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HHS Testimonial
 

Does Your Team, Department or Organization Need a Jolt of CPR?
Generating and Facilitating Imagination, Open Communication
and Mission Success through Creativity, Passion and Risk-Taking

 

 SUMMARY:

With budgets being cut, the incessant "do more with less" drum roll, and the overall uncertain if not scary economic climate, maintaining productive motivation and morale is a vital challenge.  Add a 24/7 "anytime-anywhere" world that sometimes cycles between constant reorganizing and "lean-and-MEAN" downsizing and ever faster upgrading while periodically spinning scarily out of control...and managing stress and effective team communication and collaboration are on everybody's mind.  And of, course, all this is especially relevant when a company has gone through or is undergoing major transition.  Whether having to integrate new colleagues or the loss of trusted friends, or grappling with new policies, programs and procedures, feelings of sadness, uncertainty and anger can permeate the work atmosphere.  How do you energize your troops and enable them to focus on productive performance and operational strategies while relying on one another for positive emotional support?

Clearly, the pressures to sustain individual and organizational productivity and morale have never been greater.  Still, have no fear…Mark Gorkin, "The Stress Doc" ™ is here with his dynamic and interactive, inspiring and FUN-filled presentation and small group exercises.  With the Doc's "Transitional CPR" intervention and interaction, you'll constructively channel transitional tensions and emotions into open yet safe sharing, diverse and unified problem solving, creative performance and enthusiastic team and community building.

OBJECTIVES:

A.  Transitional Dynamics:  Stress, Loss and Change

1. Rapidly, purposefully and playfully recognize transition stress signals and
2. Dealing with reorganizational change exercise:  small group intervention brainstorm
3. "The Six 'F's of Loss and Change" to help all staff deal with uncertainty, budget cuts, reorganization, etc.

B.  Disarming Power Struggles and Critical Aggressors

1. Gain techniques for purposefully and playfully disarming self-defeating power struggles while building trust
2. Tactfully and assertively defuse critical aggressors
3.  Practice Thomas-Killmann Conflict Problem-Solving Styles

C.  Generating CPR Energy and Camaraderie

1. Transform the "Fear of Exposure' into the Fun of Embarrassment" and learn key principles of "Motivational and Transitional Humor"
2. Discover the fours steps of "Creative Risk-Taking:  The Art of Designing Disorder"
3. Discover the Mind-Mood CPR Matrix:  "Four 'P's of Passion Power"

D.  Building High Task and High Touch Teams and Organizations

1. Use small group "3-D (Discussion, Drawing and Diversity) exercise to:
a) identify in a safe and supportive manner workplace sources of change, conflict and reorganizational stress,
b) recognize and empathize with others' challenging environments; not feel so alone
c) discover how small group playing and creating/drawing allows for exaggerated objectivity and emotional distance from stressors and facilitates communication, passion and bonding as a support/problem-solving team
2. Team simulation exercise re: sustaining program energy and focus in ongoing work teams
3. Discover the Stress Doc's "Top Ten" Structural and Strategic Commandments for enhancing team hardiness, participation and productivity in times of change
 
Finally, discover the real "Serenity Prayer" and the Secret of Wisdom.


Seek the higher power of Stress Doc Humor: May the Force and Farce Be with You!

Don't miss your appointment with the Stress Doc.


Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW, "The Stress Doc" ™, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is an acclaimed keynote and kickoff speaker and "Motivational Humorist" known for his interactive, inspiring and FUN speaking and workshop programs.  In addition, the "Doc" is a team building and organizational development consultant for a variety of govt. agencies, corporations and non-profits and is AOL's "Online Psychohumorist"™.  Mark is an Adjunct Professor, No. VA (NOVA) Community College and currently he is leading "Stress, Team Building and Humor" programs for the 1st Cavalry and 4th Infantry Divisions, Ft. Hood, Texas.  A former Stress and Conflict Consultant for the US Postal Service, the Stress Doc is the author of Practice Safe Stress and of The Four Faces of Anger.  See his award-winning, USA Today Online "HotSite" -- www.stressdoc.com -- called a "workplace resource" by National Public Radio (NPR).  For more info on the Doc's "Practice Safe Stress" programs or to receive his free e-newsletter, email stressdoc@aol.com or call 301-946-0865.
------------------

