Managing Chaos: Tools to Set Priorities and Make Decisions Under Pressure

Full Course Title: Managing Chaos: Tools to Set Priorities and Make Decisions Under Pressure

Welcome to chaos—otherwise known as the world in which we all work today. Attend this seminar and get proven solutions for managing chaos and minimizing its negative impact. First, you’ll discover how you can harness the energy of a dynamic, though often chaotic, work environment and avoid feeling overwhelmed when things start to spin out of control. You’ll learn a variety of tools that will help you re-think the way you approach chaos and enable you to leverage resources to help you tackle challenging situations as they arise. Gain hands-on experience applying tools for setting priorities and adjusting to shifting demands with greater clarity. Practice techniques for analyzing and resolving problems and learn to strategically communicate your solutions. You’ll leave confident and ready to apply the most appropriate techniques to clarify, alleviate and eliminate chaos within your control—and better manage your reactions to the chaos beyond your control.

How you will Benefit:

• Identify positive outcomes from chaotic environments
• Clarify and leverage or eliminate chaos within your control
• Set priorities for all your activities
• Focus and act decisively when priorities shift
  Use tools to problem-solve and select a course of action
• Manage interruptions and conflicts with greater ease
• Communicate your needs strategically

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Define the Chaos That You Can Control
• Make Decisions Based on a Multifaceted Analysis of the Problem
• Determine the Order of Tasks Based on Importance and Urgency
• Practice Assertive Communication to Manage Shifting Priorities
• Identify One or Two Tools That Are Most Applicable to the Situation

LESSON ONE

Welcome to Chaos:

• Ask Questions to Determine the Impact of Organizational Challenges on Both Managers and Employees
• Identify the Sources of Chaos That Managers and Employees Can Reduce, Clarify, or Eliminate

Problem Solving:

• Generate Multiple Creative Ideas Quickly
• Identify the Real/Root Causes of a Problem or Issue
• Organize a Large Number of Ideas into Natural Groupings in Order to Understand a Problem
• Choose a Tool to Address the Chaos from the Case Study

LESSON TWO

Priority Planning and Decision Making:

• Analyze Four Aspects of a Situation or of Team Capability as a Way to Determine Priorities
• Identify How to Close the Gap Between the Current Situation/Problem and the Desired Situation/Solution
• Evaluate Risk with the Use of Three Questions
• Use the Priority Matrix to Determine Activities to Support Your Decision

LESSON THREE

Planning Daily Work:

• Establish a Daily Plan for Completion of the Most Important Priorities
• Accurately Estimate How Long It Takes to Do Things
• Differentiate Between “Necessary” and Unnecessary” Interruptions

Communication Skills for Managing Chaos:

• Define Assertive and Strategic Communication
• Respond Assertively and Strategically When Priorities Shift or Conflict
• Develop an “I” Statement to Use When Provoked or When Presented with a Difficult Situation
• Complete a Task Despite Changes, Interruptions, and Chaos

LESSON FOUR

Communication Skills for Managing Chaos (cont’d):

• Define Assertive and Strategic Communication
• Respond Assertively and Strategically When Priorities Shift or Conflict
• Develop an “I” Statement to Use When Provoked or When Presented with a Difficult Situation
• Complete a Task Despite Changes, Interruptions, and Chaos