Professional Skills Boot Camp

Course Outline

1. Leadership Assessment

The course begins with the respected HRDQ Leader-Manager Profile for every student. This assessment, based on the works of management experts such as Bennis, Kotter, Kouzes and Posner, helps students understand both their leadership and management skills by:

• Clarifying the differences between leading and managing
• Pinpointing the skills needed to be effective in each role
• Understanding how to balance and improve the two skills sets

2. Leadership

This module helps identify your leadership style, how to tap into leadership style strengths, minimize weaknesses and work effectively with different leadership styles. Different theories of leadership are discussed, contrasted and compared.

• Building trust with others
• Using power efficiently
• Reviewing best practices of successful leaders

3. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) refers to our abilities to recognize, control and assess emotions. While research suggests that many individuals are born with many innate EQ traits, there is ample evidence that they can be learned and strengthened. We introduce EQ and its four core skills:

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Management
• Relationship Management

4. Communications

This module reviews how to tap into effective communication strategies and overcome communication obstacles. Strategies and best practices of effective communication will be considered. Highlights include:

• Communication channels
• Communication models
• Communication methods
• The Power of Listening

5. Coaching/Mentoring

This module introduces one of the most beneficial tools for a professional to have in his or her toolkit — how to develop employees. Helping others develop will center on the key differences between coaching and mentoring by reviewing:

• Coaching models
• Mentoring models
• Providing feedback

6. Conflict Management & Dealing with Difficult People

This module combines two of the most passionate topics related to working with others. The first portion of this section focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of conflict management.

• Preferred conflict management styles
• A step-by-step conflict resolution process
• Strategies for handling conflict

The second part emphasizes identifying the different types of difficult behavior and effective tactics for dealing with difficult behavior.

7. Time Management

This module introduces essential time management skills. Using practical techniques, students learn to focus attention and energy on activities that help effectively advance their careers. Subjects include working smarter not harder, prioritizing objectives, avoiding stress or procrastination, using lists and personal deadlines, and more.

8. Facilitation & Negotiation

An overview of two specialized communications issues: a discussion of the techniques of group decision-making with special emphasis on group dynamics and mastering the tools of facilitation; and the essentials of the negotiation process and the application of those elements in practice.

• The concept of facilitation and how it differs from traditional methods
• Facilitation tools and techniques; handling difficult facilitating situations
• Preparing for a negotiation session
• The win-win negotiated outcome
• Negotiation strategies and tactics

9. Change Management

This module helps identify personal reactions to change, provides a process for dealing with change and guidance for handling emotions related to change. Additional emphasis is placed on topics such as:

• Readying the team/organization for change
• Leading others through any type of change

Assessments and Exercises

The workshop activities and exercises are designed to enhance your leadership and management skills. You will be provided the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment and discuss discoveries with other leaders. Best practice "dos" and notorious "don'ts" will be shared by your instructor. The self-assessment helps you identify core strengths and areas of opportunity related to these core competencies:

• Communicating Organization Direction
• Developing Key Relationships
• Inspiring Others and Directing Operations
• Developing the Organization
• Reinforcing Performance