For the last two years, she has helped staff at the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation in Baghdad, Iraq enhance their management skills and understanding of the global economy. She facilitated an Appreciative Inquiry with ministry staff during which the group drafted a preposterous proposition which expressed their dream for collaborative teamwork and a democratic, flat organizational structure. The group made serious individual and group commitments to achieving their proposition. Randal also taught course in cross-cultural communication and protocol for ten ministries in Iraq. She is now serving as Chief of Party on another project in Baghdad, responsible for monitoring and evaluating the US government project portfolio and conducting sector studies to support their future strategy. Randal has been a keynote speaker at several conferences, including the first and second International Women’s Conferences held in Romania in 1998 and 1999. She delights in inspiring her audiences to see their potential to achieve their dreams and work together on common opportunities to change their personal and social worlds. She combines humor with serious calls to action. She is particularly interested in helping organizations change creatively through the application of appreciative approaches. She is President and CEO of an organizational development consulting company in Reno, Nevada, “Getting to Excellence.” Randal works with government, private sector, and non-profit organizations as well a common interest groups. She especially enjoys working with women’s groups and organizations. She also delivers training in international development and how to effectively work in a globalized economy and cross-cultural communication. Randal has her BA in Philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley; her MA in Philosophy and MBA from the University of Chicago; and her MA in Biblical Exposition from Capital Bible Seminary. She also has a Certificate in Organizational Development Consulting from Georgetown University and a Certificate in French Civilization from the Sorbonne. She has been certified by Company of Experts as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator. |
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Tag Archives: coaching
Supervisor Workshop Series
Designed For:
Perfect for new, experienced, and future supervisors. This is a skills based series led by experienced facilitators. Successful organizations recognize the need to hire and talented supervisors and employees
Looking to meet the challenges of the future? These workshops will give you the skills you need for today and tomorrow.
Purpose:
This workshop series provides an opportunity for supervisors to begin a journey toward combining a solid foundation of knowledge along with the skills development taught in this workshop to position you to meet today’s challenges and be ahead of the rapidly changing work environment.
Our Supervisor Series consists of workshops (30 hours of training*) that are facilitator-led, interactive, and engaging. Each workshop in this series may be taken separately. Once you have participated in 30 hours of training and completed the Action Plan Portfolio, you will receive a Supervisor Certification.
* Each workshop in the Supervisor Series is 3 hours each except for the Action Plan Portfolio which is 6 hours
Workshop Series Includes:
- Communication
- Maintaining good labor relations is not an optional requirement for a supervisor; it is how work gets done and how others perceive you. Learn how to develop and maintain relationships in union and non-union environments. Technology and the use of social media has changed how we interact and communicate. Do you feel like a Word Processor in an IPOD world? Learning to communicate in a multi-generational organization and engaging in new methods of communication are essential for your success.
- Employee Relations
- Maintaining good labor relations is not an optional requirement for a supervisor; it is how work gets done and how others perceive you. Learn how to develop and maintain relationships in union and non-union environments.
- Keep it Legal
- A safe and friendly working environment is good for morale and increases loyalty and productivity. Issues arise in the workplace all of the time. Learn the skills to keep yourself and your company risk free; identify potential problems; investigate complaints; be proactive; and take appropriate action when necessary.
- Managing Professional Relationships
- Successful relationships are essential to any effort to create sustainable change and ongoing improvement, yet they are often an overlooked or undervalued element of a supervisor’s responsibilities. Participants learn essential skills for developing and maintaining successful relationships.
- Motivating and Keeping Talent
- Hiring and motivating talent is a key part of any supervisors’ job. Learn the skills to encourage individual and team success and to build self-esteem and motivate employees.
- Supporting Change
- Change and its impact on employees and organizations is a fact. Supervisors learn the tools and techniques to lead change effectively in their work environment.
- Time Management
- Understand how your personality affects the way you manage your time. Techniques to manage your time and cultivate your interests and talents.
- Action Plan Portfolio
- Develop a work project to implement on the job is the outcome of the completion of these workshops. We offer guidance and coaching to achieve your intended outcomes.
Materials Required:
This workshop may require books, materials, online assessments, or the use of proprietary software which typically will be included in the cost of the workshop.
