Each of these generational groups has a different value system and way of experiencing the world and the workplace. Different doesn’t have to mean wrong. This course gives you the information that leads to a deeper understanding of all the generational perspectives. It also provides the communication skills to bridge the “generation gap.” This is an enlightening course that delivers more than it promises: it brings understanding, appreciation, and insight. It is interesting and timely material. This course should be mandatory.

“The opposite gender is speaking a foreign language and I don’t know the rules!” How many feel this way? There are communication differences between the genders, but differences don’t have to get in the way of productive work relationships. In this course, learners define their own gender’s communication style and gain skills and practice in speaking to the opposite gender with enhanced information; this course spotlights methods for speaking and listening to the opposite sex at work with more insight, effectiveness, and skill! The result? Easier communication. These skills are also transferable to communications practices at home!

This course provides necessary skills to identify various mental illnesses. Participants explore difficulties associated with communicating with the mentally ill and learn how to use “tactical communication,” which is a necessary skill to effectively communicate. In addition, participants learn and practice how to speak with and listen to family members/caregivers of this population. Strategies for working with the physically or verbally mentally ill are covered in great detail. Finally, staff learns treatment and intervention strategies for the mentally ill.

Deputies and Custody Assistants examine their communication skills, both speaking and listening. At the same time, they learn how to use behavior modification techniques that support safe and positive interactions with the incarcerated population. This is a communication nuts-and-bolts course designed to support deputies with updated communication skills to perform professionally, safely, and efficiently. This is a great course and staff get a chance to practice their skills.

Motivating employees can be a daunting task. When employees are not motivated, office productivity suffers and negative morale can infect everyone. Effective performance-based evaluations are a tool designed to motivate and encourage an employee. The relationship an evaluator creates with the employee should be one that motivates them. Meant to be non-punitive and instructional, the professional drafting and completion of these evaluations have one desired outcome: motivation. This course shows participants how to use the tools we teach to effectively conduct a motivational evaluation. Employee evaluations of this nature are helpful, and they help to establish, create, and sustain accountability within the organization.

This course addresses unmanaged conflicts that can be potentially dangerous. Instruction is provided on how when one person loses their temper everyone around him/her can be affected. Participants discuss unresolved workplace conflicts that often have disastrous consequences: increased anxiety, anger, intimidation, blame, resentment, and loss of productivity. Our instructors provide the tools to manage conflict in a positive way, turning a conflict that was once a liability into an asset. This course addresses a variety of situations, from the most mundane procedural conflict to high tension and potentially explosive confrontations. This class is for all staff, from those whose first instinct is to react with anger in a difficult situation to those who avoid conflict so much they are paralyzed.

What are the root causes of stress in your work life? Participants examine stressors that lower productivity, job satisfaction, and impact their health and relationships, both on the job and at home. Stress is a fact of life for all law enforcement personnel. Recent research indicates increases in stress-related diseases that are caused by lifestyles saturated with stress and tension. Burnout, heart attacks, ulcers, decreased productivity, relationship problems, depression, loneliness, poor diet, substance use, and cynicism are frequent symptoms of chronic stress that adversely affect us personally, professionally, and physically. This class imparts techniques to lower your overall stress level. Participants learn to deal effectively with stressful people and situations by examining past lifestyle choices. Exposure to and practice with relaxation exercises is highlighted as is drafting a plan to make more drastic lifestyle choices. The course demands honest scrutiny of physical fitness and eating choices as well as ineffective communication strategies that may be causing unnecessary stress. What are the root causes of stress in your work life? Participants examine stressors that lower productivity, job satisfaction, and impact their health and relationships, both on the job and at home. Stress is a fact of life for all law enforcement personnel. Recent research indicates increases in stress-related diseases that are caused by lifestyles saturated with stress and tension. Burnout, heart attacks, ulcers, decreased productivity, relationship problems, depression, loneliness, poor diet, substance use, and cynicism are frequent symptoms of chronic stress that adversely affect us personally, professionally, and physically. This class imparts techniques to lower your overall stress level. Participants learn to deal effectively with stressful people and situations by examining past lifestyle choices. Exposure to and practice with relaxation exercises is highlighted as is drafting a plan to make more drastic lifestyle choices. The course demands honest scrutiny of physical fitness and eating choices as well as ineffective communication strategies that may be causing unnecessary stress.

