The Game of Manifestation – One Day Transformation Program
NYC
October 9th 119 W. 23rd Street, Suite 710
10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
NJ
November 19th, New Jersey Arts Incubator
10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
495 Prospect Avenue, Essex Green on the Courtyard
Introductory Fee $345
Limited Space Register Today!
www.askforalchemy.com
If you are committed to catalyzing positive change in your personal and professional life, this training will give you the skills to awaken inner wisdom, unblock limiting beliefs and patterns, and manifest your greatest vision and goals.
Patented program developed and lead by Sofia Costas Quitas, an accomplished management consultant, life and development coach, and spiritual journeyman. Sofia will lead you on a custom journey to discover your path to self-wisdom and strategic transformation.
Call 862-400-7452, or email
sofiacostaquintas@askforalchemy.com to register.
Ask for Alchemy Announces Partnership with Accord Strategies
For Expanded Leadership and Management Training Programs in U.S. Market
International management training and executive coaching consultancy collaborates with regional business firm to offer innovative leadership training and development methodology to U.S. corporations.
“We chose Accord Strategies as our U.S. partner because of their intelligent and effective approach to business consulting and their industry expertise,” said Sofia Costa Quintas, founder and chief energy officer of Ask for Alchemy. “Accord is a fast growing and creative firm in the U.S. that offers substantial executive and other types of training programs. Adding the unique AFA approach and methodology to corporate leadership training to a firm with Accord Strategies vision, outreach and infrastructure was a perfect fit for us.”
The Ask for Alchemy programs are a departure from average leadership development programs that are highly tactical and focused on building a distinct set of skills. The Ask for Alchemy approach is holistic and encourages individual awareness to promote motivation. The AFA method develops in team members and leaders the necessary skills to stay nimble in today’s business environment, while cultivating effectiveness by focusing on well-being and personal growth at all levels. The custom AFA programs are grounded in real world organizational demands, and are built to tangible and measurable action plans that produce immediate and long term results.
“At Accord Strategies we were looking to expand our capabilities in our leadership training programs in a new and innovative way as we found the old training methods were no longer as effective in the current explosive business environment. We were completely transfixed by the unique perspective and effectiveness of the Ask for Alchemy training methods,” said Amy Simon, partner, Accord Strategies. “Today’s global economy and multicultural environment demands a unifying corporate language, one rooted in common human experience and understandings, one that teaches us to grow and change quickly in the volatile market place, and a constant 24/7 information cycle. The Ask for Alchemy method crosses culture and business styles, and provides a common language to motivate and inspire corporations to achieve excellence.”
Global brands currently using the Ask for Alchemy training modules include Accenture, BOSCH Security Systems, Clarins, the Rainforest Alliance, and Xerox among others.
About Ask for Alchemy
Ask for Alchemy is a holistic executive development training and team building consultancy based in New York City and Lisbon, Portugal. Ask for Alchemy services global organizations looking for a refreshing and proven methodology in developing executive talent that will lead and inspire innovation while exceeding business objectives. By taking a holistic approach to coaching, Ask for Alchemy helps turn knowledge into wisdom that gives high potential leaders an edge. Ask for Alchemy was founded by Sofia Costa Quintas who is a published author and international speaker on the topic of management coaching and development techniques. For more information, please visit www.askforalchemy.com or find us on Facebook.
About Accord Strategies
Accord Strategies, LLC is a multi-faceted firm that maximizes business potential through Public Affairs, Public and Community Relations, Marketing and Business Development, Leadership and Compliance Training creating and implementing comprehensive solutions to today’s business and organizational challenges. Accord Strategies, LLC approaches today’s business environment from a 360° perspective – working in Accord on divergent issues that affect an entity’s global impression in the marketplace, and fiscal bottom line. To learn more about the services of Accord Strategies, LLC visit, www.accordstrategies.com/services.
Media Contact: Jocelyn Johnson, Gravitas Communications, 212-924-9500, Jocelyn@gravitas-pr.com
Accord Strategies Adds Business Development Consulting Services to New Starter Pack Program
Starter Pack – Pick Our Brain, 2hr conference meeting. Invite up to ten employees. Intensive Q&A session resulting in immediate practical advice for short and long-range business development, strategic planning, pr, and marketing programs. Introductory special $495.
