The Relationship Institute presents: I-SkillsZone

Why the I-SkillsZone?
The ability to understand and communicate positive solutions to critical situations is essential to work well in a fast-paced, complex, competitive, and an often high-pressure business environment. This ability includes knowing how to manage natural urges which pull a person into negative, unproductive behaviors - outside the I-SkillsZone.

The "I" in the I-SkillsZone
The "I" in the I-SkillsZone stands for processing Important Issues effectively with rich Information, Influence, Integrity, and Increased Interpersonal effectiveness.

More than a program, the I-SkillsZone provides a foundational system of integrated frameworks (maps), skills, and tools that facilitate a wide range of challenging, on-the-job processes:
Critical, Difficult Conversations
Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, and Conflict-Resolving
Individual Process Coaching
Customer Service
Performance Improvement
Change Management

Companies integrate the I-SkillsZone into their:
Team Building
Communication Skills Training
Manager and Supervisor Development
Leadership and Organizational Development

I-SkillsZone Program Content
I-SkillsZone concepts and skills are based on modern information and systems theory, grounded in neurobiology. The program contains 8 modules:

Module #1 Communication Styles®
How you talk and how you listen influence a conversation:
Distinguish the characteristics of five styles of functional and two styles of dysfunctional communication
Recognize how different styles impact - increase or limit - important information exchange
Interrelate styles of communication with the dynamics and phases of team development

With application of the Communication Styles Map, you will be able to:
See and hear signals of unresolved issues faster
Spot breakdowns in communication and choose best styles to intervene effectively
Assess the effectiveness of your own communication styles
Gain perspective for faster team development and more productive output
Recognize how style reflects positive or negative company culture

Module #2 Think System
You work and live in interconnected and interdependent systems:
See a bigger picture - parts and whole - beyond turf and silo
Understand various types of issues
Distinguish between issues and problems
Establish systemic outcome criteria for decision-making, negotiating, and resolving conflicts
Integrate communication and the power of caring or not caring

Module #3 The Information Wheel®
Effective communication flows from awareness of self, others, issues and situations:
Identify the structure of issues and situations
Expand self-awareness and other-awareness when bothered or stuck
Use six talking skills to speak more clearly and effectively
Go to the heart of an issue quickly and productively
Examine important issues thoroughly
Organize and make sense out of chaos
Cover all parts of relevant information
Think and act systemically

Module #4 The Listening Cycle®
How you listen has a measurable effect on the quality of information sharing:
Distinguish the difference between listening for agreement and listening for understanding
Recognize the impact of different styles of listening
Use five listening skills to tune into another person
Discover critical information by listening accurately

Module #5 Mapping Issues
The process you use determines your satisfaction with the outcomes:
Organize important information into a sequential and comprehensive format
Integrate related objective and subjective information
Recognize when you have partial information
Track group process
Discharge negative feelings and engage critical wants
Keep focused on the central issue

Module #6 Skilled Communication
Combine the six talking skills and five listening skills to:
Establish rapport, which builds trust
Attend to others' nonverbals to gauge your interactive effectiveness
Discover the effect of anxiety on your communication including where you go when you leave the I-SkillsZone
Recognize the impact of communicating inside and outside the I-Skills Zone

Module #7 Application Guidelines
The I-SkillsZone system supports many practical applications:
Preparing for an important, sometime critical and difficult, conversation
Responding to Fight Talk or Spite Talk
Turning resistance into a resource
Giving and receiving positive feedback
Performance Review: Report's Preparation
Performance Review: Manager/Supervisor's Preparation
Conducting Team Meetings

Module #8 Competent Conflict
The I-SkillsZone system and the Conflict Dynamics Profile help you to:
Minimize costly, harmful situations
Maximize opportunities for profitable results
Transform conflict into collaboration
Build positive relationships

For more information on the I-SkillsZone click here or visit our Workshops page or contact Fred Jakolat.