Learning deepens when we're involved!

I love leading interactive training!  This is from the Communication Skills to Build Strong Teams workshop at the Sandwich Chamber this week.

Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

I love doing interactive presentations

I seldom get photos of myself in action so I'm grateful to Margaret Krafft who took photos during my presentation for the NACM (National Association of Credit Management) conference.  My topic-- "How to Deliver a Difficult Message."  Great group.  Fun day! I love interactive #presentations! 

© 2018 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Inspiring Appreciative Inquiry session at Elgin Community College

Spent the morning using Appreciative Inquiry to explore successful collaboration with staff at Elgin Community College.  We were so inspired that we went 30 minutes over time before anyone noticed!  

We finished by envisioning what the campus might feel or look like if we could build on our existing strengths of collaborating well.

© 2018 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Philanthropic team building events with The Leaders Institute

These Build A Bike events last 90-120 minutes and are perfect for large or small groups. Each team builds a bike.  

They are a perfect way to create team cohesion, to build, morale, explore communication topics, or kick off an administrative meeting.

 --The event starts with a fun icebreaker.

--Teams then create flags, names and a cheer to perform. (Super fun!)
--Teams compete to answer puzzles and get bicycle parts to build their bike.
--Teams discover that they must share knowledge/parts to make their bikes.
--Charity comes to accept the bikes.

Prices are subject to change and come through my affiliation with The Leaders Institute. They include their fee, all art supplies, and the bicycles.

$175 for every team of 5-7 attendees +$900 base fee. Ideal minimum number for event is 20 people.  Maximum can be 300 people. 

Your brain on stories

The human brain craves and is hard-wired for stories.  According to researchers Prentice and Gerrig, our brains are built to process information from stories.  This explains why simply listing facts is less effective than telling an illustrative story.  According to Professor Uri Hasson, from Princeton, a story is the only way to activate parts in the brain so that a listener turns the story into their own idea and experience.   

Researchers have found that when listening to a powerpoint, only the language centers of the brain light up.  When listening to a story, all the sensory areas of the brain also light up.  Telling a story is like hacking into someone's brain.  It is the most effective way to inspire, motivate, and persuade. 


© 2018 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Wearing our emotional intelligence....

Today I procrastinated on my film project by imagining emotional intelligence insights in clothing.  I'm not sure anyone would wear this t-shirt but it was fun to create and I like the reminder. 

 © 2018 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Thinking is hard!

A great article here on the biases we have that get us into trouble .  Watching out for cognitive biases is a great habit to cultivate in 2018.

Victor Frankl quote for a New Year

“Between the stimulus and response, there is a space and in that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.”

(1962).

Are your leaders inspiring trust?

A new workshop for Spring!  I'm inspired.  Leaving off the name of the client.  Can you imagine your team taking some time together to explore how to increase trust -- and performance?   

 

Building Trust to Enhance Excellence at ____

In decades of research across all industries, the presence or absence of trust in an organization is the most important ingredient in an organization’s performance.  

High trust organizations collaborate more effectively, operate faster, and achieve sustainable results.

The number one job of any leader is to inspire trust. Trust releases the creativity and capacities of individuals to do their best work. The great news is that trust can be repaired and high trust cultures can be created and sustained. 

In this 3 part series participants will:

·        Examine two dimensions of trust within the culture of ____

·        Explore the costs of low trust and the benefits of high trust cultures.

·        Use assessments to explore trust within departments and self.

·        Explore strengths and areas for growth in inspiring trust.

·        Learn basic strategies in Emotional Intelligence (EI).

·        Use EI skills to increase congruence and trust at work.

·        Use a matrix tool to mitigate risks when trusting others.

·        Learn and practice behaviors to increase and restore trust.

·        Practice telling stories to communicate positive intent and build a trusting culture.

·        Analyze organizational structures that build or decrease trust.

© 2017 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Great video by a master in teaching about Trust

Oldie but a goodie

This article is dated but the research is not. Understanding our purpose at work, connecting to others and the meaning of our tasks enlivens engagement, productivity, and morale at work.
Check out the article here.

Six seconds EQ store is selling our card deck. Yea!

https://products.6seconds.org/product/improving-communication-at-work-card-deck/

© 2009 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Our self-awareness improves our own health and the health of our groups.

Powerpoint slides for Managing Change workshop

Powerpoint slides for Managing Change workshop© 2017Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Emotions can guide us through conflicting and complex situations

What I love about EI is recognizing that emotions offer us an intelligence.  As my hubby and I look for a new house I've had lots of emotions.  Yesterday we almost made an offer on a house but I began to have this nagging feeling.  The feeling nagged me until I slowed down and examined what/who was pushing me to buy that house.  It wasn't the right house for us.  Yay for emotions!

© 2017 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved

Why is competition so much more compelling than cooperation?

Why is it that competition can feel more fun than cooperation? When I lead team building events, no matter the group -- teams always get more excited when they get to compete against other teams. Some really struggle when I try to coax them (or trick them!) to cooperate in an activity.

I know that Dr. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's research confirms that boredom is painful and the "flow state" comes from meeting challenges and growing from them. Is this the reason?

Today I wondered: could we change the nature of challenge and competition in our culture? What if our measure of success had less to do with $$ and more to do with how well we serve each other?

Coming soon! Emotional Intelligence study cards.

Why cards? 

Since the subject of emotional intelligence is vast, using a single card can help us focus on one idea each week. The cards are brief, so their lessons can easily fit into our day. Physically handling the cards can make learning more tactile and embodied. And finally, cards suggest play. Exploring our inner world can be challenging, but doing so with a sense of playfulness will not only make the journey more fun but also more enduring. 

More information coming soon!
© 2017 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved