WWU’s Small Business Development Center to Host Leadership-Development Sessions at New Office This Fall

November 3, 2016

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host a series of leadership development talks for local business owners at the SBDC office, located in downtown Bellingham.

Healthy, productive organizations are characterized by leaders who know how to give hard feedback, are approachable, and can effectively communicate in groups of any size. These short, interactive sessions will focus on your own development as a skilled communicator and leave you with practical strategies to begin applying right away.

The “Lunch and Learn” series will feature three lunchtime sessions on the following topics; all will be hosted at the SBDC’s new downtown office location at 1616 Cornwall Ave., Suite #119, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost, but seating is limited; please RSVP by calling the SBDC office at (360) 778-1762 or email sbdc@wwu.edu.

 

  • Session 1, Thursday, Nov. 10: Giving Feedback: The Coaching Leader. 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, Thursday, Nov. 17: Receiving Feedback: The Approachable Leader. 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, Thursday, Dec. 1: Running Great Meetings: The Facilitative Leader. 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.

 

About the Speakers

Laura Todd - www.lauratoddcoaching.com

Todd has over 25 years of experience in leadership development, coaching and training in large companies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurial organizations. She helps teams and groups come together through retreats, expert facilitation, and transformative workshops. Todd coaches leaders and their teams to create a symphony of success.  She has a master’s degree in Education, Counseling and Guidance and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach. 

Sarah Murphy-Kangas - www.sarahmurphykangas.com

Sarah 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. She has an master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Antioch University Seattle and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Washington.

 

About the SBDC 

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center is part of the most comprehensive small-business alliance in the U.S., with more than 1,000 active SBDC programs across the country. Western Washington University’s SBDC receives support from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham and the City of Blaine. 

Since 1983, Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center has given back to the business community and helped to shape the economic future of Whatcom County by providing free, confidential advising, technical assistance, and research to business owners and managers in an effort to help businesses thrive.