What follows is a listing of the most requested training programs Dr. LeMon is presently offering his clients. They are grouped in five, specific workplace headings (Managing People, Improving Communication, Resolving Conflict, Developing Leaders and Increasing Productivity).

Each course is briefly described followed by a listing of some of the most significant skills the attendee could expect to take back to his/her workplace.

Each of these training programs can be adapted to fit a one to six hour timeframe and also be developed into the content for a customized keynote address.

Click on the titles below to view the outline. More detailed outlines are available upon request.

Managing People

Improving Communication Resolving Conflict Developing Leaders Increasing Productivity
Managing People


"Dancing With Difficult People"

Most of us want to annihilate difficult people; dancing with them is a stretch. This workshop makes the factual case that difficult people will keep showing up... regardless of our best efforts. The art of working with these cretins of the coffee break is to understand the causes of their negative energy and then redirect them or, "lead the dance."

Skills Presented:

  1. How to determine if someone is "difficult" or just "different,"
  2. How to keep yourself under emotional control when encountering a difficult person,
  3. How to reason with an unreasonable person,
  4. How to verbally and physically redirect someone and
  5. How to establish personal and professional limits for working with difficult people.

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"Greasing-Up the Stuck Employee"

Some employees show up every day, but have quit his/her job a long time ago. These people are stuck in routines, habits and thinking that is counterproductive to where your organization is going. This workshop will supply practical suggestions for "assisting" the stuck employee into "going with the flow."

Skills Presented:
  1. How to identify institutional factors that may be encouraging employees to leave their brains at home,
  2. How to verbally confront someone who has no interest in making changes,
  3. How to find a "win" for the employee to want to change,
  4. How to build trust with the pessimistic employee and
  5. How to legally and ethically terminate an employee who decides your organization is not the place for him/her, but who also decides to keep showing up every day.

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"How to Child-Proof Your Organization"

Psychologically, the term is "regression." Emotionally, the right word would be "childish." Both the label and the workplace situation is still the same: someone in your organization needs to grow up! If you see infantile behavior in your workplace from adults who are shaving everyday and putting on makeup, you may need this learning experience.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to determine if your organization, because of its practices and policies, is actually "birthing" children in the workplace,
  2. How to understand the principle of "regression" as an ego-defense mechanism among adults,
  3. How to verbally and emotionally respond to childish behavior,
  4. How to use 12 organizational practices to minimize the need for adults to act like children and
  5. How to communicate to the entire workforce that this is an "adults only" organization.

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"Forgiveness as a Business Strategy"

The "payback system" is alive and well in most organizations. Some members of your staff have very long memories when they believe they were a victim. For these people every work day is another attempt to balance out the scales of personal justice by "getting even." Unfortunately, it is never enough. There is never enough satisfaction derived from vengeance. So the payback game is played over and over... at the expense of the organization that regularly loses productivity to the game…that no one ever wins.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to see the payback game as a loss of productivity and not just a Human Resources issue,
  2. How to define forgiveness in non-religious terms,
  3. How to determine the personality traits that make forgiveness a possibility,
  4. How to use seven sequential skills to "let go" of the need for vengeance,
  5. How to make forgiveness an organizational value.

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Improving Communication

"Straight Talk"

There are some skill sets that qualify for the "eternal" category. Interpersonal communication has to be one of them.

If your organization has a "communication problem," this workshop can offer your staff the skills on how to accurately send and receive face-to-face messages.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to use unconditional positive regard to listen even when you don't like what you hear,
  2. How to clearly and succinctly verbalize what you are thinking,
  3. How to identify the "hidden agenda" in messages you receive,
  4. How to move past the "presenting problem" to the "real issue," and
  5. How to make sure your message gets through the communication clutter of the modern workplace.

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"The Perception Principle"

Perception does equal reality. Whatever we perceive, through all of our senses and intuition-is reality. Perception, therefore, is a strong organizing principle of all communication.

This workshop is designed for companies and work groups that are struggling to understand why staff continues to "get the wrong message." The course opens with a unique inventory that will identify for the participant what are the sources of reality (perceptions) in his/her workplace.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to decipher the perceptions present in a particular workplace,
  2. How "selectivity," "psychological set," "organization," and "retention" can all influence perceptions,
  3. How to organizationally test perceptions to determine if they are true or false,
  4. How to verbally and emotionally challenge false perceptions,
  5. How to change perceptions through behavior.

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"Right Writing"

This is it!!! Grammar, punctuation, capitalization, run-on sentences, misplaced modifiers... they are the fun stuff of written communication in your workplace. Right?

