Southern Oregon University's executive and management training workshops addresses skill gaps identified by local employers. Do you want to expand your leadership skills to be a more effective leader? Do you have a good manager who struggles with some aspects of developing a work-team? Do you want to enhance your team's performance? These skills make all the difference in growing from good to GREAT. Click on the topics below to find out more information about these Professional Development workshops.
* Please note we have a new registration system. You will need to set up a new account to register for workshops. Click here to set up your new account. *
Professional Development workshops for 2019-2020:
Creating a Culture of Innovation & Positivity - September 26, 2019
Date & Time: Thursday, September 26, 2019, 8:30am -12:30pm
Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: This course features key approaches used by some of the top innovators and creative organizations in the world. We'll explore how many inventors and innovators have learned to naturally access heightened states of creativity to solve today's problems and provide tomorrow's solutions while maintaining thriving cultures where their teams function at their best. Click here for more information. Presented by Christopher Harding.
Intentional Process for Strategic Planning - October 24, 2019
Date & Time: Thursday, October 24, 2019, 8:30am -12:30pm
Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: Being innovative to grow your business is great, but you need a plan. You need to know the right questions to ask and in what order. Developing a strategy helps you look at key questions to be prepared for the changing world. In this workshop, we will step through about a dozen critical questions, which you will apply to your specific business or breakthrough ideas. This will be hands on so you can bring your answers back to your company or organization. We’ll be looking for the red flags as well as the golden opportunities. You will come away with the beginnings of a business plan/strategic plan that you can take home and flesh out. Click here for more information. Presented by John Lamy.
The Art of Difficult Conversations - November 14, 2019
Date & Time: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 8:30am -12:30pm
Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: The Art of Difficult Conversations will focus on employing a specific communication model called 360 Feedback. This course will walk participants through the process of how to have honest, direct and productive conversations about difficult issues that occur in the workplace every day, across all industries and within every position, from frontline staff to the C-Suite. This course will demonstrate the importance of establishing rapport, assuming positive intent, trusting the process and will teach participants how to get to the heart of the issue so they can stay focused to resolve it quickly and efficiently. This course will help to shift the way we think about “difficult conversations” as a dreaded effort, to a welcomed opportunity for both personal and professional growth. Click here for more information. Presented by Tiffany Mays.
Leading Different Generations within the Workplace - January 23, 2020
Date & Time: Thursday, January 23 2020, 8:30am -12:30pm Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: Generations are people moving through time. Each group (or generation) of people have similar experiences and possess a distinct sense of self. This workshop examines the differences between the four generations in the workplace today. We will discuss work habits, attitudes toward life and its opportunities, and communication styles. By trying to understand the generational cohorts, we may be able to maximize their strengths and manage their differences so that we can have more productive and collaborative experiences. Examining a generation's similarities will not replace the need to understand someone on an individual level, but it is a starting point for communication and policy making. Click here for more information. Presented by Joan McBee.
Developing Intelligent Teams: How to Maximize Impact and Get Results - February 20, 2020
Date & Time: Thursday, February 20 2020, 8:30am -12:30pm Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description:
This workshop will be low on theory--e.g. what is the definition of a team; and high on technique--e.g. what can team members actually do to increase effectiveness. Everyone wants to be on a high-performance team, but few actually exist because results are less than hoped for. Most of us are good at patting ourselves on the back, but not many are good at holding themselves accountable. You will learn how to identify high performance, how to identify poor performance and how to value and blend the different personalities that are on every team.
The real value will not be the workshop itself, but what can be implemented after the workshop. It will be low on power points, and high on experiential activities and discussion. You will learn not only what to but how to do it. Be prepared to have fun and stretch your thinking about teams. The only thing participants will need to bring are an open and curious mind and the willingness to engage. Instructor: Paul Seymour Click here for more information.
From Troublesome Conflict to Powerful Breakthrough: Essential Strategies Effective Leaders Apply - March 18, 2020
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 8:30am -12:30pm Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description:
Leaders and managers regularly report that conflict avoidance is one of the greatest challenges they and their people face. During this interactive course, participants will explore proven strategies and techniques for productively utilizing conflict to generate meaningful breakthroughs they can apply in their business endeavors and personal lives.
In this session, we will explore:
- The four default strategies many people resort to that prolong and inflame conflict
- How a proven process called The Solution Formula lays the groundwork for a clearly defined resolution process for all parties involved
- How a phenomenon now known as the Virus of Bias can interfere with the ability to resolve conflicts productively and what leading companies are doing about it
- How Quantum Responsibility coupled with Dynamic Collaboration ensure meaningful cooperation and effective outcomes for all involved
- The Important Role Leaders, Managers, and Supervisors can play in effectively resolving conflicts (including key “dos” and “don’ts”).
