Nancy Wallis to Speak at Int’l Society for Performance Improvement {4/10/12}

Leadership From Within Change

With Brainard Strategy and Nancy Wallis

Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.
Location:  Wyndham Garden Hotel — 3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa
Contact: 714.751.5100
Fees:  OC-ISPI Members: $35*/ $40 | Non-Members: $50*/ $57
PARKING: $4.00

To register, visit http://www.ispioc.org
Reserve by Thursday, April 5, to receive discounted early bird rate!

Leaders in organizational settings are increasingly aware of the importance of new ways of thinking as essential for competing in the new informational global economy and networked society.  Business at the dawn of the 21^st century offers managers the opportunity to pay attention differently, both individually and collectively, in order to bring about the profound systemic changes so needed to succeed in the current turbulent, complex and rapidly changing global context.

Nancy will share a framework for the topic of Leadership from Within Change.  She will focus her opening remarks on the framework known as Theory U by Dr. C. Otto Scharmer.  Theory U offers an exciting and timely way of thinking about leading change in the new global reality that is emerging.  Join us as Nancy leads a conversation on using the Theory U process to lead organizational change within the larger context of increasing global change, complexity and uncertainty.

The U image depicts five levels of change that can take a department or organization from a challenge to a solution by a process that moves from shared perception to collective action.  The deepest level of the U curve accesses the future that wants to emerge and is referred to as ‘the U process’ and rests between developing a shared perception and co-creating shared action.

Suggested learning objectives or “take-aways” include :

• Understanding the four ways of responding to change (reacting to issues, redesigning structure and process, reframing the problem, and presencing, or learning from the future as it emerges) and be motivated to try the fourth.

• Understanding the five movements, or aspects of moving through the U process, and consider applying them to a current change initiative.

• Understanding the power of the right-hand side of the U, or integrating head, heart and hands in practical ways.
  

ISPI will raffle off Scharmer’s Theory U: Leading from the Future as it Emerges (2007).

Dr. Wallis interweaves academic pursuits and the practice of leadership in organizational settings.  She has a wealth of experience from her 30 years as senior leader, project manager, consultant, administrator and mentor, always with a larger goal of improving leadership capacity and organizational performance.  She earned her PhD at Fielding Graduate University and her MBA and MSPH at UCLA.

Currently Associate Dean for the School of Human and Organizational Development at Fielding Graduate University, she is committed to the study and practice of leadership that improves the quality of human lives.  She balances her academic roles, research, writing, consulting and speaking engagements with a keen interest for inquiry into how we may enact organizational leadership in which personal and collective transformation are engaged.  She works with Brainard Strategy where she helps organizations realize individual, interpersonal and systemic transformation.

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Brainard Strategy Lends Expertise to Alliant International University’s Ph.D Program

On February 27, 2012, Jennifer Konkin visited Alliant International University‘s San Diego campus to share her unique perspective and experience in leadership development and consulting. In addition to her responsibilities as a Brainard Strategy consultant, Ms. Konkin is a Ph.D candidate at Alliant in Consulting Psychology. Having already received her M.S. from Alliant in that same field of research in 2007, she was invited back to Dr. John Renner’s Organizational Development class to discuss the spectrum of transition between student/scholar to professional consultancy.

Ms. Konkin’s discussion utilized industry-leading models and methods that are useful for recruiters and employment seekers alike. For example, one topic of focus was on the Arbinger Institute’s approach to leadership development and how it applies to leveraging existing knowledge and self awareness into applied skills through through on-the job experience.

Such a speaking engagement enriches and renews the longstanding relationship between Alliant International University and Brainard Strategy. Michael Brainard, principal of the firm, completed his Ph.D in Industrial Organizational Psychology at Alliant in 2009. Our most recent hire, Junior Associate Matt McDonald, is also a recent graduate from the school.

You can visit What We Do to learn more about Brainard Strategy’s wide range of consulting capabilities, including Talent Acquisition and Management, Career Planning and Leadership Development.

Brainard Strategy Hosts Nominations for 2012 Healthiest Companies Award

We are excited to partner with the San Diego Business Journal and Intercare Solutions in recognizing businesses that believe in the importance of corporate health and wellness as well as those that take a pro-active approach to improving the health and wellbeing of their employee population.

The San Diego Business Journal spotlights companies that have worked hard to create environments where their employees enjoy going to work. San Diego’s Healthiest Companies winners possess four characteristics: visible leadership support and involvement, significant investment in the wellness program, strategy for measuring the ROI, and a strong desire to create a company culture of well-being. The San Diego Business Journal awards these companies by publishing the annual list of San Diego’s Healthiest Companies and hosting a reception and awards program to honor the winning companies and guests.

You can visit the San Diego Business Journal’s website for more information, tickets and to nominate businesses in the following categories:

• Small Companies
• Medium Companies
• Large Companies
• Large Companies Headquartered Outside of San Diego County

NHRA Meeting & Networking Breakfast — April 14, 2012

“What is the Triple Bottom Line? The New Leadership Model: Health Care Driving Business Growth in a People-Led Economy”

Presented by: Michelle M. Smith, CPIM, CRP, VP, Business Development – O.C. Tanner

Employees represent a significant key to the speed with which businesses fully recover from the downturn, but they are only one of many groups contributing to corporate success.  People, Profit and Corporate Responsibility make up the Triple bottom line.  The role of leadership now is to build and optimize these connections so that the company—and its people—can prosper and thrive.  The FORUM at Northwestern University has defined these stakeholders as the critical “Human Value Connections” that will lead organizations to sustainable growth in the new economic landscape of the “People-Led Economy.”         

What you will walk away with:

• Groundbreaking research from the FORUM on a successful strategic model for leadership that embraces a broad spectrum of constituencies
• Understanding of why our focus should be on employee “enrichment” rather than engagement
• The advantages of pursuing a shift in strategy in how we lead, how we motivate, and how we define value
• Evaluate viable plan designs and approaches aimed at retaking control at this time — so changes to your benefit program are sustainable, systematic and strategic
• Learn best practices adopted by these employers
• Take home the next steps including development of a five-year strategic plan.

To Register, visit www.humanresources.org  by Friday, April 13th 

Networking and sign in begins at 7:00 a.m.
Program:            7:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Location:           Orange County Airport Hilton 18800 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine
Meeting Fees:  $30 members, $40 guests (add $7 at the door if not pre-registered)

You can process your payment by credit card or send check to: NHRA, P.O. Box 16246, Irvine, CA 92623-6246

If you have any problems registering please contact Wendy at nhraoc@aol.com. Unless cancellation is made by 5 p.m. on preceding Friday, charge will be made for the meeting.  Additional self-parking available at Atrium.

Brainard Strategy is Hiring – email jkonkin@brainardstrategy.com for details

Community Outreach Mentorship Program

The Community Outreach Mentorship Program at Brainard Strategy is a learning opportunity for bright and motivated individuals interested in entering the workforce in fields related to Business Strategy and Organizational Development. We recognize that it can be difficult at times for people just entering the workforce to gain the professional experience needed to land careers in their chosen fields. This program is designed to offer experience, training, and professional development in the form of on-the-job, hands-on learning in partnership with our consultants.

Successful candidates of the Community Outreach Mentorship Program will be considered Jr. Associates of Brainard Strategy and will partner with a consultant on the design and delivery of client. Jr. Associates will be invited by a consultant to participate in one client-facing project at a time and spend the rest of their time on internal projects designed to strategically develop the firm. Client-facing projects will vary in their focus from assessing executives for succession planning, to developing business strategy and can include any of the content areas from the full line of services provided by Brainard Strategy.  Click here for details about the Jr. Associate role at Brainard Strategy

Business Administrative Liaison

Brainard Strategy is looking for an administrative liaison and office support specialist who can work with limited supervision and has excellent communication skills to take active roles in partnering with our consultants and sales team. The right candidate will be detail oriented and have skill in logistics, monitoring progress of projects according to negotiated contracts, and project management.  Click here for details about the Business Administrative Liaison role at Brainard Strategy

Feedback from Tom Koch, President of NHRA on the recent Talent Management Workshop led by Michael Brainard

Tom Koch
President, National Human Resources Association – Orange County, California

“As President of the National Human Resources Association in Orange County, California I couldn’t be more delighted with the results of our most recent Professional Development Workshop. We partnered with Michael Brainard of Brainard Strategy. The feedback from the almost 30 participants was stellar. The overwhelming consensus was that Michael knew the content cold; presented it an interactive, engaging and thought provoking way, and that people got great value and actionable content that they could immediately take back to their companies.

NHRA-Orange County has worked with Michael and Brainard Strategy before and from those experiences has come to know that this is the high level of performance, delivery and value at which he consistently works. We give a strong recommendation to him and Brainard Strategy.”

View the Results and Findings of our 2011 Customer Satisfaction Survey

The team at Brainard Strategy adheres to core values that include the pursuit of knowledge, flexibility, responsiveness, partnership and  candor.  We actively seek and evaluate feedback to make improvements that really matter.  Our objective is to provide our clients with the  highest quality Business Strategy and Organizational Development services possible.

Thank you to everyone who provided valuable feedback during our 2011 Customer Satisfaction Survey.  Click here to view a copy of the Survey.

2011 Los Angeles HR Leadership Summit November 30, 2011

2011 Los Angeles HR Leadership Summit November 30, 2011 | Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza

The HR Leadership Summit is designed for rich discussions about the challenges and emerging issues we all face in business today. The support and participation of the Southern California region’s Fortune 1000 HR executives, along with the top government and academic HR executives, ensures that each of the conference sessions, speakers and best practice vendor sponsors are relevant, timely and structured to deliver maximum value. Brainard Strategy is a Sponsor of this must attend event. Click here to see the agenda

Read the latest whitepaper by Brainard Strategy

Choosing the Best Talent Management Vendor for You:  a Brainard Strategy whitepaper written by Jennifer Konkin and Michael Brainard

So, your company has a talent management system in place, but you’re not happy with it?  Are you finding it costly, cumbersome, or outdated?  You are not alone.  Click here to read more

We are proud to sponsor the 2011 HR Leadership Summit in Los Angeles

Brainard Strategy is proud to sponsor the 2011 HR Leadership Summit in Los Angeles.

At Brainard Strategy we believe it takes innovative and courageous HR leadership to positively impact performance, inspire leadership, create strategy and implement change!

Click here for more information about this cutting edge conference…

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2011 SHRM Workplace Excellence Awards

Brainard Strategy will be hosting a table at the San Diego SHRM Workplace Excellence Awards.   We look forward to seeing you there.

Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt – One Market Place – San Diego CA

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Michael Brainard will lead a 1-Day Integrated Talent Management Workshop on November 8, 2011

Michael Brainard will lead  the Orange County National Human Resources Association Integrated Talent Management Workshop Event :  Linking Recruiting, Talent Management, Compensation, Leadership, Culture and Brand as a System (for details on how to participate click here)

Michael Brainard discusses Sage Leadership Tools that Bring Out The Best In Millennials

The End Result presents:
Michael Brainard Discusses Millennials, Trust And Leadership
» Event Details

View the results of our 2010 Customer Satisfaction Survey

Customer Satisfaction Survey
Download

Brainard Strategy is continually striving to provide the highest quality services possible. Customer feedback enables us to make improvements that really matter to our clients.

Thank you to all those who participated in our Customer Satisfaction Survey for 2010.

Core Values
In order to Delight our Customers we embrace the following core values:

• Pursuit of knowledge
• Flexibility
• Responsiveness
• Partnership
• Candor

Client Experiences

Brainard Strategy continually seeks feedback from our clients. View the results of our 2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey
» View survey

Brainard Strategy and Valtera partner

Brainard Strategy and Valtera partner to bring world class survey and assessment capability to Southern California companies
» View full press release