How to grow an engaged team

It used to be that the biggest staffing problem managers had to deal with was high turnover. Today, the real issue is engagement - finding a way to get people to do more than just turn up to work physically. It’s about finding ways to engage them mentally and emotionally. The solution used to be team building but you don't build people, you grow them! So how do you grow an engaged team? Just a like a gardener you need to get the right combination of factors in place to allow people to grow naturally.

In this presentation Karen will take a look at how you can take some of the same techniques that gardeners use to grow healthy plants and apply them to growing a thriving organisation.

You will learn . . .

• Recognising the 4 levels of engagement
• Why you need to shift your focus when it comes to engaging staff
• Developing the right culture and selecting the right people
• Choosing the right job roles for maximum growth
• Tending to your people: what good leaders do
• A step by step plan for lifting engagement levels

 

Developing your e factor

Whether you have one employee or many, whether you have been leading for a long time or are an aspiring leader, you need to develop the one quality that separates great leaders from the rest.  It is given a lot of names, including presence or charisma, but I like to call it the “e factor”. The e doesn’t stand for electronic, email obsessed or egocentric. We already have plenty of those “leaders”. This e stands for engaging. I believe that in order to be a high performing leader you need to be engaged yourself before you can hope to create an environment that engages others. So how is your e factor? Is it healthy and growing or has it withered and died?

In this look at leadership in the engagement age you will be asked to sit back and think about how your own engagement plays a part in the successful engagement of your team and how to ensure you positively influence those around you.

You will learn . . .

• How to identify your place on the engagement matrix
• Why most leaders lack engagement
• The impact of a disengaged leader: on themselves, their team and their organisation
• Signs of an engaging leader at work
• Defining your own personal leadership philosophy

 

8 conversations that engage

Whether your issue is keeping your engaged people on track or helping the disengaged to get back on track, all managers are looking for simple methods that will achieve results without costing a fortune. One of the recognised keys to employee engagement is a strong relationship between a staff member and their immediate manager. At the heart of a strong employee/manager relationship is communication. Old fashioned, face to face, one-on-one conversations.  

In this interactive and practical presentation, learn about the 8 conversations that engage, why they matter and how you can conduct these conversations in a way that gets results.

You will learn . . .

• Research on why these conversations matter
• The real reasons managers avoid having the right conversations
• The idea behind each of the 8 conversations: understanding their purpose
• Tips and tricks for helping you conduct effective conversations that really engage

 

What to do when you have a dud

We’ve probably all experienced what happens when you end up with an underperforming employee. It could be the result of a hiring mistake or a promotion mishap. It could be your fault or someone else’s fault and you’ve inherited them. Whatever the causes the problem is the same: you have a dud on your hands and it’s up to you to do something about it!

In this lighthearted but practical look at dealing with disengaged employees you will discover some straightforward methods for handing problem employees so that everyone involved stays sane. Find out what you can do, what you can’t do and how to do it properly.

You will learn . . .

• 6 reasons why you must take action now
• How to recognise a dud . . . they come in different shapes and sizes
• Why good people go bad and how to stop it happening
• A 4 step action plan for dealing with a dud that won’t end in tears or legal action
• Picking up the pieces: how to get your team back on track afterwards

 

The future of employee engagement

The world of work is constantly evolving. What was common practice 10 years ago is now antiquated and what was once seen as ground breaking is now viewed as the minimum standard. The question that should be in the minds of all business leaders is . . . what’s next? You need to ensure you are constantly growing and adapting or you risk being left behind. In people management terms “being left behind” means being unable to attract and retain the best and brightest in your field.

In this thought provoking session you will have the opportunity to step back and examine where we have been, where we are now and where we are heading in terms of employee engagement.

You will learn . . .

• How some engagement trends are going full circle
• Recognising where we have come from and how that influences current practices
• Identifying where the market leaders are right now: are you one of them?
• The trends that are already emerging . . . and a few that should be

From gladiator to mediator
How to grow from a generational warzone into a productive enterprise

There is a revolution going on in the workplace. As the final members of one generation of employees leave, the next group is thinking about following them but are realising their plans for early retirement might not work out. Another generation is arriving on the scene with a mission to transform the workplace. Caught in the middle is a generation who've been waiting their turn to shine only to find that the newcomers have other ideas.

Welcome to a workplace with multiple generations! As a manager your next challenge is to find a way to engage each of these 4 groups . . . because you can't afford not to. So what does it take to get people aged from 16 to 65 engaged at work?

You will learn . . .

• Adopting the right attitude; are you a mediator or a gladiator?
• The importance of understanding the generations and how they formed
• What strengths each generation brings to the workplace
• Flexibility: what people of all ages are looking for
• How open communication can solve most of your cross generational issues
• What creative organisations do to attract and retain talented people of all ages

 

Growing the leaders of the future

You see that young guy or girl in the corner, the one with the piercings who doesn’t follow the corporate dress code? They are going to be running the world when you reach retirement. As the Baby Boomers start to exit the workplace and Generation X take over as managers, it is time to turn our attention to the next generation of leaders . . . Gen Y. Some of them are already in leadership positions and others are jostling for their chance to be promoted. So what role are you going to play in developing the leaders of the future?

