CLE Class with Blackfish

CLE Class: Strategic Communication In Your Law Firm

Thank you for your interest, but we are no longer accepting registrations for this CLE Class in Strategic Communication.

Blackfish divider

 

Cost:
$285.00 per person

Date & Time:
Friday, December 7, 2012
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location:
Blackfish Office
2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 125
Birmingham, AL 35243
205-824-4445
» Map to venue

Credits:  AL CLE 6.5 credits as well as 1.0 ethics credit
This course has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of Alabama for a maximum of 6.5 hours’ credit, including 1.0 hours of ethics.

Course Description:
Tired of misunderstandings, conflicts, and wasted time dealing with inter-personal politics? Poor communication leaves a trail of destruction. If you are struggling with ineffective problem solving, getting projects completed, always repeating yourself, or lack of full participation by team members….. then you’re struggling with bad communications.

Your success as a leader and negotiator depends on how well you relate to others. This program teaches the critical thinking, analysis, and people skills essential to developing and implementing communications strategies that advance your firm’s goals.

Research has shown that poor communication is the primary contributor to low profits, failed strategies, and high turn-over. Don’t put your professional success on the line! Learn how to manage conflict, eliminate misunderstandings, and get the results you need from others.

In this interactive, hands-on seminar, leaders will use live case studies and evidence-based tools to develop effective communications strategies. You will develop your ability to foster the thinking habits that will allow you to offer strategic counsel to clients and co-workers.

Learn the secrets behind strategic communication: your key for less stress and better results! When you (and your team) understand the ins and outs of solid communication, you’ll notice an immediate impact on your results. You’ll see a boost in productivity … less conflict … higher morale … and a true feeling that you and your team can accomplish anything.

You’ll learn where communication usually breaks down between people. You’ll find out the keys behind giving clear directions. You’ll discover how to turn simple strategies like listening, understanding personality-type, and body language into your communication and negotiation advantage.

Take a Glimpse at What You’ll Learn:
• Understanding the four different ways people take in information and make decisions
• Listening — your most powerful and underused communication tool
• Find out where communication typically breaks down between people
• What to do when you’re challenged or put down in front of others
• Critical how-to’s for giving instructions and directions — for fewer misunderstandings
• Body language: Learn how your actions can overpower what you’re actually saying
• Techniques for making sure you can communicate clearly to a diverse group
• How self-anchoring will dramatically improve your communication immediately
• Communicating over the phone and in e-mail — 5 tips you don’t want to miss

Speaker: Shannon Ammons (Blackfish)
Shannon Ammons is an owner and the Director of Knowledge and Impact Assessment for Blackfish Strategies, LLC. She works with organizations and teams all across the nation and has expertise in organizational management and team issues related to staff, clients, and teammates. Ammons is a certified MBTI instructor. She is able to administer andinterpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment and Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). As an undergraduate student at the Auburn University, Ammons developed her analytical, strategic thinking and problem solving skills while earning a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992.

Speaker: John D. Saxon, Esq.
John D. Saxon, Esq., a Birmingham attorney, received his B.A., with Honors, and J.D. degrees from The University of Alabama, his M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. His practice consists of civil litigation, with an emphasis in employment law.  John is  a Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers and Past Chair of the BBA Grievance Committee. He taught legal ethics at the Washington College of Law at American University. As a White House Fellow in the Carter administration, he was Special Assistant to Vice-President Walter F. Mondale. He served as counsel or staff director to four committees of the United States Senate, including Judiciary, Ethics, Armed Services, and the Senate Iran-Contra Committee. He is listed in the 2008-2012 editions of Alabama Super Lawyers magazine, Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama 2011-2012 and the 2009-2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in America.

Moderator: Kristi McHale (Blackfish)
Kristi McHale is an owner and the Managing Partner for Blackfish Strategies, LLC. As an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama (BS, 1995), she developed her technology skills while employed by Apple, Inc. After earning her law degree at Mississippi College (JD, 1999), McHale practiced law as a solo practitioner in Atlanta, GA. After moving back to Alabama, she practiced law and began a campaign management business in Birmingham, AL. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the Georgia State Bar.

AGENDA:
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Check In and Continental Breakfast Buffet
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
8:45 – 9:15 a.m. Discovering How You Communicate with Clients and Staff

9:15 – 9:30 a.m. Break

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Understanding How Others Interpret Your Management Style
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Understanding Your Personality Preferences and How They Apply to Clients, Staff and Fellow Attorneys

11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
Keynote Speaker: John D. Saxon, Esq. “Professionalism in Your Law Practice”

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Identify Your Preferred Style of Conflict Management: Dealing with Difficult Clients and Staff
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Learning When to Appropriately Use All Five Styles of Conflict Resolution

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Using Your Management Tools: How Understanding Personality and Conflict Preferences Better Your Professional Relationship with Clients, Staff and Fellow Attorneys
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Wrap Up and Adjourn

 

Blackfish divider

 

Board Governance Training

Board Governance Training
July 16-17, 2012

HIA Coastal Conference Center
16 Otis Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
» Map to venue

July 16th @ 9:00 a.m.
July 17th @ 4:00 p.m.

Blackfish returns to Georgetown. It is recommended that an organization’s ED plus a board member attend, or two board members if the ED has completed the class previously. Preference will be given to organizations that have not been able to attend in the past. Seating is limited to 40 participants.

The Bunnelle Foundation is proud to sponsor this capacity-building opportunity for area nonprofits. There is no cost to participate. Lunch will be provided each day. If you have special dietary needs you may want to consider bringing your lunch with you.

Enroll by RSVP below. If more than one from your organization will attend, please contact us and let us know how many to expect from your organization.