Professional Development Archives - Language at Work

Looking to 2025!

Judy Pollock — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:23:54 +0000

Language at Work is celebrating 40 years of successful training in 2025! To thank you all for helping us get here, Language at Work now is offering the popular, and NECESSARY, Emotional Intelligence course in several formats~. Whatever works best for your group~ we have it!

In-person or virtual courses:

Full day schedule
Half day schedule
Micro-workshop for the busiest amoung us!

Our new course catalog offers all of the courses that have made Language at Work one of the most successful training companies in the greater Washington area.

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Sign Up For our Spring Webinars!

Judy Pollock — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:07:48 +0000

Just in time for busy spring schedules, our short, compact, lively webinars deliver tips and resources for popular training topics.

Each 90 minute webinar provides instruction and discussion, with helpful resource material for further learning.

Here’s the schedule:

April 26, 2024, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Office Etiquette – Common problems are shown, along with suggestions for behaviors that promote good will. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/240146597958168

May 31, 2024, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Keys to Clear Writing – Learn what quick steps you can do take make your writing accessible to the reader, and ensure the reaction you want. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/240533987787171

June 28, 2024, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Managing Up: Help Your Boss Help You – Learn to read your boss and adapt your speaking and working style so you both can benefit from your relationship. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/240564523933154

July 26, 2024, 12:00-1:30pm

Grammar Bootcamp – A return of our popular, must-have course that will answer your questions and correct the common pesky grammar goofs. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/240525054517148

Payment Information
Individual Registration Fee $179.00
Additional Notes:
Registration fees are non-refundable.
Upon payment, a confirmation email with webinar access details will be sent to the provided email address.

For any inquiry or assistance, please contact: contactus@languageatwork.com.

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.

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What’s New!

Judy Pollock — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 21:07:02 +0000

Spotlight – New Course Catalog!

The new Language at Work course catalog will make planning and scheduling easier, quicker, and more comprehensive. Here’s what to know: * Download the catalog for easy reference * Our well-loved traditional courses have had an upgrade * We’ve introduced many new courses that reflect today’s training concernsTo celebrate the launch of our catalog, we’re offering a 10% discount for October bookings. Let us help you pick the ones that will start your fall training with success.

Professional Development Tips

Strong communication skills are the basic requirement for every job. Does your team know and practice these simple communication tools?1. Listening – This may be the most important skill, as it can give you information about your audience, demo your intent to engage, and lead to solutions.2. Clarity – Avoiding difficult parts of a message leads only to confusion. Take time to be sure you are saying what you mean, not just what someone wants to hear.3. Understanding – Communication is not just about conveying information; it’s also about building relationships. Find commonality and find cooperation.See our catalog for the courses that help with these tools: Listening for Results, Emotion Management, The Art of Conversation, Reframing: Turning Problems Into Opportunities, and others.

Quick Quiz

Question: What is a feature of Active Listening?
1. No interruptions 2. No planning your response 3. Show that you understand by rephrasing what you hear 4. Ask if the speaker wants your opinionAnswer: Lucky you! All are correct. See how easy it is? Let us bring a Listening class to your group~ Listening can be the key to the improved communication we all want.

Join the Conversation

We’d like to hear your thoughts about Artificial Intelligence in your workplace. What are the current concerns and issues with which improved communication skills could help? Send us an email to: contactus@languageatwork.com

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.

Thanks!
Judy

Judith Pollock, President
Language at Work
4931 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Phone 646-491-1089
www.languageatwork.com

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Come and Get It!

Judy Pollock — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 21:03:06 +0000

A catalog of courses can make your fall training planning easy and quick. You’ll see courses categorized and summarized so you can turn to the topics you need, and can find everything you want all in one place.

Our new catalog of courses is designed to make planning and scheduling as efficient as the training itself. In it you’ll find all of our familiar favorite courses along with many new titles – new courses that reflect the issues and concerns of today in the thoughtful and engaging format of all Language at Work training.

Let us send you your copy of the Language at Work Catalog of Courses. Use it when you meet with colleagues, send it when a department asks for training suggestions, share it with those who wonder which course bests suits their needs.

Use it to book your 2023-2024 training!

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.

Thanks!
Judy

Judith Pollock, President
Language at Work
4931 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Phone 646-491-1089
www.languageatwork.com

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Microlearning – Another Training Option

Judy Pollock — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:23:40 +0000

No time for training? Strict budget? Just need a reminder of some of the basics? Want to try out a new topic quickly?Microlearning is the solution!Microlearning sessions are lively, short, interactive overviews of the key elements of a training program. They hit the highlights of our more extensive, in-depth courses, and provide specific take-aways of the learning you want your group to have. They’re great for large groups or teams that just need a reminder or quick intro to more complex topics.– Easy to schedule– Budget-friendly– Maximum results for minimum timeTry one of our microlearning solutions. 90 minutes of fun, thinking, and learning!

Grammar Gremlins

Building Boundaries

Speaking to Decision-Makers

Graceful Disagreements

Listen Up!

Put Power in Your Communication

Can’t decide? Let us put together a session on your topic, or a series of topics on whatever your folks need.—Judy PollockPresidentLanguage at Work646-491-1089[http://languageatwork.com

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.

