Virtual Coffee Talk

When the water gets rough, teams lose their way. In 2015 Harvard Business School studied 95 teams within 25 leading companies and found that 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional! Yet, we know from study after study that the effectiveness of a team impacts an employee’s overall performance. After too many years of working with ineffective leaders and teams that spend too much time talking, not enough time executing and often paddling in different directions; Lauralee set out to understand how to get teams out of dysfunction and ready to take on the rough waters ahead. From there, the Top Teams® Model was born, this process provides a methodology for collaborating across functions, departments, organizations, and distances.

During this 90 minute presentation and breakout, there is an overview of research about teams, what it takes to create a high performing team and then an opportunity for the participants to assess their own team’s performance. If a half-day program is selected, we will go into further details of team development, using the assessment for building a plan for improving their team’s connectedness and performance. During the half-day, they will walk away with more tools and resources.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about the 2 types of teams
• The “must haves” of high performing teams
• What the research shows about high performing teams
• 5 key pieces of reaching high performance
• The roles of working teams and how that impacts effectiveness

About Our Facilitator

Lauralee Hites is the founder of Stratavize Consulting, a successful speaker, graphic facilitator, and organization consultant. Using visual thinking Stratavize helps leaders and teams reach their highest potential. Lauralee spent nearly 20 years in Fortune 500 corporations such as Wells Fargo, Accenture, and Microsoft. With this experience she has created Landmark Leaders® a roadmap to developing and retaining landmark leaders in your organization and Top Teams® Model a leader’s guide to creating and sustaining top performing teams. Top Teams® Model provides a methodology for collaborating across functions, departments, and organizations. She takes a unique approach to learning and strategy building that is personalized to her clients’ own unique challenges, goals, and culture. Lauralee believes in making an impact in her local community too. She has served on several area nonprofit boards over the years. When Lauralee is not speaking, facilitating a workshop or working with senior leaders she is kayaking the river rapids with her dog, Bear.

Virtual Lunch & Learn

Research shows that leaders spend a great deal of time and energy dealing with drama in the workplace. Drama that is often fueled by ego.

Learning Objectives

This interactive workshop will provide you with tools and techniques you can put to use immediately to improve accountability and reduce the cost and frustration of drama in your organization.

About Our Facilitator

Certified Business Coach Kim Stoneking had more than 25 years of CEO experience before starting his own business as a coach and facilitator in January 2019 Kim merged his business with Springboard International where he works with organizations throughout the country.

Virtual Workshop 2-Part Series

A hands on journey to a better understanding of generational differences.

Session #1:
Wednesday Nov 18
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Session #2:
Thursday Nov 19
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Using our innovative, and proprietary, Generational Game Board, participants will explore the various social, political, and economic influences that shaped the working attitudes of the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Generational X, Millennials and now Generation Z. Our game creates interesting, and informative, conversation among participants from various generations.

We provide you with a way of looking at another generation so you can relate to their experience and understand their perspective. We will provide case studies and activities that push you to find the value in what another generation has to offer.

Learning Objectives

An appreciation of each of the major generational groups active in the workplace today

An overview of the challenges and opportunities multi-generational teams present

Insights regarding the world views, needs, and skill sets of various generations

An understanding of how to facilitate effective collaboration among multi-generational group members

About Our Facilitators

Mitch Isaacs was named Shafer Leadership Academy’s Executive Director in May 2015. In this role, he works closely with the organization’s board of directors to fulfill the mission of the organization. He is responsible for creating vision, connecting with stakeholders, administering program offerings and leading the organization in meaningful ways.

Mitch has over a decade of college leadership experience spanning multiple campuses. He graduated from Ball State University in 2002 with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Counseling Psychology. Mitch completed his Master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education at Indiana State University. Mitch returned to Ball State in 2005 and spent the next 10 years as a working professional in Higher Education, including five years as the Director of the Excellence in Leadership program, and Coordinator of the Leadership Studies Minor.

Mitch is an active member of the Muncie community. He serves as the President of the Country Village / Creekwood Neighborhood Association, Secretary for the Motivate Our Minds Board of Directors, and Secretary for the Indiana Leadership Association Board of Directors. Mitch sits on the board of directors for Muncie Action Plan and Muncie Rotary. Mitch is passionate about youth development, with roles as a Project Leadership Mentor, a Big Brother with Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Delaware County, and a member of the Burris Laboratory School Advisory Council.

He is committed to enhancing the leadership skills of the community and dedicated to Shafer Leadership Academy’s mission to ensure that individuals who have the desire to demonstrate leadership have access to world class leadership training close to home.

Tisha Gierhart was hired as Shafer Leadership Academy’s first Program Director in January 2014. She is primarily responsible for all activities related to the development, delivery, and assessment of leadership programs presented by Shafer Leadership Academy. In this role, she focuses on building collaborative relationships with Shafer Leadership Academy’s participants and partners.

Tisha holds a degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has worked in the healthcare field for fourteen years, where she developed her skills in leadership, project management and facilitation. Tisha served as an internal coach for IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where she worked to enhance the patient experience by cultivating a culture of service.

