No matter how effectively you work with people one-on-one as a colleague or practitioner, that's no guarantee of success in managing a business or a group. Being an owner or manager of a multi-person practice requires an entirely different set of skills. When problems crop up, it can often seem as though one or two difficult individuals are to blame, but things are rarely that simple; unless you understand what's happening in the group as a whole, it's impossible to address all the underlying issues that are fueling the conflict. In this course, we'll explore a variety of factors that are critical to developing and maintaining a thriving group practice:

• clearly articulated and agreed-upon roles and responsibilities
• a shared set of attainable group goals
• efficient, inclusive methodologies for decision making and problem solving
• effective meeting structure and organization
• a unified work culture that fosters trust and a sense of belonging
• reliable procedures for selecting talented new renters or employees who are compatible with the existing group
• responsive leadership that stays attuned to evolving group needs
• collaborative methods for resolving conflicts

Teaching Format
This interactive training will combine analytical, research-based discussions with experiential work, including extended practice in group conflict resolution and problem solving. As part of the course, you'll analyze a real problem that you're facing (or have previously faced) in your work environment and develop a personalized plan for improving the situation.

An All-Purpose Communication Tool
This course is based on SAVIŽ, the System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction -- a powerful, comprehensive system for understanding and improving communication. For nearly 30 years, this method has helped individuals, groups, and organizations to reduce conflict, increase understanding and collaboration, and improve decision making. SAVI enables you to clearly identify which types of communication strain professional and personal relationships and which ones foster receptivity. In addition to the specific skills you learn in this course (related to leading and managing groups), you'll also come away with:

Bonus: Free Follow-Up Seminar for Owners & Managers! (Date and Time TBD)
When you register for this training, you'll also receive a complimentary pass to a 75-minute follow-up phone seminar. The seminar will give you a chance to reinforce the skills you learned -- including role clarification, meeting management, conflict resolution, and efficient decision making -- and apply them to real-life examples from your workplace. We'll answer any questions you have, provide some personalized coaching, and give practical tips on specific communication challenges. This is a great way to ensure that the lessons from the training will stay with you over time.

Workshop Schedule
Friday, November 5 - An All-Purpose Communication Tool: SAVIŽ, the System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction
Monday, November 8 - Building Trust, Clarity, and Commitment: Essential Communication Skills for Practice Owners and Managers

What to Bring: Come prepared with questions and specific concerns.

Instructor: Ben Benjamin Ph.D. and Amy Yeager

Class Dates^*: November 5 and November 8, 2010
Class Times: Friday 2:00 pm - 6:30 pm; Monday 9:00am - 4:30 pm
Location: Federal Way
Cost: $300 if registered by 9/24/10; $330 if registered after 9/24/10
Cost/Hour: $27.27/hr if registered by 9/24/10; $30.00/hr if registered after 9/24/10
Hours: 11

^*Note: November 5 is the first day of the November 5-7, 2010 Essential Skills workshop and it lays down the foundation of the SAVI communication skills that will be used in the class on Monday, November 8.