ProMatch

I've been actively involved in creating and participating in a number of workshops for ProMatchers - who are professional people in job transition. My latest is to hold a regular Tuesday morning drop-in for people interested in advancing their job search and professional skills.  
 

I will be offering a new workshop on Dec. 16th - all day.  It will be a Business Planning Seminar for those ProMatchers who are starting - or thinking of starting - their own businesses.

Among the workshops I've offered (or been heavily involved with presenting):

• Jump Start Your Job Search:      
  •   this is the how and why of what you need to do.  
• Marketing (Branding) Yourself:    
  • Most people out of work don't know how to market their services.
  •  Also, when people think of marketing they tend to think of product marketing and service marketing is different - services are intangible and thus your image, reputation, and "free samples" become critical in how you sell yourself.   
• Self-Assessment Seminar:
  •  Knowing your wants, needs, values, interests help you decide  
• Strategies and Tactics for your Job Hunt
  • Lots of time, people just blindly do a bunch of chores without having an overall plan - that's what this workshop was designed to help.  
• Who are You?  Part I & Part II  
• • Part I:  How do you describe yourself professionally in a conversational manner (rather than the stylized elevator pitch we've all been taught to use.)
  • Part II:  "What's in it for Me?" - How do you answer the unspoken question posed by the person to whom you are speaking, whether that is someone with whom you are networking, or a recruiter/HR person or hiring manager?  
• Negotiation Skills for Women:     
  • Maybe part of why women don't earn as much as men is because they don't know how to ask for what they want. 
  • This is also one of the reasons I decided to start a new women's forum.  
• Getting Your Mojo Back 
• Being out of work is debilitating, depressing and frightening.  This workshop gave participants ideas for re-vitalizing themselves emotionally and psychologically as well as physically.
• Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand
• This is about marketing services and employment - how to create a brand that takes in the perception you want to create, what you do, and what;s in it for the person to whom you are speaking.  This workshop is being repeated in August.
• Negotiation Strategies and Tactics
• In this workshop we will be using role-playing, fishbowl exercises, feedback and suggestions for those practicing their negotiation skills.
• Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand - again
• WOW, we had about 50 people in attendance and actually spent an extra hour giving feedback to people as they offered their revised introductions and elevator speeches.  Lots of feedback that this was an outstanding experience - and people want me to come back and do more for them regularly.

Campaign Consulting and Involvement

Diamond Associates' team is now fully launched supporting several candidates for office.  Our Treasurer is helping several candidates, our events consultant is speaking with a few candidates to help them with meet and greets and fundraisers - and of course I am offering my ideas about persuasion, image, and messaging with several people running for office.  

Consulting Clients:  Individuals and Organizations

Lest I forget:  I am still earning money by consulting and offering workshops to organizations, private, public and government and also working with some individuals wishing aid with their professional development.  Truth of the matter is, these are my major activities.  Your referrals are always appreciated - and in this slowly climbing out of the recession - needed.

Stanford University, Continuing Education: Conflict in the Workplace

 Books - Published  

Leading and Managing in a Global Economy -                   Super Star Press 

Conflict in the Workplace:  Causes and Cures      Robertson Publishing Co.

The following books can be ordered directly: www.ProductivePublications.com  

Training Your Board of Directors:  A Manual for the CEOs, Board Members, Administrators and Executives of Corporations, Associations, Non-Profit and Religious Organizations.  

The "Please" and "Thank You" of  Fundraising for Non-Profits:  Fifteen Essential Ingredients for Success.

Shameless Self-Promotion:

My videographer and friend Carlos Cruz has started a series of programs he is calling Titanslaws.  He interviewed me as part of his series - and this is the link.

http://titanslaws.com/webcast/episode-1-Interpersonal-Relationships-in-a-Global-Environment.php

Creativity Needs the Quiet Spaces

 Although still an amateur, I paint in both oil and watercolor.  I've been attending a series of facilitated groups based on the book The Artist's Way - and one of the things that has become so clear to me is the importance of TAKING THE TIME to get out of your ordinary day and do something that will enable you to clear the cobwebs and see the world differently.  For me, going to museums or the beach seems to fill the bill. 

So, how do I apply this to creativity at work?   As you know from reading my newsletters, I conducted a survey of 50 C level executives asking them a bunch of open-ended questions about managing for creativity.  Most didn't really create processes for it in their organizations. I've helped some of my clients create systems to manage for creativity - and it really needs to be managed effectively in order to get what you, the CEO really want.

But now I'm wondering - what about spaces designed to stimulate creativity?  What about rooms with videos of the ocean for example - places where people can just go and chill out away from their desks, computers, ipads, android phones and other technology.  Places that are both stimulating and restful.

If you think about it, most creative moments - epiphanies - come about during restful times - in the shower, driving (without a crowd) washing dishes, chopping wood, or just daydreaming.

I know too that if I have serious writing to do - I think about it before ever sitting down at the computer.  I let the ideas gestate in my mind for a day or two and then my path to expressing what I wish to express comes clear.

How do you honor your creative side? 

Board of Directors Training

I will be conducting a three hour board retreat for a professional - technical association.  It was hard getting the board members to even agree to three hours - when what they really need is a two day retreat.

It seems to me that the more technically trained a group of people, the less they understand the people side of life.  This board is losing members and they need to revisit their mission, goals, ways of conducting business, meeting management, marketing and use of volunteers.  They expect to accomplish all this in three hours or less. 

It isn't fair to blame a technical mentality exclusively - a lot of the problem lies with the assumptions people make about board membership responsibilities.  I don't know about this organization in particular, but in too many cases instead of board membership being "sold" as an honor and a responsibility people are begged to become board members and are assured (falsely) that very little of their time would be required.

The better organizations - both corporations for profit and associations that are non-profit - have quarterly or annual two or three day retreats.  You have to back away from the day to day long enough to breathe - and to think in new and creative ways.

Diamond Associates Additional Professionals:

Introducing Michael (Mike) Johnson

I'd like to introduce you to a new member of my "virtual" organization.  Mike Johnson is not only a superb sales expert, but an internet media marketing expert. 

He is working with me to upgrade all my media - such as my website, youtube, linkedin, my blog and anywhere else I appear.  He is available to help you as well.  Mike has also accepted responsibility for doing some new business development for me - and I look forward to acquiring some new accounts thanks to his diligence.

Introducing Jeff Wald

I probably should have done this months ago - and Jeff I apologize for not thinking of it sooner.  My friend Jeff Wald is a computer expert - both hardware and software.  

Since he is also the political Treasurer in my virtual political - consulting division, I failed to let you know that we - he - can solve many of your computer problems.  

Time and Creativity are the theme - Apply them to the Holidays.

So, time and creativity seem to be my theme this month.

Since it is the holiday season,  I wish you all the time to do your visiting, shopping, cooking, entertaining and decorating.  I wish you time to breathe - to relax - to nurture yourself - so that these holidays are fun and restful - not stressful.

So, How Can I help you?