If you and your coworkers mentally struggle with, is it "who" or "whom," "affect" or "effect" or what is the best way to begin a collection letter, this workshop is for you.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to break "writer's block,"
  2. How to structure a letter, email or memo so the receiver wants to read it,
  3. How to accurately punctuate a sentence,
  4. How to detect and correct errors before your reader finds them, and
  5. How to use eight grammar skills that guarantee you will never embarrass yourself in print.

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"Power Talk"

No one makes it to the top, without making it first to his/her feet. Public speaking continues to be at the top of the greatest fears list in America. Some people in your workplace would rather donate an organ than stand and speak in front of a group.

This is a two-day learning experience that does include five "stand up" experiences for the participant to practice what he/she has learned. The final public speaking exercise is an eight to ten minute, video-recorded presentation so that both the class and Dr. LeMon can offer a critique. There is a limit of 12 attendees in this course.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to use nervousness as your best public speaking asset,
  2. How to structure and outline a speech,
  3. How to get the attention and trust of the audience in the first 10 seconds,
  4. How to use a "loop illustration" that ties the presentation together and
  5. How to sleep well before your next presentation.

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"The Master Trainer"

For organizations that want to develop competent, internal trainers, this two-day workshop offers a "hands-on" learning experience.

Dr. LeMon will share the practical insights he has gleaned over 30 years of presenting organizational education programs accented with the latest research into how adults learn. This combination will result in Dr. LeMon offering practical instruction with periodic opportunities for the participants to get on their feet to present short training modules using the skills they have learned.

All of the participants will have one training presentation recorded on video tape for Dr. LeMon and the class to evaluate. Because of this intensive setting, this class is limited to no more than 12 participants.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to develop curriculum for a training program,
  2. How to visually craft a workbook that optimizes the participation of attendees,
  3. How to use audio-visuals to enhance the presentation,
  4. How to respond to the obstructionist participant in training,
  5. How to change the learning environment every eight minutes…with anyone knowing it,
  6. How to structure continuous application into the training and
  7. How to use "homework" as a method for building accountability.

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Resolving Conflict

"Fair Fighting"

There are two ways we fight with each other, "dirty fighting" and "fair fighting". The "dirty" type is conducted with vast amounts of intimidation and name-calling. It isn't pretty.

Then there is the "fair" fighting where at least one of the two combatants works on solutions instead of sandbagging the other person. Research suggests we have tons of experience with dirty fighting, but not too much with the fair type. This workshop openly endorses conflict as a natural consequence of our humanity, but does offer skills on how to resolve it quickly and efficiently.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to identify your personal values that, when violated, are the root cause of all conflict,
  2. How to confront an individual when separated by conflict,
  3. How to verbalize the "intent to learn" as opposed to the "intent to protect,"
  4. How to use seven, sequential skills to resolve conflict and
  5. How to fight without emotionally "losing it."

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"Verbal Defense Skills"

Words, not fists, should be the adult weapons of choice when in conflict. The problem is what are the "right words?" What is the right collection of syllables to use in a professional environment when one is feeling slightly "bent out of shape?" That is the question that will be answered in this workshop.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to construct, in advance, the right verbal response to ten common "in-your-face" statements one might hear in a contemporary workplace,
  2. How to use advanced skills in assertiveness to formulate responses to hostile people,
  3. How to ask a question when confronted with a "I'm-pushing-your-hot-buttons" declarative statement,
  4. How to win an argument by losing and
  5. How to use self-control to gain control of an explosive situation.

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"Moving From Bargaining to Negotiation"

Whether it is buying a new car, agreeing on a time for a teenager to be back home with the family car or, a labor contract, interpersonal negotiation skills are necessary to navigate through life. This course provides the framework for principle-centered negotiation, not bargaining.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to determine the difference between bargaining and principle-centered negotiation,
  2. How to separate the person from the problem that needs to be negotiated,
  3. How to structure the negotiation so that both parties build a tacit collusion so that each walks away with a "win,"
  4. How to invent options, during the negotiation,
  5. How to negotiate with someone who has all the power,
  6. How to negotiate in an atmosphere dominated by "dirty tricks,
  7. How to keep negotiations centered on verifiable data.

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"Getting the Lone Ranger to Ride with Your Team"

There is one in every work team. You know, the "loner," the "fifth wheel" the one who "rains on everyone's parade."

These "Lone Rangers" will not only be a pain-in-the-posterior, they can actually sabotage (which often is his/her goal) your team's best work. There is no need to just "put up with" these team members; you can motivate them to take off their masks and ride with everyone else.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to identify Lone Rangers from behavioral and attitudinal characteristics,
  2. How to assertively confront the silent saboteur on your team,
  3. How to use a visual paradigm to redirect the openly obstructionist in a team meeting,
  4. How to get the Lone Ranger ride with you through the practice of empowerment,
  5. How to verbally and emotionally confront the ten common techniques of the Lone Ranger, and
  6. How to create "working assumptions" on your team that will make any Lone Ranger uncomfortable in the future.

