Wednesdays with Workforce

New Classes Highlighting the Latest Trends in Professional Development

Professional Development is essential for personal and career growth, job satisfaction, and staying competitive in today’s dynamic workplace.  Wednesdays with Workforce will increase learning and growing in one’s profession and will ensure that individuals stay updated with latest trends in the workplace. Continuous learning provides opportunities to enhance existing skills and acquire new ones.  Participating in these classes will allow individuals to interact with peers and experts in various business fields. Overall, employers, clients, and colleagues are more likely to trust and respect professionals who demonstrate a commitment to growth and improvement, so choose to grow with our Laurel Ridge Community College Workforce Solutions Corporate Training team.

July 10 – Dec 11 Wed 12 PM – 4 PM MIDD
$219 per class

Generational Mindset

People from different generations are working side by side in today’s workforce. Individuals in each generation have fundamentally different life experience and influences than those in generations before or after them. This class is designed to help you understand these differences to minimize misunderstandings and improve collaboration.  You will also learn how to actively seek a variety of perspectives to improve decision-making and increase innovation in your workplace.

Objectives:

• Identify the generations in the workplace and the experiences that shape them.
• Examine the stereotypes associated with each generation.
• Identify potential challenges when interacting with different generations.
• Demonstrate techniques that foster respectful communication with different generations.
• Implement strategies to unite employees of all ages.

Aug 7 Wed 12 PM – 4 PM  MIDD
$219

Organizational Trust

Trust is essential for any organization to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive global environment. Research has found that organizations with high levels of trust are more credible, productive, flexible, innovative, and able to adapt to changing circumstances and effectively handle crises.   Organizations with high levels of trust, such as Google, which in 2013 ranked #1 on Fortune Magazine’s list of the best companies to work for, are better able to recruit and retain the best people because they provide an environment that helps employees to do their best work.

Objectives:

• Assess the level of trust in your organization and your own trustworthiness.
• Be mindful of the results of distrust between employees and within an organization.
• Identify the characteristics that engender trusting employees and organizations. 
• Discover the common “trust busters” and specific actions you can take to prevent their presence in the workplace.
• Explore the ways organizations and teams can build a culture of trust.
• Identify the warning signs of a low-trust organization and how to restore trust when it’s been lost.

Sept 11 Wed 12 PM – 4 PM  MIDD
$219

Creating Chemistry in Teams

Most people would agree that team chemistry is a vital ingredient when it comes to achieving organizational goals; and when it is present (or not), it’s obvious. Yet, the concept and its specific qualities can be difficult to put into words, and therefore nearly impossible to develop. In this program, you will identify the elements of team chemistry and learn how to use that knowledge to build more effective teams.

Objectives:

• Understand how to choose team members to create a high performing team.
• Leverage the strengths of team members to maximize team performance.
• Implement strategies to promote positive interactions.
• Evaluate team processes and team results.
• Recognize the responsibilities of a team leader.

Oct 9 Wed 12 PM – 4 PM  MIDD
$219

Ensuring a Heart for Service

Come discover how the best companies are ensuring customers feel a heart for service! Truett Cathy, former CEO of Chick-Fil-A once said, “Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else: our time, our love, our resources.” This quote encapsulates the role of a service industry professional. This interactive course provides insights into the latest customer service trends and how to mold those actions into your customer service. You’ll learn 7 keys to effective attitudes for service through service companies’ philosophies including Chick-Fil-A’s 2nd mile service, Southwest’s vision, and positivity from the Kid President. These inspirational and tactical skills will increase your ability to provide superior service.

Objectives:

• Identify the language of customer service and apply to your business model.
• Understand how to develop and use “2nd Mile Service”.
• Learn effective ways and specific tools to deal with adversity.
• Understand the difference between waiting on customers and serving people.

Nov 13 Wed 12 PM – 4 PM  MIDD
$219

Critical Thinking Skills

Managers and employees make decisions every day based on personal experience, conventional wisdom, widely accepted best practices, or even the latest trend in business thinking.  Analytical thinking, or the ability to work through an issue systematically and logically, focuses on using evidence as the basis for decision making to help make these decisions. The Center for Evidence-Based Management lists numerous benefits to using an analytical approach when making decisions. According to a study published in Harvard Business Review, the best decision makers are “informed skeptics” who possess strong analytical skills. However, only 38% of employees fall into this category.

Objective:

• Follow a systematic process that leads to objective, verifiable conclusions.
• Focus on and gather the information required to address the issue.
• Assess the data you gather by following the principles of logic and reasoning.
• Communicate your analysis in a relatable and clear manner. 
• Use your analysis to effect objective decision making.

Dec 11  Wed 12 PM – 4 PM  MIDD
$219