Leadership in an Uncertain World
Leaders and managers are responsible for leading teams to success—but what does that look like in these uncertain times? In some parts of the country, leaders are navigating the realities of returning to the office after long-term telework. In other workplaces, leaders are wrestling with health-related mandates as COVID-19 cases persist. Teams are getting to know each other again or are rebuilding as people enter and exit the workforce amidst the stressors of today.
Where do we start in defining and pursuing success with our teams in this environment?
- Start with Self. Good leaders and managers know you can’t lead others until you know yourself. Take comfort in the fact that we are all navigating uncertainty here—no modern society has ever emerged from a pandemic before! Take the time to reflect on your own experiences and stressors, and to determine what that means for your leadership capacity and approach. The way you led before may not be the way you lead today.
- Acknowledge Reality. One way to lead your team to success is to acknowledge the reality of now. Talk to your team about the changes that have happened in the past year, the changes happening now and the changes likely to come in the next few weeks. One leader we know opened a recent meeting by asking, “share one word that describes the last year for you.” The exercise was enlightening because it showed how different people’s experiences really were and allowed people to talk about the enormity of what is happening all around us.
- Redefine Success. Pretending it’s “business as usual” is not a path to success right now. Some companies are experiencing supply chain problems, service disruptions, shifts in consumer demands and revolutions in workplace dynamics. Some businesses have found new success in meeting needs that emerged practically overnight.Take the time for a strategic pause with your team. Start with the timeframe you generally use for goals and performance metrics—perhaps quarterly or annually. List specific successes over the past period, name the changes you are seeing and redefine goals based on the trends you have observed. Then, reexamine and recalibrate those goals based on an honest look at the team’s capacity given life events. Given the uncertainties of the moment, consider defining goalposts against which you are reasonably likely to declare victory, rather than stretch goals that are just going to stress people out.
Finally, consider opportunities to reshape the future. Sometimes, the best time to introduce radical change is during times of radical change! As people adjust to the new realities of today, now is the time to look at other changes that may have been unthinkable a year ago but might just make sense now. In a time that feels chaotic, you can set new starting conditions that may last long into the future.
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How to Manage Remote Employees
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
Team Training - Virtual or In-person
How to Manage Diversity in the Workplace
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
Team Training - Virtual or In-person
How Managers Become Great Leaders
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
Virtual Seminars:
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Nov 22
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Dec 12
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Dec 13
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+ 11 more dates
Leadership, Team-Building and Coaching Skills for Managers and Supervisors
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
Virtual Seminars:
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Dec 3
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Dec 5
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Dec 9
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- Dec 3, Columbus, OH
- Dec 4, Bloomington, MN
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A Crash Course for the First-Time Manager or Supervisor
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
Virtual Seminars:
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Nov 22
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Dec 4
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Dec 5
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- Dec 4, Houston, TX
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How to Supervise Bad Attitudes and Negative Behaviors
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- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
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Nov 22
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Dec 5
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Dec 10
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Criticism & Discipline Skills for Managers and Supervisors
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- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
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Dec 3
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Dec 18
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Jan 8
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Managing with Assertive Confidence
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
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Dec 3
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Dec 12
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Dec 18
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Facilities Management - A 2-Day Comprehensive Course
- CEU: 1.2
- CPE: 12
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Dec 3-4
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Dec 9-10
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Dec 11-12
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Basic Accounting Skills for the Business Professional
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
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Dec 3
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Dec 11
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Dec 19
Management & Leadership Skills for New Managers and Supervisors (2-Day)
- CEU: 1.2
- CPE: 12
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Dec 3-4
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Dec 5-6
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Dec 9-10
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- Dec 10-11, Orlando, FL
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Be the Manager Your Employees Want to Follow
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
- PDC: 6
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Dec 3
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Dec 11
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Dec 19
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+ 9 more dates
The Indispensable Office Manager
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
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Dec 3
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Dec 17
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Jan 7
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+ 7 more dates
Transitioning to Supervisor
- CEU: 0.6
- CPE: 6
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Dec 5
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Dec 10
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Dec 11
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+ 27 more dates
In-Person Events:
- Jan 15, Anaheim, CA
- Jan 16, San Diego, CA
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+ 1 more dates
Creative Leadership
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- CPE: 6
- HRCI: 5.5
- PDC: 6
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Dec 5
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Dec 9
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Dec 18
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+ 4 more dates
Leadership & Management Skills for Women
- CEU: 0.3
- HRCI: 3
- PDC: 3
Virtual Seminars:
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Jan 7
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Jan 7
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Jan 15
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+ 17 more dates
