Staff Development
Companies that invest in staff development for their employees increase skill sets and ensure greater loyalty. An untrained or underdeveloped workforce means poor communication, absenteeism, turnover, conflict, tension, low productivity, complaints, wasted time, and low morale. Be positive and proactive – develop staff and prepare them for success.
Critical Thinking & Decision Making
a eight-hour training session for up to 20 participants
The Improving Communications Critical Thinking & Decision Making (CTDM) workshop is an intensive, 8-hour “Strategic Lab” designed to move your team away from “gut-feel” guessing and toward a structured, data-driven methodology for solving problems and improving processes. In this class, attendees are empowered with the key points of analytical and critical thinking skills to use as a guide to develop options for any problem or dilemma, so that they can consider all available choices before making a decision.
In interactive, team exercises, participants will learn to apply the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process—the gold standard of Six Sigma methodology—to everyday business challenges. We also cover how to properly identify a problem, the benefit of using a team approach when addressing problems, and tools to use to point them toward the best, viable solutions. In making decisions, we focus on data-gathering, deadline creation, and modeling, to ensure that timely decisions are made with the best chance for success.
Building Interpersonal Relationships
an eight-hour class for up to 20 participants
In all professional environments, many factors drive success. The most important organizational impact is fueled by the quality of professional connections. This intensive, 8-hour workshop is designed to transform how professionals interact, collaborate, and lead.
Moving beyond surface-level “networking,” this class dives into the psychological and behavioral foundations of human interaction. Participants will explore the mechanics of Emotional Intelligence (EI), master the “Assertiveness Dial,” and develop a sophisticated toolkit for coaching and conflict resolution.
Through a blend of interactive “Into Action” labs, role-playing, and self-assessment, attendees will learn to bridge workplace gaps and foster a culture of trust and continuous development.
Participants will be able to:
- Improve self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and an understanding of personal styles to create stronger rapport and bridge gaps in the workplace.
- Integrate the leader’s role in motivation and inclusion to look past labels and leverage individual strengths for higher team engagement.
- Master the intentional communication process and the art of listening to ensure message clarity and build trust across all professional levels.
- Employ assertive communication and collaboration techniques to enhance internal customer service and drive organizational results.
- Apply structured coaching, feedback, and influence strategies to shape performance and foster a culture of continuous development.
- Use a comprehensive conflict management toolkit to navigate difficult conversations, manage anger, and mediate disputes effectively.
Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for individual contributors, emerging leaders, and established managers who want to leverage “Human Skills” to drive better results, reduce workplace friction, and increase team inclusion.
Anger & Conflict Management
an eight-hour training session for up to 20 participants
PART I – Anger Management
Being successful means that you must control your emotions, especially anger. Controlling anger can be one of the most challenging things to do, yet it is vital because you need to stay calm, think clearly, and make the right decisions. This program will ensure healthy and productive reactions to personal anger. You’ll learn techniques to control your emotions and influence others’ emotions, leading to more favorable interactions and outcomes.
Attendees will be able to:
- Learn what causes anger;
- Identify behaviors that cause anger, as well as those that will create a pleasant workplace environment; and
- Learn how to sidestep the temptation to become annoyed and angry.
PART II – Conflict Management
All organizations have conflict. Conflict makes organizations flourish because it tests existing orders and forces selection of new best practices. Learning to manage conflict and turn it into an opportunity for growth and innovation is a learned skill that will grow with training and experience. This program will help participants learn to resolve differences in a respectful way that will not alienate or hurt others.
Attendees will be able to:
- Learn ways to resolve new and existing conflicts;
- Work through barriers such as: not listening, fear, being right, bad attitude;
- Apply assertive Conflict Management techniques and principles to actual existing discord,
- Express and acknowledge emotions appropriately, and
- Find shared-power solutions through negotiation and/or mediation.
Assertiveness
a two-hour training session for up to 20 participants
Topics:
- Definitions and reactions
- Tips for becoming more assertive
- Interactive communication exercise with individual assertiveness coaching
- Personal commitment to becoming more assertive (role play)
Attendees will be able to:
- State wishes clearly and directly, taking others into account;
- Be honest about thoughts and feelings;
- Share ideas and opinions, even if they are different from those of others.
- Directly address that which is bothersome.
