Following the positive response to our recent online training courses, Optimum Results is pleased to announce a new programme of practical courses for August 2026.

It has been encouraging to see business owners, managers, team leaders and individual professionals investing time in developing practical workplace skills. The participation and engagement throughout our recent courses have reinforced the value of focused, accessible training that people can apply in their everyday roles.

Our August programme continues this practical approach, covering first-time management, business development, responsible AI use and workplace wellbeing.

Each course will be delivered live online, allowing participants to ask questions, contribute to discussions and learn from practical workplace examples.

August 2026 Course Line-Up

• 20 August – Stepping Up: Practical Skills for First-Time Managers.

• 25 August – AI for Business Development: From Prospect to Proposal to Close.

• 26 August – Using AI in Your SME: What’s Safe, What’s Risky and What Needs a Policy.

• 27 August – Preventing Burnout in Your SME: The Benefits of a Shared Wellbeing Culture.

Calendar available to view.

What is the Content?

Stepping Up: Practical Skills for First-Time Managers

20 August | 9:30am–12:30pm | Live Online | €59 per person

Moving from team member to manager can be a significant adjustment. New managers must learn how to set expectations, allocate work, delegate responsibility, provide feedback and manage performance—sometimes while adjusting to managing people who were previously their peers.

This practical course will help newly appointed managers, supervisors and team leaders understand their responsibilities and approach common management situations with greater confidence.

Participants will explore delegation, one-to-one conversations, constructive feedback, difficult conversations, employee motivation and managing competing priorities. They will also begin developing a practical action plan to guide them through their first months in management.

AI for Business Development: From Prospect to Proposal to Close

25 August | 9:30am–12:30pm | Live Online | €59 per person

This practical, hands-on workshop supports SME owner-managers, sales professionals and business-development teams in using AI throughout the sales process—from understanding the market and identifying better-fit leads to preparing for meetings, creating proposals, following up and tracking opportunities.

Participants will explore how AI can support competitor analysis, online profile reviews, lead generation, meeting preparation, sales-note analysis, proposal development and follow-up communications.

Using a structured prompting framework, attendees will learn how to create clearer and more useful AI outputs that support better sales thinking and more consistent business-development activity.

The session also includes guidance on using AI safely and responsibly in a sales context. This includes protecting sensitive information, anonymising customer data, checking AI-generated claims and ensuring that AI supports human judgement rather than replacing it.

Participants will leave with practical prompts, a simple sales tracker and a 30-day action plan they can begin applying immediately within their business.

Using AI in Your SME: What’s Safe, What’s Risky and What Needs a Policy

26 August | 9:30am–1:00pm | Live Online | €59 per person

As AI tools become more widely used in the workplace, organisations need to understand both the opportunities and the responsibilities involved.

This introductory course will provide business owners, managers and team leaders with a practical understanding of responsible AI use and the key workplace considerations arising from the EU AI Act.

Participants will explore AI literacy, transparency, human oversight and the different ways AI risks can arise across recruitment, content creation, customer communication, data handling and internal business processes.

The course will also outline practical steps organisations can take, including reviewing how employees currently use AI, identifying potentially higher-risk applications and beginning to develop clear internal guidance.

Preventing Burnout in Your SME: The Benefits of a Shared Wellbeing Culture

27 August | 9:30am–12:30pm | Live Online | €59 per person

Workplace wellbeing is shaped by more than policies or what is written in an Employee Handbook. It is influenced by workplace culture, leadership behaviours, trust, communication and the everyday experiences of employees.

This introductory course will help SME owners, managers, team leaders and HR professionals assess their current approach to workplace wellbeing and better understand the factors that can contribute to burnout.

Participants will consider the mental-health continuum, stakeholder involvement, employee engagement and the organisational levers that can support a healthier workplace. They will also begin developing a practical wellbeing plan, including suitable measures of progress and immediate actions their organisation can take.

Why These Topics Are Relevant

Modern workplaces are changing quickly. New managers are taking on greater responsibility, AI is becoming part of everyday business activity, sales teams are exploring new ways to work more effectively, and organisations are paying closer attention to employee wellbeing.

In many cases, the challenge is not a lack of effort. It is a lack of clear guidance, practical structure and the confidence to take the next step.

Our August courses are designed to provide participants with useful tools, informed guidance and practical knowledge that can be applied within their own roles and organisations.

Who Should Attend?

The August programmes may be particularly relevant to:

• SME owners and business leaders.
• Newly appointed managers and supervisors.
• Team leaders taking on greater people-management responsibilities.
• Sales and business-development professionals.
• Account managers and employees responsible for managing opportunities.
• HR, operations and compliance professionals.
• Employees using or considering using AI tools.
• Workplace wellbeing representatives and employee champions.
• Individual professionals who want to strengthen their workplace skills.

Book Your Place

All four courses will be delivered live online, with places available for €59 per person.

Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

View the August courses and book your place.