PITA Seminar
PITA's at Work: How to deal with and avoid becoming a Pain In The Ass
Seminar Overview
NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Surveys are indicating that the "softer skills" of interpersonal effectiveness and character assets are ranked highest among business recruiters. Interpersonal effectiveness and character assets are highly complex skill sets that run the gamut from one to one interactions, group process and facilitation, public speaking, team work and goal setting, to supervisory relationships. Business can literally be won and lost based on the interpersonal effectiveness and character of the consultant.
In this seminar, the JAZ consultants Drs. Orndorff and Clark will focus heavily on the concept of "self-awareness" as a core ingredient to better interpersonal effectiveness with clients, customers and co-workers. Only through an honest self-assessment of strengths and growth areas can there be a starting point for improvement. In their upcoming book, The PITA Principle: How to work with and avoid becoming a pain in the ass (to be published in June of 2008), Orndorff and Clark highlight seven types of "PITAs" found most prevalently in the workplace. This seminar will offer strategies on working more effectively with each type of PITA and on becoming more aware of your own tendencies toward being difficult to work with in certain work situations.
Seminar Agenda
Introducing the PITAs
How do you know if you are in the presence of a PITA (Pain in the Ass)? A description of the different types of PITA will be provided based on the book The PITA Principle by Drs. Orndorff and Clark. Examples will be provided in the form of real life scenarios about how PITAs tend to operate.
Heightening Your Self-Awareness
A discussion will occur about the importance of self-awareness in developing as professionals (PITAs of another kind - Professionals Increasing Their Awareness). Are you able to accurately assess your strengths and your areas for growth? A self-assessment will be provided to determine any potential areas of difficulty.
PITAs and Communication Styles
A presentation and discussion on the Communication Styles of PITAs (e.g. Crusty communication styles, sloppy communication styles): How do we communicate in meetings? How do we give feedback to people? How do we engage in discussions with clients and co-workers? How well do we listen?
Simulated Workplace Scenarios
Through interactive vignettes and role plays, participants will act out common workplace scenarios that can bring out the best and worst PITA tendencies. Vignettes will focus on giving feedback to other PITAs and on staying aware of our own PITA.
Wrap up and Intervention Take-aways
Wrap up: Practical interventions for help with coping with difficult people as well as with our own self-improvement. Hand-outs will be available as important reminders when we are in challenging situations.
Seminar Take-Aways
- Develop an understanding of the patterns associated with difficult personalities through a humorous look at the PITA. Develop an understanding that none of us is exempt from being a PITA now and then.
- Build up self-awareness around your strengths and deficits in the areas of interpersonal effectiveness and communications. Become part of a group of "Professionals Increasing Their Awareness."
- Develop strategies for becoming more confident and effective during difficult interpersonal situations. Participants will practice responding to PITAs as they present themselves in the workplace.
- Take away additional interventions that can be used in many work situations and contexts.