Customize Your Training:
Company of Experts, Inc. delivers its workshops in a variety of ways: on-site, hybrid, or online; providing users with the option to decide which learning method works best for their organization and/or individual.
If you would like to have this workshop on-site, please email Kathy at Kathy@CompanyofExperts.net to find out how easy and affordable this program is.
Space is limited, guarantee yourself a spot today!
Managing Professional Relationships at Work
Title: Managing Professional Relationships at Work
Location: Online Workshop
Date: January 11 – 29, 2009
Register: Click here
Description: Do you have a mix of all four styles going on your at your workplace? For example, a co-worker may appreciate the data. Your annual proposal has 25 pages, but that may not be enough information. Other co-workers may want you to get to the bottom line – Yesterday. Or you may work with someone who values an unhurried appointment with a focus on close relationships and peace, and perhaps someone else will want a fast pace with plenty of interaction and please do not be boring!
The good news is you can improve upon your relationship building skills. You can begin to understand the techniques but the real learning is OTJ (on the job)—practice in real-life with ongoing learning, coaching and feedback. Boosting your relationships, along with learning your style and comfort zone leads to improved professional relationships yielding a significant ROI! Learn More>
Free Resources
Appreciative Inquiry Resources:
- Appreciative Inquiry Commons
- Center for Appreciative Inquiry
- Compliment Dude
- Cooking, Jazz, and the Art Improvisation
- Interview with David Cooperrider
Faculty Resources:
- A New Way of Leading Change in Schools and Colleges
- Aligning Strengths through Appreciative Inquiry
- Cells Alive (online resources for biology/nursing/medicine/bioengineering)
- Chemistry Collective (online resources for teaching and learning chemistry)
- Department Chair Institute
- Eastern Conn. State University Peer Mentor (online resources for students in college)
- Shodor Interactive (free online courseware in science and mathematics)
- WebQuest.Org (make good use of the internet while engaging students)
Presentation Resources:
- Create Professional Flash Presentations in PowerPoint
- Convert any document into a PDF
- Many Eyes (Create unique visualizations that can be inserted into documents, blogs, and social media)
- Free Conference Call, Phone Conferencing, Teleconferences
Professional Resources:
- Be Irreplaceable at Work
- Docstoc (Find and Share Professional Documents – search over 3 million public documents)
- Easybib (free bibliography maker)
- Employee Training Leads to Competitive Advantage
- Employers Cant Ignore Workplace Bullies
- Lawyers and Employers Take the Fight to Workplace Bullies
- Management Help (Free Management Library)
- The Neuroscience of Leadership
- Transform your resumé to include work samples, charts and graphs, audio, video, and images
- Workplace Bullying Survey
- Workplace Bullying: What Everyone Needs to Know
Search Resources:
- A search engine that donates money to a charity of your choosing every time you search
- A search engine that focuses exclusively on business; sifts news and opinions to make them actionable for business people
Social Networking Resources:
- Create free slide shows that can be embedded into your social networking sites
- Social bookmarking site that allows users to tag, save, manage and share web pages from a centralized source
Video Gallery: (view here)
Success Stories/Case Studies
The documents found below are just a few of the practicums that have been submitted by individuals who have undergone our 4-day Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) program. We celebrate in their achievements and enjoy learning how Appreciative Inquiry has influenced their lives – personally and professionally. We are so appreciative of the clients we serve and the joy they bring to our work. New stories are posted frequently, so check back often to see what new stories have been posted. Enjoy!
Internships
Internships are available each semester (fall, winter break, spring, and summer). Internships include paid and unpaid. This is a busy and fun corporate environment. The Company of Experts develops and delivers corporate training programs. The Company shares office space and provides staffing support to a software development company. If you are interested in gaining valuable experience in a busy and growing company, please send a resume and cover letter telling us which of the 6 positions you are applying for to Kathy at Kathy@CompanyofExperts.net
Internship Requirements:
* Must be a current full-time or part-time college student in Clark County
* Minimum GPA Requirement is a 3.0
Internship Job Description:
The work is varied with new learning experiences every day. The duties may include any and all of the duties list below. Working with two small start-up companies with a vision for making a difference, you will have the opportunity to learn new skills and be part of a dynamic and growing team.
