Interpersonal Effectiveness Workshops

Building Effective Teams

Description
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how teams operate and how to make them more effective, as well as team development, team dynamics, and what it takes to be team members. This workshop delivers simple but powerful models for understanding team communication based on current and widely respected research. Each concept is supported by breakout exercises, and then grounded with professionally facilitated experiential learning discussion.

Each participant will take away a new set of personalized tools for improving the productivity of the teams they are on, as well as the associated individual and group satisfaction.

Length : 6 Hours

Audience and Size
This workshop is designed for anyone seeking to improve her or his effectiveness within teams and gain a better understanding of team dynamics. Individual contributors and managers at all levels will benefit. Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is suggested and a maximum of 20.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how teams work and operate
• Learn tools and techniques for making teams more effective
• Gain a deeper understanding of your role as a team member or leader and how you can improve your contribution

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations. Each course is led by two experienced facilitators from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The high facilitator to participant ratio supports true experiential learning and ensures individualized attention to each participant’s learning goals.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

Constructive Conflict

Description
This workshop examines key topics in managing conflict. Participants will learn how to approach and resolve conflict more effectively, even when faced with challenging people and situations. The experiential course methodology includes identifying and pursuing personal learning goals and “learning how to learn” by practicing new behaviors and receiving constructive feedback in a supportive learning environment.

Length : 6 Hours

Audience and Size

• High potential individual contributors, managers, and organizational leaders
• High influence employees and opinion leaders
• Challenged intact groups. Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is suggested, with a limit of 20

Learning Objectives
The end result of the workshop will be the ability to manage conflict and achieve goals in a more effective and culturally sensitive way. Toward this end the following interpersonal dimensions will be examined in depth:

• Understand conflict and its value
• Identify personal conflict style and orientation
• Recognize other conflict styles
• Assess conflict situations clearly
• Practice using different conflict styles and resolution techniques
• Improve rapport through conflict

Methodology
Each module of the course begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations. 

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

Diversity and Inclusion

Description
This workshop provides insight into how to recognize the value of diversity within teams and organizations. Participants will improve both personal and professional skills around diversity issues, increase individual and team performance, and create a better organization in which diversity can thrive. This course examines not only race, gender, and age, the common notions of diversity, but other issues such as self, other, and group.

Length : 6 Hours

Audience and Size

• High potential individual contributors, managers, and organizational leaders
• High influence employees and opinion leaders
• Challenged intact groups
• Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is recommended, with a limit of 20

Learning Objectives

• Understand the many ways in which we are each different
• Appreciate the value of diversity between individuals and within groups/organizations
• Understand the complexity and dynamics of a diverse workforce
• Identify obstacles to exploring difference and ways to get past them
• Learn how social norms relate to diversity
• Recognize common traps in dealing with diversity
• Practice effective ways of approaching and working through difference, benefiting both oneself and others

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

Emotional Intelligence

Description
Research by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence (1995) and Social Intelligence (2005), and others have proven that our ability to understand and manage emotions in the workplace is a key factor for success – more so than IQ or advanced degrees. This workshop is designed to improve the emotional expression choices at work and strengthen social skills for individual contributors, managers, and leaders. Participants will learn the importance and role of emotions in communication, influence, and rapport building, as well as the value of emotional awareness, regulation, and empathy. Participants will explore dimensions of both social and emotional intelligence in the workplace and learn tools and techniques for self-improvement.

Length : 6 hours

Audience and Size
High potential individual contributors, managers, and organizational leaders; high influence employees and opinion leaders; challenged intact groups. Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is suggested, with a limit of 20.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize emotions when they arise and understand how they affect you
• Practice new ways of expressing emotion that improve communication and influence
• Identify personal emotional patterns and tendencies
• Understand and improve emotional regulation and distinguish from suppression
• Learn how emotions undermine and build rapport
• Broaden your range of response options and experience the impact on others

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

Influence Without Authority

Description
This workshop will help participants develop skills in influencing people over whom they have no formal authority. The primary focus will be on how to win over those who control vital resources, information, or support that is needed for success. The experiential workshop methodology includes identifying and pursuing personal learning goals and “learning how to learn” by practicing new behaviors and receiving constructive feedback.

Length : 6 Hours

Audience and Size
This workshop is designed for people with cross functional or interdepartmental responsibilities, projects, or lines of communication. Both individual contributors and managers will benefit from this course. Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is suggested, with no more than 20.

Learning Objectives
The end result of the workshop will be the ability to influence others and achieve goals in a more effective way. The following dimensions will be examined in depth:

• Listening for underlying personal and organizational issues
• Providing constructive/creative options for mutual gain
• Achieving mutual influence through effective use of power
• Cutting through interpersonal and interdepartmental barriers
• Confronting in a way that promotes communication

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

Influential Communication

Description
This workshop delivers simple but powerful models for understanding communication based on current and widely respected research, and the work that we do with individuals, teams, and organizations. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their personal style of communication and develop new skills to increase clarity, mutual understanding, and influence. Each concept is supported by break out exercises then grounded with professionally facilitated experiential learning. Participants will take away a new set of personalized tools for improving both the productivity of and satisfaction with her or his communication skills.

Length : 4 Hours

Audience and Size
This workshop is designed for professionals who want to advance their interpersonal skills, increase influence, and build rapport more effectively with others. Individual contributors and managers at all levels will benefit from this workshop. Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is suggested with a limit of 20.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what effective communication entails at personal and organizational levels
  
• Give and receive feedback more effectively
  
• Understand your own communication style and other common communications styles
  
• Adapt your style to more effectively communicate with others
  
• Develop effective strategies for communicating up, down, and across the organization

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.

The Art of Feedback

Description
Daniel Goleman, author of “Emotional Intelligence,” points out that feedback is an essential part of professional success. The topic of feedback often evokes negative associations such as criticism, defensiveness, and conflict. However, feedback is a powerful catalyst in personal and professional development. When managed well it builds rapport, develops competence, and improves productivity. The challenge is how to give and receive feedback in ways that promote openness and receptivity.

This workshop is designed to support and strengthen the participants’ abilities to provide useful and effective feedback to peers, managers and subordinates. Participants will learn conceptual models regarding feedback and will engage in facilitated experiential exercises. They will explore their own styles in delivering and receiving feedback and will receive feedback on their effectiveness.

Length : 6 Hours

Audience and Size

• High potential individual contributors, managers, and organizational leaders
• High influence employees and opinion leaders
• Challenged intact groups
• Diversity of enrollees is encouraged. A minimum of 10 participants is required, with a limit of 20

Learning Objectives

• Learn the fundamentals of effective communication
• Understand the dynamics of giving and receiving feedback
• Identify your personal style and challenges in giving and receiving feedback
• Avoid the common traps in the feedback process
• Develop confidence giving and receiving feedback in an effective, constructive way

Methodology
Each module of the workshop begins with a brief lecture introducing one or more new concepts. Each short lecture is followed by break-out exercises, typically in groups of two to four, in which the new concepts are applied and new behaviors are practiced. Exercises are followed by facilitated group discussions of the experience, as well as individual learning and its applicability to unique work situations.

Facilitators
All facilitators are active at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Each has many years of experience facilitating the nine-week “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at the GSB, upon which these workshops are based. All have advanced degrees and are thoroughly trained in group development, individual and group facilitation, feedback, diversity, conflict management, influence, rapport building, and group dynamics. All have worked in a variety of organizations, and many are also executive coaches.