Professional Development

Workshops on Business Topics
Temple University Fort Washington delivers lively, interactive, and effective full-day (6 hour) and half-day (3 to 4 hour) workshops to corporate locations. Trainers are well qualified, seasoned professionals with years of experience training and teaching at Temple University Fort Washington and at numerous corporations and organizations. They build relationships with the participants quickly, create a relaxed learning environment, and make learning new concepts and skills a good experience. Workshops can be scheduled during time periods convenient for employees and their employers.

Workshops can be customized to your needs and include numerous business topics such as the following:

Leading for Results
Writing for Business
How to Hold High Risk Conversations
How to Juggle People, Paper and Priorities
What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication
All Grammar Considered: Refresh Your Writing Basics
Creating a Positive Work Environment
Managing the Difficult Customer with Tact and Diplomacy
Strategies for Managing Change
Secrets of a Professional Presentation
Managing Emotions in the Workplace

A full list of more than 40 professional development topics is available upon request. To request this information, click here. 

The Office of Non-Credit and Special Programs at Temple University Fort Washington offers many of these business topics as public courses throughout the year. To view the latest professional development public courses this spring, click here.

Business certificate programs include the following:

Leadership and Management
Working with People: Interpersonal Skills
Professional Communications
Accounting Office Specialist
Editing
Meeting Planning

Non-Credit Certificate Programs in Business
In addition to half-day and full-day workshops, employees can take a series of non-credit classes and achieve a Temple University Certificate of Completion in an areas of professional interest. Certificate programs usually include three to six non-credit courses, typically 6 hours each in length, and provide solid, up-to-date information about the subject area taught. Some courses are required while others are electives. Employees and/or companies can select a particular professional emphasis through the electives in some programs.

Participants are taught by highly interactive and motivating trainers, who engage their students in meaningful workplace topics. No tests or grades are included. Participants often comment about the practicality of their learning — it can be applied right away in their workplaces. Temple University Certificates of Completion are presented to participants once they have attended and completed all the courses in the program.

Course Descriptions

Leading for Results
Leadership can be defined as a process of seeing a new vision for the future and taking action to reach that future. Businesses and non-profits exist in an economic environment that is constantly changing. People who apply a solid leadership process will bring about desired results, even in the midst of rapid change. During this interactive and reflective one-day workshop, managers and potential leaders will learn what it takes to become a great leader. They will learn an effective leadership process and how to apply it to their situation so they can begin bringing about new results for themselves and their organization. Each participant will leave with a completed Result Map to apply their learning to their own unique situation. One telephone coaching follow-up will be provided for each participant.

Writing for Business: First Things First

If writing is an important part of your job, it’s time to learn to do it better and faster. You want your writing to be error-free, but you can’t seem to master the rules. Learn how to: avoid the worst grammar mistakes; distinguish commonly confused words; use clear, concise, compelling words to get your point across; overcome writer’s block and more. Discover how to clarify your thoughts before you write and find the best reference books to keep on your desk.

How to Hold High Risk Conversations
Is there a situation in your work or personal life that you want changed? Are you avoiding the conversation that might lead to that change? People tend to put off conversations that have the potential to significantly impact their lives - like giving feedback or asking for a raise. Why? Because the stakes seem high, emotions run strong, and opinions vary. Yet putting them off can keep you stuck and frustrated. Attend this workshop and learn techniques that will help you approach high-risk conversations confidently and without hesitancy. You’ll learn a step-by-step process which, as you practice it, will help move you forward in your professional and personal relationships.

Juggling People, Papers and Priorities
Is your workday filled with too many tasks, too much paper, and too little time? Attend this workshop and learn smart, simple techniques that will take you from “out of control” to “in control.” Discover how to end paper build-up, arrange your workspace for optimum efficiency, and tackle over-whelming projects with confidence. Learn to distinguish “must-do” tasks from “can-wait” tasks, how to avoid being “victimized” by e-mail, and how to take advantage of peak energy times to get more done in less time.