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Developing Leaders

"Management Clinic"

This is a two-day, pragmatic learning experience built around the theme: "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

Both "management" and "leadership" are legitimate expectations of someone who has responsibility for others. Management is often maligned as a "bean-counter" exercise when contrasted with the inspirational quality of leadership.

This presentation gives worth to the manager who is often judged on whether he/she gets things done right. The majority of classroom time will be placing the participant in a specific workplace scenarios and then use the skills learned to give the "right" response.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to discipline with the intent of enabling the employee instead of a prelude to writing a pink slip,
  2. How to structure and write a fair, honest annual performance review,
  3. How to partner with Human Resources to enforce work rules,
  4. How to confront an employee over personal issues that have productivity implications,
  5. How to legally hold people accountable for sexual harassment and discrimination violations,
  6. How to write reports that will communicate quickly and
  7. How to practice business etiquette inside and outside the workplace.

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"Building Trust through Leadership"

Your employee walks in tomorrow to find out the coworker next to his/her desk has been "beamed up" in the latest restructuring, the co-pay for the HMO has gone up... again, and the turkey handed out at Thanksgiving has gone the way of the hula hoop.

If your staff is having trouble believing that they are your most important "resource," this workshop will add value to your organization.

The course begins with the participants listing all the places in their personal and professional lives where the "rules have changed." This exercise will make the point that "trust" is a non-tangible asset we bestow on other people and/or organizations. The responsibility is with both the leader and the institution to build a new framework for trust to grow.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to make an organizational inventory of the institutional factors that chip away at trust,
  2. How to make consistency the hallmark of trust,
  3. How to give people bad news and leave trust in the wake of those difficult words,
  4. How to use discipline to engender trust,
  5. How to model trust in a shifting political environment and
  6. How to build trust after you have been untrustworthy.

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"A New Look for Leadership: The Assertive Servant"

Leadership has never been more important. Organizations rise and fall, in a chaotic world and economy, on the skills of leaders. The ability to "sell" a vision of the future to a workforce that may not have the same perception is the art of being out front.

This presentation is build around a unique paradigm: the assertive servant. This apparent contradiction in terms is intended to provide the balance between "respect for the employee and respect for the task."

Skills Presented:
  1. How to define leadership against the backdrop of chaos,
  2. How to make organizational and personal values the foundation for leadership,
  3. How to care for staff as valuable resources and still make production goals,
  4. How to use the seven skills of assertiveness to establish personal credibility,
  5. How to produce accountability without filling out another form and
  6. How to achieve "buy in" even though the workforce was not consulted on the direction of the organization.

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"Mutual Respect, Mutual Gain"

This is a course about the value of respect in the workplace and its influence on productivity. The problem with respect is everyone talks about it and worships it, but few people can define it.

The participants will begin the workshop by crafting a working definition of respect through identifying its characteristics. These characteristics will become an outline for the learning experience.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to define respect in concrete language,
  2. How to "value" others who do not think and look like us,
  3. How to link respect with increased profitability,
  4. How to see the economic benefits of respect through three corporate case studies,
  5. How to create a culture of respect and
  6. How to hold a staff accountable for acting out respect.

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"Building the 14 Carrot Gold Organization"

Having trouble motivating staff…even after you have them a raise and a bonus?

Employee motivation is at the core of this workshop. Using the latest data and research on workplace motivation, the participant will be challenged to closely examine 14 non-money motivators that can be used in any work environment.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to make an effective use of money to get the right staff in the door,
  2. How to practically use "achievement and recognition" to improve the financial bottom line,
  3. How to make non-money motivation as desirable as greenbacks,
  4. How to motivate staff doing boring, repetitious tasks,
  5. How to redirect staff centered on money as the only motivator and
  6. How to motivate the "workplace slug."

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"Finding Your Power in Empowerment"

Since the 1970's businesses have discovered the philosophical key to moving entitled employees ("you owe me a job just because I walked through the door today") to work like they own the company. It is called empowerment.

Using the thinking and practices of Dr. W Edwards Deming, management has learned that moving the decision-making about how the work should be done to those who do the work makes financial sense.

This workshop provides an historic and contemporary trip through the refinements that have been made to the practices of empowerment.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to identify staff who are candidates for empowerment,\
  2. How to "sell" empowerment to staff who are content hiding in the bureaucracy,
  3. How to let go of control in order to get control,
  4. How to hold people accountable for "owning" the company,
  5. How to coach people when they fail at taking responsibility,
  6. How to organizationally prepare a company for the practice of empowerment and
  7. How to reward those who take the risk of becoming the empowered employee.

