Skills to Remain Competitive
Experience can help employees learn essential skills but formal training can supplement and develop these skills so they’re learned more quickly and more thoroughly.
CCTC offers many courses on essential skills. Here are some examples, along with selected course descriptions:
Business Writing for ResultsThis one-day course provides the nonprofessional writer with valuable handouts, tools, outline templates and strategies that speed up the writing process. In a workshop environment, you will focus on how to compose your key messages so that your audience understands what you need them to do and so you get the results you intend. The class will refer to actual business documents while participating in large and small group discussion. You will:
- Learn how to create word bullets so that they are not only able to be scanned, but are also effective in prompting action from the reader.
- Brainstorm ideas and “front-load” your writing process so that you produce documents more quickly.
- Apply a document structure that makes your message more easily understood and puts the action items upfront so they are acted upon by the reader.
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) gives leaders the tools needed to navigate the harsh realities of speaking to the public, media and any stakeholders during an intense public safety emergency, including the aftermath of acts of terrorism. CERC provides an introduction to the basics and is designed to help those with the responsibilities of managing the tasks of planning and implementing crisis and emergency risk communication. This course has been designed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to serve those who perform crisis and risk communication and media relations in the event of an emergency.
The topics covered in this course – leading, mentoring and coaching – will help you build and flex your leadership muscles. The class will use group and self-led workshops that emphasize the importance of strong leadership and coaching skills. This course will help you develop your own leadership style; lead with communication, encouragement and promotion; recognize the ten telltale behaviors of true leaders; earn greater respect, success and recognition; establish your own leadership potential; and better understand coaching and mentoring. You will also learn how to be flexible and adaptive without compromising your principles; how to appreciate leadership as an ongoing process and prepare to assume the role of leader; what vision is and how to develop it; how to create winning teams and keep them following your lead; and how to utilize better planning and decision-making approaches.
Enron. Worldcom. Bernie Madoff. In the wake of such scandals, organizations have turned to forensic accounting to help them avoid similar fates. Your instructor, a local author, educator and forensic accounting expert, will introduce students to this ever more important field and share some of the methods used to prevent or uncover financial abuses. The instructor will draw upon his more than two decades of experience and share accounts of actual cases so students can connect theory to practice. This course is an eye opener and can be a life saver for anyone who handles finances.
It’s a no-brainer to say that communication is an essential ingredient for an organization to be successful. But, all too often, people make assumptions that communication has taken place and are surprised when tasks are not accomplished. This seminar will address some of the key components to effective communication, including defining the message, language, listening, assumptions, feedback and non-verbal communication skills. Participants will develop an action plan that will identify some steps to take back to work with them.
This course will provide training to new supervisors and current supervisors looking to refresh their knowledge and hone their skills. The goal of this program is to provide valuable strategies, insights and tools on these essential topics: transition to supervision; communication; leadership; motivation; and team building. The class includes segments on ethical behavior, conflict resolution, and best practices of performance management. This training is designed for those organizations that do not have their own supervisory training program or as a complement to that training.
Enhance your management skills and improve your chances for advancement. This program is designed specifically around ways to meet the challenges that middle managers face. In their position, middle managers must balance the sometimes unrealistic expectations of executives with the very real challenges encountered on the front line and within the ranks. This eminently practical course will help you develop new skills that will help you discern the best path for high achievement as an individual and for motivating others to do the same. The course covers managerial communication; leadership and coaching; motivation and ethics; team-building; and managing a diverse workplace.
Do you make presentations to your boss, your colleagues, your customers, or others? Do you have difficulty getting up in front of a group? Do your PowerPoint slides lack pizzazz? Does your audience seem bored? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this workshop is for you. You will learn some basic techniques for making your presentations more interesting and exciting and how to be more comfortable in front of a group. Some of the topics that will be covered include hints for a successful presentation; key aspects of a dynamic presentation; elements of an effective speech; overcoming speaking anxiety; developing effective PowerPoint slides; tips for communicating in stressful situations; handling hostile questions; effectively leading discussions; tips for being memorable; and more.