Additional hours at $300 per. 4hrs max. Available on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Other dates and evening hours available for additional fee. *Special cancellation fees apply.
Spring Cleaning Compliance and Crisis Communications Protocols
Enron, the Mortgage and Banking Crisis, Walmart, do we not pick up the paper or go on line every day to be regaled with the never ending list of organizations and companies charged with sex, race or age discrimination? All that could be avoided with strong company policies, a well orchestrated review policy, and consistent training modules and collateral materials for employees at all levels. Do a compliance spring cleaning today with these 10 housekeeping tips.
1 – Dump the Denial
Hire outside Compliance Specialists to review your protocol and procedures with a fresh, unbiased, eye, and make recommendations for improvement. Company leaders are, at the end of the day, just regular people with an overwhelming and extraordinary list of daily tasks that require singular focus on immediate action items. Often this daily pressure creates a tendency to not recognize the warning signs developing in a manager’s peripheral view. Stay vigilant, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Ignore Compliance Review activities at your own risk!
2 – Assign a Compliance Review Manager
Select someone in your firm with Project Management background or experience. You don’t necessarily have to have someone in your company or organization with specific compliance project management credentials but they should be familiar with working on a project team, and with creating a project task list, and calendar to keep the moving parts of the Compliance Review in perpetual motion.
3 – Create a Compliance Checklist.
Compliance Checklists lists are made to maximize efficiency, control unnecessary spending, and ensure one has what protocols needed for any eventuality.
There are approximately 10 general categories of compliance including EEOC, Training Compliance, Regulatory Compliance and General Company or Organizational Policies and Procedures Compliance.
4 – Assess Your Strategic Plan’s Progress
Compliance has a direct impact on the Company or Organization’s ability to reach its overall strategic plan mission and goals. There’s nothing like a unplanned government audit or lawsuit that can throw you off your schedule. Where are you on your 1-3-5 year continuum? Are you meeting your strategic plan benchmarks? Do an immediate review to assess if your are meeting these goals and how compliance protocols or lack of them may be impeding your progress.
5 – Check Your Emergency Recovery Plans and Procedures.
Do you have emergency recovery plans for your internal systems? If not, you have made your Company needlessly vulnerable. Compliance Audits depend on retrievable data. If your data is missing due to technical systems failure and you haven’t anticipated the need for a backup data plan, then you have imperiled your Company and completely flown in the face of what Compliance is primarily designed to do, reduce operational risk to your firm.
6 – Review and Update your Contact Lists
Community Partners, Government official and other compliance staff contact lists are the key communicators in crisis situations. Information such as regulatory agencies, commissions and organizations that are a part of your Company’s Compliance network along with all of your emergency planning information should be kept in multiple digital and hard copy formats on and off site..
7 – Involve your whole team in compliance and crisis oversight.
Ensure that your manager/directors tasked with monitoring oversight involve their team appropriately. This can be done as a regular part of the operational interface, i.e., as a regular part of the agenda for the weekly staff meetings, or more discreetly maintained such that details of the meetings are recorded and the meeting minutes are subject to review for potential breaches in Company protocol, which could be dealt with immediately.
8 – Generate a Recommendations list
Utilize your the Managers/Directors tasked with compliance review. The actions recommended by the Manager/Director should ensure the continuing effectiveness of the Company’s Compliance program and can confirm actual or potential inadequacies exposing Company to liability issues.
9 – Schedule Regular Compliance Training for all staff and employees.
Ensure that Compliance Training is offered regularly as part of the staff development training curriculum schedule for your colleagues.
10 – Go Back to Number One.
A certified compliance consultant is your best bet to help you analyze your compliance program ensuring you are meeting and exceeding federal and state guidelines, establish internal protocols to maximize success, mitigate vulnerabilities, and create training modules and collateral materials for employees at every level.
Follow these ten tips for a compliance spring cleaning, and be secure in the knowledge that you are prepared for any eventuality.
