Workshops

Good management is fundamentally facilitative. Through our programs of skills development, we help managers strengthen their capabilities in core areas such as communications, teamwork, conflict resolution, dealing with change and more.

• Consulting Skills for Internal Consultants

  2 Day Workshop -- Price: $995.00  taxes extra

  Strategic Objective

  Consulting Skills aims at increasing the internal consultant’s ability to conduct successful consulting engagements and interventions.

  Learning Objectives

  Participation in this workshop will enable you to...

  • understand and describe the required role of the consultant;
  • establish and clarify mutually agreed upon expectations with client;
  • demonstrate specific behaviors which foster a supportive, productive climate with customers;
  • effectively troubleshoot and resolve emerging problems and challenges;
  • understand the consulting process.

   

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  Overview

  At the end of the day, the need for continuous change and improvement has made coordination of effort among individuals and groups – vertically and horizontally – imperative. Our consulting process provides internal consultants with the ability to identify, plan and implement specific adjustments to organizational processes and the confidence to influence people to adopt new behaviour in response to the new environment.

  This workshop explores the many dimensions of the effective consultant. Expand your knowledge of diverse problem solving processes. Learn to clarify client expectations upfront by defining the desired outcomes. Discover how to use hypotheses and probing questions to challenge assumptions and prompt change. We will help you hone your ability to identify challenges and opportunities in a positive way and establish a clear framework for approaching them. You will strengthen your skills for communicating clearly, decisively and logically, strengthen your ability to analyze situations, plan interventions and manage projects profitably, and learn how to improve organizational systems to achieve desired results with measurable success.

  Topics include, but are not limited to…

  Entry & Contracting

  • the consulting process – objectives, actions and tools
  • an overview of consulting skills
  • preparing for the initial contact
  • establishing an Independent View
  • the consulting action plan
  • high level consulting plan

  Discovery

  • key questions for the consultant
  • preparing for exploration meetings
  • preparation pitfalls
  • discovery process

  A call to action

  • monitoring and revising the intervention plan
  • styles of dealing with conflict and/or differing interests
  • applying conflict styles
  • disarming resistance

  Close

  • key questions for the consultant

   

• Facilitation Courses

  1 Day - Essentials of Group Facilitation                $  500.00  taxes extra

  3 Day - Foundation Course in Group Facilitation   $ 1,350.00  taxes extra

  3 Day - Advanced Course in Group Facilitation     $ 1,475.00  taxes extra

  Please Register for this course or for more information please Contact us

  Strategic Objective

  Our facilitation courses are designed to provide people the confidence and ability to use a selection of facilitation processes and techniques to enhance peoples' participation and creativity, and to help them to manage and lead more effective and efficient meetings.

  Learning Objectives

  Participation in this course will enable you to...

  • explore the role and function of the “change agent”;
  • develop a clear understanding with the client on the needs and expectations surrounding a facilitation assignment;
  • “frame” an intervention;
  • design a facilitation event or intervention;
  • manage difficult facilitation situations, including conflict and disruptive participant behaviour;
  • select from a broad range of process tools to address specific facilitation requirements.

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  Overview

  Group Facilitation is aimed at all those having a mandate or interest in improving the productivity of task-oriented groups. Here you will find ideas, models, tools and processes, which build on your skills as a “process” facilitator to develop your ability to “consult” within your organization. To move beyond “event” facilitation to facilitating change, both with teams and individuals.

  Lead meaningful, effective and results-oriented discussions. Plan for action with expedient agendas and realistic time frames. Inspire people to get involved and challenge them to make a difference. Group facilitation is about using advanced methods and processes to help collectives share ideas and opinions, deal with issues, analyze problems and make difficult decisions—while generating enthusiasm and leading with conviction.

