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August 22, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

The Business Case for Developing Women in Leadership

Investing in genuine development opportunities for the women on your team pays enormous dividends. Studies show that companies with women in leadership positions demonstrate better returns, increased innovation, and higher resilience than companies without (HBR).

Alternatively, studies have also shown that organizations that overlook the development of women in leadership often experience costly results, including a higher rate of turnover. According to the Carlson College of Business, employees at organizations that overlook development are 3 times more likely to withhold ideas and five times more likely to speak negatively about their company than companies that are supportive of their employees.

The most common ways that companies offer leadership development include access to mentors, books, courses, workshops, or some combination of those options. These are all great resources and opportunities, but when it comes to developing women in leadership, the best return on investment comes from attending women-centered, in-person events like Women IGNITE! Let’s explore five reasons why.

1. Increased Productivity Through Networking

Leaders with active networks solve problems more effectively, build stronger teams, and get promoted faster. That is because women typically don’t work solo; they reach goals with and through others. Women with well-rounded networks have access to ample resources, support, mentorship, encouragement to overcome setbacks, and a reputation that motivates others to take action.

However, as crucial as a robust network is, it’s not always easy for women to make time to build and nurture those relationships. Women, especially those in male-dominated fields, face unique networking challenges and often don’t see the same results when they approach networking the same way their male peers do. Providing opportunities for women in leadership to attend in-person events can fill that gap.

A study published by HBR found that “women who signed up for and attended women-specific conferences were twice as likely to receive a promotion than their peers who signed up for a women’s conference but did not attend.” This study is particularly interesting because it demonstrated that it is the conference experience that made the impact, and not other factors.

Investing in women-centered, in-person events like Women IGNITE! provides a perfect opportunity for women to connect with and learn from other women as they build their network. Participants return with valuable connections and new skills.

2. Engage and Retain Your Top Performers

Actively disengaged employees cost companies 500 billion dollars annually. According to Gallup, 50% of employees disengage after just six months in a new position, with a primary reason being a lack of developmental opportunities. Although 91% of companies have a women-focused program in place, only 27% of women say they have benefited from it.” Boston Consulting Group. Organizations may have intentions of retaining women in leadership, but without a deep understanding of leadership training, these programs can fall flat.

The good news is that 95% of disengagement can be avoided. Keep your top performers engaged and maximize their potential by discussing and providing regular opportunities to expand their development.

Attending events like Women IGNITE! helps women clarify their priorities, build critical skills, reignite motivation, build confidence, and keep them engaged.

3. Promote Creative Problem Solving

Women in leadership face unique challenges that are often magnified in male-dominated fields. A 2018 study by Greguletz et al. reported that women who attend female-led professional development programs walk away with key insights and advice that they are less likely to receive from men in male-dominated fields.

Women who attend these programs were better able to navigate these challenges, accelerate their growth, and problem-solve in ways mixed-gender leadership conferences don’t address. These results multiply when women attend events outside of their organization with opportunities for fresh ideas, insights, and perspectives that promote innovation and creative problem-solving when they return.

4. Develop Culturally Competent Leaders

Cultural competence can be defined as the ability to understand, empathize, and work well with people from cultures and experiences different from your own. The Boston Consulting Group conducted a study that found companies with diverse management teams had 19% higher revenue than homogeneous teams. That study also reported that teams with gender diversity have higher rates of innovation. Organizations with gender-diverse leadership teams also reach new markets, are more efficient, and have clearer communication than those who do not (McKinsey & Company).

Working in an organization that encourages cultural competency and diversity increases a leader’s ability to understand, empathize, adapt, and communicate effectively. Leadership books, internal organizations, and mentorship are all valuable forms of development, but they cannot replace the value of a women-focused leadership program that develops skills central to cultural competence.

5. Improved Focus, Energy, and Clear Priorites

The COVID-19 pandemic hit women in leadership positions especially hard. According to a report by McKinsey, “women in corporate America are even more burned out than they were last year—and increasingly more so than men.” One reason that McKinsey cited for the higher rate of burnout during COVID is that women in leadership were more attentive and took on additional tasks to support their team’s emotional well-being.  

