Personal Skills for Professional Excellence

What is this course about?

This course is about how to be effective both as an individual and in your working relationships. The course does not present a one-size-fits-all model of effectiveness. Rather, it provides opportunities to identify how you can make the best use of your talents and aptitudes and minimize the impact of the areas in which you are weaker.

All managers face stress, often caused by difficult relationships. All managers have to process and present information. All managers have to manage their time effectively. This course gives you the skills you need to deal with the practical problems that all managers face every day.

Why are personal performance skills important?

When surveyed, subordinates repeatedly value "being well-organized" as an important quality in their managers. This course helps you develop your own methods for keeping on top of your job, which then gives you time for helping your staff keep on top of their jobs, too.

In today's flexibly managed organizations, people are being given more responsibility and are able to take more initiative in their work. This makes having effective personal performance skills even more important.

How practical is the course?

The course is intensely practical. Some theory is presented; in order to explain such concepts as aptitudes and intelligence and how they influence relationships. Most of the course is very practical, with exercises, questionnaires and workshops to bring out the various learning objectives. You are able to apply what you learn right away.

What background do I need?

There are no formal requirements for this course. A willingness to learn about yourself and work with others is an advantage.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course benefits those who want to learn how they can be more personally effective in general, as well as those who are looking to become more effective in specific areas such as preparing and presenting information, working with others, and decision-making.

The course is designed for managers at all levels, and those who aspire to management. New managers need a framework to understand what it is they are doing, and to handle the stress of the new challenge. Experienced managers need a framework to manage the responsibility and isolation of their positions. Both new and experienced managers need to be able to plan and manage their time effectively, and work productively with others. The course gives them the opportunity to do so.

Which management skills are covered in the course?

We cover a number of important skills that form a set of attributes to enhance the performance of any manager:

Organization and goal setting techniques-One of the most important skills of a manager. The course shows you how to plan for the present and the future and how to re-plan when things change.

Managing your relationships effectively-Our ability to work well within a team or organization is increasingly important in today's workplace. This course shows you how to improve your understanding of the people you work with so that everyone benefits from better working relationships.

Developing a personal effectiveness model-Effectiveness is personal, so understanding your strengths is an important foundation for building your own unique model of how you can be most effective.

Information handling skills-How to get the information you need to be successful. Knowledge is power and this course shows you how to get the information you need and who to give it to.

Handling meetings-Meetings are expensive and they take time. The course helps you organize and run meetings that achieve the required results effectively.

Preparing and presenting a business case-Making a case for change is very important. This course takes you through the steps needed to prepare and present your case, as a report and a presentation. Each participant makes a short presentation. But first you learn how to map out a successful presentation plan since preparation is the foundation of confidence.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much of this course is spent in workshops?

Approximately 60 percent of this course is spent in extensive, practical workshops and exercises, conducted in small groups, that focus on learning techniques to achieve your professional goals. Workshops include:

• Evaluating your strengths and style
• Developing teamwork skills in a simulated situation
• Building productive work relationships
• Presenting your proposal
• Profiling your political intelligence
• Identifying the key players in your work environment
• Planning a high-impact message
• Prioritizing your key areas for development

Is this course applicable toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 23 professional development units (PDUs).

Learning Tree offers several courses that help you prepare for PMI certifications, including Course 276: Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, which prepares you for PMI's most popular certification. For more details on these courses and PMI certifications, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

While the emphasis of this course is on managing your own working life, Learning Tree offers other courses in communication, management and planning. These include:

• 290: Management Skills provides new and experienced managers with the practical skills needed to lead effective teams of technical professionals
• 292: Communication Skills: Results through Collaboration emphasizes specific tools and techniques for improving listening skills, delivering effective messages and bridging different communication styles
• 294: Influence Skills: Getting Results without Direct Authority focuses on the specific behaviors and attitudes that enable you to achieve desired results without relying on the use of authority
• 3411: Emotional Intelligence: Achieving Leadership Success offers the skills to leverage Emotional Intelligence (EI) to improve your effectiveness as a leader
• 246: Managing Information Overload: Techniques for Working Smarter provides the skills needed to process fast-paced information to develop a competitive edge.
• 299: Microsoft® Project 2007: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction offers experience with using Project 2007 to plan, budget and run projects, schedule resources, optimize project plans, track and analyze project progress and create status reports
• 3702: Microsoft® Project 2010: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction offers experience with using Project 2010 to plan, budget and run projects, schedule resources, optimize project plans, track and analyze project progress and create status reports

US Dates