WWU’s SDBC to Host Leadership Development Sessions March 21, 22 and 28

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is partnering with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce to host a series of Leadership Development Workshops from 11: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 21, 22 and 28 at 5659 Barrett Road in Ferndale.

The programs are free but registration is required; to register, email sbdc@wwu.edu.

These training programs will give attendees insights on what it takes to become a better communicator and succeed as a leader of teams.

There will be three sessions:

Session #1, Giving Feedback: The Coaching Leader, Tuesday March 21

Have you ever lost sleep before a difficult conversation? Participants will learn how to deliver feedback in a way that lowers the listener’s defenses and is both kind and direct. This essential toolkit can be used by anyone to bring greater accountability, clarity and alignment in businesses of any size.

Session #2, Receiving Feedback: The Approachable Leader, Wednesday March 22

 If you haven’t received honest feedback about your leadership lately, it might mean you’re not approachable enough! This session will give you a window into how approachable you are and skills to increase the likelihood that your staff will talk to you instead of about you.

Session #3, Running Great Meetings: The Facilitative Leader, Tuesday March 28

Meetings can be the bane of a leader’s existence but it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn a few tips to make your meetings lively, productive and relevant — just-in-time agendas, managing participants’ airtime and creating engagement instead of report-outs.

The sessions will be led by Laura Todd and Sarah Murphy-Kangas. Todd has more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, coaching and training in large companies, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial organizations. Murphy-Kangas is an organizational development practitioner, providing coaching, mediation, and group facilitation services to clients, she specializes in helping caregiving organizations find resilience and wholeness in the midst of difficult work.

Attendance is free but space is limited and registration is required. You may register for one, two or all three events. Please bring your own lunch and beverage.

For more information on how to register, please call the SBDC office at (360) 778-1762 or email sbdc@wwu.edu.