Administrative Professionals Programs

Top Motivational Speaker for Administrative Professionals Day Programs
Admin Staff Training & Development ~ Admin Conference Speaker

Customized Keynote & Breakout Programs to Educate, Inform and
Support the Supporters of your organization

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(CALL ME to discuss MY PROCESS to ensure that your leaders get on board with the ideas presented and proposed by your administrative staff as a result of attending my events!)

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Ask me about my VIRTUAL programs for Administrative Professionals
during (and even after) social distancing!

 

You were one of our top 5 highest-rated presenters of the Administrative Professionals Conference!
– Samantha Fournelle / APC

Thank you is clearly inadequate to express, on behalf of the APN network, our thanks for your being with us last Wednesday and presenting to our admins across the enterprise. What we are hearing is nothing less than expected… it was truly a great day in the life of admins across the company! Thank you so very much!    – Betty Blodgett, CAP-OM / Capital One

Sandy’s topics for Administrative (& other busy) Professionals:

• The Invaluable Assistant: 15 Hard-Hitting Ideas From the Field    (Read more)
• The Admin’s Guide to Leading Without Rank    (Read more)
• Fostering Teamwork and Effective Communication Using Personality Lingo (Read more)
• Creating the WOW for Your Company, Your Career and Your Life!    (Read more)
• No Risk, No Reward: Creating Breakthrough Performance Through Effective Risk-Taking    (Read more)
• It’s My Dream… And Who Am I To Stop Me? (The Mindsets and Habits of High Achievers)    (Read more)
• Don’t Drop the Ball: Time & Stress Management for Executive Assistants  (Read more)
• The Power of Using a Skills Portfolio    (Read more)
• Realizing Your Worth    (Read more)
• Change and Stress Management for Busy Executive Assistants: 12 Tips for Navigating Change and Reducing Stress  (Read more)

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Sandy will kick off her program (or your conference) with her song parody, “Man! I Feel Administrative!” (Click below to listen!)

 

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High Impact Single- and Multi-Day Skills Training Programs (combine them to make your own series of programs!)

• Customer Service: Creating the WOW for Customers   (Read more)
•  Leadership in the WOWplace   (Read more)
• WOWplace® Grammar Workshop: Say What You Mean & Mean What You Say!   (Read more)
• WOWplace® Writing Workshop: Effective Writing is a Must!   (Read more)
• Publicly Speaking with Clarity, Concision and Confidence   (Read more)
• Hindsight, Foresight & Insight: Maximize Your Impact with Critical Thinking   (Read more)

Leaders literally put their careers in the hands of their executive assistants every day. The exceptional admin serves as the backbone of the organization and helps create seamless, efficient and exceptional success for the leader and the entire team.

Sandy Geroux has more than 18 years of experience as an administrative professional, from entry level positions through Executive Assistant for several CEOs. She also has another 16 years of experience training administrative professionals.

Since the year 2000, she has conducted over 100 keynotes, training programs and workshops for more than 13,000 administrative professionals in 41 countries, helping them:

• become more effective leaders by thinking more like the leaders they serve;
• be less hesitant to maximize their full value, demonstrate it and let their leaders know about it;
• handle difficult situations and conversations – up, down and across the organization;
• and find new ways to infuse passion, fulfillment and fun into their position and their career.

Her columns and articles appear in many administrative publications, including ASAP, IAAP, Progressive Business Publications’ Administrative Update, and Executive Secretary Magazine.

Contact Sandy today to discuss bringing an educational and entertaining program to your administrative staff!

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If you’re an admin who is:

• looking for ways to reach the next level…
• at the top of your game and wonder, “What’s next?”…
• looking for effective ways to gain buy-in for new ideas and initiatives…
• seeking ways to let your hidden talents and abilities shine through, advance your career and contribute to the success of your company…

… Sandy’s programs to “Support and Train the Supporters”, containing real-life examples from her experience as an administrative professional (as well as the experience of other admins), are for you!

Select a complete program below, or do as many organizations do, pick and choose the elements (from among all of Sandy’s presentations) that you’d like to include in a custom-made program that addresses the most important issues for your associates!