Internship Positions Available:
General Office
The general administration office has two openings each semester for an organized, self-motivated individuals to assist with the general administration functions for each company. Duties include: assisting with internship paperwork, applications, and orientation; helping coordinate workshops and training programs as well as technical software development meetings; daily accounting activities and client support via telephone and the internet; and working to complete various administrative and organizational tasks.
Marketing
This fast-moving, dynamic work environment is best suited for students with an interest in the following career fields: Public Relations, Marketing, copywriting, promotion or Advertising Sales.
Projects may include assisting in research analysis such as surveys and other research used to gain clients for both companies. Knowledge of MS Excel and MS Word is a must. Other basic computer knowledge in Office programs is helpful. One to two interns will are necessary.
Sales Development
Two to three interns are needed to assist the advertising sales representatives who handle in-house mail order and classified sales. The interns will aid in sales efforts, maintain lists of clients and update the online registration system. They will also help plan and organize training programs and services. Duties include: typing, filing and phone prospecting, as well as special projects throughout the semester.
Content Development
Content Development needs three students to assist the department in developing and producing a variety of training programs and workshops including online and webinars. Interns in typically assist with the following activities: fact checking, proofreading, photo research, new business research, brainstorming sessions and advertising projects
New Media/Social Networking
One bright, enthusiastic, motivated student to assist with various projects that may include proofreading, research, blogging, online editing, writing and managing content. Ideal candidate works well with others as well as independently. Multimedia experience preferred. Interns should have an excellent eye for detail, possess superior language skills and be interested in web publishing/design.
Technology
One intern is needed in the Technology department for 10 hours per week. Intern will perform minor troubleshooting for windows-based systems and windows software, including active directory audits. Intern will assist in updating existing databases maintained for software, hardware and wiring and maintaining supply inventories. Intern will be involved with updating workstations with recent patches to Windows XP. Other duties include administrative and organizational tasks. Experience with Outlook, Word and Excel are necessary. Ability to be detailed-oriented and keep accurate records a must.
Bullying in the Workplace
Bullies aren’t just found on the playground. As a society, we would like to think that when bullies grow up they have learned right from wrong, changed their behavior, and treat others with dignity and respect. Many do; however, some bullies never revert from their mean, aggressive behavior. As our society evolves, with its reliance on technology, many bullies are finding different means and different environments to continue their tyrant-like behavior.
Company of Experts was recently the target of a bully. The Company had an agreement with an independent contractor whose job would require minimal supervision/input from a few individuals via a weekly teleconference. Over the course of time, numerous issues began to surface. First, work submitted by this contractor was not completed, and in some cases, was never attempted. The blame was pushed upon the individuals this person worked with for reasons such as: “it was too much work,” “it wasn’t worth my time,” “no one asked me my opinion,” etc. Needless to say, not a lot of work was accomplished by this contractor. Individuals within the Company picked up the slack and worked long hours in order to meet project deadlines.
Second, the cost to finish this contractor’s projects continually increased. Not only was the Company paying the contractor’s salary, they were also paying the salary of the individuals that were taking on the contractor’s responsibilities. The contractor was originally hired because this individual possessed technical skill sets needed for specific projects. However, because the contractor was not doing their job, the Company was compelled to hire additional staff, who also possessed these skill sets, to complete projects that were neglected by the contractor.
Third, employees who worked with this contractor, and met via weekly teleconferences, were suffering from anxiety attacks prior to each meeting. When questioned as to what provoked these attacks, many answered that after each meeting they were assigned an extensive list of items/jobs by the contractor to complete before their next weekly meeting. They added that their “to do list” consisted of tasks that were part of the contractor’s responsibility; however, if they did not take it upon themselves to pick up the slack, the jobs would never get done. In addition, employees noted that if items on their list were not completed by the following teleconference meeting, the contractor would complain that the employees were not doing their job. As a result the contractor would say something to the effect of, “Well I can’t do my job if you don’t do yours.” Many employees would ignore other items/projects they were working on in order to complete the tasks that the contractor wanted done. The tension in the office was thick with worry that they would not finish their “to do list”.
Company of Experts determined it was in the best interest of the Company and its employees if they released the contractor. During this transition, the contractor was harassing employees via phone and email, inquiring the reasons for the contract termination. The Company notified the contractor to not contact their employees in any way, email or phone. The contractor retaliated and continued to harass employees and threatened harm to the Company and to the employees personally. When the Company released the contractor from service, they changed the usernames and passwords to the Company’s websites, newsletters, etc in fear that the contractor may try to “destroy” materials. Unfortunately, the Company forgot to remove the contractor from having access to the Company’s corporate blog and calendar. As a result, the contractor changed the username and password to these items, which prohibited Company access to these items, inevitably rendering them useless.