  Topics include, but are not limited to…
  
  Key Concepts in Group Facilitation

  • the context for group facilitation – the Strategic Alignment ModelTM
  • facilitation and team effectiveness
  • time context and creative basis of process facilitation
  • process, facilitation and VCR
  • facilitation and organizational change

  Universal Processes in Group Facilitation

  • issue analysis
  • affinity diagram
  • problem analysis: stairstep method
  • planning change projects: the change grid
  • action research

  Targeted Processes in Group Facilitation

  • needs analysis
  • feasibility analysis
  • team capability profile
  • summary of universal and targeted processes

  Facilitating Meetings

  • components of an effective meeting
  • checklist for effective meetings
  • 20 ideas for getting more from meetings

   

• Increasing Impact & Effectiveness through Multi-Stakeholder Collaborations

  Download the PDF

  “The world has become too complex and interdependent for any one institution or sector to effectively respond to today’s wider challenges and opportunities.”
  James Wolfensohn, ex-World Bank
  
  No one sector on its own has the mandate or resources to tackle some of the most difficult societal issues

  Objective
  The Partnering Initiative (TPI), a global program of the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), a not-for-profit organisation, in association with EEM Sustainable Management and the Intersol Group, will be offering a 1-day course on facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations.
  
  Collaborations can create powerful frameworks for increasing program or project impact, scale, and sustainability, while also serving as a means to facilitate innovation, leverage additional resources, and develop appropriate solutions to address challenges.
  
  Fundamental to establishing and nurturing successful collaborations is a well-developed case supported by a critical
  set of collaboration and partnering skills and competencies.
  
  Who is it for?
  This workshop is aimed at directors, senior managers, and program officers directly involved or with an active interest in multi-stakeholder or cross-sector collaborations. It is open to people from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

  Specific goals
  By the end of this course, you will:

  • Be familiar with what constitutes a multi-stakeholder collaboration, and learn about its various forms and applicability to your sector;
  • Understand the value of collaborations and how to build the case within your organisation;
  • Be equipped with strategies to make your organisations more effective at collaboration;
  • Understand what constitutes good collaborative behaviour;
  • Understand the 'Collaboration Cycle' - a lifecycle framework for the development and management of collaborations and partnerships;
  • Appreciate the roles and skill-sets of individuals facilitating collaborations;
  • Be provided access to guidance and resources to support your collaboration journey.

  Who is running the workshop?
  The workshop will be presented by Christian Matossian and Marc Valois. Christian Matossian, VP Social Performance & Communities at EEM Sustainable Management, is an accredited Partnership Broker under the Partnership Brokers Accreditation Scheme (PBAS) and has extensive experience brokering multi-sector collaborations in Canada and internationally. Marc Valois, past Chairman of the Intersol Group, is also trained as a partnership broker through PBAS and is a certified facilitator with extensive experience developing collaborative frameworks between all levels of government, NGOs, and the private sector. Much of the material will be based on the pioneering collaboration and partnering tools and courses developed by the International Business Leaders' Forum and that are in extensive use all over the world.

  When and where will it take place?
  October 12th, 2011
  8:30 - 16:30
  Intersol Group Offices
  205 Catherine Street, Suite 300
  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  Costs
  $695 CDN + taxes
  This cost includes the 1-day training, all course materials as well as breakfast (starting at 8:00), lunch, coffee & refreshments during the breaks. Volume discounts available for groups from one organization.

  Registration
  Online at : http://eem.ca/en/training/
  Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.

  Contact information
  Christian Matossian,EEM
  e christian@eem.ca
  t (514) 481-3401 x 224
  w www.eem.ca

  Marc Valois, Intersol
  e mvalois@intersol.ca
  t (613) 230-6424 x 241
  w www.intersol.ca
   

• Project Management

  3 day Workshop -- Price: $1,350  taxes extra

  To Register or for more information please Contact us

  Strategic Objective

  Project Management provides participants with the knowledge, skills and tools to effectively manage a project throughout its life cycle. This workshop leverages Intersol’s extensive work and experience in both private and public sector.

  Learning Objectives

  Participation in this workshop will enable you to...

  • demonstrate the use of the various skills and processes contained in the five project steps of Initiation, Definition, Planning, Implementation and Closure;
  • develop a comprehensive, viable plan and keep all integral players updated;
  • work effectively in a team format using a process approach;
  • apply project management techniques to their own project.

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  Overview

  Projects have long been an integral part of the process by which organizations translate Strategy into Action. This workshop is designed to present knowledge, processes and tools related to project management – in a government context. It provides an opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to a variety of practice sessions and is feedback driven. A collaborative assessment enables participants to establish how and when to apply the skills to real job situations.