What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication
“I meant well. Why can’t they understand that?” Most of us are well-intended with our communications. Yet, all too often, our message is misinterpreted, and the outcome is not what we had anticipated. What’s Your Point? is a dynamic, one-day workshop that will enhance your ability to respond to and influence others, build collaboration, and get results through understanding and flexing your communication style. Topics include identifying communication styles, identifying and avoiding communication barriers, understanding and responding to conflict, and creating communication strategies for achieving results.

All Grammar Considered: Refresh Your Writing Basics
You want your writing to be error-free but you can’t seem to get some of the rules right. Is it “Joan and I” or “Joan and me”? Does the comma go inside or outside the quotation mark? Is it “in regard to” or “in regards to”? Have some rules changed? You needn’t be puzzled anymore because you’ll learn the rationale behind the rules so you can remember them. And even better, our popular instructor thinks grammar can be fun. Covered are: tricks for remembering the basic rules; the worst grammar mistakes and how to avoid them; how to distinguish between commonly confused words; when to change verb tenses; comma, semicolon, and apostrophe usage, and the best reference book to keep on your desk.

Creating a Positive Work Environment
Tired of negativity in the workplace? Attend this lively workshop and find out what you can do to make your work environment more positive. Our high-energy instructor, will discuss and demonstrate several techniques proven to raise morale and create a healthy and enjoyable workplace. Discover easy and inexpensive “outside-the-box” ideas for rewarding and recognizing teams and individuals. You’ll also learn the importance of building a sound performance management foundation, the possible pitfalls of formal reward/recognition programs, and ways employees at any level can create a more positive work environment!

Managing the Difficult Customer with Tact and Diplomacy
Managing angry or difficult customers can be a challenge. In this workshop, you will learn what makes customers upset, what they want, and how to calm them down. At the same time, you will learn how to handle personal criticism and compose yourself when you get caught up in the heat of the complaint. You will learn: unexpected benefits of handling difficult situations well, three common causes of problem situations, steps to ensure you fully understand the problem before you try to resolve it, how to respond to outrageous customer comments, ways to control your emotions and defensiveness, what to say when the customer is not right, and steps to resolve complaints successfully.

Strategies for Managing Change
Would you like to develop skills to handle ongoing change in your organization? Are you looking for strategies to assist you or your employees with understanding, accepting and moving through the experience of change? Anyone subject to frequent change, whether a manager or an individual employee, will benefit from this workshop. Participants will: gain an understanding of change; pinpoint their own current stage in the transition process using “Mastering the Change Curve;” identify productive and nonproductive change behaviors; and develop an effective strategy to master change.

Secrets of a Professional Presentation
Become more confident and comfortable in public speaking situations. Learn what makes an effective presenter and how to develop an effective delivery style. Understand the needs of your audience and organize the message to reach your goal. Learn to use interest factors to hold attention and develop, design and use appropriate visual aids. The session would include a prepared presentation of two to three minutes by each participant to give him/her the chance to practice the techniques taught in the morning. Constructive feedback would be given to each participant in the group setting. In addition, tapes of individual performances will be provided to students for their private review and training reinforcement.

Managing Emotions in the Workplace
Recent research on productivity, teamwork, and leadership shows a link between emotions and performance. Learning how to manage your emotions at work is more important than ever. In this class, gain a concrete understanding of how our emotional systems work. Learn strategies and tools for transforming negative emotional patterns into positive emotional states. Find out how this enables employees to work well alone and together.

Certificate Program Descriptions

Certificate in Leadership and Management
To earn this certificate, you must complete five non-credit courses. The two required courses are: Superb Supervision and What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication. You may select three electives from any of the other Professional Development courses offered by Temple University Fort Washington.

Superb Supervision

Many people are promoted into leadership positions because they’ve been successful workers. The challenge for supervisors, however, is to manage employees in order to accomplish work - an entirely different set of skills. This fun, interactive class teaches you how to create cooperative, productive relationships with your staff. Topics include performance management as a process, how to motivate others, how to delegate effectively, and how to coach for results and accountability. You will learn how to create both the infrastructure and the interpersonal environment required in order for you to be a trusted and effective supervisor.

What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication
Most of us are well-intended with our communications. Yet, all too often, our message is misinterpreted. This dynamic workshop will enhance your ability to respond to and influence others, encourage collaboration, and get results by flexing your communication style. Topics include identifying communication styles, avoiding communication barriers, responding to conflict, and creating communication strategies for achieving results.

