Reflection ~ Findings and Evaluation Comments from Business Works workshops for Schools Insurance Authority Professionals held in Sacramento, CA, Half Day Workshops.

Instructor: Joe Tassinari​

​Reflection is offered to give power to voice, to promote understanding among team members and bring light to the  findings from the workshops.

REFLECTION – SIA, Prevention Team Workshops: 

"Managing Time and Self"
Tuesday January 31, 2017
"Strengths Building as a Team"
Tuesday June 7, 2016

Findings – "Managing Time and Self"

Links

Einstein's Spacetime
​Read what other groups said makes a positive co-worker

One reason each participant is a positive co-worker:​

• Good listener
• Helps build unity
• Available to others
• Humor
• Open mind, finds humor
• Checks in with others before and after presentations
• Sarcastic humor
• Open, approachable
• Open to new ideas
• Laid back
• Approachable

​Some of the time management proficiencies of participants:
(as revealed during opening interviews)

• Plans out weekly meals each Sunday
• Deals with mail right away
• Prioritizes well
• Juggling multiple responsibilities
• Task lists & prioritize
• Has an “exit zone” by the door
• Uses a calendar
• Plans ahead with a projects
• Use an outline
• Batches Tasks​

Evaluation Comments – "Managing Time and Self"

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• A different perspective on how to think of time management – how can I manage myself?!
• Taking time to look at our team and ourselves. Looking at what we do well. Sharing strengths & ideas for time management. Looking at ways to improve.
• Strengths include awesome presenter, Joe, enabling our group to connect with one another, while helping us acknowledge our strengths; ultimately engulfing or weaknesses.
• I like that we all came with an open mind which helped be honest & open with each other. Laughter also helps 😄
• Taking time to review what we do right and how we can build upon it. I valued the ideas shared in the self-management most because it put an emphasis on attitude rather than skill.
• •Reconnecting with the group. Don't always see. • Realizing some different ways to manage my time better. • Reflecting & connecting my strength(s) to my time management needs or skills.
• The strengths of the course were learning things that we do well w/ regard to time management & then opportunities (∆) that we can improve on.
• Learning strategies to balance your well being.
• The activities with the group encourage communication with our coworkers make me feel closer to my team. The reflection at the end is always nice to have someone her something good about each other.

​How could this workshop be improved?

• More time possibly?
• Strategies maybe others take to organize their thoughts to improve self management.
• Maybe a bit longer … another hour or two.
• Setting specific goals before we leave.
• Nothing comes to mind. You always know how to pinpoint each topic and balance the subjects well.
• N/A
• Share out time for "ahas" that others might have had in Time Management Inventory.

​How will you apply what you learned?

• – As a strategy, do a "quick clean" of a file if it needs it while I'm in it. – Know and value each day that I did valuable deeds (even if stuff didn't get done).
• I will take one (∆) [improvement] and begin implementing it. And refer back to my cards on occasion for further inspiration.
• Trying to apply self management I need to improve on at least once a month.
• I will continue to look at what I do well first in order to solidify what I may need to improve on. Creating a positive mind frame will help everything else I want to improve on.
• I hope to reflect on this and use it at home as well as @ SIA. Want to model for my daughter.
• I am going to take the couple of items I want to improve on and focus on those n the coming weeks. I usually take on too much and then get distracted so the ideas from today will help me.
• Focus on what needs to be changed and work on that day by day. Be more positive vs. direct, breathe a bit more & smile more 😊
• Stay focused on what's going well for strength to tackle how I want to be better; to better community as a whole.
• Ad a few tasks that were shared during the class. Continue to do the things well & improve along the way.

End of 1/31/17 Reflection SIA Prevention Team
reflections from other workshops       contact instructor Joe Tassinari

Business Works
Building Peaceful Places

Findings – "Strengths Building as a Team"

Links

Positivity lights up 5 brain learning centers
It's smart to be positive at work
Read what other groups said makes a positive co-worker

One reason each participant is a positive co-worker:

• Curious & interested
• Positive influence
• Respectful
• Approachable & happy
• Supportive 
• Follows through
• Likes seeing good in others
• Reliable
• Positive & upbeat
• Dedicated                                                             Joe with mentee, Markham Middle School, 2009

What is StrenghtsFinder 2.0 (as stated by 2 table groups)

• Self assessment to build a stronger team.
• Evidence-based tool to help focus on strengths.

