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The Great Ideas of Philosophy
It comes from the Greek words meaning "love of wisdom." In English, we call it philosophy–the study of the most basic questions we humans have ever pondered. Questions like, What is reality? What are the limits of human knowledge? The long debate focuses on the nature of self and self-identity; the authority of experience and the authority of science; the "nature" of human nature. Parts I through V - Fifteen Tapes in All, Study Guides Included.
The Teaching Company (1998) |
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Great Music
Have you ever thought there was something more to the classical music you were listening to? Some treasures that went beyond even the admittedly beautiful sounds that were reaching your ears–and which you were somehow missing? Or have you wondered what it might have been like to have heard this music the way its original audiences must have–so that all the nuances of meaning with which the composer had imbued his music could be as clear to you as it was to those first listeners? This video series will broaden your perspective.
Part I - The Ancient World through the Early Baroque
Part II - The High Baroque
Part III - The Classical Era
Part IV - The Classical Era and the Age of Revolution - Beethoven
Part V - The Nineteenth Century Romanticism
Part VI - From Romanticism to Modernism: 1848-1913
Eighteen Tapes in All, Study Guides Included.
The Teaching Company (1998) |
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Greek Civilization
Why do the ancient Greeks occupy such a prominent place in conceptions of Western culture and identity? What about them has made generations of influential scholars and writers view Hellenic culture as the uniquely essential starting point for understanding the art and reflection that define the West? Does this view tell the whole story? Clearly, the Greeks are a source of much that we esteem in our own culture: democracy, philosophy, history, ideals of athletic competition, and more. Blazoned above the portal of Apollo's temple at Delphi were the words "Know thyself." For us, this injunction to self-awareness also commands knowledge of the Greeks. Parts I and II - Six Tapes in All, Study Guides Included.
The Teaching Company (1998) |
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Growing a Company by Retaining Top Talent
Ray Lane discusses the importance of balancing talent and corporate values to keep a company in growth mode. Too often companies fail to grow because they stand in the path of progress. Lane stresses the importance of flexible leadership that values products and employees equally. Length 56 mins.
Kantola Productions (1998) |
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The History of English
English is fast becoming the language of commerce, science, and medicine. However, there are certainly differences in English writing and speaking among and within the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other locations where English is the native language. This tape series identifies the beginnings of English and its development from the Middle Ages to the present. Also included are practical issues for Modern English, as well as how English ties in with other languages. Parts I, II, and III - Nine Tapes in All, Study Guides Included.
The Teaching Company (1998) |
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How Great Companies Achieve Extraordinary Results with Ordinary People
Challenging the prevailing wisdom that companies must chase and acquire outside talent in order to remain successful, Dr. O'Reilly argues instead that the source of sustained competitive advantage already exists within every organization. O'Reilly's prescription for an overheated labor market: abandon the obsession with hiring high-priced stars and instead, motivate ordinary people to build a great company and achieve extraordinary results. Length: 52 mins.
Kantola Productions (2001) |
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How to Build a Brand
A successful brand builds customer trust and loyalty by being easily identifying and consistent in quality and presentation. The IDG Books' For Dummies© series set the course for the company's dynamic, brand-focused growth, John Kilcullen describes the strategies and tactics that have taken his brand from one obscure computer manual to a publishing empire which touches on an incredible array of lifelong learning topics, from business to sports, from art to wine, from gardening to home improvement, and beyond. Length: 49 mins.
Kantola Productions (2000) |
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How to Delegate Work - and Ensure It's Done Right
These videos are about the process of delegation; how to delegate and when to delegate. Learn how to match people with the right project. (2 volumes)
Dick Lohr, CareerTrack Publications
Review: This is a 2 volume video training set, each about I hour 20 minutes in length. Both volumes must be viewed to get the benefit of the training. The format is strictly lecture with little audience participation. The video is a bit dated, made in the late 1980s and that is it's major drawback. There is no relevance to the technological revolution and a few of the conventional management techniques of the time have been superceded. Nevertheless, the basic principles regarding delegation are valid and covered in the video clearly.
Tape 1
Part 1...definitions of what delegation is and is not, pros of delegation, why we don't delegate, both legitimate reasons and non legitimate reasons, impact on employees of not delegating, guidelines on what and how much to delegate, techniques for prioritizing work and relating this to delegating(good material). Part 2...a "how to" session and provided a useful "delegator's dozen" 12 step checklist, then discussed aspects of responsibility, authority, and accountability relative to delegation.
