training and 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.

The post Looking to 2025! appeared first on Language at Work.

Emotional Intelligence for Everyone

Judy Pollock — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:25:41 +0000

Everyone benefits from this sharp, clear guide to recognizing and managing the effects of emotion on our interactions. This isn’t news. What IS news is this: We’re now offering this important program in a shorter format, to accommodate those with busy schedules and time constraints, AND we are still providing the full day more interactive course.

Emotional Intelligence – 4 hour, half day course.

Emotional Intelligence – 7 hour, full day course. Which format fits your schedule?

Let us help you and your group get in on those- you can develop Emotional Intelligence.

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

The post Emotional Intelligence for Everyone appeared first on Language at Work.

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.

The post Sign Up For our Spring Webinars! appeared first on Language at Work.

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

The post What’s New! appeared first on Language at Work.

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

The post Come and Get It! appeared first on Language at Work.

The What and How of Personal Branding

Judy Pollock — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:44:49 +0000

The personal brand concept is not new, but there are many ideas and questions about it.

What is it, what does it mean for you or your organization, what does one do with it- essentially what is the So What of Personal Branding?

And – how do we do it?

Personal Branding is meant to be the picture of you that others see – a picture created by you. You get to decide what you want to promote about yourself and about what you do, and you get to do so in words and actions that you choose.

Others will see you and make decisions and judgments about you, anyway, so why not be the author of whatever story they’re seeing?

That’s the ‘What’.

Designing and planning your brand is fun and rewarding but it can be overwhelming. There is a lot to say about you, but your brand needs to be short and strong, so getting your terrific self into a marketable package can take some work.

That’s the ‘How’, and we can help with that.

Whether you are offering Personal Branding to your team of individuals, or to your department, or even considering personal branding for your organization – our class will help you do it.

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

The post The What and How of Personal Branding appeared first on Language at Work.

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

The post Something Good This Way Comes appeared first on Language at Work.

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

The post The Courses You Want #3: Reframing: Turning Problems into Opportunities appeared first on Language at Work.

Courses You Want #2: Build Better Boundaries

Mary Scohera — Thu, 18 May 2023 16:59:39 +0000

Disagreements, misunderstanding, and resentment can send any relationship off track – and consequences can be annoying or disastrous.

Much can be avoided by observing boundaries.

What?!

The term ‘Boundaries’ can be off-putting, as it suggests rules and barbed wire fences, but we have them and attend to them all the time. Do you open someone else’s desk to look for a stapler? Do you look at someone else’s email to check a meeting time? Do you jump into an argument between others?

Or do you want someone telling you how to manage your teen-ager – or your brother reviewing your recent spending choices? Or a team member correcting your report?

Boundaries.

The reasons boundaries cause trouble include:

We don’t recognize what is ‘ours’
We don’t know how to set them
We aren’t sure if we should or can say what is okay with us or not
We fear sounding bossy or uncooperative or unfriendly.

With a few (sort of simple) changes, we can learn to recognize, establish, define and ask for boundaries, and prevent a lot of annoyance. And disaster.

Let us help you and your group get on those- you can Build Better Boundaries.

The post Courses You Want #2: Build Better Boundaries appeared first on Language at Work.

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.

The post Civility at Work appeared first on Language at Work.