Coping with Workplace Grief

One day

Course Description
The losses we experience are seldom ones we have control over. Changes in the workplace, such as mergers, downsizing, and reorganization, or the death or serious illness of a loved one or a co-worker, affect our morale and productivity. If you are coping with major changes in your life, you may be feeling pain, anger, or fear--and that's perfectly normal. COPING WITH WORKPLACE GRIEF shows you that you are not alone, and that grieving is not a sign of weakness or a bad attitude. Not only are you allowed to grieve, you can, and should, ask for help. This course can be your first step in the healing process. You will learn about the sources of change in the workplace, and explore the different ways people react to change. If you are helping a grieving person cope, this course offers techniques to help you give this person support. Everyone grieves differently, and there is no timetable for mourning. But you can find the courage to get through. This course will show you how.

Course Outline
Part 1: Sources of Loss and Grief in the Workplace

• Ongoing Workplace Change
• Mergers, Layoffs, and Reorganization
• The Effects of Workplace Change
• Co-Worker Deaths, Accidents, and Disasters
• The Stages of Workplace Transformation

Part 2: The Complexities of Grief

• Attachment, Bonding, and Loss
• Defining Grief and Its Causes
• Why All Loss Is Like a Death
• Different Tears for Different Peers
• Bowlby’s Basic Phases of Loss and Mourning
• Kübler-Ross Descriptions of Reactions to Loss

Part 3: The Effects of Grief on Employees

• What Grieving Employees Are Feeling
• Expressions of Grief in the Workplace
• Changes in Employee Attitudes and Behaviors
• Grief Reactions to Change-Loss
• Why Productivity Plummets Amid Grief
• The Pitfalls of Not Attending to Grief
• The Three Sources of Unresolved Grief
• The Costs of Storing, Rather Than Addressing, Grief
• New Meanings for the New Workplace

Part 4: Helping Employees Cope

• Workplace Change and Loss: The Burdens and Benefits
• The Four Tasks of Workplace Mourning
• Helping People Heal by Listening
• Do¿s and Don¿ts for Supporting Grieving Employees
• Quick Tips for Helping
• Ten Guidelines for Organizations Undergoing Change
• Grief Support During Organizational Transition
• A Final Statement

Empowerment

One day

Course Description
Generate excitement and ownership in every level of your organization by using this step-by-step plan for empowerment. Gauge the current environment, strengthen team relationships, and develop new processes that support a proactive workforce. Create a working environment that encourages innovation and commitment. Enable employees to use their full talents and abilities. Make a real difference for your company, your team, and yourself!

Course Outline

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Road to Empowerment
• Chapter 2: From the Pyramid to the Circle
• Chapter 3: Testing the Climate for Empowerment
• Chapter 4: Three Paths to Empowerment
• Chapter 5: Motivating Through Self-Esteem
• Chapter 6: Developing Collaborative Relationships
• Chapter 7: Establishing Facilitative Leadership
• Chapter 8: Building Empowered Teams
• Chapter 9: Influencing Organizational Change

Jobs and Careers

Achieving Job Satisfaction

One day

Course Description
Are you getting as much satisfaction out of your job as you should? This course will help you determine your level of satisfaction and then it will assist you in making positive changes to increase both your satisfaction level and quality of work.

Course Outline
Part 1: Accepting the Challenge

• What Is Job Satisfaction?
• Are Workers Getting Job Satisfaction?
• Live Up to Your Potential

Part 2: The Psychology of Job Satisfacation

• Job Satisfaction Scale
• Rating Your Sources of Job Satisfaction
• Employee Job Satisfaction Norms
• Management Job Satisfaction Norms

Part 3: More than ¿Just a Job¿

• The Sources of Satisfaction
• Case Study: Casual Days
• Case Study: All or Nothing
• Empower Yourself

Part 4: Attitude Traps

• Which Trap Are You Caught In?

Part 5: Exercises to Close the Gap

• Exercise 1: Workshop Guide
• Exercise 2: Job Satisfaction Assessment
• Exercise 3: 15 Questions
• A Self-Improvement Plan

Developing as a Professional

One day

Course Outline
Part 1: Become a Professional

• Tip 1: Define Professionalism for Yourself
• Tip 2: Develop a Professional Attitude
• Tip 3: Respect Yourself
• Tip 4: Respect Others
• Tip 5: Be a Team Player
• Tip 6: Respect the Chain of Command
• Tip 7: Beware of Office Politics
• Tip 8: Develop Good Work Habits
• Tip 9: Act Like a Professional
• Tip 10: Professionalism Checklist

Part 2: Mind Your Manners

• Tip 11: Practice Gender-Neutral Etiquette
• Tip 12: Master Business Entertaining
• Tip 13: Tip Appropriately
• Tip 14: Model Mealtime Etiquette
• Tip 15: Meet and Greet People
• Tip 16: Mind Your Cubicle Manners
• Tip 17: Don't Blow Smoke
• Tip 18: Manners Checklist