Untreated burnout is costly. According to Gallup, in 2021, burned-out employees cost the company $3,400 out of every $10,000 in salary because they are disengaged in their work and lack focus, energy, and priorities. Having practical tools that leaders can use and share with their team is central to avoiding the pitfalls of burnout and getting out of it.

Attending events like Women IGNITE! give women valuable tools they’ll use to increase their effectiveness and impact, navigate ongoing uncertainty, and build a powerful network that includes women outside their company who are ready to help.

Early Registration Bonuses when registering by March 9th!

Learn more about how you or women on your team can benefit from Women IGNITE! and save $200/person when registering groups of 3 or more at the same time.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

August 2, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

5 reasons to prioritize attending Women IGNITE!

A recent study published by HBR shared that women who signed up for women-specific conferences were twice as likely to receive a promotion than their peers who signed up for a women’s conference but did not attend. This is a powerful reminder of how important it is to invest in your professional development as a woman in leadership.
A recent study published by HBR shared that women who signed up for women-specific conferences were twice as likely to receive a promotion than their peers who signed up for a women’s conference but did not attend. This is a powerful reminder of how important it is to invest in your professional development as a woman in leadership.

5 reasons to prioritize attending
Women IGNITE! May 21-23

1.

Women IGNITE! is made by women for women.

Gender differences impact how people manage time, energy, influence, and more. Learn how to overcome challenges and leverage advantages to maximize your potential.
Learn More

2.

An investment that pays huge dividends

What would it be worth to you if your next level was crystal clear, if you could get a “yes” in half the time, if you could find 10 more productive hours in your week, and if you could increase your energy by 20% during an afternoon slump? And what if you could begin seeing the benefits of all of this and more in September? The best investment is the one you make in yourself. The sooner you invest, the sooner you’ll enjoy the returns on that investment. Learn More

3.

Create your own opportunities amidst chaos and uncertainty.

Don’t wait for opportunities to come your way; create your own! You’ll learn a proven process to reset your priorities and get a crystal-clear focus on what you want while developing critical tools to help you get it. Learn More

4.

Meet and collaborate with incredible women outside of your company

Each step of this experience was designed to facilitate and foster meaningful relationships with women across industries, positions, and companies. If you’re ready for diverse perspectives and fresh ideas, Women IGNITE! delivers. Learn More

5.

The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now.

It is a critical time to step back, prioritize, recharge, and build your resilience so you’re ready to bounce back and thrive when faced with future setbacks and challenges. A favorite Zen proverb says, “If you don’t have time to meditate for an hour every day, you should meditate for two hours.” This concept applies to professional development as well. It’s when you feel most busy that new tools and a powerful network are most valuable. Learn More

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.  Women Ignite is a transformational experience that delivers in countless ways. We look forward to seeing you in May!

Click to learn more about attending Women IGNITE!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

January 16, 2019 by Klassen Performance Group

Join Us For Maximum Influence

Are you ready to
stop speaking and start influencing?

The Purpose Of This Course:

To transform you from a speaker to an influencer.

Influence is what enables the most effective people to impact the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others and drive results. A great speaker isn’t necessarily an effective influencer. People walk away from a speaker entertained; they walk away from an influencer changed.

Join us for 2 high-impact days where you’ll learn how to maximize your influence and transform how you communicate forever.

Do you need to:

  1. Get your ideas heard and your projects funded?
  2. Inspire your team to take immediate action?
  3. Deliver difficult messages with confidence?
  4. Facilitate engaging meetings that get results?
  5. Stand out from the pack and be the one others turn to for input?

“MI was the most valuable course I’ve taken in my career. Influence is the single most important skill in my role. I’ve used the skills I learned in one on one interactions with my reps, in large groups for trainings as well as selling to customers.”
Indirect Account Manager

Stay tuned for new dates!