• Thank you for speaking at today’s Administrative Professional Network Luncheon at Pepsico. I especially appreciated your enthusiasm. You are right that it is contagious. I feel more comfortable in my new role here at Pepsico. Your presentation gave me confidence to try and make a difference here in all that I do. I hope to be a “Victor” here and will remember your enthusiasm and try to strive for that level of commitment in my professional life going forward.
• Thank you again Sandy. I do have to admit the very best part of your presentation was YOU! I felt such a connection to you like I have known you forever.
• Thank you so much for your wonderful, inspiring presentation and “show”. Your enthusiasm was so needed and welcomed. You made us all feel comfortable and open to new ideas., and we all enjoyed the singing and goodies and everyone thought you and your materials were outstanding and helpful.
• Thank you for making our Admin Professional Day event at Capital One a special one! I so enjoyed your presentation and positive interaction with our assistants. Your energy, good humor, and parody song (loved it!) were memorable and helped to make the message stick.
• I am inspired by you!! Your energy is contagious. I so enjoy your sessions and can’t wait for the next years. You are a natural for sure. Not only are you funny and full of great positive spirit, your content is awesome. I always see things in a different perspective after one of your sessions.
• You were fantastic! Absolutely fantastic at our Admin Event today. I love listening to you and trying to keep up with your energy! Awesome job.

High Impact Special Event & Conference Programs

If you’re looking for a program to kick off new intiatives for Administrative Professionals, provide an inspiring keynote, general session or full-day program for Administrative Professionals Week, or offer exciting breakout programs for your Administrative Professionals conference, Sandy is the ideal speaker for you!

Sandy can also EMCEE your conference with entertaining and inspiring messages that combine your content and hers to create conference experiences that have attendees raving about long after they are through!

With over 18 years of experience as an Administrative Professional, from entry level through Executive Assistant, Sandy can relate to administrative professionals at every level. Due to Sandy’s success in inspiring Administrative Professionals to achieve their personal and professional dreams and goals, she is:

• An annual conference presenter for the APC hosted by ASAP (American Society of Administrative Professionals);
• A frequent keynoter and general session presenter for corporations, organizations and universities that host Administrative Professionals Day/Week programs, and administrative training programs throughout the year;
• A columnist for the American Society for Administrative Professionals;
• A monthly contributor to Executive Secretary Magazine; and
• The author of many motivating and inspiring webinars for Administrative Professionals.

Below is a list of select programs Sandy can present for Administrative Professionals. Choose from the list of programs below, or call Sandy to arrange an inspiring customized program for your organization!

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The Invaluable Assistant: 15 Hard-Hitting Ideas From the Field

Your competence makes you “indispensable.” Beyond that there are mindsets, attributes and skill sets that executives prize in their assistants – features that move you from “indispensable” to “invaluable.” Knowing what your leader is looking for (often before they know), “having their back” by anticipating needs and attending to things they overlook, and acting with the agility and adaptability demanded of executives is as critical to your success as it is to theirs. Direct from executives, get 15 hard-hitting tips, skills and mindsets that they desire and you need in order to stay on top of your game and help your executives stay on top of theirs.

In this program you will:

• Learn the difference between being “indispensable” and being “invaluable” – and why it matters
• Recognize what leaders are truly looking for in their executive assistants
• Receive over 30 tips and ideas for serving your executive at a higher level
• Discover the mindsets and habits of the most invaluable assistants
• Understand the “trade-offs” that come with being the right-hand person for a busy executive who doesn’t keep “normal” business hours
• Hold interactive discussions to raise the respect and credibility of the entire Administrative team
• Get tools and templates to help you raise your impact to the level of “WOW”!

 

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The Admin’s Guide to Leading Without Rank

Congratulations! You have been asked to serve on or lead a team at work. You have responsibility and deliverables, but no real organizational authority. Now what? Since the title was invented, administrative professionals have been vested with great power and unofficial leadership. Join Sandy as she shares informal leadership processes that allow you to lead without rank, up down and across the organization.

This program focuses on focuses on informal leadership processes that allow you to:

• capitalize on that power;
• gain greater visibility in your company’s culture;
• unlock tremendous leadership abilities using relationships, feedback and team-building skills; and
• use Indirect Influence to persuade others to act… without ever issuing a directive..

