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Leadership and Management
Leading Techies Is
Like Herding Cats!
After 25 years of coordinating engineers
(and other techies) in one capacity
or another, Yvonne Ryan has some amusing anecdotes about the unique
challenges to be found in managing technical people. But this presentation has
a very practical side as well. In addition to the entertainment value,
Yvonne shares some insights concerning how she met those challenges, focusing
on what worked (and what didn't).
Summation: Managing engineers may be akin to
herding cats, but hey...even cats have a lovable side!
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Middle Management: The Jam Between
Two Crusts
If you've ever been a member of "Middle Management"
you can certainly identify with that wonderful
feeling of being caught in the middle between two very dynamic forces.
However, being a middle manager also has its compensations. This presentation
looks at the important role that middle managers play and how individuals
in that role can make or break an organization.
Summation: How dull life (and business)
would be without the best jam!
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Women Managers in Male-dominated
Technical Organizations
Imagine, if you will, what it must be like to not only
be the only female in your department or working group, but to also
be "in charge." Do your male counterparts have different
expectations of you as a leader? How do you cope with those who
appear to be waiting for you to prove yourself (or fail)? Is there
really a glass ceiling where female
engineering managers are concerned? What benefits do women managers
bring to their organizations? These are just a few of the questions
that are addressed in this thought-provoking presentation.
Summation: Women engineering managers
may be few in number, but they can be a positive and dynamic force!
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Are You Managing a Branch of
the U.N.?
Have you ever walked into your group or department and
felt like you were roaming the halls of the United Nations building?
Not only must managers and team leaders contend with the
challenges associated with a global economy and marketplace, but with
those of a diverse workforce as well. Although some may
choose to ignore this fact, or attempt to push it into the background, doing so
only hastens the inevitable...team breakdown. This presentation explores
the leader's responsibilities with regard to organizational
diversity and how it can make your team(s) stronger.
Summation: Be aware and win!
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Team Development
Games People Play
Everyone loves a bit of fun now and then. Why not engineers?
Learn about games and activities you can use with engineers to help
build camaraderie and teamwork.
Summation: Teambuilding 101 for engineers.
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From Chaos to Synergy:
Developing High Performance Teams
Developing a successful team, and the synergy that goes
with it, is not a static process. It requires hard work and dedication,
but the results usually far outweigh the effort. Learn about team
development using a five-stage model. (This presentation
is a brief overview of our Go T.E.A.M.S.!
seminar.)
Summation: Teams become "star"
performers when they develop synergy!
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Trust Is a Two-way Street
Too often as leaders we expect our direct reports and peers to
automatically trust us – no matter what. Why should they? What are
we doing as leaders to earn their respect and their trust? With all of the
greed and perfidy we hear about in the news, it is imperative that leaders
recognize and understand the price each organization pays for such behavior
(even on seemingly minor levels). More importantly, our employees also
need to know we trust them. Without mutual trust, the equation is incomplete
and the result (long-term) is failure. This presentation explores how leaders
can promote mutual trust within their organizations.
Summation: Mutual trust is possible, but only
if we make an effort to look at business from a new perspective.
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Personal Growth and Development
I Am!
The biggest obstacle that most people face is their self-image. How you
view yourself can limit your success and keep you from actively exploring
options that could change your career and your life for the better. Learn powerful
techniques that allow you to take control and shape your self-image to your
personal satisfaction.
Summation: Remove the personal barriers
that block you from achieving your goals and enjoying your life.
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Depression Is a Thief
Depression is like a thief in the night. It sneaks up
on us, robs us of our valuables, and leaves us with fear and uncertainty.
Each of us must develop an alarm (early warning) system to deter
the thief before it can fully invade. Second and third lines of
defense are also needed to complete our defensive strategy (just
in case). Action is the key. In this session, participants learn
practical ways to build a three-line defense to combat depression
and keep it from taking over their lives.
Summation:
Depression is a thief...don't let it rob you of your value
or your confidence in yourself.
