PEGGY KLAUS | Workplace Communication and Leadership Expert

Group Workshops & Keynotes

Our workshops and keynotes are custom-designed for experiential learning in communication skills and leadership development. You won't find boring overheads or flipcharts at any of our programs! Instead we utilize the interactive methods of role-playing scenarios, performance exercises, and video-taped segments—all followed by constructive critique. Peggy Klaus trains CEOs and managers from America's leading companies as well as celebrities, political candidates, attorneys, consultants, and media personalities. We can tailor any of the following programs to meet your organization’s needs or mix and match topic-area components to create a perfect content blend that will meet your goals and objectives.

NEW THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SOFT SKILLS
What’s the hard truth? It’s that soft skills can make or break your career! Recent studies show that careers fail or stall not because of a lack of technical or professional expertise—the hard skills—but rather because of a shortcoming in the soft skills arena. This high-energy, experiential workshop not only provides insights, but also strategies, tools, and techniques for improving your own soft skills repertoire. Depending on the needs of the group, this program can include topics such as managing the workload, handling critics, developing personal image, navigating office politics, and leading a team. Since soft skills are some of the hardest skills you’ll ever learn, don’t put off mastering them—or you’ll find yourself learning them the hard way!

PLEASE NOTE: This program can also be delivered as a Soft Serve Party for informal professional development programs such as lunch-and-learns and after-hours training. This fun and easy way of serving up the soft skills includes the same lively content, but with an extra twist—soft serve ice-cream tops off the event.
BRAG! THE ART OF TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN WITHOUT BLOWING IT™
Have you ever berated yourself for missing a golden opportunity to talk about yourself and your accomplishments because you were fearful of coming off as too showy or self-serving? Learn the art of tooting your own horn without blowing it so you can communicate your strengths and accomplishments without appearing too opportunistic, eager, egotistical, or self-aggrandizing. For most of us, brag is a four-letter word and self-promotion is about as comfortable as having a root canal. Find out how to overcome your reservations about bragging so you can comfortably sell yourself wherever you go—without feeling or sounding like a walking billboard.
RAISING YOUR EPQ: EXECUTIVE PRESENCE FOR EVERYONE
We have all met people with a high Executive Presence Quotient (EPQ). You know, the ones who exude confidence with a compelling combination of warmth and strength. So, why should you be projecting anything less with your own persona? This highly interactive workshop has shown thousands how to convey a more dynamic and authentic communication style in their interactions with clients, colleagues, bosses, employees, and the media. After assessing your own EPQ™, you will find out how to raise it using the tools of voice, body language and humor. Don’t check your personality at the door. Instead, learn how to combine style with substance to make a memorable impression with everyone you meet.
BRANDING YOUR BEST ASSET: YOU!
What do products, politicians and celebrities have in common? A brand that is readily identifiable and elicits a strong emotional response. In this competitive business environment, we all need to brand ourselves to differentiate who we are from the rest of the herd. Branding Your Best Asset: You! is a high-impact, interactive presentation during which participants learn the secret that winning companies and successful people have always known: Follow the laws of branding to capture the hearts and minds of every audience. For more on this topic, read Peggy's article, Branding: It's Not Just For Cows.
EXECUTIVE PRESENCE FOR WOMEN: TAKING YOUR PLACE AT THE CORPORATE TABLE
Why aren't American women being offered the corporate "C" jobs: CEO, CIO, or CFO? Stereotyping and preconceptions of their roles and abilities are what's holding them back, according to senior-level women in a recent study by the research group Catalyst. As well, male decision makers at the top misinterpret the natural difference in communication styles between genders as a lack of confidence, strength, and assertiveness in women. Executive Presence For Women: Taking Your Place At The Corporate Table combats these stereotypes and misconceptions by teaching participants to tap the best of themselves—both expertise and personality—to communicate with a compelling, authentic combination of warmth and strength.
NEW FROM COLD TO HOT: BUILDING BUSINESS THROUGH THE REFERRAL PROCESS
Warming up to referrals can eliminate the need for making those fruitless and much-dreaded cold calls ever again. Unfortunately, though, most people fear they will appear pushy or self-serving if they ask their already satisfied customers to provide an introduction to a friend, colleague, or relative. Yet that’s exactly what they need to do, given that more than 90 percent of buyers say they never respond to unsolicited contact. As with any other marketing tool that’s intended to improve the bottom line, an effective referral process requires creating a specific strategy. From Cold To Hot will teach you to do just that by showing you how to analyze your client list, identify the best potential referrals, create appropriate ice-breakers, explain your offerings in interesting and impactful ways, and manage the follow-up phase. Learn how to gain the new business you want by leveraging the goodwill of the clients you already have.
