Retaining and motivating employees is among the most significant management challenges today because people consider themselves to be free agents. It begins with hiring the right people for the organization. This is both a science and an art. Employees are interested in growing with the organization. There are many factors which contribute to growth. Employees like challenges. There are certain criteria that must be applied if the challenges are to have impact. Module take-aways include: list of questions that should be asked in every interview, questionnaire that will help determine employee fit, list of ways to motivate different generations, assessment of personal criteria for challenging tasks, and framework for the 18 ways to energize employees. 

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~ Communicating Effectively

 

In this module, participants learn to communicate more effectively with subordinates and superiors by identifying and removing common barriers. A key element in the information age is the abillity to be able to identify the appropriate forms of communication for different messages. Cases and discussion will be used to understand: verbal and non-verbal communication, gender communication differences, use of e-mail in the organization, skill of listening, use of power in management, and manager as salesperson. 

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~ Value-based Time Management

 

Managing time based upon proven techniques helps an organization use its resources better. This becomes an element of an organization's strategy to gain competitive advantage. Knowledge and skill in legal practices, combined with quality and service opens the door to greater profits. Speed keeps the door open. Session topics include: analyzing time utilization patterns, managing through effective prioritization and delegation, comparing/contrasting 24 time efficiency techniques, finding ways to improve time management by using better prioritization strategies, discussing options for eliminating time wasters, and considering approaches to business process improvement. 

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~ Leading Effective Meetings

 

The ability to lead effective meetings is a fundamental attribute of the effective manager. Successful interaction among individuals, focused on organizational goals, is built not only during meetings, but also prior to and after the meetings. In this module, participants will: discuss the purpose and use of meetings to build agreement, clarify expectations, and formulate organizational goals; discuss the meeting agenda as a performance enhancement tool; identify processes to manage the group dynamics involved in meetings; and discuss how appropriate meeting minutes can save time, enhance performance, and promote achievement of meeting goals.

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~ Managing Conflict

 

Workplace conflict is common in organizations. To manage this issue effectively and reduce the loss of productivity, organizations are looking for specific strategies to identify and manage conflict. In this module, participants will practice strategies that will enable them to add value to their organizations by using conflict to move forward, rather than allowing disagreements to become counterproductive. Participants learn to: use tools for reaching an agreement quickly, identify techniques that raise issues needing to be addressed constructively before they negatively impact work relationships or corporate results, and practice resolving conflict techniques by participating in role play activities.

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~ Organizational Politics and Influence

 

Politics exists in organizations. The manager must understand the working of organizational politics, which includes the importance of influencing subordinates and superiors. Topics for this interactive module include: meaning of power and politics in an organization; organizational and personal power bases; power tactics, and the relationship between power and politics; response to various power tactics; and legitimate, illegitimate and ethical political behavior. 

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~ Decision Making for Managers

 

Managing involves decision making. Participants will understand the elements of effective individual decision making, as well as techniques for involving subordinates in decision making when appropriate. Module goals include: methods of managing participation in decision making, using new tools for decision making, identifying priorities for individual development in decision making skills, developing skills in analytical decision making, and improving personal time management through more efficient decision making. 

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~ Managing Change

 

In the 21st century, world change is inevitable and constant. We must not only be able to manage change, but to lead our subordinates in coping with and perhaps even embracing change. Participants will learn to: establish a vantage point for change management, differentiate among six different kinds of change, assess how people react to change (including self-assessment), identify and deal with signs of resistance, and develop a four-part strategy for managing change.

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