BUSINESS SKILLS

Online Training Catalog

If your team is looking to take its skills to the next level and develop leaders, these courses will come in handy. This catalog features more than 170 training courses on leadership, management skills, strategic thinking, and much more.

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COMMUNICATION

4 Stages to Writing Your Best

Some people thinks that in the grand scehme of things, excellence in writing isn’t all that important as long as you get the general idea accross. But the sentence above is a perfect illustration of why that simply isn’t true: Did it make you wary to see that the first sentence of a course intended to teach you writing tips was full of errors? Good writing gives you and your ideas authority, visibility, and stature. Bad writing, on the other hand, can make readers question your credibility and/or expertise, can be costly to a business, and can even damage the career of the writer. Inefficient, unclear, misleading, irrelevant, sloppy or deceptive written communication costs companies across the board billions each year. This course will help you improve your skills and avoid careless errors by focusing on four stages of writing: preparing, planning, drafting, and editing (revising and finalizing).

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Effective Presentation Skills

In LearnSmart’s Effective Presentations video training, you will learn how to clearly convey your intended message, while overcoming fear and anxiety. You are provided with an essential overview to successful public speaking. This training highlights the skills needed to make presentations, and the necessary changes involved in presentations to blend personality with clear communication. The video will focus on the following topics: dealing with fears and anxieties, elements of a presentation, nonverbal communication, and how to prepare for a presentation.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

How to Write Powerful & Persuasive Emails

Writing an email is the same as any other form of correspondence, only faster and a lot less formal, right? Wrong. Almost every professional today is faced with the seemingly simple task of writing emails but there are specific considerations that apply to email that we should always consider before we hit ‘Send.’ This 1-hour online interactive course teaches you the specifics for using electronic mail to focus and present information effectively. It covers the need to capture your reader’s attention immediately and then hold it by arranging the details in a logical sequence, and helps you avoid common pitfalls like a careless subject line and lax grammar and style conventions. You’ll also learn what the differences should be between composing an email that ‘tells’ information and email that ‘sells’; how to use the Pyramid writing plan for maximum efficacy in getting your message across, and perhaps the single most paramount rule in email writing: Pause before you hit Send!

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Optimizing LinkedIn for Sales Prospecting and Business Networking

Social networking has become a common part of people’s personal and professional lives. Although different social networking tools may be used for different purposes, LinkedIn is specifically designed to connect professionals with one another to make them more productive and successful. The purpose of this course is to show you how you can improve your sales prospecting and business networking through the use of LinkedIn, the most popular business oriented social networking site on the internet. With an ever growing membership currently in the millions, LinkedIn can help sales professionals:

  • Build and maintain a broader network of trusted professionals
  • Generate leads Learn about other companies and their hierarchies
  • Leverage powerful tools to find and reach the right people
  • Tap into the knowledge of their network, and
  • Discover new opportunities

This course will explore each of these points and also reveal common mistakes to avoid when using LinkedIn.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Short, Sweet and To-the-Point Reports

If the skills you’d acquired by the time you wrote your last book report for school aren’t cutting it for you in the business world, this course can teach you what you need to know in three hours. Almost every professional has to write a short report at some point in his or her career, and despite the fact that it doesn’t have to be ‘long,’ it can still be daunting – especially if you don’t like writing. This course will teach you to use the simple and extremely effective Pyramid method of writing to create the most common types of reports professionals will be faced with in their careers. The first category is Informative Short Reports, such as Incident, Field Trip, and Progress Reports, in which you present your information factually and do not expect your reader to reply or take specific action. The second is Persuasive Short Reports – for instance, a Recommendation or Inspection Report, in which you convince your reader to take the action you suggest. Don’t think you can do it? Sure you can! We unravel the mystery of effective writing within.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Tackling the Technical Proposal