Individual Registration

Groups of 3+ Registration

Personalized Experience

Bring your influence challenges to the course, and we’ll help you overcome them. Are any of these challenges getting in your way?

  • People multi-tasking during your presentation or conference call?
  • Circular conversation in your meeting?
  • Others just don’t seem to “get” your idea?
  • You spend hours you can’t afford preparing for presentations?
  • People commit, but don’t follow through?

“It is critical that we are able to present a clear, concise, impactful message in many different forums. Maximum influence gives us the foundation to accomplish this. It gives employees the complete foundation. Starting with how to prep and prepare your presentation to delivery to close. No other class that I have taken through is as comprehensive as this.” Regional Director Data Sales

You’ll leave with:

  • Research-based tools to use when presenting, facilitating meetings, and interpersonally.
  • A proven methodology to cut your preparation time by 75%.
  • The ability to demonstrate the 10 characteristics that separate speaking from influencing.
  • 5 skills that will sharpen your listening and amplify your influence.
  • The answer to the #1 question that enables people to adapt to any audience.
  • 4 effective strategies to harness your stress and confidently influence any audience
  • Follow-up coaching to accelerate your development by reinforcing changes and overcoming challenges.

“I used the writing methodology during the Ops Review the week after Maximum Influence. I felt the conversation went much smoother. I was able to direct the discussion proactively, addressing production gaps before the question was asked. I had three other DMs and a Director ask for my talk track notes as coaching aides. My ego drank it up like hot chocolate.”
Retail District Manager

Our proven process builds your confidence, increases your effectiveness, and helps you become the credible source of information in any situation. By the end of the course, you’ll be visibly more influential and confident that you can apply the skills learned to a variety of audiences and situations, so you demonstrate maximum influence in meetings, on conference calls, when presenting, and interpersonally.

We guarantee an immediate, visible improvement in your ability to influence.

How We Get The Results We Promise:

  • With 30 years of experience as professional speakers and behavioral change experts, we know how to get results.
  • We create an environment that enables participants to practice new skills and achieve their specific goals.
  • We deliver specific, insightful feedback that leads to immediate, visible improvement.
  • We actively model every skill taught to accelerate internalization of concepts.
Stay tuned for new dates!

Individual Registration

Groups of 3+ Registration

Filed Under: Uncategorized

May 2, 2018 by Klassen Performance Group

Resource List – Women Ignite!

Clarify Your Vision: What is Your “Next Level”?

Ted Talk:
The Career Advice You Probably Didn’t Get – Developing the acumen to close the gender gap in leadership positions.

Klassen Performance Group:
Leadership assessment
Superior Leadership

Leverage the Power of Habits to Drive Lasting Behavioral Change

Books:
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
The Little Book of Big Change by Amy Johnson, Ph.D.

Podcast Episodes:
The 5 AM Miracle Podcast Habit Episode (Summarizing Duhigg’s book)
The 5 AM Miracle Podcast on making sticky habits – Interview with James Clear
A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit TED Talk by Judson Brewer

Apps:
Streaks
Chains
Fabulous
Habits Pro The Habit Tracker 4+

Strategically Design an Invaluable Network

eBook:
Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi

Articles:
How to Build Your Network by Brian Uzzi and Shannon Dunlap. Harvard Business Review December, 2005.
How to Revive a Tired Network by Hermann Ibarra. Harvard Business Review, February 3, 2015
Why Your Inner Circle Should Stay Small, and How to Shrink It by Scott Gerber
Four Ways Women Can Build Relationships When They Feel Excluded at Work by Brenda F. Wensil and Kathryn Heath

Generate Energy and Sharpen Focus

Books/eBooks:
The Real Happy Pill
The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up; The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo
SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life, by Julie Morgenstern
No More Sleepless Nights, by Peter Hauri, Ph.D. and Shirley Linde, Ph.D.