All aspects of courtroom testimony are explored in depth as participants identify and, throughout the course, will retain the needed behaviors to establish themselves as a competent witness both in and out of the courtroom. Deputies learn how to establish credibility and believability. They are able to easily recognize courtroom personnel and their roles as well as list key considerations when preparing for court. They learn the legal terminology used as well as the importance of dress, speech, and demeanor.

“Crystal” is now the illegal drug of choice nationwide. Physiology and pharmacology of the drug in its various forms is the foundation of this class. It also addresses the identifiable symptoms of use, abuse, and dependence. Use and the impact of other drugs combined with “crystal” is covered as is treatment, relapse, and inmate management issues. Participants learn current methods used in intervention and the possible dangers to deputies.

Engaging participants in the learning process and creating transfer learning takes more than a good presenter and quality content! In this course, course designers learn to meet the needs of the sponsoring department with clearly defined learning outcomes. Participants learn how to choose materials and activities that create a dynamic learning environment. This requires the understanding of different learning styles, learner motivation, and time use. Participants are invited to bring a course idea and leave with that idea turned into a well-designed course. This is a great experience if training units and content area experts want to shorten the length of the learning curve for training these skills!

This class explores both the skills needed to achieve excellence in customer service, as well as the impact of interpersonal staff relationships that affect that process. Participants evaluate areas that work as well as those areas that need improvement. The thrust of the course is skill building in the areas of identified weakness. The overall mission of the department is reviewed and the place that customer service plays in carrying out the mission is examined. Phone, e-mail, and verbal communication skills are practiced. Also reinforced is the concept that customers are both internal to the department as well as external. Currently a four-hour course, Customer Service Excellence is easily an enjoyable eight-hour course.

In this advanced customer service skills course, participants are shown that all internal and external contacts are customers: clients, managers, and professional support staff. Emphasis is on communication and identifying personal communication styles and its role in miscommunication. Participants focus on changing and monitoring their own behavior and communication patterns to create solution-based problem solving. Heavy emphasis is paid on telephone communication with both internal and external “customers.” In addition, face-to-face de-escalation techniques are taught and practiced. Participants learn how to handle a variety of “people problems” as well as angry clients. Emphasis is on productive, healthy communication strategies between line staff and supervisors, as well. This is a solutions-focused course and training experience.

Participants learn ethics fundamentals as well as the ethical standards within their own organization. The importance of proper conduct and decision making is stressed, as is the importance of instilling professionalism. Communicating to others about unethical behavior is practiced. The art and science of becoming an ethical role model is highlighted as is the reinforcement of each professional’s commitment to being the “best.”

This course explores the impact of personal value systems, socialization, media, and generational affiliation on individual attitudes about other people: the learners identify historical changes that impact the experience of diversity here in this culture. While there is a discussion of gender, cultural, racial, and societal issues, the focus of this discussion is not what one might expect. Difference itself is generally the issue that divides people, more than skin color, cultural background, class, religion, or gender. The course allows participants to engage in dialogue that leads to greater appreciation and understanding of difference while, at the same time, hones communication skills.

This course presents a simple, standardized process for giving writers feedback on a document. Authors are able to improve his/her ability to make corrections and address documents with a clear idea of what is expected. Supervisors practice on actual sample documents and take away a sample of a standardized way to edit.

This leadership course is powerful! In it, probation personnel get the opportunity and guidelines to learn the processes needed to redefine and/or create new programs, policies, and procedures. Learners practice the communication skills necessary to move forward with new ideas and create a framework for implementing a cultural change in any organization. From problem to idea, this course helps your organization facilitate change.

Participants learn to be great “executives” regardless of their title by increasing their personal effectiveness through learning to prioritize and organize. Staff increases skill level by using effective “win-win” communication techniques and practice stress-management techniques for better results in all work situations. High-energy and participant-centered, this course combines direct instruction with collaborative learning and role-play. Our course workbook, journaling, small-group discussion, and team-building activities are used to reinforce content and skills that transfer to the workplace. Participant Action Plan acts as “follow-through” takeaway resource as does the Getting Control of Your Workday workbook.

Creating effective written messages can be one of the toughest challenges for non-native English speakers. This course reviews the smallest building blocks of written English focusing on grammar review and sentence and paragraph construction. This course conquers “tricky” contractions and possessive nouns! The learners will practice writing concise, complete sentences with appropriate punctuation. Many resources are shared, so that the participant leaves with a road map to enhancing their own personal learning plan outside the classroom.