Clients have included: 

Corporations: Cleveland Clinic/Organizational Learning and Performance, Virginia Commonwealth university School of Dentistry, El Paso Natural Gas, MITRE, Northrup Grumman, Kindred Healthcare, Circuit City, Booz Allen Hamilton, Brookings Institution, DuPont Corporation, Comfort Keepers, SAP--Human Capital Forum/ASUGS, McPhillips Roberts & Deans (Accounting Firm), McDonough Bolyard Peck (Engineering Firm), Celebrity Cruise Lines, America Online, Kelley School of Business/Indiana University, Georgetown University, No. Virginia Community College, Howard Community College, Day and Zimmerman, Tellabs, Computer Sciences Corporation, Thalle Construction Company, SkyLink: The Airline Ticket Center, Biography Magazine, US Pharmacopeia, Reed Smith (Intl law Firm), Patton Boggs (Intl Law Firm), DLA Piper (Intl Law Firm), Blackbaud

Associations:  Louisiana CPA Society, Federal Asisan Pacific Americans Council (FAPAC), Blacks In Government (BIG), Accounting Administrators Assn -- Florida Chapter, VA College Acess Network, Intl. Assn. of Admin. Professionals, American Chemical Society, Idaho Correctional & Juvenile Justice Associations, CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005, Human Resource Assn. of the National Capital Area, Society of Human Resources Management, Airplane Owners and Pilots Assn., American Industrial Hygiene Association, Business Owners and Managers Assn Intl, National Council of University Research Administrators, Professional Conference Management Association, Association of Legal Administrators, International Personnel Management Assn, Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, American College of Physicians, National Wildlife Federation, Defense Research Institute, Southwest Industrial Contractors Association, ColdFusion Conference 2003-06

Government Agencies:  Bureau of Indian Affairs, DOD/4th Infantry Division, DOD/3rd Brigade Combat Team/1st Cavalry Division, National Science Foundation, Sonoma County, CA, Govt. Managers Conference, Training Officers Conference Institute, Natl. White Collar Crime Center/DOJ, Idaho Correctional Assn. (Keynote Speaker), Montana Public Health & Human Services, Anacostia Waterfront Development Corp., Virginia Human Resource Leadership Conference--2005 (Opening Keynote Speaker), Fairfax County Govt--HR Conference (Opening Keynote Speaker), Australian Embassy, VA Medical Center, Northport, Long Island, Centers for Disease Control, Health & Human Services--Div. of Acquisition Management, DOD/Population Health and Health Promotion, Department of Justice, National Institutes of Health, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (including National Weather Service), Naval Sea Systems Command, Department of Commerce, US Postal Service (as a Stress and Violence Prevention Consultant; the Stress Doc is battle-tested).

--------------

Does Your Organization Need a Jolt of Motivational CPR™?
Generating Imagination, Open Communication and Mission Success
through CPR -- Creativity, Passion and Risk-Taking

Today's 24/7, "always on" world often cycles between "do more with less" downsizing and ever faster upgrading...and the pressure keeps mounting.  Does your team, department or entire organization need a jolt of CPR -- Creativity, Passion and Risk-Taking?  Learn to counter tendencies to hold on to the familiar while helping people productively and creatively grapple with the future.  During times of change and conflict, we all need inspiring tools for fostering resilience over resistance while disarming self-defeating power struggles.  Discover an individual and organizational -- "Passion Power" -- mindset that encourages productive risk-taking and that mines diverse ideas and beliefs to generate imaginative and harmonious perspectives and possibilities.  And finally, the Doc will provide a fresh and FUN framework and foundation for jump-starting open communication, future/big picture problem solving and strategic planning.

