“I have certainly grown as a result of the Path to Leadership Lab. My interactions with the instructors and other members of my cohort were crucial to my growth. One very important element was seeing deeper into the minds of other members of my cohort, all successful, ambitious people who had strengths and weaknesses like me. It added to my confidence that I am not alone in my doubts, nor in my ability to grow and learn. Nor am I alone in caring deeply about my work and wanting to fit in my family and community. I also recognized that ARS is a wonderful workplace.” – Jeff Silverstein, PhD., Research Geneticist “Experience is not what happens to you: it is what you do with what happens to you.” – Aldous Huxley

Programs / Workshops and Speaker Topics

General Leadership Workshops

GLI offers the following leadership workshops to organizations. Workshops sessions can range between 3 hours and a full day, the difference being the depth of coverage and amount of experiential activities. Please email us for more information at info@gilburgleadership.com

1. Managing Generations in the Workplace

Currently there are four generations in the workplace, each sharing a set of common values and characteristics that reflect the unique sociological and political realities present at that generations’ coming of age. While generational diversity has been present in the workplace for hundreds of years, the gaps between generations have become more pronounced as technology propels our culture with increasing velocity into the future.

Many leaders today grapple with the varied and often conflicting sensibilities, values, and demands that arise from this diverse generational workforce. Understanding the generational landscape can inform key decisions, as shifting workforce demographics continue to impact employee recruitment, retention and succession in the face of an increasingly complex, competitive and global future.

In this compelling and thought provoking workshop, you will gain a deeper understanding of the generational dynamics at play, the characteristic gifts each generation has to offer, the challenges each face, and how you and your organization can better prepare for the realities of the upcoming generational shift as Baby Boomers begin to retire from the workforce.

From this workshop, you will take away the following:

• Greater understanding of the different generations present in the workplace, and how this dynamic is informed by history
Clarity about challenges confronting leaders today that are impacted by generational diversity
Insight into your own generation’s shared characteristics ­ – both the strengths and the limitations
Fresh perspectives about other generations and the potential for collaboration
Useful strategies for engaging different generations, managing potential conflicts, and preparing yourself and others for what the future may hold
Practical applications of your insights to the recruitment, retention and training of your employees
Opportunities to connect with generational peers around common ground

2. Communication Basics: how good communication habits are fundamental to ensuring a productive workplace, satisfied customers and career advancement

How often have you been confronted by someone for something you said or did and you responded by saying, “But what I meant was…?” Or have you ever found yourself trying to help resolve a conflict between two people, only to discover that now you are seen as the problem? Communication is the foundation of our relationships and interactions with each other, yet misunderstandings and miscommunications dominate our culture. Poor communication is often cited as one of the most vexing problems facing many organizations today. Good communication habits are the secret to improving relationships, increasing productivity, and advancing careers.

In this insightful and practical workshop, you will be presented with an overview of the fundamental tenets of communication, and some best practices for ensuring you get the outcomes you desire. We will explore how to close the gap between your intentions and your behavior, avoid the trap of “triangulation,” and recover the lost art of listening. We will share a model for complete communication that will increase your personal clarity and improve your communication effectiveness in many situations. We will demonstrate how understanding and practicing good communication habits can create a personal foundation for the kind of credible and dynamic leadership sought-after by most organizations.

From this workshop, you will take away the following:

• An enhanced understanding about the role of good communication in your personal and professional success
• Best practices for ensuring that your communications get you the outcomes you intend
• Clarity about the importance of listening and why we must learn to listen
• A simple but effective complete communication model that can disarm conflict and improve relationships in many areas of your life
• An easy to read, how-to manual as an ongoing reference for enhanced effective communication

3. Understanding the Hardwiring of Self and Others through Temperament Analysis

Temperament is a model for determining personality strengths and limitations that was developed by the ancient Greeks and is still in use today throughout the world. The foundation of Jungian Typology, this model offers a more basic, laymen’s approach to personality analysis. With 4 basic Temperaments to learn most people can master the art of determining Temperament simply by observing the behavior of others. Leaders can benefit from knowing how others prefer to operate by adopting different management and communication styles that suit others best.

From this workshop, participants will:

• Determine their own Temperament
• Learn about all 4 Temperaments and how to identify them in others
• Uncover personal biases and learn how to appreciate differences
• Develop strategies for dealing with people of different Temperaments
• Consider application of these strategies with participant’s own staff and co-workers

4. Managing Conflict Creatively

Conflict is a regular part of the workday and the ability to manage conflict is a core leadership skill. Often our reactions to conflict are founded in childhood experiences, leading to behavioral patterns that are habitual and unconscious. Gaining awareness of how conflict impacts our thinking and behavior can open the door to greater choices as we seek to manage the conflict around us as adults.

During this workshop, we will share conflict theory, provide a survey of conflict styles, and work on case studies raised by participants. Each participant will leave with a strategy designed to expand behavioral choices for better, more sophisticated results.

From this workshop, participants will:

• Discover the causes of conflict
• Determine appropriate responses to challenging situations
• Identify personal styles in dealing with conflict
• Recognize personal habits that might prevent an appropriate response
• Create a strategy that identifies a new approach to dealing with conflict

5. Managing Emotions in the Workplace

With the accelerating rate of change and the level of stress common in the workplace, strong emotions are often a significant factor in day-to-day interactions. In the past, leaders were encouraged to ignore emotions as being irrelevant or distracting for the pursuit of organizational goals. Given the high degree of workplace stress, however, modern leaders must become expert in managing a highly charged emotional climate. Through the research of Emotional Intelligence (EI) we know that leaders can become better at managing emotions and creating a positive workplace climate.

During this workshop, participants will explore Emotional Intelligence theory, its application to leadership and the workplace, consider personal EI and take part in experiential activities that deepen EI awareness.

From this workshop, participants will:

• Explore Emotional Intelligence theory as researched and written about by Daniel Goleman.
• Consider personal EI competency
• Uncover internal resistance to managing emotions successfully
• Develop strategies for creating high levels of trust and open communication

6. Developing Healthy Teams

Despite the emphasis on our time around working in teams, the truth is that few have mastered the art and science of actually leading healthy, productive teams. The answer can be found in learning various disciplines, protocols and processes that have been proven to support and encourage good teamwork. As in the world of sports, good teams don’t just materialize; they are grown and developed by focused leaders who cultivate those teams.

Healthy team development rests on a leader’s ability to influence mutual trust and collaborative efficiency amongst its members. This workshop will address a number of topics that serve to improve trust, collaborative capacity and greater teamwork in working teams.

From this workshop, participants will learn techniques and approaches for:

• Meeting Management
• Team Agreements and Accountability
• Decision Making
• Creating a feedback rich environment
• Welcoming and harnessing disagreement and resistance
• Deepening communication skills with emphasis on listening
• Strategic questioning as a tool to build capacity in others

7. Negotiation

In our current environment, discussions tend to polarize quickly, and few seem able to get beyond fixed positions that deadlock, referring resolution of the issues to higher levels. Understanding the dynamics of interest-based negotiation gives leaders broader and more effective tools for developing win/win solutions to situations that often seem intractable and irresolvable.

From this workshop, participants will:

• Learn an interest based negotiation process developed by Roger Fisher and William Ury from the Harvard Negotiation Project
• Recognize the differences between positional and interest-based negotiation, including the costs and benefits of each
• Learn the fundamentals of interest-based negotiation
• Identify when and how to use interest-based negotiation strategies
• Uncover internal resistance to successful win/win negotiating