An OVERVIEW of Donaldson & Associates Consulting, Conference and Workshop Offerings
- Needs Assessments - conduct time-efficient, cost-effective and outcome oriented learning needs assessments for the four areas of individuals, team, departments or entire organizations.
- Learning Needs Blueprint - design, as a result of the needs assessments, a Learning Needs Blueprint of goals, strategies and outcomes for Executive, Management, Teams and individual Front Line employees.
- Learning Map Design - create, from the master Blueprint, a Learning Map for each of the above disciplines that would link current strategic and business needs to people and process development requirements.
- Curriculum Design - create prioritized curriculum that integrates and addresses needs for all disciplines outlined in points 1 and 2.
- Personalized Learning Maps - design personalized Learning Maps that are based on an individual’s specific learning and development requirements which then link to the Performance Management process.
- Source on-line and/or e-learning - to meet specific Learning Map requirements.
- Workshop Facilitation - facilitate workshops, conference, retreat and lunch and learn programs related to Emotional SMARTS®, (otherwise known as “emotional intelligence) and identify how this critically important research directly affects how employees at all organizational levels:
- manage unrelenting change and uncertainty
- lead with courage and vision
- participate productively in teams or groups
- provide empathic, responsive client sales and service
- effectively negotiate in a timely manner and demonstrate
- confidence and capability in conflict situations.
- Coaching - or mentor one-on-one to address specific personal or professional needs.
- Follow-up debrief learning - either one-on-one, by teleconference, or in group settings.
- Measurement System Design - to evaluate the success of learning initiatives.
- Conflict Reduction – through design and implementation of proven systems and processes.
- Mediate - situations that cause people angst and/or personal and professional “down-time”.
- Recruitment, interview and hiring – with guidance that is aligned to Emotional SMARTS® standards and requirements for “short listed candidates” related to new or replacement positions.
- Outcomes Reporting - on a regular basis, to Executive and Leadership, on results achieved.
- Fun – have it!
The following provides an overview of the conference key-notes or presentations, workshops, retreats or “Lunch and Learn” topics offered by the team of:
- Dr. June Donaldson, Certified Mediator and Arbitrator,
- Wendy Turner-Larsen, Registered Psychologist of Regina, SK.
The first workshop listed relates to Emotional SMARTS® - the foundation of our learning offerings because we believe that one’s Emotional SMARTS® are at the foundation of how they work, interact with others, and stay grounded, centered and focused so they obtain the results they, their family and their organization need. All other workshops are listed in alphabetical order.
- Emotional Intelligence – Maximizing Your Emotional SMARTS® for Personal and Professional Leadership.
- Behavioural Styles or “Why can’t THEY be more like ME?”
- Butting Heads – Managing Conflict with Confidence and Courage!
- Getting a Grip on Change!
- Personal Excellence for Leaders
- Personal Excellence for Women
- Sales and Client Service Excellent – Your Blueprint for STAR Performance!
- “Running on Empty” – Emotions and Stress at Work
- Team Building with Myers Briggs
All offerings can be adapted to be: conference keynotes, two hour, one-half day, one-day or two-day events. Consulting services, as outlined on Page 1, vary in scope and detail.
For details how this material can be adapted to your environment and for our very competitive pricing options, please contact Dr. June Donaldson at 403-287-2244 or through emotionalsmarts.com.
Offerings are often tailored for diverse cultures, timelines and budgets. Special care is taken to ensure the content is appropriate for Executive, Leadership and Front-line employees. Client references are available upon request.
Topic: Emotional Intelligence – Maximizing Your Emotional SMARTS® for Personal and Professional Leadership
Demonstrating your Emotional SMARTS®, otherwise known as emotional intelligence, is non-negotiable to your life, work and relationship success. It’s all about how you apply your knowledge or wisdom to managing your emotions – and this is particularly important when life does a “run-away” on you! Your Emotional SMARTS®, in a very transparent way, greatly influence how you:
- manage unrelenting personal and professional change.
- lead with courage and vision (whether it is in the workplace, at home or in the sports arena).
- work well in teams (in business, relationships or social groups).
- provide empathic sales and service.
- negotiate and manage conflict (which usually escalates when change and uncertainty take hold)!
