MBA’s 2025 Virtual Conference on Effective Leadership and Management

 

A “Flexible Schedule” Conference for Executives and Managers July 1 – July 31, 2025 $85 per webinar or $350 for all 5 Webinars

The goals of MBA’s 2025 Virtual Conference on Effective Leadership and Management is to provide executives, managers and upper-level supervisors with quality training that is realistic, reliable, and relevant to their jobs in a “flexible schedule” format that fits in the schedule of busy leaders and managers. In order to provide training which fits in the schedule of busy leaders and managers, each webinar will be offered on a Tuesday and repeated live on Thursday of the same week. Participants may choose which sessions they attend for each of the webinars for which they register.

$350 for all 5 Sessions.

$85.00 for individual sessions.

 

Conference Agenda Each Webinar is scheduled from 2 pm to 4 pm Central Time

July 1 & 3: “Lead Like a Coach, Not a Referee” presented by Mel Brown, Ph.D.

According to a recent survey by Development Dimensions International (DDI), a global human resource consulting firm, more than half of U. S. employees said their boss is a referee instead of a coach. During this webinar, participants will explore the roles of a coach and of a referee and how the role of each impacts the members of the team and the outcome of the game. Those who actively participate in this webinar will be able to:

1. Describe the expertise of a coach and the expertise of a referee,

2. Explain the difference between the focus of a coach and a referee,

3. Contrast the reactions to a team members mistake by those who lead like a coach from those who lead like a referee,

4. Promote trust and empower employees to take ownership of their work, and

5. Foster a more supportive and growth-oriented environment, leading to better team performance and employee engagement.

 

July 8 & 10: “Conflict Resolution and Conversations: Managing disputes and fostering a culture of openness and problem solving” by Greg Sumpter, Ph.D.

According to an international survey, seven out of ten employees (70%) see managing conflict as a “very” or “critically” important leadership skill, while 54% of employees think managers could handle disputes better by addressing underlying tensions before things go wrong. Participants who actively participate in this webinar and correctly apply the principles and practices taught will be able to:

1. Decide when to have a difficult conversation,

2. Demonstrate skills in managing disputes and having difficult conversations,

3. Facilitate difficult conversations between others, and

4. Create a culture of openness and problem solving where even tough conversations can flourish.

 

July 15 & 17: “Say What you Mean and Mean What you Say: Getting Staff to Understand and Support your Message” by Ken Maaz, Ed.D.

Research consistently shows that effective communication is crucial for workplace success, impacting everything from productivity and employee satisfaction to conflict resolution and overall company culture. Specifically, it highlights a strong link between miscommunication and negative outcomes like misunderstandings, confusion, and even mistakes, highlighting the need for open and clear communication channels. During this session we will explore how to clearly communicate with your staff, improve your message by listening to your staff, and how to make sense of it all. Afterward you should be able to:

1. Clearly identify the message you want to send.

2. Articulate that message.

3. Use staff ideas, suggestions, and even resistance to enhance the quality of communication.

4. Explain why attempts at communication often fail.

5. Explain how to make sense of every situation, whether mundane or uniquely exciting or concerning. 6. Assess the effectiveness of your communication with staff.

 

July 22 & 24: “Navigating Change and Uncertainty: Techniques for Leading Teams Through Organizational Changes and Uncertainty” by Mel Brown, Ph.D.

Research indicates that navigating change and uncertainty, while challenging, can also lead to opportunities for growth, innovation, and resilience. Understanding the impact of change on individuals and organizations, and developing effective strategies for managing it, is crucial for success in today’s dynamic environment. During this workshop, participants will explore techniques for leading teams through organizational change and uncertainty and Dr. Brown, who in his career, sought leadership positions in dysfunctional organizations, will share some of his experiences in “remodeling” organizations and dealing with uncertainty. As a result of correctly applying the concepts and techniques taught in this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Describe methods of leading effectively in times of uncertainty,

2. Facilitate positive change within an organization to improve effectiveness, address issues, and drive forward organizational goals

3. Guide individuals and teams through changes while ensuring that the changes are aligned with the organization’s values

 

July 29 & 31: “Helping Staff Become All they can Be – Resilient, Motivated, and Maximum Achievers” by Ken Maaz, Ed.D.

With so much change and uncertainty affecting workplaces globally, it can be easy to forget that employees are at the center of any organization’s success. It is imperative that we help Staff become All they can Be – Resilient, Motivated, and Maximum Achievers. During this session we will learn how to help staff face challenges bravely, learn from mistakes, want to do a good job, and remain motivated to excel for their own benefit, the benefit of the organization, and most importantly to further the organization’s mission. When completing this session, you should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of and value of resilience of every situation, whether mundane or uniquely exciting or concerning.

2. Document what gets in the way of staff succeeding and confidently mitigate those obstacles.

3. Explain the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and how to get the best out of staff who are driven by either one.

4. Explain the difference between Transformational and Transactional leadership methods and how to use them,

5. Help staff become emotionally intelligent, and 6. Create a stronger team composed of stronger team members.