The Birch Group offers numerous training programs/seminars that will help improve your business. All of the seminars we offer are tailored to meet the specific needs of an organization. Click one of the following links to learn more about our available training programs/seminars. Please call us at (860) 677-0020 to further discuss how any of our training programs/seminars can be tailored to meet your organizational needs. Some of our programs include:
- Strategic Planning Using the SMP Process;
- Developing High Performance Teams;
- Participating on High Performance Teams;
- Power Negotiations;
- Project Planning Seminar;
- Managing for Success;
- Supervisory Skills Workshop;
- Dynamic Communications; and
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Strategic Planning Using the SMP Process
This seminar provides the necessary framework for developing and managing a comprehensive strategic business plan in a team setting. Key topics include Mission Development, identification of major strategies, prioritization of objectives and the development of specific actions. Emphasis will include testing business assumptions, the decision making process, focusing resources and using the strategic plan document as an internal communication vehicle. The learning experience will be enhanced through the use of lecture, workbooks, videos, team activities and case studies. The program will facilitate the understanding, creation and successful implementation of effective and comprehensive strategic business plans.
As part of the educational process, we work closely with our clients to tailor this program around their specific organizational needs/goals to facilitate the development of a proprietary strategic business plans. (See testimonials.)
Course Outline
I. Introductions/Brief Overview
II. Teamwork and Leadership (if requested by client)
III. The Process
- Mission Identification;
- Identifying and Developing Critical Success Factors;
- Developing Fundamental Components;
- Environmental Analysis;
- Establishing Strategic Direction;
- Identifying Shortfalls or Gaps Requiring Resolution in Order to Meet Mission and Direction;
- Setting Objectives;
- Establishing Specific Action Steps/Performance Measurements; and
- Monitoring Performance
DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS
While team members should be working towards a common goal, individual personalities and operating styles become factors in the effectiveness and productivity of a team. Each team member must understand these differences to ensure harmony and productivity. Having team members develop a better understanding of each other will not only lead to increased productivity, but will enable you, as a business owner or administrator, to become a more effective manager/team leader. Seeing as though organizations now rely more heavily on teams to innovate, problem solve and produce in a change-driven environment, capitalizing on individual methodologies and styles is key to successful creation and participation on highly effective teams. The Managing for Success D.I.S.C. Behavioral Profiles will be individually administered and discussed, as a group, in detail to permit participants to discover and capitalize on individual strengths and gain a better understanding of other team members. Participants will learn the essential guidelines and approaches for leading in a team environment, as well as various styles of leadership and the environments/situations where each style is most effective.
This program also concentrates on those non-behavioral factors which can help to ensure maximum team performance. Teamwork discussions focus on: (See testimonials.)
- The Need For Successful Teams In Today's Global Economy;
- Types of Teams and When Each Is Appropriate For The Task;
- Ground Rules For Teamwork Participation;
- Successful Teamwork Ingredients;
- Trust and Communication;
- Levels of Empowerment;
- Leadership Styles For The 21st Century;
- Old School Vs. New School Comparisons;
- Reasons Why Teams Fail;
- Management's Role In Ensuring Success;
- Mentoring Teams; and
- New Organization Concepts.
Behavioral Discussions Focus on:
- Understanding Yourself;
- Understanding the Behavior of Others;
- Benefits of Behavioral Diversity;
- Strategies for Dealing with Others; and
- Recognizing Other Styles.
INNOVATE WITH D.I.S.C. BEHAVIORAL PROFILES
PARTICIPATING ON HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS
While team members should be working towards a common goal, individual personalities and operating styles become factors in a team’s effectiveness and productivity. When each team member understands their own behavioral style and those of their fellow team members, a team will be able to reach its full potential. As organizations are now relying more heavily on teams to innovate, problem-solve and produce in a change-driven environment, capitalizing on individual approaches and styles is key to successful creativity and participation on highly effective teams. The Innovate with D.I.S.C. Behavioral Profiles are used to allow participants to discover and capitalize on individual strengths and better understand others for total team performance. This program also concentrates on those non-behavioral factors which can help ensure team participation and effectiveness. Teamwork discussions focus on:
- Types of Teams and When Each is Appropriate for a Task;
- Understanding a Team's Mission;
- Ground Rules for Teamwork Participation;
- Successful Teamwork Ingredients;
- Trust and Communication;
- Levels of Empowerment;
- Reasons Why Teams Fail; and
- New Organization Concepts.
