WORKSHOPS

After Further Review: Leadership Truths from Behind the Whistle

Our signature 1-day workshop focuses on leadership lessons Lavon has learned as a veteran NCAA football official, then transfers them to corporate cultures illustrating key leadership principles. Using personal stories, humor, interactive teaching, experiential learning and decades of proven leadership expertise, Lavon takes participants on a leadership journey giving them the tools they need to take organizations to the next level…all based on foundational leadership truths he learned from “behind the whistle.”

THE CONTEXT

As a highly successful leader in corporate, educational and non-profit organizations, Dr. Gray understands the central role of leadership in achieving organizational success. His professional experience, coupled with three decades as a sports official, provides a unique and insightful perspective on leadership in high- stress environments that operate with low margins for error. “After Further Review” has been developed from this context.
Each of the four sessions highlight important leadership lessons learned on the athletic field, then translates them to the corporate environment in order to illustrate key leadership principles. Using personal stories, humor, interactive teaching, experiential learning and decades of proven leadership expertise. Dr. Gray takes participants on a leadership journey giving them the tools they need to take organizations to the next level…all based on foundational leadership truths he learned from “behind the whistle.”

YOU MAKE THE CALL: Group Learning Activities

Each session will feature a hands-on learning activity entitled, “You Make the Call.” This workshop feature is a continuation of the sports officiating theme that runs throughout the program content. These activities will allow participants to put into action concepts and principles learned in each session, focusing on real-life application. The activities will include case studies, groups projects, and discussions with a primary emphasis on practical application, literally placing participants in the role of decision maker.

Session 1
Game Administration: Skills that Keep the Clock Moving
One of the most important areas of responsibility for a sports official is game administration. This can involve simple tasks such as rotating balls in and out of play, recording penalties or completing required reports after the game. It also includes responsibilities such as clock management and penalty enforcement that can be disastrous if not executed effectively. As on the athletic field, solid administrative skills are a foundational requirement for leadership success. “Game Administration” addresses many of these topics such as how to run effective meetings, delegation, and principles for time management. In addition, this module addresses the importance of soft skills in the workplace, with a focus on workplace professionalism.

Learning Objectives for this session:
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Identify principles for leading effective meetings.
2. Implement a process for determining priorities and effective time-management.
3. Explain John Maxwell’s 10-80-10 Plan for Delegation.
4. Identify approaches to effectively coach individual team members.
5. Identify practical strategies for building strong professional relationships; and,
6. Implement best practices for developing leadership excellence.

Session 2
Inside the Huddle: Building PowerHouse Teams

When an officiating crew makes a mistake, you go down as a team. There’s no room for statements like, “It wasn’t my call” or “You need to talk to my partner.” It’s ‘one for all and all for one’…period. Unfortunately, far too many organizations are defined by silos and their meetings more closely resemble war zones than strategy sessions. This module focuses on breaking down team dysfunctions using trust, collaboration and communication as the primary tools.

Learning Objectives for this session:
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the power of collaboration in relation to building high impact teams;
2. Describe the process for collaborative problem-solving.
3. Identify techniques to break down silos.
4. Understand the importance of developing active listening skills.
5. Identify elements of effective non-verbal communication.
6. Discuss the five dysfunctions of a team and how they can be overcome by effective collaboration.
7. Understand and support diversity in collaborative decision making; and,
8. Identify key skills needed to leverage collaboration in negotiation, problem-solving, conflict management, and strategic planning.

Session 3
Called to the Sideline: Navigating Difficult Conversations

Whether on the athletic field or the workplace, conflict is a reality of life. In fact, organizational conflict is a major problem in the United States, annually costing businesses $359 billion in paid hours. Research indicates that employees spent 2.8 hours each week navigating conflict leading to lost productivity, emotional and mental health challenges, and increased rates of turnover.

While conflict might be a universal reality, it doesn’t have to be negative. When properly navigated conflict can lead to innovative ideas, collaborative problem-solving, and a healthier organizational culture. “Choose to Defuse” equips participants with critical skills needed to successfully address workplace conflict by providing practical steps for conflict resolution, a deeper understanding of personality types and emotional triggers, a framework for collaborative problem-solving and strategies for leading difficult conversations.

Learning Objectives for this session:
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Identify four steps to effectively resolve workplace conflict.
2. Recognize five conflict resolution styles (Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode) and how each can be applied to different situations.
3. Utilize the five steps of a collaborative problem-solving approach.
4. Identify practical steps for leading challenging conversations as part of a conflict resolution process.
5. Identify practical steps needed to successfully work with difficult workplace personalities; and,
6. Discuss the importance of relationships in navigating conflict and promoting a healthy work-place culture.

