UMaine Continuing Ed for Maine Business Speaks to Bottom Line Skills
Contact: Contacts: Linda Godfrey or Wanda Westley, 581-3414; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO – In a state like Maine, where many business leaders rise through the company ranks with excellent job skills but often little training in managing people, the learning curve can be expensive in terms of time and money.
Over the last 20 years, several thousand men and women and at all levels of company and organization hierarchies have addressed that deficit through short intensive programs offered by the University of Maine’s Division of Lifelong Learning. They have improved communications, teambuilding, time, priority, conflict and project management skills, and learned new leadership techniques.
The division’s Continuing Education for Maine Businesses (CEMB) program has announced its spring 2006 series of six one-day business management courses offered on the Orono campus beginning Jan. 24. Classes begin at the university’s Hutchinson Center in Belfast on March 1. Participants may enroll for individual classes or package classes together to achieve a Certificate in Supervisory Leadership.
CEMB also brings customized programs directly into business and organization worksites throughout Maine for tailor-made classes on a wide range of supervisory and management topics. They range from dealing with difficult people to delegation and coaching. CEMB also can design a course of study or address a particular challenge a company is facing. Through this format, an instructor offers the training to a whole group of employees within the host company or organization.
Classes are geared for managers at both ends of the spectrum — those who have had no formal schooling in skills critical to effective management, and employees with advanced college business degrees, who would like to boost their management and people skills quickly and inexpensively.
Continuing Education for Maine Businesses allows employers to pick and choose from a wide range of courses, which can be just one day or extended over several months, according to Linda Godfrey, program coordinator. “Our goal is to meet a group’s needs in a focused, practical, bottom-line approach,” she says.
“It’s kind of the Cliff Notes on business management,” Godfrey says. “Our program really engages the people’s minds as well as addressing specific situations to give people new ways to think about their roles and learn new techniques for working with and motivating the people they manage.”
In celebration of the CEMB program’s 20th anniversary this year, Godfrey says tuition is being reduced by 20 percent for this spring’s classes. “This is a way for us to celebrate two decades of serving Maine businesses, and also inspire employees and employers to try out this type of training.”
All too often, Godfrey says, skilled employees are promoted to supervisory or management positions without regard for the employee’s ability to work with people, and without any training programs to support their new responsibilities.
Studies have shown that corporate investment in professional development skills is one of the best investments a company can make. Good leadership skills lead to productive employee relationships and contribute to an environment of teamwork — and ultimately, more success, she says.
People skills, often called “soft skills,” are the most challenging skills to excel at in the workplace, says Godfrey. “We address these in a very specific way so people can achieve new ideas in a very short amount of time,” she adds. “We bring energized instructors, who themselves are successful professionals, together with employees to boost each worker’s ability to rise to his or her highest level of competency, contribute significantly to the success of a work group, and also to find personal satisfaction in supervisory, management and leadership roles.”
Information about the Continuing Education for Maine Businesses program is available by contacting Wanda Westley in the Division of Lifelong Learning at (207) 581-3414.
The Continuing Education for Maine Businesses classes for Orono and Belfast are as follows:
“Critical Skills of Supervision and Management”
This class provides an in-depth look at the full range of skills necessary for effective supervision and management. Specific aspects of human dynamics receive special attention during this course. Case studies are included. (Required to complete certificate)
MGT801, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Jan. 24, Orono, March 1, Belfast
“Effective Communication Skills for Supervisors and Managers”
This class deals with the most important skill for effective supervision and management — good communication. Practical applications and effective ways to inform, coordinate and motivate people will be covered.
MGT803, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Feb.14, Orono, March 14, Belfast
“Managing Conflict and Dealing with Difficult People”
Conflict can ruin job satisfaction, productivity, and retention. It can poison a healthy work climate. Skills learned in this class can transform negative and destructive behavior and reduce conflict.
MGT811, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Feb.28, Orono, April 5, Belfast
“Teamwork and Successful Project Management:”
Data and techniques for creating and leading effective teams. A focus on visioning, goal setting, planning, communication and problem solving, teams member’s roles and productive interpersonal relationships.
MGT806, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., March 15, Orono, April 18, Belfast
“Time and Priority Management for Top Performance”
Practical tips, tools and solutions for increasing workplace efficiency and effectiveness. Improving organizational skills to effectively and efficiently manage people, time, energy and resources.
MGT810, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., March 28, Orono, May 2, Belfast
“Delegation, Coaching and Influencing Others”
Influential leadership in the workplace includes expertise in delegation, and the development of employees. Success happens when trust and respect bring out the best in each person and creates the commitment needed to achieve a company’s or organization’s goals. Practical applications, best practices and cases included.
MGT802, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., April 4, Orono, May 16, Belfast