Training Topics

Leadership: Courses

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Managing in R&D
Taught by experienced technical managers, this program is designed to help supervisors address transition issues and enhance the skills needed to supervise others. Simulation, case studies, videos, exercises, role plays, and other activities are incorporated to create a fast-paced, involving learning environment. Specific issues that impact the transition to supervisor are emphasized, along with development to build relationship skills, create a motivating climate, and improve performance management. A 360-degree survey completed before the workshop lets participants understand how their employees, manager(s), and peers view their supervisory skills. New supervisors will receive the 360-degree Supervisory Skills Survey six to eight weeks following the program. This three-day program is targeted for new supervisors, those preparing for a supervisory position, and experienced supervisors without prior supervisory training. A shorter two-day program is available but does not include the skill feedback inventory.
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Supervisory Methods
This course is designed to help new supervisors and those preparing for supervisory responsibilities master the transition to supervising others. Participants learn how they are perceived by others in their role as supervisor by completion of a 360-degree survey. Additionally, participants address ways to improve communication with employees and discover methods to improve employee morale, enhance productivity and performance, as well as practice techniques essential for effective delegation through simulations, case studies, and exercises.
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Managing Technical Groups
This highly participative action-learning program provides opportunities to address real-life issues and develop strategies for resolution with the help of the workshop staff and other participants. Emphasis is on ways to manage people, resources, and technology problems with distinct approaches to take for each. This two-day course targets those with several years of management experience beyond the first-line supervisory role. Participants receive a confidential assessment of their management skills based on a 360-degree survey. New approaches and solutions for improving staff performance, dealing with difficult situations, and delegating, as well as for improving communication and motivation are explored.
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Coaching Individuals and Teams
Coaching Individuals and Teams focuses on proven methods to enhance behavior and coaching in a team setting. The skills addressed emphasize how to work with employees, how to agree on expectations, interactive ways to develop useful goals and objectives, and how to establish measures of performance to assess progress. This two-day program is designed to provide experiences and skill practice leading to effective coaching behaviors. Exercises, case studies, videos, and other elements are part of a fast-paced learning environment.
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Managing for Improved Performance in R&D
This is a highly practical program for technical specialists and supervisors that emphasizes application and skill practice. Outcomes of attending this program include improving effective goal setting, establishing performance objectives and expectations, overcoming common barriers in evaluating performance, and understanding ways goal setting differs across R&D. Taught by experienced technical managers, this program provides opportunities to address real-life goal-setting issues in R&D.
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Managing for Improved Performance
Improvements in setting expectations, developing goals and objectives, establishing measures of performance, and assessing performance are the results of attending Managing for Improved Performance. It addresses some of the difficulties associated with conducting performance review discussions and provides practice giving feedback. Analysis and evaluation of representative participant goals/objectives from a pre-course questionnaire is used to focus attention on participants' needs.
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Performance Coaching and Counseling
Coaching others to be successful and productive is one of the most important managerial skills. This program addresses tools and techniques for effective performance coaching and provides multiple practice opportunities for participants over a three-day period. Shorter versions of the program, with less skill practice, are also available. Using a member of your company's human resource group to present and reinforce policies, procedures, and resources for managing marginal employees can be a powerful addition to the program.
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Leadership Effectiveness in Technical Organizations
This intensive, experientially-based program is designed to develop and enhance leadership skills for those who lead groups and teams of scientists, physicians, engineers, or other professionals in today's technology-based organizations. This three-day program is for those who want to improve their leadership skills and learn how their colleagues view their leadership strengths and areas for improvement. Case studies, videos, small-group discussions, experiential exercises, and an extensive leadership simulation are used. Participants gain insight into the role of leader and their own leadership styles and associated leadership strategies and practices through a combination of pre-program assessment and in-class exercises.
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Mentoring in R&D
This half-day seminar gives participants a solid foundation to approach and systematize their mentoring of others, as well as insight on how to find and use their own mentor(s). Topics include mentor development, identifying and overcoming roadblocks to mentoring in R&D, important activities for mentors, and developing networks. This program has also been adapted for mentoring outside R&D functions.
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Management Practices in Municipal Government
This two-day program addresses skills in management, communications, and techniques to deal effectively with others to enhance employee motivation and performance. Participants create plans to focus on solutions and strategies for their own work environment. A preprogram assignment provides the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® to gain awareness of individual preferences and the impact they have in managing others.
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Making Your Number$™
This interactive workshop helps participants to better understand the sales process and develop their sales skills through experience the five critical stages of the sales process: strategic planning, prospecting, sales presentations/RFP responses, closing, and account management and satisfaction. The workshop includes Making Your Number$™ learning tool in which teams focus on the sales process. Participants can expect to discover new prospecting tactics, acquire closing techniques that work, and gain time management insights that increase sales.
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Accountability Counts: Coaching for Career Success
This workshop offers practical advice from experienced facilitator(s) and fellow participants on how best to take charge and build your career. Topics include clarifying career goals, building internal support, negotiating your career internally, networking for career success, and non-traditional approaches to successful job transitions.
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Strategic Leadership
Understanding strategic leadership and taking responsibility for thinking and planning for the future, are essential in our business environment today. Strategic Leadership addresses ways to develop more effective strategic thinking skills and to build a more strategic perspective in your leadership role and work. This program emphasizes how to recognize levels of leadership and how strategic leadership differs, distinguish between strategies and tactics, and practice an approach to applying strategic thinking and planning in your role.
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