Behavioral Discussions Focus on:
- Understanding Yourself
- Understanding the Behavior of Others
- Benefits of Behavioral Diversity
- Strategies for Dealing with Others
- Recognizing Other Styles
The learning process is facilitated through the use of D.I.S.C. Behavioral Assessments, workbooks and group exercises.
POWER NEGOTIATIONS
The ability to successfully negotiate with customers, employees and vendors is a key factor in sustaining the success of your organization. Successful negotiators spend a considerable amount of time constantly fine-tuning their skills. This seminar is designed to provide you with the tools to identify, use and readily adapt to various negotiating styles in order to achieve win/win results. Topics include:
- Definitions / Traits / Basic Ingredients;
- Approaches to Negotiating;
- Negotiating as a Range of Dilemmas;
- Ways in which people Deal (Cooperation, Negotiating, Fighting);
- The Four Processes;
- Influencing the Balance of Power;
- Manipulation, Intended Efforts and Counteractions;
- Competitive Negotiator vs. Problem Solver;
- Tactics and Ethics of Persuasion;
- 25 Ways to Make Anyone See It Your Way; and
- Planning for the Negotiation (Workbook Provided)
PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
Today, an increasing number of organizations are focusing on project management as an effective way to address a variety of issues. This seminar provides an introduction to the concepts of the Strategic Planning Process and a practical approach to working in a team environment for developing comprehensive project management plans which are both key to ensuring successful plan implementation. Participants will learn through lecture, video presentations, manuals, case studies and working in team settings. The outcome of this program is a staff/team that is able to use this process to develop comprehensive project plans and implement these plans successfully. The manual developed for this program includes step-by-step instructions and worksheets to assist personnel on the job. Major topics for discussion include:
- Overview of the Strategic Management Process;
- Introduction to Teamwork;
- Mission;
- What Needs to go Right?;
- Where You Are Currently;
- Identifying Factors That Will Affect the Outcome of the Project;
- Developing Strategy;
- Establishing Accountability and Timeframes; and
- Monitoring and Managing the Process.
Particular focus will be towards identification and analysis challenges, including internal and external factors, as well as developing comprehensive implementation plans. This seminar also addresses the importance of using the project plan document as a common communications vehicle throughout the organization as well as for managing both upward and downward.
MANAGING FOR SUCCESS
Ineffective communication seriously hinders an organization's ability to reach its full potential. Understanding your own behavioral style and the styles of those you interact with, is an important criteria for effective communication with supervisors, peers, staff, customers and vendors. This program uses the DISC Behavioral Model and the Personal Insights, Attitudes and Values Profile© to help participants become more effective managers, supervisors, team members and leaders. Previous participants have indicated that this program has enriched all facets of their lives. (See testimonials.)
SUPERVISORY SKILLS WORKSHOP
In today's business environment, increased productivity is an important factor in the success of any organization. Effective management and leadership skills are a key to ensuring a productive workforce. We tailor this program to meet the specific needs of a client. The results of this program ensure that your managers, supervisors, team leaders and lead technicians learn and adopt those steps which will help make your organization more productive and efficient. Our seminar utilizes lecture, video presentations, pre-assignments and group activities. In addition to pre-work assignments, the workbooks contain planning formats for message design and guidelines for addressing specific issues relating to a particular topic. Some of the topics covered include:
- Fundamentals of Management;
- Fundamentals of Communication;
- Coaching;
- Positive Discipline;
- Effective Delegation;
- Dealing with Conflict;
- Preparing for Change;
- Improving Employee Work Habits;
- Dealing with Complaints;
- Performance Assessments; and
- Assigning Tasks Effectively.
DYNAMIC COMMUNICATION
Dynamic Communication is the most powerful communication seminar in the world. This seminar incorporates sophisticated computerized DISC Behavioral Assessments and TTI's Success Insights® Wheel. The Dynamic Communication seminar stresses applications in visual terms everyone can readily understand and apply. This along with Your Attitude is Showing© seminar will result in building long lasting relationships that will continue to grow. (See testimonials.)