Christy Davis Jackson, Esq. is a former Public Affairs executive with more than two decades of experience in guiding organizational change, including executing Compliance Review and EEOC Company audits. She is a master at guiding companies and organizations out of denial and into compliance!
Accord Strategies Principal Partner, Amy Simon, to MC Shirley Chisholm Awards
Shirley Chisholm
The partners of Accord Strategies, LLC are proud to announce that Principal Amy B. Simon will act as Mistress of Ceremonies at the annual Shirley Chisholm Awards presented by NJ Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver on April, 16th, 2011, 12-4PM.
Ms. Simon is a 2010 recipient of the Shirley Chisholm Award. Ms Simon is Managing Partner at Accord Strategies, and specializes in business development through community and public relations, marketing, media management, and media training. Amy also has founded and serves on boards of numerous not-for profits, and community groups, including the New Jersey Arts Incubator, and serves as a legislative aide to Assemblyman John F. McKeon. Amy served on the New Jersey State Council on the Arts from 2008 – 2011.
We welcome you to join us on Sat, April 16th at the Shirley Chisholm Awards at the Valley Regency in Clifton, NJ, and/or share your best wishes by participating in the event tribute journal.
Shirley Chisholm Invitation
Shirley Chisholm Tribute Journal
A Simon Says, LLC has partnered with Accord Strategies, LLC
Adding Business Development through Public Relations, Marketing, and Communication to the Accord Strategies menu of services with the
24/7 Consultant Care Package
Your Public Relations professional on-call to help you proactively navigate the benefits and challenges of the new world of 24/7 media, and social marketing. Sign up for the Consultant Care Package today and feel confident in your PR, communications and marketing programs of your business plan all year long.
Don’t have a business plan that includes these primary services and program Contact Accord Strategies today for organization consulting and strategic business planning.
www.accordstrategies.com.
Starter Pack – Pick Our Brain, 2hr conference meeting. Invite up to ten employees. Intensive Q&A session resulting in immediate practical advice for short and long-range planning. Introductory special $495.
Additional hours at $300 per. 4hrs max. Available on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Other dates and evening hours available for additional fee. *Special cancellation fees apply.
Green Package – Energize your pr, marketing and communications plan with individualized services, good for anytime use over a 3 month period. 8 hrs $1,995. Billable at 20 minute intervals.
Silver Package – Extend and enhance the principals of the Green Package, annual anytime use. 12 hrs $2,795 – 12 month period
Billable at 20 minute intervals
Gold Package – Consistent and comprehensive, 20 hrs annually anytime use of planning and available execution of special services (may require additional fees), including monthly tailored tips with execution protocols, social media updates.
20 hrs $4,495 – 12 month period.
Billable at generous 15 min increments.
Platinum Package – Consistent and comprehensive, 40 hrs annually of planning and available execution of special services (may require additional fees), including monthly on-site process meetings monthly and tailored tips with execution protocols, and social media updates. 40 hours $7,795 – 12 month period.
The most conservative billing system available at 10 min increments.
Who needs a Public Relations Consultant?
Why do I need a Public Relations Consultant?
If any of the above items are familiar challenges to you and your company YOU need a professional and creative Public Relations consultant to advise and guide you in emergent issues, program planning, and long range business development through communications, public relations, and marketing protocols. A Simon Says, LLC will provide you with the advice, products, and services that you need to accomplish these goals.
Why should I have access to my own Public Relations consultant?
24/7 Consultant Care Package from A Simon Says, LLC
Terms and Conditions
*Starter Package must be booked at least seven business days in advance and paid in full by check, direct deposit, or credit card (using Pay Pal) prior at least three business days hours prior to session date. Returned checks will be charged $65 service fee.
Cancellation fee of $100 will be charged if cancellation is made within three business days of booking. No refunds of fees for cancellations after three business days prior to session.
**Packages must be paid in full three business days prior to first date of service by check, direct deposit, or credit card (using Pay Pal).
Returned checks will be charged $65 service fee. No payment plan is available for this package series. There is no refund of fees for early termination of contract.
