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WorkShop’s Monthly News-

September 2010

Option Finder with Bill Newkirk

2

Pics of the Month 3

Kudos 4

Team building Tip 4

Coupon 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Are you ready for the 2011? Have you revised your plan?

Repositioning your company can be an invigorating move - it's exciting to take a

fresh approach and go after new opportunities. But change is also risky and over time,

the momentum behind it can wane. When that happens, it's not uncommon for indi-

viduals, units, or entire organizations to default to the old strategy. If your team re-

lapses, how can you get things back on track and people re-focused on the new direc-

tion?

What the Experts Say The reality is that very few strategic changes are successful. In fact, only 5% of large-

scale changes actually work, according to John P. Kotter, Chief Innovation Officer at

Kotter International, a professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, and author of

numerous books, including A Sense of Urgency.

Taking a different approach — one that doesn't disconnect execution from strategy

creation — helps prevent stalls before they happen, keeps your team focused, and

could put your organization into that elite 5%.

Create a "guiding coalition" Kotter suggests that all change efforts include a "guiding coalition" — a diverse,

cross-functional, multi-level group with different skills and strengths. He warns that

this is "not some dorky task force" but people who are excited about the change and

ready and able to roll up their sleeves to drive it. If your team defaults back to the old

strategy, consider bringing together a group of individuals who can take responsibility

for pushing the change through. Choose the people who are most enthusiastic about

the new direction and give them real work to do, focused on pushing the team for-

ward. (Excerpts from The Harvard Business Review)

The environment plays a huge role in the results you get when attending a strategic

planning meeting. If you are meeting at work, in the same room that you have your

routine meetings, you will continue to get routine answers and ideas. Companies that

bring their teams to WorkShop get better results. Participants are much more relaxed

and the environment lends itself to opening the doors to creativity. Everyone has a

voice at WorkShop. Use the coupon on page 4 for your next meeting and check out

our new ADA compliant space.

Turn On T

he Power

Of People and Id

eas!

-Mr. Watt

Rainmakers in Louisville

Bill Newkirk, Louisville, travels all over the Country facilitating his unique way for participants to share their inner most thoughts and ideas in a safe manner. Bill uses the “Option Finder” . He has used it here at WorkShop with many groups who are truly looking for the solution and want their staff to be part of that solution. The Option Finder method is used to achieve results in meetings where anonymity is important. The process guarantees 100% anonymously, 100% inclusively, it is incisive, and it insures specific printed and graphic feedback.

Bill is a certified “Option Finder” instructor. He takes the participants will through a polling process designed to identify what they perceive to be obstacles in the pursuit of the their mission. Based on the needs of the team and the leadership goals, Bill may send out questionnaires prior to a session or he may use questions that he deems necessary based on the pre-meeting consultation.

The questions are presented on a projection screen along with a list of responses from which the participants can choose using an Option Finder keypad. The keypad is just like your remote control at home, so they are easy to use. The response results are instant and displayed as a graph.

This is interactive process allows for complete participation, anonymity, speed, democracy of input, and public display of everyone’s opinion. Bill does have the ability to use demographics within the polling. For example, in a room of Senior Leadership and Mid-Level Managers, the responses could be separated. This gives instant feedback and will give a true indication of whether or not your team is on the same page or if there are serious issues within the leadership.

Your team will be lead through a series of discussions regarding the polling results and they will be given an opportunity to work together finding solutions for the issues at hand.

At the conclusion of the Session, Bill provides the client with printed, graphic feedback and will

also provide you a debrief on the day’s activities. Bill has many years experience with Change

Management, Leadership training and Strategic Planning.

September 2010

Bill Newkirk, Consultant

502-432-9123

September 2010

Teambuilding Fun at August 2010

Many companies enjoyed the opportunity to get their teams out of the office for a day. August was full of “Adventure in the

„Ville”, “ The Corydon Quest” and “The Adventure in the Wild”. Our team adventures this past month helped the kids from

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, the Seniors at Mt. Holly Nursing Home, and the Cralle Day house of the Home

of the Innocents. Not only do the teams experience the qualities of an effective team (communication, shared leadership,

trust, organization, planning, sharing information, and many more) they also give back to the community together.

Are You A FAN of WorkShop

September 2010

Build on what you know, discover what you don’t!

20% OFF MEETING SPACE CALL TODAY…. 502-583-8555 Coupon valid for meetings booked after Sept. 10. Good thru October 30, 2010

Check out our FAN page:

Special Thanks to:

David Frick, Eric Brown, Elaine

Troutwein, Deanna Philpot, Bill

Worley, and many other friends of

WorkShop for helping keep the

WorkShop doors open during the

passing of our family member.

You are so appreciated.

Stephanie and Jenness

Turn On the Power of People and Ideas.

The next time you go to your hair stylist, ask

them how they stay inspired and get new

ideas for styling. Many people do not realize

that hair stylists have opportunities for train-

ing and hands on education at WorkShop on

Sunday’s and Monday’s. David Frick, Salon

Inspirations, is a consultant and training co-

ordinator who has brought many Educators

from across the country including New York

and California to Louisville to share their

expertise with local stylists. It is very

exciting to see the stylists leave the sessions

with that glow of inspiration. That, “can’t

wait to try this” look on their face.

They can reach David at (502) 645-6804. He

also has a great program for Salon Owners.

Are you looking for a way to get your

meeting started? Getting your team to

work together at a Monday morning meeting

is not the easiest thing to do. Here is a

little exercise to generate conversation and

put a little match to the fire.

Can you make four equal triangles

using six matchsticks, without

breaking them or bending them?

Form them into a pyramid with three triangular sides and a triangular base, using three for the base and one rising

from each corner to meet above the center. The tips of the

matches will all meet at the top of the pyramid.