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IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

We offer a variety of government training workshops across 6 workforce development learning categories (see below). Your government training is designed to improve individual and organizational performance. Your government training is customized to your learning objectives and agency’s culture (visit Meeting Planners to learn more). Your government training is actionable with specific takeaways and Smart Exercises customized to your participants. And every government training offers a safe and fun learning experience.

EXPERIENCED GOVERNMENT WORKSHOP TRAINERS

Ira Koretsky

CEO | Founder | Army Veteran

Sylvia Baffour

Trainer | Workshop Facilitator

Ira Koretsky, CEO of The Chief Storyteller® and US Army veteran, combines his business acumen, public speaking experience, facilitation expertise, training skills, improvisational comedy background, and storytelling skills to ensure your program is educational, engaging, and actionable (customers, past performance/success stories, video clips, and testimonials).

Ira and Sylvia Baffour, your government training facilitators, have worked with more than a dozen local, state, Federal, and international government agencies from around the world. They have presented to front line professionals to SES leadership. To learn more about their approach and delivery style for your government workshop, visit Meeting Planner and Video Clips pages.

Ira’s specialty is helping leaders and experts simplify the complex, especially when the stakes are high. Ira is also a US Army Veteran, where he was both a PAO and CIO in Healthcare IT. Sylvia’s specialty is helping you achieve peak performance by improving the way you and your organization leap beyond its barrier with emotional intelligence. Sylvia has lived in 10 countries and speaks five languages.

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

  • Before/After.  Your government training facilitators work with selected participants, one-on-one, in advance of your program. First, they will apply the tools and techniques to a specific situation(s) you select.  Second, they will develop a new After (e.g., presentation, story, and gateway question). And third, during your government training program, they will compare and contrast the Before and After, step-by-step.
  • Hands-on Coaching. Ira/Sylvia will work one-on-one or in teams, providing specific coaching and hands-on support after your program to reinforce the learning and help to accelerate your team’s leadership and communication effectiveness.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEARNING TOPICS

Below are 6 accordion/windows listing the workshop titles. Press [+] to expand and [-] to close.

1 Storytelling

  • You to the Power of Story: Awaken the Storytelling Giant in You
  • Leaders to the Power of Story™  (Storytelling for Leaders)
  • Scientists & Engineers to the Power of Story   (Storytelling for Scientists & Engineers)
  • Project Managers to the Power of Story  (Storytelling for Project Managers)

2 Leadership Communication

  • Leaders to the Power of Story  (Storytelling for Leaders)
  • The Language of Leadership: Inspire and Influence with Your Words, Body, and Voice
  • Executive Presence: Dramatically Improve Your Clarity, Comfort, and Confidence
  • Voice of Leadership: How Effective Leaders Succeed without Managing
  • Resilience and Flexibility:  Peak Performance in the Face of Change

3 Presentation & Public Speaking

PRESENTATION

PUBLIC SPEAKING

  • Speak Like TED:  5 Strategies to become as Inspiring as the World’s Top Speakers
  • Speak Like TED for Scientists and Techies
  • Become a Confident and Compelling Public Speaker (focus is on delivery/public speaking)
  • Public Speaking to the Power of Story:  Storytelling for Public Speakers

4 Culture & Organizational Communication

  • “What Do You Do?” How to Develop a “Wow! Tell Me More” 30-Second Mission Statement/Story (Elevator Pitch)
  • Internal Communications to the Power of Story  (Storytelling for Internal Communications)
  • Training to the Power of Story  (Storytelling for Trainers & Facilitators)
  • Customer Service to the Power of Story  (Maintaining a Culture of Exceptional Customer Service)
  • Culture to the Power of Story  (Build Stronger Organizational Culture through Better Storytelling)
  • Agency to the Power of Story:  How to Become a (Much) Better Storytelling Agency

5 General Communication Skills

  • No More “But”Heads:  Build Stronger Workplace Relationships with Positive Words and Body Language
  • “Yes And:” How to Use Improvisational Humor Techniques to Improve Your Effectiveness
  • Inspire and Succeed with Emotional Intelligence
  • Peak Performing Teams that Consistently Win
  • Treat Everyone Like a CEO