  Recognize the scope of the strategic project process within your organization. As a skilled project manager, you will be able to build proficient teams that are budget-conscious, schedule-oriented and quality-driven. Learn how to identify stakeholders and define roles to achieve consensus and results. Secure formal and ongoing support from management and stakeholders. Develop a comprehensive, viable plan. Master the processes and procedures necessary for project success, keeping all integral players updated. Lead by inspiring—and optimize your project.

  Topics include, but are not limited to…

  Introduction

  • objective, approach and fundamental principles
  • organizational context for project management
  • linkages to overall management
  • time/effort grid
  • the project management process/toolbox

  Project Initiation – Process Tools

  • analyzing the proposed project as an issue, need, problem, or opportunity
  • performing research
  • preparing the concept brief

  Project Definition- Process Tools

  • selecting the project leader
  • selecting the project team
  • setting up evaluation parameters
  • analyzing feasibility
  • cost/Benefit analysis
  • analyzing the project environment
  • analyzing the target user and impact
  • estimating preliminary costs
  • describing the project

  Project Planning – Process Tools

  • establishing the task plan – contingency planning
  • choosing controls
  • identifying roles
  • estimating resources
  • costing the project in detail
  • setting the communications plan
  • displaying the project plan
  • specifying and scooping in detail

  Project Implementation – Process Tools

  • managing meetings – the project meeting system
  • managing project status
  • testing output

  Project Closure – Process Tools

  • measuring and reporting on results
  • reporting on evaluation
  • assessing and disbanding the team
  • sending information to data base

  Additional Tips & Tools in Project Management

  • establishing team mission and values
  • interpersonal problem solving
  • the project team life cycle
  • managing barriers to project team effectiveness
• Virtual Collaboration for Teams

  1 day + 6 hours over a week - Introductory Offer $995 per participant
   

  Strategic Objective:

  Virtual Collaboration for Teams equips managers, team leaders, and professionals with the skills, knowledge and tools to function effectively in a virtual team.

  People are increasingly working together from disparate locations. Collaborating together is a requirement, yet more challenging across distance, different time zones and cultures. In order to function effectively it is necessary to develop effective processes and team norms that support team collaboration.

  Learning Objectives:

  Participation in this workshop will enable you to:

  • Develop processes that set the foundation for functional virtual teams
  • Set cultural norms that enable effective group collaboration across time and location
  • Communicate effectively with colleagues in a manner that builds trust
  • Employ wikis, social media tools and web‐based group process tools appropriately
  • Avoid the pitfalls of using web‐based collaborative tools

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  Overview:

  How can you get the results you need, in the time that you need it, with your dispersed team?

  Today people are being required to work together across distance, time zones and cultures. More and more powerful technologies are becoming available to help us out. Yet technology is not the panacea it is thought to be, as managers and team leaders of dispersed teams quickly come to realize. People often struggle to work together and produce results without the benefit of face to face interaction.

  Virtual Collaboration for Teams is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and tools you need to work effectively with others in an online environment. Participants will learn the three essential principles of online collaboration and experience tools and processes that support an effective virtual work environment. A rule of thumb for understanding the secret to effective online collaboration is that success is based 90% on effective people processes and 10% on enabling technologies.

  This blended learning program models the principles of working in a virtual environment. It consists of one initial day of classroom learning followed by 6 hours of asynchronous online collaboration over the course of a week. The training program is action learning oriented, experiential and employs the principles of effective online collaboration.

  For intact teams: a version of this workshop is available, tailored to the needs of your team.

  Topics include, but are not limited to …

  A Paradigm Shift in the New World of Work

  • Attending to what’s important now
  • Managing the intangibles

   

  Establishing Context

  • Managing across time, distance and culture
  • Leveraging diversity
  • Navigating ambiguity and isolation

   

  Creating Cohesion

  • Effective cultural norms and how to make them stick
  • Motivation and reward
  • Building trust
  • Overcoming conflict

   

  Ascertaining Coordination

  • Elements of the effective e‐meeting
  • The virtual team map
  • Building your e‐toolkit

   

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