March 2006

www.ceoptions.com

Total Leadership Connections

TLC Series 24 Begins:
April 26-28, 2006
July 26-28, 2006
Oct 18-20, 2006
Jan 24-26, 2007


TLC Series 25 Begins:
June 21-23, 2006
Sept 20-22, 2006
Nov 29-Dec 1, 2006
Feb 28-March 2, 2007


"Each new season grows from the leftovers from the past. That is the essence of change, and change is the basic law."

Hal Borland


"I have been fortunate to have benefited from the unique approaches developed by Creative Energy Options to understanding the principles of leadership. I was delighted when CEO decided to offer this program to teenagers. My daughter, Jenna, went through the first program and also found it to be insightful, motivational, and really fun. Her first words after the week long program, were, 'Dad, I can't wait to do this again!' - most importantly to me, the experience helped Jenna gain new perspectives on how she sees the world and sees herself in the world."


Majid Alsayegh
Alta Management, LLC
Douglassville, PA



SPEAKING EVENTS


March 31, 2006
Power of PatternsTM
Kansas City Healthcare Agencies
Sponsored by:
Jewish Family and Children Services
Kansas City, Kansas

May 18, 2006
Power of PatternsTM
Iacocca Institute
Leadership Breakfast
Bethlehem, PA

Need a Speaker?

Dr. Sylvia Lafair and the CEO staff and faculty are "On the Road" spreading the word around the country about the power of patterns in the workplace — what we call office politics and how to enhance communication, dissipate conflict, and build trust for a more effective work environment. If you would like us to talk to your company or organization please contact us at info@ceoptions.com.

CREATIVE ENERGY
OPTIONS INC.
Corporate Headquarters
45 Country Place Lane
P.O. Box 87
White Haven, PA 18661

PHONE
(570) 636-3858

FAX
(570) 636-5387

E-MAIL
info@ceoptions.com

WEBSITE
www.ceoptions.com

Young Leaders in Action
July 16-22, 2006
 The Country Place Retreat and Conference Center

    Do you ever wonder why some leaders lack integrity and accountability for their actions? How is this value instilled in people and given the high priority it deserves? Our philosophy at Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO) is based on how we are all connected and no one wins unless we all do. This value comes from the deep roots that form us from family, culture and crises and this value is instilled in us from our connections with others. We believe to build this capacity for great leadership for our future leaders it must start at an early age, helping our youth identify what is leadership, who are great examples of leadership and what skills are required.

    Building this capacity is what "Young Leaders in Action" is all about. Through hands-on learning and action-oriented activities that are fun and memorable, we can help youth move onto the path of creative leadership.

    It's up to you as adults to help encourage this learning by providing this opportunity to youth today. What a great investment in our future. This one-week program held in the fresh air of the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania in the natural and beautiful setting of The Country Place Retreat, we will show young leaders how to lead with creativity and integrity.

    Through white-water rafting, low-ropes course and other team building activities, the future leaders will know how to work together for a common goal. Communication and conflict resolution is a key in leadership and teens will learn how communicate for clarity and communicate positively. They will learn how to resolve conflicts and solve problems collectively. They will identify how they learn and how others learn, a key skill in being a great leader.

    To get a teen-ager you know started on this path to greatness, please either call Rick Yarborough or Mary Jane Saras at 570-636-3858 or email, info@ceoptions.com. You can also click HERE to see the video of this program.

Help build great leaders for tomorrow!!

Creating Great Meetings (Scene Three)

    In the previous issues of Pep Talk™ we provided tips and techniques to change those boring meetings that go nowhere into powerful meetings that unleash the hidden talents of everyone. If you would like to go back and read Scene One and Scene Two again, just log onto www.ceoptions.com and link to newsletters.

    Great Meetings can be paralleled to finely crafted theatre, a production that moves smoothly and appears effortless by all players. In Scene One of our Great Meetings play we learned of the Visionary leader who works from respect and integrity and gets everyone involved in solving the problems of the day. Scene Two explored the role of the Explorer leader who checks assumptions and intentions and is open to outcomes even if it is different from what the leader expected. The Explorer encourages and supports full participation and input by all players, allowing for "multiversity". The Explorer is able to resolve conflicts that cause stagnation and poor morale.

    Now it's time for Scene Three--the leader as The Integrator. Grab your popcorn! The Integrator is aware of subtleties in relationships and the way people acknowledge each other. This skill is critical in meeting success and managing relationships is an art and craft that makes the difference between productive meetings and time wasting meetings.

    So how can you be an Integrator?

  • Ask those clarifying questions to gather the data. Questions that begin with "I wonder", "I'm curious", or "Tell me more", keep the dialogue moving forward to get at the heart of the situation.
  • Observe the body language and watch for tension, withdrawing or conflict in the body positioning and ask yourself does the verbal message match the body language.
  • Be aware of sidebars and zingers. This sidebar talk limits and can destroy strong group interactions and prevents an environment of trust and honesty. Gossiping and triangulation can occur when sidebar discussions are allowed.
  • Know the learning styles of your team-mates, if most of your folks learn best through visual skills and in an ordered fashion, then it's best to provide an agenda and follow it.
  • Timing, the key to all group dynamics, involves knowing when to talk and when to hold back and let the power of the group take control.

    So let's integrate this. In Great Meetings, The Integrator brings everyone together into the discussion and dissipates conflicts by watching for sidebars, triangulation, gossiping and subtleties in relationships. The Integrator is a master at managing relationships and ultimately keeps everyone communicating from a place of integrity and honesty.

    So how can you learn this skill and more? Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO) offers leadership development, coaching and consultation to help you and your employees reach their highest potential.

    CEO will help you learn to:

  • Ask questions in a new way
  • Respond in a more proactive manner
  • Understand the subtleties of group dynamics
  • Define the roadblocks to fulfillment and map the strategy of success
  • Accelerate change utilizing systems thinking

    Give us a call at 570-636-3858 to get on the path to Great Meetings and total leadership!

PEPtalk is a free monthly eNews from Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO)—a global leadership development, consulting and coaching company on the cutting-edge of business transformation. We provide the solutions you need to apply the Pattern Aware Leadership ModelTM to your daily work and home life. It is published every month and filled with leadership news and views, success stories, special events and valuable tips to energize your leadership.

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