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B&I Session Descriptions

Session Descriptions

A.  Economic Update | Chris Kuehl

This is a very current assessment of the US economy at the time of the presentation and a forward-looking analysis of trends to watch.

Credit: 2 CPE (Economics)

B. AI is changing the world...  How will it change the future of business, your security, and your life?  Practical applications vs. Hype. | Zac Paulson

Its no secret that AI is changing the way we approach our business and personal lives.  Some good, some bad, but it is changing nonetheless.  This session will explore how people are using it to enhance their personal and professional lives, serve employees and clients better, and how it impacts our privacy and security.  

Sort through the hype, ask questions, and learn from an industry expert, and discover some things about AI you may have never given thought too.

Zac Paulson, a technologist and entrepreneur, with over 20 years in the tech space, will bring his perspective on AI and how technology has impacted business and personal over the last generation.

Credit: 2 CPE (Information Technology)

C. Creating High Levels of Internal & External Buy-In --> understanding the ways that buy-in happens to change actionsKevin Miiller

Leaders and managers want to attract, retain and motivate their teams. Appreciation is a key to accomplishing these goals. A People First mindset will transform your organizational culture, enabling you to compete for high quality individuals even if your pay is currently below market value. As retention improves and motivation kicks in, so will sales, profitability, customer retention, and fundraising.

Many have heard of the 5 love languages, but most never think about speaking another person’s “language of appreciation.” How hard can it be to appreciate someone? Many times, we don’t give it a second thought, but we should. Many leaders appreciate their team members in the same way they want to be appreciated, which can actually backfire. Organizations also tend to appreciate their employees in ways that are less effective and at a much higher cost.

When we combine knowing the types of appreciation with understanding how people want to be appreciated and add in consideration for generational differences in appreciation, we begin to maximize the impact of our appreciation efforts. Here’s a secret: Often the most impactful appreciation tactics involve no money. Those in management are usually the most impacted by retention issues, and with a few changes in appreciation, they can boost retention and morale.

Credit: 2 CPE (Personnel/Human Resources)

D.   Appreciation To Attract, Retain, and Motivate --> the importance of appreciation, the different types, and common mistakes  |   Kathy Miiller

In these difficult economic times of workforce shortages and tight budgets, organizations must maximize the effort and motivation of their workforce. Smart leaders know that one of the best ROI for their workforce is to increase team motivation and effort. A 10% increase in effort is like hiring 10% more staff for free, but the real key is combining that with buy-in. If we can maximize effort with buy-in, oftentimes that 10% doesn’t require working longer hours.

From private businesses to government entities, viewing the organization through the eyes of sales helps people understand the power of buy-in and the process for gaining it. Every person in an organization has a unique perspective and speaks a different language, and that includes how we view change. Leaders often miss golden opportunities to gain buy-in because they try to simply use their position of power to push motivation. Long term, this common mistake inevitably backfires, stress levels rise, creativity drops, and people duck under the radar.

Credit: 2 CPE (Personnel/Human Resources)