Self-expression is crucial for emotional well-being. This session of staff development will help participants learn to express themselves in a respectful way that will not alienate or hurt others. In contrast to being assertive, there is passive (unassertive) or aggressive (overassertive) behavior.Both of these kinds of behavior need to (and can) be changed, because they are less effective and can harm others.
MEDIA TERRORISM
a one- or two-hour training session / keynote address
MEDIA TERRORISM is the use of media power to generate fear or take away people’s ability to think for themselves. As a result, employees have an increased sense of world danger, unrest, and an overall fear that the worst is going to happen. This seminar examines these issues and offers an opportunity to generate company-wide awareness of this problem. During the session, a historical perspective shows media techniques for generating fear and taking away peoples’ abilities to think for themselves and methods for being less susceptible to this.
Topics include:
- Definition, examples, history
- “Rubbernecking”
- Using fear to control
- Methods/Messages
- Media Outlets
- Solutions
Attendees will be able to:
- Define and explain “Media Terrorism;”
- Learn and understand the origins of media-generated fear and mind control;
- List the harmful effects of media-generated fear on the workforce;
- Realize the methods and media outlets used to control society;
- Discover and utilize solutions to avoid media-generated fear and control; and
- Generate company-wide MEDIA TERRORISM awareness to promote increased employee mental/physical health.
Positivity in Communication & the Power of Praise
a two-hour training session for up to 20 participants
Mistaken beliefs and communication difficulties break rapport with others. To undo these barriers, participants are given tools to: asses their own attitude, use positive language, increase clarity, and reduce stress.
Positivity in Communication
Language affects how people feel and how they view the world. In addition, communication affects how receivers feel and perceive the sender. With that in mind, style and choices have tremendous power. Here, we look at communication styles and their effect on others. Negativity at work results in absenteeism, turnover, conflict, tension, low productivity, complaints, wasted time, and low morale. Topics covered include: requests vs. demands, positive vs. negative language, accurate vs. vague language, inclusive communication and respectful expression.
The Power of Praise
Praise is an extremely powerful motivator. With it, people feel good about themselves. Subsequently, they perform better. Here, participants learn what praise brings out in people and, conversely, what lack of praise does to them at well. We go over a formula for quality-focused praising, followed by a segment in which participants write letters of praise to colleagues/coworkers/employees.
Attendees will be able to:
- Increase awareness of impact on others through speech and behavior,
- Respect everyone they lead and meet, and
- Contribute more effectively to the organization.
Stress Reduction
a two-hour training session for up to 20 participants
“Stress” is a fancy word for “fear.” Experts agree that fear is corrosive, and paralyzes people, or causes them to take counterproductive action. The good news is that fear (stress) can be managed and viewed accurately, to allow for progress and success.
The Stress Reduction session gives participants a chance to identify their own stress and its causes. Then, in a series of activities, attendees see how they can shift perspectives and engage in activities that, by default, reduce personal fear. They’re set on a course of action that points them toward positivity and smart goal-focused decisions.
Attendees will be able to:
- Define and assess stress,
- Identify and discover causes of personal stress, and
- Develop strategies for managing and reducing stress (addressing
perceptions, goals, time management, prioritizing, and personal
influences).
Team Building & Alignment
a two-hour training session for up to 20 participants
In Team Building & Alignment, participants identify and articulate the key elements of the organizational belief system.Experts agree that fear is corrosive, and paralyzes people, or causes them to take counterproductive action. The good news is that fear (stress) can be managed and viewed accurately, to allow for progress and success.
Attendees will be able to:
- Define four key elements of organizational belief system – Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals.
- Identify qualities that support the organization and its philosophy.
- Create a Quality Improvement Plan that defines supporting behaviors and goal setting for achievement.
- Take stock/conduct a personal assessment (inventory taking) in these
areas: teamwork, communication, productivity, attitude, business
acumen, selflessness, meeting challenges, navigating politics - Manage change; gain greater understanding of fear and why people perceive change fearfully.
- Determine approaches to help overcome staff resistance to and fear of change.
The Effective Business Writing program is an enjoyable and informative training session. The program provides participants with the necessary tools to improve their business communication. Feedback from employees, having attended a session, has been positive and confirms that they are using the skills learned in the program. Rich Atkins takes a subject that can be tedious and makes it humorous and easy to understand.
Mary Ellen Fisher, Instructional Designer