The cost in lost time due to stress, restoring damaged materials, documenting, researching our rights, defending the employees and the Company are great. Additional costs that can be incurred by companies that suffer at the hands of bullies are: increased cost of health insurance for employees, lost days at work, increased legal bills, talent turnover, etc. We think we are being polite by calling these individuals rude or difficult people, but these individuals are “Bullies”. Bullies (like the contractor in our story) create unhappy, unsafe, and unproductive work environments.
You may see several workshops titled “Dealing with Difficult People”. Company of Experts has refrained from developing any workshop with such a title. Is it rude, difficult, bullying, or harassing? Our online workshop “Managing Professional Relationships at Work” is a beginning to understand how others behave at work. The Company of Experts will address bullying at work in this workshop which is to begin in early September. Information regarding registration times, dates, curricula, etc. can be found by clicking here.
The Company wanted to become more aware of how to spot inappropriate, abusive behavior so as to protect itself and its employees. The Company began researching and uncovered several informative websites. One website, workplacebulling.org, had a startling statistic that read:
“A staggering 37% of the U.S. workforce is bullied at work (an estimated 54 million Americans).” This website lists the traits of individuals who are targeted by bullies:
- Individuals targeted by bullies tend to be independent. The increased level of independence drives the bully’s need to control.
- Individuals targeted have more social skills and are more likely to possess a high level of emotional intelligence (i.e. empathy – even for their bullies).
- Targeted individuals also do not respond to aggression with aggression.
What Company of Expert has learned from this experience…
The conflict seems to be with the perception that people grow and develop as they age. We anticipate those who were Bullies in school will transition to adulthood recognizing that civility and courtesy are key factors to development and growth. In reality, they may have actually become more of a Bully, therefore, becoming someone who stalks, harasses, and commit crimes that they can be punished for. Still, other Bullies stay within the law. These type of bullies enjoy the attention they receive from their erratic actions.
The general response from legal consul is mediation. Unless, the person is violating the law, we look at both people as needing to be “fixed”. This puts the Bully and the Target on an equal playing field, which sounds like a good way to handle this. In fact, most employers and employees are not trained to handle this complex issue. Our research has found that some websites and books recommend that you combat the Bullies on their level. Like you do for a wild animal, you get “bigger” than they are; which is an interesting concept. However, the problem with this approach is that this is not team-friendly. Just because an employer removes a bully from the work environment does not mean that the bully won’t resurface in some way. As in our case, the bully retaliated and has continued to make efforts to harm and destroy the Company. Most HR departments and managers work to keep business flowing and maybe not be trained or have time to handle conflicts such as this. This leaves them feeling overworked and inefficient.
Resolving disagreements is difficult today for two reasons:
- We are emotionally stressed because of the weak economy, world ecology and the potential of terrorists’ threats. This keeps people in reactive thinking which tends to close them off to creative resolution or to make them back away from engagement.
- We simply do not have the tools to civilly and cooperatively achieve sustainable resolutions to the problems which arise in organizations.
Will we ever change the inappropriate behavior of bullies? Maybe not. Bullies usually do not listen, are aggressive, and do not understand appropriate social behavior. The decision is up to us. We either accept a bully’s inappropriate behavior or become proactive in taking the necessary steps to discontinue a business relationship. Extreme cases may require having to refer the matter to legal counsel.
Working for a living is a basic for most of us. We can learn job skills and earn degrees to get the job that we want. Keeping that job and finding happiness there requires that we each have the interpersonal (or intra personal?) behaviors that are complimentary to how we want to be treated, to our team, and to the Company we work for. This fits into the lifelong learning category. We can do this learning in many ways such as reading, mentoring, coaching, modeling (how we teach others and how they teach us – our actions and interactions!) and workshops. Company of Experts has developed terrific programs that can help you develop your leadership style. In this new society, we each are leaders of our future – the path we choose is up to us. For workshops and programs that we offer – Leadership Development Institute (LDI) and the Center for Appreciative Inquiry. The Department Chair Institute is specifically tailored for our educational partners.