Negativity in the workplace is a phenomenon that, in some organizations, has become a cultural norm. Negative thinking and behavior is a choice. Staff explore their own experience of negativity and assess its impact. The instructor helps the participants identify the sources of negativity: the “clients,” the department or division, co-workers, and/or themselves. Through group and individual activities, staff acquires many survival skills and communication strategies to limit and manage personal and others’ toxic, negative behavior. Negativity is a choice, this course helps participants understand the reasons they choose negative thoughts and actions. At the end of the day, individuals and groups create Action Plans and anti-negativity materials to take back to their workplace(s) and home(s).

Some days it feels like there is more information than can ever be organized and managed. The piles on one’s desk can seem like they get higher instead of shorter. Increasingly, information needs to be well managed to be understood. There is only one solution to this daily stressor: developing the necessary skills needed to effectively manage time, information, and projects. In Organizational Skills for Peak Performance, participants identify their organizational weaknesses in a series of activities that are fun and engaging. The emphasis of the day is then focused on the area of the participants’ identified need. Once specific needs are identified, specific tools to enable participants to turn their weaknesses into strengths are taught. This course is vital, and staff receive excellent, easy-to-use help which they can apply the next day.

In this course, participants identify their strongest skills and capabilities as well as define their stressors, problem areas, and personal pitfalls. Our trainers facilitate participants to develop approaches that improve participant effectiveness at work, within their families, within important relationships, and in all areas of their lives. The program focuses on individualized assessments and personal development content and reflection, ensuring participants know how to capitalize on their current strengths and how to use their best skills to create even more rewarding lives. This is both an enlightening and uplifting course, an intangible skill builder and gentle and affirming morale booster.

Confrontation doesn’t have to mean “getting in someone’s face.” Verbal skills are a safe and viable alternative to force, when you know how to use them. Designed for those who have the ability to use force but want only to use it as a last resort, Positive Confrontation defuses escalation and provides a safer environment for the officers and people with whom they interact. Use of force can create personal and organizational liability, injury, and mountains of paperwork. This is a great course with powerful tools!

This course helps to create clarity about the characteristics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It explores the elements of stress-related traumatic incidents, including occupational stress. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sheds light on the symptom constellations in stress disorders and teaches intervention strategies. The final module of the course explains how specifically to manage and interact a person diagnosed with this mental disorder.

High quality presentation skills are critical; this course teaches the “basics of group process” and explains how to use those “basics” to keep learners engaged and activities alive and enjoyable. This course teaches the best ways to overcome resistance for mandated training and deal with disruptive and difficult participants. Presentation and Training Skills reveals the secrets of getting participants back from breaks on time, mixing up groups, and “reading your audience.” This course takes the participant to the next level. Each person receives feedback on their presentation style and a chance to practice their skills.

In today’s climate of rapid change, early retirement, and faster promotions, many supervisors need more methods to manage their workloads. The stress of needing to hold staff accountable while keeping good working relationships is both time and energy consuming. This course focuses on creating a personal system to know how time is currently spent and ways to pre-plan time use. Participants learn stress-reducing techniques enabling them to be more efficient and better at prioritizing. They learn the dynamics of procrastination and use this information to better handle the increasing demands on their time and energy. Time is a finite component of the workday; this class enables all learners to assess how their time is spent and what activities and behaviors are not productive.

This course provides sergeants skills to assess writing in a consistent, uniform way.  Sergeants: Putting "Writing it Right" into Practice teaches sergeants to communicate effectively with line staff to improve consistency and quality in report writing. Sergeants are given Incident and/or Crime Report samples and practice assessing writing using checklists designed to clearly set the standard for specific reports. Sergeants learn how to mentor staff in prewriting and organizational strategies; they also learn how to teach staff to prioritize information to produce logical writing. Further, sergeants gain an understanding of the "personal" nature of writing and receive coaching and practice in giving effective, constructive feedback about writing deficits and concrete, measurable suggestions for improvement. Sergeants receive checklists for line staff job assignments and learn the value in "drawing the line in the sand."

Sexual harassment and the discrimination law, including Title VII, are detailed and reviewed. Definitions of sexual harassment and the establishment of an effective sexual harassment policy are also reviewed. Retaliation and adverse employment examples are discussed and participants examine mediation and investigation techniques. Case studies and scenarios are examined and scrutinized. This course demystifies the laws and creates a clear picture of legal vs. illegal behavior in the workplace.

