Course Description
Developed exclusively for the complexity and rigor of enterprise business environments. Gain competitive advantage by combining technical depth with a width of versatile professional skills.
Develop Critical Professional Skills
Effective professionals have the ability to directly influence the performance and success of their respective organizations. But in order to do so, they must first master an array of skills that may be unlike any they have ever used before. The Professional Skills Boot Camp is designed to provide you with just such expertise through an introduction to the competencies that they must master in order to transform themselves into high-performing servant leaders/practitioners.
Analyze Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
The course begins with each student performing an assessment of his or her professional skills. This assessment is aimed at providing insights to the student concerning personal strengths and weaknesses, and when properly utilized, can provide a starting point for a comprehensive skills enhancement program.
Learn Practical Tools and Techniques for Immediate Application
The course itself is divided into a series of modules, each aimed at introducing one or more of the skills critical to professional success. The class starts with introductions to Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and Communications that set the stage for a diverse array of applied topics such as:
- Coaching/Mentoring
- Conflict Management/Dealing with Difficult People
- Time Management
- Critical Thinking/Decision Making/Problem Solving
- Facilitation and Negotiation
Key skills you'll take away immediately:
- Analyze and understand personal business strengths and weaknesses
- Learn specific interpersonal challenges associated with software teams and how to deal with them
- Examine and assess current leadership abilities
- Review strategies for building trust, using power and authority effectively, and how to develop others on a project team
- Improve self-awareness of emotional intelligence
- Learn how to overcome miscommunication between individuals and departments
- Determine strategies for how to prevent a negative employee's attitude from spreading to other employees
- Learn how to self-manage and lead software teams by example
- Use creativity, quick thinking and voting techniques to solve business problems
- Demonstrate competent communication and collaboration skills
- Manage project priorities and personal organization in complex projects
- Perform a gap analysis to begin development mapping
- Create an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Tips and tricks to become self-motivated when no one is cheering you on
- Deal with difficult employees, co-workers, suppliers or bosses
- Cope with mistakes and failures by turning them into learning opportunities
- Minimize your weaknesses and maximizing your strengths
- Choose appropriate communication and collaboration methods in a socially networked world
- Appreciate different perspectives and examining different sides of situations
- Cope with office politics, hidden agendas and changes
- Learn how to persuade others without manipulating or controlling
- Investigate specific challenges of business analysts and software developers
Substitution & Cancellation Policy:
You may cancel or reschedule up to 21 days prior to the start date of the class at no penalty. For any cancellation or reschedule requests within 21 days, the full course tuition is still due and not eligible for refund. Any paid tuition will be credited towards a future class and must be used within 12 months.
*Partner delivered courses may be subject to different cancellation terms
Agenda
1. Leadership Assessment
The course begins with the respected HRDQ Leader-Manager Profile for every student. This assessment, based on the works of management experts such as Bennis, Kotter, Kouzes and Posner, helps students understand both their leadership and management skills by:
- Clarifying the differences between leading and managing
- Pinpointing the skills needed to be effective in each role
- Understanding how to balance and improve the two skills sets
2. Leadership
This module helps identify your leadership style, how to tap into leadership style strengths, minimize weaknesses and work effectively with different leadership styles. Different theories of leadership are discussed, contrasted and compared.
- Building trust with others
- Using power efficiently
- Reviewing best practices of successful leaders
3. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) refers to our abilities to recognize, control and assess emotions. While research suggests that many individuals are born with many innate EQ traits, there is ample evidence that they can be learned and strengthened. We introduce EQ and its four core skills:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Management
- Relationship Management
4. Communications
This module reviews how to tap into effective communication strategies and overcome communication obstacles. Strategies and best practices of effective communication will be considered. Highlights include:
- Communication channels
- Communication models
- Communication methods
- The Power of Listening
5. Coaching/Mentoring
This module introduces one of the most beneficial tools for a professional to have in his or her toolkit — how to develop employees. Helping others develop will center on the key differences between coaching and mentoring by reviewing:
- Coaching models
- Mentoring models
- Providing feedback
6. Conflict Management & Dealing with Difficult People
This module combines two of the most passionate topics related to working with others. The first portion of this section focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of conflict management.
- Preferred conflict management styles
- A step-by-step conflict resolution process
- Strategies for handling conflict
- The second part emphasizes identifying the different types of difficult behavior and effective tactics for dealing with difficult behavior.
7. Time Management
This module introduces essential time management skills. Using practical techniques, students learn to focus attention and energy on activities that help effectively advance their careers. Subjects include working smarter not harder, prioritizing objectives, avoiding stress or procrastination, using lists and personal deadlines, and more.
8. Critical Thinking/Decision Making/Problem Solving
This module provides an overall introduction to reasoning, logic and problem-solving. Through the use of case-studies, examples, and exercises, the student learns both the theory and application of critical thinking skills.
- Avoiding thinking errors such as logical fallacies and biases
- A discussion of problem-solving strategies and their use in removing obstacles to clear thinking and in reaching effective solutions
- The use of game theory to assist in both private and corporate decision making
- The use of the decision making toolbox to make better business decisions
9. Facilitation & Negotiation
An overview of two specialized communications issues: a discussion of the techniques of group decision-making with special emphasis on group dynamics and mastering the tools of facilitation; and the essentials of the negotiation process and the application of those elements in practice.
- The concept of facilitation and how it differs from traditional methods
- Facilitation tools and techniques; handling difficult facilitating situations
- Preparing for a negotiation session
- The win-win negotiated outcome
- Negotiation strategies and tactics
10. Change Management
This module helps identify personal reactions to change, provides a process for dealing with change and guidance for handling emotions related to change. Additional emphasis is placed on topics such as:
- Readying the team/organization for change
- Leading others through any type of change
Assessments and Exercises
The workshop activities and exercises are designed to enhance your leadership and management skills. You will be provided the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment and discuss discoveries with other leaders. Best practice "dos" and notorious "don'ts" will be shared by your instructor. The self-assessment helps you identify core strengths and areas of opportunity related to these core competencies:
- Communicating Organization Direction
- Developing Key Relationships
- Inspiring Others and Directing Operations
- Developing the Organization
- Reinforcing Performance