Words Creates Worlds
Webinars
Webinar FAQs | Event Calendar | Contact Us |
For over 20 years, Company of Experts has delivered exceptional face-to-face trainings that have received 5-star ratings for their on-site trainings and programs. The Company is now bringing their trainings to you in the form of webinars.
Our webinars are interactive “mini” workshops on a specific topic usually one hour long. Our webinars are practical and focus on the most critical and relevant issues facing people today. Our primary goal is to provide participants with the information, training, and skills necessary to immediately implement positive change at their institutions. Many webinars will have pre and post hand-outs and materials.
Company of Experts encourages teams to participant in each webinar. We include an open discussion at the end of the webinar to reinforce how participants will integrate the content into their personal or organizational practices. This add-on to the webinar is typically 30 minutes or so after the webinar has concluded. This 30 minute coaching session adds to the value of the webinar and to your organization.
If you have questions about our webinars, please visit our Webinar FAQs page or contact our office at (702) 228-4699.
Registration Options:
Online: To register online, just click the title of the webinar you wish to attend and it will take you to the online registration page for the webinar.
Fax: To register by fax, click here to download our Registration form and fax it to (702) 242.6182. You will receive a confirmation email within 2 business days to confirm your registration.
Telephone: We also accept registrations taken over the phone. Just call our office (702) 228.4699 and we will be happy to process your order over the phone.
Special Pricing for Groups that Participate in our Webinars
Company of Experts encourages teams to participate in each webinar. We believe attending our webinars in groups can increase the value of the webinar for an organization. Each team member’s involvement in the webinar can have a tremendous impact on another member’s learning process. As they interact and learn new skills, more energy and enthusiasm is created. When this energy is utilized, it produces results which positively impacts engagement, motivation, and leads to even greater success.
Call Company of Experts at (702) 228-4699 for more information on group pricing.
If you would like to purchase group or multiple webinars (live and recorded) please contact Kathy for special pricing.
Upcoming Webinars
To view Company of Experts complete event listing, including webinars, please click here.
On-Demand Webinars
The links below provide an overview of the archived webinar, who it was designed for, its intended learning outcomes, as well as a short bio of the webinar presenter. If you would like to purchase one or more of our recordings, please contact Kathy for more information. She can be reached by phone at (702) 228-4699 or by email at Kathy@companyofexperts.net .
Webinar Title | Date(s) Premiered | Presenter(s) |
Appreciative Inquiry and Families: Parents & Teens | Aug. 24, 2010 |
Cheri Torres |
Managing Time on the Run | Aug. 19, 2010 |
Kathy Becker |
Appreciative Inquiry for the Learning Organization | Aug. 17, 2010 | Cheri Torres |
Managing Conflict at Work | Aug. 5, 2010 | Kathy Becker |
Strategic Planning Using Appreciative Inquiry for Colleges and Universities | Mar. 30, 2010 | Lane Glenn |
The 8 Habits of Highly Effective Students | Mar. 4, 2010 | Richard Lyons |
Strategic Planning Using Appreciative Inquiry for Colleges and Universities | Mar. 2, 2010 | Lane Glenn |
Foundations of Style:Behavior and the Bottom Line | Nov. 19, 2009 | Sue Cooney |
Strategic Planning Using Appreciative Inquiry for Colleges and Universities | Nov. 12, 2009 | Lane Glenn |
Interested in delivering a webinar?
Do you have a webinar idea that you are willing to present that would benefit academics, healthcare professionals, non-profit organizations, corporations, governmental agencies, and other professionals?
Delivering a webinar, sponsored by the Company of Experts, will help build your credibility, expertise, and audience base. Together, with the help of Company of Experts staff, your webinar will be edited, designed, and promoted to ensure the highest degree of excellence.
Company of Experts welcomes webinar proposals and can range in topic. Webinar delivery dates and times are tailored to meet your busy schedule. Please download the webinar proposal form (download form here). Once completed, you may either email it to Kathy at Kathy@CompanyOfExperts.net or fax it to us at 702.242.6182.
We look forward to learning from you.
Events
To view Company of Expert Events in Calendar view, please click here.
No events to showDo you have questions about any of our events?
Kindly fill out the contact form below and we will respond to your inquiry within two business days. We look forward to serving you.
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