Providing leaders with dynamic opportunities to build essential skills

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
– John F. Kennedy

At TLS, we believe that developing leaders is a two-fold process – focusing on the ‘skills’ required of a leader while also engaging in behaviors that allow you to ‘embody’ being a leader.  We see ‘soft skills’ – things like emotional intelligence, effective communication, and relationship building – as essential practices that are critically important to the long-term success of any leader.

We offer support to all levels of leaders within an organization.

  • Managers/Supervisors – We help newer and more established leaders feel more confident and develop skills that allow them to set healthy boundaries, effectively manage conflict, and improve communication
  • Senior Directors/VPs – We support leaders as they work to navigate change effectively, make critical decisions in times of uncertainty, and be more ‘authentic’ and ‘coach-like’ in their leadership approach
  • Executive Teams and CEOs – We support senior leaders as they navigate between setting strategy and managing the details of daily operations. We support their ability to deepen trust and respect among all team members and guide the organization to ensure alignment with mission, vision, and values

We tailor each engagement to your organization’s specific needs, working to build on the framework that is in place and addressing opportunities for growth.  Listed below are some of the most requested leadership development topics:

Being a ‘Coach-like’ Leader: Practice Asking More & Telling Less

Many leaders can easily fall into the trap of attempting to answer every question and solve every problem.  This cycle can create staff who are overdependent and excessively reliant on their leader.  It can also result in leaders who become overwhelmed trying to manage and prioritize the work to be done. In this session, leaders learn how to become more ‘coach-like’ in their approach to leadership which includes cultivating an attitude of curiosity, asking impactful questions, engaging in meaningful dialogue, giving constructive feedback, and empowering staff by supporting them in ongoing learning and development.

Communication Don’t Alienate

Effective communication is a foundational skill for all leaders.  Because communication can be complex, there are often underlying beliefs and perceptions that are misunderstood and can derail the best-intended message.  In this interactive session, participants will explore key components of intentional communication including active and reflective listening; acknowledging and validating; giving constructive feedback, and asking open-ended and empathic questions.

Creating a Culture of Accountability

This session will explore how to effectively establish and promote accountability as part of an organization’s culture.  Participants will have a focused discussion on the meaning and implementation of accountability – for themselves as well as members of their teams.  Each person will be encouraged to identify 1-2 specific strategies to assist them in their own accountability, as well as establishing clear expectations within their team.

Emotional Intelligence: Leading with Your Head and Your Heart

Participants will be supported in their ability to rationally make decisions while balancing the impact that positive and negative emotions can have on focus, energy, and productivity.  Strategies for addressing anxiety, fear, and overwhelm will be shared.  Self-management techniques and interpersonal skills will be explored to strengthen one’s ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and decrease conflict with others.

Healthy Approaches to Managing Conflict

This session is designed to bring a broader perspective to the concept of conflict and conflict resolution.  Using a model that provides various modes of conflict, each participant will be encouraged to consider an actual conflict-based situation during the session to allow an opportunity to explore various approaches for handling the situation.

Leadership 101: Building Essential Leadership Skills

Participants will be given the opportunity to explore what ‘Authentic Leadership’ means for their own leadership style.  They will have the opportunity to take the TLS Leadership Excellence in Skills Assessment and will explore elements of leadership that come naturally as well as those that may present challenges.  One or two areas of focus will be identified, and specific developmental actions will be explored.

Managing Challenging Feelings & Cultivating Courageous Conversations

During times of high emotion and uncertainty, it can be difficult to effectively process and manage the range of feelings we may experience.  Discussing these challenging feelings with colleagues and/or those in our communities can create additional stress and anxiety.  This webinar will provide specific strategies and techniques that can be used for support.  It will also provide strategies for approaching conversations from a vulnerable yet courageous perspective.

Managing & Motivating Remote Teams

This session is designed to support leaders who are adjusting to managing staff who may be in the office only part-time and/or may be working at home full-time.  Participants are encouraged to bring ‘real-time’ challenges and questions to the discussion.  Information regarding supporting remote staff and promoting accountability will be shared.

Navigating Healthy Boundaries

Participants will have an opportunity to develop greater insight into the role that healthy boundaries can play in the workplace.   Key topics include managing former peers, setting boundaries with clients, and balancing personal issues at work.  Each participant will be given the opportunity to identify areas where they may struggle with boundaries, as well as how they can support staff in setting boundaries.  Action plans will be created to support establishing new and healthy boundaries.

The Power of Strengthening Team Trust

Participants will explore the fundamental role that trust plays in creating an effective team. They will discuss ways to identify when trust has been damaged and/or broken and will review specific strategies for building trust. Participants will also brainstorm how empathy and compassion matter when building trust. The session will conclude with participants having identified specific behaviors to support their own ‘trust-worthiness’ as a leader as well as strategies and approaches to build trust within the team.

Recognizing & Addressing Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever experienced uncertainty about starting something new – or stepping into a new role?  Maybe you’ve heard of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and wondered if that might be what you are experiencing?  Join us as we take a deeper dive into Imposter Syndrome – where we will normalize some of the ‘not-so-sure’ feelings you may experience and also explore some of the common misconceptions along the way!  We’ll share some signs and behavior patterns that might be getting in your way and also explore ways you can support yourself and others through an Equity and Inclusion lens.

More effective problem-solving skills, improved communication and trust

Our agency senior management was not practicing solid “team skills” effectively and after consulting with TLS, they demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges and gaps the leadership team was facing, and then proposed a comprehensive, results-based strategy for working with the group. The team has demonstrated more effective problem-solving skills, improved communication, and trust through this process.

Safe ways to open up and interact.

Our workshops consisted of management-level staff from different departments. TLS gave us the opportunity to see that we were all concerned about the same kinds of issues and that we are more alike than different. They supported us in opening up in a way that was safe. There was a noticeable difference in the way staff from different departments interacted with each other.