Training - Improving Performance
We believe it is important to inspire people to be open to explore new ways of thinking and being. To embed learning, we engage curiosity before and throughout the experience and inspire courage to incorporate the learning into new behaviors and thinking.
We think that for people to be effective at whatever they do, they need to have self-understanding and the ability to efficiently solve problems that block goal achievement.
We provide a variety of leadership programs guiding people to tap their curiosity to gain new skills, perspectives and insights. Our leadership program is based on research in creative problem solving.
Introduction to Creative Problem Solving
Given that we know how rapidly the world is changing, creative problem solving is increasingly important. In a recent IBM study of over 1500 global executives found that these executives were not fully confident that they were prepared to respond to the rapid rate of change. To address this problem, the study identified creativity as the leading skill that needed to be developed within organizations.
Introduction to Creative Problem Solving will benefit to the organization by giving employees a shared language and the ability to boost their creative output. The session will introduce the mindset, and skill set necessary for deliberate thinking skills to grow. The program is rooted in cutting edge research, packed with real life examples and provide ample opportunity for group discussion and activities to solidify learning. The sessions will be content rich, fun, and engaging.
Foursight, a creative collaboration preference assessment is recommended in both of the courses. This 37-question survey is backed by 50 years of academic research and 16 years of scientific validation. The assessment allows participants to see where they excel and breakdown in the four distinct phases of the creative process (clarifying, ideating, developing, implementing). This understanding enables people to better collaborate with others by leveraging each other’s strengths to create more effective and innovative work environments. The assessment takes about 10-15 minutes to complete online prior to the workshop.
Specifically, participants will
Curious about Curiosity
We are all born curious, however, our curiosity fades as we grow and develop into adults. Why does this happen? Have we learned everything there is to learn? I think not. This session explores what holds people back from being more curious and how to develop our curiosity. During this 1.5-2 hour interactive session participants will stimulate and reconnect with their personal curiosity. Specifically, participants will
The Climate for Creativity
The best way to prioritize creativity is to have a climate that is open to creative thinking. (To clarify, organizational climate is the employee perceptions that influence and characterize life in the organization, whereas culture describes corporate beliefs and values.) In addition to communicating the desire for creativity, organizations need to create a climate conducive to fostering the creative thinking that is necessary to power innovation. To cultivate the right climate for creativity to flourish, the organization needs to have a clear purpose, an independent and collaborative process, and people who constructively work together. During this half-day workshop participants will explore the key principles to optimizing organizational climate for creativity. Specifically, participants will
Developing Leadership Credibility
This workshop focuses on the importance of doing what you say you will do and believing in what you are saying. This session explores key values (i.e., integrity, curiosity, courage, communication and empathy) critical to building personal and professional credibility. During this 1.5-2 hour workshop participants will be able to define credibility and will develop an understanding of the necessary behaviors for credibility to occur in the workplace.
Improving Effectiveness through Productivity Management
This workshop examines how we spend time at work. The session explores habits and behaviors that detract from productivity. Participants engage in interactive discussions and exercises to spur their thinking about their work management style in new ways.
Given that we know how rapidly the world is changing, creative problem solving is increasingly important. In a recent IBM study of over 1500 global executives found that these executives were not fully confident that they were prepared to respond to the rapid rate of change. To address this problem, the study identified creativity as the leading skill that needed to be developed within organizations.
Introduction to Creative Problem Solving will benefit to the organization by giving employees a shared language and the ability to boost their creative output. The session will introduce the mindset, and skill set necessary for deliberate thinking skills to grow. The program is rooted in cutting edge research, packed with real life examples and provide ample opportunity for group discussion and activities to solidify learning. The sessions will be content rich, fun, and engaging.
Foursight, a creative collaboration preference assessment is recommended in both of the courses. This 37-question survey is backed by 50 years of academic research and 16 years of scientific validation. The assessment allows participants to see where they excel and breakdown in the four distinct phases of the creative process (clarifying, ideating, developing, implementing). This understanding enables people to better collaborate with others by leveraging each other’s strengths to create more effective and innovative work environments. The assessment takes about 10-15 minutes to complete online prior to the workshop.
Specifically, participants will
- Understand key principles of creative thinking (e.g., divergent and convergent guidelines) and behaviors that enhance and inhibit such thinking
- Gain a common language and 4 step Creative Problem Solving model (clarify, ideate, develop, implement)
- Understand where they gain and lose energy in the creative process through an understanding of their personal thinking style
- Provide insight into how to leverage their personal and group preferences to maximize creativity and innovation
Curious about Curiosity
We are all born curious, however, our curiosity fades as we grow and develop into adults. Why does this happen? Have we learned everything there is to learn? I think not. This session explores what holds people back from being more curious and how to develop our curiosity. During this 1.5-2 hour interactive session participants will stimulate and reconnect with their personal curiosity. Specifically, participants will
- Understand curiosity and its importance to creativity and learning
- Engage their curiosity to enhance personal creativity
- Develop a personal curiosity action plan for living curiosity
The Climate for Creativity
The best way to prioritize creativity is to have a climate that is open to creative thinking. (To clarify, organizational climate is the employee perceptions that influence and characterize life in the organization, whereas culture describes corporate beliefs and values.) In addition to communicating the desire for creativity, organizations need to create a climate conducive to fostering the creative thinking that is necessary to power innovation. To cultivate the right climate for creativity to flourish, the organization needs to have a clear purpose, an independent and collaborative process, and people who constructively work together. During this half-day workshop participants will explore the key principles to optimizing organizational climate for creativity. Specifically, participants will
- Understand key dimensions of creative climate
- Identify areas of opportunity to enhance the current climate
- Explore ideas to personally improve the current climate to improve creative potential
Developing Leadership Credibility
This workshop focuses on the importance of doing what you say you will do and believing in what you are saying. This session explores key values (i.e., integrity, curiosity, courage, communication and empathy) critical to building personal and professional credibility. During this 1.5-2 hour workshop participants will be able to define credibility and will develop an understanding of the necessary behaviors for credibility to occur in the workplace.
Improving Effectiveness through Productivity Management
This workshop examines how we spend time at work. The session explores habits and behaviors that detract from productivity. Participants engage in interactive discussions and exercises to spur their thinking about their work management style in new ways.
- Explores the relationship between productivity and time management.
- Brings awareness and appreciation of productivity strategies and techniques.
- Identifies time wasters and ways minimizing them.
- Demonstrates the pitfalls of multitasking and the impact on productivity
Clients include:
- Bayer
- Brookdale Center for the Aging
- China Institute for Innovation
- Fordham University
- Center for the Development of Human Resources (CDHS)
- Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI)
- Introduction to Creative Problem Solving - Springboard
- Dive into Deliberate Breakthrough Thinking Tools & Techniques
- New York City Human Resources Administration
- Ropes and Grey