So, have no fear the Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW, the "Stress Doc" ™ is here.  An acclaimed speaker and OD/Team Building consultant, the Doc delivers a unique blend of dynamic and inspiring presentation along with thought-provoking, passionate, and playful group interaction to help you bring "Fire, Focus and FUN" to today's leadership challenges.  During these turbulent times, let the Stress Doc help you break down barriers and build bridges toward a more motivated, coordinated, creative and higher performing workplace.

Objectives

A.  Creatively Managing Transitional Tension

1.  Discover the Four "P"s of Passion Power Model
2.  Understand the "danger and opportunity" of change and conflict and explore CPR systems intervention through group brainstorm/exercise
3.  Learn the "Six 'F's for Managing Loss and Change"

B. Defusing Power Struggles and Building Trust

1.  Discover self-affirmation and tactful negotiation in the face of challenge and conflict
2.  Replace "blaming" messages with cooperative and face-saving communication skills
3.  Build trust through the power of asking courageous questions

C.  Developing Resilience and Hardiness

1.  Learn to constructively confront a critical aggressor through the "Fumbled the Data" Exercise
2.  Affirm our common humanity through "Embarrassing Moment" Exercise
3.  Discover four keys to "Creative Risk-Taking:  Confronting Your Intimate FOE"

D.  Group Visioning and Creativity

1.  Identifying Barriers to More Creative Risk-Taking Environments Exercise
2.  Discover a Four "P" Passion Power Tool Set for maximizing energy and impact
3.  Recognize stress barriers and generate CPR -- being Creative, Passionate & Risk-Taking

Seek the Higher Power of Stress Doc Humor:  May the Force & the Farce Be with You!

Don't miss your appointment with the Stress Doc!

Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW, "The Stress Doc" ™, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is an acclaimed keynote and kickoff speaker and "Motivational Humorist" known for his interactive, inspiring and FUN speaking and workshop programs.  In addition, the "Doc" is a team building and organizational development consultant for a variety of govt. agencies, corporations and non-profits and is AOL's "Online Psychohumorist"™.  Mark is an Adjunct Professor, No. VA (NOVA) Community College and currently he is leading "Stress, Team Building and Humor" programs for the 1st Cavalry and 4th Infantry Divisions, Ft. Hood, Texas.  A former Stress and Conflict Consultant for the US Postal Service, the Stress Doc is the author of Practice Safe Stress and of The Four Faces of Anger.  See his award-winning, USA Today Online "HotSite" -- www.stressdoc.com -- called a "workplace resource" by National Public Radio (NPR).  For more info on the Doc's "Practice Safe Stress" programs or to receive his free e-newsletter, email stressdoc@aol.com or call 301-946-0865.

 

 

Hi, 

Wanted to share the latest successful stress, change and team building work with the military.  I'm exploring an intriguing collaborative concept for a half day to full day retreat applicable for almost any organization.  It's a two step-process: 

1) start with a dynamic and interactive, inspiring and FUN two-three hour Stress Doc workshop in the morning followed directly by  

2) an in-house (department, division, management team, etc.) team problem-solving led by an in-house leader (with or without facilitation or participant observation assistance from the Stress Doc) in the afternoon or late morning.  (Of course, additional follow-up workshop sessions -- days, weeks or months down the road -- can be designed.) 

The initial high energy and highly participatory session will definitely jump-start people's creative and cooperative juices while reducing solo or silo-driven defensiveness.  As captured by the following testimonial, the morning group interaction -- the safe and fun emotive-expressive sharing and problem solving – really freed people of different rank to productively risk and creatively brainstorm in the afternoon.

 

15th Support Brigade, 1st Cavalry, Ft. Hood, TX
[Two-Hour Stress, Change and Team-Building Program for 40 Officers and Spouses]

From: Phelps, Lawrence COL MIL USA FORSCOM <lawrence.phelps@us.army.mil>
To: StressDoc@aol.com
Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008
Subject: Thanks Mark!