 

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Fostering Teamwork and Effective Communication Using Personality Lingo

Imagine a world where people understand your way of doing things. Better yet, you understand why they do things so differently from you (and each other) so you know exactly how to communicate with them to build relationships, foster teamwork and get things done. In this webinar, Sandy Geroux will guide us through four personality styles (identified by colors and identifying descriptors) and help us understand the “lingo” that is natural to each style. Through stories, examples and tips, she’ll illustrate how we can bring out the best in each other instead of driving each other crazy! You’ll identify your own true personality style and that of your colleagues, allowing you to enhance your communications and reduce stress – not only at work, but at home and in your communities, as well!

After this program, attendees will:

• recognize their dominant personality styles and understand the core values that drive them;
• utilize new behaviors and approaches to others based on a higher understanding of what drives them;
• break down barriers to effective communication in and out of the workplace; and
• build a work culture that honors differences, rather than struggling against them.

 

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Creating the WOW for Your Company, Your Career and Your Life!

Whether you want to create the WOW in your personal or professional life, several elements are critically important, and we must not simply accept the status quo as inevitable and/or unavoidable. We can begin making huge impacts in our lives and our careers by answering one question:

W ill I
O r
W on’t I

…do what is necessary at this particular moment to make a difference in my own life or the life of someone else? Will I take the action necessary to satisfy this customer? Will I go out of my way to help this colleague, even though I’m tired or in a bad mood today? Will I act according to my values, each and every time I have the chance to make a difference in the life of someone else? If the answer is yes… the WOW will happen for you – and everyone around you.

Following this program, you will:

• Discover what you need to consider in order to create the WOW
• Learn why “the land of comfortable enough” is a dangerous place to live
• Realize that the WOW will never happen without taking reasonable and appropriate risks
• Uncover the value and importance of innovation and creativity in your life and your work
• Get rid of the “glass ceiling” in your job and in your mind
• Realize the value and importance of connecting with your values and passion to create joy and immense possibilities in your life and your work

 

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No Risk, No Reward: Creating Breakthrough Performance Through Effective Risk-Taking
(Alternatively titled: The Risk Not Taken: Sometimes It Can Cost You More)

As a society, we’re often taught to avoid risk and focus on playing it “safe.” What we’re not taught is that some level of risk is necessary in order to progress forward, nor are we taught what this level is, how to gauge and leverage it for our own success, and the high personal cost of “playing it safe” – especially in today’s competitive environment.

In this program, you will explore your risk-tolerance level, discover the factors you will face when deciding to take risks, and learn principles to follow to achieve your goals and gain buy-in from others. Sandy shares her personal experience and the experiences of others who have escaped the trap of “playing it safe” to inspire you to think more creatively about the types and levels of risks you need to take. Attendees will also brainstorm and share their success tools, strategies and ideas to help everyone grow.

Following this program, you will:

• Recognize the absolute necessity and benefit of taking appropriate risks in business and life.
• Identify and mentally prepare for the 4 factors you must fight when deciding to take risks.
• Learn 5 valuable principles for taking risk, including steps to take to motivate yourself and how to gain buy-in from others whose help you may need/want.
• Identify and eliminate the excuses you use to hold yourself back, and begin a plan to add more risk in your life to accomplish your goals.
• Learn the importance of being a positive role model of high personal and professional performance.

 

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It’s My Dream… And Who Am I To Stop Me? (The Mindsets and Habits of High Achievers)
(Alternatively titled: It’s A Do-It-Yourself World: Who’s Really Responsible for Achieving Our Dreams?)

Are you good at setting goals?  Maybe you’re great at it…but do you usually accomplish them, or do they often go by the wayside, like so many New Year’s resolutions?  Are you continually setting goals, or “getting ready” to accomplish them…without ever reaching the desired result?  Do you feel you’re being held back?  We’re all good goal-setters, but how many of us actually achieve the goals we set – especially the big ones?  Let’s face it – it’s a Do-It-Yourself World!  We must accept personal responsibility for successfully achieving our dreams, or we’ll never reach the desired results.  Whatever your dreams, this interactive, hands-on program is designed to help you discover how to effectively make plans to accomplish your dreams.  You will learn key principles and tips for doing so by developing the right mindsets, creating a framework and plan to achieve success, and increasing your self-reliance and self-confidence. You will actually begin the path to setting – and achieving – your own personal and professional dreams before you leave this session!

