Rave Reviews for Leading World-Class Teams, Strategic Thinking, and Talking Straight

We are so delighted with the responses we have had to our virtual programs. Here are a few feedback highlights for some of our recent sessions:

Recent virtual offerings of custom Leading World-Class Teams at a large insurance company have been wildly successful. A group of internal facilitators are delivering the program to team leaders enterprise-wide. 88% of participants said the course will change the way they lead, and 90% responded that they will definitely recommend the course to their colleagues. One of the participants in a recent session commented that Leading World Class Teams was the “best workshop I have ever attended” and that their “team’s purpose is now getting tied to the company’s vision.” One of the internal facilitators shared, “I just love the way communication skills are woven throughout.”

Back in November, Strategic Thinking was presented to a group of physician leaders. One of them remarked, “I was inspired by all the different leaders I met today. The significant amount of new strategies and tactics of becoming an effective leader was incredible. I feel challenged and motivated to take on the role of my leadership position going forward.” More recently, a participant let us know that she is making good progress on her strategic challenge and just gave a talk to teach the surgery service line chiefs/DAs to create their own vision statements! This is especially encouraging to us; we are delighted to hear that the strategic practices and tool sets continue to be used towards constructive action even months later back on the job.

Our newest virtual program, Talking Straight, was also delivered to a group of physician leaders within a large healthcare system. Talking Straight is focused on how to provide valuable feedback that may also sometimes require helping someone handle difficult or “bad” news. The physicians liked the “simple and digestible model” saying it was “easy to use and apply to real life.” The course was “clear and easy... to follow.” There was “plenty of time for discussion about each topic, and ability to practice.” “Course handouts for later review are helpful and they “appreciated the “practicality of the content.” One physician’s take away is worth quoting in full: “I intend to review the format before having challenging conversations; practice listening... listening....listening for opportunities to provide feedback (so that I can put this into practice), and remind myself that being direct is being kind and remembering to always be empathetic (keeping this context) while practicing talking straight.”

If any of these programs strike a chord with any business challenges your and/or your organization are facing, please drop us an email.

To read about our courses and offerings, download out catalog for 2021.

Leadership Insights from Gregg Brown: Forbes Magazine

Gregg Brown is a Barnes & Conti friend and partner in Canada who has facilitated many of our programs. Gregg was recently asked to be an expert panelist for Forbes in an article entitled, "Balancing Criticism And Praise: 13 Tips For Company Leaders." Here's what Gregg said:

Stop Using The Word ‘But’

Remove the word “but” from your vocabulary. Instead of saying, “You’re really good at this, but you need to improve on this,” say, “You’re really good at this, and you need to improve on this.” When you replace “but” with “and,” you keep the person engaged in the conversation. Use “but” only if the phrase before it is negative: “You were late submitting it, but the report was really good!”

Read the entire article online.

Kim Barnes to Speak at ATD

Kim Barnes is planning on speaking at ATD 2021 this coming summer. This year’s topic is “Building Better Ideas: The Value of Constructive Debate.” The ATD Conference and Expo is scheduled for August 29 - September 1 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kim will be speaking on September 1, from 8:00 - 9:00 am.

According to the ATD website, they will be tailoring the event according to health and safety needs while following all state and local guidelines.

For more info and to register, visit the ATD website.

Virtual Exercising Influence in July 2021

We're happy to announce that a public version of the full, virtual edition of Exercising Influence, our popular influence skills training program, will be offered this coming July.

The schedule is below:

July 21, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon: Session 1
July 28, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon: Session 2

The cost for the webinar is $875

Register online here.

Recipe: Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup Cake – The Family Birthday Cake

Lauren Powers, SVP, Business Development

Barnes & Conti has a number of staff birthdays in the spring. Lauren Powers recently celebrated her birthday, and in her family, this cake is a long-standing birthday tradition. We practically begged her for the recipe, and now we can share it with you!

Says Lauren, "The 1950’s brought time-saving convenience into the kitchen. While my grandmother would painstakingly prepare rugelach, my mom was a more modern woman taking advantage of whatever shortcuts were made available without sacrificing taste. While never one to bake a cake from a mix, when her friend, Aunt Irene, found this one, using a can of Hershey’s chocolate syrup and a cup of Presto self-rising flour, my mom seized it. It became THE birthday cake for her daughters now for her grandchildren."

Ingredients for the cake batter:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 can Hershey’s chocolate syrup (equal to 1.5 cups)
• 1 cup Presto self-rising flour (If you can’t find Presto or other self-rising flour, use 1 cup flour mixed with ½ tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt)
• 1 tsp vanilla

For the topping:

Use either:

• Confectioner’s sugar sprinkled on top - my personal go to!
• Marshmallow Fluff decorated with colored sugar and gel for writing – the kids’ favorite – watch out, it slides!
• 7-Minute Sugar Frosting Recipe (see recipe below) – probably the tastiest, but requires more effort!

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease two cake pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar.
3. Add 4 eggs, one at a time to mixer.
4. Add syrup, flour, and vanilla.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes and check to see if done…Better to be moist.
6. If you decide to use fluff, wait to ice both layers until you are almost ready to serve. Otherwise, gravity will have taken hold.

7-minute Sugar Frosting Recipe

Make icing and ice cake right before you serve as it becomes hard quickly, like styrofoam!

Ingredients:

• 2 egg whites
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp light corn syrup or ¼ tsp cream of tarter
• 1/3 cup cold water
• Dash salt
• 1 tsp vanilla

Method:

1. Place all ingredients except for vanilla in top of double boiler and beat for 30 seconds at a low speed.
2. Place top of double boiler over, but not touching boiling water.
3. Cook, beating constantly for about 7 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Make sure to not overcook.
4. Remove from water and beat in vanilla.

You are receiving these emails from Barnes & Conti because you are a client, colleague, and/or friend of Barnes & Conti Associates or you contacted us through our website, at a trade show, or via social media. Barnes & Conti does not sell, trade, or give away mailing lists or email addresses to anyone. Period. You can read our privacy policy here.

If you no longer wish to receive these bulletins, use this link to unsubscribe or write us at Barnes & Conti, 2342 Shattuck Ave, #217, Berkeley, CA 94704.

*Please don't forward this entire email; the person you forward to might inadvertently unsubscribe you with the above link!