Much of what staff learns, they learn on the job from years of experience doing the job well. This priceless experience should be transferred to new staff. Everyone can be a trainer on the job if they are given specific concrete skills and strategies. The participant receives the skills and strategies as well as the needed confidence to train peers to be more effective and confident. This is a valuable course for all employees!

With a trainer gifted at addressing sensitive issues in the classroom, this course allows work teams to identify the challenges in getting projects done effectively and promptly.  With the aid of team-focused learning instruments, groups self-assess and are able to give and receive feedback on their experience of team cohesion. Teams set goals and create Action Plans to move forward and increase productivity while interacting in healthier, more positive and productive ways. Using advanced communication skills, individuals increase their communication competency and learn how to give feedback on ideas and processes. The result of this class is growth in work relationships and an increased productivity and morale.

This course examines overcoming obstacles to preventing suicide in detention facilities and offers the facts behind many of the myths that surround this cause of death. Experience shows that almost all institutional suicides are preventable. Facts and prevention strategies focus on defining the elements of detention life that are conducive to suicide as well as pre-disposing factors of suicidal behavior. Participants learn about factors that impact possible suicidal behavior. Methods of assessment are learned and participants practicing communication skills to deter suicidal behavior.

Team Building facilitates all levels of staff to unite and reflect on how they work together as a team. This course takes a look at how Organizational Mission Statements drive programs and define ways employees interact with department customers and each other. Focused discussion time compares the organization’s Mission Statement with the individual staff member’s Personal Mission Statement. Activities guide and assist participants to practice engaging in more open communication, increasing their ability to manage, resolve, and grow from conflict and power struggles. Teams analyze their problem-solving dynamics and draft Action Plans which address concrete ways to improve project execution.

This era of rapid change, early retirement, and faster promotions leaves many supervisory personnel without the necessary skills to handle common challenges. This course identifies the “problem employee,” develops a personal survival plan, and teaches concrete strategies to address problematic situations: supervising a “friend,” supervising someone passed over for a promotion, people who “go behind your back”; older, and much younger employees; employees who constantly bicker; and, employees with serious personal problems. Managers can also be a challenge. Learn strategies for dealing with managers who avoid conflict, micromanage, and/or throw temper tantrums. This course also offers the participant a strategy to get a handle on “rumor control” and a strategy to foster inter-department cooperation! This is a solid leadership course with a tremendous amount of take-away value.

Criminal research shows that criminal behavior might be a product of earlier life experiences. The Criminal Personality course explores how the family unit can produce a criminal, and what that family might look like. Using case studies, participants identify negative parenting practices and discuss a host of factors that result in antisocial behavior. The impact of nature vs. nurture is underscored and different ways to work with these clients is presented through using behavior modification techniques. "Thinking Errors" that are particular to the antisocial personality disordered provide a context for understanding. Aggression, violence, and drug and alcohol abuse and/or dependence are explored as contributing factors to a criminal personality. Case studies as well as well-known criminals are used to identify and apply key concepts.

This course is built and delivered for those working in the training function and the managers, supervisors, and staff that need to train others either “on the job” or in the classroom. The following topics are covered: principles of adult learning, the “how and why” of doing activities (and what doesn’t work), special equipment (how to use the overhead, visual aids, etc.), learning aids, and a review of the fundamentals of “group process” and “reading your audience.” This course covers the entire do’s and don’ts in telling you all the secrets and shorten the learning curve for you.

Some of the most challenging clients are those who are mentally disordered, many of whom also use illegal drugs and alcohol. This survey course covers mental disorders, symptomatic behaviors, and the danger level to the officer. How to speak to this population is also a central focus of this course. Mentally disordered people often mix psychotropic (drugs prescribed for mental disorders) and psychoactive drugs (those that get you “high”). This course provides the opportunity to become familiar with both types of drugs. Many times confidentiality keeps officers from knowing mental illness diagnoses, but when you know about prescription drugs and noticeable symptoms are observed, you can usually get a sense of the inferred diagnosis. Understanding and Coping with the Mentally Disordered helps the staff sort out client behaviors.

Conflict is normal and healthy in human relationships; however, it does not have to end up in a win—lose situation. We teach participants how to have those “hard conversations” that get them what they want without making others angry or defensive. Learners explore how to control a conversation through listening (rather than talking). Participants are armed with powerful phrases that lead to solutions, and begin to take control through orchestrating a mutual “win” situation. This is a great class that explores new skills and encourages participants to put them into practice the same day.