In this program, you will:

• Learn 7 critical mindsets and habits of high achievers, and how they succeed.
• Discover the basics of success and motivation: why we fail; how we plan for success; eliminating instant gratification and other unrealistic expectations; personal responsibility.
• Learn 10 tips for ensuring goals are attainable – and attained.
• Learn 5 additional tools, tips and techniques to keep yourself motivated and accountable.

Develop action items in “baby steps” to accomplish goals, including deadlines, budgets and monitoring tools to track your progress along the way!

 

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Time & Stress Management for Executive Assistants

In the old days, support staff had limited responsibilities and could focus on one task at a time. No more! Today’s admin typically has not only routine daily tasks, but also undertakes special projects, managerial responsibilities, and teamwork. That’s not to mention the unexpected and urgent things that come up each day. Help is here. This fast-paced session provides realistic techniques for setting priorities, tips on managing time so that the unexpected doesn’t control you, and ideas for boosting your ability to focus and reduce distractions.

In this program, you will:

• Discover the critical distinction between multi-tasking, background tasking and switch-tasking
• Prioritize and categorize what should be multi-tasked and what should not
• Learn how to manage your time, your actions and your emotions
• Uncover techniques to avoid the frustration and stress that comes with changing priorities, last-minute requests and repetitive demands
• Utilize strategies for maximizing your strengths and those of your team
• Learn effective methods for allocating your time and breaking up your activities
• Obtain tools and techniques to help you get more organized.

 

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The Power of Using a Skills Portfolio

Skills Portfolios have been used for many years in the creative and artistic fields.  However, many professionals in other areas are beginning to realize the power of using this invaluable tool to advance their careers, differentiate themselves in job interviews and demonstrate their unique skills.  Join Sandy as she shows you how to create an effective physical or electronic Skills Portfolio, how to use it properly in an interview… and how to advance your career – or even create a new position for yourself – within your current company.  In this workshop, participants will work with each other to begin thinking about, writing and actually creating their own personal Skills Portfolio before the course ends!

In this program, you will:

• Discover how to use a Skills Portfolio to advance your current position, obtain a new position or demonstrate your ability to take on new responsibilities within your organization
• See how a Skills Portfolio is most effectively organized and used
• Learn how to articulate your full value in any situation – especially in interview and review situations
• Understand the importance of a personal mission statement and begin to craft your own statement
• See examples of critical elements of a Skills Portfolio
• Learn the value of a leave-behind item, and how it can be effective utilized.

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Realizing Your Worth

Too often, as human beings, we undervalue our knowledge and skills. We believe that if we do something, anyone can do it! However, our true, added value often comes in how we do things… not simply in what we do. In the business world, if we don’t realize our full worth, we will never be able to effectively articulate that value to our organizations, our leaders and co-workers, or our clients, which could cause us to lose confidence in ourselves and the gifts and talents we bring to the table. Join Sandy as she shares tips on realizing and demonstrating our full value, as well as crucial mindsets and habits for advancing our careers, improving our skills and gaining greater respect.

In this program, you will:

• Recognize your full worth and stop under-valuing your skills, experience and services;
• Understand the added value you bring to the table through your mindsets, habits and work ethic;
• Obtain and use effective tools to communicate your full value to others; and
• Discover how to help others realize and communicate their full worth, without feeling intimidated or threatened by the success of others.

 

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Change and Stress Management for Busy Executive Assistants: 12 Tips for Navigating Change and Reducing Stress

Our ever-changing world creates the need for organizations to continually evolve with the times. Although change has the potential to be disruptive, upsetting and anxiety-provoking, it also offers opportunities to create growth, profits and further career opportunities for those who embrace, rather than fight, it. Additionally, leaders cannot effect change in their workplaces alone, but need the vital support of their administrative partners to help maintain equilibrium, keep up to date with technology, maintain a positive workplace… and more!

