MLA - Knowledge Before the Need

Staff Name: Carrie Willson-Plymire
Program: MLA Preconference - Knowledge Before the Need
Presenter: Andrew Sanderbeck

Summary: A very thought provoking and entertaining workshop designed to "help supervisors, managers and team leaders grow their management and leadership skills." It was promised that we would, "get the 'Knowledge before the Need' by learning ways to help [us] better manage ourselves and others." Andrew was very engaging. Using style inventories, role-play activities, discussion, and funny video clips, we looked at ways to improve our management styles and identified strategies to employ when we returned to work.

Aha! moment #1: Andrew's main message was to make the most of every day. His first question was, "What would you change, minor or major, if you knew you only had 6 months to live?" We threw things out and discussed that question a bit - then he asked, "What makes you think you don't?" Don't have just 6 months to live, that is. Bottom line for him--make the most of every day and do whatever gives you joy. The necessary corollary there is that we should make work fun. :)

Aha! moment #2: We did yet another work style inventory, but I love these. This was a behavioral style evaluation based on "Relationship Strategies" by Tony Alessandra. It's always useful to me to get validation of strengths and weaknesses. And at least for this week, I've been more conscious of those weaknesses and am getting a bit more done (I think!)

All in all it was a very entertaining and useful workshop.