Now Available for On-Line Learning
Leaders need versatility and flexibility as they bring project responsibility, technical knowledge and information to their groups. Knowing how to structure effective processes, relevant content and authentic collaboration produces work sessions that balance participation, use time efficiently and achieve their purposes. Skillful leaders manage three simultaneous outcomes for their groups; task focus, process skill development and relational development.
Topics include:
Designing group work
Develop and apply templates for planning and assessing outcomes for the groups with which you work. Learn ways to clarify task outcomes for products, performances and decisions and relational outcomes for the knowledge, skills and dispositions group members require for productive, time-efficient engagement.
Energizing groups and supporting information processing
Expand your repertoire of strategies for monitoring and managing the productive energy of group members. Learn a variety of individual, small and large group strategies that support high levels of engagement for exploring, connecting and applying new ideas to professional practice.
Applying flexibility in stance
Explore a leadership repertoire that flexes between the stances of presenting, collaborating and facilitating when communicating, generating and processing critical information. Knowing when and how to match task to stance increases your ability to help a group get its work done more effectively while increasing the group’s capacity to deal with tough topics and diverse perspectives.
Developing groups
Learn ways to accelerate group development by assessing current capacities and designing interventions to support growth. Enhance your ability to cultivate group members who engage productively with conflict, maintain focus on achieving outcomes and take responsibility for their behaviors and choices.
Refining the group leader’s toolkit
Hone your verbal and nonverbal skills for focusing groups and increasing group member willingness to think and talk together about important professional subjects. Learn to apply a pattern of pausing, paraphrasing and inquiring to respond to and influence the thinking of group members. Increase your confidence when dealing with difficult people and difficult conversations.