Staff Development

Communication and Professional Development

• Supervisory and Management Development Courses
• Institute of Management Studies

To Register for Courses

To register for any of these courses, please check the current Staff Development Course Calendar to see if the course has been scheduled. If it is listed, please send an e-mail requesting to be enrolled in the course to your training coordinator or complete the Request for Training Form.

PE180 - Advanced Customer Service Skills - this one-day course will help you develop increased expertise in the art of servicing clients so they will remain loyal to your business for life.  A positive experience can make the customer feel great or a poor one can leave such a negative taste in her mouth that she will never do business with you again.  Fantastic service that meets customers' wants and needs can separate the mediocre organizations from the cream of the crop.  This course is conducted by Steven Green, Berkshire Leadership Group. 

PE154 - Authentic Power Part I - this one-day course encourages you to take charge of your life and career by learning how to eliminate power struggles through the power of conscious choice.  Through discussion, case studies, role-playing and exercises, this workshop is designed to empower the individual to make choices based on the values of cooperation, relationship building, responsibility, and problem solving.  The result is high productivity, open communication, and the ability to make decisions that benefit both the organization and the individual.  This course is conducted by Marlene Chism. 

PE169 - Authentic Power Part II - through discussion, case studies, and exercises, this half-day follow-up workshop is designed to reinforce concepts learned in Part I that empowers one to make choices based on the values of cooperation, relationship building, responsibility and problem solving.  Topics include: defining dysfunction and non productive patterns, separating the problem from the symptom, and creating what you desire at work and at home.  This course is conducted by Marlene Chism. 

PE145A - Brookhaven Advocacy Council (BAC) - Building Skills in Critical Listening/Thinking - this one-day course is required for BAC members.  It will provide the necessary tools that are essential for the interviewing and data collection processes.  The course is taught by Carol Rudman of Rudman Associates. 

PE115 -  Business Writing - (formerly Clear Business Communications) - this two-day course provides business writing skills for those who write letters, memos, and reports. Participants learn to produce clear, concise communications. Using case studies and in-basket assignments, they acquire the skills needed to organize thoughts, get started, and express themselves clearly. Participants learn to write for the reader and to avoid common errors of style, construction, punctuation and grammar. In addition to extensive practice, the course provides participants with the skills to critique and revise their own writing and that of others. The course is conducted by Joy Esterberg. 

PE174 - Coaching and Counseling for Supervisors, Managers and Just About Anyone - this one-day course will address the growing phenomenon in the American workplace that supervisors and managers are lacking the interpersonal skills necessary to optimize their full potential.  All too often, the personnel who advance to supervisor and management levels possess comprehensive, sophisticated skills in very specialized areas of expertise, but have little, if any, knowledge and talent in the "people management skills."  This program teaches what individuals need to know to be powerful "people managers."  It presents knowledge, practice, and skills from the worlds of counseling, coaching and communicating that no truly effective supervisor or manager can do without.  The course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network.

PE151 - Communications for a Better Work Environment - this three-hour workshop is designed to explore communication and conflict management techniques that will enhance collaboration in the workplace. It focuses on the role of listening, the difference between being assertive and being aggressive, destructive vs. constructive responses, why interpersonal conflict develops, how to avoid it, and how to defuse it once it starts. The course is conducted by Mark Steinberg of The Educators Network, a training and development company that specializes in Counseling/Communication, Organizational Development, and Business Management.

PE153 - Communicating with Email - this half-day workshop is for any employee who wants to use email more effectively.  It covers BNL policy, etiquette, and how to get your message across.  Participants will also complete a communication style assessment in order to learn how to communicate effectively with those whose styles differ from their own. 

PE141 - Conflict Management - this one-day workshop is for employees who have had a basic communications course.  The course is designed to explore, develop, and practice conflict management techniques. It focuses on why interpersonal conflict develops, how to avoid it, and how to defuse it once it starts. The course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network.

PE179 - Creativity and Innovation - this one-day course is for all employees.  It is a high-energy, interactive, educational, business-relevant presentation that provides participants the understanding, inspiration, and practical methods to awaken their true creative and innovative powers.  The course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network.

PE116 - Effective Facilitator - designed for those responsible for facilitating focus groups, quality workshops, and team meetings. This two-day program is presented by Susan Hastings, Creative Communications Center. The course includes discussion, videotape behavior modeling, style self-analysis and exercises. Participants learn to increase their effectiveness as both meeting leaders and contributors through better observation, listening and intervention skills, and through the use of objective methods of analysis.

PE114 - Effective Presentations for Technical Professionals - designed for scientific and professional staff, this course considers the needs of those who make oral presentations of technical information. Participants learn to determine objectives and organize their presentations with the audience in mind. Participants practice giving oral presentations that are videotaped and critiqued by the instructor and other participants. They gain self-confidence and practice techniques for responding effectively to questions from the audience. This two full-day course is conducted by Merna Skinner, Communication Consultant with ExecComm.

PE158 - Emotional Intelligence:  Building Stronger Work Relationships - this intense, interactive one-day program provides practical strategies to help you develop your emotional intelligence—a must for all supervisors, managers, and individual contributors.  Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to regulate your impulses, empathize with others, and effectively get things done in challenging times. In this seminar, you will learn about what emotional intelligence is, and how to manage yourself, develop social awareness, and build stronger relationships using EI. You will also have the opportunity to assess your own EI quotient and develop a personal action plan for enhancing your own emotional intelligence. 

PE134 - Employee Performance Goal Planning - this two-hour overview prepares employees so they can participate in the performance goal planning process with their supervisors. Topics include an overview of the performance appraisal process, establishing job standards, formulating "SMART" goals based on R2A2’s and job descriptions. 

PE123 - Exceptional Customer Service - designed for service groups at BNL who work with internal and/or external customers. Topics include: creating a positive first impression, power talking for telecommunication, fax, e-mail and voice mail, breaking the understanding barrier, assertiveness communication for positive perception, dynamic listening and transforming angry customers. Participants will be asked to develop an action plan to improve customer communications. This one-day course is conducted by Steven Green, Berkshire Leadership Group. 

PE126 - Executive Media Training - this one-day workshop is designed for managers who represent BNL to the media. Through video, practice, and feedback, managers learn how to prepare for the interview, how to set communication objectives, answer the media's toughest questions, and know what to do if an investigative Journalist calls. The course is conducted by James Lukaszewski of the Lukaszewski Group or by Merna Skinner of ExecComm.

PE131 – Facilitating Problem Solving – this one-day course is presented by Julie Salgo of the American Society for Quality. The course is designed for those who participate on problem solving teams and focus groups. Through this workshop, participants learn to apply problem solving and decision-making tools and techniques in a team environment.

PE176 - How to Manage Projects and Meet Deadlines - this one-day course will teach you that the key is organization.  Do you ever wonder what it would be like to actually complete every project that comes your way both on time and with a feeling of utter satisfaction?  No doubt, you've had some stand-out experiences that went without a glitch.  But there is a way to keep all your projects running smoothly, on time, and within the appointed budget.  This one-day course is conducted by Steven Green, Berkshire Leadership Group. 

PE147 – Interpersonal Communication Skills – this one-day interactive workshop uses questionnaires, small group discussions, and role-plays to help participants develop good working relationships. Participants will learn how to: communicate effectively with those whose styles differ from their own, build more productive relationships with their managers, develop action strategies for building stronger work relationships, and resolve conflict. 

PE144 – Interviewing Workshop for Career Transitioners – this half-day workshop is for employees who want to build their confidence and improve their performance when being interviewed. Topics include how to develop your unique selling points, keys to effective self-presentation, things never to say in an interview and to pinpoint difficult questions and develop answers to them.

PE172 – Learning to Control Stress – this one-day workshop is for all employees.  It will look at the causes of excessive stress, which signs can tell you if you or someone you know is under too much pressure, and how these things negatively affect employees, employers, and society.  Plus, we'll discuss tried-and-true tips for reducing stress and approaches for conducting your professional life in a low-stress manner.  This course is conducted by Steven Green, Berkshire Leadership Group.

PE127 - Managing Communication  - designed for employees to develop and practice specific communication and conflict management techniques. The program focuses on why communication fails and how to improve it, and on why interpersonal conflict develops, and how to defuse and/or avoid it. Topics include how to speak in an assertive way without abdicating your organizational power and position, active and passive listening, and how to criticize constructively. This one-day course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network, Inc.

PE117 - Managing Diversity Through Communication - This 90-minute work force diversity program for all employees will enable participants to: understand what diversity is, recognize biases and stereotypes which develop from differences, identify some of the obstacles that could be encountered as the workforce becomes more diverse, appreciate the impact diversity has on an organization, manage successful interactions with those who are different, and understand the BNL Policy on Harassment.

PE118 - Managing Effective Meetings - designed for managers and professionals who are responsible for planning results-oriented meetings. In this full-day training, participants identify the strengths and weaknesses of their communication styles and learn to increase effectiveness as meeting leaders through planned exercises and skill practice.

PE143 – Managing Your Career with Power – provides an overview of the career management process for employees who want to participant in self-assessment and career management. Topics include the technology of career research, matching assessment with the work environment and creating a Career Management Plan. The course takes place for two consecutive 1/2 day sessions. 

PE152 - Meeting the Challenge of Administrative Leadership - this two-day course is designed for experienced administrative staff and conducted by Carol Rudman of Rudman Associates.  The course will help participants assess their readiness to assume leadership roles, learn about leadership styles, understand strategic thinking, influence others to act, and build alliances to get the job done. It will also provide a leadership "toolkit" administrators will need to significantly contribute to a productive workplace. 

PE178 - Memory Enhancement - this one-day course is for all employees and is a high energy, technique-driven presentation that teaches the why's and how's of memory enhancement.  Specific, user-friendly memory tools are taught and participants get to practice and experience the power of these methods in this memorable training event.  The course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network.

PE175 - Multi-Tasking in a Time-Challenged World - this one-day course will examine how to get more done at work and in life, in far easier and far more successful ways.  Although the numbers of hours in a day is finite, ever-increasing demands are being placed upon us at work, at home, and in life.  When faced with these seemingly infinite challenges, one of two things can occur:  (1) the demands become so great that there is a fall from excellence due to overload, or (2) there can be a growth of a new and sophisticated skill set which allows for continued excellence in the face of the ever-increasing demands.  The ability to successfully multi-task has now become one of the most vital business skill sets a person can mast and employ.  This high-energy, interactive training program provides an exploration of powerful, creative techniques to effectively multi-task.  This one-day course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network, Inc.

PE173 - Positive Personal Change  - this one-day course is for all employees.  It examines the reasons people develop negative attitudes and how they often spread that negativity to all around them.  Participants learn positive strategies which are user-friendly, personally empowering, and tremendously life enhancing.  The skills learned are immediately translatable into new levels of personal and professional success.  This course is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network, Inc.

PE159 - Power Presentations - this two-day course is for those employees who want to learn the techniques and secrets of world-class presenters.  The program has two distinct features:  Teaching and Practice.  Approximately 50% of the time is spent on high-energy teaching of the art and science of outstanding presentations.  The other 50% of the time is spent on the videotaping and comprehensive analysis of participant presentation techniques.  The class is conducted by Mark Steinberg, The Educator's Network, Inc.

PE135 - Preventing Discriminatory Harassment - this three-hour video/ discussion course for employees and their supervisors will enable participants to recognize and properly respond to situations which may be considered employee harassment. Topics include BNL policies, harassment, sexual harassment, diversity issues and how lack of teamwork impacts harassment.

PE155 - Religious Diversity in Workplace - In today’s workplace, particularly after the September 11, 2001 incident, there are growing concerns about potential religious discrimination manifested through acts of intimidation, sarcasm, exclusion, harassment, verbal and physical assaults.  Religious Accommodation Law prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing, and promotion; requires effort for reasonable accommodation; and assures a hostile-harassment-free workplace.  This course offered by the Diversity Office is for all BNL employees. They will learn about the legal requirements of the Religious Accommodation Law and how they can enhance effective communication across religious and cultural boundaries. 

PE130 - Risk Communication - this two-day presentation on environmental risk communication and public dialogue is for all scientific and professional staff members who represent BNL at public meetings. Topics include ethical principles, the components of public meetings, key community concerns, key risk communication messages, nonverbal communication, trust and credibility factors, and risk communication guidelines.

PE108 - Sexual Harassment Awareness - This one-hour video/discussion course provides participants with the definition of sex discrimination, "quid pro quo" and "hostile work environment" sexual harassment, BNL policy, and preventive actions employees can take to deter sexual harassment.

PE102T - Team Interpersonal Skills (TIS) - designed for team members who need to enhance their ability to gain the commitment and cooperation of others. Through this course, participants learn to increase their understanding of the contributions and concerns of others and how to resolve team conflicts. Using skill practice, video examples, case studies, readings and discussion, participants learn to apply the skills to their own jobs. This course consists of two half-day sessions or one full-day session.

PE110 - Technical Writing for Scientists and Engineers - this course for scientific and professional staff provides an intensive review of the technical writing process. Participants learn techniques for the preparation, organization and rapid revision of technical papers and reports. The course provides both classroom instruction and individual counseling. The instructor is James Paradis, Ph.D. a member of the faculty at MIT where he is professor of Technical Communication. This course consists of one full-day session and a private conference the following day. 

PE110E - Technical Writing for English as a Second Language Students - this three-day course is designed for scientific and professional staff who use English as a second language and is similar to the Technical Writing course above with emphasis on those areas that cause greatest difficulty in ESL students. It provides in-depth individual counseling and the instructor is James Paradis. 

PE137 - The Effective Presenter: Communicating with Confidence and Credibility  - designed to enhance basic presentation skills.  Participants will learn to create rapport with their audiences; manage stage fright; understand the extemporaneous speaking format; open, close and use nonverbals effectively; and stay centered, in control, and respectful.

PE112 - Time Management - designed for professional staff who have multiple, concurrent projects of two or three months duration and whose work requires time management planning tools beyond the daily "to do" list.  In this seminar, participants learn to set goals, increase productivity, achieve a better balance in their lives and reduce stress. Participants receive a planner to help them apply techniques to manage their time. This course consists of one full-day session and is conducted by Franklin Covey.

Last Modified: April 22, 2008
Please forward all questions about this site to: Starr Munson

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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