6 Social Media

  • Social Media to the Power of Story:  Unleash the Power of Social Media Storytelling
  • LinkedIn to the Power of Story:  Build and Maintain a “I Want to Know More” LinkedIn Profile
  • Thought Leadership to the Power of Story  (Storytelling for Thought Leaders)

COMPANY DATA

ENGAGEMENTS

  • Credit Cards welcomed
  • Micro-purchase engagements welcomed

PRIMARY NAICS

611430 – Prof. & Mgmt Development Training
541613 – Marketing Consulting Services

SUPPORTING NAICS

541611 – Admin. Mgmt & General Mgmt Consulting Svcs
541612 – Human Resources Consulting Services
541618 – Other Mgmt Consulting Svcs
541820 – PR Agencies
541890 – Other Svcs Related to Advertising
541910 – Mktg Research & Public Opinion Polling
541990 – All Other Prof., Sci., & Technical Svcs

PAST PERFORMANCE

– Helped the Library of Congress become the Federal government procurement Executive Agent for over $515M in information products (read more)
– Developed a unified set of communication materials for the CDC, helping secure millions of dollars in funding for much needed programs (read more)
– Additional past performance

One of the most important aspects to the success of the program were the pre-interviews. Ira spent time with each participant getting to know them and getting to know their important issues. When it came time for Ira to conduct the training, his research was appreciated by everyone in the room. His examples, stories, and exercises were are all customized to my team’s needs and what I wanted the learning opportunities to be. Over the past few months, I have seen positive changes in our team effectiveness due to his training program and my executive team’s reinforcement of the key takeaways.

Employee (name withheld)United States Federal Government

Your executive storytelling program was the key reason I chose to attend the overall event. In fact, it was somewhat of a life altering experience for me! I thoroughly enjoyed and valued your teaching moments and wisdom. You not only shared excellent insight but you made it interesting and fun! I recognize how critical this skill is to ensure I am a more influential leader primarily for my organization’s and team’s sake.

Juanita W.United States Federal Government

I was in Ira’s session at VETS2015 and could not leave the room! Everyone hung on to every word. I said to myself, “I need to get Ira to speak at my other conferences!” We did. Ira was fantastic, again! Attendees hung on every word (again). He delivered his messages on better communications and storytelling while challenging them in a good way. Ira ended his keynote with his “Treat Everyone Like A CEO” exercise — a BIG hit. To see 950 people laughing, smiling, and communicating created a very positive atmosphere and set the tone for the rest of the conference. Ira hit “a home run.”

Earl MorganDepartment of Energy, Conference Manager

Ira has a unique and captivating way of looking at how organizations communicate–what they are doing today and what they should be doing. He engaged our participants with relevant ideas and made very practical suggestions that we could all use the next day.

Pete K.United States Federal Government

We had this excellent program inside our agency that was designed to improve the health of communities/cities across the United States. After conducting telephone calls and visiting cities, we came to realize that neither our organization story or messages were compelling. The Chief Storyteller partnered with our team to help us develop a unified set of communication materials that would inspire both the community leaders and leaders within our agency. Within just six months, we had everything we needed! And within a year, we were able to secure several millions of dollars in additional funding to help new and existing programs.

Lewis B.United States Federal Government

That was a great joy being on Mr. Koretsky’s lecture “Three Steps to Tell Your Business Story” in Tbilisi, Georgia. The whole story told by him was so friendly, easy-going and well understandable. It brought me great pleasure. I suppose that the confidence and the knowledge came to him during his tremendous experience (speaking from the age of 15—wow!!) and I am very thankful to him and the whole CRDF organization for this very enjoyable conference.

Levan Shanidze, M.D.Neurosurgeon, Tbilisi City Hospital after Acad. O. Gudushauri, Tbilisi, Georgia

This is the first time in my 20-plus year career that a keynote speaker has ever called me to learn about what I do.

Tim L.United States Federal Government

Thanks again for supporting our event. I got some enjoyment seeing a few of our speakers over the next couple of days, using some of your suggestions.

Steve C.United States Federal Government

Photography Sources: Capitol, White House, Supreme Court all sourced Wikipedia
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