Mark:

What a great program you engineered at our Command Offsite!  It could not have been better if we had orchestrated it!  Your session on managing change and stress was the perfect lead-in to the work we had to accomplish throughout the conference.  It set the conditions for the free, uninhibited work (regardless of rank) that we needed.  Our “drawing” exercise was absolutely enlightening.  I cannot tell you how valuable it was to me as the “CEO” to see these products and see how the differing sections and commands worked together.  The spouses loved the briefing and the interaction just as much as the uniformed members did. 

Here’s the BLUF: Your session was the critical building block on which we built the rest of the conference. 

My sincere thanks.  Job well done.

COL Phelps

COL Larry Phelps
Commander, 15th SB
Work: 254-287-8250
Cell: 254-702-1318
Every Day...Better!
SUPPORT THE ACTION!
------------------

 

Let me reaffirm and expand upon Commander Phelp’s note, especially these two key sentences: 

Your session on managing change and stress was the perfect lead-in to the work we had to accomplish throughout the conference.  It set the conditions for the free, uninhibited work (regardless of rank*) that we needed.

(*Other diversity factors were race, gender, age, time in grade, various operational departments and specialties in addition to commissioned and non-commissioned status.) 

 

 

Key Problem Solving Success Indicators 

Now let’s delineate some key outcomes of the afternoon session, based on talks with Col. Phelps and several officers: 

Ø       open and genuine communication among a diverse participant group

Ø       reduction of solo- or silo-driven thinking and defensive territoriality

Ø       successful win/win problem solving and genuine consensus experience

Ø       negotiation without thorny contentiousness, self-defeating power struggles and lingering frustration or resentments and

Ø       stronger sense of team building and strategic planning for the greater good and goal
  (and I can’t think of a process being more strategic than planning for redeployment in Iraq!)
 

Key Problem Solving Success Drivers
 

From my perspective, several factors produced the dynamic, inspiring, jump-starting morning session: 

1. Illustrating Change and Conflict.  Opening up with a thought-provoking presentation on change and conflict, and then identifying personal signs of transitional stress

2. Problem Solving Reenactment.  Problem-solving creatively a “real life/war zone” change-conflict scenario

3. Dynamics of Loss and Change, Conflict and Creativity.  Providing conceptual understanding of the dynamics of loss and change and the applied connection among change, conflict and creative problem solving

4. Dynamics of Aggression and Power Struggles.  Engaging in a high energy, purposeful yet playful power struggle exercise that allows for some “outrageous” expression and interplay.  Remember, the middle word in “out-rage-ous" is “rage.”  Helping people express frustration and channel their rage constructively is a key to working through power struggles, regaining positive control and letting go of negative control, breaking out of the box and even building trust.  (And as a former "Stress and Violence Prevention Consultant" for the US Postal Service I know something about the issue.) 

5. Acclaimed Team Discussion/Team Drawing Exercise.  Involving diverse groups in a high energy/high imagination team discussion and team drawing exercise that focuses on sources of stress/conflict and barriers to being CPR – “Creative, Passionate and Risk-Taking."  Open sharing of and reciprocal playing with ideas and images result in synergistic “products” that helps one and all:

a) not feel so alone, b) see “the bigger picture” and c) allows people to draw out instead of act out their aggression and frustration, d) feel a vital part of a supportive, productive and creative problem-solving team.  In addition, e) time limits compelled groups to forsake perfection and risk jumping into the problem-solving pool and f) research indicates that when diverse teams (as opposed to ones more homogeneous) engage in open communication and genuine collaboration more imaginative problem solving results.  And when participants see that g) top management can accept the reality of shared frustration and are open to hearing some “negative input” there is an increase of organizational trust.

In other words, there is both diagnostic and strategic potential in this team building exercise.  Again, to quote Col. Phelps:  “Our “drawing” exercise was absolutely enlightening.  I cannot tell you how valuable it was to me as the “CEO” to see these products and see how the differing sections and commands worked together.”

Next Step

I would appreciate greatly your thoughts on the above collaborative workshop/foundation building and jump-starting facilitation process.  Please email stressdoc@aol.com or call 301-875-2567 with any questions or comments.  To good adventures and collaborations.