You will learn . . .

• Understanding the Gen Y experience to date with leadership
• What we are learning about Gen Y leadership styles
• How to identify young people with leadership potential
• Keeping young people engaged on the path to leadership
• How mature, experienced leaders can help Gen Y leaders

How to feel F.R.E.S.H. at work every day!

Have you been through a tough period lately? Too much change and not enough staff? Feeling a bit low on energy but not sure what to do about it? What you need is a F.R.E.S.H. approach to work.

Using a simple 5 step formula, learn how you can get back your energy and become fully engaged at work. Whether you are a business owner, manager or employee Karen can help you feel F.R.E.S.H. at work every day!

You will learn . . .

• Where you sit on the attitude matrix
• Forward thinking: How to have a clear vision of the future
• Resilient: 3 simple ways to bounce back from any adversity
• Enthusiastic: How to tap into your passion and increase your enthusiasm for work
• Stretching: The benefits of getting outside your comfort zone
• Holistic: How to balance the 6 vital aspects of life

You can also opt to concentrate on just one aspect of Karen's F.R.E.S.H. formula. Each of the 5 key areas can be delivered as a stand alone presentation.

Look out future, here I come
How becoming a forward thinker can change your outlook

When you think about the future do you get excited or does the mental picture you have of your world 5 years from now make you nervous? If so, there is something you can do to change your view from a negative to a positive. Whether you are thinking about your personal or professional life, having something to look forward to is one of the secrets to happiness and fulfillment, which lead to productivity and passion. Learn how to become a forward thinker by following a few simple, yet powerful steps and watch your future really come to life!

You will learn . . .

• The art of Prospection  . . . what it is and why you should do some
• Recognising the signs of living in the past and why we do it
• Moving on and letting go of limiting beliefs and actions
• Understanding the power of attention
• How to create a clear vision of the future in 3 simple steps

Bouncing back better than ever
3 simple ways to be more resilient

The ability to bounce back from adversity is a vital skill for anyone who wants to survive and thrive in the competitive business world. Successful people are the ones who are willing to take risks and make mistakes, which means they deal with a lot of adversity. However, many of us have lost the ability to be resilient and we need to learn how to get it back. Becoming more resilient is easy when you know how. This practical session will give you real life examples of how to boost your resilience levels so you actually look forward to the challenge of overcoming any adversity that you face.

You will learn . . .

• Why adversity is good for you
• How to measure your resilience levels
• Why you are already resilient, you just don’t know it
• The power of our thoughts in dealing with adversity
• 3 simple questions that will boost your ability to bounce back

Enthusiasm matters!

Enthusiasm, energy, passion . . . call it whatever you like but make sure you have some! Today maintaining enthusiasm for life in general, and work in particular, can be difficult with so many demands being placed on us. Without enthusiasm you end up sleep walking through life rather than fully embracing everything it has to offer. If you have ever worked with people who have low enthusiasm levels you will know what affect it can have on those around them. Don’t be that person  . . . let Karen show you how to regain your natural enthusiasm by understanding where it comes from, why it disappears and how you can get it back! The result will be you leave with a renewed sense of passion for life that will see you really enjoying every moment.

You will learn . . .

• How enthusiasm can help you at work and in life
• Measuring your natural level of enthusiasm
• Recognising the 4 faces of enthusiasm in your workplace
• Why you need to learn to flow
• How to find your “it factor”
• At least 5 ways to be more enthusiastic that cost nothing

How to grow your comfort zone

We all know it’s a good idea to physically stretch ourselves on a regular basis to prevent our body becoming rigid but how many of us remember to do some mental stretching as well. Your brain can also suffer from thinking and acting in the same ways for too long. To be successful in the current work environment you need to be continually growing and expanding your comfort zone. In this fun and interactive session learn all about the how’s and why’s of stretching your comfort zone so you can grow to your full potential.

You will learn . . .

• Scientific research on why you need to regularly stretch your brain
• Choosing which of the 4 zones you want to live in
• How to tell when it’s time to grow
• The importance of the “symbolic stretch”
• A simple, easy to follow guide to stretching your comfort zone

Mastering the balancing act
How to keep your life in balance and stay sane

Are you constantly stressed? Do you find your “to do” list is getting longer, not shorter? Does there never seem to be enough time for you? If you answered yes to any of these questions that it’s time to restore the balance in your life! Keeping your life in balance is vitally important to your physical and mental health. Having a balanced life allows you to do more and enjoy what you do more. In other words, it helps you to be more successful, both personally and professionally. Find out how balanced you are and what you can do to fix your imbalances in this fun and interactive session.

You will learn . . .

• Balance: what it is and why it matters
• The wheel of life: 6 areas you need to keep in balance to get ahead
• How balanced are you? Take the test
• Danger ahead: the warning signs that you are out of balance
• 5 simple steps to restoring balance in your life