Proposals are an integral part of the professional world. Proposal topics can range from a request for more department funding to a plan for redesigning a highway. Regardless of the subject, proposals are intended to persuade. A poorly written or dull document that doesn’t present the critical components in logical order can mean your presentation or request is brushed aside or not taken seriously. This 2-hour interactive online course on writing business and technical proposals focuses on the Pyramid writing method as a foundation for written communication. Using the Pyramid method means you create a solid writing foundation and then build from the ground up – which is key to effective communication and a more credible and convincing proposal. The clearly defined parts of a pyramid make proposals easier for writers to write and, as a result, far easier for the readers to read. Once you have successfully completed this course, you will have the tools to significantly improve your proposal writing skills and help ensure the success of your company.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Writing Effective Emails

In today’s business world, email is often the preferred means of exchanging information, yet many organizations overlook this very important form of business communication. So much of our daily social and business interactions occur over the Internet that it is very easy to take such an important means of communication for granted. Because of the preference for email interaction over other forms of communication, utilizing email in a professional and efficient manner is vital for success. This course discusses ways to make this most important means of communication effective and efficient so you can produce stellar emails that grab your reader’s attention. Tips for structuring emails will be presented, as well as knowledge about proper professional email tone and language.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Webinars – Conducting a Web-based Presentation

Delivering a successful presentation over the web is absolutely achievable. The key is knowing the rules and the tools that will facilitate the accomplishment of your goals. The purpose of this course is to help you successfully deliver dynamic and engaging web-based presentations. This will begin with a clear understanding of what a web-based presentation is and how it differs from other web-based activities, like web meetings and conference calls. Then, we’ll explore common terminology related to conducting a web-based presentation as well as the various web tools available for the delivery of those presentations. To help you with the design, preparation, and delivery of your presentations, we’ll also explore tips and tricks for engaging your audience, and how to prepare for the unexpected.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communicating Up

Communicating Up 01: Your Manager

Learn the background key concepts to effective communication to your boss or supervisor.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communicating Up 02: Your Manager's Style of Communication

Identify the medium, frequency, and amount of detail needed to successfully communicate with your manager.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communicating Up 03: Your Path

Learn and apply the five-step process for communicating to your boss or supervisor.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communicating Up 04: Mastering

Practice Communicating Up in a full scenario situation.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communicating Up 05: Health Check

Test your ability to apply Communicating Up concepts in this skills-based scenario assessment.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)


FINANCE

Creating a Budget that Works for You

A budget can be a very effective financial tool. If used correctly, it can help you determine where your finances are, and forecast where they need to be. With the economy chugging slowly toward recovery, it’s important to get a handle on your spending so you can make the best choices when allocating your money. A good budget plan is one that makes sense to you, and one that YOU KNOW you will be able to maintain. This interactive online course will help you take a step towards doing just that. By discussing best practice methods and methodologies that have proven fruitful for many formerly harried individuals, you will learn tested strategies for establishing and maintaining a budget that works for you.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)


GENERAL

Brain Bites: Prioritizing Tasks

Gain control of your workload and your day! The truth is, many of us are overwhelmed with too much to do, and not enough time to do it. It’s easy to get bogged down and lose track of what our priorities are, and what we should and should not be spending time on. In this course, you will follow along with Savvy as they learn how to prioritize tasks and conduct a time audit. Savvy and Jemeshia will also work through the process of setting SMART goals, both at a high level and at more detailed levels. Once goals are established, you’ll learn how to create a to do list and prioritize the tasks on it. But a to do list is not enough. You’ll also learn how to protect your time and build your team by delegating tasks and learning to say no when appropriate. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to balance your workload, and hopefully your stress levels, by effectively prioritizing your tasks.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Are you constantly ‘firefighting’? Does it seem as though problems always appear at the last minute or just before the weekend? In this course, you will learn strategic steps to prevent much chaos and solve new or recurring problems. Through the use of application exercises and rich multimedia process, your ability to think critically and solve problems effectively and in a timely manner will increase thus propelling your end results to new heights.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Energy Management: Exercise, and Safety

Have time set aside, but no energy to use the time well? Learn the skills of managing your energy to find yourself getting more done and feeling better while you do it! Through the effective use of application exercises and a rich multimedia process, this course will take you on a journey of discovery to implement a workable plan to energize your life and get more done.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Managing Stress at Work

