It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with you on our recent retreat. As I have told colleagues, if they are looking for consummate professionals, strategic guidance and creative ideas in planning their next retreat, they should look no further than you. I could not have asked for better retreat planners and facilitators. You did everything from advise me on how to structure a meaningful agenda, craft communications on announcing the retreat, provide strategic counsel and coaching on how to navigate challenging retreat topics, and present vital communication skills training to the staff. Thanks to your expertise and guidance, our staff retreat was one of the most worthwhile and strategic investments of staff time and resources this year. — Director of Field Marketing, The Nature Conservancy
Your performance designing and facilitating the retreat for our staff was stellar. You were instrumental in the great success of our retreat. Your contributions were critical, first-class and valued by all staff. You prepared the retreat extremely thoughtfully, provided us with an overall structure that worked, and used many creative ways of energizing all the staff.
Our retreat was not an easy assignment due to the many complexities of the group, but you were able to pull it all together thanks to your solid experience, good judgment, and sensitivity to all the issues raised.
You were able to establish at the retreat an atmosphere of trust and openness that was greatly valued by all staff, and contributed to the important breakthrough achieved at the retreat. We have since the retreat continued with working groups converting the retreat discussions into action in the office.
I would say that the World Bank would benefit tremendously if we worked more with you – you are a true professional, listen to the client, hard working, and establish great rapport with larger groups. — Department Manager, The World Bank
Thanks for doing the first-class job you did, including all your preparation and communications with me and so many board members, and for getting so much accomplished in the limited time we had allotted for our retreat. Everyone was extremely impressed and pleased, and all are feeling very charged up and positive, just as we'd hoped. The group dynamics and productivity couldn't have been better at the retreat. We left them wanting MORE, more time to work with you, because you were so great. It was great spending time with you, as always, and I'm glad I was able to expand the circle of your admirers among the wider Hallwalls family! — Executive Director, Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY
As usual, you were fantastic and made the retreat easy and memorable for all. We made good progress and I was actually amazed at all of the fantastic ideas that came out of the retreat. I didn’t expect that with the focus being different this year. As you suggested we will follow up on the key ideas. Thanks again for your wonderful energy, ideas and friendship. We feel honored to work with you! — Vice President, KGBTexas Public Relations
Thank you for your wonderful leadership at Edmund Burke School's retreat on Saturday. It was a terrific retreat. We've taken a critical step forward in focusing on key issues, energizing ourselves for the work to come, and drawing closer to one another. — Head of School, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC
The staff was so energized after the retreat! Their desire to "get it right" and put their commitments into action is clearly evident. — HR Director, InterMedia
You are an important partner to us and are helping us stretch our minds and giving us good tools to also stretch the culture a bit. Thank you for all you are doing. — Department director, The Nature Conservancy
Wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for a wonderful retreat last week—one of the best in our department’s history. We’re going to work on “keeping the magic” and not letting the good ideas and good energy fall by the wayside as we return to everyday life here. And we look forward to seeing more of you around as you provide consulting expertise during our transition period. — Senior Communications Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges
Retreats That Work® Facilitation Training Course
Here, as promised, is the feedback from the World Bank evaluation of your retreat facilitation training program. The bottom line is, the program was swimmingly well received by all (scores of 5 in all categories)....I'm not sure we needed an evaluation survey to tell us that! Thanks again. I'm thrilled that we had the fortune to meet and make this program happen. — Lead Management Consultant, The World Bank
I’ve tried several of the exercises and I’m using your ideas for creating better agendas. I have facilitated four meetings since our time together and they all went very well. I feel much more confident and will continue to use the various tools you taught us. Thank you for providing such a rich experience and broadening my perspective. — HR Manager, Genentech
Transforming Leaders Training Course
When I got back to the office from your leadership course it was like I had laser eye surgery. All of a sudden everything that the “bosses” were doing just stuck out, and of course my own shortcomings became very, very apparent. So after about a week I decided it was time to put some of this “new stuff” to work. My weekly meeting with my boss is more productive and I believe he sees me in a different light. You guys are doing a good thing, keep up the good work! — U.S. Foreign Service Officer working in India
You’d think we’d just stop handing out program evaluations, since we always get exactly the same results for any of your programs: sold out attendance and rave reviews. I’m sorry we packed so many people in, but we just hated to turn them away. Over and over our participants tell us your course has really changed the way they think about their work and their leadership skills. — Vice President, American Association of Advertising Agencies
Thanks for a great leadership course. I was the number one skeptic but you won me over. The course helped me know myself better. Very re-affirming but a little unsettling because feeling good about my strengths for once I arrived at my new job with less patience for all the stuff that's not me. But I am now armed with tools to deal with it. I've got lots of new ideas! Another result of the course is that I feel much more committed to being part of changing the State culture. Thanks for the course and your efforts to make State Department better. — Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State
Thank you, it was a very enjoyable and informative class. Goals have been set, the primary one being an emphasis on customer service. We have been getting a lot of positive feedback from the customers since we incorporated it into our way of doing business. That alone has boosted morale and given everyone a sense of pride. It is fascinating watching the changes, seeing more smiling faces and hearing laughter. People who come to our shop on a regular basis on business have remarked on the positive change of atmosphere. Once again thanks for the invaluable information! — Radio Program Manager
I can’t say enough about the training – it was perfect timing for me and has led me to be a more conscientious manager. I wish there were some way to take it again. I’ve had to have some difficult conversations with both subordinates and my immediate supervisor, but I really felt prepared by some of the activities and skills we worked on during the training.
You were both tremendous facilitators and we were able to have a good time and learn a lot. — US Foreign Service Officer, Mumbai, India
Thanks to you for a really nicely done, interesting and helpful leadership course.