Terms of reference have changed about what constitutes “competence” and forward thinking people and organizations “get it!” They work at having all employees – from the front line to the board room – competent and skilled at applying their Emotional SMARTS® so they effectively self-manage, appropriately behave, fluently build relationships and make quality decisions in getting the job done!
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- describe the four Cornerstones and 16 Characteristics, or skill sets, of the Emotional SMARTS® model and process.
- identify the status of their Emotional SMARTS® in terms of how they:
- list maintain high emotional literacy so as to effectively self-manage and self-project,
- appropriately behave, in particular during change, uncertainty or high tension situations,
- connect well with others,
- and make “big picture” far reaching decisions that stand the test of time and scrutiny.
- name actions they could take to more effectively self manage, appropriately behave with culturally and demographically different people, build different types of relationships and make mutually beneficial big picture, far reaching decisions.
- improve their Emotional SMARTS® and “shine” even more than they already do.
A pre-course or post-course Emotional SMARTS® Self-Scoring Profile is available to reinforce learning and development.
Topic: Behavioural Styles or “Why can’t THEY be more like ME?”
Isn’t it frustrating when people and their questionable or sometimes crazy behaviours get in the way of us doing what we want? Well ... life happens ... and this workshop provides insight into those very deep-rooted and personal motivators that result in others (and us) saying what is said and doing what is done!
Make no mistake about it - we all have very core and personal needs that must be met on a continual basis. These needs are driven by many factors: our behavioural style, gender, age group, cultural influences, thinking style, to name just a few! Many times people don’t even know what their core needs are – and this places them at a disadvantage because then they don’t know how to enhance the bright side of their style and more pro-actively manage the “dark side”. Equally important, they don’t know how to appreciate the bright side of others and react when they demonstrate the “dark side” of their behavioural style. This dynamic creates ripe territory for high tension interpersonal situations that directly lead to conflict!
To further complicate matters, when people don’t know how to demonstrate high behavioural flexibility AND high Emotional SMARTS®, and their dark side consumes them (as often happens when people feel overwhelmed and out of control), they can be perceived in any one of four ways - as a “bully”, “loose cannon”, “wimp”, or “anal” - descriptions most people don’t want used on them.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- identify their behavioural style in terms of what they need:
- from a work or project point of view; personally down deep at one’s “gut level”; to address time and risk, when experiencing high anxiety, fear or anger; remedies or “fixes” to reduce relationship tension so all involved can get on with the job at hand.
- describe the style of others – using the same terms of reference as outlined in point 1.
- explain why some behavioural styles experience a greater potential for conflict than others.
- identify why and how one’s age, thinking style and life experiences could influence a person’s perception of change.
- describe what can be done to minimize high tension, conflict based behaviours early in the conflict cycle.
- name behaviours each style can demonstrate so they are better able to gain endorsement from others quickly and fluently.
This workshop is an eye opener for people who need to work with others to get the job done – whether that’s at work, home, or in social groups!
Topic: Butting Heads – Managing Conflict with Confidence and Courage!
What is it about conflict that results in many people either “leading with their left” or “heading for the hills to hide out”? You know the signs ... where people either come out of their corner with a passive- aggressive, combative or antagonistic approach or “hide out” hoping if they close their eyes long enough the conflict will go away?
It is our view that many people have simply never learned how to identify, assess, address and resiliently recover from conflict. They are often immobilized by dated thinking, unrealistic self-talk or inappropriate reactions.
As a result, they have learned to mask, minimize or misrepresent conflict with the result being that small issues, which could easily be addressed early in a conflict cycle, aren’t, and then they take on a life of their own.
The situation often then becomes bigger than big to where those involved become driven by ego and get to a place of loving to hate the “other guy,” therefore totally losing sight of the real reasons for the conflict. We refer to this as getting to know “the story behind the story”.
This workshop puts a face on conflict. It talks about the reasons for it, how it gets fuelled and how to lessen the intensity of it. Participants will leave with a conflict management process to administer in any situation. With practice, (and high Emotional SMARTS® and behavioural style flexibility) it is expected one’s fear and trepidation about conflict would lessen, confidence in addressing conflict would increase and the individual would be able to demonstrate personal leadership by demonstrating a pro-active and forward-thinking new type of conflict management direction.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- link each behavioural style to their core needs and predictable high tension behaviours.
- identify how one’s Emotional SMARTS® and behavioural style flexibility greatly influence one’s conflict expectations, attitudes, statements and behaviours.