Websites:
Sleep Diplomat
Mindful.org
Harvard Medical School Healthy Sleep
Website Twelve Simple Steps to Improve Your Sleep
Sleep Hygiene

NPR interview:
Walking thru life in an underslept state

Klassen Performance Group:
Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence: Unmanaged emotions drain energy, often without us even realizing it’s happening. Increase your awareness and ability to manage your emotions so they don’t drain your energy.

Apps:
Wysa – manage negative emotions, especially anxiety and stress.
Meditation Studio is a beautifully designed app for Android and iOS that promises to untangle your mind.
Headspace
Calm
10% Happier – meditation for fidgety skeptics

Drive Results Through Exceptional Influence

Ted Talks:
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are (Power Pose Talk) by Amy Cuddy
Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable by Luvvie Ajayi

Article:
The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why by Deborah Tannen

Podcast:
Women at Work: Make Yourself Heard Season 1, Episode 1

Book:
The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman
You’ve Got 8 Seconds: Communication Secrets for a Distracted World

App:
Astound – Voice Training App

Klassen Performance Group Courses:
Maximum Influence & Maximum Influence II – includes personal video review and coaching from KPG

Proven Strategies to Uncover 5 Extra Hours Per Week

Books:
The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse
The Winner’s Brain, Jeff Brown
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UP by Marie Kondo

Articles/Websites:
Who Has the Monkey?, by William Oncken, Harvard Business Review
Pomodoro Technique
KonMari – all things Marie Kondo

Turn Failure into Opportunity with Unwavering Resilience

TedTalks:
3 lessons on success from an Arab business woman – overcoming male dominated industries
Reframing stress-“how to make stress your friend” Kelly McGonigal
The Power of ‘Yet’: Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck

Books / eBooks:
Bounce: Overcoming Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, by Cassandra Gaisford
Option B: Facing Adversity, building Resilience, and Finding Joy, Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The Resiliency Advantage, Al Siebert
Learned Optimism, How To Change Your Mind And Your Life, Martin Seligman
Flourish, by Martin Seligman
Man’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl

Klassen Performance Group Course:
Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence

Website:
Option B – Helps people build resilience and find meaning in the face of adversity

Additional Resources Recommended by Women Ignite! Participants

Apps & Websites:
MindManager – Mind Mapping
MindNode – Mind Mapping, Idea Organization
Trello – Productivity tool for ideas, projects, collaboration

Books & Journals:
Clear Your Clutter, Manifest Your Dreams
Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How To Say No To Take Control Of Your Life
The Artist’s Way
The ONE Thing
Personal Kanban
Sleep Smarter
Ink & Volt Planners/Journals

Podcasts:
Organize 365
Blinkist – bite sized audio books, one free per day
The Art of Charm – Episode 724 How To Deepen Your Connection With Others
The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes – Episode 10/9/2018 The Power of Building Influential Networks
Finding Braveby Kathy Caprino

Filed Under: Uncategorized

December 12, 2017 by Klassen Performance Group

3 Things Family Christmas Parties Taught Me About Managing Holiday Stress

Manage Holiday Stress With These 3 Tips

The snow has fallen, the days are shorter – the holiday season is here! For most people, the holidays bring a mixed bag of excitement and stress. With so many obligations pulling you in different directions it can be hard to appreciate this time of year. Regardless of what is on your holiday to-do list, there are 3 strategies you can employ to manage your stress and enjoy this holiday season.

Know Your Purpose

Every attendee of Maximum Influence knows how important clarity of purpose is to effectiveness. You simply cannot be effective if you haven’t clearly articulated the impact you want to have. The same principle applies to any endeavor and can help make the holiday season less hectic and more enjoyable.

Each year, my extended family of over 60 people holds a Christmas party that is so loud with laughter that we surely violate noise ordinances. They’re as fun as they are loud. However, it’s much more than a great party. The parties serve a more important purpose of knitting together an ever-expanding group of family members, providing continuity from my 92-year-old Grandmother to the newborns introduced each year.

