In This Issue

• A Note from Dave
• Feature Article - 10 Tips for Effective Listening
• NEW!! Now offering Assessments
• Violence and Harassment in the Workplace
• Strange but True
• About Dave Hagel
• Contact

A Note From Dave

Hi and welcome back.  It's been a busy January.

I designed and am in the process of delivering a three day workshop called Effective Supervision. The target audience is front line supervisors and managers and covers topics like communication, delegation, motivation, improving personal effectiveness, taking corrective action and coaching for excellence.

The highlight for January though was my attendance at the International Alliance for Learning Conference in Houston, Texas. I attended a pre-conference workshop put on by Lenn Millbower called That's Lernertainment:  Accelerated Learning Presentation Techniques for Distracted Adults.  Lenn is a former trainer with Disney World and currently runs his own training company called Offbeat Training. He is a fountain of information and great trainer. The workshop covered a number of topics including how to deliver powerful messages through the use of props, how to captivate participants with music and how to effectively use humour as a learning tool.  It was my highlight of the conference.

I also attended a number of other mini-sessions on how to create powerful posters, Accelerated Learning PowerPoint techniques, using playing cards, and the use of learning structures in training.  One of the key note speakers talked about the latest research into the brain and how it learns. It was a great conference and I learned a lot.  In fact, I've been able to incorporate a number of the tips and tricks that I learned in the Effective Supervision course.

February will be another busy month. My goal is to write all of the articles and documents for the e-store and have everything in my web developer's hands by the end of the month.  I will continue to provide you with updates as I move forward.

Take care and talk to you soon.

Dave Hagel, President
High Performance Human Resources

Here's something to think about:

Communication can't always follow the top-down model. With the fluidity of information in business today, leaders need to be masterful listeners; they need to be able to receive as well as send.
- Author Unknown

1. Concentrate on the other person as you listen. When the eyes are elsewhere, the mind is elsewhere. Looking at the person will enable you to judge the intent of the message as well as the content.
2. Ask questions. Feedback is a critical component of any communication. Use closed, open-ended and mirror questions to clarify for understanding.
3. Don't interrupt the other person.
4. Don't change the subject.
5. Don't let your emotions get in the way.
6. Acknowledge the speaker with non-verbal queues such as nodding and maintaining eye contact.
7. Acknowledge the speaker with verbal queues such as "I see." "I understand." "Tell me more". "Yes." "Uh ha". "That's interesting."
8. Eliminate distractions like noise, computers and telephones. These are barriers to effective listening.
9. The average person hears an average of 100 to 300 words per minute, while the thinking part of the brain speeds along at nearly 800 words per minute. Use this time effectively and efficiently. Don't use it to formulate counter arguments or rebuttals. You're not listening when you do this.
10. Keep an open mind and don't jump to conclusions. By listening actively to the other person you may learn something about the subject that you did not know previously.

I'm pleased to announce that I am now able to offer a variety of electronic assessment tools.

Here's a sampling of what I can offer:

• Thomas Kilmann Conflict Instrument Mode Instrument
• DISC Behavioural Assessments
• Sales Skills
• Emotional Intelligence
• Job Benchmarking
• 360 Degree Feedback Surveys
• Leadership Development
• OD Surveys

I am also in the process of becoming a Certified Professional Behavioural Analyst and Certified Professional Values Analyst. 

These assessments have a wide variety of applications:  recruiting and selection, performance management, team building, leadership development and training, to name a few.

Please give me a call if you're interested in learning more about how these tools can help you and your organization.

The clock is ticking.  It will be June before you know it.

The new Violence and Harassment in the Workplace legislation will come into force in June 2010.

The legislation requires employers to develop policies to address workplace violence and harassment and to assess the risk of violence in its workplace. In addition, employees will need to be trained on the policy and any procedures developed and implemented. 

So, as the old saying goes, "Why wait for spring? Do it now."  Don't leave it to the last minute.  Get it done now. 

High Performance Human Resources can help you draft the policy, conduct the risk assessment and design and deliver the training.  We're just a phone call or e-mail away. 

According to Craig Silverman of the Globe and Mail, in his article The Office Awards 2008, there is one winner for the Worst Employee and two runners-up:

"When Florida architect Marie Cooley believed she was about to be fired, she took pre-emptive revenge by destroying $2.5-million (U.S) worth of the company's computer files. That assured her of getting fired even though it turned out she wasn't actually on the chopping block. Honourable mentions also go to the Hawaii bus driver who played video games while behind the wheel, and the Texas police lab technician who stole 50 pounds of cocaine from an evidence locker."

A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Dave draws on his 29 years of experience in union and union-free private sector businesses across Canada to conceive and deliver value-added outcomes that elevate human resource capital and maximize operational results.

Dave has combined his passion for training and development with public speaking to design and deliver thousands of hours of training. He currently teaches the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) preparation workshop for the CHRP designation exams and is tracking toward become a Certified Accelerated Learning Trainer. Dave is also a certified trainer with Development Dimensions International and Achieve Global. He has also achieved the designations of Competent Toastmaster and Competent Leader.

Dave has completed the Co-Active Coaching program offered by the Coaches Training Institute and the certificate program in Conflict Management Studies Program through Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo.  He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours. 

Dave's media credits include co-hosting Main Street, a cable television news program focused on current and community events, and Business Network News.  He has published numerous articles in Enterprise Magazine, Biz Magazine, Canada's SOHO Magazine, Canadian Manager and The Bottom Line and has been quoted in the Globe & Mail. 

High Performance Human Resources
1327 Treeland Street
Burlington, ON L7R 3T5

Phone:  (905) 637-5673
Toll Free:  1-866-878-4134
Fax:  905-631-2383
E-mail:  dave@highperformancehr.ca
Website:  http://www.highperformancehr.ca/