Organizational Learning Associates

Transcription

1 At OLA, our goal is to build the capacity of your team and your organization to be more effective and more successful. We provide thoughtful, smart, and practical solutions to your management challenges, enhancing your staff s performance and your effectiveness as a leader. We believe there are many ways to achieve your goals, and we help you identify the best path for you. Our approach is collaborative and interactive. We listen to your concerns, work through possible solutions, and are partners in your success. As a woman and minority-owned firm, we bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and skills to your organization. Our experienced organization development professionals with backgrounds in management, business, and education provide the highest quality advice and support for meeting your management challenges and moving your organization forward. Whether we are working with you to help you manage change, develop a strategic plan, develop your leadership pipeline, improve team performance, or design an employee training program, we: Build strong relationships with your team from the outset so that they are invested in the process and open to change; Thoughtfully analyze your organization s strengths and problem areas and develop an action plan that addresses your challenges and actively engages your staff in implementing solutions; Give you and your team practical approaches and new skills that you can immediately put into action. Our Services Leadership Development Training Executive and Team Coaching Assessments and Diagnostics Teambuilding Facilitation Strategic Planning

2 Who We Are Iris Ioffreda, M.A., ACC Iris Ioffreda focuses on leadership development, executive coaching, building high performance teams, facilitation, and strategic planning. She works with senior leaders on creating organizational vision and alignment, cultivating emotional intelligence, developing inclusive work environments, ensuring good communication, and improving leadership effectiveness. Iris has over twenty years of management experience in corporate, non-profit, government and educational settings. Her business experience ranges from managing a small company focused on health care needs in developing countries, to sales and marketing at IBM. She has extensive experience in adult learning, gained through her work directing conference and training programs for George Mason University s Center for Health Policy, Research, and Ethics and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, a national association. Iris is an ICF certified executive coach, has a post-graduate certificate in Organization Development and Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Iris is fluent in Spanish and has lived and worked extensively overseas. Celeste Garcia, M.P.P Celeste Garcia brings over 20 years of experience as a management consultant helping organizations achieve the strategic, process, organizational, and cultural changes needed to realize their missions. She has supported federal, municipal, and state government agencies and nonprofit and private sector organizations. She spent ten years in PricewaterhouseCoopers government practice leading change, reengineering, and organizational assessment projects at various agencies, such as Commerce, HUD, VA, and the HFA. She has facilitated the development of performance measures for HHS, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission s diversity and inclusion initiative, and the acquisition process at the Department of Commerce. Celeste also designs and delivers training to build skills in communication, team effectiveness, and diversity. Celeste earned a B. A. from Harvard College and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard s Kennedy School of Government. Daphne Miller, PCC Daphne Miller, PCC, is a seasoned executive coach and consultant with expertise in leadership development, team building, training and developing strong cross disciplinary partnerships. She brings over twenty years experience in sales, marketing and leadership positions. From her experience at Ritz Carlton and Kinko s, she understands of the impact of change and transition in the workplace with groups, teams and individuals. She is skilled at identifying core issues and partnering with her clients to create new practices that pave the way to developing new habits and changes in behavior that are sustainable over the long term. Daphne has worked at all levels within the federal and private sectors. She has a high

3 level security clearance and has worked extensively within the intelligence community. Daphne has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of the Newfield Network. She is an ICF certified coach at the PCC level. Ken Ewan, ACC Ken Ewan is an executive coach and facilitator. He brings to coaching and consulting 40+ years of experience in the chemical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical fields. Ken has held senior level positions at MedImmune, Amgen, Skanska USA Building, GlaxoSmithKline and Dupont in engineering and project management. Ken enjoys working with technical and creative professionals and leaders. He works with leaders to explore new ways to view situations, individuals, possibilities, and to develop new approaches, plans, strategies and actions. Ken believes in the power of coaching to be transformational for leaders, leading to unforeseen possibilities, and higher levels of achievement and growth, both professionally and personally. Ken is a graduate of Clemson University in South Carolina and Drexel University in Philadelphia in Architecture and has a post-graduate certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. Carol Cadby, M.A. Carol Cadby is a leadership coach specializing in voice, speech and leadership presence. She helps leaders find their voice, overcome stage fright in front of large group and develop a personal presentation style. Carol also works with leaders to develop leadership presence and charisma through body awareness, movement and voice quality. An additional area of expertise is using storytelling and narrative for higher impact communication. Carol brings her training as a professional actor and acting teacher to coaching. She has taught acting and theatre for more than 25 years at the college and high school level. She currently teaches at George Mason University, Signature Theatre, Synetic Theatre and Arlington Public Schools. She also lectures, coaches, and directs across the country. Carol was a professional stage and film actor for ten years based in Miami, Florida and is trained in various acting techniques including Laban Movement and Meisner Acting Techniques. Carol has received numerous directing and teaching awards and she is an Arts Commissioner for Arlington County. Carol has a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College and a Master s Degree in Self-development through Arts Education from George Mason University. She is fluent in Spanish.

4 Our Clients Private Sector American Systems Barclays Capital Bonaventure Realty DRS Defense Systems Grant Thorton LLC Roche Diagnostics Corporation The Timken Company Non-Government Organizations Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers American Bar Association American Institute of Architects American Petroleum Institute American Red Cross Arlington Community Foundation Association of Women s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Campaign for Mental Health Reform Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Institute for International Education, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Meals on Wheels Association of America National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Democratic Institute Paralyzed Veterans of America Solar Energy Industries Association Year Up State & Local Government/Universities Arlington County Government Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire Montgomery County, Maryland Government Takoma Park, Maryland City Government Vermont Department of Transportation Women s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program, Georgetown Law Center Federal Government Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Judicial Center (FJC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) U.S. Dept. of Education U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Dept. of Transportation

5 What We Do Leadership Development Leaders need more than management training to be successful they need vision, judgment, and the ability to skillfully navigate a changing business environment. Our customized leadership programs enhance leaders selfawareness, self-management, and leadership presence as well developing leaders competence in influencing skills, communication, creating and articulating a vision, strategic thinking, managing change and effective decision making. After completing our program, leaders have the skills and focus to excel at moving organizations forward. Our focus is primarily on working on leaders strengths while still managing any fatal flaws. Our leadership development programs use a combination of 360 assessments, personality and communications assessments, cohort programs, and personalized coaching to allow for individual growth. Our leadership development programs are especially helpful in addressing the needs of women and minority leaders, as well as emerging and high potential leaders. Our approach focuses on the special leadership development needs of these groups including cultivating awareness and presence, developing organizational savvy, and building support networks. Coaching Individual Coaching Executive coaching is a very effective tool in developing leaders. Coaching allows leaders to think about their leadership and behavioral style, and to reflect on how their underlying assumptions about people, their organization, and change may contribute to their success as a leader. In addition, coaching uses powerful questions that allow clients to learn about themselves, their attitudes and behavior, and the impact they have on others. Because coaching is undertaken within a relationship built on trust and confidentiality, leaders can take risks that allow for meaningful personal change and growth. OLA coaches are ICF certified, and use observation, interviews with colleagues, 360 assessments and other assessment tools as a starting point for the coaching process. Team Coaching Working in teams poses unique challenges, from defining group priorities and making decisions to resolving conflicts. We work with teams to improve communication and collaboration and increase productivity and performance. We assist teams in various developmental stages during startup, when the team is moving through transition or a change in leadership, or when it needs to revitalize and find a new direction. We help teams learn to manage conflict constructively. Constructive conflict allows a team to surface different points of view. But excessive conflict between individuals or within a team can destroy productivity and teamwork and lower morale. This type of conflict requires intervention to diffuse hostility

6 and to create new positive norms for working together. Our approach therefore involves working with individual team members and the entire team as well as with management to build trust, learn new behaviors, and address systemic or structural issues that exacerbate the situation. We coach teams using a variety of techniques including process consultation, and Action Learning, an approach that enhances problem solving and group learning, and creates accountability among team members. Assessments and Diagnostic Tools Individual We often find it useful to use various diagnostic tools and assessments. Assessments are useful as benchmarks to measure organizational and individual growth, and they are excellent tools to develop high performing teams. Our consultants are qualified to administer and train on the following assessments which are delivered through a web-based application. Center for Creative Leadership Benchmarks 360 Assessment Suite Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) Strengths Deployment Indicator (SDI) Thomas Kilman Inventory (TKI) Insight Inventory DiSC FIRO-B Talent Smart Emotional Intelligence Appraisal Campbell Leadership Index LH-STEP Testing and Evaluation for Potential Team assessments We use a variety of team assessments, such as The Table Group s Team Assessment which evaluates the team against five dysfunctions, as well as team profiles using the Myers Briggs Type Inventory. These assessments can pinpoint specific areas of strengths and challenges for a team, bringing new awareness to our work with teams. Organizational and Cultural Assessments An organizational assessment provides an overall picture of the organization s strengths and improvement needs, providing data on leadership, employee satisfaction, processes, workflows, and organizational structure. Data is gathered through surveys, focus groups, individual interviews, or a combination of these techniques. Organizational assessments include: change readiness assessments as preparation to undertaking a major change initiative culture assessments, including the OCAI (Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument) employee engagement surveys Facilitation Professional facilitation can make all the difference between a successful meeting that moves your agenda forward and one that falls flat or is quickly

