INSIGHTS Online Podcast

Honouring VUT Lecturer & WIL Coordinator, Ms Zinhle Marrengane

PODCAST!  We are in conversation with Ms Zinhle Marrengane, Lecturer and WIL Coordinator, Biotechnology and Chemistry, at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Zinhle shares with the listeners her childhood and basic education perspectives, her transitional experiences from high school to university to the world of work, her professional growth to date, her current work environment and challenges and opportunities, and most importantly, her future professional aspirations from her career development and management perspectives. This monthly show is the initiative of the VUT Co-operative Education Under The Centre for Academic Development in partnership with COMETSA Friends & Supporters Club NPO, www.CometsaMember.Com. It airs live on the last Wednesday of the month from 18h00 to 19h00 (CAT, SAST), except in December and January, via Podbean Business Platform. For easy access to our station, you must download Podbean App, register and follow COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW) to receive notification when we go live. To listen to previous episodes of the show check our INSIGHTS Online Podcast (IOP), www.InsightsOnlinePodcast.Com. The INSIGHTS Online Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Listen Notes, Samsung Podcasts, and Boomplay.

Unit 35, Conduct 30, News and Media Mastery

POCAST! UNIT 35, Conduct 30, News and Media Mastery! as the focus of the conversation at COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW) with the resident co-hosts of this weekly Digital Online Streaming Mastery Show, on Tuesday, the 29th of October 2024, at 19h00 - 20h30 (CAT; SAST). Becoming adept in media and public relations to enhance your brand as a professional is critical. Dive into PR strategies in media and public relations, which are the most successful methods of communicating your value to those around you. Furthermore, good networking skills enable you to tap into those relationships you already have and increase the scope of your network. The larger the scope, the more people know you and offer you opportunities. The objectives of this conversation are networking for success, managing “meet and greet” opportunities, dressing for success, writing effectively, setting goals, managing media relations, planning issue and crisis communication, using social media, and delivering effective employee communication. 

Unit 34, Conduct 29, MENTORING - Meetings and Guest Briefing Management

PODCAST! Master the art of meeting management to hold practical briefings with your guests. From this conversation, you will learn planning and leading techniques that will give you the confidence to run a meeting that will engage the attendees and leave a positive and lasting impression. In short, we are addressing the following objectives: planning and preparing, identifying the participants, choosing the time and place, creating the agenda, setting up the meeting space, incorporating your electronic options, meeting roles and responsibilities, using an agenda, chairing a meeting, how to deal with disruptions, professionally dealing with personality conflicts, taking minutes, and making the most of your meeting using games, activities and prices.
Scenario: You are working on your first project and have to organise and manage the project kick-off meeting. What do you do first? Do you create the agenda or the invitation list? How do you run a meeting? What preparation do you need? All of these are valid and real questions you must address as the meeting manager. There is no doubt about it; meetings require skill and technique to achieve their purpose. Disorganised and poorly managed meetings waste time and hurt your credibility as a meeting manager. Consistently leaving a poor impression on the attendees will haunt you if left unchecked.

Unit 33, Conduct 28, Leadership and Influence (Rules and Principles)

PODCAST! LEADERSHIP and INFLUENCE (Rules and Principles)! Leadership and Influence start with establishing clear rules and principles for leading your team and influencing the direction of your project or programme. They say that leaders are born, not made. While it is true that some people are born leaders, some leaders are born amid adversity. Often, simple people who have never had a leadership role will stand up and take the lead when a situation they care about requires it. Once you learn the techniques of true leadership and influence, you can build the confidence it takes to take the lead. The more experience you have acting as a genuine leader, the easier it will be for you. It is never easy to take the lead, as you will need to make decisions and face challenges, but it can become natural and rewarding. Listen to the episode, using the link below. 
The Digital Online Streaming Mastery Show takes place weekly, on Tuesdays, from 19h00 to 20h30 (SAST) live at COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW), over the Podbean Business Platform. Download Podbean App, register and follow COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW), to receive notifications when we go live. You are welcome to visit www.CometsaMember.Com portal and check our Events Calendar frequently and register for the event. 

Honouring VUT WIL Alumnus (Ms Nontobeko Moimane, Communications Officer)

PODCAST! Vaal University of Technology (VUT) growing its own “timber” (talent) through the progressive Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) programme, coordinated by the Co-Operative Education Under The Centre for Academic Development. That’s the focus of this monthly VUT Student Academic Development Support & Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Show live here at COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW), streamed on Podbean Business Platform globally. In this podcast you will listen to the perspective from the VUT WIL Alumnus, Ms Nontobeko Moimane, who is now the Communications Officer at the University. The conversation is insightful, inspirational, informative and educational. If you are a prospective or current student at VUT or any other university, you are better advised to join the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Programme, and enjoy the benefits associated with it. You will enjoy your transition from the world of learning to that of work. There is no need for trial and error when there is so much guidance, help and support gained from the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Programme. It gave graduates like Nontobeko solid career development foundation. Enjoy listening and learn from Nontobeko. Visit the homepage of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), www.vut.ac.za, for further information.

Unit 32, Conduct 27, Social Intelligence, Knowing Yourself and Guest

Social Intelligence is a basis for understanding your guests in depth to facilitate a progressive conversation. It is about having an understanding of your environment and having a positive influence on those around you. Expressing and interpreting social cues will make you more confident in your social situations. You will learn to create positive connections and increase your influence during social situations. In this conversation, Unit 32, Conduct 27, Social Intelligence, Knowing Yourself and Guest, we want to achieve the following objectives:
Be aware of our behaviours
Learn to be empathetic with others
Learn tools for active listening
Effectively communicate interpersonally
Recognize various social cues
Determine appropriate conversation topics
Learn various forms of body language
Whether we’re at home or at work, knowing how to be more aware of ourselves and our surroundings can help us make the best out of any social situation.

Unit 31, Conduct 26, Planning, Organising and Implementation Skills

We are back with our weekly Digital Online Streaming Mastery Show, the Train-The-Trainer Edition. Our resident co-hosts, Devesh Mothilall, Rapula Modibane, Omphile Leepile, Maynard Maesela, Frans Rammutla, and George Mutendadzamera were back with us after our one week break to celebrate Heritage Holiday in South Africa. Sam Tsima was anchoring and moderating the conversation on the following themes: Remove the Clutter, Prioritise, Scheduling Your Time, Mastering Your To-Do Lists, Paper and Paperless Storage, Organisation in Your Work Area, Tools to Fight Procrastination, Organising Your Inbox, Avoid the Causes of Disorganisation, and Discipline is Key. The takeaways and lessons from this conversation are to experience the application of The LEKGOTLA Way Conversation Methodology. You will hear us talking about our commitment to the IDEA Principle. You need not be a streamer, podcaster or broadcaster to benefit from the insights we will be sharing with you. We inspire and challenge you to rethink how you remove clutter from your workspace by applying the three boxes - Keep, Donate and Thrash. You will learn to use the famous Urgent/Important Matrix to set priorities. We will all benefit from learning to remove or limit the time wasters, coping with things outside our control, using a day planner, and doing quick tasks immediately. 
 
 

Unit 30, Conduct 25, Customer Service and Aftercare

Strive to provide excellent customer service and aftercare to guests, listeners, and stakeholders of your show. This practice and behaviour are integral parts of customer service. COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW) held this conversation during the weekly Tuesday evening show, Digital Online Streaming Mastery—Train The Trainer Version, on September 17th, 2024, from 19h00 to 20h30 (SAST), live over the Podbean Business Platform. The co-hosts and anchors explored the following themes: Who We Are and What We Do, Establishing Your Attitude, Identifying and Addressing Customer Needs, Generating Return Business, In-Person Customer Service, and Ten Things You Can Do to Wow Customers
1. Greet customers with a smile, either in person or on the phone. It may sound corny, but customers can indeed hear the smile in your voice when you talk on the phone.
2. Be helpful, even if there’s no profit in it. Make customers feel your primary concern is being helpful, whether or not you sell them something.
3. Know your Product or Service. If customers feel that you don’t have the knowledge they need, they will look for someone else who does. Your expertise is part of the value you bring to customer interactions.
4. Don’t make customers feel like dummies. Of course, you know more than your customers do about your product or service but don’t make them feel inadequate because they don’t share your expertise.
5. Listen to customers. When dealing with customers, listen more than you talk.
6. Remember that employees will treat customers how management treats them. If treated with consideration and respect, employees will be more likely to treat customers similarly.
7. Make customers feel important and appreciated. When a customer needs help, put aside your work and focus on the customer.
8. Make things easy for customers. Consider making every transaction as fast and effortless as possible.
9. Throw in something extra. Giving customers more than they’ve paid or expected can make them feel you care about their business.
10. Say Thank You. This might seem obvious, but it’s easy sometimes to forget to thank customers for their business. A genuine “thank you” can go a long way toward creating good feelings in customers.

Unit 29, Conduct 24, Networking As A Source of Experts

NETWORKING (Outside and Within the Organisation) As A Source of Experts, Personal and Professional (Business) Relationships! Utilise Networking, inside and outside the organisation, as a Source of guest speakers and subject matter experts for your streaming show. During this weekly live show at COMETSA Radio Worldwide (CRW) We discussed the following themes: (1) The Benefits of Networking, (2) Networking Obstacles, (3) Networking Principles, (4) Why Network, (5) How to Build Networks, (6) Recognising Networking Opportunities, (7) Online Networking Tools, (8) Developing Interpersonal Relationships, (9) Common Networking Mistakes, (10) Time Management, (11) Managing Personal and Professional Networks, and (12) Maintaining Relationships over Time. 

Unit 28, Conduct 23, Show Guest Reputation and Personal Branding

Gauge the reputation of the Guest effectively to enhance the credibility of your show and the platform. In the information age, personal branding is necessary for the success of any company or individual. Failing to manage personal branding can lead to misinformation about you or your company becoming public. Taking control of your public image is no longer an option. Identifying and using the tools that affect personal branding will ensure the public sees the image you want them to see. A positive brand is necessary for success. You are in control of your brand if you choose to be. When establishing your brand, you must define yourself. Remember that perception is reality, so it is essential that you carefully cultivate your image. When you explain yourself and present this definition to the public, you will reap the benefits of taking control of your branding. It is easy to underestimate the importance of personal branding and avoid actively participating in your brand. The truth, however, is that branding occurs whether you participate in it or not. If you do not take time to brand yourself, the market will brand you, and it may not do it favourably. Customers can bring negative attention to a company or individual, and attention can quickly escalate to the court of public opinion. Taking control of personal branding is necessary to manage your public reputation.