"...Up to 42% of an Employees Time is Spent Engaging in or Resolving Conflict"*

Managers and employees competent, confident and comfortable in their communication and conflict management skills can close that gaping hole in organizational profitability.

(PRWEB) May 15, 2005 -- On June 1 & 2, 2005, Optimize! Institute comes to the Sandman Inn Downtown Vancouver with six focused 3-hour seminars on communication, conflict and anger management, negotiation, and networking for executives, entrepreneurs and employees.

The report, "The Costs of Organizational Conflict" (Organization Development Journal, Fall 1984), indicates that ...over 65% of performance problems in the workplace result from strained relationships between employees..." Additionally, Many managers spend almost a third of their time dealing with conflict." (Managers As Negotiators", 1996)

No one can afford this. It is wildly expensive in every way. That valuable time must be recouped for progress, productivity and profits," says Dr. Rhoberta Shaler, Founder and CEO of California-based Optimize! Institute.

No newcomer to resolving conflict Dr. Shaler, a Canadian currently living in San Diego, is a professional speaker, facilitator and executive coach with over twenty-five years experience in teaching people to 'play nicely together in the company sandbox. Her seventh book, Wrestling Rhinos: Conquering Conflict in the Wilds of Work, has been hailed as an instant classic... essential in any business library."

Shaler says, ...an untalked-about issue is like having a rhinoceros in your office. It is taking up space, coming between people and making the atmosphere generally unpleasant. An untamed rhino can charge unpredictably at any minute, keeping everyone anxious, stressed and unproductive." Getting the skills to 'wrestle rhinos takes the pain out of being close and the results achieved by teams and leaders armed with the right techniques and strategies for preventing, diffusing, and repairing conflict and communication gaps in an organization can dramatically, and positively, impact your bottom line.

Optimize! Institute Vancouver is June 1 & 2, 2005 at the Sandman Inn Downtown Vancouver, 180 W. Georgia Street. The program of six 3-hour seminars is: 'Say What You Mean: Effective Communication Skills, 'Managing Conflict Productively Without Losing Clients, Colleagues or Credibility, 'How to Make An Entrance and Work A Room, 'Managing Difficult People Productively, 'How to Negotiate Anything With Anyone, Anytime, and 'Dont Tell Me to Calm Down! Registration and details are online at www.OptimizeInstitute.com or call 1.760.735.8686.

*("Managers as Negotiators", Leadership Quarterly, 7(1), 1996).

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