Research indicates that, generally speaking, women experience the world relationally. Life for women is about relationships. The good news is women tend to be peacemakers, consensus builders, and collaborators. The bad news is that sometimes they do not set firm limits with others and may take others’ feedback personally. Women may have a hard time “letting go” of resentments. This course allows participants to self-assess their own communication style and gains and facilitates the practice of these skills to be more effective at work. The Women: Communication and Cooperation workbook is a resource to help learners put these new skills into practice as they work on their Action Plans.

This course allows the participant to self-assess his or her individual skill level in the areas of basic grammar, sentence construction, punctuation, and paragraph construction. With the self-assessment as feedback, individuals can focus on self-identified areas that need skill building. The practice materials will come from "real life" Incident/Offense Reports, using terms and language that pertain to your job in the Sheriff department.

In this high-energy, fun-filled course, officers are able to update their professional writing skills. This course invites the participant to self-assess his/her own individual skill level in the areas of basic grammar, sentence construction, punctuation, and paragraph construction. With a self-assessment as direct feedback, individuals focus on self-identified areas that may need improvement. The practice materials are taken from “real life” reports and use terms and language that pertain to the job. There are a number of writing opportunities that include examples with which to compare your writing. This course is solid.

Writing it Right for Management is designed to hone the skills of management while clarifying expectations for writing performance by using guidelines and models. Focus is on clarity, conciseness, structure, handout, and “talking points” formats. Particular emphasis is on shorter, one-page documents whenever possible. Numerous examples of excellent writing are provided. Your department is invited to outline the exact reports, letters, and memo formats that are the focus of this solid, no-nonsense writing course. If desired, managers are encouraged to bring their executive secretaries. Executive secretaries are encouraged to attend with their managers for maximum follow through and communication support. This is a powerful course that “gets down to business.”

Supervisors get to experience the curriculum line staff experience in the Writing it Right course as well as have the opportunity to review. They are  then in the position to hold their staff accountable for learning. Each participant receives a Writing Resource Guide and a Community Resource Guide.

Crime Reports and Incident Reports are taught in this course that uses department-approved checklists that define and crystallize your department's or facility's standard for the contents and ordering of information. A step-by-step approach is taught and practiced. The course uses excellent models of competent performance and successfully teaches officers the skills to verbalize and assess the component parts of Crime Reports and/or Incident Reports. Expectations are made very clear. This course is perfect for all veteran staff as well as all new staff. It's a great refresher as well as an ideal system-wide course designed to put your entire Department on the same page. Clarity and Standards boost morale!

Crime Report and Incident Report writing is perfected in this course. Phase Two is a follow-up to the system-wide writing course and supports participants consecutively writing the department-approved, standardized report coherently, chronologically, and without error. This course emphasizes writing the report in an efficient way in regards to: chronology, wording, structure, person, voice, and tense. Staff is given the opportunity to identify their skill level and practice their weak areas, and this course highlights areas in the department or facility that still need to improve. Common writing mistakes and grammar review are covered. The writing building blocks and checklist are reviewed. Unique training techniques are used and participants take their workplace writing skills to the next level.

This course is designed for the learner who is either identified or wants individualized writing instruction and practice. As a smaller class, it is also available for all staff by self-referral. After diagnostic self-assessment, the learner focuses on the particular area of skill deficit he has identified. The instructor helps the learner create additional strategies to improve writing skills, if necessary. An Action Plan helps the learner implement improvement goals; further, many examples of outside resources help the participant discover what kinds of materials best suit his or her learning style and goals. Individualized help is the main focus of this course.

This course design mirrors that of Writing for Management and adds a component of grammar review as well as extensive proofreading strategies. Executive secretaries thrive in the review of the “anatomy” of excellent samples of written work; they gain the language they need to discuss a writing project at any point. Extensive department examples reinforce learning and help participants retain new skills. Resource materials are provided and executive secretaries are encouraged to add to their course binder examples of quality, signature-ready documents. This is an awesome course and could effectively be two days. The secretaries love this class!

This course offers participants the opportunity to build skills in the mechanics of workplace writing. Participants will learn how to identify and correct grammatical and mechanical errors, focus on the comma splice, and construct powerful compound sentences. This course ensures that participants leave with the ability to write with directness and clarity. Also introduced are six formulas for structured memos and strategies for bulleting, outlining, numbering, and “talking points.”