Free Self-Improvement Topics in Chicago

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  • Tapping into your Superpowers Mindfulness and Meditation.

    Jacqueline McCarty, Owner Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher, Om At Work

    Mindfulness can be practiced in any aspect and any task in your life! By remembering this tool of focus and awareness you can transform it into pure presence. Your awareness is currency, where your attention goes energy flows. Meditation is a training for your awareness and can have lasting effects on your brain and nervous system when practiced regularly. Learn these practices and transform your work and life. MORE >

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  • The Power of Networking

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    According to Merriam Webster networking is “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business”. These and other events can become more easily managed with this great workshop. During this lively, and interactive Power of Networking (Outside the organization) discussion, participants will begin to see how important it is to develop a core set of networking skills to get things done. By managing and looking at the way people interact and seeing things in a new light, participants can improve on almost every aspect of their networking strategy.
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  • Get Off Your Buts! How to Make Progress Instead of Excuses

    Tammy Cook, Productivity Coach, Tammy Cook Coaching

    “I was going to do that last week – but...” Are you tired of feeling like you’re always struggling to catch up, while you only wind up falling further and further behind? If you’re ready to start making small changes that will have a HUGE impact on your life, step up to the plate and… Get off your “but…”s! MORE >

    Tammy’s 3 easy-to-remember keys give you immediate, actionable tools to use to begin conquering procrastination and creating new habits.

    Tammy will share tools and techniques that will enable you to;
    • Increase personal productivity at work AND at home
    • Conquer procrastination
    • Reduce pressure & stress
    • Develop a highly effective mindset
    • Feel better mentally and physically
    • Have more energy
    • Increase self-discipline… AND self-esteem!
    • Have time left over for things you really WANT to do

    Discover how to live a limitless life and finally… FULFILL YOUR POTENTIAL!

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  • Where Are You Growing? Cultivating a Growth Mindset

    Susan Neustrom, Ed.D., Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker, Educator, Leading to Action

    Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Your mindset determines your behavior and thoughts leading to your success, your performance and your impact on staff, co-workers, family, and friends. There are two mindsets, fixed and growth. If you have a fixed mindset you believe abilities and intelligence are determined early in life. Therefore, challenges and failure only serve to support your belief. In contrast, if you have a growth mindset you view challenges and obstacles as opportunities to develop skills and continue growing and learning. Most individuals exhibit a combination of a fixed and growth mindset but intentionally cultivating a growth mindset results in enhanced resilience, increased accomplishments and expanded potential. In an organization, a growth mindset leader creates a culture of innovation, risk-taking, teamwork, and trust enabling others to adopt a growth mindset. MORE >

    In this interactive session, Dr. Susan Neustrom explores how mindsets are formed and the dynamics and strategies involved in shifting mindset to optimize positive impact both personally and professionally. Using the theoretical framework of mindset, grit, and mental contrasting this session will engage participants in a new approach to decision-making, problem solving, teaching, and learning.
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  • Interpersonal Skills

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    We've all met that dynamic, charismatic person that just has a way with others, and has a way of being remembered. Participants will identify ways of creating a powerful introduction, remembering names, and managing situations when you’ve forgotten someone’s name.
    The Interpersonal Skills discussion will help participants work towards being that unforgettable person by providing communication skills, negotiation techniques, tips on making an impact, and advice on networking and starting conversations. Bette will help audience to identify skills needed in starting a conversation, moving a conversation along, and progressing to higher levels of conversation. MORE >

    Discussion Objectives:
    • Understand the difference between hearing and listening
    • Know some ways to improve the verbal skills of asking questions and communicating with power.
    • Understand what is ‘non-verbal communication’ and how it can enhance interpersonal relationships.
    • Identify the skills needed in starting a conversation.
    • Identify ways of creating a powerful introduction, remembering names, and managing situations when you’ve forgotten someone’s name.
    • Understand how seeing the other side can improve skills in influencing other people.
    • Understand how the use of facts and emotions can help bring people to your side.
    • Identify ways of sharing one’s opinions constructively.
    • Learn tips in preparing for a negotiation, opening a negotiation, bargaining, and closing a negotiation.
    • Learn tips in making an impact through powerful first impressions.
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  • Increasing Your Happiness!

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    Increasing one's happiness can be done through the power of positive thinking. That is one skill that this presenttion will touch on to teach participants how to be happier. Happiness can spread throughout an organization, and have a positive effect on everyone.
    During this interactive and energetic discussion participants will engage in unique and helpful ways to increase their happiness. This 45-60 minute presentation will have a robust effect on their professional and personal lives, improve their communication skills, increase productivity, and lesson absenteeism. MORE >

    Presentation Objectives:
    •Discuss how planning ahead cultivates workplace happiness
    •Create a nightly routine and daily plan
    •Relate more effectively to others in the workplace
    •Understand how the workspace environment impacts happiness
    •Think more positively
    •Take actions that will create greater workplace happiness

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  • Speaking with Confidence in any Situation

    Suzanne M. Bracken, Managing Director, Ludicrous Theatre Company

    This lively presentation will address the causes of fear associated with speaking when we are not comfortable doing so. Learn how to make those butterflies in your stomach "fly in formation," so you can get your point across in a confident and effective manner.

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  • The Comfort Zone Illusion-Solving the Mystery

    Susan Neustrom, Ed.D., Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker, Educator, Leading to Action

    Are you ready for change? Are you a leader embarking on change within your organization? Whether change is planned or unplanned, more than likely you and your team need to step outside your comfort zone and do something different. However, leaving your comfort zone is frightening and fear can stifle growth, halt progress, and negatively impact behavior making you feel as if you lost control, stuck, and not moving forward. When implementing transformational change in an organization leaders are challenged with getting everyone excited and motivated about new ways of working. Often times, leaders are met with resistance, complaints, and frustration because people are being asked to step outside their comfort zone. Change upsets routine and structure and opens the door allowing fear to enter and demonstrated in thoughts and action. Of course, it doesn’t need to be this way because the comfort zone is really an illusion. MORE >

    This presentation unravels the mystery of the comfort zone to expose the stark reality of the discomfort of change. Therefore, enabling leaders to discover why leaving your comfort zone is so difficult, what creates fear during times of change, and how to develop strategies for engagement and empowerment that eliminate the fear of leaving your comfort zone and to view change through a new lens.
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  • Chapters – Caring for Caregivers

    Roger Renik, Support Group Facilitator for "Chapters"

    Whether for an aging parent, neighbor or friend, most people will be a caregiver at some point in life if they're not already. This can sometimes be a challenging role when combined with everyday living and one's own daily responsibilities. MORE >

    Sharing experiences, especially in the care giving capacity, creates an informative and overall helpful environment in which you can realize that you are not alone in your role. Roger, a caregiver for over 15 years provides a supportive and interactive seminar with a distinct awareness of Senior Care. Even after the caregiving role may have ended, the emotional and mental part may live on for years to come. We can talk about this and know being the role of caregiver has a direct effect on all persons involved.
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  • Moving Forward During Turbulent Times

    Jay Kurtz, Chaplain, Chaplain in Action

    I take folks on a journey during the conflict and chaos in their lives. It’s about giving - of yourself - for the greater good. It seems simple, but it takes a great deal of energy and engagement to achieve a framework of commitment, intra-personal awareness and personal sacrifice.

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