- apply a proven conflict management process to the Emotional SMARTS® and behavioural style of others involved in the conflict.
- establish strategies on how to maintain one’s emotional balance around those people who demonstrate their low Emotional SMARTS® and less than appealing behavioural style and conflict flexibility.
Topic: Getting a Grip on Change
To say that “change is constant” is an understatement. Knowing the four phases of change that organizations, departments, relationships and even friendships MUST go through can position one to weather the emotional upheaval that accompanies the change cycles. It doesn’t mean the changes will stop but what this information can do is make the very human reactions to those change cycles more predictable, understandable and manageable.
This knowledge can give people a greater sense of control over what is happening to them and around them. It can also help people be pro-active about how to best deal with personal and professional change on their horizon. Once done, they are better able to establish strategies so they don’t find themselves becoming emotionally high jacked and saying or doing things that could become a CLM (Career Limiting Move)!
This change model makes sense – and consistently managing our very human reactions to change can only benefit us and everyone we come in contact with.
Learning Outcomes: at the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- identify the four phases of change organizations, departments, relationships and even our careers must go through in order to stay productive, prosperous and pleasant environments.
- describe, based on our Emotional SMARTS® and behavioural style, the very predictable and human reactions to each change phase.
- discuss major demographic groups, thinking style and gender differences and how these factors influence how each behavioural style approaches tasks, builds relationships, problem solves, makes decisions, negotiates and deals with conflict.
- strategize on how to lessen relationship tension so they interact well with people from different age groups, work well in mixed teams and conduct work in keeping with professional business and ethical standards.
Topic: Personal Excellence for Leaders – Increasing Personal & Professional Competence
It has been said that a lack of self-awareness contributes to 80-90% of workplace problems. With greater self-understanding and awareness, leaders are better equipped to meet the demands of leadership and to excel in competencies such as: accountability, managing change, coaching & developing others, relationship building, service excellence and more.
Throughout this workshop, in addition to content rich teaching segments, participants are led through a variety of individual and group exercises and discussions to provide in-depth self-understanding and self-awareness in order to increase leadership performance and bottom line business results. The foundational philosophy of Personal Excellence for Leaders is personal accountability and responsibility. This workshop helps participants recognize and change those behaviors that impede leadership excellence.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- identify self-defeating patterns and cycles of thought and behavior that impedes business performance and identify strategies to address these ineffective patterns.
- more effectively manage emotional ups and downs and stress, thereby increasing productivity and workplace engagement – assess what contributes to mounting stress and establish effective methods to reduce the stress.
- recognize assertive, passive, and aggressive behaviors and communication in themselves and others and utilize a short form assertiveness technique to improve communication.
- understand what is the root of one’s personal leadership behavioral challenges, thereby increasing the probability of change.
- recognize personal drainers (for example—lack of assertiveness) and identify strategies to reduce such limitations in order to reduce personal stress and improve leadership effectiveness.
- understand the concept of boundaries, taking responsibility and holding others accountable for areas of responsibility and appropriate business actions.
Topic: Personal Excellence for Women – Achieving Work-Life Balance
Women are under enormous pressure today to juggle various responsibilities-- raising children, managing homes, working full-time, volunteering for numerous organizations, caring for aging parents and the list goes on. Because of their propensity to over-helping, perfectionism, people-pleasing and feeling mounting guilt, the pressure is mounting and many women are feeling burned out!
This workshop will help women understand what is at the ‘root’ of such behavior and how to break these destructive cycles. It will assist women in reducing stress and teach them to understand some of their own personal triggers that ‘pull’ them toward over-involvement, people-pleasing and perfectionism both in the workplace and at home.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- Recognize and change self-defeating patterns and cycles that keep one stuck, unhappy and overwhelmed!
- Practice productive decision-making that sets boundaries and reduces stress.
- Recognize energy drainers, and how to set and follow one’s priorities.
- Reduce guilt.
- Achieve greater work-life balance.
- Improve communication and reduce stress with a proven short form assertiveness technique.
- Understand the concept of boundaries, how to be responsible for one’s own life and how to let go of what is not one’s responsibility.
- Reduce stress.
Topic: Sales and Client Service Excellence – Your Blueprint for STAR Performance!