This interactive session provides realistic techniques for helping busy administrative professionals assist their leaders in implementing change, as well as helping themselves and their colleagues deal with the stress that comes with a constantly changing workplace.

After this session, you will:

• Implement 5 tips for dealing with change and helping others deal with it more effectively.
• Utilize 7 skills and abilities to prevent, deal with and learn from stressful situations.
• Learn to overcome personal stressors, such as perfectionism, assumptions and more.
• Find practical techniques and suggestions for handling periodic and ongoing stress in your work and home life.
• Recognize and eliminate trigger words and actions and turn your responses into positive actions.
• Learn to take your work seriously but yourself lightly through the liberal and effective use of humor.
• Shift your mindsets regarding what stresses you (or not).

 

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High Impact Skills Training Programs
Customer Service, Leadership, Grammar, Writing & Public Speaking Skills

Sandy offers training programs on the hard and soft skill-based topics below, as well as on Critical Thinking Skills and more. If you don’t see a topic of interest, please contact her to inquire about other topics you wish to present to your administrative professional staff.

Book them individually or as a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly training series!

 

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Customer Service: Creating the WOW for Customers (designed for 1.5 days, but can be customized to fit your required length)

“I never realized how the intent expression on my face when I’m concentrating affected others until you had us look at the inadvertent messages we’re giving with our body language. Thank you for helping me realize this – it’s made a BIG difference!”
– Customer Service training program attendee)

As an administrative professional, one of the most important aspects of your job is delivering world-class customer service – sometimes to outside customers, but most often to internal customers who need your assistance to help them do their jobs better. In fact, usually an admin’s job is to “look good by making others look good!”

Questions and considerations addressed in this training seminar include:

• Critical customer service mindsets & key concepts
• Setting & handling up-front customer expectations
• Polishing your proactive thinking and critical thinking skills
• Communication skills: nuances of face-to-face, telephone and electronic interactions (and inadvertent messages sent via body language)
• Differing communication styles, negotiation, stress management and dealing with difficult people
• Teamwork, cross-training and backups
• Brainstorming of specific customer service situations and how to make them “WOW!”

View a full outline of this outstanding program!

 

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Leadership in the WOWplace (designed for 1.5 days, but can be customized to fit your required length)

“One of the things I appreciated most was the depth of the information.”
– WOWplace leadership program attendee

Leadership does not always come with a formal title. Administrative professionals must be exceptional leaders, with or without the title, in order to do their job effectively, get others on board with organizational objectives and foster teamwork, accountability and loyalty in the workplace.

Questions and considerations addressed in this training seminar include:

• 

  Admin training & Procter & Gamble!

  Desirable leadership traits in management and administrative positions

• Identifying your leadership style and how it may be helping (or hurting) you; tips on using the right style at the right time for highest impact
• Becoming “invaluable” rather than “indispensable” – proving your value in the organization
• Emotional leadership: human duties vs. job duties
• Gaining buy-in and overcoming the “intimidation factor”
• Fostering trust through consistency, reasonable risk-taking and keeping your eye on the goal
• Conflict and conflict resolution
• Communicating assertiveley and delegating effectively
• The power of humor

View a full outline of this outstanding program!

 

 

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WOWplace® Grammar Workshop: Say What You Mean & Mean What You Say! (designed for 1.5 days, but can be customized for required length)

“This class was exceptional. I keep my workbook on my desk next to me at all times so I can refer back to it when needed!”
– WOWplace grammar training program attendee

Do your written communications make you and your boss look better… or worse as a professional? Your spelling and grammar skills speak volumes in professional settings and if you want to put your best foot forward – on behalf of yourself and your organization – you must master the words and phrases that can either boost your credibility or destroy it.

Questions and considerations addressed in this training seminar include:

• Grammar basics and tips on using the basic parts of speech properly
• Confusing word choices – which to use when
• Who vs. Whom, Which vs. That, Its vs. It’s – how to choose and how to use plurals, possessives, and conjunctions
• Vocabulary-building: little-used and foreign words you should know, as well as metaphors and analogies
• Using numbers and numerals properly
• Dangling participles, mixed modifiers, ending sentences with prepositions – and other “sins” to avoid in order to eliminate confusion
• Spelling basics
• Sentence structure: run-on sentences, clauses, fragments, tense agreement and more
• Using technology

View a full outline of this outstanding program!