For flexible payment service call about our contract for services, and retainer programs.
‘Trigger Words’ Trounce Understanding on Diversity Issues
“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Understanding between opposing forces, whether the causes for opposition are real or imagined, is older that Shakespeare. Like for the Montagues and Capulats, where the lack of desire to approach the opposing forces with conscious dignity, based in understanding, and acknowledgment, was a recipe for death, in business the result is the metaphoric death of active listening and productive discussion. It is a tenuous and often confusing dance for the actors in a global community where myopic views must be redefined to include so many others points of view, and then actively put into practice.
Just recently in New Jersey an example of insensitivity to the issue of race was acted out in context of the discussion regarding the current rate of unemployment benefits, by two members of the State Legislature, one African American, one Caucasian. While the media parlayed the ‘race issue’ into major headlines for a cycle or two, too soon the public discourse traveled away from long standing issues of race relations, and from the immediate and crisis issue of unemployment benefits for residents, to the more salacious discussion of which political party receives more benefits from their public contract jobs. An opportunity for real understanding between people, for growth and leadership on the issue of race was lost. While questions have been raised about the quality of the diversity and sensitivity training, elected officials at all levels of government are provided with.
The New Jersey case exemplifies the pitfalls we all face in business and in our personal lives when issues of race and stereotypes are raised. To be cognoscente of history and context of the cultures with which one comes in contact with, is the first step in recognizing that there are ‘trigger words’ that can express a meaning to the receiver that may not be what was intended by the speaker.
In the New Jersey case the trigger word was ‘those people” stated by a Caucasian man, leader of one political party, in reference to the unemployed, with the receiver being an African American woman from the opposing political party. To give the reader context, it is important to understand that the term ‘those people’ has been, and is, commonly used to denote superiority by the person using it. The term has also been used to illustrate that people are other and not like use – therefore suspect. In historical context in our country, the term has been used as a derogatory reference to African Americans, as well as other minority groups, that haven’t been considered part of the ‘main stream’. These are just three contextual definitions for the trigger phrase ‘those people’.
Trigger words cause conflict, anger and pain in society, and in the workplace. Understanding what trigger words are, their context and how one uses them, and the nouns and pronouns to describe ‘others’ that are created and defined each day, as sensitivity triggers, is an important step in learning to navigate ethically, and legally in a diverse, and complex environment. Anger and misunderstanding do more than cause pain in the workplace – it reduces productivity, causes management challenges, and may in the case of racism, sexism, and ageism, result in litigation for a business owner – a costly prospect.
A comprehensive diversity and sensitivity program for businesses, communities and schools, with training and monitoring on a yearly basis is our best chance to act ethically and morally, and to educate our colleagues, friends, and leaders, in the ancient, ever present, and expanding need for understanding between diverse communities. A proactive D&S program that meets or exceeds mandates is also a best business practice that can protect the productivity levels and financial bottom line of ones company or organization.
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Wal-Mart Bias Case
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal in the biggest employment discrimination case on record, one claiming that Wal-Mart discriminated against hundreds of thousands of women in pay and promotion. The lawsuit seeks back pay that could amount to billions of dollars.
The question before the court is whether claims by individual employees may be combined as a class action. A decision on that issue will almost certainly affect all sorts of other class action suits. If nothing else, many pending class actions will slow or stop while litigants and courts await the decision in the case.
Wal-Mart objects to the class action in part because the number of potential claimants would be so large. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the size of the class is inevitable because Wal-Mart is such a huge company, and is anyway legally irrelevant.
Read More from the New York Times
A comment from Amy Simon, Principal
The Wal-Mart case is an example of a compliance issue turned into a public relations gaff that strains resources, and has far reaching implications for the company in the marketplace, and the productivity of its employees. The Wal-Mart firm is not the only company facing this crisis.
While the news cycle is currently focused on the single issue of the legality of a class action suit in cases like these, the case keeps Wal-Mart, and other firms that are facing class action suits, with their names in the news for negative reasons. The true issue in this case is job discrimination against women with a 500,000 female workers signed on. Those are not only a lot of claimants but a lot of customers to be in conflict with.
