Individual Module Descriptions

How to Lead and Build a Following
Supervisors are no longer “individual contributors.” In this module they learn strategies and techniques for leading and developing their direct reports and improving the productivity of their entire team or work group. Topics include: • Leadership, authority and power • Difference between leadership and management • Importance of trust and respect • Characteristics of high performance leaders • Effective leadership styles • Developing direct reports.

How to Manage Strengths & Weaknesses
In this revealing workshop, participants complete a specialized Personality Assessment that enables them to discover their unique preferences and style, as well as assess their strengths and limitations. Topics include: • Overview of the major personality modes • Conflict and compatibility with the different personality styles • How to more effectively work together • Influence on career, work environment and job assignment.

How to Communicate Effectively With Others
Communicating effectively with others is a critical skill, especially for those who lead and manage others. Participants learn how to become more adept in building relationships, getting results, and avoiding common communication mistakes. Topics include: • Individual communication profile • Active listening techniques • Clear communication model • Writing effective statements • Good check-back responses • Avoiding the “assumption trap.

How to Train Employees on the Job
A crucial component of a supervisor's job is to train both new and existing employees; yet formal instruction in how best to accomplish this is often overlooked. To fill the gap, this module focuses on the characteristics of a good trainer as well as “best practices” training principles and techniques. Topics include: • Analyzing performance problems • Justifying training • Effective adult learning theories and methods • Designing helpful employee orientations • Four crucial steps for on-the-job training.

How to Interview and Select the Best People
Supervisors play a key role in identifying and hiring candidates who will not only be top performers, but also fit well in the work environment and mesh with existing team members. In this module participants learn to: • Conduct a job analysis and determine the technical and performance skills required • Evaluate resumes and job applications • Plan and conduct the job interview • Develop and ask “targeted questions” • Comply with EEO and other guidelines. 

How to Resolve Individual and Job-Related Conflicts
One of the least enjoyable aspects of supervision is dealing with workplace conflict – the inevitable disputes, disagreement and personality conflicts that arise. High performance leaders know how to manage conflict and turn it into collaboration, consensus and cooperation. Topics include: • High price of unresolved conflict • How to recognize and respond to conflict • Differentiating between substantive and emotional issues • Steps towards conflict resolution. Participants will complete the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument to identify their conflict resolution style and strategy.

How to Respond to Employee Needs
Many factors impact productivity and job satisfaction. One of the most important is employee attitude. Effective supervisors learn what their employees need, know what motivates them and respond accordingly. In this module topics include: • Factors that influence employee performance • Assessing and rating job elements • Meeting employee needs (Maslow’s hierarchy, Herzberg’s maintenance vs. motivation needs) • Keeping employees informed • Improving overall job satisfaction and performance.

How to Improve Employee Performance
An increasingly competitive environment has intensified the need for achieving and sustaining high employee performance levels. Much of this responsibility has fallen upon frontline supervisors. This module focuses on how supervisors can obtain vital employee commitment to improved quality and higher productivity. Topics include: • Specific job structuring and enrichment strategies • Job analysis and identification of effective motivators • Identifying and clarifying expectations • SBI model of effective feedback • Sustaining performance improvement.

How to Build a High Performance Team
Building effective teams take time, knowledge, and reinforcement. With proper development, a team can be one of the most powerful contributors to organizational productivity. In this module, supervisors learn the characteristics of a high performing team and leadership strategies that create synergy. Learning is strengthened by participation in an experiential team building exercise.  Topics include: • Assessing current team effectiveness • Going from group to team – the four phases of development • Identifying and overcoming obstacles • Team problem solving • Team meetings. Participants will identify and prioritize the major issues affecting their team and design an action plan for improving their team’s effectiveness.

How to Lead People Through Change
Organizations are dynamic entities that either grow or stagnate. Rapid changes in the marketplace, technology and workforce demand appropriate and timely responses. This module teaches supervisors how to plan for and successfully manage change to get support rather than resistance. Participants assess how they personally manage change and evaluate a business case study. Topics include: • Principles of change • Conventional reactions to change • 4-step change cycle • Change activators • “Planning Path” and “Therapeutic Control” models. Participants will examine their most important issues in moving a group or team through change and develop an action plan for becoming more adept. 

How to Delegate and Grow Direct Reports
A major challenge of many leaders is their inability to “let go.” Rather than delegating, they end up doing not only their own job, but those of their direct reports as well. This module focuses on teaching supervisors how to effectively utilize their human resources to achieve organizational goals. Topics include: • Individual job analysis • Barriers to delegation • Deciding what to delegate • Planning the delegation • 3-step delegation process • Setting priorities and managing time • Supervisor-employee partnership.

How to Advance From Supervision
Supervisors pursuing promotion within their organization or planning advancement in their field need to begin thinking like a manager. Leadership positions at higher levels generally require competencies that are not emphasized at the supervisory level. In this module, participants learn the necessary strategies that will help position them for career advancement. Topics include: • Analyzing job tasks and activities • Setting goals for increased effectiveness • Successful strategies to enhance promotion potential • Power base expansion • Self-assessment of current strengths/limitations.