Communications for Small Business Owners

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Facilitator-led 2 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Communication between individuals is a two-way street, but communication between a small business and its customers is a multi-lane highway. Navigate this highway successfully and you increase customer numbers and profits. Set out on this highway unaware, ill-prepared, or unconvinced of its importance, and you will lose ground to your competitors. This course will introduce and reinforce the essential components of written communication that will connect you with existing and potential customers. If you are new to the communications highway, this course will provide the foundation for future development. If your company has some communications expertise, this course will help you strengthen and polish your essential components.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Define the essential pieces of communication
  • Customize these essential pieces for their company
  • Identify the processes and plans needed for clear communications
  • Develop, maintain, and evolve effective content for their communications

What Topics are Covered?

  • Key communication components
  • Your communications plan
  • The five C’s of a successful message
  • Communication strategies
  • Sharing information through media releases
  • Communicating online
  • Using stories to communicate
  • Polishers and time savers
  • Enhancing your results
  • Maintaining your message in crisis

 

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Balanced Scorecard Basics

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Over the past several decades, organizations have come to realize that success cannot only be measured in dollars and cents. Intangible assets (like a company’s reputation, the knowledge base created by their employees, and training initiatives) can make up a huge portion of a company’s wealth. It only makes sense, then, that we need a new tool to help us measure this expanded definition of success. Enter the balanced scorecard! This tool and its related components will help your organization identify, document, plan, and execute a balanced strategic mission. It will also help your organization evaluate and revise its strategic execution.

This program will introduce you to the basics of the balanced scorecard and help you determine if this powerful tool is a good fit for your organization.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Define what the balanced scorecard is and its benefits
  • Describe common balanced scorecard pitfalls & how to avoid them
  • Determine if the balanced scorecard is right for your organization
  • Describe the key elements of the balanced scorecard process
  • Identify a strategy map, tactical action plan, and balanced scorecard
  • Create a vision statement for the balanced scorecard
  • Understand what corporate values, mission statements, and vision statements are and how they tie into the balanced scorecard
  • Understand what processes support the balanced scorecard

What Topics are Covered?

  • Understanding the balanced scorecard
  • The ingredients for success
  • Overview of the balanced scorecard process
  • Creating a project vision statement
  • Understanding organizational mission, vision, and values
  • Plans and processes to build
  • Building balanced scorecard teams

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Appreciative Inquiry Training

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Do you love those moments of exception, when everything seems to have come together and things are working beautifully? Would you like to create an environment where those rare extraordinary moments become the norm? Then you may just be ready to learn the value of Appreciative Inquiry, also known as AI. AI is a method for implementing change that is rooted in being positive, sharing stories of things that work well, and leveraging people’s strengths and the power of co-creation to initiate lasting, powerful changes that can make an organization the best it has ever been, because of people who care and are committed.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Recognize and work with the fundamentals of Appreciative Inquiry
  • Describe the 4-D’s of Appreciative Inquiry: discovery, dreaming, design, and destiny
  • Work through a simple Appreciative Inquiry process
  • Create thoughtful, meaningful questions for their own Appreciative Inquiry initiative
  • Help organizations review what’s important, what they can become, and how they can get there

What Topics are Covered?

  • Defining Appreciative Inquiry
  • Success Principles
  • The 4-D Model
  • Test Driving

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

Learn more about Appreciative Inquiry training in the pdf below.

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Personal Brand – Maximizing Personal Impact

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Facilitator-led 2 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

This course is an exploration about the type of impact we want to have in life and work. Participants will consider and define the influence that they can have on their life and work. They will also learn skills for success and how to create those circumstances.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Speak in terms of the impact and influence that you want to have in life and work
  • Understand your personal style in terms of your personal brand
  • Develop skill in areas like focus, concentration, and communication to support your brand
  • Build credibility and trust by living your brand
  • Take ownership of your image, both online and in person

What Topics are Covered?

  • Importance of a personal brand
  • Your brand approach to others
  • Looking at the outside and the inside
  • Setting goals
  • Networking for success
  • Communication strategies
  • Building your credibility
  • Brand You
  • Living your brand
  • Managing your social media presence
  • Having influence
  • Dealing with challenging people
  • Presentations and meetings

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Marketing for Small Business

Select Your Learning Style

Facilitator-led 2 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Marketing is about getting your business known and building your position within the marketplace. Small businesses don’t always have a big budget for marketing, so they have to do things a little differently than big business in order to grow their presence, increase results, and meet business goals. This course will help small business owners and managers develop their marketing message, create a marketing plan, and apply the right strategies.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Describe the essential elements of a marketing plan, no matter the size of the business
  • Apply tools and strategy to create a marketing plan that supports the growth of their small business
  • Use six steps to create, implement, and review a marketing plan
  • Leverage the best of Internet and social media marketing

What Topics are Covered?

  • Marketing for small business
  • Elements of a successful marketing message
  • The marketing cycle in small business
  • Marketing strategies
  • Implementing your plan
  • Internet marketing basics

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Inventory Management – The Nuts & Bolts

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

No business can survive very long without an effective program of controls over the parts and materials that are used in producing or distributing goods and services of the firm. Like many other things that depend on human interpretation, “control” means different things to different individuals. This is an introductory course for you, the warehouse or stockroom manager, the person in charge of what comes in and goes out of your company. You want a smooth and cost-effective operation, with enough products on hand to satisfy needs without stockpiling too much.

