“The problem with communication … is the illusion that it has been accomplished.”
- George Bernard Shaw
The popular conception is that managing others would be an easy job if it weren’t for all of those pesky people.
What really makes our teams, groups, and organizations ineffectual can be narrowed down to one thing: a lack of (or ineffectual) communication. I don’t want to get too touchy-feely on your mellow right now, dude, but it is a never-ending practice to communicate well. As co-workers and especially managers we need to get very good at it and when applicable help those we manage get good at it.
Then where the heck do we start and how much time do we spend on a subject as illusive as Communication. High Performance Advocates recommends that the following workshops be sprinkled into the mix of a longer training series or that you spend a concentrated time covering a few of the following topics:
- Building Trust in Your Organization
- Any organization without trust is a chaotic organization. But don’t worry, there are no ropes courses or falling exercises necessary. Play the “Win as Much as You Can “ game and find out how competition can turn into collaboration.
- Empowering Employees: From Good to Great – You can Bridge the Gap Between What You Want and What You Get
- Learn the difference between commitment and compliance motivation. Learn how leadership must change to help others become committed. Learn the principles and elements that empower people. Understand and take away tools and skills you can use today to begin to build commitment and accountability in your organization.
- The No-Wimp Zone: Setting Performance Expectations
- What do you do when you need to confront someone who isn’t meeting expectations? Chances are you do NOTHING for as long as possible! Learn how to set non-negotiables, and how to use dialogue to reduce unpleasant emotions, raise the bar, and get the outcomes you need. High performance businesses are born of high expectations.
- Effective Meetings and Decision Making
- Few would disagree that many (if not most) meetings are poorly organized and run. In addition, even if we have a good structure in place for our meetings, how do teams and organizations go about making good decisions? Using a group decision-making model you can improve your ability to reach consensus and at the same time learn how to create effective and efficient meetings that result in action and accountability.
- Learn how to Manage, Motivate, and Communicate with People Under the Age of 30
- Learn to bridge the gap and manage your young workers. If your organization is not building strategies for recruiting, hiring, training and retaining Generation Why, you’ll face BIG problems SOON! This motivational workshop and presentation will help you to understand this new generation and how it impacts your organization.
- Basic Communication Skills
- This isn’t rocket science. But somehow we must be reminded, repeatedly, that it’s not necessarily what we say, its what they hear. Learn how people’s perceptions and viewpoints differ. Learn the basics of face-to-face communication. Analyze the difference between one-way and two-way communication. Understand the skill of listening. Improve and practice your active listening skills.
- Face-to-Face Communication
- Explore the role of communication in interpersonal relationships. Learn about alternative ways of communicating and influencing others. Identify your “native tongue” or preferred style of communicating. Understand the consequences of an absence of dialogue and how to reach for dialogue and win/win.
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- What is feedback? Why is it so difficult at times? Discover how open or closed you are to giving and receiving feedback. Learn to give effective feedback to others–and how to receive it effectively yourself. Practice giving and receiving live feedback with team members. Make a personal improvement plan to respond to team feedback.
- Conflict Resolution: The Road to Win/Win
- Learn about healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with interpersonal conflict. Assess your own “style.” Decide how you want to modify your conflict style and how you will better handle your current conflicts and practice a powerful skill for resolving conflicts in a way that everyone wins.
For more information:
