1. The Birch Group, LLC
Training and Seminars
The Birch Group offers numerous training sessions and seminars to help you improve your
business, by helping tap the inherent potential of each employee. All of our seminars are tailored
to meet the specific needs of your organization.
Strategic Planning Using the SMP Process 3-4 Days
This seminar provides the necessary framework for developing and managing a comprehensive
strategic business plan in a team setting. Key topics include mission development, identification
of major strategies, prioritization of objectives and the development of specific actions. Emphasis
will include testing business assumptions, the decision making process, focusing resources and
using the strategic plan document as an internal communication vehicle. Lectures, workbook,
videos, team activities and case studies are used to enhance the learning experience. The
outcome of this program is a management team able to understand and successfully use this
process to develop and implement comprehensive and effective strategic/business plans.
We tailor this program to meet the specific needs of each client.
Course Outline
I. Introductions/Brief Overview
II. Teamwork and Leadership {If Requested By Client}
III. Process
A. Mission Identification
B. Identifying And Developing Critical Success Factors
C. Developing Fundamental Components
D. Environmental Analysis
E. Establishing Strategic Direction
F. Identifying Shortfalls Or Gaps That Need Resolution In Order To Meet Mission And
Direction
G. Setting Objectives
H. Establishing Specific Action Steps/Performance Measurements
I. Monitoring Performance
Harvard Business School case studies are used to ensure that participants become more adept
at strategizing.
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2. Developing High Performance Teams 2 Days
While team members should be working work towards a common goal, individual personalities
and operating styles become a factor in effectiveness and productivity of the team. Each member
of the team must understand those differences to ensure harmony and a high level of
productivity. Having you and your team members develop a better understanding of each other
will enable you to become a more effective manager/team leader. As organizations now rely more
heavily on teams to innovate, problem solve and produce in a change-driven environment, clearly
capitalizing on individual approaches and styles is key to successful creatively and participation
on highly effective teams. The Innovate with D.I.S.C. Profiles© will be administered and
discussed in detail to allow participants to discover and capitalize on individual strengths and
better understand other team members. Participants will learn the necessary guidelines and
approaches for leading in a team environment, as well as various styles or leadership and the
environments and situations where each style is most effective.
This program also concentrates on those non-behavioral factors, which can help to ensure
maximum Team performance. Teamwork discussions focus on:
• The need for successful teams in today's global economy
• Types of teams and when each is appropriate for the task
• Ground rules for Teamwork participation
• Successful Teamwork ingredients
• Trust and communication
• Levels of empowerment
• Leadership styles for the 21st Century
• Old school vs. new school comparisons
• Reasons why teams fail
• Management's role in ensuring success
• Mentoring teams
• New organization concepts
Participating on High Performance Teams 2 Days
While team members should be working towards a common goal, individual personalities and
operating styles become a factor in your effectiveness and productivity. When each of your team
members understands their own behavioral style and those of their fellow team members, your
team will be able to reach their full potential. As organizations now rely more heavily on teams to
innovate, problem-solve and produce in a change-driven environment, clearly capitalizing on
individual approaches and styles is key to successful creativity and participation on highly
effective teams. The Innovate with D.I.S.C.© Profiles are used to allow participants to discover
and capitalize on individual strengths and better understand others for total team performance.
This program also concentrates on those non-behavioral factors, which can help ensure team
participation and effectiveness. Teamwork discussions focus on:
• Types of teams and when each is appropriate for the task ·
• Understanding the team's mission
• Ground rules for Teamwork participation
• Successful Teamwork ingredients
• Trust and communication
• Levels of empowerment
• Reasons why teams fail
• New organization concepts
D.I.S.C.© Profiles, workbooks and group exercises are used to facilitate the learning process.
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3. Power Negotiations 1 Day
The ability to successfully negotiate with customers, employees and vendors is a key factor in
sustaining the success of your organization. Successful negotiators spend a considerable amount
of time constantly fine-tuning their skills. This program is designed to provide you with the tools to
identify, use and readily adapt to various negotiating styles in order to achieve win/win results.
Topics include:
• Definitions / Traits / Basic Ingredients
• Approaches to Negotiating
• Negotiating as a Range of Dilemmas
• Ways in which people Deal (Cooperation, Negotiating, Fighting)
• The Four Processes
• Influencing the Balance of Power
• Manipulation, Intended Efforts and Counteractions
• Competitive Negotiator vs. Problem Solver
• Tactics and Ethics of Persuasion
• 25 ways to make anyone see it your way
• Planning for the Negotiation (Workbook Provided)
Project Planning & Management Seminar 2-3 Days
Today, an increasing number of organizations are focusing on project management as an
effective way to address a variety of issues. This seminar provides an introduction to the
concepts of the Strategic Planning Process and a practical approach to working in a team
environment for developing comprehensive project management plans, key to ensuring
successful implementation. Participants will learn through lecture, video presentations, manuals,
case study and working in team settings. The outcome of this program is a staff/team that is able
to use this process to develop comprehensive project plans and implement successfully. The
manual developed for this program includes step-by-step instructions and worksheets to assist
them on the job.
Major topics for discussion include:
• Overview of The Strategic Management Process
• Introduction to Teamwork
• Mission
• What needs to go right
• Where you are currently
• Identifying factors that will affect the outcome of the project
• Developing Strategy
• How will issues be addressed
• Establishing accountability and timeframes
• Monitoring and managing the process
Particular focus will be towards issues identification and analysis, including internal and external
factors, as well as developing comprehensive implementation plans. This seminar also addresses
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4. the importance of using the project plan document as a common communications vehicle
throughout the organization as well as for managing upward and downward.
Managing for Success 1 Day
Ineffective communication seriously hinders an organization's ability to reach its full potential.
Understanding your own behavioral style and the styles of those you interact with, is an important
criteria for effective communications with supervisors, peers, staff, customers and vendors. This
program uses the DISC© model and the Personal Insights, Attitudes and Values Profile© to help
participants become more effective managers, supervisors, team leaders and team members.
Previous participants have attested that this program has enriched all facets of their lives.
Supervisory Skills Workshop Dependent Upon Client’s Needs
In today's business environment, increased productivity is an important factor in the success of
any organization. Effective management and leadership skills are a key to ensuring a productive
work force. We tailor our program to meet the specific needs of the client. The results of this
program ensure that your managers, supervisors, team leaders and lead technicians learn and
adopt those steps which will help make your organization more productive and efficient. Our
program is based on Vital Learning Supervision Series© and consists of lectures, video
presentations, pre-assignments and group activities. In addition to prework assignments, the
workbooks contain planning formats for message design and guidelines to address specific
issues relating to the topic. Some of the topics covered include:
 Fundamentals of Management (1 Day)
 Reducing Stress in the Workplace (1 Day)
 Fundamentals of Communication (1 Day)
 Coaching (½ Day)
 Positive Discipline (½ Day)
 Effective Delegation (½ Day)
 Dealing with Conflict (½ Day)
 Preparing for Change (½ Day)
 Improving Employee Work Habits (½ Day)
 Dealing with Complaints (½ Day)
 Performance Assessments (½ Day)
 Assigning Tasks Effectively (½ Day)
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