Team Member Strengths

Amanda Context Relator Consistency Analytical Competition Deborah Achiever Learner Competition Restorative Connectedness Eric Harmony Empathy Context Restorative Analytical Lisa Input Responsibility Consistency Restorative Adaptability Lita Deliberative Command Competition Focus Achiever

Lyn Responsibility Learner Context Empathy Developer Marshall Adaptability Achiever Intellection Responsibility Focus   Michele Ideation Maximizer Strategic Learner Achiever   Teresa Relator Empathy Harmony Learner Developer

Evaluation Comments – "Strengths Building as a Team"

What were the strengths of the course? What did you value most?

• For me it was making me aware of my co-workers' strengths and how I can help them to grow. Along with how I can draw upon these strengths to help the department & myself.
• Strengths knowledge of self & others, time together as a group. Take-aways for future. Everyone participating & sharing.
• Strength of the course include Joe Tassinari's (Instructor) presentation of the material. The flow of the material coverage, breakout exercises, and group involvement were strong. I valued learning about the strengths of myself and others in my department.
• The focus on strengths rather than our weaknesses was a key point for me today. I appreciated learning how to adapt what we learned into a practical application. I also appreciated the opportunity for the group to share and be open.
• I valued the team building aspect the most. Learning about each of my colleagues was very rewarding.
• Great interactive activities. I valued getting to know my co-workers . Time allowed to read and work through the exercises helped me gain greater clarity.
• Thank You!!! The focus on our talents and learning how that directly impacts our jobs as individuals & as a team/department. Joe was exceptional in his delivery of this information making it relevant yet most enjoyable!
• Joe was the strength of the course. Didn't focus just on the book, but used his own knowledge to guide his teachings. I valued learning so much about my co-workers, I feel closer to them than I ever have. Thank you!
• The practicality of the presentation. How what I see as a negative personality is a positive to others.

How could this course be improved?

• Couldn't ask for better. Great job!!!
• n/a Maybe clarifying tasks more to help the flow of the day … less speed bumps?
• Perhaps a follow-up session to evaluate how we are using this information.
• I was a bit confused with some of the instruction of the first exercise sheet and how I could support my co-worker.
• I don't have any improvement suggestions. I liked the timing of the class and I appreciated the chance for our own reflection.
• Maybe just a little more direction on the "Positive Attribute & How It Connects To My 5 Strengths" handout.
• N/A
• Be held in a raft going down the river ​ Seriously, I don't think it could be done any better – it was awesome!

How will you apply what you learned?

• I am excited to use this in work & private life, esp. with my 8 year old daughter. After reading this book, I was so excited to start guiding my daughter toward her "talents" instead of her focusing on her "challenges." I am looking toward the positive from now on.
• I will continue to learn about the strengths of others & share information with our district members so they can learn too.
• Utilizing the material in a manner that will encourage me to research the material and reflect upon activities that impacted me the most.
• I look forward to better utilizing the strengths of our team and the opportunity to have each member shine even more.
• I will be reflecting on each of my colleagues strengths as well as my own and figuring out the best way to build up each other.
• Make sure we have visual images around our department of each other's strengths; "speak" in strengths so that we get to know and understand each other's strengths.
• I am eager to look to our department's strengths when working on different tasks – so that our outcome can be even more successful. Even applying this knowledge in my other job as well as family relationships – holds value to me.
• I want to take everything I have learned and pay it forward to my relationships at home.
• Using the strengths of others to help better myself or utilize them in tasks I need help with.

Participants: Amanda, Lita, Lyn, Lisa, Eric, Marshall, Michele, Deborah, Teresa

End of 6/7/16 Reflection SIA Prevention Team
reflections from other workshops       contact instructor Joe Tassinari

Business Works
Building Positive Places