Leading Change by Changing Leaders
I work to empower emerging leaders who are ready to take that next step by giving them the tools and knowledge that they need to build a more successful future.
Developing effective Leader skills is an obvious requirement. Sadly, too many training programs for developing emerging leaders are flat out boring and tedious. No one is going to engage with boring and tedious. Its the fastest way to kill energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. This kind of thinking is outdated and will not motivate the transformation needed to inspire an emerging leader.
Walt said it best
“…..Laughter is no enemy to Learning”
– Walt Disney
Learning Experience Options: Choose from our half day hands-on workshops that maximize discovery learning and engagement, or customize your own day with our single topic workshops. All sessions are structured to provide participants with a space to learn foundational skills and lessons.
Watch This First
Unlocking Leader Magic
Leading Change. Changing Leaders
Unlocking Leadership Magic provides emerging leaders with the same tools, strategies, and expertise that James has used during his successful career with Disney. Learn to create impact and compel lasting, positive change. In times of uncertainty, crisis, and change, the world needs skilled leaders like never before.
“If you think you’re leading, but no one is following, then you’re only taking a walk.”
– John C. Maxwell
In this 3 Hour Facilitated Leadership Skills Seminar
Participants Will Benefit By:
Exploring a variety of leadership styles
Developing a self-awareness of their own Leadership behaviors
Learning the need to shift leadership styles to achieve organizational results
Understanding the absolute necessity of making Integrity the bedrock of leadership
Discovering the true purpose and power of recognition to deliver organizational excellence
Answering the question, “Is leadership what you say, or what you do?”
Unlocking TeamWork Magic
Unlocking Teamwork Magic provides teams and emerging leaders with the tools and strategies to build and maintain empowered, and highly motivated teams. Participants will be building a skill base for understanding and modeling the behaviors that will lead to organizational excellence. In times of uncertainty, crisis, and change, the commitment to develop high performing teams is valued like never before.
“Teamwork is a strategic decision.”
– Patrick Lencioni
In this 3 hour Facilitated Teamwork Seminar
Participants Will Benefit By:
Learning effective training strategies to achieve empowerment for your team
Identifying a variety of communication Styles
Discovering 5 easy-to-apply keys for modeling and delivering great customer service
Exploring effective strategies for Conflict Resolution
Understanding the true meaning of T.E.A.M.
Unlocking Creativity Magic
Unlocking Creativity Magic promises to inspire teams and emerging leaders to challenge themselves to look at creativity from a whole new perspective. In the same way that a magician has to reframe what is possible, James demonstrates that opening up to new ideas and new ways of thinking is the only way to achieve a competitive advantage in today’s world. This is an intensive workshop for generation “Next”
“Creativity: when Imagination collides with opportunity”
– James Songster
In this 3.5 hour Facilitated Creativity Seminar
Participants Will Benefit By:
Discovering the critical need to identify and challenge perceived limitations
Gaining an understanding of three critical roles in the creative process
Developing the first steps for establishing a viable action planning process to put you on the path to organizational excellence
Understanding the essential role diversity plays in building a creative team
Practicing a proven technique for focused problem solving
Accepting the need for self-accountability for fully engaging in solutions
Unlocking A Purposefully Created Culture
Your culture is the foundation for everything you are and do – how you lead, how your team functions, how your external clients and community see you, and how you see yourselves in the bigger picture. Just like society, all organizations have a culture. Building a Purposefully Created Culture is the difference between a culture by default and one that is positioned to promote desired outcomes.
“Organizational culture does not happen by accident, and if it does, you’re taking a big risk”
– Monique Winston
In this 3 hour Facilitated Organizational Culture Seminar
Participants Will Benefit By:
Exploring four cultural elements of Heritage & Traditions, Beliefs & Values, Storytelling, Standard of Excellence
Learn methods for increasing participation in your culture through the use of 4 key Tools
Gain a better understanding of the value of shaping a “Purposefully Created Culture”
Learn techniques to promote participation of your organizational culture through, encouragement, positive reinforcement, and rewards
Practice methods of leveraging exceptional storytelling as a way to help others better understand the benefits of
belonging to your culture
Single-topic focused Workshops
Our palette of single-topic focused, highly interactive workshops, are designed to provide any organization with the ability to create a curated learning experience for your participants.These can be offered individually or in any combination, according to the needs of your organization
“The only person you are destined to become
is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Personal Development Topics
The Magic of Authenticity
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” – Brené Brown
By exploring the elements of Integrity, Personal Values and Owning the Impact of Your Choices, participants gain valuable insights in the power of Authenticity.
The Magic of Achieving Balance
“It is the grounding sensation that lets you stand steady when the world outside spins wildly, a deeply personal kind of equilibrium.” – Sustainability Directory
Together, we will examine 3 critical areas of balance in our lives, and the critical skill of setting viable boundaries to maintain all those types of balance.
The Magic of Confidence
Don’t fear failure, be afraid of not taking the chance!
What holds you back? Participants will gain an understanding of the power of using your personal values as a decision-making tool to ensure confidence in their choices, then take an in-depth look at the idea of “presence” and how to help yourself develop this critical tool.
