Keynotes & Workshops

Interactive and engaging, Val’s sessions provide your audience with solid information that can be taken away and used. They understand those all-important next steps, enabling them to take the learning back into their own lives. The impact of each presentation lasts well beyond the close of your event.

“Wonderful stories, lots of concrete ideas and doable things
that are applicable to my everyday life.”

Val’s presentations suit Keynotes, Lunch & Learns, Workshops, Break-Out Sessions, Staff Development and Retreats. Titles and content can be adjusted to suit your theme. Val is also an experienced Panel Moderator.

Please contact Val to discuss your audience and their unique needs. This ensures that the event is meaningful and useful to them.

Val’s most popular topics:

HOW TO WIN A GOAT™
Banish procrastination for ever to achieve your goals!
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WASPS IN THE WORKPLACE™
Managing conflict without being stung
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BEYOND “HERE’S MY CARD”
Be effective, get results and enjoy networking events
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THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!
Understanding our misunderstandings
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THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
Controlling time-wasters to achieve results
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“NO” IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD
Setting positive personal boundaries, then upholding them under pressure
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HOW TO WIN A GOAT™
Banish procrastination for ever to achieve your goals!

“The prize for this contest is the first live goat
ever given away on national radio.”

The absurdity of his challenge captured my imagination. I had to win that goat! Using the adage ‘success occurs when opportunity meets preparation’, I approached the challenge tactically, submitted my story – and won my goat!

Your audience will be inspired to win their own ‘goat’ – whatever that means for each individual. Moved to action by Val’s energy, humour and practical strategies, they will be motivated to take a few simple steps – and see their goals and dreams start to become reality. They can begin using the ideas right away, maintaining the momentum of inspiration and remembering an enjoyable, informative session long after your event.

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WASPS IN THE WORKPLACE™
Managing conflict without being stung

Workplace Wasps – from a subdued hum to an angry buzz, their impact is far-reaching. They disrupt team dynamics, affecting productivity and the morale of staff and clients alike. Turning a blind eye, or using ‘BandAid â ’ solutions, are common ways of dealing with Workplace Wasps. The issue appears to go away - instead it simply festers.

It takes courage and effort to address the source of conflict. Handled poorly, Wasps’ nests can grow following our intervention. As we learn and laugh together, we’ll explore practical tools, strategies and attitudes that give us the courage to approach Workplace Wasps and resolve their issues without being stung!

Those who have the courage to tackle conflict head-on gain respect not only from their colleagues, but often from the Wasps themselves. Resolving conflict increases team spirit, motivation and staff retention. (By the way, the secrets of managing Workplace Wasps work equally well on Hornets in the Home!)

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BEYOND “HERE’S MY CARD”
Be effective, get results and enjoy networking events

(This session can be particularly useful as an opening keynote for your conference. It encourages a spirit of constructive networking and community from the very start.)

What return does your team get from networking? Are they attending events, handing out plenty of business cards, yet your phone’s still not ringing off the wall?

Some people are naturally adept at connecting with others. Others find effective networking more of a challenge (and I used to be one of them!). However, with practical strategies and simple, confidence-boosting techniques, everyone can learn this essential skill. Even confident networkers often need to be reminded of the crucial link between networking conversations and business results.

In this lively session we explore the concepts that are central to constructive networking, starting with that all-important introduction. We examine what the other person really needs to know from us, how to follow up and how to turn that encounter into a meaningful, long-term business relationship. We’ll also work on remembering names, circulating the room and moving on without giving offence.

The audience will leave the session knowing how to be memorable (for the right reasons!), and how to turn those networking conversations into business.

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THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!
Understanding our misunderstandings

Do you sometimes feel that nobody ever listens? Do you wish others came with a handbook, “Effective Ways To Communicate With Me”? You explain everything so clearly – yet they still don’t get it!

This session explores simple, practical ways to improve communication, whether verbal, written or electronic. We’ll laugh about communication disasters, and explore the impact of different communication styles and diverse techniques. We’ll examine the key role of listening – and how to listen effectively.

By the end of the session, the audience will have gained practical skills in to connect with those ‘difficult’ people - without losing their cool!

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THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
Controlling time-wasters to achieve results

Are you time-starved? Does your ‘To Do’ list keep growing? Do you need more hours in the day? Do you feel you’re always running on the spot, never moving ahead? This session is for you!

We’ll explore priority management, reframed thinking, delegation and ways to make time work for us. We’ll laugh at ourselves as we realize the ways we perpetuate our situation of chaos. Leave with a personalized action plan to maintain the momentum long after the session has finished.

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“NO” IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD
Setting positive personal boundaries, then upholding them under pressure

Setting positive personal boundaries is the easy part. Upholding these boundaries in the face of pressure is often challenging, yet it’s key to work/life balance and productivity. In this session each participant will set work and life boundaries as well as develop an action plan to make them work.

We’ll examine the importance of positive personal boundaries, both for ourselves and for those around us. We’ll explore how to uphold those boundaries in the face of outside pressure. Plus we’ll banish guilt forever!

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“Your humour & stories were the best I’ve seen and heard.”