Biz Training

Lucent Technologies, Chambers of Commerce, and other businesses, industries, and professional organizations have benefited from presentations and courses that develop "Relationship Improvement SKills for Business Professionals." Customized R.I.Sk seminar programs can be used to meet general training requirements, for supervisors, managers, team leaders, and team members.

Surveys of business leaders repeatedly confirm that communication and teamwork skills are valued above all others in present or prospective employees. Clearly, the intra- and interpersonal forms of intelligence defined by Harvard educator Howard Gardner are as crucial to professional relationships and outcomes as to personal ones, for without such emotional intelligence and the appropriate attitudes and behaviors linked to it, even employees with outstanding traditional business abilities are unable to relate happily and productively to others on the job and in life.

In work-centered R.I.Sk groups, participants learn how to combine communication, teamwork, and leadership skills with the logical/mathematical reasoning skills so important in the business world. The models and activities featured are directly applicable to business and industry and can be employed to create and bond business teams that elicit and support the active, full participation of all members in creative problem-solving and in reaching sound business decisions.

A typical program of this kind--suitable for all employees--might be presented to a group of 16-20 participants in two 4-hour segments. In the initial seminar, "The Introductory Concepts of Relationship Improvement SKills," staff members

inventory their pre-course intra- and interpersonal attitudes and behaviors and compare them with others
learn four basic models that they then apply in work-oriented group situations
use the concepts learned to profile their communication style in one professional relationship or group
set course-based behavioral goals that empower them to improve that relationship and work more productively with others to reach competitive business solutions.

In part two of this program, "The Applied Concepts of Relationship Improvement SKills," participants

review and practice the behavioral options learned previously
learn and explore three additional models (including one that compares and contrasts theR.I.Sk-based style of leadership with more traditional leadership models)
construct an identity profile
explore the two-way relationship between the identity of the individual and that of the group
learn and practice facilitative leadership techniques useful on the job and in community service.

Training for Corporate Tutors and Mentors

The general training program offered by R.I.Sk Seminars, Inc. builds awarenesses and skills that are highly valuable to corporate personnel participating in community outreach projects that involve working with young people in schools or youth organizations. However, the organization also offers customized programs especially designed for tutors or mentors.

Developing emotional intelligence is especially important to tutors, who face the challenge of interacting with students who often have been rejected by their teachers and their peers--even by their parents. If the tutoring experience is to be successful and fulfilling, these middle-class volunteers from the work world must have the awareness and behavioral skills necessary to accept young people who are different from them in terms of diversity, age, gender, and social class.

Our unique approach develops that awareness and those skills rapidly and enjoyably, for unlike lecture-based programs addressing attitudes, the group-centered RELATIONSHIP IMPROVEMENT SKILLS seminar gives participants the opportunity to learn with and through each other while mastering 20 measurable behavioral skills. Those skills are not only vital to cooperation and productivity in the workplace, they are directly applicable to the classroom and teaching process.

When R.I.Sk concepts and behaviors promoting “Relating with Respect and Responsibility” are shared and reinforced in a school or youth organization by teachers, sponsors, parents, students, and volunteers, the outcome is a community of cooperative and motivated learners ready and able to benefit from helping relationships with corporate volunteers. The resulting increased effectiveness will greatly increase satisfaction for tutor/mentors.

A program preparing and supporting employees involved in community outreach might involve one or more groups of 16 to 20 individuals. The group(s) may consist entirely of tutors and mentors, who can then use--and share--the skills and activities they learn with their students. Even better results are achieved when each group brings together equal numbers of tutors/mentors and the students they work with. (In fact, the program itself could be a stand-alone community service project introducing and bonding mentors or tutors to adult models in the business community.)

Such an initiative might provide 24 to 30 hours of group interaction, with participants experiencing four 3-hour sessions in the beginning of the school year and meeting for an additional series of 3- to 4-hour sessions over the following months. During such group interactions, the tutors/mentors and their students learn with and through each other as they enjoy games and activities and master 20 measurable behavioral skills that will enable them to...

interact more comfortably and effectively with each other
improve any work/school, family, and social relationship
relate to others more confidently and productively
in our increasingly diverse society
function as leaders in any group
develop the communication and teamwork skills
requested by business and industry.

TUTORS OR MENTORS WHO “R.I.Sk It !” WILL...

establish a personal bond with their students that will make the tutoring relationship more satisfying and productive
develop behavioral awarenesses and skills they can use every day in professional and personal life
earn credits toward continuing professional education requirements mandated by their employer.

STUDENTS WHO “R.I.Sk It !” WILL...

establish a personal bond with their mentors that will motivate them to be more Respectful and Responsible learners
learn to experience and express the Acceptance of self/others linked to staying in school and turning away from antisocial behaviors
receive a strongly positive introduction to the business world and a possible future employer.