leadership 101

Are leaders made or born?  What are some of the basic aspects of leadership that all those placed in positions of responsibility should consider? This seminar will confront critical leadership questions and address some of the “myths” that have been created around leadership. Participants will learn strategies and tactics for confronting their own leadership challenges and how to overcome them successfully while continuing to grow themselves and others into great leaders.

leadership in 4 directions

All leaders “lead in four directions.” They lead their boss, peers, subordinates, and themselves! In this seminar participants will take a critical look at these dimensions and discover various ways to be successful in all four directions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of all their leadership roles and how to lead more confidently in all four directions and in the end be a valuable asset to their organization. 

emotional intelligence

Many researchers today have begun discussing "emotional intelligence" (EQ) vs. a person’s IQ. Why are we interested in it? It is perhaps best summarized by an individual leader's ability to achieve clear self-awareness, have empathy for others, maintain complete control of anger at all times, and the ability to handle other people in a fashion that inspires them to succeed. This seminar examines the role of EQ in developing good leaders.

Critical Thinking

As leaders move to the strategic level, issues naturally increase in both complexity and ambiguity. Furthermore, the consequences of decisions are more far-reaching and serious. Therefore, the need to analyze issues in depth and in a more systematic manner also rises. Critical thinking is not a spectator sport. The skills of critical thinking must be practiced with a wide variety of issues in many different contexts in order to be learned and retained. This seminar will examine the basic foundation and understanding of critical-thinking concepts and skills that leaders need to apply in their future responsibilities in the strategic-leadership environment. 

Healthy living essentials

You want to eat better, sleep better, and just feel better. And you know that having all those things would help you be more focused at work and present at home. But, you don’t know where to start and you really don't have time to think about it. You’ve tried all the diets, cleanses, shakes, and powders. You got the membership, signed up for the class, bought the program. You started, you stopped. None of those things work. The essentials do. This presentation combines a little science, a lot of practical advice, and a few honest stories of overcoming hurdles. No memberships or expensive kitchen gadgets required! With a clear personal plan you will leave informed, inspired, and motivated to live your healthiest life, TODAY!

6 Secrets to Less Stress

Over 75% of doctor visits are due to stress-related complaints and ailments. According to OSHA, stress has become a hazard in the workplace and costs   American industry more than $300 billion annually. It has become an epidemic that affects all aspects of our life – family, relationships, work, physical, and mental health. It is crucial for leaders to incorporate effective and sustainable stress management techniques. Without them any leader can become unreliable, irritable, unfocused and susceptible to serious illness and disease. In this seminar you will learn how to identify stress, how to manage stress holistically, and heal from current afflictions through simple stress management techniques. 

real-life Strategies for Creating Harmony Between Work, Family, and Self

Every day you are torn in a million different directions. In the end it seems that one area of your life always comes up short - work, family, or taking time for yourself. Trying to achieve that optimal "life balance" we all strive for, seems completely impossible.During this webinar you will learn why work-life balance is impossible to achieve and how a simple mind-shift can give you a whole new perspective. Plus, you'll leave with practical strategies and insights to prioritize and plan in a way that creates space for all aspects of your life. 

Diversity and Multi-Cultural Awareness

We all like to believe that we have neither bias nor prejudice.  But it is important to step back and ask ourselves the hard question --- is that really true? In today's global environment it is crucial to address bias and prejudice, individually and organizationally. This highly visual and very interactive program uses the Campbell Picture Postcard Deck, created by Dr. David Campbell, Senior Fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership. Using these pictures as stimuli, participants are guided through a series of questions and discussions that addresses bias and prejudice in a safe and understanding environment. 

This seminar has been used very successfully with corporate managers, business executives, university classes, school district leadership teams, faculty retreats, industrial psychologists, police officers, human resource staff members, and two groups of convicted felons.

The Leaders as a Communicator

Communication is fundamental to strong leadership, and effective leaders are usually good communicators. They make getting the message out a major priority, carefully considering the myriad of mechanisms available to them to communicate (email, voice, telephone, letters, etc.) and select the best tool for the moment.  They also carefully consider the best “timing” for important messages to their team.  This seminar examines the importance of communication to a leader, barriers to effective communication, non-verbal communication, and methods to improve communication skills.  

Abraham Lincoln as a Strategic Leader

A series of little-known Lincoln documents and episodes will demonstrate what Lincoln was really like behind-the-scenes and under pressure, during both his rise to power and in his years as a wartime commander-in-chief.  Lincoln could be a surprisingly tough, demanding boss, but he was also a principled visionary who understood how to balance competing organizational interests in a masterful fashion.  

ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING FOR LEADERS

Effective leadership is a function of defining a vision and then convincing others to follow the direction you have set. This definition however does not take into account the important of a leaders’ ethics. Otherwise, Adolf Hitler and Pol Potts could be considered effective leaders! Ethics and integrity are essential characteristics for being an effective, successful, and trusted leader. Not only is it important for leaders to maintain their integrity, but hold others to a high ethical standard as well.

Leading During a Crisis

All leaders face crises – whether it be for themselves or their organizations.  Being able to properly plan for and handle expected as well as unexpected crises is critical to the success of any leader or organization. This seminar will examine the nature of crises, how to organize a team, and quickly respond. 

Decisions during a crisis are often time sensitive, but crisis can be of a short duration or last a significant period of time. The pandemic is clearly an example of the latter. We will also consider how to maintain overall effort, build resilience, encourage initiative, continually reassess, and create a “learning organization”. Smart leaders realize that they can ill afford “to waste a perfectly good crisis”. They must ponder what lessons the crisis has provided that their team must incorporate for the future. 

Becoming a Master Mentor

Mentoring is a personal relationship in which a more experienced (usually older) mentor acts as a guide, role model, and sponsor of a less-experienced (usually younger) protégé. Mentors provide mentees with knowledge, advice, challenges, counsel, and support in their pursuit of becoming successful in their chosen profession. This seminar will focus on the crucial traits and behaviors of outstanding mentors, the diagnosis/management of mentorship dysfunctions, and long-term strategies for integrating mentorship into one's ongoing professional work. 

The Power of Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.  Research shows that people who know and utilize their unique strengths have stronger relationships, find more engagement in their work, and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.  This interactive workshop includes a discussion of how to increase well-being, happiness, and resilience.  A pre-workshop survey helps you discover and reflect on your own unique strengths.  

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF MENTORSHIP WITH MEN

In this seminar focused towards women leaders, explore specific best practices for both mentors and mentees as well as the characteristics of powerful mentoring relationships. Research shows that women with male mentors continue to reap more promotions and higher salaries (often because men hold more positions of power in organizations and professions). We discuss how to initiate and manage a cross-gender mentoring relationship to maximize career benefits while maintaining a unique, strong identity as a woman. Depending on the audience and format, time for discussion and role-play practice can easily be incorporated.

LEAD LIKE A GUIDE

Leadership lessons from the mountains to the board room– an intriguing approach to business and personal success. Discover the leadership strengths of world-class mountain guides and see how developing and applying these principles can help you reach for the highest summits in work, and in life. This intriguing approach introduces 6 leadership strengths of guides: demonstrating social intelligence; adopting a flexible leadership style; empowering others; facilitating the development of trust; managing risk in an environment of uncertainty; and seeing the big picture. These same strengths provide a valuable model, whether one is already in a leadership position or aspiring to get there.