Eu-stress and Di-stress. One positive, one negative. One can push us to new levels of achievement, the other can kill. In this course, learn the difference between positive and negative stress, and how to manage both to help you achieve the results you desire. Reduce the negative stress in your world by using application exercises and a rich multimedia process. Check process to identify pain points and take action to regulate the stress you experience.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Managing Up: Strengthening Relationships

Have a great rapport with your employees and your peers? You’re not done yet! Learning how to manage up is a key component of any successful career. Through application exercises and a rich multimedia process, this course will teach you what you need to know to create positive relationships with those you report to.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

The Power of One - Taking Accountability

Have you ever said that something is “not your responsibility” Maybe it is! Learn how taking accountability can change the results you are getting at work and in your life. This course uses application exercises and a rich multimedia process to give you the insight and skills to change your results through taking accountability.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Smart Time Management

7 Steps to Regaining Control of Your Day

Feeling out of control and overwhelmed by everything you need to accomplish each day? No matter how hectic your schedule appears, you can regain control of your day and increase your daily productive time. How? Effective time management is your tool to design success at work and at home. This interactive online course details a complete, integrated time management system. This system contains just seven steps, which will assist you in developing an effective and efficient method for allocating time and regaining control of your life. In addition to honing your prioritization skills, you will also learn how best to use your reclaimed time and how to periodically reassess your time management process so you can maintain control of your day.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

The 80/20 Rule for Making Every Minute Count

In 1897, Italian Economist Vilfredo Pareto found that 20 percent of any given population, of any country during any time period, accounted for 80 percent of the wealth. This pattern is repeated in many aspects of life, not just wealth. The 80/20 Rule as applied to time management reveals that there is generally a significant imbalance between our efforts and our results — 20 percent of our efforts produce 80 percent of the results. Conversely, the other 80 percent of our efforts produce only 20 percent of the results. This interactive online course explores how we can learn to channel our time and effort to get the greatest results with the least amount of effort and stress. It focuses on individual abilities, and teaches an entrepreneurial time management approach together with creative use of the 80/20 Rule. Implementing the tools presented in this course will help you prioritize so that you focus on the things you are best at and enjoy the most. You will learn to strive for excellence in a few things, rather than achieving mediocre performance in many.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Business Execution

Execution 01: Strategies

Business execution is about taking ideas and turning them into reality. But to do that, you need to adopt a culture of execution. Execution Strategies introduces you to the hallmarks of an execution culture, and teaches you how to develop one in your organization. You’ll learn about the importance of accountability; how to handle change; how to align the right talent with your goals; and, once you are aligned in executing your strategy, how to stay on track until you get where you want to go.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Execution 02: Inspiring Excellence

When you have the foundation for a business execution culture in place, it takes constant vigilance to keep the momentum going, keep employees energized, and make sure your key people are the right ones to maintain the culture and maximize output. Inspiring Workplace Excellence deals with the importance of keeping employees energized by keeping them empowered. When you maintain positive energy, it helps create a work environment that inspires employees.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Execution 03: Turning Ideas into Actions

There are concrete steps you can take to create a culture that will assist, rather than impede, the execution of ideas and strategies. Turning Ideas into Actions will show you how successful organizations establish a business execution culture. In addition, you will see how to avoid wrong questions, inflated numbers, unrealistic projections, and outrageous ‘stretch goals’ that set departments up for failure.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits

Improving Work Habits 01: Performance Issue or Poor Work Habit?

Distinguish between a performance issue and a poor work habit, which require a different problem-solving process.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 02: Describing the Work Habit

Practice describing the team member’s poor work habit focusing on behavior and fact, not attitudes or opinions.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 03: Keep Ownership with the Team Member

What you should say in the context of work habit discussions when team members try to deny responsibility for the poor habit.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 04: Empathizing

Use empathy in your discussions is important for team member self-esteem and buy-in.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 05: Your Path

Learn and apply the five-step process for improving poor work habits shown by your team members.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 06: Mastering

Practice Improving Work Habits in a full scenario situation.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Improving Work Habits 07: Health Check

Test your ability to apply Improving Work Habits concepts in this skills-based scenario assessment.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Quality Essentials

Smart Quality: Building Quality Awareness

You expect quality from your vendors and your customers expect quality from you and your organization. In this course we will familiarize you, regardless of your level in your organization, with the meaning of quality, how it is critical, and how to begin to put it into motion in all of your work.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Smart Quality: Systematic Problem Solving

All organizations are challenged by problems that need to be fixed. You can become a master troubleshooter and problem solver. In this course we will instruct you in successful systematic problem solving, giving you methods and tools that you can use regardless of your position or organization.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Smart Quality: Process Improvement

All work is a process–plain and simple. A process is a series of events, activities, decisions, or tasks that transform inputs into outputs. Processes can be very large, crossing many functions within your institution or organization; or small, existing within a department or unit. Smaller processes exist within the context of larger processes. It is imperative as you start that you are careful in what processes you select for improvement. This interactive online course discusses selecting, monitoring, and improving processes so you will be able to provide your products or services accurately and on time.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)


LEADERSHIP

Basics of Leadership

Basics of Leadership 01: Challenges

Leaders in the 21st century must accommodate themselves to today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. Leadership Challenges will teach you about the characteristics of 21st century organizations. You will become familiar with current trends as they apply to business, and gain a better understanding of changing employee expectations and motivations in the workplace. This is the first course in a series of six courses on 21st century leadership.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Basics of Leadership 02: Corporate Culture Changes

A company’s organizational structure has a significant impact on how well a company performs and how well its employees work together to achieve common goals. In this course, you will learn the characteristics of a healthy organizational culture. You will gain insight into understanding workplace behaviors and learn how to direct cultural change. This course will provide you with ideas on how to shape healthy organizations and the insight needed to lead cultural change in your organization. Changes in Corporate Culture is course number two in a series on 21st century leadership.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Basics of Leadership 03: Keeping Employees Energized

Employees who are excited about being at work each day tend to be more conscientious, yield higher quality work, have more momentum, and are less likely to allow themselves to become distracted. In this course, you will learn about the right ways to energize employees. You will gain insight on how to effectively communicate with and empathize with employees. You will better understand how to build morale in the workplace and how to stimulate creativity and capitalize on employee energy. This course is part of a six-course series on 21st century leadership.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Basics of Leadership 04: Knowledge Management

Knowledge is the most valuable asset most companies possess. Knowledge fuels innovation and represents a strong competitive advantage. Therefore, how companies manage their knowledge directly affects their productivity and capacity to compete. Knowledge Management looks at three different management styles and provides insight into how knowledge workers in the 21st century play an important role in today’s workplace and how companies grow their intellectual capital. This is the fourth course in a six-course series on 21st century leadership.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Basics of Leadership 05: Elements of Change

Pushing for change can result in a more competitive organization. But change does not guarantee success and involves risk and cost. However, not doing anything can be risky and costly too. Elements of Change addresses the importance of change and why it’s essential to speak up when you see something that can be done better or handled differently. This course will allow you to look at your organization with new perspective and contemplate how it can become more competitive and grow in the marketplace. This is the fifth course in a series of courses dedicated to taking a closer look at successful 21st century leadership.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Basics of Leadership 06: Dynamics

Leadership Dynamics will introduce you to some of the common misperceptions about leadership. You will review the fundamental qualities of a great leader and learn how you can develop your own leadership style. You will learn the value of building strong relationships with bosses and co-workers, the power of influence, how to shape corporate culture, and how to build great teams. This is the final course of the Front Line Leadership series.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Stronger Together: Delegation and Task Management

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL! It’s time to delegate. Delegation is perhaps the most important skill for a manager of people to learn and master. You can’t do everything yourself, and you’ll go crazy if you try! At the same time, delegation is challenging and it takes both commitment and an investment of time to get it right. The good news is, once you start delegating well, you’ll be surrounding yourself with capable and empowered team members. This course follows the story of child prodigy, Brianca, and “Play All Day”, the toy company she started with children like herself. Brianca learns quickly that the only way to accomplish her goals is to delegate well to those around her. Watch and learn as the “Play All Day” team grows together into a high-functioning team where each member feels valued and important. The course finishes with a bonus module on task management tools to help you keep track of your team’s work. By the end of this course, you’ll be inspired to go forth and delegate!