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Stress: The Ultimate
Energy Sink
Medical science has confirmed that stress is a killer! Yet,
many organizations (especially start-ups) continue
to subject themselves to amazing levels of stress. We all know the eventual
price...burnout. Many "leaders" consider such burnout of their
employees as part of the cost of doing business today. This approach is not
only wasteful and costly from a company perspective, it fails to work in
our own best interest. This presentation explores the prices we pay for
stress and what we can do about them without falling behind.
Summation:
Stress will get you...one way or another. Don't allow it to destroy
your career or your life!
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Building Your Own Personal Support Team
This presentation focuses on the importance of maintaining
a positive outlook during a job hunting period (and in everyday life) by
building a Personal Support Team among family, friends, business
associates, etc. It discusses:
- Why have a Personal Support Team?
- How to I determine what type(s) of support I need?
- Who are the best candidates for my Personal Support Team?
- How do I go about building my Personal Support Team?
- Support is a two-way street: What can I realistically expect
from my Personal Support Team? What will they expect
from me in return?
- What sorts of, and how much, effort will be needed on my part
to build and utilize a Personal Support Team?
Summation: No one wants to face life (or
change) alone, and we don't have to do so!
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No Island in Sight™:
Responding Appropriately in Conflict Situations
Individuals who continually avoid conflict are living
in a dream world. Conflict is inevitable, but it need not be painful
or arouse anxiety if we learn to manage it properly. In fact, the
better we learn to manage conflict, the less it bothers us, and
the more likely we are to address conflicts before they escalate
into major problems with very negative results. (This presentation
is an overview of our seminar by the same name.)
Summation: Habitable deserted islands
may be scarce, but you won't need one when you learn to successfully
manage conflict.
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Adventures in Conflict Response
Conflict is a fact of life; it is inevitable.
Stressful periods in our life (like losing a job or looking
for one) seem to "breed" conflict. Unfortunately, our conflicts
can become chronic with those closest and dearest
to us. In this session, participants will discuss not only
the nature of such conflicts (down to the root level), but also
five styles of response in conflict situations and how best to
apply them. This is a very interactive session.
Summation: Conflict is inevitable
(especially in high-stress situations), but it doesn't have
to be painful or anxiety-arousing.
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Interviewing with Confidence
For many people, interviewing for a new job ranks up there with
having a tooth extracted or a root canal. It may be necessary, but it's to be
avoided whenever possible. Why do some of us find interviewing so loathsome?
Is there some sort of tried-and-true recipe for interviewing well? What does it
take to "close the deal" and get the job? This presentation provides practical
tips on how to turn a once dreaded experience into a satisfying journey of personal
and professional discovery.
Summation: Your mind is your most powerful tool.
Use it and interview with confidence.
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Career Transition: From Dead-End
to Desirable
What would cause you to consider a career transition?
Being laid off? Not happy with the state of your career? The current
business climate? The transition of jobs off-shore? Whatever your
reason(s) might be, it's best to approach such a career
transition with a target and a plan. The problem: Once you've decided on a target,
how do you devise and implement a viable transition plan without losing yourself in
the details? This presentation de-mystifies this process with
practical tips for a smoother career transition.
Summation: Making a career change requires
courage...doing it effectively takes street smarts!
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Taking Control of Your Career:
Three Perspectives
A panel of three Silicon Valley industry professionals Audrey
Erbes, Denise Pringle, and Yvonne Ryan share their insights and
experiences on "Taking Control of Your Career." Representing the
biopharma, medical device and diagnostics, and engineering perspectives,
respectively, the panelists share ideas and tips for implementing
a plan and successfully finding your next position. Their topics
include:
- "Would You Hire You?" by Denise Pringle
- "Sharpening the Saw" by Audrey Erbes
- "Getting Beyond the Myths of Transition" by Yvonne Ryan
The panel provides guidance on: 1) preparation
for a job interview with an appreciation of what the interviewer
is thinking and needs to hear; 2) the value of keeping current
and selection tips for professional development courses; and
3) what it takes to step outside the box and successfully transition
into a new career path.
Summation: Career transition... be the
driver, not just a passenger!
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