Continuous Learning Opportunities, FUTUREU'S 5-STAR STRATEGY

The need for life-long learning is met by:

Continuous Learning Opportunities
The future of work is in learning. The future of learning is in the workplace.

mployees have come to expect continuing education. To differentiate your organization, you want to offer continuous learning in a wide range of topics not ordinarily offered, to demonstrate your organization’s commitment to truly "holistic" professional development, personal growth, and promotion from within the organization.

Providing excellent training on a continuous basis, rather than just occasionally, improves performance throughout the organization while conveying the message you yourself want to hear: that the organization cares about its people. FutureU will work with your staff to identify the topics of greatest need and interest, create the most appropriate learning model, and select the most suitable combination of learning opportunities for your personnel.

This catalog lists FutureU’s current offerings. Many of these listings are described in detail on the FutureU web site. New topics are always in development. The FutureU team includes dozens of highly qualified educators and content experts prepared to develop custom content that directly addresses your identified needs. In addition, the FutureU team continuously studies "what’s out there," in order to help you identify the best content available off the shelf from reliable sources.

Leadership Mastery

Executives often report that employees lack the preparation for a transition into management. FutureU has been providing both traditional and "new-paradigm" leadership training to executives and managers for two decades. Current offerings include:

Key Practices for Transformational Leadership

Three 12-week programs, each comprised of six 2-week modules, all of which are also available separately as stand-alone 4-week modules.

Leadership and Continuous Learning

Leadership and Human Resources

Core Competencies for Managers

Non-Traditional Approaches to Leadership

The Aikido of Leadership. Through facilitated dialogue and safe, non-strenuous solo and paired exercises, participants apply the principles of the Japanese martial art of Aikido—balance, leverage, position, timing and movement—to real-world workplace challenges. Instructor: FutureU Senior Associate Barry Tuchfeld, Ph.D., who holds the Aikido rank of Nidan (Second Degree Black Belt).

Improvisation for Leaders. By engaging in exercises that encourage spontaneity and fresh thinking, participants learn to solve problems "on their feet." Instructor: Stanford University drama professor Patricia Ryan Madson, founder of the Stanford Creativity Initiative, who has delivered this training for Hewlett Packard, Price Waterhouse, and others. Physical activities accommodate all levels of ability. Formats: 2-hour, half-day or full-day workshop, or a four-, five- or ten-week course that meets weekly for two hours.

Improvisation for Teams. Participants learn the "art" of being a team player. Concepts include shared control, "when to lead/when to follow," strategies for "making your partner look good," and non-confrontational approaches to different styles of working. Format: single workshop or, most effectively, in extended form (e.g., 2 hours/week for up to 10 weeks.) Instructor: Stanford University’s Patricia Ryan Madson.

Using Humor in the Workplace. Instructor: humorist and playwright Charlie Varon. Mr. Varon’s writing has appeared in the New Yorker. His stage performances always enjoy long theatrical runs. His keynote speeches have provoked both laughter and serious thought among audiences.

Business Literacy

Recent studies have reported that MBAs and other management candidates often lack the business knowledge needed for successful management work. As a result, they make arguments using "soft data" that may not be convincing to other executives. Some survey participants indicated that if they had more business knowledge, they would gain credibility, and their funding and staffing requests would be taken more seriously.

Nine 6-week modules offered separately or together as a certificate program.

Advanced Business Topics

Variable-length modules offered separately.

Personal Growth & Life Enhancement
for Improved Performance.

Demonstrate that your organization values the full potential of every individual on staff. When FutureU serves as your broker for "soft" subjects like the ones listed below, you are assured of the highest professional standards.

Living Peace, Working Peace
Creativity for Dummies—Anyone can be creative!
Music and the Creative Self
Song Writing and the Creative Process
Compose Yourself! Making Your Life a Work of Art
Do What You Love and Still Pay the Bills
DSM-IV Religious & Spiritual Problems
Focusing: Use Your Body to Know Your Next Step
Healing Hands: Reiki Levels 1, 2, Master and Master Teacher
Listening Skills
Managing Difficult Conversations
Navigating the Mental Health Internet
Negotiation Mastery
Meditation & Mental Health
Pain Management
Somatic Approach to Trauma Recovery: Workshops for Trauma Professionals
The Path to Meaningful Work
Spirituality & Recovery from Mental Disorders
Tai Chi
Yoga in the Workplace

Research and Consultation Related to Continuous Learning Products and Vendors

FutureU continuously studies the training markets. Save time, avoid disappointments, and maximize satisfaction by engaging FutureU to help you identify:

Content Delivery Management

FutureU knows how to match delivery methods to user capabilities. Not everyone has access to the same venues or technology, making communication and learning difficult even within the same organization—and often impossible when multiple organizations attempt to do training together. FutureU will work with you to identify which delivery methods will work best and what combination of face-to-face and technology-mediated methods might be necessary to deliver content to all your people.

Conversion of Content for Electronic Delivery

Adapting content for the new media involves a lot more than simply pasting files into web pages. When FutureU helps organizations convert, or create new, content for electronic or blended delivery, subject-matter experts report fewer frustrations and excellent results. With FutureU assisting your content developers and trainers, you are assured of a positive experience.

Delivery System Development or Customization.

Many commercial delivery systems are available for converting content to online delivery, but none may fully meet your needs. FutureU can help you determine which commercial delivery systems will work best or whether you should build one from scratch. We can also help you customize your existing delivery system to better serve your learners. Regardless of the solution, FutureU can train your staff in ongoing maintenance and further customization.

Program and Module Evaluation

The most cost-effective method is to use pre- and post-learning evaluations and compare results. FutureU also has extensive experience with the Kirkpatrick method (Levels I, II, III and IV), 360 Degree, Empowerment Evaluation, and Population or Time Sampling.

Leadership Mastery

Key Practices for Transformational Leadership

Non-Traditional Approaches to Leadership

Business Literacy

Advanced Business Topics

Best Practices in the Use of Technology for Learning and Communication.

Personal Growth & Life Enhancement for Improved Performance.

Research and Consultation Related to Continuous Learning Products and Vendors

Content Delivery Management

Conversion of Content for Electronic Delivery

Delivery System Development or Customization.

Program and Module Evaluation

Personal Growth & Life Enhancement
for Improved Performance.