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"Chicken Little Leadership"

This is a workshop for management personnel who regularly encounter a work environment characterized as "chaotic."

When crisis punctuates a workplace, what are the skills the manager/executive should be able to quickly use? The answer to that question will be provided in detail throughout this learning experience.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to determine if the workplace event is a "problem" or a "crisis,"
  2. How to prioritize when there is no time,
  3. How to take control and get people to respond quickly,
  4. How to verbalize in front of a large group when a united response is required,
  5. How to write contingency plans and
  6. How to take care of yourself once the crisis has passed.

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"Gender and Leadership"

Men and women are different. That is both the blessing and the curse of diversity in gender. And, men and women drag these endemic differences into their leadership roles.

Women and men lead differently. That fact does not make one gender better than the other. Just different. This workshop is designed for both genders to learn about each other and then learn how to adapt to one another.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to use the physicality of one's gender to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of being a man or a woman,
  2. How to use the psychodynamic quality of gender to understand why men and women communicate differently,
  3. How to leverage one's gender in decision-making,
  4. How to negotiate with the opposite gender,
  5. How to become a synergistic team player with someone of the opposite gender and
  6. How to think like the opposite gender when "push comes to shove."

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Increasing Productivity

"The 25 Hour Day"

Time management is really self-management. This workshop takes an intrapersonal approach to managing one's life. All of the time management notebooks, charts and PDA programs will never work unless there is an internal commitment to control the clock.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to disconnect the negative messages about time that may have been learned in childhood,
  2. How to write a mission for one's personal life,
  3. How to quickly establish goals for a year, month, week and day,
  4. How to prioritize everything that is #1 for today,
  5. How to make a "to do" list that does not lead to depression,
  6. How to build an "accountability person" into a daily schedule and
  7. How to manage time so well there is plenty of time for relaxation.

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"Extra-Ordinary Service from Extraordinary People"

Approximately 73% of the economy is populated with organizations in the "service sector." Yet, "service" continues to be the most misunderstood and neglected skill dispensed across service counters today.

This workshop will challenge the understanding and competence of even the most seasoned customer service agent. Using the latest neuro-psychology research into the mind of the consumer (How Customers Think by Zaltman), the attendee will learn the profound implications of tone of voice, visual aids, voice mail options and a myriad of other customer service contact points.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to design organizational structure so that extraordinary service is defined and rewarded,
  2. How to emotionally respond to customers in both face-to-face and remote communication,
  3. How to "brand" service so predictability is established,
  4. How to effectively respond to angry customers,
  5. How to negotiate win-win solutions with customers,
  6. How to lose a customer and move on and
  7. How to make customer service part of the annual performance review-with the customer having a voice in the process.

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"The Y Factor: Creativity as a Business Strategy"

When there are fewer people and dollars to get done even more work, you need a new idea. When the competition begins to gobble up vast amounts of your market share, you need a new idea. When your organizational growth has come to a screeching stop, you need a new idea.

This learning workshop is built around the premise that all the new ideas for your organization have not "been taken." The attendee will learn that our minds are a bottomless lake of creative solutions to any problem.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to suspend judgment, for short periods of time, to discover a new idea,
  2. How to "play" with new ideas in workplaces that frown on playing with anything,
  3. How to establish order out of the chaos of creativity,
  4. How to "sell" new ideas to the king-makers in any organization,
  5. How to refine ideas into business innovation and
  6. How to make creativity part of the organizational culture

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"Seeing Tomorrow... Today"

This workshop is centered on the skills of "systemic thinking." Using the research and writing of Dr. Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline), the participant will learn the only way to restructure an organization for profitability is not to downsize people, but right size the "systems" that keep pumping out the same unprofitable results.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to identify the "systems" in an organization,
  2. How to identify the unproductive and unprofitable systems in an organization,
  3. How to confront the "stake-holders" of the unprofitable systems and get them to be part of the realignment,
  4. How to use "leverage" to change or eliminate unproductive systems,
  5. How to "test" the altered systems to determine their effectiveness and
  6. How to make organizational meetings a place to annihilate unprofitable systems.

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"Caring for Yourself in Chaos"

This is not a stress-management workshop; rather, it is a skill-based approach to personally managing unending organizational change. In other words, if your organization is restructuring every other month, there will be a personal toll extracted from you and your coworkers. Assertively managing that "toll" paid at the gatehouse of change is the goal of this workshop.

Skills Presented:
  1. How to take responsibility for excellence, but not perfection,
  2. How to use spirituality as a component of work,
  3. How to work to live instead of living to work,
  4. How to take your family to work,
  5. How to respond to episodic depression, rejection and disillusionment at work,
  6. How to restructure your mind so you work with someone instead of for someone,
  7. How to find personal worth in work and
  8. How to get comfortable with chaos.

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