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Effective Delegation

The Art & Science of Delegation

Many think delegation is a way to load others with work, hopefully relieving themselves of both some work and, possibly, some responsibility. But that’s a narrow and negative perspective on delegation that seldom leads to increased productivity or profitability. The true purpose of delegation is to get more accomplished in less time through the effective utilization of the talent and resources available. Used correctly, delegation allows us to work constantly on our business rather than merely working in it. It tell us when others can do needed activities, faster, cheaper, and better than we can ourselves. The mastery of delegation is the highest form of personal leverage and the ultimate time management tool. It multiplies the number of projects we can effectively work on at once, and also shortens the time between concept and delivery of the product or service to the client or market. This 1-hour interactive online course defines delegation, explains its benefits, and guides the student through the process of delegating tasks and projects.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)



MANAGING PEOPLE

Business Essentials

Having your own business means personal freedom. Business ownership allows you to be your own boss, and there are no income limits. The more money your business earns, the more money you, the owner, can keep. However, owning your own business requires you to become fully involved in managing the organization. This begins with establishing your company’s values and writing mission and vision statements. This course will show you how to implement these elements, and more, into a well-defined business plan. In addition, you will be introduced to the importance of a structurally sound financial plan. These ingredients can prepare you and your company for success.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Coaching for Better Performance

There’s no doubt about it. The workplace has changed drastically over the past two decades. In the past, leading an organization meant managing, directing or supervising. The individual in charge was known as ‘The Boss’ and was responsible for directing all activities and making all decisions. Today’s employees do not respond well to bosses. They expect to be treated as full members of a team. Therefore, many managers today find themselves in the somewhat uncomfortable position of being a ‘coach.’ Unfortunately, they are typically lacking in the knowledge and skills to master their new role. The purpose of this course is to provide practical suggestions for confronting poor performance by using a Performance Improvement Plan. The ideas in this course are designed to help you become a coach in the very best sense of the word.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Data Security

Data security is the protection of information and mechanisms employed to provide assurance that data will remain secure. A data security system includes resources, people, hardware, software, and the infrastructure supporting data protections. This interactive online course discusses the different aspects of data security, including categorization of data and data types, data management, and user and organization responsibility for maintaining data security. Data within an organization is an essential part of how the organization does business, makes profits, acquires its place in industry, and retains employees to perform the work. Determining the level of data sensitivity and structuring a data security system around those needs is imperative for the success of an organization and the security of organizational information.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Developing Your Leadership Style

Want to know all the details? Prefer to oversee? Like to be involved? Everyone has a different style, whether in dress and music or in leadership. In this course you will learn to identify your personal leadership style and how to incorporate your style into any role through the use of application exercises and a rich multimedia process. Knowing your style will allow you to be more effective in choosing team members, managing up or down, and in getting your own work done.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Discrimination in the Workplace for Managers

As agents of their employers, managers need a basic understanding of employment discrimination laws and how they apply in the workplace. There are a variety of both federal and state laws prohibiting certain types of workplace discrimination. The concepts of discrimination, harassment and diversity are all related to the goal of creating a workplace environment where differences among employees are respected and valued. However, there are fine distinctions among the terms. In this interactive course, you will learn how they relate to one another from both a practical and legal perspective. You will also learn about the categories protected from discrimination, types of reasonable accommodations, and best practices to avoid workplace discrimination.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Effective Performance Review Practices

Studies show that well over 90% of organizations engage in a formal employee Performance Review (or Appraisal) Process, but the practice is highly varied between companies – and sometimes within a single company – in both the way it is conducted and its effectiveness. In fact, Performance Review is often dreaded by both managers and employees. One reason is that managers often lack skill in objectively evaluating and providing useful feedback to employees. The purpose of this training session is to equip managers to engage in effective employee performance reviews that will help employees understand and maximize their performance. We will also show how employees can best participate in the process. When done effectively, the Performance Review will have a positive impact on the motivation and performance of employees and their managers and will benefit the entire company.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity for Managers