Over the years, my purpose has evolved from merely enjoying myself to ensuring that old and new members of the family feel just as welcome and vital to this family as everyone else. So, when it’s 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve and my immediate family and I feel so exhausted that we consider staying home for just one year, we push forward, knowing how important it is to continue building strong family connections for future generations. Instead of spending all of my time with people with whom I’m most familiar, I make a conscious effort to meet new family members that will continue this tradition in the future. Knowing my purpose elevates this party from a great time to something even more valuable to me.

Make A Plan

A 2011 study conducted by Robert Epstein reported that planning was the number one tool participants found most effective in managing stress. Thoughtful planning gives you a sense of control and will steer you clear of two pitfalls that suck the joy out of holidays: unrealistic expectations and over commitment. Keep your expectations in check by measuring them against your purpose. Do you need the full-on animated light display in your yard or can you put lights around a few trees?

With a clear purpose in mind it is much easier to make plans to achieve it and to avoid activities that undermine it. By clearly articulating my purpose in attending the family party, I instantly become focused on the top priorities for the evening. I know who I need to make time to connect with and I make it a point to do so. When I swing by the grocery store to pick up a premade appetizer, I don’t feel inadequate because I’m purposefully spending my time where it matters most. Don’t get caught up in the unrealistic expectation that everything needs to be perfect. Make a realistic plan based on what is important to you and you’ll be less likely to experience skyrocketing holiday stress due to over commitment.

Maintain Perspective

Seeing relatives you may not see often can lead to some stressful conversations. Many of us know someone who stirs negative emotions just by thinking about them. It’s important that we don’t let these negative emotions lead us astray of our purpose. To prevent this from happening, channel your inner “high stakes conversation” specialist. Our article Leveraging Emotional Intelligence During The Holidays provides helpful tips to maintaining diplomatic discussions.

The fundamental first step is to turn up your self-awareness. Emotions drive actions, and being aware of your underlying emotions can help curb impulsive behavior that may fuel the fire and help you lose sight of more important things, such as maintaining relationships and open communication. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but by starting with a clear purpose for the event or for a specific interaction, you will be more self-aware when strong emotions arise. Awareness helps you maintain perspective and your options for a thoughtful response increase.

My Grandmother is truly one of the great influences on my life. She is also one of the greatest influencers I’ve ever seen. She leads a family of over 60 people through unfailing examples of love, laughter, gratitude, and compassion. I’ve watched my Grandmother smile and her obvious pride as she watches four generations of family members reconnect and have a great time together every Christmas. For me, remembering that our annual party serves a greater purpose than simply having a good time makes me feel good about making the extra effort to show up and reconnect each year.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Filed Under: Emotional Intelligence, Uncategorized

Leadership Courses

  • Maximum Influence
  • Maximum Influence II: Rising To The Next Challenge
  • Superior Leadership
  • Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence
  • Mastering High Stakes Conversations
  • Building A Culture of Innovation
  • Building High Performance Teams
  • Coaching With Style
  • Communicating With Style
  • High Performance Transitions
  • Mastering the Art of Listening

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  • Leadership Development
    • Customized Leadership Courses
      • Maximum Influence
      • Maximum Influence II: Rising To The Next Challenge
      • Superior Leadership
      • Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence
      • Mastering High Stakes Conversations
      • Building High Performance Teams
      • Coaching With Style
      • Mastering the Art of Listening
      • High Performance Transitions
      • Building A Culture of Innovation
      • Communicating With Style
    • Assessments
      • Management & Leadership
      • Sales
      • Associates
      • Communication
      • Listening
      • Stress & Coping
      • Time Mastery
      • 360s
      • Competency Modeling
  • Train The Trainer
  • Online Courses
  • Keynotes
  • FAQ
  • Why Choose KPG?
    • About Klassen Performance Group
    • Meet the Team
      • Dr. Heather Johnson
      • Don Klassen
      • Tucker Johnson
      • Erica Johnson
    • Who We’ve Worked With
    • What Our Clients Say
  • Blog