Instructor: Christopher Harding. Click here for more information.
Finding the Best Version of Yourself: Empowerment, Goal Setting & Accountability
Date & Time: Cancelled due to Coronavirus Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: How courageous are you when it comes to accepting and knowing who you are as a leader/team member? Or are you “proving, striving and trying” with no time to relax and appreciate who you really are? Together we will explore what it means to have a growth mindset and how to recognize character strengths. Through direct experience, we will learn about resilience and how to be accountable by managing emotions, thoughts and actions, all while cultivating compassion. We will discuss boundaries and self-respect, as well as self-care and confidence so that you walk away with tools to empower yourself and others both at work and at home. Presenters: Renee Riley-Adams and Jessica Wakefield. Click here for more information. CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS.
Becoming a Mindful Leader: Create Self-Awareness and Intentionality on your Path to Effective Leadership- May 14, 2020
Date & Time: Thursday, May 14, 2020, 8:30am -12:30pm Cost: $165
Location: Higher Education Center, Medford, Room 129B
Description: Self-awareness and intentionality are vital for effective leadership. In this workshop, leaders will learn about the neuroscience that drives effective leadership and how to guide organizational change from a solution-focused platform. Participants will gain research-backed mindfulness techniques learning to be present and compassionate, while truly able to effect change. Presenter: Tiffany Grimes. Click here for more information.
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Do you want to go more in depth? Take a look at these 5 week classes:
These classes are intense 5 week classes that include a few evenings in the Higher Education Center in Medford and online. These are offered throughout the year at certain times. If you would like more information about these classes, please contact professional@sou.edu.
Organizational Communication
Studies the formal and informal channels of the message movement (up, down, and lateral) in modern profit and nonprofit organizations. Examines the role of communication in different theoretical approaches (e.g., classical, cultural, systems, and human resources) and organizational processes (e.g., assimilation, leadership, and decision making).
Organizational Leadership
Based on a wide range of research and literature, this course includes an overview of major theories, approaches, and themes of leadership along with practical self-assessments to allow each student to explore how each leadership approach applies to respective situations. A major emphasis will be the application of the field of emotional intelligence to the study of leadership.
Accounting for Managers
This course focuses on the theory and practice of accounting and financial management for for-profit organizations. Course assignments help students learn about the nature and responsibilities of financial management in the for-profit sectors. Students study accrual and cash-basis accounting systems, as well as accounting analytical tools. Course work emphasizes understanding and interpretation of for-profit financial statements, risk management, and the importance of financials in managing an organization. Instructor: Patrick Hocking
Group Dynamics
Involves experiential exercises designed to give students an opportunity to learn and gain thinking skills. Topics and exercises cover the development and assessment of creativity; the roles of learning styles, communication, assumptions, inferences, and hypotheses in creativity; the impact of groups on creativity; and various strategies for enhancing creativity. Instructor: Sole Thernell
Conflict Management
Introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of dispute resolution and assists them in developing the basic skills and knowledge for productively managing their own and intervening in others’ disputes. Class time consists primarily of practice and roleplay, as well as lecture, and lecture-discussion. Instructor: Erica Knotts
Management Information Systems
Applies information science to business problem topics, including basic information system design and database concepts, information economics and decision making, systems management, and strategic issues. The case method is used to develop analytical and presentation skills in information systems topics. Participants should be familiar with basic computer applications. Instructor: Katie Pittman
Past Workshop Topics:
Developing Intelligent Teams: How to Maximize Impact and Get Results
Thriving in the Midst of Change While Maintaining Work-Life Quality
It's a Matter of Mindset: Three Critical Perspectives that Drive Effective Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
Project Management Fundamentals
Presentation Skills for Professionals
It's a Matter of Mindset: Three Critical Perspectives that Drive Effective Quality & Continuous Improvement
Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
Project Management and Metrics
Responsibility, Empowerment, and Accountability: Three Secrets Effective Leaders Know and Apply
Other Workshops to Meet Your Needs:
Do you have other management training needs specific to your leadership team? Our network of professional development specialists can build content especially for you. We can also pull in topic specialists from across the Northwest to meet specialized needs. Email professional@sou.edu.
Register 5 or more for Professional Developmant Workshops (4 hour workshops only) at the same time and receive a 10% discount. For more information call 541-552-8150 or email professional@sou.edu.
