Benefits for the participant: You will be able to:
challenge assumptions
identify the real problem; not be fooled by side-line issues
understand how to respond when confronted by a problem
strategies to actually solve the problem

Benefits for the business:
Problems are actually solved instead of covered over only to erupt again and again
Team and individual input is organized and assessed for suitability and usability instead of getting lost in hundreds of yellow sticky-notes
Brainstorming that truly provides reasonable solutions instead of wasting time with strutting and jockeying for position

Course content
A strategy for reducing complex problems to simpler terms
Five attributes that cause problem-solving blunders
Five keys to effective problem solving
Five problem solving strategies

Your turn – in addition to the extensive practice exercises for each phase of the workshop, participants are asked to bring in 2 of their own problems/dilemmas (personal or business) to resolve using their newly acquired critical thinking skills.

Materials supplied
Participant workbook
Job aid, quick reference cards
Copy of power point slides

Group pricing available; email LOdum@ThinkWriteSpeak.com or call us 804-335-4533 for details.

Write
Do you see instances of poorly executed written communications in your organization? In business, one cannot afford to be lax in our written language skills. Any failure to use English that is correct will distract the reader and cause the focus to be on your mistakes, rather than on your message.

Course outline for Write Correctly – One-day workshop
Who should attend?
Managers
Supervisors
Executives
Administrative personnel
Technical writers
Team Leaders
Unit Directors
Trainers
Sales staff
Anyone who writes emails, policies, procedures, reports, sales presentations, training materials, memos, letters

Benefits for the participant:
Express your thoughts and ideas clearly, concisely and persuasively
Convey your message smoothly, without awkward or stilted sentence structure

Benefits for the business:
Well written documents enhance the credibility of the company
Employees who are able to convey the corporate message smoothly and clearly promote the corporate image of confidence, trustworthiness and dependability.

Course content
Grammar -- the rules for speaking or writing a particular language. You will review adjective and adverb descriptors, verb tense, subject and verb agreement, pronoun and verb agreement, relative pronouns, comparisons.
Punctuation – the symbols we use when we want the reader to slow down (comma, semi-colon, colon, apostrophe, hyphen, dash), or stop (period, exclamation point, question mark); when to use each punctuation mark, how to show possession, how to use contractions, or when to capitalize.
Sentence structure – correct sentence structure avoids, misplaced descriptors, misplaced modifiers, sentence fragments; create clarity by using consistency and parallel construction, reduce “wordiness”.
When to write out the number -- “sixty-two”, or show the number as a numeral, “62”.
Which is correct? – Who or whom? Lay down or lie down? Since or because? Who, which or that? Like or as? Imply or infer?
Avoid made up words – such as: “should of”;”irregardless”; “being that”.
Refuse to use -- clichés, such as “out of the box”, “do more with less”, “out of the loop”, “value added”, and others that have become meaningless; filler words, such as “clearly”, hopefully”, “basically”, and others that indicate a weak vocabulary

Your turn – in addition to the extensive practice exercises for each phase of the workshop, participants are asked to bring in 2 of their own documents (personal or business) to proofread and edit.

Materials supplied

Practice Exercises using real business documents, such as business letters, memos, emaiis, and reports
Participant workbook
Job aid, quick reference cards
Copy of power point slides
Answer key for exercises

Group pricing available; email LOdum@ThinkWriteSpeak.com or call us 804-335-4533 for details.

Speak
Comedian Dave Barry writes “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears – of falling, of the dark, fear of lobsters or speaking before a Rotary Club……..” The shear thought of having to speak extemporaneously to even a small group of colleagues is enough to make the knees buckle on most. Everyday in the work setting we are expected to verbally express the facts, sell our ideas or convey our convictions. Only a few have the composure and the skill to do it well. Yet, exceptional presentation skills are often what make the most significant difference in getting discussions to go our way, or to be perceived as an industry leader.

Course outline for Speak Confidently – One day workshop
Who should attend?
Managers
Supervisors
Executives
Administrative personnel
Teachers
Students
Team Leaders
Unit Directors
Trainers
Sales staff

Benefits for the participant – You will be:
confident and poised in any speaking situation whether one-on-one or in a group
self-assured during interviews, sales presentations, business meetings
skilled in techniques of persuasion and vocal prowess
secure in your ability to read and adjust to non-verbal communication cues
certain of your skills in using non-verbal communication prompts

Benefits for the business -- Staff will be able to:
work with clients persuasively and non-verbally
think and respond quickly but thoughtfully
achieve results

Course content:
Impromptu speaking exercises
Individual and group voice and diction coaching
Non-verbal communication awareness exercises
Persuasive speaking and selling exercises
Organizing and sequencing your Content

Your turn – in addition to the extensive practice exercises for each phase of the workshop; each participant will create one short informative speech to be performed for the class; the research materials will be available unless the participant wants to bring in their own material

Materials supplied
Participant workbook
Practice exercises
Research material
Job aid, quick reference cards
Copy of power point slides

Group pricing available; email LOdum@ThinkWriteSpeak.com or call us 804-335-4533 for details.

Speaking Skills Personal Coaching
Growing up, most of us at one time or another had a “Coach”. They helped guide us through the nuances of a sport or “goal achieving” activity. The Coach was responsible for evaluating our skills and assisting us with developing the strengths we needed to reach our optimum level of performance. Coaching can be just as instrumental in the organizational setting. A 2005 study in the Journal of Public Personnel Management found that training improved managerial activity over 22% - while training plus coaching improved productivity 88%. Coaching challenges and inspires one to stretch for greatness.

Course outline for Personal Coaching – Eight weeks
Is Personal Coaching right for you? Take this quick quiz and see . . .
1. Do you aspire to a greater leadership role?
2. Do you have good ideas, but feel anxious when presenting your ideas?
3. Are you looking for training that provides deeper insights and fundamentals?
4. Are you ready for training that is personal and built around you?

Why Personal Coaching?
For you to be a leader, to inspire action, be persuasive, and make a difference, you need to set yourself apart and above the crowd. Give yourself the edge, the something unique that others wish for --- you deserve it!

Course content:
You will meet with your Coach for 2 hours a week for 8 weeks. During this time you will practice:
Week 1. Assessment of speaking skills, presentation of self and content, goal setting for the 8 weeks, exercises
Week 2. Voice and diction
Week 3. Informative speaking: Organizing and sequencing content
Week 4. Non-verbal communication awareness exercises
Week 5. Informative speaking Performance
Week 6. Impromptu speaking
Week 7. Persuasive Speaking Preparation
Week 8. Persuasive Speech Final
You will be videotaped and with your Coach you will assess your own strengths and weaknesses. Each week you will have a speaking assignment that utilizes your strengths and remedies your weaknesses.

Materials supplied
Participant workbook
Weekly speaking assignment developed with you
Job aid, quick reference cards
Copy of videos

Pricing available, email LStough@ThinkWriteSpeak.com or call us 804-335-4533 for details.