7 forgotten. For high stakes meetings such as retreats, strategic planning sessions, and meetings to grapple with contentious issues or difficult conversations, a facilitator can create an atmosphere of openness and trust, help clarify issues, and lead a group to consensus. As a neutral party, we keep a group focused, manage personalities, encourage participation and honesty, and ensure that participants leave a meeting with clear outcomes and a positive outlook. We provide facilitation for executive team retreats, management and staff offsites, external stakeholder meetings and conferences. We ensure that your meetings and retreats are efficient and effective by thoughtfully designing them to meet your goals. Our design process begins with interviews of the participants and discussions with you to clarify what you hope to accomplish. You and your staff will return to the office with new skills, improved focus on organizational objectives, and renewed energy to reach your goals. We have designed and facilitated meetings for groups of all sizes, from 10 to 500 participants, including public comment and multi-stakeholder meetings, and we use a variety of techniques such as World Café, Open Space, Future Search. We also use collaborative technology tools which allow for instant feedback in large group meetings, or with multiple sites, as well as for virtual teams, virtual meetings and webinars. Teambuilding We believe that teambuilding is an essential aspect of developing an effective team. Our approach to teambuilding is not on the feel good aspects, but on strengthening a team s performance. Our objectives for participants during teambuilding activities include: Learning each other s work styles, personality, and strengths Learning how to work with the different members of the team and valuing the diversity that comes with a team approach Improving interpersonal communication skills Learning to manage, not bury, conflict within the team Become aware of team norms and culture, and address any that are limiting the team s effectiveness Improve team problem solving and decision-making skills Develop trust within a team We use teambuilding simulations, activities and exercises in much targeted fashion. We believe the insights gained in the debriefing of these activities are the most valuable part of the exercise. We strive to make our teambuilding activities creative, fun and memorable. Strategic Planning Successful strategic planning processes must be customized to the organization. Small, non-profits often need a short, cost effective, streamlined approach, while other organizations may use the strategic planning process as a catalyst for long-term change. We begin the strategic planning process by thoroughly assessing your organization and building a

8 collaborative spirit among your team members. Then we assist you in creating a plan that maximizes your organization s mission and strengths and is realistic and results-oriented. Finally, we engage your team in putting your strategic plan to work and taking responsibility for its successful implementation. Training We develop and deliver experientially-based training programs, emphasizing skills that can be easily applied in the workplace. We create highly interactive training environments, and we tailor both informational content and interactive exercises to the particulars of your workplace. We work with participants to identify ways they can continue to develop their skills after the training is concluded, such as creating a development plan, forming support groups, beginning a mentoring relationship, or supplementing their learning with readings we recommend. Our training programs are customized to meet client needs. They include: Diversity Leading and Working on Teams Staff Supervision Managing Difficult People Program Planning & Management Conflict Management Problem Solving & Decision Making Interpersonal Communication Skills Conducting Effective Meetings Time Management Emotional Intelligence Presentation Skills Creating an Accountable Organization Building and Maintaining Trust in Organizations

9 Contact Us 633 S. Buchanan Street, Arlington, VA What Our Clients Say About OLA Iris shepherded us safely through a challenging strategic planning process and won praise from all quarters for her wonderful combination of strength, clarity, equanimity, humor and grace. We gave her a big round of applause when it was all over." " Lynn Borton " Chief Operating Officer " National Alliance on Mental Illness OLA developed a leadership program specifically for our post-graduate fellows. The program gives our fellows the chance to reflect on their own leadership styles and to meaningfully assess how those leadership styles enhance or impede their problemsolving abilities. It also gives them the tools to continue this self-assessment throughout their careers. Without exception, the feedback we have gotten on the program has been excellent. In fact, one of our current fellows raved about the training, saying it was the high point of her fellowship year." Johanna Bond, J.D. Executive Director, Women s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program Georgetown University Law Center Ms. Ioffreda is a captivating speaker and presenter, but more importantly she is an "elegant" listener. Iris has worked productively with many managers and executives in the federal judiciary and has been highly successful in introducing them to the concept of emotional intelligence and showing them how improving this kind of intelligence can lead to greater success in the workplace. She has been an invaluable asset to our training programs. Michael Eric Siegel, Ph.D. Senior Education Specialist The Federal Judicial Center

10 What Clients Say About Our Retreats and Meetings The organization and structure were phenomenal. Discussions were held in a timely manner. Excellent! Outstanding! The workshop directed us towards concrete goals and allowed us opportunities to dig deep into particular subjects of interest. Things kept moving without any sense of stress. You got serious insights out of us amidst lots of laughter. Bravo! The warm-up activities were very helpful in getting us talking and sharing, and were constructive in their own right. I felt very comfortable sharing my ideas. Fun and useful, only I wish we had had more time! You guys were terrific! Congratulations on doing an excellent job with a difficult task! Thank you very much - this was enlightening and most rewarding. We had great fun and learned so much about ourselves as leaders and our peers. Great participatory approach. It provided the necessary tools to assess ourselves. The meeting was 100% perfect. Great facilitators intelligent, attentive to substance of meeting What Clients Say About Our Training Workshops Just want to thank you again for a really successful and stimulating workshop. You were fabulous: relaxed, engaging, responsive and thought provoking. Very well done. One of the best, if not the best one of these exercises I ve done over these many years. A lot of fun for all involved. Very interactive. Learned so much. Very fast-pace, fun, humorous. Time well spent. I loved how much we participated throughout. I loved your style very professional. We got to know you through your wonderful personal stories and examples, but you didn t make any personal judgments about our stories. Vividly illustrated points. Great rapport with one another and with the group.