The Magic Networking
“A really important part of networking is actually about what you bring to the table – not just what you want to get out of it.” – Gina Romero
Understanding the purpose of networking events goes a long ways towards being more sucessful. We explore the 5 Keys to Building Great Relationships, and develop an Advance Planning tool to ensure more confidence and success at Networking events.
The Magic of Transformation
“Change you perception, change your reality. The power to transform your world resides within the lens through which you view it.” – Renee Dutton
Designed as a live Networking Event, the participants will experience the direct application of the value and power of Authenticity, Balance, Confidence and effective Networking skills. The debrief of this practice event allows the participants to discover how these new skills enabled them to have more success in achieving the purpose of Networking.
In the words of Brenee Brown, they will be better able to : “Let go of who we think we are supposed to be and embrace who we are.”
Leadership Topics
Leadership Styles Magic
Together, we’ll explore five highly effective leadership styles, discover the unique strengths and purpose of each, and examine the critical need for leaders to learn to utilize all the styles to ensure the well-being and success of their team.
Recognition Magic
Learning from the creative genius of Walt Disney, participants will explore various elements of creativity through activities utilizing effective skills in brainstorming and process development.
Integrity Magic
In this session, we will examine the foundational nature of integrity, so critical to the success of every leader, every team, every organization. How do others know that you are a person of integrity? How does your organization demonstrate its sense of integrity? Why does it matter?
Great Leaders C.A.R.E.
Learning from the creative genius of Walt Disney, participants will explore various elements of creativity through activities utilizing effective skills in brainstorming and process development.
Team Topics
Communication Magic
Every organization, every group must identify their biggest communication challenges and develop viable solutions. We will share strategies and tools learned in our careers at Walt Disney World to resolve some of these problems. Clear, effective communication is at the heart and soul of organizational success.
Communicating with Style
Do you know your communication style? Springboarding off concepts created by Wilson Learning, Inc., we’ll be discovering the four dominant communication styles and how they relate to each other. This examination of personal comunication styles is truly eye-opening for understanding the communication behaviors on your team!
Training Magic
The quality of your training processes affects everything about your organization: customer service, brand reputation and employee retention. Through the lens of the strategies and skills we used at Walt Disney World to build world-class training,we’ll explore an overview of the factors to consider when creating a great training program.
Customer Service Magic
Understanding the difference between transactions and interactions is the critical first step to the success of your brand. Participants will discover tools to better manage customer relationships through the 5 Keys to Great Customer Service, effective conflict resolution skills, and the critical nature of building a trusted brand.
Team Dynamics Magic
All teams have challenges – what does your team struggle with? Participants will explore strategies to identify and address those struggles. In this program, we will discover proven ways to manage your team’s dynamics to ensure your culture leads the way in helping you achieve your goals.
Teams; The Disney Way
Disney is famous for the intense loyalty it builds with its Cast Members and its Guests. But how do they do that? We’ll be examining four foundational factors in building teams the Disney way, including: a culture built to support the team bond, strategic decisions that spur the pursuit of values-based excellence, and tactics to sustain the bond between the organization and its team members.
Organizational Creativity and Culture Topics
Creative Thinking Magic –
Think Like Walt
Those who worked with Walt Disney described the unique thought processes he employed to get the most out of any creative moment. We’ll explore how to “Think like Walt”, and discover how thinking like Walt is foundational to improving your creative outcomes.
The Creative Process Magic
How do you currently begin your creative process to address challenges to your success? We’ll be sharing some of the thought processes and tools we used at Walt Disney World to find solutions: structured creative brainstorming.
Creative Problem Solving Magic
You have a great goal, you have ideas how to achieve it, but how do you transform ideas into action? We’ll explore the purpose and power of harnessing both creative discontent and creative abrasion in the problem solving process. Participants will also discover a seemingly simple, yet powerful tool to align your choice of actions with your goal.
Foundational Elements of Organizational Culture
Your organizational culture is the basis for everything you are and do. This session will examine four foundational elements of your culture, and share strategies to effectively use these elements to strengthen your brand, both internally and externally.
Sharing Your Organizational Culture
Strategic Skills Topics
Solution Magic
Those who worked with Walt Disney described the unique thought processes he employed to get the most out of any creative moment. We’ll explore how to “Think like Walt”, and discover how thinking like Walt is foundational to improving your creative outcomes.
Performance Coaching Magic
How do you currently begin your creative process to address challenges to your success? We’ll be sharing some of the thought processes and tools we used at Walt Disney World to find solutions: structured creative brainstorming.
Mentoring Magic: The Path Forward
You have a great goal, you have ideas how to achieve it, but how do you transform ideas into action? We’ll explore the purpose and power of harnessing both creative discontent and creative abrasion in the problem solving process. Participants will also discover a seemingly simple, yet powerful tool to align your choice of actions with your goal.
Facilitation Magic
Those who worked with Walt Disney described the unique thought processes he employed to get the most out of any creative moment. We’ll explore how to “Think like Walt”, and discover how thinking like Walt is foundational to improving your creative outcomes.
Balance Magic
You have a great goal, you have ideas how to achieve it, but how do you transform ideas into action? We’ll explore the purpose and power of harnessing both creative discontent and creative abrasion in the problem solving process. Participants will also discover a seemingly simple, yet powerful tool to align your choice of actions with your goal.