The success of any initiative is inextricably linked to the success of those leading it; the more challenging the initiative, the greater the linkage must become. Very few organizations monitor leadership, unless there is a perceived risk of strategic initiative failures. Fewer still reinforce leadership in any meaningful way beyond loaded compensation packages. Only a handful of organizations, those truly committed to the process of excellence, actually support leadership.
The meditative process through which vision is revealed, the collective process of communication by which it is shared, and the collaborative process, including conflict management and resolution, by which it is implemented all rest and rely upon layers of trust and respect that transcend vertical, horizontal and diagonal boundaries. Trust and respect are established and maintained in the context of relationship – and that is the rub. The development of relationship is time-intensive. And in the absence of the commitment of time, for reflection, for engagement, for assessment, for analysis, for re-calibration, there is no relationship – hence leaders are not supported. Laminated mission statements, value statements, goals, and ethics cannot substitute for time and the relationships that can evolve and thrive within it. But the inverse is also true-when relationship exists, leaders are supported, reinforced, and monitored and in that construct strategic initiatives have the greatest potential for success.
“Effective Communications”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
The practice of effective communications forms the cornerstone of success in today’s business world. As people from different cultural perspectives and world views come together within organizations successful communication styles can become a challenge. The increasing presence of foreign nationals and native-born Americans who learned English as a second language presents another communication challenge. We will discuss the reciprocal aspects of effective oral communication, particularly the responsibilities of speaking and listening. We then examine the impact of communication on the team. Open to all employee levels.
“Performance Plus: Understanding the Rules of the Game!”
Recommended Course Length: 6 Hours
In organizations, competency is assumed every time a payroll check is cut. The ability to advance through an organization frequently is based on intangibles or unwritten rules of the game. This seminar focuses on the myth of meritocracy, the notion that good works are their own reward. Knowing only the written rules (those items contained in the manuals, procedures, and job descriptions) suggests a significant percentage of the rules remains unknown. Participants explore ways to uncover all the rules, how they apply, the benefits of compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance. As the unwritten rules apply to everyone, albeit to differing degrees, this seminar may be offered in several ways: separately to managers and supervisors in non-technical and technical departments or separately to some or all of the diverse focus groups such as White Men, African-Americans, Hispanics, Older Workers, and Vietnam Veterans.
Multiple courses based on career level. Open to all employee levels.
“Influencing Others”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
The most effective influencers are those who know exactly what they want to achieve and can clearly express to others how that objective will be met only with their help. Beyond a strong sense of self, effective influencers know what makes others tick, i.e., what motivates them to action, to join your cause. This course will tap into a variety of skills, notably persuasive engagement. Through the Influencer Assessment, we will identify human elements in each of us that are most receptive to active influence. We will determine the best uses of assertiveness, attentiveness, tenaciousness, and appreciativeness in the influencing process. While not a prerequisite, this training is an excellent primer for our Basic Negotiation Skills course.
Open to all employee levels.
“Basic Facilitation”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
Facilitation is the art of shepherding a group discussion through a change process. Frequently, the change represents a shift from dependency to empowerment, thus making the role of facilitator both multi-faceted and quite challenging. This course introduces a facilitation technique structure that ensures consistent, positive results. Basic facilitation is aimed at managers, project leaders, supervisors, and trainers who rely on collaborative processes¾ team meetings, quality circles, focus groups, seminars, etc. to meet performance requirements. Participants will learn specific skill sets germane to facilitation that will address: trust-building; effective questioning; active listening; group intervention, time management; conflict/disruption handling; and critiquing.
Open to supervisory and higher employee levels.
“Basic Negotiation Skills”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
A negotiator is one skilled at striking a favorable agreement to acquire a service or product and/or inducing a position change of another party. Frequently, trickery and deceit are interwoven in the process of forging deals, bad deals. This course emphasizes a methodology for making good deals through a structured negotiation process. This approach is premised on establishing a bargaining strategy before verbal/written engagement, then itemizing negotiating criteria that lead to a successful outcome. Questioning, listening, phrasing, situational analysis, and positioning skills will be covered. The principles learned in this seminar can be used with equal effect in contract talks, dispute resolutions, procurements, budget tie-ups, or even project task delegation impasses.
Open to all employee levels.