SCHMOOZING & CRUISING IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE
You might be one of those people who hates the idea of needing to schmooze in and out of the office in order to get ahead. You might be someone who abhors going to those tedious networking events. Well maybe you’ll never love those business networking events, but at least you don’t need to dread them anymore (or worse yet, get nothing more out of them than a watered down gin and tonic with a cheese puff). Learn the tricks and tools that will make networking less uncomfortable and ensure that you get the results you want and need. Schmoozing & Cruising is a quick and fun way to gain new skills that will help you succeed in both your professional and personal life.
BRAGGING THROUGH DIVERSITY
Whether you are an African American woman or an East Indian man, some combination of cultural stereotypes and bragging myths are sure to get in your way while climbing the ladder to success. And although the workplace grows more diverse each day, the truth remains that the upper echelons of the business world are still largely dominated by white males. Bragging Through Diversity delivers the self-promotion skills needed to climb past both internal misconceptions about bragging and external stereotypes about differences. By learning to “toot your own horn” with style and grace, everyone can make themselves seen, heard and valued for their accomplishments—rather than being judged by the assumptions of others. For more on this topic, read Peggy’s article, Connecting Through Diversity.
BRAG! CONNECTIONS CORPORATE OUTREACH
Offering companies and organizations the opportunity to build positive relationships with the employees and consumers of the future, this cross-generational program expands the popular BRAG! line-up into the realm of corporate outreach by pairing aspiring teens or disadvantaged young adults with seasoned corporate workers to learn critical networking and self-promotion job skills. The Early Show on CBS recently featured a Brag Connections program held at the Manhattan offices of event sponsor JP Morgan Chase during which 80 high-school girls were matched with members of 100 Women In Hedge Funds. Learn more.
MAKING THE PERFECT PITCH
You may have an incredible idea, the best product, or the most dynamic company in the world. But without a compelling marketing monologue that excites the audience about what you and your company offer, you'll miss the target. Whether presenting to clients, the boss, investors, or the person sitting next to you on an airplane, versatile presentation techniques are needed to build credibility and ensure a winning delivery. This hands-on workshop is designed to keep you out of the bullpen and on the mound, pitching a perfect game with no walks and no errors.
GOOD NEWS: THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO GIVE BAD NEWS
No one likes to give bad news, but sooner or later each of us is stuck with the job. Whether it's delivering messages about corporate downsizing, negative performance reviews, or a non-existent year-end bonus, it can be done with compassion and authority through careful planning and by developing active listening and responding techniques. You may never like giving bad news, but at least you can learn to do it better.
WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
When the circumstances are tense and the stakes are high, how do you "say your piece" while keeping the relationship in one piece? No matter how much you wish uncomfortable or hostile situations would disappear, they rarely do. Find out how to become an advocate for your position in a non-judgmental manner. Learn how to really listen to opposing views so you can keep those boxing gloves in the closet.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE...(OF COURSE, WE DON'T MEAN YOU!)
If you have ever fantasized about hiring Gilligan to send your boss, colleague, or client to a remote island, this workshop provides the techniques needed to handle the various personality types that can make you feel like "going postal" at work (or even at home). Exploders, Charmers, Wet Blankets, and Know-it-Alls can be dealt with simply and effectively after learning how to control your reactions and improve your own communication style.
WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Linguists, psychologists, and sociologists agree that women and men have developed very different styles of communication which have been labeled "genderspeak." Studies show that the vast majority of us exhibit these gender-based traits in both verbal and non-verbal communication. This workshop helps participants enhance their own capacities for bridging the gender gap by exploring the similarities and differences in how men and women communicate.
MEET THE PRESS
Richard Nixon was known to sweat profusely—and for a reason! If you've ever stood in front of a group of rabid reporters, you know just how frightening it can be. When faced with that kind of performance pressure, make the most of the medium by crafting a clear and succinct message with sound bites that won't allow the meaning to be misconstrued on camera or in print. Learn to present your image and words in the best light while volleying questions with reporters.