Event Details

  Please join us for another wonderful program by Mike Cook, founder of Vitalwork, Inc. and author of The Heart of Engagement (chosen as a Best Leadership Blog by HR Examiner in 2010 and Human Capital Institute in 2011 Heart of Engagement). 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:  HR's Leadership Role: Facilitating the Tough Conversation.  The Human Resource function in any organization will not have an equal seat at the leadership table until senior HR leaders become full partners with their CEO. How does a senior HR leader demonstrate this kind of strategic value when so much of what they deliver to the organization is tactical in nature?  The staff and managers within an HR department have a unique perspective not shared by any other function. The work of HR touches every facet of the organization and when things aren't functioning, often HR staff or managers are among the first to hear about it. The recognition that this unique perspective offers a strategic role for HR executives, as well as their staff, is long overdue; acting on this recognition is an even more pressing issue. Being willing to step in, then facilitate the tough conversations that need to take place between and among managers at all levels sets the HR leader up as full partner to any CEO.  By the end of this presentation, you will have received a template that can be used to help you design these challenging conversations. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:  Mike Cook works primarily with senior leaders and HR and OD teams to develop and implement cultural change processes which enhance overall organizational performance on targeted issues. He enjoys working with diverse client teams at all levels to build alignment and enable change that is sustainable and strategic. Mike has 25+ years' experience working in a wide range of industries and working environments as a designer, facilitator, coach and project team lead on major cultural change initiatives. His experience includes initiatives in petroleum refining, telecommunications, financial services, healthcare and insurance systems. As a consultant Mike founded Vitalwork, Inc. a diverse Organizational Development firm, in Rochester, NY and has served Vitalwork as CEO, Founding Partner and Senior Consultant since 1989. He works in close partnership with client leadership to create workplace designs aimed at introducing and sustaining workplace behaviors which made the client more competitive in its chosen markets and improved overall organizational performance. Mike's expertise includes: high performance team development · Organizational design, development and alignment · Executive and team coaching, facilitation and development ·  Large scale technology systems implementation and optimization ·  Merging cultures · Assisting senior leadership teams and HR teams to design management practices and working environments that encourage engagement and contribution. Mike has also authored the book THRIVE: Standing on Your Own Two Feet and publishes a weekly Blog The Heart of Engagement (chosen as a Best Leadership Blog by HR Examiner in 2010 and Human Capital Institute in 2011 and is working on another book called on employee contribution and involvement in the workplace with a working title: They All Want to Make a Difference.

 Be sure to register on or before the close of business on September 12th (4:00pm) to receive the early bird discount ($5).  If you need to cancel your registration, please do so prior to the the September 12th deadline (4:00pm) via email to recieve a credit. Unfortuantely, if you do not cancel and fail to show, we will have to bill for the excess costs that have been incurred  (we have to pay for the meals anyway). If you were recently billed and need to settle your account, please speak with the Hospitality desk when you check in.  And remember - cash or check ONLY... we are unable to process credit cards at the registration desk so if you'd like to pay with a credit card, it is better to register on-line and pay through PayPal.