Winter, 2018
Dear Friends,

In this issue, you will find a range of ideas and resources that reflect my thinking on the current state of leadership. Please be sure to check-out the featured article Harnessing Team Synergy as I think you’ll agree that it applies to leaders at every level.  
 
As 2018 unfolds, let us all be mindful of the opportunity we have to be positive role models for the behaviors we wish to see in others.  

Choose to Navigate,

David O'Brien 
Featured Article: Harnessing Team Synergy
I had struggled to define it for a very long time. What I was clear on was that many leaders believed that doing a once a year team building event was all that was needed to keep their team fully engaged. They would do a half day or full day event and magically, all of the barriers to collaboration were supposed to be removed. They had harnessed the collective talent and synergy of their team in only a matter of hours. Not exactly. 

So often, these activities are stand-alone events with little or no connection to a larger process for improving employee engagement and collaboration. In true check it off the list fashion, some leaders assume that by doing a mix of learning and social activity once per year, teams work more effectively. They don’t in most cases. 
In The News &
Upcoming Events
David O'Brien is Pleased to Announce the WorkChoice Solutions Core Capabilities Profile

As WorkChoice Solutions enters its 19 th year of helping organizations maximize their leadership and employee potential, Founder and President, David O’Brien is pleased to share a new and expanded profile of our Core Capabilities. From development training and coaching to succession planning and corporate retreats, learn why WorkChoice Solutions is a trusted organizational development partner to so many organizations. To view or download the Core Capabilities profile please click here .
David O'Brien to Present Buildng a Culture of Accountability Workshop
As part of David's ongoing partnership with the CT Nonprofit Alliance, he will be delivering his very popular, Building a Culture of Accountability workshop on Friday, March 2, 2018 at the Nonprofit Alliance offices in Hartford, CT. The program provides leaders with a systematic way to overcome common barriers to accountability by focusing on a 4-phase accountability continuum which includes; Role Clarity, Purpose, Ownership and Behavior. When linked, this continuum allows employees at all levels to make significant progress with moving tasks forward to achieve a higher level of job impact and job satisfaction. Participants can expect to leave the workshop with new tools that can be applied immediately to expand their leadership influence. The 9:00 a.m. to 12-noon workshop is open to the public but registration is required. For more information or to register for this workshop, please visit CT Nonprofit Alliance online by clicking here.
David O’Brien to Present Leading Through Change Presentation
at HRLA – SHRM Event

David will be a featured speaker at the Human Resource Leadership Association’s monthly dinner meeting on March 14, 2018 at the Holiday Inn in Norwich, CT. His presentation titled, Leading Through Change will be co-facilitated with Sandy Spencer, HR Director from S&S Worldwide. This highly interactive presentation offers proven strategies for helping leaders to turn organizational change into an opportunity for building team buy-in and resilience. The program also provides participants with the opportunity to objectively assess their current capacity to lead change within their organization. This program has been approved by HRCI for 1.25 strategic business recertification credits. To learn more, please visit the HRLA website by clicking here
David O’Brien to Present The Leader as a Coach Workshop

As part of David's ongoing partnership with the CT Nonprofit Alliances, he will be delivering his very popular, Leader As A Coach workshop on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the CT Nonprofit Alliance offices in Hartford, CT. The three-hour program is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to evaluate their current coaching capacity while exploring a wide range of coaching insights that help foster a pro-active development environment. From building a skill baseline to exploring the links to long term success, the program provides leaders with an actionable framework for improving the employee development process. The 9:00 a.m. to 12-noon workshop is open to the public but registration is required. For more information or to register for this workshop, please visit CT Nonprofit Alliance online by clicking here .
Featured Workshop:
Building a Culture of Accountability
At every level of every organization, projects begin, tasks are assigned, efforts are made and deadlines are met - or missed. Directions are given but not always understood. Deliverables are promised but not always delivered and agreements are made but not always followed. It’s not really any one person’s fault, it’s just part of how people fail to communicate in a specific and deliberate manner about the tasks they assign or accept.
The Building a Culture of Accountability program provides a systematic way to overcome these common barriers by focusing on a 4-phase accountability continuum which includes; Role Clarity, Purpose, Ownership and Behavior. When linked to mutual understanding, this cycle allows employees at all levels to make significant progress with moving tasks forward to achieve a higher level of job impact, job satisfaction and organizational success. Additionally, the workshop includes a range of group brainstorm activities which are designed to enhance immediate skill application opportunities.

Leadership Thought To Consider
Thought To Consider

"The great danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence, it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”
– Peter Drucker


Leadership Suggestion : Consider what this quote means in your world of work and in your role as a leader. Also try to uncover the leadership opportunity that it presents. 
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