As we wrap up the last few weeks of 2010 and look forward to 2011, think about your organization’s current challenges.  Are you in the midst of sweeping change or is it just around the corner?  If “no” to both, might you be missing an opportunity to pursue change in the spirit of achieving your organization’s key business goals and drivers?  Have your organization and your people lost their focus due to all of the distractions and #1 priorities that continually bombard us on a day in/day out basis?  How committed are your people?  Are they part of the 33% of the total US work force that has become “disengaged” per 2010 Gallup and PWC research?  Do your people truly work well together or are you continuously being pulled in to referee?  Have your teams lost their consultative edge and what it means to provide exceptional products and services to your customers?  TechEdge LLC can help you catalyze your organization’s transformation, break through problematic barriers and re-energize your people through a variety of programs, including our guest speaking services.

Our guest speaking approach is unique.  We only present to small and medium size audiences in order to create interactive dialogue and conduct hands-on group and individual exercises that enable participants to solve real-world business problems in real-time mode.  We also provide ready-to-use take-away tools and Action Plans that can be immediately implemented to address your most burning organizational issues.  Our specialty topics include, but are not limited to:

• Creating High Performing Teams & Organizations
• Driving to Customer Service & Results Delivery
• Leading Courageously
• Tackling Demand Intake & Fulfillment: A Practical Approach
• Engaging the Millennials & Gen X’ers
• Upping the Human Connectedness Factor
• Optimizing Your People Potential
• Strengthening Organization Change Outcomes
• Creating Consultative Cultures
• Inspiring Creativity & Innovation
• Instilling Collaborative Behaviors
• Building Enduring Trust & Relationships
• Embracing Constructive Conflict

Non-profits that have utilized our guest speaking services include:

• AIM (Applied Information Management) Institute
• CAIT (The Center for the Application of Information Technology)
• SIM (Society for Information Management)
• NEO IT Think Tank

We provide for-profit client references upon request.

To learn more about how we approach guest speaking engagements, download the slide deck from our September 22, 2010, NEO IT Think Tank event entitled “Human Connectedness and the Business of IT”.  How did our audience react to our presentation? Here’s what Katie Jagusch (URS) posted to LinkedIn:

“Gwen’s presentation on Human Connectedness is fantastic!  She clearly understands the interpersonal relationships found in most workplaces and knows how to improve those relationships in order to increase overall productivity.  The foundations of her methods are based on well-documented scientific studies and I cannot wait to get started putting some of her best practices to use!”

Contact us today to find out how we can deliver a dynamic, engaging, thought provoking, action-oriented and targeted presentation for your organization!  We look forward to serving you!

TechEdge LLC is mentioned in the latest issue of Watt’s News, the official newsletter of STEMout. STEMout creates outreach programs that expose K-12 students to career paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our president, Gwen Walsh, joined the STEMout board in July and has been wow’d by STEMout’s traction! Interested in learning more about STEMout? You can download the newsletter from our website or at STEMout’s website.

Come visit us again!

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The Business of IT and Human Connectedness
Presented by NEO IT Think Tank

September 22, 2010

Corporate Plaza 1
6450 Rockside Woods Blvd S
Independence, OH  44131

Gwen Walsh, President and Founder of TechEdge, will be our program speaker.

Being in the Business of IT, a large chunk of our success depends on our ability to understand and positively influence our customers, executives, managers, peers, staff and business partners.  Every time we engage in a conversation, pitch an idea, investigate a problem, fulfill a request, initiate or implement a change, address (or fail to address) a conflict or provide a product or service, we’re being evaluated and judged by others.  The cold, harsh truth is – each interaction and corresponding judgment directly impacts how others perceive us, how they will react to us now and in the future, whether or not they will support us in the work that lies ahead and how our legacy will be shaped.

Because we’re in the Business of IT and predominantly focused on technologies, activities, tasks, pressures, deadlines, you-name-it, we oftentimes forge ahead without critically thinking through our human-to-human interactions.  Before you know it, we’re working in environments where trust, collaboration, positive attitudes, high productivity and employee morale are plummeting, and silos, territorialism, personal agendas, infighting, apathy, negativism, adversarial relationships and missed deadlines and service levels are on the uptick.

We must create environments where people genuinely matter, and to do that we need to become better at HUMAN CONNECTEDNESS.

Our next Face-to-Face meeting will address Human Connectedness.  We will:

• Define Human Connectedness.
• Discuss the compelling reasons for increasing Human Connectedness.
• Ask simple questions that will help us assess our own Human Connectedness effectiveness.
• Explore the principles that, when followed, create a Human Connectedness environment.
• Take away tools that can be immediately applied in your workplace to increase your Human Connectedness factor.

Special thanks to Clay Bediant, VP at Ratliff & Taylor, for sponsoring our location.

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You can RSVP to this event on LinkedIn or Facebook.  We look forward to seeing you there!

STEMout announces that Gwen Walsh, President of TechEdge LLC, has been elected to their board of directors. “Gwen is doing a terrific job at advising and guiding her clients so they may reach their greatest potential, and as such, we are looking forward to her contributions as a member of STEMout’s board of directors,” said Katie Jagusch, STEMout Board President. “We think Gwen’s insights, leadership experience and technology credentials will be very valuable in helping to guide STEMout in the years ahead!”

“STEMout is one of those amazing organizations that I truly admire because they inspire youths to choose STEM careers and are helping us shape our youth’s future,” said Gwen Walsh. “I’m really looking forward to working with Katie and STEMout’s board to help with STEMout’s impactful outreach program!”

STEMout Inc. was founded in 2010 with the sole mission of increasing science, technology, engineering, and mathematic career-path awareness among students. For more information on outreach or STEM Squads, please visit www.STEMout.org.

What a great way to kick off the week.  Congratulations, Gwen!

On July 6^th, the presentation “In the Zone” – How to Get There & Stay There was given by Gwen Walsh, president of TechEdge, at Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio.  The Hudson Hub Times offers a description of the free program at their website (http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/4851825).

Ms. Walsh spoke about the following topics:

• Explore how to create a “loving what you do and showing it” positive spirit that will influence how others see you — including prospective employers and your network; and
• Learn about the 4 vital ingredients – Identity, Achievement, Reputation and Acceptance — and receive practical tools pivotal to becoming the “best version of you”.

The presentation was well-received and attendees offered their positive feedback:

“You really did a fine job for us this past Tuesday evening, as was indicated in our evaluation forms – everyone said you exceeded expectations! Thanks so much for taking the time to be with us.”

“Thank you for your time and your excellent presentation at the Hudson Job Search meeting on Tuesday, Your “hot topic” seemed to coincide perfectly with the “hot evening”.  You brought “In the Zone” to life with real world examples and dialogue. Your positive spirit and enthusiasm for your subject matter was evident. My MOJO has been greatly enhanced by your fantastic and unselfish presentation.”

Thank you to everyone who attended and also to Hudson Job Search, the organization that invited TechEdge to present.  You can find more information about Hudson Job Search at their website, http://www.hudsonjs.org/.

In other news, TechEdge LLC has joined the Greater Omaha Chamber!  Please visit their website at http://omahachamber.org/ and search for us under the Business Directory.

Finally, TechEdge is mentioned on Jesse Fewell’s “Moving Beyond Management” blog.  Kate Brown, one of our Consulting Parters, gave a presentation about “High Performing Teams”. Great job Kate!  You can view Mr. Fewell’s blog article at http://www.jessefewell.com/2010/04/21/it-wonderland-in-omaha/.

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