Professional Development Program Descriptions

Incivility can be a significant issue in the workplace. Many of these behaviors are common human reactions to stress. Learn strategies to overcome or better cope with difficult behaviors in the workplace through the use of self-assessments, strategy planning, skill-building exercises and case studies.

Analyze reactions to difficult behaviors
Determine which behaviors to address and which to ignore
Learn a six-step plan for dealing with difficult behavior
Develop strategies for interacting more effectively with people who consistently exhibit difficult behaviors

Session Options:

Tues. Feb. 23, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., $295

Facilitator Deborah Easton

Are You in Touch – with You? Emotional Intelligence

Is IQ destiny? Not nearly as much as you might think. Many theorists argue that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow, ignoring a crucial range of abilities that matter immensely in terms of how well we do in life. Factors including self-awareness, self-discipline and empathy add up to a different way of being smart, i.e. Emotional Intelligence. While childhood is a critical time for its development, Emotional Intelligence is not fixed at birth. It can be nurtured and strengthened throughout adulthood, with immediate benefits to our health, our relationships and our work.

Importance and functions of emotions
Characteristics of emotional intelligence
Why and when “smart” is “dumb”
Methods for dealing with and diffusing anger
The cost of emotional illiteracy
How and why Emotional Intelligence affects our health, relationships and work life

Session Options:

Thur., Feb. 11, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., $295

Facilitator Dr. K. Kay Potetz

Communication Strategies for Generations Working Together

Are you a Baby Boomer who believes in creating warm customer relationships? Have you ever been dismayed by younger employees’ belief that good customer service is simply fast service? Are you from Generation X, believing in independent problem-solving, who is frustrated by previous generations’ adherence to chain-of-command decisions? Are you new to the workforce and finding you have more in common with workers who are close to retirement than with any other age group?

If you have several generations in your workplace and want to improve productivity, communication, cohesiveness and morale, you will gain a new perspective by attending this highly engaging program.

Understand how each generation defines work and perceives other generations’ work practices
Identify commonalities among the generations
Accentuate unique contributions of each generation in the workplace
Talk so that other generations listen and understand
Mediate conflict among the generations
Motivate each generation
Create collaboration on cross-generational teams

Session Options:

Thur., Mar. 11, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $165

Facilitator Deborah Easton

Effective Negotiations

Many people automatically view "negotiation" as a power struggle – a situation in which one party tries to win as much ground as possible at the expense of the other. Believing that if you strive to arrive at a settlement that satisfies the needs of both parties, you'll help cement relationships that will last for the long term. This program is very interactive with involved role-plays and coaching. You will learn honest, ethical and positive negotiation skills to build genuine, lasting relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, colleagues and family members. You will also learn how to get what you want while also meeting the needs of the other party through equitable agreements.

Session Options:

Wed., Dec. 9, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., $295

Thurs., Mar. 18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., $295

Facilitator Ned Parks

Register Online, return to the Professional Development page or visit the Corporate and Community Services home page

Business Writing for Results

You will learn to craft well-organized effective e-mails, reports and business correspondence that reflect professionally on you and your organization. Upon conclusion of the program, you will be able to better convey the message in a clear, concise and organized manner, with appropriate detail for non-technical and/or technical audiences. Further, you will learn to write clear, complete procedures and work instructions that new employees can follow, while also satisfying the needs of more experienced employees. The facilitator will collect, review and utilize writing samples in advance from program participants to ensure that the program is tailored and applied to the workplace.

Note: Participants are asked to submit at least three writing samples of about a page each prior to the session.

Session Options:

Tues., Dec. 1, 2009, 8:30 – 4:30 p.m., $295

Tues., Mar. 2, 2010, 8:30 – 4:30 p.m., $295

Facilitator Marianne Canario

Register Online, return to the Professional Development page or visit the Corporate and Community Services home page

For more information, check out the Professional Development Programs Brochure or contact Kent State’s Corporate and Community Services at 330-672-8698 or ckocarek@kent.edu. You can also register online. All sessions will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Cleveland/Twinsburg, Ohio, 8971 Wilcox Drive at I-480 and State Route 82, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087.

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