Influential Leadership
Technical Leadership
Experiential Team Skills Training
The Art of Productive Conflict
Building Effective Teams
Improving Performance Under Stress
The Power of Effective Listening
Lifestyle Management:Achieving Work/Life Balance
Managing Change: Creating Inner Stability

Skills and behaviors that position leaders to
influence others beyond formal authority and
inspire high morale, innovation and productivity.
In today's highly competitive and rapidly changing business environment, most organizations are demanding more time, energy and creativity from their people. Such a high level of commitment cannot be achieved when people are reluctantly "complying" with formal authority. It is becoming increasingly important for organizations to shift from a "do what you're told", to a "do whatever it takes to get the job done right" work environment. Inspiring that level of involvement from people requires authentic and trustable leadership.

True leadership is based upon a positive, trusting relationship that gives rise to "willing, committed followership". This course teaches leaders how to position themselves to influence others in ways that go beyond any formal authority they may or may not have. In his book Servant Leadership, Robert Greenleaf says, "The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one ’s capacity to lead is profoundly limited."

A common misconception is that only a few special individuals with "natural-born" leadership abilities have the capacity to influence others in organizations. This seminars demonstrates that anyone can develop the capacity to attract willing and committed followership and that the more leadership there is in an organization, the more creative, productive and successful it will be.

Good leadership improves morale and inspires people to go the extra mile, to find new and innovative solutions and to contribute to their fullest capacity.

Topics covered:
• The Dynamics of Leadership and Followership
• Influencing beyond (or without) formal authority
• Behaviors that build trust
• Integrity, courage and acceptance of personal accountability
• Clear, authentic and coherent communication / listening
• Managing stress and optimizing personal performance
• The art of resolving conflict / mediation of other’s conflicts
• Building a "culture" of leadership and employee empowerment
• The building blocks of authentic leadership:
- 1) Building and fostering quality relationships
- 2) Clarifying expectations and challenging assumptions
- 3) Clearly establishing direction and destination
- 4) Self-awareness

This is a highly engaging, dynamic and interactive workshop that consists of large and small group discussions, short lectures, simulations, experiential learning activities and clips from popular movies to give participants not only the understanding, but the direct experience of the wisdom and behaviors that enable leaders to attract willing, committed followership.

The Influential Leadership is best when presented over two full days. If that is not possible, shorter programs are available.

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Leadership skills for Engineers and Technical Professionals

This seminar, which includes many of the same concepts and skills presented in "Influential Leadership", is specifically designed for those who work in a technical environment. In addition to learning how to positively influence others, improve communication and cooperation, attract willing followership for ideas and initiatives in order to produce winning results, this highly interactive and engaging program will include the following topics:

• Delegation
• Information sharing
• Networking
• Innovation and productive risk taking
• Teamwork skills
• Effective Mentoring

Using a variety of elements including small and large group discussions, short lectures, experiential simulation activities and clips from popular movies, this seminar creates a powerful and effective learning experience. Participants will leave with the understanding and skills that develop genuine leadership and person to person effectiveness in the technical environment.

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"This program was the best idea since I've been in my business — 15 years. It made me stop and think, slow down, and listen. Our teamwork got better as the day went on. I learned I had some weaknesses to improve on. My boss also noticed and admitted his too — that's progress."
Teamcraft participant

Team Building has become a very important subject in almost every successful and forward- thinking organization today. There is no question that employees who feel they are valued and empowered members of a cohesive team are consistently more resourceful, fulfilled and productive. The challenge of creating effective teams is to move from the concept to the application of these ideas. Attitudes and behaviors usually do not change on their own.

Most people remember experiences much more readily than something they have been told. Therefore, actually applying the concepts of teamwork is far more valuable than hearing or reading about them. EXPERIENTIAL TEAM SKILLS TRAINING is just that. It is experiential! Participants are presented with games, problems and non-athletic physical challenges that require cooperation, creativity, effective communication and mutual support to achieve the objectives.

Because people tend to "behave the way they behave" in any circumstance, team members' interactions during these activities "mirror" the way they interact with each other at work. Therefore, in a fun, non-threatening environment, participants clearly see what works well in their teams, as well as what needs improvement. It is a fun, yet powerful way to learn! The insights and ideas participants come up with are discussed, recorded and taken back to be applied in the workplace.

Team and Organizational Benefits:
• Improved communication
• Increased Cooperation
• Effective relationships
• Team spirit
• Increased trust
• Appreciation of diversity: including skills, outllooks and cultures
• Improved problem solving and decision-making
• A "win / win" work environment

Quest EXPERIENTIAL TEAM SKILLS TRAINING sessions can be held outdoors, if the weather permits, or indoors in a space large enough for the group size. Depending on objectives and the time available, this program can be presented as a half-day, a full-day or a multiple-day training. All programs are custom designed. CHALLENGE (Ropes Course) TEAM BUILDING trainings are also available. For additional information, please contact Quest Seminars.

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"The instructor has strong communications skills and his technique was outstanding. Mastering conflict skills by grouping students together for roll playing and comparing Aikido with the art of conflict were of particular value. Overall, the instructor is highly recommended."
IBM Leadership 2000 student

Conflicts are a natural part of life. The only way to avoid conflict is to avoid working and living our lives with others. Although most of us generally prefer to avoid it, conflict can actually be very beneficial. Diversity gives rise to different perspectives, ideas and outlooks that when managed effectively can contribute greatly to the growth and development of individuals, teams and organizations.

In this seminar, participants will learn how to: maintain composure, manage stress, re-establish communication when it has broken down, understand different personality and behavior styles, and to determine and understand the root causes that allow destructive conflict to persist.

This seminar presents concepts and techniques that anyone can apply to the conflicts and disputes they encounter at work and in their private lives.

The Seminar consists of:
• Small and large group discussions
• Self assessments
• Conflict resolution strategies and exercises
• Games and role plays

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the workshop, participants will have new skills to:
• Manage conflict constructively
• Shift focus from "problem" to "solution"
• Find workable solutions that will stick
• Withstand verbal assault and defuse strong emotions
• Handle difficult people
• Be assertive, without being aggressive
• Turn win-lose and lose-lose situations into win-win encounters

Topics include:
• How conflict can lead to positive change and innovation
• Personality types and styles of interaction
• Dynamics of conflict escalation and techniques to diffuse it
• Managing the stress of conflict
• Common pitfalls of conflict resolution
• Listening as a powerful conflict resolution tool
• Understanding the role of perception in conflict
• Building rapport

"The Art of Productive Conflict" is a dynamic and highly interactive course. Participants will leave with important new understandings as well as powerful tools they can use to more effectively manage conflict and improve the quality of their relationships at work and in their lives.

Two-day, one-day, or customized seminars can be designed to meet the needs of your organization.

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"This course is a must for all Motorola employees, especially managers. It was very enlightening in regard to understanding and working with others."
Motorola participant

BUILDING EFFECTIVE TEAMS is a dynamic and highly interactive training designed to give participants a clear understanding and experience of effective team function.

Course design:
• Effective team concepts discussions
• Activities and games which demonstrate effective team dynamics
• Clips from popular films to illustrate concepts
• Small and large group discussions

Module 1: Foundations of Team Effectiveness:
Covers the four building blocks which create the foundation for leadership:
• Building leader quality relationships
• Clarifying expectations
• Establishing the direction
• Becoming self aware

Module 2: Dynamics of Leadership and Followership:
• Eight elements of what it means to be a leader.
• Examines the differences between leadership and management.
• Provides practical skills that empower all individuals to become "leader conscious" and to take initiative that gets results.

Module 3: Thinking Like a Leader:
• The effects of one's attitude and the quality of one's thoughts and expectations about oneself and the team are explored and demonstrated.
• Each team member learns to develop thinking patterns that promote inner stability and self-sufficiency.

