DC Area OD Practitioners CoP
Topic: Getting Past Negativity in the Workplace
Description: Negativity can be a major issue in the workplace, and if left unchecked it can adversely impact the bottom line. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that negativity costs businesses $3 billion a year due to its harmful effects. Keeping up morale within an organization is critical for maintaining productivity and employee satisfaction. As OD professionals we understand that negative workplace energy will undermine leadership, kill productivity, create toxic environments, and destroy relationships. But how do we recognize underpinning signs of negative behaviors early? Identifying disparaging behaviors is not only a major OD responsibility; it is also the first step to addressing them.
As OD professionals, how can we respond to pessimistic clients or clients with skeptical team members without getting sucked in? How can we create the habit of responding positively in the face of negativity? This will be an experiential lively session with discussions on working with clients through their negativity to new ways of being open, curious, and alive. So bring your experiences of working with cynical, pessimistic, and skeptical clients.
Participants will leave this session with:
•A better understanding of this topic, and the relationship between cynicism, pessimism, and skepticism
•Tools to handle cynical, pessimistic, and skeptical clients
•An opportunity to learn from each other
•A group experience of connection
Judy Cohen and Stephan Dix are both experienced OD professionals. Join them in a lively discussion and hands-on practice to explore ways of working with clients and their team through negative behaviors.
Presenters: Judy Cohen and Stephan Dix
Judy Cohen, MSOD, ACC, PMP: Judy provides consulting, training and coaching for leaders, teams and organizations to improve performance and promote positive work environments and cultures. Her clients include Federal government agencies, private sector and non-profit organizations, including startup companies. Her work builds upon her decades-long career as an executive, program manager and consultant in the IT industry. Judy holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development from American University. She has been certified as a Leadership Coach and a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Stephan Dix, M.SC International Development Management, ACC: For over 25 years, Stephan has provided OD and organizational change management services to leaders and their teams domestically and internationally. Stephan has worked with Federal and State governments, private sector, and non-profit organizations. His OD practice focuses on assisting leaders, staff members, and teams create lasting systemic organizational change by improving processes, systems and organizational structures (formal and informal) to achieve desired objectives and goals. Stephan’s OD work is supported by Certificates in OD, Change Management, Adult Training Skills, and Career and Life Coaching.
CoP Leader: Mark Sachs, ma.sachs@verizon.net
Mark has been an OD consultant and executive coach for more than 20 years. He enjoys seeing his clients and their organizations take steps to change, and when they are successful it gives him great pleasure. He earned his MS in OD from the American University/NTL Institute and MA and BA degrees in Sociology from Rutgers University. He is an International Coach Federation, Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
Cancellation Policy: Registrants should contact Mark if they need to cancel. Due to the room size, registrations will be limited so please contact Mark soonest if you register but are then unable to attend so others can register and attend instead.
Additional Notes: A $5.00 per person contribution is requested to help pay for rental of the room.