As agents of an organization, managers need to not only be aware of all applicable employment discrimination laws, but they also must know how to manage diverse employees in varied workplace scenarios. The purpose of this course is to educate managers about equal employment opportunity and diversity practices. In this interactive course, you will learn the basics of federal anti-discrimination laws, the barriers to workplace diversity, and the best practices associated with diversifying your workforce.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Getting the Most out of a Multigenerational Workforce

Times have changed–and so has the workplace. Unlike just a few decades ago, today there are multiple generations of workers at the office, each with their own unique characteristics and expectations. As a manager, it is up to you to find a way to engage and motivate your workers in order to promote success, and the first step is finding out who they are and what makes them ‘tick’. This eye-opening course describes in detail the characteristics of the four main groups in today’s multigenerational workplace: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. It includes information about their work ethic, work styles, loyalties, and their views on work and the family, and it takes a look at the challenges each generation faces with regard to the current recession. Management practices will also be presented that encourage each generation to fully invest in getting the job done not just ‘well’ but ‘with excellence’.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Hiring the Right Talent - Customer Service

Hiring the right talent can make a difference between success and failure in your organization. Interviewing and hiring the right person is both an art and science. In this course, we will focus on best practices and bottom-line evidence that will show you how to interview and hire the best talent. Although this course will be focusing on hiring for a customer service position, the concepts and techniques can be utilized for any position.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Hiring the Right Talent - Sales

Hiring the right talent can make a difference between success and failure in your organization. Interviewing and hiring and the right person is both an art and science. In this course, we will focus on best practices and bottom-line evidence that will show you how to interview and hire the best talent. Although this course will be focusing on hiring for a sales position, the concepts and techniques can be utilized for any position.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

How to Handle Workplace Challenges

Regardless of how much effort an organization puts into creating an efficient and respectful work environment, challenging circumstances always arise. Rather than perceiving these problematic situations as a reflection of a personal or organizational failure, it is more effective to focus on establishing and following clear guidelines to resolve problems and appropriately handle workplace challenges. Whether your organization is currently facing a serious problem, or is seeking to put policies and procedures in place for the future, this interactive online course will guide you in handling the different challenges your organization might face. Instances for intervention including hostile behavior, substance abuse, and criminal activity will be discussed, as well as prevention and mitigation strategies for violation of workplace policies. While the types of challenges encountered in the workplace are too diverse to be discussed in one manual, this course will cover common types of problematic work situations most employers are likely to encounter.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Key Skills for Managing & Coaching Your Team

Whether you are a newly promoted supervisor or an experienced manager, you know managing people is a big responsibility. It requires a special skill set. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be successful and to develop successful employees. This interactive online course teaches you how to coach employees through feedback, mentoring, and counseling. The touchy subjects of corrective counseling and employee discipline are covered as well as the methods of planning, conducting, and benefiting from employee meetings. You will find a template for time management for your work and personal life. The course concludes with a motivational and highly informative section, ‘Take Care of Yourself.’

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Lawful Employee Discipline

Many managers would agree that managing employee workplace behavior can be one of the most challenging aspects of their job, and this is particularly true when it comes to imposing discipline. Determining what to do and when to do it can leave even the most experienced manager perplexed and the proliferation of employment regulations in recent years has added to the complexity of the task, leaving some employers reluctant to take action lest they violate one of the many laws protecting employee interests. As a manager, your primary job is to obtain the best possible results out of your employees, and this sometimes means you will have to help redirect an employee who has gotten off track. Fortunately, there are steps managers can take to ensure disciplinary action is effective while also protecting the organization from possible legal liability. In this interactive course, we will explore why managers must keep up with disciplinary issues and how to best manage this process. We will also look at the legal implications, and why the presence of established policies will be your best line of defense in the event of an employee complaint or lawsuit. Finally, we will discuss overall performance management and best practices for achieving and maintaining a world-class workforce.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Lawful Termination Practices

There comes a time for every manager when they are faced with the need to terminate an employee. The difficulty comes with ensuring that the company is in a position that prevents any liability on their part for that termination. Unfortunately in today’s legal climate, wrongful termination suits are the number one labor lawsuit brought before the courts. The judicial system sees many of these cases, especially when economies experience a downturn and employees struggle to keep their jobs. This interactive online course outlines the criteria for legal termination, and explains how to ensure your company is prepared. Proper procedures need to be in place, and managers need to be knowledgeable of employment laws and the consequences for wrongful termination.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Managing a Geographically Distributed Workforce

