All our workshops are customized to your needs. Many courses are two days and are designed for groups of 12 to 15, while some are shorter or tailored for smaller groups.
We bring your business world into our training room so newly acquired skills are easily transferred to the workplace. For our writing workshops, participants submit samples of their writing to the facilitator in advance of the session. The facilitator reviews the documents, provides written comments and returns them to participants at the end of the session. Excerpts from these documents are used as editing exercises during the workshop.
Writing Strategies for Professionals
[ ONE OR TWO DAYS ]
Our flagship program, Writing Strategies for Professionals offers tips and techniques to create clear, concise and polite email, letters and reports. We bring the business world right into our training room by editing excerpts from participants’ documents during the workshop. As well, participants write several documents during the session and receive feedback on their writing.
Optional individual consultations after the workshop help personalize the learning and cement good writing habits. Typically, during the individual consultations, the facilitator reviews in detail the writing samples submitted by each participant.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Employees from front line staff to senior managers who want crisper, clearer email, letters and reports will benefit from this session.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- Three step process to plan, write and edit email and letters
- How to energize messages and write with style
- How to write informative reports that position ideas strategically and draw persuasive conclusions
- How to create an attractive layout
- Review of grammar and punctuation basics (optional)
PARTICIPANTS
12-15
Reports and Proposals
[ TWO DAYS ]
Report and proposal writers will sharpen their skills as well as learn new strategies and techniques to create more powerful and persuasive documents. Participants plan, write and edit a short report (in the two-day workshop) and get feedback on their writing from both colleagues and the facilitator.
Optional individual consultations after the workshop help personalize the learning and cement good writing habits. Typically, during the individual consultations, the facilitator reviews in detail the reports submitted by each participant in advance of the session.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Employees who write reports and proposals will enhance their abilities. As well, anyone who writes documents to influence readers and/or sell ideas will benefit from this workshop.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- How to structure reports and proposals for maximum impact
- How to plan and outline ideas
- How to write clearly, concisely and persuasively
- How to write an executive summary
- How to convey technical information to non-technical readers
- How to create an attractive layout
PARTICIPANTS
12-15
Writing Effective Emails
[ ONE DAY ]
Email conveys your personal and professional brand. Since we often never meet the people we email, our messages need to project the right image while at the same time respect the readers’ time constraints.
This fast-paced workshop introduces a simple template to help writers quickly compose and send messages that are polished, professional, polite and succinct. Optional individual consultations after the workshop help personalize the learning and cement the good writing habits.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Everyone! Who doesn’t write dozens if not hundreds of email each day?
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- Strategies to catch reader attention
- How to plan messages from the reader’s perspective
- How to write clearly and concisely
- Ways to insert the right tone in email
- Quick tips for editing and proofreading
- Tips for email etiquette and productivity
PARTICIPANTS
12-15
Writing Sensational Speeches
[ ONE DAY ]
Good speeches accomplish great things and great speechwriters are not easy to find. This workshop helps participants craft powerful and persuasive speeches. During the workshop, they use a speech planner and template to organize and write a short speech. On the second day, participants deliver their speech and receive feedback from colleagues and the facilitator.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Staff who write speeches either for themselves or for others will learn strategies to create interesting, informative speeches that achieve desired results.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- How to analyze intended audience
- Interview and research tips to gather information
- How to write clearly, concisely and persuasively
- How to use a conversational voice in a speech
- Tips for editing content, organization, style
PARTICIPANTS
6-8
Minutes and Meetings
[ ONE DAY ]
This is definitely an action-oriented workshop, with plenty of role playing, including a mock meeting. Our course gives participants the skills to organize a meeting and take the minutes effectively. They’ll leave with the templates and checklists to help them when they are back at work.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone who attends meetings and takes minutes will learn valuable techniques during this workshop.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- How to prepare for the meeting
- How to create and distribute the agenda
- Tips to strengthen your listening skills
- How to use templates for note taking
- How write clear and concise minutes
PARTICIPANTS
12-15
Chairing a Meeting
[ hALF DAY OR ONE DAY ]
A good chairperson ensures a meeting runs successfully. This workshop helps participants develop their strengths as a chairperson by learning the importance of planning every aspect of meeting, and how to chair meeting positively and professionally. Participants are given templates and checklists to help them when they are back at work. In the one-day session, participants have an opportunity to chair a meeting and receive feedback from colleagues.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This workshop is designed for people who facilitate department or committee meetings and want to run more effective and efficient meetings that produce helpful minutes.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- Qualities of an effective chair person
- How to prepare for the meeting
- Strategies to achieve desired results and encourage staff to contribute
- Ways to deal with difficult meeting attendees
PARTICIPANTS
8-12
The Grammer Refresher
[ ONE DAY ]
This intensive one-day workshop is a review of common errors in grammar, punctuation and word use. It’s intended for people who wish to hone their grammar skills.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This course will be of interest to all employees who want to brush up on their grammar skills as they apply to writing at work.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- How to identify the six most common grammar errors
- How to use punctuation correctly
- How to create style with an active or passive voice, parallel construction and logical comparisons
- Tips to proofread effectively
PARTICIPANTS
12-15
English as a Second Language
[ UP TO SIX WEEKS OF 4 TO 6 HOURS PER WEEK ]
Our English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are customized to the specific needs of individuals. An ESL expert assesses needs and designs a program around those identified needs. Generally, the sessions are scheduled weekly, in your offices, over several months.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Employees who need to communicate verbally and/or in writing and have weak English language skills will benefit from this coaching.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- Speaking in person and on the phone
- Improving pronunciation
- Writing email and letters
- Strengthening grammar
PARTICIPANTS
4-6
Presenting Like a Pro
[ ONE OR TWO DAYS ]
Participants are up on their feet presenting throughout this workshop. They learn how to prepare a focused, interesting and influential presentation, as well how to deliver it with polish and style. Participants leave with a disk of their taped presentations, and they receive both colleague and facilitator feedback during the session.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Employees who deliver or will have to deliver formal or informal presentations will benefit from this workshop. Designed for novices and experienced presenters, this workshop takes staff to the next level.
WHAT THIS SESSION COVERS
- How to craft a presentation
- Tips for designing helpful visuals
- How to influence and inspire through verbal and non-verbal communication
- Tips for managing stress and nerves
- Strategies for building confidence and credibility as a presenter
PARTICIPANTS
Up to 6
Test your own skills now
