BUSINESS SKILLS

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Practice Communicating Up in a full scenario situation.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 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 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Is this course approved for my state/license? (Click or Ctrl+Click for more info)

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)