You are cordially invited to attend 

THE SUCCESSFUL GEEK:

A Workshop for Ensuring Geek Performance

Facilitated by Stephen Smith and Zelma Lansford

CLASS NOW FORMING in Chattanooga, TN

Technical and knowledge workers, often called Geeks, have a different set of factors that make them successful in the twenty-first century. Managers and supervisors must know and use different methods of leading, coordinating, and facilitating Geek work if they and the Geek projects are to be successful.

A Testimonial from a business owner who attended the Geek seminar...... 

“This is a cost effective and quick remedy for the culture clash between Geeks and their managers, to bring them together in an eight-hour interactive session which focuses on the needs of both groups.  My guess is that every company has a financial incentive to teach its managers to deal with and maximize returns on the company’s geek investments.   [The seminar shows you] how to profit from your Geek investment while lowering stress and turnover. Focus on all the wasted resources wandering around just waiting to be picked up and effectively utilized by a Geek-savvy company.

Whatever you do, keep bringing it back to the bottom line for the company – which is the company’s bottom line."

Both Geeks and Geek Managers/supervisors can expect this to be a major event as they learn

  • How Geeks are different from other employees

  • Why Geeks are an advantage for most organizations

  • How to communicate effectively with Geeks; how Geeks communicate with customers

  • What Geeks need to work productively

  • How to ensure success for Geeks and Geek projects

 The experience will be interactive and interesting--no boring lectures.  It will be a comfortable learning environment that will include a variety of media and materials.  Enrollment is limited. Facilitators will be:

   • Stephen Smith, M.S.      www.coalsmith.com   

  • Zelma Lansford, Ed.D.    www.zelmalansford.com

Summary:

• Geek is a slang word that can mean a person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy. Today, the more common use is to describe a person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but might be socially inept. We all know some famous and not so famous people who are geeks. We'll talk about, understand and apply the meaning of geek.

• We'll introduce the idea that all types of personalities cannot be managed the same way.  Geeks hate to be micro managed.  Their value is in thinking rather than in the number of products they produce.  They prefer to be told the general concept of what needs to happen and then be given flexibility to decide how it could be accomplished. 

• Geeks need an environment conducive to creativity thinking and sometimes it may appear they are playing rather than working, but that may be how they get themselves into “the flow” to think about the problems to be solved.  The typical office filled with cubes will not entice an accomplished geek to your company.  An office with a door may help them to concentrate.  They often take work home or to other places where they can think better.

•   Their single-mindedness causes them not to excel in some tasks.  For that reason they sometimes become frustrated with company procedures.  They are interested in how things work rather than money or people.  That is why the work of geeks should be represented to the company or to the customers by a spokesperson or manager.  

• The success of all companies depends on the creativity and resourcefulness of its geeks. 

TO REGISTER:  Send email to  STEPHEN SMITH with your name, company name, phone.

COST:  $325, lunch and snacks included. Check, cash, or money order only please.

Attend this seminar

9 am - 4:30pm

Request REGISTRATIONS MATERIALS NOW!