Workshops and Seminars

Business Writing That Dazzles And Creates Results
Upgrade your writing skills for greater clarity and impact. This highly interactive, intensive workshop is a fun and easy to way to build your writing skills and learn new tricks that turn boring writing into interesting, attention-grabbing, high-impact communications. You’ll learn how to overcome tough writing challenges and add more life, color, clarity and power to your writing. This format allows you time to practice and reinforce what you’ve learned so that these writing skills become second nature. Exercise with fun and zany grammar drills, role-playing scenarios and visualizations to enhance your writing. Learn proofreading skills from the masters that teach you how to spot misspellings and grammar errors and ensure a polished final piece of writing. Learn how to brainstorm for ideas in writing, creativity techniques, organization skills and tips, and how to speed through writing tasks with ease and confidence to become a more polished, more professional, more powerful communicator in all of your writing endeavors. Improve your letters, reports, memos, proposals, recommendations and complaints. Learn how to tell bad news gracefully.

In Part A of this workshop you will learn:
· The secret to cutting your writing time by 30-40%
· A system to organize your thoughts and information
· Tips for overcoming writing anxiety
· How to present complex information in simple, easy to understand language
· How to be concise and clear
· How to avoid negative words and phrases that push people’s buttons
· How to create writing that creates results
· Attention-grabbing words and phrases that make your readers sit up and take notice
· How to say more with less to get your message across
· How to warm up and personalize your writing tone and style
· To use writing that is “alive” and colorful
· To tailor your message to your audience and build rapport with your audience
· To cut through jargon
· To recognize and fix the most common grammatical errors
· How to write memos that convey your message
· How to send effective e-mail messages that get read
· How to write more interesting, successful letters
In Part A, samples of writing will be examined and edited in group discussions and you will have the opportunity to edit your own material.

In Part B of this workshop you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the above topics and you will learn how to:
· Overcome your fear of the “blank page”
· Understand both obvious and hidden audiences
· Use editorial marks and editing/proofreading skills
· Organize documents
· Prepare reports that get results
· Write complaint letters – and answer complaints with grace and eloquence
· Learn how to tell bad news in a way that can be accepted with ease.
· Respond to angry communications
· Write effective press releases and announcements
· Tackle major writing projects
· Liven up dull information you have to write about
· Edit and proofread like a pro for crisp, clear, mistake-free documents
In Part B, you will have the option of submitting your own writing samples for analysis.

Duration:
Part A: Half day
Part B: Half day
Suggested participants:
Part A: Levels 1, 2, 3
The first half-day of this workshop is designed for anyone who must write business letters, send and respond to e-mail, prepare reports, send memos, etc.

Part B: Levels 2, 3
The second part of this workshop is specifically geared to the administrative needs of supervisors, managers and executives. Participants will bring some of their own work to polish and refine in the class writing exercises.

How to Communicate With Impact, Tact, Credibility and Influence!
In this high-octane workshop, you’ll learn why improving your communication skills is the most important thing you can do. You’ll learn how to overcome the major obstacles of communication, and gain powerful communication skills that achieve phenomenal results to help you advance in your career and personal relationships. Learn how to develop your message more clearly and how to understand and dispel noise that hinders the communications process. Learn how to take an audience-centered approach in your communications -- how to tailor your message in a way your audience understands. Part of communication involves active listening skills, and you’ll learn how to focus your mind and use non-verbal communication to improve your listening skills. You’ll understand how cultural differences can become “noise” to the communication process and deal with them effectively. Master the art of persuasion in a step-by-step method. Discover the key to communicating effectively with all types of people, and how to use finesse and diplomacy in difficult situations. You’ll also learn how to increase teamwork, collaboration and mutual support among team members, employees and managers.
As a result of this workshop, you will learn:
· To express your ideas clearly in writing and speaking
· That listening is not a passive activity, but an active one
· 10 skills for becoming a better listener
· To pick the right medium and context for your message
· To understand and use nonverbal communication effectively
· To keep your listeners from zoning out
· To eliminate common language mistakes that can ruin your credibility
· Surefire credibility boosters that help you appear confident when speaking to others
· To eliminate miscommunication and misunderstandings that can cripple relationships
· The art of persuasion in easy techniques
· To keep your cool and sail smoothly through difficult encounters
· To demonstrate poise and presence
· To reverse destructive self-talk and reinforce your communication skills with positive self-talk and creative visualization .
Duration:
Half day