This course will discuss all aspects of inventory management, including common terms, the inventory cycle, how to maintain inventory accuracy, and what some of the latest trends are.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Understand terms that are frequently used in warehouse management
  • Identify the goals and objectives of inventory management and measure your process against these goals
  • Calculate safety stock, reorder points, and order quantities
  • Evaluate inventory management systems
  • Identify the parts of the inventory cycle
  • Better maintain inventory accuracy

What Topics are Covered?

  • What inventory is and types of inventory
  • Setting up the warehouse
  • What makes a good inventory management system?
  • The warehouse inventory cycle
  • Identifying demand
  • The receiving process and validating inventory
  • The put-away process and maintaining accuracy
  • The outbound process and industry trends

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Building a Consulting Business

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Today’s business environment isn’t focused on 9-to-5, lifelong, static positions like it was decades ago. Our world is constantly shifting and evolving, meaning that businesses (and workers) must evolve with it. As a result of this shift, consultants have more opportunities than ever before. This course will show you how to build a business as a consultant.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Define the term “consultants” and explain their role in today’s business world
  • Identify consulting opportunities
  • Create a business strategy that includes a business plan, budget, marketing plan, fee structure, and resources
  • Use social media and networking skills to grow your consulting business
  • Protect your work with contracts
  • Identify ways to stay on top of trends and changes

What Topics are Covered?

  • What It’s All About
  • Business Building Blocks
  • Crunching the Numbers
  • Planning Your Business
  • Test Driving
  • Creating a Sales and Marketing Strategy
  • Getting the Work Done

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Kickstarting Your Business With Crowdsourcing

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Today’s fast-paced marketplace demands that businesses think fast. Crowdsourcing can help all types of businesses keep on top of trends and stay competitive. This course will show you how to leverage all types of crowdsourcing (including microwork, macrowork, crowdvoting, crowdcontests, crowdwisdom, and crowdfunding) to kickstart your business’ growth.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Define what crowdsourcing is and its value to businesses
  • Determine when crowdsourcing makes sense for a project
  • Describe the crowdsourcing process
  • Identify platforms and social media tools that can support your crowdsourcing campaigns
  • Describe the major types of crowdsourcing, including microwork, macrowork, crowdvoting, crowdcontests, crowdwisdom, and crowdfunding
  • Attract and engage your crowd

What Topics are Covered?

  • What is crowdsourcing?
  • The crowdsourcing process
  • Choosing your crowdsourcing platform
  • Types of crowdsourcing (microwork, macrowork, crowdvoting, crowdcontests, crowdwisdom, and crowdfunding)
  • Social media and crowdsourcing
  • Engaging the crowd
  • Test driving

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Global Business Strategies

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Facilitator-led 3 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

Opportunities to take a regional business into the global market make it possible to strategically, smartly, and profitably accomplish more than you can by staying local. To prepare, you need to set your business up for success by being open to learning, to applying new ideas, and to continually reviewing how you can create success in the global market.

Topics such as trade financing, regulatory considerations, international business planning, sustainability, and much more are included in this course. The materials here are well suited for small and medium sized business leaders as they prepare to take their company into the global marketplace.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • Describe the complexities of doing business in a global context
  • Discuss trends in global business
  • Apply strategies and tools needed to help shift a regional business into a global enterprise
  • Closely evaluate your current business operation and determine its readiness for moving into a global marketplace
  • Create an international business plan and prepare it for implementation

What Topics are Covered?

  • Understanding the Global Business Environment
  • The Global Trade Market
  • Products and Services
  • E-Commerce on the Global Stage
  • Working in the Global Context
  • The Economics of Global Business
  • The Logistics of Global Business
  • Rules and Regulations
  • Beyond the Rules – Ethical Concerns
  • Choosing Your Growth Strategy
  • Building Your Growth Plan
  • Implementing Your Growth Plan

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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Sustainability & Social Responsibility in Business

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Facilitator-led 1 Day Program (Classroom)

OR

eLearning format (Self-paced)

Please refer to Pricing Page for cost per participant

The ideas behind encouraging sustainability and social responsibility in business seem noble, as organizations commit to creating optimal circumstances for people to live and work. The reality is that every company, whether it is a micro-business or a large multinational corporation, can take steps to create sustainable, socially responsible environments that contribute to positive workplaces, communities, and futures.

What Will Participants Learn?

  • How to define sustainability and social responsibility
  • The principles of social responsibility in business
  • Techniques for applying the principles of sustainability and social responsibility in the context of ISO 26000
  • How to develop a program for sustainability and social responsibility in business

What Topics are Covered?

  • What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
  • Creating a Corporate Social Responsibility Program
  • Corporate Social Responsibility Principles
  • Environmental Awareness and Sustainability

What’s Included in Your Learning Style?

  • Self-paced eLearning OR
  • Interactive class environment – Facilitator-Led
  • Specialized course materials and resources
  • Personalized certificate of completion

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