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Development Puzzle
Contact
Lara Herter, Program Coordinator
lherter@gulfcoast.edu
850.873.3583

Professional Development Classes

Hard skills look great on a resume, are easily taught, and can be learned and perfected over time. Soft skills have become a hot topic, and highly desired ability for employees and customers demand it. Career Builder reported 67% of HR managers to say they’d hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if hard skills are lacking. The gift of being able to relate to others and convey positive feelings makes any environment peaceful and dynamic simultaneously.

“It challenged self-reflection. The instructor was transparent, real, and raw – relatable real-life scenarios. Professionally done with great life-changing tools for professional and personal growth.” Former soft skills student

Communications Strategies

This workshop is designed to help you improve your interactions with other people in your workplace or at home. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance the critical communication skills of listening, asking questions, and being aware of nonverbal messages. This workshop can also help participants who are struggling to find that middle ground between being too aggressive and too passive, and how to counter the manipulative tactics of people who are difficult.  Participants also learn more about the elements of communication with others that help reveal appropriate information about ourselves, and how to get a handle on managing ourselves for a professional image.


Conflict Resolution

Everyone experiences conflict. We argue with our spouses, disagree with our friends, and sometimes even quarrel with strangers at a hockey game. At times, we lose sight of the fact that conflict can be healthy. So long as people are individuals, there will be the potential for conflict. Since you can’t prevent conflict, the most important thing is to learn how to handle or manage it in productive ways. What is critical for resolving conflict is developing an understanding of, and trust in, shared goals. It requires openness, discipline, and creativity. Showing respect for other people and not blaming them enables people to work for mutual benefit. These are the skills that you will develop in this workshop.


Getting Stuff Done - Time Management

Why are there so many different organizational systems and time management methods out there? The answer is simple: it’s like any other personal challenge, like weight loss or money management. There is no simple, one size fits all answer. You must build a solution that works for you. Over the course of this workshop, we will explore various time management and organizational tools and techniques so that you can build a customized productivity plan for your personal and professional lives. At the end of the course, you will emerge with a plan that works for you, so that you can start regaining control of your life!


Managing Anger IN THE Workplace

Anger is a universal experience and controlling, as well as, limiting anger in the workplace is essential. Without control, it can be an incredibly damaging force, costing people their jobs. However, individuals, organizations, and societies fall short managing anger productively. The customer service agent who can defuse the angry customer not only keeps a customer loyal but makes a day less troublesome, too. This workshop is designed to help you learn the skills that can be used in the workplace, as well as, everyday living. Since everyone experiences anger, having a constructive approach to manage it effectively can turn it into a valuable asset. 


Business Etiquette - Gaining the Edge

In today’s world, business demands more than keeping your nose to the grindstone and your ear to the ground. You need business savvy and the ability to establish yourself credibly. A faux pas at the wrong time can damage your career. If you are newly appointed to a management position, or if you interact with people you don’t know on a regular basis, this workshop can help you succeed. If you want to enhance and polish your business image, or if you just want to avoid feeling uncomfortable in the corporate world, this workshop will allow you to take a quantum leap forward in skill, sophistication, and confidence.


Change and How to Deal With it

Managers traditionally have had the task of contributing to the effectiveness of their organization while maintaining high morale. Today, these roles often have to be balanced with the reality of implementing changes imposed by senior management. Managers who have an understanding of the dynamics of change are better equipped to analyze the factors at play in their own particular circumstances, and to adopt practical strategies to deal with resistance. This one-day workshop will help you deal with change and will give you strategies to bring back to your employees.


Closing the Generation Gap in the Workplace

Currently, five generations are in the workforce, and employers face mass retirements of Baby Boomers while looking for ways to prepare for the changes that will result. This course examines the history and reality of the generation gap. This course explores whether defining the actual limits of each generation is most important, or whether the merits of people within the context of employment is the bigger issue. Understanding others helps us to understand ourselves and to manage the people that we work with. We will explore problems, solutions, and strategies to help overcome issues of the generation gap.


Managing Emotional Intelligence

The human mind is wired to connect to others. This course examines how everyday social and emotional interactions drive the behavior of others actions and decisions along a continuum. Understanding self-management offers students the opportunity to become better leaders, educators, executives, parents, and mentors.


Public Speaking - Own it!

The difference between owning the room during a presentation and being forgettable is determined by two factors: Your content and your delivery. This class will teach students how to organize and formulate content, eliminate those nervous habits, get rid of filler language, have the right physical presence, and deliver the message with conviction--captivate the audience.


The Power of Personal Branding

No matter how skilled a person is, how experienced, or how much they love what they do, if a person or business does not have a presence, they will not be recognized, and they will continue to struggle with meeting their goals. Learn how to communicate intentionally unique value through intentional strategies that are both natural and effective.

Online Education

Not able to attend our on-campus classes? GCSC Continuing Education offers a variety of online classes to fit into your schedule. Customize your learning environment and schedule while boosting your career advancement opportunities!

Achieving Success with Difficult People

Learn how to have more successful relationships with difficult bosses, co-workers, students, neighbors, or relatives. This course will teach you how to see things from others viewpoints based on their needs, values, beliefs, experiences, skills, knowledge, and self-interests. By the time you finish this course, you will understand that assertiveness involves taking responsibility when meeting your needs in a way that preserves the dignity and rights of others.

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Building Teams That Work

What are the secrets to managing successful teams in the workplace? Explore communication techniques and problem-solving skills that will help you get your team on track in no time. This course provides you with communication, problem-solving and leadership skills to keep your team on the right track and real-life scenarios that will help you master successful team-building and management.

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Fundamentals or Supervision and Management

Learn the people skills required to motivate and delegate, and learn tools for solving problems and resolving conflicts. Become a more effective manager by learning the language of business management. This course provides skills in managing time, delegating responsibility, motivating your employees, solving problems and resolving conflicts so you can accomplish your job more effectively.

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Individual Excellence

Master 12 career enhancing skills including goal setting, time management, personal organization, creativity, financial matters, and conflict resolution. This course will help you achieve individual excellence by developing a fulfilling career plan and gaining the skills to improve all your interpersonal relationships.

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Leadership

Gain the respect and admiration of others by developing your leadership skills. Even if you're not working in a leadership role, this course will teach you how to use the principles of great leaders to achieve success in your professional and personal life.

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Skills for Making Great Decisions

Learn how to make excellent everyday decisions from an experienced counselor and life coach. This course will help you discover how to effectively deal with crisis, how to use your emotions as decision-making tools, and how to work with others to make the most of every opportunity.

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Soft Skills Suite

Want to brush up on your soft skills? This suite of courses teaches everything from working with tough personalities to making better business decisions. Sessions include:  Achieving Success with Difficult People, Interpersonal Communication, Skills for Making Great Decisions, and Individual Excellence.

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Gulf Coast State College does not discriminate against any person in its programs, activities, policies or procedures on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. All questions or inquiries regarding compliance with laws relating to non-discrimination and all complaints regarding sexual misconduct or discrimination, may be directed to Lee Wood, Executive Director, Human Resources/Title II/504/Title IX Coordinator and Employment Equity Officer, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. US Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401.