Working With People: Interpersonal Skills Certificate Program
To earn this certificate, you must complete the following three required courses: What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication; Dealing With Difficult People: From Problems to Peace; and Managing Emotions in the Workplace.

What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication
Most of us are well-intended with our communications. Yet, all too often, our message is misinterpreted. This dynamic workshop will enhance your ability to respond to and influence others, encourage collaboration, and get results by flexing your communication style. Topics include identifying communication styles, avoiding communication barriers, responding to conflict, and creating communication strategies for achieving results.

Dealing with Difficult People: From Problems to Peace
Dealing effectively with difficult people is often the most challenging part of one’s job! In this seminar, you’ll learn how to minimize the effects of difficult behaviors on yourself and your group. You’ll learn to recognize and handle classic types of difficult behaviors, emotional control so you don't react in unproductive ways, interpersonal skills for handling charged interactions, and political awareness to protect your interests.

Managing Emotions in the Workplace
Recent research on productivity, teamwork, and leadership shows a link between emotions and performance. Learning how to manage your emotions at work is more important than ever. In this class, gain a concrete understanding of how our emotional systems work. Learn strategies and tools for transforming negative emotional patterns into positive emotional states. Find out how this enables employees to work well alone and together.

Certificate Program in Professional Communications
To earn this certificate, you must complete the following four required courses: What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication; All Grammar Considered: Refresh Your Writing Basics; Clear and Effective Writing; and Speaking Up!

What’s Your Point?: Effective Interpersonal Communication
Most of us are well-intended with our communications. Yet, all too often, our message is misinterpreted. This dynamic workshop will enhance your ability to respond to and influence others, encourage collaboration, and get results by flexing your communication style. Topics include identifying communication styles, avoiding communication barriers, responding to conflict, and creating communication strategies for achieving results.

All Grammar Considered: Refresh Your Writing Basics
You want your writing to be error-free but you don’t know all the rules. Is it “Joan and I” or “Joan and me”? Does the comma go inside or outside the quotation mark? Is it “in regard to” or “in regards to”? You needn’t be puzzled anymore. Covered are tricks for remembering the basic rules, how to avoid the worst grammar mistakes, how to distinguish between commonly confused words, when to change verb tenses, punctuation usage, and the best reference book to keep on your desk.

Clear and Effective Writing: The Basics of Good Communication
Gain the skills and confidence you need to produce high quality documents quickly. Clear and effective writing saves you, your organization, and your customers time and money. You will learn: the principles of good writing; expediting the writing process; creating reader-friendly documents; editing for clarity and conciseness; why knowing your audience improves your writing; and making your document more readable through formatting.

Speaking Up!
When you speak before a group does your heart pound or your voice crack? Become more confident in public speaking situations. Acquire techniques to overcome nervousness and promote relaxation. Learn the skills of effective speaking: preparation, organization, style, and body language. Develop techniques that allow you to concentrate on your message and your audience. You will learn to be animated, easily understood, natural and poised, and will practice speaking before a group in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. You will have an opportunity to be videotaped and will receive constructive feedback.

Accounting Office Specialist Certificate Program
The Accounting Office Specialist Certificate Program will help you understand basic business operations and implement proper accounting procedures. To earn the certificate, you must complete the following three courses: Black Belt Accounting: Fundamentals for the Non-Accountant; Black Belt Accounting: Fundamentals II for the Non-Accountant; Quickbooks

Black Belt Accounting: Fundamentals for the Non-Accountant
Demand for accounting professionals currently exceeds supply. If you’re interested in increasing your financial awareness and accountability while also gaining a marketable skill, this course is for you. You’ll learn the basics of double-entry bookkeeping, while also learning how to analyze and record financial transactions, as well as prepare various financial reports at the end of the fiscal period. Accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll procedures, sales taxes, and various common banking activities will be discussed. We’ll cover all the bases, from writing checks to preparing information for an income statement.

Black Belt Accounting: Fundamentals II for the Non-Accountant
This course builds on the concepts from Accounting Fundamentals: Part I. Learn about standard accounting terms and functions: revenue, costs and profit planning, assets and liabilities, as well as the standard accounting cycle. Gain basic skills and general knowledge that is the foundation of an entry-level accounting position.