Part 3: Act Like a Professional

• Tip 19: Socialize Without Damaging Your Reputation
• Tip 20: Have Professional Relationships
• Tip 21: Network Like a Pro
• Tip 22: Dress the Part
• Tip 23: Be Well Groomed
• Tip 24: Communicate Professionally
• Tip 25: Be Assertive, Not Aggressive
• Tip 26: Watch Your Body Language
• Tip 27: Listen and Learn
• Tip 28: Give and Receive Feedback
• Tip 29: Maximize Phone and E-Mail Messages
• Tip 30: Communication Checklist

Part 4: Improve Your Skills

• Tip 31: Keep Learning and Improving
• Tip 32: Improve Your Writing Skills
• Tip 33: Present Like a Pro
• Tip 34: Be a Problem Solver, Not a Problem
• Tip 35: Make Good Decisions
• Tip 36: Set and Achieve Goals
• Tip 37: Schedule Your Time
• Tip 38: Organize Your Workspace
• Tip 39: Manage Meetings Efficiently
• Tip 40: Improvement Checklist

Part 5: Cope with Challenges

• Tip 41: Manage Difficult Situations
• Tip 42: Handle Mistakes and Apologies
• Tip 43: Defuse Conflict
• Tip 44: Manage Anger
• Tip 45: Interact Effectively with Difficult People
• Tip 46: Deal with Pressure and Stress
• Tip 47: Avoid Gossip and Backbiting
• Tip 48: Beware of Sexual Harassment
• Tip 49: Practice Intercultural Courtesy
• Tip 50: Success Checklist

Professionalism Assessment

Networking for Success

One day

Course Description
This course will help you build the tools to initiate a networking plan with specific goals, establish relationships that are meaningful and long-term, use electronic media to expand your network, and develop ways to promote yourself through your networking. Knowing how to network is an important skill for everyone to have. To get a new job, secure a promotion, publicize your favorite cause, or build a business, you have to create a networking strategy. Everyone has a personal networking style, and this course will help you understand your style, and design an approach that will work for you.

Course Outline
Part 1: Understanding Successful Networking

• Establishing Contacts with a Purpose
• Networking Is a Two-Way Street
• Avoiding Networking Pitfalls
• Sharpening Your Networking Focus

Part 2: Building Networking Relationships

• Cultivating Existing Contacts
• Expanding Your Networking Circle
• Scripting Your 30-Second Self-Introduction
• Preparing for Networking Events
• Nurturing Your Support System
• Finding a Mentor

Part 3: Refining Your Professional Presence

• Making a Positive First Impression
• Turning Small Talk into Big Business
• Conversational Do's and Don'ts
• Mastering the Art of Listening
• Projecting Your Image on Paper: Business Cards

Part 4: Bell-Ringing Telephone Techniques

• Identifying Key Contact Points
• Cultivating the Gatekeeper
• Introducing Yourself by Telephone
• Networking Through Voice Mail

Part 5: Networking via E-Mail and the Internet

• Reaching Your Contacts Through E-Mail
• Formulating an Effective E-Mail Message
• Signing Off with a Signature File
• Tapping into Online Alumni Networks
• Welcome to My Web: Creating Your Online Presence
• Surfing the Web for Networking Leads
• Netiquette Guidelines for Networkers
• Taking Time for Snail Mail

Part 6: The Networking Power of Self-Promotion

• Tooting Your Own Horn
• Spreading Your News in a Press Release
• Press Release Writing 101
• Writing Bylined Articles
• Putting a Face to Your Name
• Promoting Yourself Through Speaking Engagements
• Volunteering for Networking Success
• Making the Most of Trade Shows and Conventions

Part 7: Special Networking Challenges: Novices and Veterans

• Recent College Graduates: Learning the Ropes
• Senior Executives: Searching the Hidden Job Market

Legal

Sarbanes-Oxley

One day

Course Description
After the high-profile corporate accounting scandals in the early years of this century, the U.S. Congress sought to restore the credibility of the stock market. The result was the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which protects the interests of investors and employees by making corporate disclosures more accurate and reliable. This course provides a basic understanding of this monumental legislation, its impact on public companies, and how these businesses can comply.

Course Outline
Part 1: Sarbanes-Oxley Overview

• Introduction
• Origin of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• What Is Covered by Sarbanes-Oxley?
• What Employees Need to Know
• Summary

Part 2: Director Independence

• Introduction
• Strengthening Federal and State Laws and Stock Exchange Rules
• Rules for Independent Directors
• Committees of Independent Directors
• Summary

Part 3: Key Committees

• Introduction
• Audit Committees
• Nominating Committees
• Compensation Committees
• Summary

Part 4: Reforms in Compensation and Stock Trading

• Introduction
• New Regulations
• Summary

Part 5: Increased Criminal and Civil Liability

• Introduction
• New Crimes
• Increased Civil Liability
• Whistleblower Protection
• Summary

Part 6: Enhanced Public Disclosure

• Introduction
• Taking Responsibility
• Periodic Reports
• Established Disclosure Controls and Procedures
• Reporting of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
• Adherence to Accelerated Disclosure Deadlines
• Proper Dissemination of Information
• Implementation of a Code of Ethics
• Summary