How to Communicate With Impact
When English is your Second Language
In this workshop, we specifically emphasize improving fluency in spoken and written language skills. We use proven speech and linguistic techniques to reduce accents and help you acquire more credibility in speaking and writing English. As a result of this workshop, participants will:
·Learn to pronounce English words, vowels, consonants correctly
·Work to correct errors in pronunciation and enunciation
·Speak and write in a clearer, more concise and correct English
·Improve rate of speech, tone and enunciation
·Acquire an enriched vocabulary
·Improve self-confidence and credibility when speaking to the public
Suggested participants:
Individuals with English as a second language who wish to gain greater fluency in writing and speaking.
Duration:
Half day


High-Impact Communication Skills for Senior Administrators and CEOs
This is an advanced workshop for senior administrators, managers, executives and anyone who meets with the public and coworkers regularly and reports routinely to superiors and subordinates. You will learn how to communicate with confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism. You’ll learn how to disarm hostility and turn potential adversaries into colleagues. By completing simple exercises in effective communication, you will learn to transform attitudes. You will gain information about the latest trends and styles in communications. Tips and techniques for more efficient, effective writing and presentation tasks will be provided. Topics will include:
·Reading body language of others to gauge how you’re coming across
·Communicating with authority
·How to have a presence with poise
·Projecting an image of leadership
·Creating great first impressions and reinforcing positive messages
·Spotting and stopping negativity
·Preventing gossip from undermining the organization
·Using “Emotional Intelligence” in all of your communication situations
·Creating a workplace, where open communication, innovation and creativity are fed by enthusiasm, confidence and positive behavior.
·Managing change proactively
·The listening skills of top CEOs
Duration: Half day

How To Master The Art Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
Even people who fear public speaking can learn skills that can turn them into professionals and get their ideas across with enthusiasm and poise. This workshop teaches you how to tap into techniques that achieve amazing results. You will learn that anxiety is a natural part of public speaking, and how it can be “harnessed” like a wild horse to help you in your presentation. You will learn the basics of tapping into your audience, organizing your ideas, creating your outline and polishing your delivery skills. The workshop teaches sophisticated techniques for using your voice, attention focusing and the art of persuasion. Class size is kept small so you can receive individual attention. This workshop is excellent for the novice as well as someone with years of public speaking experience. You’ll get personal tips in developing and perfecting your own speaking style. Emphasis of this workshop is on all types of public speaking as required in the professional world. You will have time for exercises and activities that will allow you to practice and experience what you are learning. Highlights include:
·The basic elements of great presentations: the interplay of content, structure, voice, body language and personality
·Researching and understanding your audience
·Organizing your speech
·Eliminating and editing unneeded information
·Speaking with confidence and clarity
·Using enthusiasm to win your audience
·Creating emphasis with your voice and nonverbal techniques
·Using gestures for impact
·Speaking to your audience in meetings, at conferences, public settings, etc.
·The effective use of visual aids to perfect your timing and impact
·Various modes of presentation including explanation, demonstration, argument and persuasive speaking
·How to convey an extemporaneous speaking style
·How to manage a hostile audience
Duration: Full day or two full days
Two full day workshops will be divided into four 4-hour modules and will include individualized coaching and critiquing.


Mastering the Media -- Getting Your Story Told!
Virtually every person in your organization could some day be confronted with a situation that would necessitate working with the media. Our media-training workshop is designed to provide the highest quality media response and crisis management training to your employees. In addition, participants will acquire skills to help them maintain a positive image with the public when there is no crisis. You will learn how to be proactive rather than reactive when a crisis occurs, how to have your plan prepared and practiced and how to be ready for a wide variety of challenging situations as they arise in day-to-day business activities of your unique organization. Topics to be covered include:
·10 Ways you can keep the media on your side during a crisis
·Your media rights with the media
·The pros’ techniques for dealing with the media
·How to have an effective news conference
·Preparing yourself and your staff for a crisis
·Media relations and media placement
·Message development
·How to write a press releases, winning public service announcements, and VNRs (Video News Releases)--the new way to tell your story.
·How to create 100 story ideas
·The use of different approaches for different types of media
·Becoming a spokesperson for your organization

Participants will learn to:
·Make sure your message is understood
·Think like a journalist
·Understand how a newsroom operates
·Identify your agenda – their agenda
·Reduce the negative effects of a crisis
·Not be held hostage by an adversarial audience
·Anticipate and even preempt tough questions and use them to convey the desired message
·Create a “Crisis” or “Crash” kit (you won’t have time during the crisis!)