As reported by the Associated Press, Wal-Mart ‘argued they don’t have a companywide policy of discrimination……’. One would ask, does Wal-Mart have a clear companywide policy against discrimination? The response by Wal-Mart that each store operates independently, and actions therein should be tried independently, is a defense that seems out of concert with the company’s brand marketing, as well as the marketing of its employment opportunities.
Instituting a clear and ethical diversity and compliance program that exceeds that which is required by Federal law, maintaining that program with training, and an integrated internal review committee, and promoting the effort with a responsible public relations and marketing program, will ensure that a firm stays in the office, meeting the responsibilities of its stock holders, and out of the courtroom.
A firm should be proactive in the areas of diversity and compliance. These types of cases whether individual or class action are not new, and can be avoided with proper planning and training. By doing so a firm is not only doing the right thing for its employees, but also protecting its brand and stockholders from the results of negative publicity.
Accord Strategies provides consulting, planning and training in compliance and diversity, and A Simon Says, the public relations and marketing protocols that support that effort.
A Crisis Can Be Self Inflicted
NPR’s administrative choice is now an exercise in crisis communication.
Communicating a message to others happens when one acts – whether or not you intend to communicate a message, have prepared to communicate a message, or think anyone would really care about what you say or do.
We are a highly message driven society. Today we live, watch, listen, and surf in a three dimensional media world. Think about everything you do in the context of a chess game. Professionally, and personally, we need to understand or imagine the future implications of every move on the board, and every possible counter move. Our every statement, blog, Twitter, or Facebook entry is an invitation for a variety of perceptions, and a barrage of public comments. Cell phone cameras can be used in a blink of an eye to upload the most personal moments to public view.
Its time for all of us to truly realize that everything we say and do is public.
We must be prepared to respond to both the challenges and opportunities inherent in every messaging move in our business and personal chess game. Even when we saturate the messaging roadways with our point of view, like an Ethernet black hole, there is room for counter messaging, caused by our own missteps, or generously donated from our competitors. The goal then is to turn every messaging challenge into an opportunity, and to maximize every opportunity realized from our message.
The recent NPR action, the firing of commentator Juan Williams, is a perfect example of a self-inflicted communications crisis. Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with the choice to let Mr. Williams go, it’s the way in which the choice was executed that put NPR in a crisis management situation. How did they prepare for the public and industry reaction to his dismissal? Did they take into account the timing of the firing, financially, politically, or the implication of the media cycle? Did they act in concert with their brand identity? Once, these questions and additional issues are considered, what was the plan to manage the message pertaining to this choice? Juan Williams’ firing was being discussed on nearly every media outlet, in a plethora of chat rooms, even in non-industry business meetings that I attended over a three day cycle. By Monday, October 25th, Google posted over 50,000 hits in 21 seconds for the story on Vivian Schiller’s apology alone. The dialogue is dying down but NPR took an unnecessary hit.
We must remember, we do and say nothing in a vacuum. As a PR and messaging consultant, and from personal experience, this is difficult territory to navigate, and we continue to learn as much from our mistakes as from our successes. So, three words to the wise, THINK, PLAN, PREPARE. Think before you speak, plan before you act, and prepare to meet the challenges and opportunities inherent in every message you convey.
Amy Simon, Principal A Simon Says, LLC / Accord Strategies, LLC
Innovative Model for Business Development / Compliance / Communication Firm Launched in New Jersey
Christy Davis Jackson and Amy Simon, two successful business women, leading independent consulting firms, were continuously interconnecting while serving their clients and community. While A Simon Says, and Davis Jackson, focused on different areas of specialty – public and community relations, policy and advocacy, compliance and diversity training, business and leadership training, marketing and communications – effective and proactive business development, and reputation management for clients, was their unifying mission.
The partners of Accord Strategies and their staff believe that working in concert to coordinate multiple aspects of the business development paradigm, addressing the interconnectivity of these required business functions from an overall perspective, and training corporate leaders and their teams to do the same, will enable clients to proactively and effectively address the requirements for success in a fast paced global economy and 24/7 media environment.
Read more