Module 4: Adopting Win/Win Attitudes and Skills:
• Demonstrates how team leaders achieve win/win results
• Learn how to respond to conflict and resolve differences in ways that benefit all parties.
• Participants practice and master skills that have immediate application to job related conflict.

Module 5: Team Communication:
• Active listening skills
• Rapport building
• Quiet the inner analyzer, interpreter, advisor and evaluator.

Module 6: Team Planning and Goal Setting:
• Five characteristics of effective goals are discussed and meaningful targets set.
• Clarify assumptions with eight key questions.
• Develop action steps to influence behavior and involve team members.
• Contingency Planning is demonstrated along with the most common reasons why plans don't work.

Module 7: Team Problem Solving:
• Model for identifying decision-making problems and reaching effective decisions.
• The cycle of clarifying and analyzing assumptions,
• Establishing evaluation criteria.
• Generating alternatives.
• Measuring results.

Module 8: Managing Transitions Together:
The sequence of transitions:
• Letting go
• The neutral zone
• The new beginning
• How to strengthen group connections.

Module 9: Team Development:
• Understanding building and blocking behaviors.
• Team process simulations are practiced and discussed.
This module summarizes and engages all elements of the previous modules.

To complete all of the following BUILDING EFFECTIVE TEAMS modules listed above requires five days. Because of its modular design, it can be customized to address an organization's key needs in a minimum of two days.

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The seminars consist of:
• Lectures on fascinating new research
• Stimulating small and large group discussions
• Self assessments
• Training of simple yet highly effective relaxation skills

Topics to be covered:
• Stress and your health
• Managing stress as a resource
• Leaving work at work
• Staying calm and effective amidst continuous change and challenge
• Optimal performance
• Outlook Skills
• Meditation

Individual benefits:
• Improved health
• More personal energy
• Higher performance
• Better communication
• Increased creativity

Organizational benefits:
• Higher productivity
• Healthier work force (Lower health care costs)
• Better teamwork
• Improved communication
• Decreased absenteeism and turnover

Quest's IMPROVING PERFORMANCE UNDER STRESS is thorough in the presentation of current research and information, yet engaging and rich in actual experience. This course is particularly effective in that it has a strong focus on skill development. Participants leave with a high level of confidence in their ability to react more positively to the pressures they face in their lives. Two-day, one-day, half-day or custom programs can be arranged to suit your organizations needs.

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"Fantastic! I will highly recommend to my manager that they have everyone go through this course."
EDS participant

"Great course! I will use what I learned daily."
AMD participant

Many time-consuming and costly mistakes in our personal and professional lives are caused by the lack of clear and effective communication. We spend more time listening than we spend talking, reading or writing. Ironically, of all these aspects of communication, we receive the least training in effective listening.

EFFECTIVE LISTENING SKILLS is designed to raise participants' awareness of their current listening style and skill level through discussions and assessments. Then, using skill-building exercises and activities, participants learn new, more effective habits that can significantly improve their ability to listen, and thereby to retain and communicate thoughts, feelings and information.

Purpose:
To provide participants with a realistic assessment of their current listening habits and abilities, and to train them to apply new, more effective listening skills.

Benefits of listening skillfully:
• Improved relationships
• Save time and avoid mistakes
• Greater cooperation and team work
• Improved efficiency
• Reduce stress

Topics covered:
• The importance of good listening and communication
• Identifying and avoiding internal and external distractions
• Barriers to listening
• Building rapport
• Checking for understanding
• The "magic of attention"
• Listening to ourselves
• Diffusing other's anger and managing conflict
• Developing a personal strategy for improved listening

Learning objectives:
• Hearing the speakers "intended message"
• Avoiding errors, incorrect assumptions, and missed commitments
• Ability to clarify and "check for understanding"
• Developing a personal strategy for improving listening

Effective Listening is powerful, engaging and highly experiential. This seminar is presented as either a full-day or a half-day program. Customization to suit your organizations specific needs and schedule can also be arranged.

