What if at your last innovation or strategy session the million dollar idea wasn’t said out loud? People are less likely to speak up and share their ideas if the environment doesn’t promote psychological safety.

RFN Academy contributor Felicia Johnson exposes the three biggest diversity and inclusion myths.

Some people might be hesitant to explore diversity and inclusion because they believe acknowledging difference is a divisive act that creates rifts and inequality when in fact, the very opposite is true. individuals are wanting more connection within their workplace.

Read this blog to dispel these myths and how diversity and inclusion can build value in your compnay.

In June 2022 we heard from Felicia Johnson of the Gatson Group. Felicia covered myths and facts about diversity and inclusion with insights into how both are key when it comes to creating more successful, sustainable and innovative workplaces. To find out how employee differences can be a business’s greatest strength, watch this instalment of RFN Academy’s Innovative Insights.

Visual language can keep a business plan, strategic plan or even common goals front and center. For most of us, after the planning session is complete the resulting document is filed away to be reviewed occasionally. Imagine if the plan was captured visually and lived on the wall or on your blotter for regular review.

What would it look like if you were “pre-forgiven” in your conversations? Would it change your approach? Would it improve conversations?

A pit crew demonstrates teamwork in a unique and very visual way. Ranging from a handful to a couple dozen people with a single purpose. It brings together multiple people with specialized skills and one shared goal.

Learn how your team can achieve similar purpose.

This month we heard from Martin Low and Leah Eggers of On Plane Consulting. Martin and Leah offered insights into the current recruitment and retention of talent. The pandemic has impacted many parts of our lives, especially for business owners. The current labor market is one area where old approaches are proving to be ineffective. To find out what techniques are working in today’s talent environment, watch this installment of RFN Academy’s Innovative Insights.

This session:

• Highlights the importance of recognizing top talent

• Will help you understand your employment brand

• Will help you understand the post-pandemic recruiting environment

• Show you the best way to retain your top talent

In November 2021 we heard from Joe Slatter, instructor of Introduction to Decision Dynamics – powered by Better Practice™. Joe will offer insight into his methodology that teaches teams to figure out what matters together, make better decisions faster and act together with grace and accountability. Joe calls this metacollaboration. Joe has worked with thousands of business owners and individuals to help their organizations improve self-leadership and work more effectively together.

This session will:

- Highlight the importance of cross-functional collaboration

- Explore ways to improve communication

- Understand ways to expedite team focus

- Determine next steps to better collaborate

What if you knew something really simple that would make continuous improvement easier?

Branding may seem like something only multi-nationals can afford to invest in. However, it is one of the least costly ways to build your business’s profile and gain market recognition.

COVID-19 has offered opportunities for companies to build their brand and improve consumer perception. Join Guillermo Mazier, Kim Powell and guest speaker Whitney Siemens of ChangeMakers: an Argyle company, as they offer some branding best practices and how to use this crisis to improve or build your brand.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the elements of a brand and why it matters to your business.

2. Discuss the value of a brand in times of crisis and some who have done well during COVID.

3. Learn how to impact the perception of your brand in the eyes of your customer.

4. Get a sense for what to avoid when managing and building your brand.

In this session, RFN Global founders Sean Hutchinson and Cindy Reid-Shelton Alistair Stewart, have a discussion about the concepts, practices and tools you can put to use immediately to build a re(launch) pad that provides the foundation for achieving escape velocity when the economy begins to recover.

Learning objectives:

1. Explore the “virtuous cycle” of P-D-C-A as an accelerant

2. Discover the value of innovating in a downturn

3. Learn how to simultaneously uncover risks and opportunities

4. Understand how to leverage open networks to move rapidly from high friction orbits to escape

You have an employment brand. Do you know what it is and why it matters to you today? No matter what your employment brand, it can determine how you accelerate your business out of the recession.

In this session Martin Low and Leah Eggers, founders of On Plane Consulting will discuss why it is critical that you understand your employment brand, communication strategies and how to build your team now so you are ready to accelerate out of today’s recession. Facilitated by Sean Hutchinson, RFN Global and RFN Academy Contributor.

Learning objectives:

1. Learn what an employment brand is and why it matters to your business.

2. Discuss your current employment brand and how your actions today can shape it.

3. Learn how to communicate with your team during a crisis and support laid off workers

4. Learn how to assess your current team for business continuity

In these times of uncertainty, leadership matters more than ever. This session will help you identify relevant and useful practices to set a course for a more “agile” approach to leadership. It includes choosing an optimistic attitude others can share, inviting real, creative conversations and supporting accountability and collaboration, while supporting leadership at all levels.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand why leadership matters more than ever in times of uncertainty

2. Identify useful practices that promote performance and resilience

3. Learn what leadership competencies deliver more impact on business results

Ready for Next - Accelerating out of a Recession

Session 1: Embracing Uncertainty

Joe Slatter, John Lazar and Janyce Fadden introduced and discussed ways of seeing and understanding our current environment.

Learning Objectives

1. Introduce and discuss ways of seeing and understanding our environment that are particularly well suited to volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times.

2. Explore ways to set goals and plan effectively in periods of uncertainty.

3. Learn from each other. What's working? What's not?