinking Improving Your Creative Abilities Creative Thinking Skills Profile of a Creative Thinker Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise Mini-exercise 1 Mini-exercise 2 Mini-exercise 3 Mini-exercise 4 Module 8 – Empathy Understanding Empathy Elements of Empathy Types of Empathy Using Empathy Effectively Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Module 9 – Problem Solving and Decision-making Understanding Decision-making Understanding Problem-solving Process of Problem-solving and Decision-making Decision-making Methods Steps in Problem-solving and Decision-making Participatory Decision-making—Core Values Individual Decision-making Factors That Influence Individual Decision-making Individual Decision-making Under Stress—Strategies Suggested Guidelines for Conducting the Session Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Section B – Delivering an Effective Training Programme I – Beginning an Active Training Programme Opening the Programme Tasks for the Trainer II – Creating and Maintaining Learning Environment Elements of Healthy Learning Environment Your Basic Tools for Creating Learning Climate III – Planning a Training Session—Writing a Session Plan What is a Session Plan? Why Do You Need a Session Plan? IV – Question–Response Approach— A Tool for Promoting Participation Questions–Response Approach Can Be Helpful in Many Ways Question–Response Technique—Guidelines to Enhance its Usefulness Trainers’ Inner Restraints with Respect to Questions Questions about Questions V – Using Training Methods Effectively Lecture Group Discussion as a Method of Training Brainstorming Case Study Method Preparing and Using Training Support Materials References

About the Author :
Devendra Agochiya has over three decades of rich and varied experience of working with national and international organizations engaged in the fields of youth and social development, training, empowerment and management. He has worked for about 12 years (1969–80), in senior professional positions, with an international NGO in New Delhi—International Youth Centre. He has worked for about 18 years with the Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat—first as the Regional Director for Asia and then as Head of the Division based in London, the headquarters of the Secretariat. He has been actively associated with the planning and delivery of a wide range of training programmes for a variety of target groups, including policy makers, senior government and non-government officials, business executives and young people in India and other Commonwealth countries. He is presently working as a freelance consultant with a number of national and international agencies in training and development and related areas.

Review :
I have known Dr Agochiya for more than three decades. This Manual reflects his vast international experience as a trainer and an expert in youth empowerment, particularly in the field of life skills development. I am sure it will enhance the understanding and knowledge base of the facilitators in preparing youth to meet the challenges of life confidently.  In the realm of training of trainers, this volume is a fine example of a researched guide. It is exceptional because of the inputs in terms of theory, application and innovation. Undoubtedly, it will prove valuable to all those engaged in personal development and the advancement of a flourishing humanistic society. In my professional opinion, no one is more qualified than Dr Agochiya to produce such a trainer’s Manual.  The Manual is a seminal piece of work in life skills education. If we have to produce confident, efficient and professional young workforce, it is necessary that vocational or entrepreneurial skills imparted by various training agencies are complemented by developing life skills as well. The Manual developed by Dr Agochiya who is an internationally acknowledged expert in youth development and training, provides this opportunity. Dr Agochiya has been associated with the IALSE programmes for nearly a decade. His rich experience as a trainer and his wide-ranging knowledge about life skills and human behaviour are evident in the contents of the Manual and the manner in which the material is presented. I am confident that his effort will give a significant boost to life skills education in India. “This Manual reflects his [Dr Agochiya’s] vast international experience as a trainer and an expert in youth empowerment, particularly in the field of Life Skills Development. I am sure it will enhance the understanding and knowledge base of the facilitators in preparing the youth to meet the challenges of life confidently.” This book is complete guide for trainers engaged in promoting life skills training and education…..The modules in this Manual are extremely relevant, covering key aspects of the life of an individual. The author has put together his vast international experience as a trainer and his Expertise in life skills to produce this valuable guide for trainers. To be effective influencer, you need both substance and style. Without a solid foundation of credibility, even the most interpersonally adept leaders will fall short. Some of the key factors are discussed below: 1 Charisma and inspiration: Charisma is related to inspiration and the strength of their moral and dynamic personality. Becoming charismatic involves paying careful attention to how you interact with other people and ensuring that you develop the traits that make up charisma, positive and appealing to others. Charismatic people use their skills to get people use their skills, perhaps from professional, ideological or social point of view. 2 Position on authority: This authority or position may not be hierarchical or power- driven but can also be in a field – professional, personal or ideological- that is of interest to us. It is the power of their proficiency and the manner in which they contact themselves that become the source of influence. 3 Identification: It is psychological process whereby the subject assimilates as aspect, property or attribute of the other and is transformed, wholly or partially, by the model the other provides. 4 Relationships:  Relationships are a strong factor that influence people. People who value relationship want to belong. INDIAN MANAGEMENT, MUMBAI, June 2018