It is becoming increasingly rare in today’s business climate for all team members to be located centrally or working from a single office. Whether it is satellite offices, team members working at home, or offsite third party vendors, the workforce of today is more than likely dispersed among a variety of offices in separate locations. In this interactive online course, we will examine the factors that necessitate a remote and often globally distributed workforce. We will also discuss best practices for managing offsite teams and pitfalls to avoid in the process.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Methods for Motivating and Mentoring Your Team

Without a skilled captain to steer it safely to harbor, a ship is as good as lost at sea. The same can be said of the business world–without the right people at its helm, a firm is left to flounder on an uncharted course, one that may very well send it drifting into the dismal abyss of financial ruin. Arguably then, it stands to reason that employees are the most important resource within a company. After all, they are the vital crew members who will allow you, the captain, to navigate the corporate boat to safe harbor (i.e., profitability). This 1-hour interactive online course covers the importance of ensuring motivation among employees and details a variety of methods that can be used selectively to bolster team members. Case studies illustrate specific examples of the ways this information can be put to use, both with employees and the leaders of an organization.

Is this course approved for my state/license?

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Smart Management: Methods for Motivating Your Team

Without a skilled captain to steer it safely to harbor, a ship is as good as lost at sea. The same can be said of the business world–without the right people at its helm, a firm is left to flounder on an uncharted course, one that may very well send it drifting into the dismal abyss of financial ruin. Arguably then, it stands to reason that employees are the most important resource within a company. After all, they are the vital crew members who will allow you, the captain, to navigate the corporate boat to safe harbor (i.e., profitability). This 1-hour interactive online course covers the importance of ensuring motivation among employees and details a variety of methods that can be used selectively to bolster team members. Case studies illustrate specific examples of the ways this information can be put to use, both with employees and the leaders of an organization.

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Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Putting Your People First - Personnel Administration

The most important resource available to any organization is people. Organizations are made of people, and an organization cannot fulfill its intended mission without good employees. These employees need effective leadership to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. A good leader knows how to hire and keep good employees by following the rules and regulations that govern employment. This interactive online course will discuss several personnel issues of interest to all organizations. Whether you have 10 employees or 200 employees, just about every issue discussed in this course will, in some way, apply to your business. Issues discussed in this course include: Personnel Administration (Management and Leadership, Hiring and Firing Practices, and Employee Manual/Handbook) Sexual Harassment Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Drug Free Workplace The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Including 2008 amendments).

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Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

SMART Goals - Setting Effective Targets for Success

Learning how to set effective and relevant goals is the first step in achieving success in any field–goals serve as roadmaps to the future. Just as you wouldn’t go on a trip without a clear understanding of where you’re heading, setting out on your professional journey without a plan is not likely to give you the results you desire. This interactive, online course discusses how to set goals using the SMART goal template (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound), and provides tools to help you get where you want to go in your personal or professional life. The purpose of this course is to aid you in selecting appropriate, attainable goals to give you the best chance of success.

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Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Successfully Transitioning from Team Member to Manager

Successful transition and successful leadership depends on identifying effective strategies for building a team around you as leader and manager. This interactive online course focuses upon the challenges and key strategies for transition from the position of team member to the role of team leader. During this course, we will explore key theories of career development and transition within the corporate environment, as well as theories about team dynamics and the role of leaders. We will also discuss challenges related to the transition from team member to team leader, and strategic and tactical solutions for successful transition within a corporate team. Career development plans, including how to create them, modify them, and apply them to different career scenarios will also be discussed.