Session 4
Anticipate the Turnover: Mastering the Art of Change

The greatest potential for missed calls during a football game occurs during changes of possession: interceptions, fumbles, punts or kicks. Fumbles and interceptions often happen when you least expect them, while punts and kicks create opportunities for chaos! The same is true with organizations: change is constant and often comes when you least expect it. As a result, great leaders anticipate and embrace change, leveraging it to their advantage. Leaders who resist change, however, face a difficult path that often leads to leadership failure.

“Anticipate the Turnover” focuses on practical skills that equip leaders to understand, define, and embrace organizational change. Most importantly, it positions leaders to facilitate change initiatives that can contribute to healthier organizations and long-term success.

Learning Objectives for this session
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Identify key corporate change factors (internal and external);
2. Identify key organizational changes taking place within the current corporate culture.
3. Design strategies to successfully introduce organizational change.
4. Develop collaborative strategies for leading positive change.
5. Identify characteristics of a positive change culture; and,
6. Implement best practices for leading change

Session 5
Know Your Keys: The Secret to Making Your Goals a Reality

When the football is snapped each official has specific areas of responsibility, or keys, to watch. This might include specific players, areas of the field, or potential rules violations. If you don’t know your keys before the kickoff, then you won’t be able to effectively execute your responsibilities during the game. In fact, you become an obstacle to success. The game will still happen, but you become a fearful, confused observer, often missing obvious fouls and making incorrect calls, all while inadvertently creating chaos that ruins the game for everyone.

Unfortunately, far too many leaders function this way. They lose sight of their keys (mission, vision, core values and goals), and as a result fail to execute the things most important to the organization. “Know Your Keys” focuses on clarifying these important elements and developing a plan of action that leads to success.

Learning Objectives for this session:
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Identify and articulate answers to the Three Key Questions:
Purpose: Why do we do what we do?
Mission: What are we trying to accomplish?
Core Values & Guiding Principles: How will we do it?
2. Discuss the 4 Disciplines of Execution and how they can be implemented in an effective strategic planning process.
3. Identify 90-day Rocks (priorities) that align with organizational priorities.

Session 6
Avoid the Highlight Reel: The Paradox of Servant Leadership

While players love to make the “Top Ten” highlights on their favorite sports network, that’s not the case with officials. In fact, your best work as a sports official is done when no one even knows you were there. A great official is focused on helping the players and coaches take the spotlight, not bringing attention to themselves.

Zig Ziglar famously said, “You can everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” A life committed to serving others is not always the most popular path, but it is one most often defined by joy, contentment and personal success. “Avoid the Highlight Reel” focuses on helping leaders understand the importance of investing in and serving others, as well as the actions and disciplines required to make it happen.

Learning Objectives for session 6:
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
1. Define servant leadership.
2. Identify the ten characteristics of a servant leader.
3. Implement the practice of servant leadership within the culture of BPUB.
4. Explore their own personal leadership motivations, thinking, behaviors and habits through the filter of servant leadership.
5. Apply servant leadership principles to real life situations; and,
6. Develop a personal plan to integrate servant leadership principles into all elements of their leadership activity.

Full and Half Day Workshops

Choose to Defuse: Conflict Resolution in the Heat of the Battle
Recent research indicates U.S. companies lose over $359 billion every year because of organizational conflict. But while conflict is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be unhealthy. The Choose to Defuse Workshop focuses on identifying anger triggers, techniques for healthy conflict resolution and leveraging conflict for organizational health.

Define Your Tomorrow: Skills that Shape Your Success
On our best day, excelling in any aspect of life requires hard work, commitment and resilience. Unfortunately, many times this quest to succeed in our professional lives is made even more difficult because of negativity, lack of trust or difficult relationships in the workplace. When surrounded by complaining, criticism and gossip we are often left asking, “How do I survive, much less excel?” The Define Your Tomorrow Workshop equips employees with foundational professional skills that empower them to overcome obstacles blocking their path to success.

Mastering the Art of Change: Facilitating Healthy Transformation
The success or failure of every leader hinges on the ability to embrace change. Mastering the Art of Change focuses on practical skills that equip leaders to understand, define and lead organizational change. Most importantly, it positions leaders to facilitate change initiatives that can contribute to healthier organizations and long-term success.

Embracing Leadership Excellence: Foundational Skills for Maximum Influence
Renowned leadership expert, John C. Maxwell, famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While this is true, far too many organizations are experiencing a leadership vacuum. In fact, recent research indicates seven- ty-one percent of companies feel their current leaders are not equipped to lead their organizations into the future. Embracing Leadership Excellence provides practical tools to fill this void.

PowerHouse Teams: Building High-Impact Collaboration
Is your organization defined by silos? At times do you feel like you’re managing a room full of “Lone Rangers”? Do your meetings feel more like war zones than strategy sessions? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then PowerHouse Teams can help. Using an experiential learning approach combining teaching, small groups and coaching, your team will focus on four primary areas: leadership, communication, collaboration and relationships.

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