Tisha is an alumnus of Shafer Leadership Academy’s Emergence program and has completed Advanced Facilitator Training. Tisha is a Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Coach and Trainer. She is certified in The Leadership Challenge and has over 40 hours of certified coach training. Tisha is an active member in her community where she serves as a board member for the Jay County Cancer Society and is the Co-Chair of the Jay County Cancer Walk. She enjoys volunteering and is a member of the Portland Evening Optimist and Hickory Grove Church of the Brethren. Her work reflects her passion for making a difference, building relationships, and motivating others. She believes in leading by example and developing purposeful connections.

(or Finding Yourself Someplace Unexpected)

Do you sometimes think you’ve made a mistake (or 10,000?) when it comes to your life, professional or otherwise? Would it surprise you to know that many other accomplished professionals feel likewise? “How did I get here?” they ask. “Where am I going?” question others. If you’re feeling stuck and want a change or if you’re in the midst of change and want a light at the end of the tunnel, join the club and this conversation!

With Bob Ross as our guide, we will examine together how our “happy accidents” have brought us to where we are and how our “current” can inform our “future” when it comes to vision and goals.

“Isn’t it fantastic that you can change your mind and create all these happy things?”
– Bob Ross

Learning Objectives

Explore the realities of their current situations (professionally or personally)

Observe patterns and trends from the past and present to inform the present and future, incorporating others’ input

Judge current paths and positions against desired values and outcomes

Create a manageable action plan to move ahead

About Our Facilitators

James Mitchell
Director of HR and Employee Experience

A Chicago native and Muncie transplant, James has made his home here since 2000. He is a potter, theater-goer and newly minted Director of HR and Employee Experience at Minnetrista. He has been a storyteller, writer and board member with the Facing Project. James also serves our community on the board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie and as a member of the Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Selection Committee.

Lisa Hensell
Minnetrista Visitor Participation Coordinator

Lisa was born and raised in La Porte, IN. She ventured to Muncie for a higher education and became a proud two-time graduate of Ball State University. She is the first to graduate with a digital history masters degree from BSU and has had the pleasure of working alongside interdisciplinary teams on various projects ranging from a digital textbook to wayside exhibits. She is passionate about using digital tools to connect people from all walks of life and ages to history.

Virtual Lunch & Learn

Too often, people think of leaders as the person at the top. In reality, most leaders are not at the top, they are somewhere in the middle. Leadership in the middle often involves smaller teams and more direct contact with team members. A leader needs to read his/her team. If the team believes in the leader, but doesn’t believe in the leader’s vision, the leader needs a new vision. If the team believes in the leader’s vision, but doesn’t believe in the leader, they will find another leader. A leader is not a leader because an organization says the person is a leader. A leader is who the team, chooses to follow.

That’s the bottom line – BE the change, and people will follow you.

Learning Objectives

To be able to understand some strategies of turning a vision of change into an actual change by becoming a leader, that people will follow

Be able to use common laws of leadership (the law of ‘buy in’, the
Law of ‘the lid’, the law of ‘timing’) to lead your team in the right
Direction.

Identify opportunities to empower your team members.

Become better at listening to understand, as opposed to listening to reply.

About Our Facilitator

Richard Clark was President of his Graduating Class, Jay County High in 1984. He became a US Army Paratrooper, from 1984-1988. After his discharge, he joined the Automotive industrial world and has worked in Precision Measurement and Calibration since 1997, which lead to writing a book in 2006. More recently, in 2015, he founded the national running group Flags4Fallen, which carries full-size USA flags during races in memory of Americans who have passed away too soon.

Virtual Workshop 2-Part Series

This session will jump start your confidence, networking and leadership potential.

Session #1:
Wednesday Dec 16
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Session #2:
Thursday Dec 17
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

This session will be an interactive look at how best to understand your value, how to engage with others by leveraging that value and ways to become more engaged in your work and personal life as a result. Despite being in a digital world with high connectivity, employee engagement is down and mental health issues are up. Dr. Anna Stumpf finds those two issues to be directly related to how we view and present ourselves. This session will utilize personality profiles, tips on meaningful engagement with others that could inspire you, and a to do list for getting more engaged after this conference.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to articulate their personal brand value through honing in on personality assessments and other resources as a foundation for engagement with their networks, colleagues and in personal relationships.

About Our Facilitator

Dr. Anna Stumpf is a Professor of Sport, Social Media and Brand Marketing at the graduate and undergraduate level. After a decade long management career with Wal-Mart, she pursued a Master of Arts in Teaching and began an eight year career as a high school business teacher. Though teaching high school was rewarding, Dr. Stumpf felt that she had more business experience to offer and earned an MBA which allowed her to transition into the collegiate classroom. Dr. Stumpf’s approach to any classroom is simple: “I pride myself on never having a student in any seat in any classroom ever wonder ‘when will I ever use this?’ It is my passion to answer that question before they think of it”. Her current passion is bridging the gap between our connected world where we are losing connectivity. Not only with one another through the advantages of networking. Today, it seems more people were also losing touch with their own value propositions and Dr. Stumpf has a passion for speaking into that