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Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

IT Pro to Manager

IT Pro to Manager 01: Managing the Development of Technical Professionals

In LearnSmart’s Managing the Development for Technical Professionals video training, technical professionals will learn the skills to survive and thrive in the workplace. Students will also gain a better understanding of what it takes to develop organizational skills, such as time management, performance management, and stress management.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

IT Pro to Manager 02: Communication and Process Management Skills

In LearnSmart’s Successful Communication and Process Management Skills video training, new and future managers will gain a clear understand of just how important clear lines of communication are — with both employees and superiors. In addition, students will see how easy it can be to become overwhelmed, with so much to do in what never seems like enough time. By concentrating on effective time management, these individuals can avoid much of the stress and pressure that comes with a new position.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

IT Pro to Manager 03: Leadership and Transitioning into Management

In LearnSmart’s Developing Leadership and Transitioning into Management video training, you will learn that management isn’t always so much about leading, as it is about pointing the way. It is your duty to point the way by instructing, giving feedback and sharing your experience. This course looks at leadership roles, styles and behaviors, showing how to build the strengths of your team and overcome personality differences, as well as conflict.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Management

Active Shooter and Other Acts of Targeted Violence

Active shooter or threat suspects are bent on killing as many people as quickly as possible in most cases. Knowing how to react in a targeted violence situation can increase your chances of survival. This interactive online course will teach you about various types of targeted violence. You will learn how to improve your chances of survival by preparing for targeted violence. You will also learn about the precautions for targeted violence and the indicators and traits to look out for so you’ll know what to expect in various situations. Finally, you’ll be trained on how to react to targeted violence by identifying roles and responsibilities and relaying communication effectively so that you can calmly interact with first responders.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Employee or Independent Contractor: The Risk of Misclassification of Employees

A growing number of workers are trading in the corporate hierarchy for the freedom to be their own boss. These independent contractors can be found in nearly every profession, from lawyers and business consultants to writers and yoga instructors. They set their own schedule and they enjoy a wide variety of work experiences, but they also pay their own taxes and secure their own health insurance. A problem arises, however, when employers misclassify workers who are employees under the law as independent contractors. Depending on the specific terms of the working arrangement with an independent contractor, such as hours worked, reporting structure, payment schedule, et cetera, you may be in violation of some very serious worker classification laws. In this interactive, online course, we will define the term independent contractor. We will describe tests used to classify workers as independent contractors, such as behavior controls, financial controls, and the actual working relationship, and we will discuss examples of independent contractors.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

Essentials of I-9 Compliance

To many employers, a Form I-9 may appear to be a simple one-page piece of hiring paperwork. However, the one page Form I-9 comes with enough rules and regulations to fill a 69-page how-to manual, the M-274 Handbook for Employers. There are many common mistakes and human errors that can be made while completing and maintaining Form I-9 records. If an employer fails to complete or maintain I-9 documentation correctly, that employer may fall out of compliance and suffer harsh financial penalties. This interactive, online course contains valuable information on how to complete Form I-9, an important document used for employment eligibility verification. The Form I-9 is a valuable and easy-to-use tool. The use of Form I-9 helps protect jobs for authorized workers, and ensure a legal workforce.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

Pricing as a Professional

This will not be a course in accounting. It will not rely on technical terms. It will be a common-sensical look at pricing with a keen eye to being practical and usable, using experienced-based methods. This 2-hour interactive online course provides an in-depth look at the elements of pricing that you as a contractor must consider if you are to operate on a successful professional level. Though the more prevalent common standard pricing considerations will be touched upon, the primary thrust of this course is to also consider the full panoply of pricing factors, including subjective and judgemental elements, that you must be aware of and use, if you are to be successful. This is a practical look, from an experienced contractors point of view, of often overlooked, but nevertheless important elements, that strongly influence your bottom line, and, perhaps, your ultimate success as a contractor. This course is written from the point of view of a contractor, but it contains information useful to many different professionals who deal with pricing issues. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end. You must have Flash Player Version 7 or higher to view some parts of this course. We also recommend you view this course in Internet Explorer.

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Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)

The Risk of Misclassification of Employees & Essentials of I-9 Compliance (RV-PGM144)

In the first module of this interactive, online program, we will define the term independent contractor. We will describe tests used to classify workers as independent contractors, such as behavior controls, financial controls, and the actual working relationship, and we will discuss examples of independent contractors. The second module of this program will discuss valuable information on how to complete Form I-9, an important document used for employment eligibility verification. The Form I-9 is a valuable and easy-to-use tool. The use of Form I-9 helps protect jobs for authorized workers, and ensure a legal workforce.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)