 

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WOWplace® Writing Workshop: Effective Writing is a Must! (designed for 1.5 days, but can be customized for required length)

“I have problems getting to the point quickly. Your tips and organizational tools and templates will help me tighten up my writing.”
– (WOWplace writing workshop attendee)

In addition to requiring excellent spelling and grammatical skills, your writing style, concise explanations and interesting style can help make communications clear and enjoyable to read, or create a situation where they are time-consuming to understand and difficult to get through. In this workshop, attendees bring sample work products and projects to work on while in class in order to help them use their newfound skills in real situations that will help them boost their writing skills even before they leave the class.

Questions and considerations addressed in this training seminar include:

• Getting organized using templates to help you determine: what is the point and what impact do you want to make?
• Creating a draft and getting immediate questions and ideas on paper
• Brainstorming, mind mapping and mindstorming techniques
• Using stories and examples to support your points (one “story” is worth a thousand words!)
• Tone and professionalism and the role of active vs. passive “voice”
• Eliminating errors
• Editing and polishing your work: less is more
• Types of written documents – their importance and use
• Using technology

View a full outline of this outstanding program!

 

 

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Publicly Speaking with Clarity, Concision & Confidence (designed for 1.5 days, but can be customized for required length)

““You bring out the best in us and make us all look and sound great! Thanks!”
– (Executive speechwriting and speech coaching client”)

Executive administrative professionals are being asked more and more to speak in public, make presentations, assist with training others and a whole host of other public speaking duties, which reflect not only on themselves but on their organization as a whole. In this workshop, attendees are not only taught basic and advanced principles of public speaking, but they are given the opportunity to speak during the class and be recorded for their own personal practice and educational purposes.

Questions and considerations addressed in this training seminar include:

• Getting to the point
• High Impact Openers, Closers and Other Grabbers
• Get comfortable! Your presentation style
• Engaging and Involving Your Audience
• Using PowerPoint and other Support Materials Effectively
• The importance of practice
• Getting Comfortable with Impromptu Speaking

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Hindsight, Foresight and Insight: Maximize Your Impact With Critical Thinking

“Your session was so AWESOME!!  I wish I could have taped all that you had to say but I couldn’t.  Now that I am back at work I realize how much I need you in my ear telling me how to handle this or that situation.  What questions to ask, etc…”
– WOWplace Critical Thinking workshop attendee

Have you ever wondered how some people seemingly “read people’s minds,” anticipate and prevent problems, recover quickly and find fast solutions?  As Admins, we’re used to thinking reactively, tactically and logistically in order to solve problems and handle the multitude of details thrown at us daily. But we must also learn to think as strategically and proactively as the executives we serve in order to prevent at least some problems from happening.

Possessing 20/20 vision means you can see from 20 feet what average people can see from the same distance. Applying this concept in business, possessing 20/10 or 20/1 means you can “see” things much earlier than most. This program focuses on ways to create 20/10 foresight by maximizing your learned knowledge and applying it to real-life situations, and then on ways to create exceptional 20/1 insight by practicing, mastering and polishing your proactive and critical thinking skills and making them second-nature, in order to anticipate, recognize and prevent problems, as well as minimize and recover more quickly from them when they occur.

What you will learn in this program:

• 5 mindsets and habits proactive people use to get ahead, stay ahead and help themselves, their leaders and their organizations succeed at a higher level.
• Proven methods for proactive thinking and training your mind to more effectively and consistently apply new learning.
• Simple tools for using applied knowledge to factor in perceived challenges and be ready to handle them before they happen.
• How to develop a reputation for being ahead of the game, so you move from being “believed” to being “believed in.”

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Contact Sandy today to discuss a customized and highly impactful program for your organization! If you’d like her to put a “pencil hold” on a date for you, please fill out the “Book Sandy Now!” form and give us the details of your program. Sandy will be in touch with you within 24 hours of receiving this request.