Duration: Full day

High-Intensity Media Training “Boot Camp” for Senior Management
This workshop focuses on implementing the same techniques as the media training workshp through additional and more intense high-powered practice. We will provide senior-level management with rigorous preparation for speaking with the media, to the public, and to coworkers during crises situations. We will not only introduce you to practical tips and techniques used by the pros, but we will teach you to think like a journalist. It is critically important that you understand what to communicate, and how to communicate it during a crisis. The training will empower you and teach you how to be proactive to smoothly handle any crisis that appears.
Topics will include:
·How to create and implement an effective crisis communication plan
·How to coordinate and make sure the organization speaks with one voice
·How to practice crises events with your staff and outside agencies
·How to handle confrontational interviews
·Intensive group preparation for on-camera performances
·How to prepare for and conduct a news conference
·Opportunities that currently exist for positive exposure
·How to create 10 “Good News” commercials for your organization
·How to identify your organization’s 10 worst possible scenarios and prepare your staff how to handle them
·How to bridge bad news with good
·Releasing brewing bad news early – a simple act that will save you when the crisis explodes
·How to anticipate questions and answers from hostile journalists
·Ten rules for handling a crisis
Duration: Two full days (Can be divided into four 4-hour modules)


Facilitation and Leadership: Making a Difference
A good facilitator knows how to inspire and mobilize people and keep a meeting, retreat or project on track. This half-day workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to examine how their leadership styles and communication skills can make a difference in facilitating anything in their professional scope. Effective interactions with people can create effective working relationships. Learn how to manage difficult people and turn negatives into positives. As a result of attending this workshop, participants will acquire skills and knowledge that will enable them to:
·Inspire creativity
·Keep the organization focused on its mission and goals
·Keep cool under fire
·Establish an atmosphere where ideas, opinions and suggestions are welcome
·Use positive self-talk to change interpersonal communication
·Conduct dynamite interviews
Duration: Half-day


Marketing Your Personal, Professional and Organizational Image
County employees at every level can have an impact on the way that the public perceives County government and services. This perception can make or break a program. You can improve your image and garner greater public support for your programs, products, services and other initiatives by using proven principles of public relations and image building. All it takes is an understanding of your “stakeholders” and then a focus on making that all-important emotional connection with the people who matter to your organization’s success. Positioning and branding are foreign to many in the public sector, but positioning can be an ideal way to improve your opportunities for success. Using real-life examples and proven techniques, you will learn an easy-to-understand method for increasing the appeal of your own work, government service, department or agency. In addition to an actionable 10-step process, participants will learn:
·How positioning, branding, image and marketing relate
·What positioning means for government departments and agencies
·Why you should care about positioning
·The importance of seeing yourself through others’ eyes
·Seven things that make or break an image-building effort
·How to position with the public interest in mind
·How to work harmoniously and effectively with the media and community
How to gain a clearer understanding of community perceptions
·How to design, launch, and maintain a campaign that promotes the organization’s ideal image
·How press releases and video news releases can help shape image
Duration: Full day


Communication In Interpersonal Relationships
This workshop focuses on self-concept, perception, language, listening, emotions and conflict as they relate to person-to-person communication. Participants will learn the Johari Window and what it teaches us about perception of others. They will be guided in developing the skills needed to communicate a message effectively by identifying the receiver, choosing a proper channel, and responding to feedback. Participants will also learn how to overcome a variety of common forms of interference or noise. They will learn how to develop the skills they need to listen and respond effectively to their co-workers and they will have the opportunity to practice listening skills in a work environment.
A component of the workshop deals with Telephone Skills. Participants will analyze nonverbal and verbal communication skills, and how perception effects communication. This workshop will inspire participants with renewed personal courage and arm them with effective conflict resolution strategies. They will gain an understanding of how to view conflict as opportunity.
Completing this program enables participants to:
·Identify the seven elements of communication
·Choose an effective communication channel
·Respond effectively to receiver feedback
·Reduce verbal and non-verbal interference
·Improve organizational communication
·Identify the difference between hearing and listening
·Increase productivity by listening
·Use critical listening skills
·Recognize different listening problems
·Resist distractions while listening
·Recognize how telephone skills and good manners affect the organization’s image
·Manage conflict in relationships
·Overcome apprehensions related to communications
·Improve modes of perception
·Distinguish among barriers to communication
·Understand how culture affects communications
·Understand emotions, emotional expression, emotional behavior and emotional intelligence
·Identify the five-step model of conversation and how to manage it
·Distinguish between content and relationship conflicts
·Identify appropriate ways to prepare for and follow-up on conflict
·Understand power and how to respond to power plays
Duration:
Two full days which can be scheduled as four 4-hour modules


