Strategies to be discussed include Building Relationships Through Coaching and Engaged Listening; Being Aware of the Power of the 93% of Communication; Creating Your Own Leadership Identity; and Leading with Mojo!

Sally Percy (Forbes, 2018) describes this people-centric approach: “Today…people have a lot more choice about how, when and where they work… Servant Leadership ensures that the worker has the opportunity for growth, productivity and workplace satisfaction…this will have a positive impact on their relationships with customers and on the performance of the organization as a whole.” During this engaging, interactive program, we will explore what Servant Leadership—at its most impactful--looks like in today’s organizations. We will start by identifying the top ten characteristics of Servant Leaders, then explore the differences between Command Leadership and Servant Leadership. Finally, each participant will take a closer look at themselves, via a self-assessment of the key traits of Servant Leaders.

The research is clear that leaders with higher levels of Emotional Intelligence enjoy greater success and satisfaction at work, at home, and in their relationships. During this practical, engaging program, Brenda will introduce insights from some of the most recent Emotional Intelligence research, including a unique Harvard Speed Dating Study, and a German university's study of selfies (yes, selfies!). The studies are a bit quirky, but the insights are truly helpful for anyone seeking to grow as a leader.

Please note: Brenda also has a 4-part, fascinating Emotional Intelligence series that she recently developed and presented virtually for an Iowa professional association's membership. Please ask about it, if it might be of interest; the feedback was extremely positive!

This interactive, meaty program will delve into what those key leadership traits and behaviors are, and throughout the program, participants will be engaged in applying the principles to their own work.

• Explore key roles and responsibilities of team leaders, based on well-respected research into how to create strong, productive work teams

• Learn how to set clear expectations for your people 

• Learn the importance of, and how to, of giving consistent, timely, and specific feedback to your team members (both positive and corrective)

• Learn how to build positive relationships with team members through coaching...including skills of asking open-ended questions; actively listening; and teaching team members to problem-solve

• Learn the how-to of successful verbal and nonverbal communication as a leader

In many of our ever-changing industries, today’s leaders are being asked to demonstrate steady fortitude in uncertain and volatile times. This engaging session focuses on how leaders can become consistently mentally strong in order to face these challenges with a quiet confidence that says, “I can face whatever is thrown my way.” Using compelling research and real-life examples, Brenda will provide participants with practical, take-home strategies for remaining positive, level-headed, and assured, i.e., truly the type of leader up to the task of leading their people through whatever the future holds.

We'll start with an overview of the basic components of effective coaching, then delve into several unique coaching tools, including the 'Moonshot' Coaching Technique; the 'Spheres of Influence' Activity; and the 'APT' Tool. Throughout this upbeat session, we'll discuss practical applications for each tool when coaching team members.

This engaging, interactive session is focused on strategies for leaders during the process of organizational change. We’ll discuss several stages that individuals and organizations go through when facing change, including common leadership pitfalls to avoid during the change process. We’ll explore the range of emotions that leaders may encounter in employees and provide practical strategies for preventing and resolving emotionally-charged conflicts. Finally, we’ll discuss strategies for personal strength and resilience during periods of change, understanding that the better equipped you are to personally navigate change, the more dynamic leader you will be for your team.

How do you, as a leader, hold accountable a team member who is performing below standards and/or who is just plain difficult to work with? In this session, you will learn several strategies for setting clear expectations for staff, and we will outline a step-by-step approach for giving corrective feedback and following through when an employee is not performing up to those standards.

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*Please note that Brenda also has a four-part Performance Management Series, with individual sessions on setting expectations, coaching, earning team members' respect, utilizing progressive discipline, and conducting effective performance reviews. She can take this series directly to your team leaders, at your site, if you wish. Please contact Brenda for further details, at frcoffee@ncn.net

For many leaders, dealing with team conflict is a routine and least favorite part of their job. In this interactive session, you will learn practical skills for dealing with difficult team members, as well as two step-by-step frameworks for resolving conflicts: one framework for conflicts in which you are the mediator, and one for when you are a party to the conflict. Join us in identifying your own, natural style of responding to conflict and in learning what to say—and not to say—to keep conflict resolutions calm and productive.

In this session, we will walk step-by-step through a framework for having those difficult conversations in ways that keep the conversation calm and productive. We’ll start by helping participants understand their own natural styles of responding to difficult conversations, then work into learning specific strategies for having difficult conversations with others whose style may be very different from their own.

In this engaging, interactive session, we will explore the many components that comprise excellence as a communicator, particularly when serving in a leadership role. Topics to be covered include setting clear expectations for team members; giving effective praise and feedback; the role of verbal and nonverbal communication; and how to communicate in ways that keep tense conversations calm and productive. You will leave armed with practical, take-home strategies that you can implement immediately in your current position to make you more confident and effective.

We’ll start with a brief history of psychological theories of motivation, then move into several current voices and discoveries regarding what truly motivates employees in 21st century workplaces. We’ll identify the three essential ingredients of workplace motivation and discuss several common workplace practices that tend to squelch employee motivation. You’ll learn how the type of work task influences what motivates employees, and leave armed with practical, take-home strategies for motivating your employees, colleagues, and even yourself.

We'll start by identifying the critical role that leaders play in employee retention, including key responsibilities that managers must do well in order to engage their team members. We'll then delve into several specific recruiting and retention strategies, including practical tips and the how-to of incorporating each.