“Time Management”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
If time is equally distributed to all, why does it appear that some people never get caught up while others seem to set productivity records each day? As a finite resource, time must be budgeted much like money. Yet, many of us cannot seem to conquer the tendency to live our personal and professional lives as time spendthrifts. The buck stops at this workshop. Each participant will perform a personal time audit to prove to self the need to take control of one’s time. We will proceed step-by-step to establish what tasks will get accomplished and when as well as what will not. The effect of regaining control of our time will be evidenced in greater work efficiency, enhanced personal productivity, elevated sense of accomplishment, and reduced levels of stress.
Open to all employee levels.
“Interpersonal Skills”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
Current and aspiring managers who want to increase their effectiveness on the job should value and ultimately rely on sharp interpersonal skills. People with these skills frequently are labeled as magnetic personalities. In a sense, they create their own gravitational force. Those possessing this force often are strong, natural leaders who inspire and motivate others to peak performances. Alas, leaders are not always born; some will attend this workshop.
Open to all employee levels.
“Effective Mentoring Relationships”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
In virtually every field of endeavor, top performers routinely seek the wise counsel of a mentor. Indeed, establishing effective mentoring relationships in today’s competitive workplace has become crucial to the developmental success of both protégé and mentor. Within this relationship, the person being mentored, the protégé, gains the skills to develop and implement career goals. Simultaneously, the mentor develops stronger communication, influencing, and guidance skills. Each party plays specific roles, brings specific characteristics, and shoulders specific responsibilities for the duration of the mentoring partnership. At each phase of the mentoring process, the parties must perform critical cost/benefit analyses not only to determine value but justify continuation as well.
The ultimate purpose of mentoring is to develop reciprocal relationships that enhance opportunities for organizational success for both parties This course provides frameworks for determining purpose/game plan, analyzing the risks/rewards, defining roles, establishing realistic expectations, and assessing results for both protégé and mentor. In addition to carefully considering the impact these relationships have on mentoring partners and their supervisors, our discussions also will scrutinize the effects on organizational succession strategies.
Open to all employee levels. Separate classes for mentors, protégés and supervisors.
“Coaching and Communicating in a Diverse Environment”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
This course moves beyond the awareness level of diversity to explore practical dimensions in its management. Effective communication, as a critical element of effective coaching, increasingly becomes challenging in a diverse environment. Participants focus attention on cross-cultural communication styles that hold domestic and global applications. Developing a cross-cultural communication skill base creates positive impacts for employees, supervisors, and managers while enhancing customer service in an increasingly global market.
Open to Managers, Supervisors & Technical Staff.
“MenSpeak/WomenSpeak”
Recommended Course Length: 4 Hours
Optional Advanced Session: 4 Hours
This lecture is designed as an overview of the numerous gender-based issues found in the American workplace. The learning expectations are threefold: 1) to understand how gender differences translate into communication style differences; 2) to use that knowledge productively in male/female communications in the workplace; and 3) to address and answer the following questions. What are the communication style differences between men and women? How can we promote better male/female communication at work? Why are men heard more at meetings? Why is information ignored until stated by a man? What is the impact of communication style differentials due to upbringing and culturalization? How do you distinguish real from perceived communication style differences between men and women? How do we define “acceptable” behaviors at work? How do we communicate those behaviors? What is the origin and ideology behind gender-based communication style differences? How does culture impact differences in female/male communication styles? Does style vary between same-sex/gender and different sex/gender conversations? Do men think women speak too softly? Do women need different environments to communicate effectively? Discover answers to these queries at this informative seminar.
Open to all employee levels.
“The Team Retreat”
Recommended Course Length: 2-3 Days
Optional Advanced Sessions: 1+ Days
This highly configurable seminar provides a facilitated, structured forum for team leaders and team members to engage each other off-site on personal levels that are unavailable in the everyday workplace. Generally, the format encompasses purpose/theme development, status assessing, personal skill training, and action plan creation. Off-site, overnight retreat locations enhance team development. Additionally, shared meals, group projects, and “down time” fosters team growth. It is during these activities, where team members engage each other at a one-on-one level of trust and respect, that team cohesion is most enabled. The ultimate objective is to increase personal and team productivity and the building of trust through open, direct dialogue. This seminar is particularly effective as a preface for impending organizational or policy changes that benefit from early buy-in of key personnel in advance of implementation.
Open to Executive, Managerial, and Supervisory employees.