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"The course was truly enjoyable and I believe it will be beneficial in all aspects of life."
Course participant

In order to sustain success in today's fast-changing and highly competitive global marketplace, we have no choice but to ask more of ourselves, of our organizations and of our employees. Creativity, innovation and flexibility are crucial at all levels in order to maintain a competitive advantage.

Research, as well as common sense, tells us that the optimal conditions for creativity and innovation are when we are healthy, calm and fulfilled. This state of mental, emotional and spiritual well being is difficult, if not impossible to achieve if we neglect important aspects of our lives, including our families, health and creative expression.

In this seminar, we will discover simple and achievable ways to create and a lifestyle that supports and maintains these very important aspects of our lives. By creating a more balanced life and by becoming more fulfilled as human beings, we will discover that we have far more to give in all areas of our lives, including our work.

Topics:
• Leaving Work at Work
• Assessing Our Priorities
• Putting and Keeping Things in Perspective
• Healthy Pleasures
• Exploring Our Beliefs and Cultural Conditioning
• Optimal Performance
• Achieving Personal and Profession Success

The Seminar includes:
• Discussions
• Self assessments
• Tools for Accessing Optimal Performance
• Relaxation Skills
• Action Planning

Quest LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT is a dynamic and stimulating experiential seminar that explores issues important to all of us living and working in today's exciting and, at times, stressful world. Participants can expect to leave with new perspectives, new skills and with an expanded awareness of how their personal well being can support and enhance their professional objectives. This seminar can be custom designed to meet the specific needs and objectives of your organization.

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"Chris is a great instructor. Excellent material, presentation and delivery!"
Course participant

"I believe this will really benefit me and my family. I'm looking forward to sharing it with them."
Course participant

Program Overview:
We are currently living in times of increasing change, uncertainty and stress. The Holmes Rahe scale, which measures complexity of life, has calculated that life today is on average 44% more complicated than it was only 30 years ago. If one were to compare our personal and professional lives to a river, there used to be times of calm, stable water between the "rapids" of change during which we could enjoy consistency and relative security. Now, we seem to be in times of never ending change, or continuous "whitewater". The turmoil and stress associated with this constant change contribute significantly to the many health problems, interpersonal difficulties, and burnout that are so common in today's work environment.

However, if we examine our experience more closely, it becomes clear that the quality of our lives is not as much determined by external events as by how we respond to them internally. Our state of mind is determined primarily by our thoughts and our attention. By learning to consciously direct and focus our attention more positively and creatively, we can improve all aspects of our lives.

This seminar presents effective techniques for effectively managing stress as well as powerful new perspectives that can transform one's experience of these changing times from anxiety and resistance, to an experience of clarity, confidence and positive anticipation of the future.

Participant will learn:
• Tools and techniques to quickly access calm and focused states of mind
• New perspectives on health and well being
• How to establish an "internal locus of control"
• Ways to shift from the fear of negative outcomes to positive expectation
• To adapt to desirable changes and to avoid unnecessary changes

Organizational benefits:
• Increased creativity, productivity and efficiency
• Individuals who are more confident, creative and resourceful
• Increased job satisfaction and improved morale
• Reduced absenteeism and health care costs
• More effective work relationships and communication

Topics:
• Managing stress as a resource
• Improving performance under pressure
• Outlook Skills
• Improving personal health and energy
• Accepting responsibility for one's own life and experiences

MANAGING CHANGE EFFECTIVELY is an engaging, experiential seminar designed to provide participants with new skills and perspectives that will enable them to function more creatively and confidently in a changing work environment.

"It is the very nature of knowledge that it changes fast and that today's certainties are tomorrow's absurdities." -Peter Drucker

For more information, contact Chris Douglas at Quest Seminars.

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