Critical Workplace Skills

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

This course will help participants understand and adopt practices of etiquette in the workplace. Participants will develop confidence and competence as they learn to navigate the codes of behavior that govern interactions in the workplace.

Objectives:

 

  • Learn the basic principles of etiquette and their applications in the workplace.
  • Recognize the expectations of your workplace.
  • Develop collegial communication skills.
  • Adapt your behavior to different situations.
  • Learn strategies for demonstrating respect, consideration and honesty.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

This course will help participants provide the kind of service to their customers that reflect the grace and cordiality of their organizations. Participants will learn and use the highest standards of communication, and will become proficient in the skills that customers value.

Objectives:

 

  • Consider the various levels of customer service and define what is appropriate for your organization.
  • Understand what it means to be the face of your organization.
  • Identify the barriers to good service, and learn ways to overcome them.
  • Learn communication tips for managing difficult situations.
  • Understand and manage your own reactions to problems.

Dealing with Change and Transition

This course helps participants more easily manage the anxiety and stress caused by changes in workplace structures and routines. Participants learn to identify the aspects that they can control and will learn strategies for managing their actions and reactions.

Objectives:

 

  • Understand the nature of change.
  • Learn the positive aspects of change.
  • Separate what can be controlled from what cannot.
  • Learn tips for reducing stress.
  • Use communication to facilitate understanding and reduce confusion.

Helping Your Boss Give Feedback

This course will help participants guide their supervisors in giving them the feedback and guidance they want. Participants will learn how to work with their team leaders, supervisors, and others who may be reluctant to effectively evaluate and explain what they expect.

Objectives:

 

  • Learn characteristics of different behavior styles.
  • Learn assertiveness techniques.
  • Understand types of feedback.
  • Learn to ask effective questions.
  • Develop the habits of goal setting and self-monitoring.

LEARNING TO LEARN

This course will help participants understand how people learn and how they can improve their own learning. Participants will learn to organize, understand and retain information both independently and with instruction.

Objectives:

 

  • Understand the learning process, and how to apply it to a variety of situations.
  • Explore a variety of learning styles.
  • Learn the most effective methods of comprehension and retention.
  • Learn tips for working with or without instructors.
  • Make review easy and rewarding.

Managing Multiple Priorities

This course helps participants work more effectively in environments where there are many, varied, and often conflicting demands. Participants use communication and planning to manage their active workloads.

Objectives:

 

  • Develop habits of long range and short term planning.
  • Improve time management behavior.
  • Improve communication with coworkers and supervisors to eliminate conflicts.
  • Identify and reduce common barriers to efficiency.
  • Establish and implement action plans.

Memory: Use it or Lose it

This course will help participants remember names and information by improving their skills in listening, observing, comprehending, and paying attention. Participants will develop their own memory aids depending on their most common area of forgetfulness.

Objectives:

 

  • Analyze your current listening and memory skills.
  • Understand how memory works.
  • Recognize barriers to listening and remembering.
  • Identify your personal memory challenges.
  • Develop strategies for remembering.

NETWORKING AND SOCIALIZING

This course will help participants understand the benefits to their careers of networking and socializing. Participants will learn strategies for strengthening their network connections, and for navigating business social events.

Objectives:

 

  • Understand the benefit and uses of networks and social activities.
  • Define the impression you want to make on others.
  • Learn self-promotion strategies for various occasions.
  • Manage beginnings and endings of conversations.
  • Learn tips for managing social stress and building confidence.

PLANNING AND EVALUATING

This course will help participants understand the importance of and process for preparing and ending workplace projects. Participants will learn how to organize information for planning, and will learn methods of evaluation that relate to the planning.

Objectives:

 

  • Understand the connections between purposeful planning and evaluating.
  • Learn to analyze and anticipate the tasks of programs and projects.
  • Preview challenges and barriers to program success.
  • Develop strategies for including key personnel in planning.
  • Learn evaluation criteria and methods that measure impact and reflect goals.

TEAM BUILDING BASICS

This course will help participants develop the skills necessary for working productively in teams. Participants will learn the basics of team dynamics, and the roles of team members.

Objectives:

 

  • Know the characteristics of successful teams.
  • Learn the steps for organizing and building teams for different purposes.
  • Identify the roles, tasks, contributions and responsibilities of team members.
  • Establish goals and processes for the team and for individual members.
  • Develop systems for monitoring and evaluating process and engagement.

Time Management

This course will help participants better manage their time by learning the factors that affect time use, and creating systems for using those factors most effectively.  Participants will learn to evaluate current time use, create time budgets, and develop strategies that contribute to efficiency.

Objectives:

 

  • Learn to use a time log to analyze current time use.
  • Recognize common barriers to efficiency.
  • Identify and eliminate time wasters.
  • Develop strategies for managing people, paper, and environment.
  • Use communication to control interruptions.