GenderSpeak or He Said/She Said
Men and women live in different worlds. They’re like night and day when it comes to introducing ideas, delivering their bottom line, getting interrupted, receiving criticism, and even not knowing an answer. When we judge coworkers of another gender by our own rules, we can misinterpret and see unkindness when none was intended. The only way out of this miasma is to learn about differences and then talk about them.
Around the globe, people tell us, “We don’t have any gender issues here.” Most people don’t realize that gender rules play out in business every day in a myriad of ways. When organizations don’t operate with the rule differences in mind, gender balance suffers. When employees are forced to operate outside of their natural strengths and behave like the other gender in order to succeed, they can’t deliver their best. They become frustrated and exhausted. And they exit. Organizations pay high prices for loss of knowledge, increased recruitment and training costs, and an endlessly leaky talent pipeline.
Men and women grow up in different cultures and learn different lessons about “appropriate” teamwork, problem solving and leadership. Those differences are often difficult to see, let alone manage. Our presentations and workshops use humor to address the central factors that drive gender-related communication problems. We emphasize the importance of men and women valuing each other’s strengths.
We are driven by our core belief that it isn’t about goods or bads, rights or wrongs.
We paint the research with real life stories so that participants identify their own examples of gender differences. Each gender culture is driven by a set of invisible rules. Those rules are the origin of unconscious bias. Our sessions make those rules visible, providing a healthy starting point for groups to recognize and manage the differences, ultimately navigating both cultures successfully. Equipped with gender lenses, your participants will see and hear the world more accurately. At the end of every session, we provide three tools to help increase effectiveness. Our “top pick” list helps create a closing dialogue for participants to plan specific new operating strategies.
Regardless of the format you choose, you will experience an inclusive, fast-paced session. We will engage your participants with the use of humor, keeping this potentially heavy topic both light and fun.
Generations at Work
This session will help forge more effective work relationships and improve business results by applying generational understanding.
Participants will learn:
- the defining events and characteristics for each of the generations
- the work preferences of the generations
- what the generations think of each other
- how to sell your ideas based on generational values
- how to be a more effective team member by keeping values differences in mind
What is the generational mix in your organization? How can generational differences hinder and help effectiveness and the bottom line? Are you typical of your generation, or are your values different than most of those who grew up in the same era—and is there one generation that particularly confounds or frustrates you? In this highly interactive session, you will identify your primary values system as well as the values of your challenge group. We operate from our values; they drive our decisions and influence our business results. When we uncover our own core values, we gain an understanding of what drives us. When we understand others’ values, we can target our communications. In this lively session, you will develop strategies for working with—rather than against—others’ values.
Takeaways: each person will receive a Values & Influence Assessment™, a materials booklet, and a color reference card. Materials are typically provided for groups of about 50. Session size can certainly be larger than 50, but organizations will be invoiced for extra materials.
Unconscious Bias Sensitization
This highly engaging session will help your executives discover how unconscious bias can affect our view of gender and generational differences, two critical diversity dimensions that are particularly tricky to navigate but have significant organizational payoffs when addressed well.
Tammy is a seasoned executive facilitator who has been delivering sessions on gender, generation and unconscious bias for over twenty years. Have fun while learning dozens of practical research-based concepts and application tools.
This all-new offering was developed in concert with Claire Raines who pioneered the study and discussion of generations. Ours are the only sessions in the world that use the groundbreaking Values and Influence Assessment™ to determine whether participants fit the profile for their birth generation or hold values generally associated with another.
These sessions are entertaining, educational and highly interactive. We share real-life stories that make the material come alive. Leaders participate in a variety of learning activities such as small and large group discussion, lecture, individual work, and assessments.
We take a 3-pronged approach to unconscious bias:
ORGANIZATION: Your executives will appraise together, as a group, possible organizational bias through the use of our Bias Assessment™. Gender differences and generational preferences that affect the organization as a whole will be explored through the lens of research.
COLLEAGUES: Your executives will journey through gender linguistic differences and generational communication style preferences to better understand what might have been invisible and confusing before.
SELF: Your executives will consider their own leadership style, exploring the research and taking our Values & Influence Assessment™ to better understand themselves, their defaults, and their personal blind spots.
By fitting each participant with new lenses to decipher blind spots, your leaders will recognize the organizational consequences and expense of unchecked biases. Our goal is to energize your leaders and give them a new perspective to see clearly what previously might have been invisible. Each of the three segments will conclude with Points to Consider and Action to Contemplate, developed in small groups.
Takeaways: each person will receive a Values & Influence Assessment™, a materials booklet, and a color reference card. Materials are typically provided for groups of about 50. Session size can certainly be larger than 50, but organizations will be invoiced for extra materials.