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Something Good This Way Comes

Judy Pollock — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:41:42 +0000

Ignore the Macbeth witches! This time of year doesn’t have to mean anything unpleasant- never mind goblins, budgets, and leaf raking.

The Girls have the right idea. They find the fun in the fall~ and so can you!

Find what works for you in our training catalog- packed with course ideas for every skill level, every problem, every need. Every course has something good for your training schedule.

‘Double double, toil and trouble’ may be forecast, but we have the solution: Something GOOD this way comes.

Need to see our catalog again?

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.

Thanks!
Judy

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The Courses You Want #3: Reframing: Turning Problems into Opportunities

Judy Pollock — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 21:54:44 +0000

There are 3 sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the reality. Clearly, there is some overlap, and the version attributed to reality is often obscure, especially in stories in which the stakes are high, so it seems reasonable to say that any version of the story could stand some adjustment.

What if we could adjust our version of the story to make it more palatable- and to make it one that offers us some benefit? If a story that leaves us feeling deflated or dismissed could be adjusted to be a story that invites action and possibility, would we not want to make that change?

Reframing can do that. Consider:

Hema and Ortiz made a fabulous presentation in their bid to run the next project and they were turned down. Not only that, but now they have to work with- and answer to- the team that won the bid. Anger, disappointment, and resentment flags are flying.

A colleague sees Hema and Ortiz developing their story of victimization and bias, and suggests an alternative story:

Now you can learn from this project what you can do in the next bid; now you can demo your grace and cooperation; now you’ll have more time to check out other projects; now you have OPPORTUNITY, not failure.

It’s a slight adjustment; it’s an adjustment that risks insincerity in implementation; it’s an adjustment that might yield none of the suggested outcomes. But, by reframing their experience, Hema and Ortiz have a chance to move from negativity to at least, neutrality, if not positivity, and this outlook is no small thing in the work world.

Reframing is a simple concept but it can be complex in execution. Some specific guidelines can make it a habit that will help you, and, as a manager, will help you steer your team.

Ask us about this course you want: Reframing: Turning Problems into Opportunities.

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com.Thanks!

Judy Judith Pollock, PresidentLanguage at Work4931 Massachusetts Avenue NWWashington, DC 20016Phone 646-491-1089 www.languageatwork.com

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Civility at Work

Judy Pollock — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 21:28:36 +0000

The girls are not ready adaptors of the costume custom for Halloween, but they know that the culture of their workplace includes civility, so they are happy to participate.

Alas, their collegiality sometimes calls into question the role of civility in their environment. There are others who disagree with the custom in general and those who take issue with the specific choices. And many of them express their disagreement.

One burly fellow snarls at the notion of accepting an idea without having his objections solicited; growling is heard from a few who seem to fear the change and want not to be drawn in; sharp, snippy twists of attitude are displayed by some who are suspicious of whatever motive might underlie this weirdness; and there is always the grumbling from those who dislike anything they haven’t thought of themselves.

The girls do find these responses objectionable, but they’re encouraged to remember that cordial interactions turn out better than disagreements.

And besides, the next time it rains, who will be in a plastic yellow coat?

Want to avoid the Plastic Yellow Coat situation in your workplace? Send us a message to discuss civility.

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Ambiguity: Friend or Foe?

Judy Pollock — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 20:43:33 +0000

It feels counter-intuitive to imagine that uncertainty could be a friend. Who likes ‘I dunno” as an answer? Indeed there are situations in which grey is a safer choice than black or white, altho many of those situations are ambiguous – read ‘evasive’ – by choice. Ambiguity when one needs clarity, is just frustrating.

Workplace ambiguity can be working on a project without having all the necessary information, or having it in bits and pieces, or getting it later than you need. It can be relying on people to do their part of something for which you’ll be praised or blamed. Or it can be hearing directions that are vague or incomplete, or being given information that has conditions or qualifiers, on which information you need to plan or organize other aspects of your life.

Our new course is helping people work through some of these issues. No, we can’t eliminate ambiguity, but we can get some clarity about our responses to it. Where in a problem is ambiguity the biggest concern: before, during, or after the situation? Does having that information affect how you approach it? And, are there ways that ambiguity can help your creativity, bolster your initiative, or uncover your leadership chops?

It’s no surprise to anyone that communication is a big factor in whether or not you let ambiguity be your foe, and if you can find ways to befriend it, and learn to thrive in these uncertain times.

Feeling uncertain? Let us help.

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com. If it’s easier, call me directly at 202-298-7700. Thanks!Judy

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Holiday Gift Guide

Judy Pollock — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 18:55:43 +0000

Looking for the perfect gift to reward, motivate, inspire or help? The gift of learning is the answer. Language at Work offers a variety of dynamic, inspiring courses. Here’s a sample of our most popular topics:

Speaking with Power, Assertiveness, Managing Conflict & Confrontation, Listening for Results
Develop Your Inner Leader, Influencing and Negotiating, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving, Cross-Cultural Communication
Collaboration, Making Feedback Work, Keeping Your Edge in the Virtual Workplace, Handling Sticky Situations
Better Business Writing, Grammar Gremlins

Visit our website to learn more about how our courses and services could improve your operations — www.languageatwork.com. If it’s easier, call me directly at 202-298-7700.

Thanks!
Judy

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