It has made a real impact on me, and will definitely change how I work! And already has. I’ve continued to appreciate what I got out of that course, and from your insights and leadership models. Many thanks again. — Department head, Foreign Service Institute
The training was great! It helped me to realize that my style may not be the "right" style for everyone and that I may need to bend at times too. This class shouldn’t just be for managers, but for everyone - being aware of all the ways you "communicate" and present yourself. — Regional Director, The Nature Conservancy
Thanks again for your work with our group. You were great and really know how to bring people together for positive change. — Division Chief, US Department of State
I can't stop telling people how great your class was and have forwarded your information to a friend interested in adding leadership training to her team's skill set. I feel so much more confident about my leadership and "followership" skills now that there is nothing I can't do (well, I still can't fly, but I'm working on it!) — Physical Security Engineer, US Department of State
I enjoyed the training very much. I found it interesting how very unproductive I became during the simulation once I started to focus on my job frustrations rather than the task at hand. It brought home to me vividly the fact that a manager must pay attention to employees’ “happy factor” so that basic needs are met or productivity and quality will suffer. — Public Diplomacy Officer, US Consulate General, Jerusalem
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and your experience. I learned so much that I can put to use today. Your stories showed me that you really understand what we’re going through, because you’ve been there. This is the best training class I have ever attended. — Campbell Mithun Advertising
The timing of your workshop could not have been better. Providing constructive and actionable feedback is a weakness that has resulted in issues going unaddressed for too long in some cases and opportunities for staff improvement missed for others. We did cram a lot into the last session, but it was an excellent platform for us all as we entered into mid-year reviews. I used some of the reminders and new skills in those reviews and was more thoughtful about my approach as a result. — Director of Field Resources, The Nature Conservancy
I know I speak for everyone here when I say the training you conducted was very useful, informative and inspirational. I surely benefited a whole lot from it. — Information Specialist, US Consulate, Jerusalem
Strategic Thinking Workshop
Your workshops for Ghanaian community activists and managers of non-governmental organizations in the northern city of Tamale and in Accra were dynamic and extremely practical programs. You offered participants an excellent combination of new information, sound advice, and strategies for success.
Your working style - informal, participant-driven, and using a range of facilitative methods - was a new one for most participants, and it proved extremely effective.
With women's and family issues increasing in the spotlight in Ghana (for reasons ranging from an unsolved series of gruesome murders of women in the capital to the establishment of a new Ministry of Women's Affairs), this program was extremely timely. Thanks to your expertise, it was also extremely effective.
We were impressed by the practical methods you shared to improve organizational communication, deal with conflict within and between groups, and improve strategic planning independently and in coalitions.
Workshop participants in Tamale included community-level activists as well as leaders with substantial management and international experience. These ranged from local groups representing specific constituencies - such as women farmers, widows, and young people – to national organizations such as the Council on Women and Development and the Ghana Red Cross, and also included representatives of government in education and health. Your approach effectively encouraged participants to work together and to see these differences as potential strengths. You addressed the concerns expressed by the participants regarding ways to improve their work, and provided them with a range of tools, appropriate to their situations, to do so creatively.
As a result of your work with them, the participants in the Tamale workshop are eager to continue working in large and small coalitions, rather than working in fragmented ways.
In Accra, your work with an influential group of twenty-one leaders representing virtually every major NGO and governmental office involved in women’s affairs provided invaluable assistance to these groups who are setting the agenda for public discourse in these areas in Ghana. These prominent participants have resolved to meet regularly to build on the momentum established during the workshop. — Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy Ghana
Your workshops on strategy and creative thinking included the latest organizational theories, were very well organized and complemented by interesting and lively exercises that helped participants grasp complex concepts easily. Your ability to present provocative and creative ideas in a compelling way, coupled with your engaging manner and your great teaching capabilities made for an outstanding program.
You taught a very high-level, sophisticated Uruguayan audience (including legislators, high-level ministry employees, and leaders of key NGOs) the elements of strategic planning; how to think creatively and strategically; how to make program choices based on the best use of resources to accomplish specific goals; how to motivate others to accept positive changes; and how to join forces with other organizations to advance overall goals.
You structured the seminars in a way that participants who do not often work together were able to collaborate on projects of mutual interest. Participants were impressed by your knowledge of Latin America in general and Uruguay in particular as well as your flawless Spanish. You know you received a tremendous round of applause and enthusiastic comments and testimonials from the participants. These kept pouring in after your workshop. Based on the work you did, a number of the participants made commitments to change and improve the operations of their organizations. Other comments from participants included: ..."great group dynamics...excellent methodology - you treat complex and sometimes even intimidating subjects in such an easy way that they become understandable to us all...the importance of team work, communication, negotiation...the importance of changing risk into opportunity... You brought great enthusiasm and hope..." — Organizer, Strategic Thinking Workshop, Montevideo, Uruguay
Creative Thinking Workshop
Since you adjourned your creativity class yesterday afternoon, we have been contacted personally, by phone or by email by virtually all of your participants with outstanding feedback about you, the course content and the design of the class.
If your ears have been burning the past 24 hours or so, I daresay it's been all of us at Arlington County Libraries telling tales of your personal warmth and teaching prowess to our friends, colleagues and in many cases, families! A number of folks processed the training over family dinner last night: A behavior that I, as a fellow trainer and OD specialist, always view as an especially high compliment.
As I said to my boss about you this morning: "We loved her, loved the training content, and loved every activity she had prepared for us". As Department Training Coordinator, I want to thank you most of all for an array of new and easily usable techniques I'd never encountered before in my own reading or creativity courses I'd taught for others. This is one invoice I will pay with 100% customer satisfaction, and I look forward to working with you in the future. Thanks again! — Training Coordinator, Arlington County, Virginia