QuickBooks
This hands-on workshop will show you everything you need to know to start using QuickBooks, a best-selling small business accounting software package. This course will teach students how to: set up a QuickBooks company, enter account opening balances, create and customize company lists, set up inventory, invoice for services, process customer payments, work with bank accounts, and pay bills.

Certificate in Editing
This program is designed to develop competency in proofreading and editing and includes three required courses in order to achieve the Certificate of Completion: Proofread Like a Pro; Fundamentals of Editing; and Master Editing Workshop.

Proofread Like a Pro
Proofreading is more than catching spelling errors. This course will teach you the basics of what makes a good proofreader and help you develop your skills. You’ll learn what the standard proofreading marks mean and how professionals use them. You’ll also learn the difference between proofreading and editing. Through a series of exercises, you’ll get hands-on practice in spotting common errors and catching some uncommon ones. Also get advice on how to pursue a career that uses your new skills.

Fundamentals of Editing
The best writer will always admit that what really makes their prose stand out is good editing. This course will lay the groundwork for you to become a top-notch editor. You’ll learn about copy editing and substantive editing, and you’ll learn how to edit a piece of writing without losing the author’s voice. Among the topics: eliminating jargon and fixing awkward sentences, the difference between editing normal and colloquial writing, and working with authors. You’ll also learn how to avoid over-editing. In-class exercises will show you how to put your skills to work. The course will offer a list of useful reference tools for editors, as well as pointers and resources for those seeking a career in editing.

Master Editing Workshop
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Editing or two years of editorial experience
Give your skills a workout in this hands-on workshop that offers “real world” writing samples in need of an editor’s careful eye. You’ll be asked to clean up garbled prose, soften stilted sentences, and give life to listless headlines. Some samples will need major work, while others will only need a light touch – so you’ll get to show your tough side and your subtle side. A series of role plays will let you practice working with authors and other editors. Throughout the workshop you’ll be encouraged to ask questions, and you’ll also have an opportunity to share your own experiences as an editor.

Certificate in Professional Meeting Planning
Designed to meet the demand for professionally trained meeting planners, this program provides 38 hours of seminar-style instruction in six required classes. The required six courses are: Fundamentals of Meeting Planning; Site Inspection and Selection; Budget and Finance for Meeting Planners; Technology and Audiovisuals for Meeting Planning; Food and Beverage; and Negotiations and Contracts.

Fundamentals of Meeting Planning
In the first two sessions, you will discover the basics needed to plan, produce, and promote successful meetings that provide for the needs and objectives of your audience and create measurable results. Learn how to design and market your program, develop and organize meeting plans, direct and control your meeting on site, and evaluate the success of your function. The third session will explore technology as it relates to meetings and will provide a basic overview of industry software, Web sites and virtual conferencing.

Site Inspection and Selection
Selecting the site for your meeting or function is critical to its success. Participants in this seminar will learn how to relate meeting goals and objectives to meeting sites. Substantial discussion will revolve around the different types of facilities available and what to look for during an inspection to ensure your program’s success.

Budget and Finance for Meeting Planners
Learn the appropriate steps needed to develop a budget and to identify basic principles associated with the financial aspects of your meeting. Practice techniques for figuring costs and projecting budgets will be covered. Please bring a pocket calculator to this seminar.

Technology and Audiovisuals for Meeting Planners

Explore the latest technology as it relates to meetings from industry experts and receive a basic overview and understanding of audiovisual equipment, industry software, web sites and virtual conferencing.

Food and Beverage
This session will explore ways to effectively manage the food and beverage components of a meeting, event, conference or convention. Discussions include: budgeting, menu selection to match goals and objectives, cost-saving tips, creative/alternative menus, and the latest food and beverage trends.

Negotiations and Contracts
Successfully negotiating contracts is one of the most important ways meeting planners can show value to their employers. As meeting planners, are you as prepared as you would like? Get valuable tips on the art of negotiating leverage, addressing legal issues, and much more. New planners, and planners with limited knowledge and experience in negotiation, will benefit most from this course.

For more information on Corporate Training Programs offered by Temple University Fort Washington, contact: