Volume 4.1 January 2009

EPI Events
EPI Participates in ASTD 2009
Darlene Ferras and Jenny Beer will present "Using Flash Components" at the 2009 ASTD TechKnowledge Conference in Las Vegas, January 28-30.

Sarah Blithe will be speaking at the Western States Communication Association Conference in February.

Michelle Kelly will present "Connecting Generations in the Workplace" at the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado on May 1.

Michelle Kelly will be speaking on the topic of Virtual Work at the ASTD International Conference in June.

EPI will present at the ASTD International Conference & Exposition, May 31-June 3.

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2009! The start of a new year is not only a time for renewal but a time to clean-house, start fresh and set goals for the year ahead.

While reviewing and setting goals is not a unique concept, there are a couple of interesting items to note about an effective process to use. First, your goals should be holistic in nature and encompass all facets of your life – business, personal, relational and spiritual — even include a wild card.

Next, ask yourself some important questions. What are you striving for this year? What would feel like a “win”? How do you plan to track your progress, and more importantly, how do you plan to celebrate your success? Once you decide on your goals for the year, write them down. Research shows that when goals are written down, they are more likely to be accomplished.

In addition to setting goals, track monthly progress against each goal and create personal accountability. One way to create this responsibility is to have built-in accountability partners. An accountability partner is a peer or friend that will commit to keeping you on track. This person should be someone you trust who will keep you focused, provide encouragement, and celebrate your success.

The beginning of a new year is a great time to renew your commitments to your job, your family, your friends, and your hobbies. In turn, create the life you want.

Happy goal setting!


Michelle Kelly, President/CEO

Brainstorming for Success
by Sarah Blithe, Performance Consultant

Brainstorming sessions can keep your team supplied with fresh, new ideas that can move a group, a project or a company to the next level. Additionally, brainstorming can become a problem solving strategy and can help your team tackle project-related issues.

To have a successful brainstorming session you should first think about your team. You likely have people who love generating ideas. These ideas do not always have to be directly tied to the project or problem at hand. A team member who is not a stakeholder can often provide helpful ideas, because they are objective. Including key stakeholders is a good idea as well - the mix will be stimulating.

Follow these tips for a productive and efficient brainstorming session:

Determine The Goal
Specifically articulate what you must accomplish.

Make Introductions
Introduce the team to each other as equals; everybody has a voice.

Set Ground Rules
Explain that you will accept all ideas at first and then narrow down. Tell them that you will manage their floor time sharply.

Keep Tight Time Management
Move the group along. Do not allow belabored points or a tug-of-war of opinions.

First Round
Generate as many ideas as possible. Get input from everyone. Record ideas on a flip chart without judging.

Second Round
Ask each member for more ideas.

Selection Process
Ask participants to vote for their top three choices. Circle the top three choices and vote on those three again to determine the group’s best choice.

Fine Tune
Polish the phrasing until the selection is as strong as it can be.

End The Session
Majority rules. End the session on time and realize that not everyone in the room will agree.

Remember, current economic conditions have pushed many of us to think creatively about how we accomplish business goals. Innovative thinking during these times is what distinguishes great companies from merely good ones.