It’s been said that “life is one long sales call” because from the moment you hit the floor in the morning till you go to bed each night, and no matter what work you do, a great portion of your day will be influencing others to do what you would like them to do, see events as you see them and to support your opinion or position!
The old stereotype of a sales person in a plaid jacket, waving a cigarette or cigar and “twisting arms” to make sales are long gone!
It doesn’t matter whether you are a corporate executive; auto mechanic; legal, accounting or engineering professional; emergency services worker; a real estate agent; or a consultant: you are first selling YOU! Then, you sell your credibility, expertise, knowledge, time, product, service or ideas. No matter what the commodity, the steps to gain endorsement and results from others are the same.
In today’s competitive and uncertain times, savvy business professionals focus on maximizing their time, efforts and results as they work with others to obtain results. They are fluent in facilitating over 20 distinct steps of the sales process. Next, they consistently self-critique to stay on track and to make sure their efforts are interpersonally based, time efficient and outcomes oriented.
The beauty of this workshop is that it enables participants to be specific about action they can take to advance their services, products or other offerings. They can quickly tailor their presentation to be meaningful and of high value to their client, therefore, achieving a “yes” sooner than later. Further, they will identify action they can take to provide value added offerings to their clients, thereby making it just that much easier for the client to buy!
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- identify pro-active pre-sales activities so as to maximize one’s sales strategy, presentation time, personal effort and professional skill.
- customize the four major components and the multiple steps within each component of the sales call process.
- tailor one’s offerings, value add, and presentation to the expectations, needs, wants and “nice to have’s” of the client.
- personalize each step of the sales process so they authentically present the process in a focused, time sensitive, professional and results oriented manner.
- identify and pro-actively address questions, objections and cynicism in a self-assured and informative way.
Topic: “Running on Empty” – Emotions and Stress at Work
“Because of the furious pace of change in business today, difficult to manage relationships sabotage more business than anything else—it is not a question of strategy that gets us in trouble, it is a question of emotions.” – John Kotter, Harvard Business School
Over-stress and other negative emotions get in the way of workplace performance. Employees that are calm, energized and focused are much better equipped to meet the challenges at work and more able to lead courageously, navigate difficult relationships, manage conflict more successfully and quickly recover from emotional or financial setbacks. Those with lower levels of stress become more engaged and productive employees and are able to do what organizations need them to do.
Drawing on sixteen years of experience in counselling, Wendy Turner-Larsen, Registered Psychologist will present breakthrough solutions to many of the negative emotional states that are diminishing the quality of our lives personally and in the workplace.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- identify one’s Myers Briggs Type and how it impacts one’s stress and stress management style.
- recognize one’s negative mood type challenges and related solutions using the confidential ‘Four Part Mood Type Questionnaire.’
- name and strategize how to address one’s:
- stress cues
- stress triggers
- stress management style – in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
- realize how to achieve and maintain emotional balance by implementing effective stress-management and emotional self-management techniques.
- recognize and learn how to change self-defeating patterns of thought and behavior that increases stress.
- identify the concept of personal and workplace boundaries, taking responsibility, addressing poor boundaries and recognizing how taking on too much, perfectionism and people-pleasing add to mounting stress.
Topic: Team Building with Myers Briggs
Utilizing the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), one of the most widely used behavioral assessment tools in the world, participants will learn about their individual temperament/personality style and how one’s individual style interacts with others in the workplace. Four specific areas relevant to workplace relationships and successful functioning will be discussed specific to the participant’s temperament style:
- communication,
- decision-making,
- managing change and
- dealing with conflict.
Following completion of the on-line assessment, each participant will receive an 18 page individualized confidential assessment. Participants will be expected to outline an individual ‘action plan’ based on this learning session. The session will be filled with exercises, discussion, lecture and group facilitation for maximum learning.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
- realize their temperament and style preferences.
- recognize, in greater depth, one’s individual style preference and how one’s style and behavior affects team functioning in four key areas:
- communication
- decision-making
- managing change
- and dealing with conflict.
- appreciate the behaviors and style of others thereby increasing success in working in teams, communicating with others, decision making, managing change and dealing with conflict.
For more details on consulting, conference key-notes and presentations, retreat,
Lunch and Learn and workshop services and fees
please contact Dr. June Donaldson at 403 – 287 – 2244 or through emotionalsmarts.com
Thank you for your interest in our services!