How to Run Meetings that Make a Difference
This workshop will show you how to run meetings that are short, creative and productive – meetings that create results and don’t waste time. You will learn how to organize the meeting, run it in a way that creates progress, and engage the interest of all participants. You’ll even learn skills for how to deal with “problem-people” at meetings and proven decision making techniques that work. You’ll learn the three steps of a meeting: pre-meeting, meeting and follow-up. You’ll learn how to set the agenda, stimulate creativity and synergy; make sure discussions stay on track, facilitate in a way that creates involvement, and end the meeting on a high note. You’ll learn secrets of the masters – like where to place difficult topics in the meeting and how to keep the meeting focused. This workshop is a must for anyone who attends meetings as well as organizes them.

Highly Successful Crisis Communication Skills
This workshop will teach you about the art of handling crises. We will look at some fascinating and amazing case studies where a crisis was handled poorly. We will also look at cases where the organization smoothly and skillfully dispelled a crisis and turned it into a blessing for their image. This workshop prepares you to apply best practices and avoid mistakes. It teaches you how to develop and implement emergency techniques in your organization.
Levels 2, Full Day

Communication Mishaps Between Men and Women in the Workforce
Men and women communicate differently – they send and receive communications in a remarkably different fashion, which can lead to misunderstanding and animosity. In the workforce, this difference can be a crucial factor in organizational functioning.
#123 Winning Internal Communication Systems and Strategies That Will Revolutionize Your Organization Levels 1, 2, 3 Half-day Poor communication habits and systems can lead to serious problems in an organization. In this workshop you will learn how to make a communications audit of your organization – what is working, what is not working and how do you improve it? You will study the flaws in your organization’s communication system and learn simple, efficient and revolutionary techniques to improve communication, prevent problems and increase productivity.

10 Amazing And Effective Ways To Become a Better Listener
In the workforce, we spend more time listening than in any other activity, yet listening skills are seldom taught. Listening is an active activity. Learn how to create feedback that goes to the heart. Learn how to overcome the barriers to listening – like rapid thought, making judgments and psychological noise. Learning to become a better listener will make a difference in every aspect of your personal and professional life.
Levels 1, 2, 3 Half-day

They Are Not Like Us… Cultural Diversity in the Workforce
As the multi-cultural workplace becomes more of a norm, we need to develop new approaches to communication and relationships. Learn how we can better understand the nuances of a diverse work environment. Learn the differences in thought that affect communications with other cultures.
Levels 1, 2, 3 Half-day

Understanding and Mastering The Art of Persuasion
This intensive, customized, two-day course will help you and your staff to become effective in persuasion – written and spoken. We will present the latest perspectives and tactics that help get messages across with impact. In this course, you and your staff will learn how to: change others' beliefs and attitudes, gain compliance and improve relationships.You’ll be able to practice your persuasive skills in simulations that reflect common influence situations. Topics include detecting propaganda, developing persuasive messages, utilizing proven advertising techniques and understanding the rise of public relations and public opinion.
Levels 1, 2, 3 Half-day

Fun At Work -- How Play and Fun Affect Productivity
This lively workshop is designed to increase productivity and morale in even the most tedious and stressful environments!
Take a breather! Learn how you can get more mileage out of balancing the stresses of work. Taking a break to play everyday allows one to feel balanced, creative, refreshed and focused. Play invites problem solving, refreshes our creative process and allows us to develop strategies in our work. We may think of play as optional, a casual activity, but play is fundamental to our lives. Play is a refuge from ordinary life, mundane tasks and stifled creativity. Play teaches us how to turn the bumps in the road into breathtaking rewards. Learn ways to make your work fun and rewarding. Learn the power of positive self talk and the art of possibility. Learn creative visualization – how to go on “Field Trips” to success. The workshop involves role-playing, learning techniques to change your outlook, and creative exercises make this experience highly interactive and memorable.
Levels 1,2,3 Half Day