Tape 2
Part 1...Covers human behavior aspects of delegation. A very useful technique for analyzing behavior styles and how that impacts working relationships was presented first. Using that as a background, the instructor discussed how to match the right person with the right job when delegating. Part 2...Covered severe odds and ends such as how to manage and control delegated projects, and how to fend off upward delegation. Some of this material was dated as many of the techniques we use to manage via e-mail and other computer based applications were not available or even alluded to! The tape finished with a summary of what was covered and some phiiosophy on using delegation as motivation and recognition for employees. |
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How to Give & Receive Criticism
Most people dread giving and receiving criticism because it goes against our natural desire to be respected and liked. But done properly, criticism can be a powerful tool to help you and others improve performance. This video will show you the right way to give and receive criticism to help everyone in your organization succeed. (18 min.)
Briefings Publishing Group (1997)
Review: This short video uses several acted out office/warehouse scenarios coupled with an expert narrator/teacher. Although the topic is not particularly exhilarating, it does concisely address very valuable skills/practices regarding giving and receiving criticism. Given its short length, the video conveys a lot of information that anyone can use to more effectively communicate.
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How Leaders Boost Productivity
There are three things that make the difference in becoming a leader or being led: product quality, customer service, and productivity. Having made significant increases in product quality and customer service, the biggest challenge facing managers today lies in improving the productivity of their organizations. Dr. Jack Zenger discusses practical methods to help an organization shed its past and raise its standard for higher performance. Length: 51 mins.
Kantola Productions (1997) |
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How to Make Your Ideas Stick - Seven Lessons from Urban Legends
Whether our goal is to familiarize customers with our products, or communicate with employees about where our organizations are going, we can learn a lot about making our own messages stick by considering why urban legends and rumors have so much SUCCESS in the social marketplace of ideas. Urban legends are:
Simple
Unexpected
Concrete
Credentialed
Emotional
Stories that
Stick
Based on this acronym, Chip Heath's engaging presentation explains seven tips from urban legends about how to craft messages that will take hold in the public imagination, and even successfully take on a life of their own. Length: 54 mins.
Kantola Productions (2002) |
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How to Manage Stress - Reduce anxiety and stay cool under pressure
Video One: "Defining Stress"
Learn the definition of stress; discover the source of stress; and examine the symptoms of burnout.
Video Two: "Identifying and Managing Your Stressors"
Learn the five major stress resistors.
Video Three: "Relaxing"
Learn how to incorporate proven stress busters such as relaxation tapes and breathing exercises.
Fred Pryor Seminars
Review: This is a series of three seminars, each a little over an hour long, focusing on stress and dealing with it. It is just a taped Fred Pryor workshop in three parts. It is little more than a talking head presentation, interspersed with occasional audience reaction shots (mostly bored) and contains no examples or reinforcing text, making for a rather tedious learning experience. The presenter, while not a bad speaker, is not particularly entertaining, and uses few, if any, visual techniques to make the material more interesting.
Part 1
The first tape deals with the definitions of stress, and numerous factors which can cause stress, which are called "stressors". Most of these are rather straightforward, and could probably be surmised without the help of the tape. The latter portion of the tape deals with identifying the various stages of "burnout". This was more interesting, but the recommendations given for dealing with these various stages are vague and not likely to be particularly helpful.
Part 2
This tape deals with the various types of stress and their sources. It also offers suggestions as to how to cope with these "stressors", and how to "train" your mind to cope with them more effectively. Most of the suggestions deal with reminding yourself not to be stressed when situations arise which cause it...but if you could do that, you probably wouldn't need the tape. There is a nice segment on physiological stress, which suggests that the mind and body are intimately linked in their reaction to stress. The methods of coping, however, are the usual "don't drink, don't smoke" type suggestions, which most people are already quite aware of.
Part 3
The final section of the series deals with relaxation techniques. While some of the techniques are useful, this tape could have accomplished it's mission in 15 to 20 minutes rather than the hour that it took. Many of the relaxation techniques are obvious to almost anyone, and many repeat the suggestions on the third tape regarding dealing with physiological stress. I considered this to be the least useful tape of the series, providing little in the way of any fresh insights on dealing with stress.
Review: Straight video of a seminar, with no skits, charts, diagrams, or other things to break the dialogue. There was some good advice, although a lot of it was common sense, and not all of it had good application to the NWS (like taking a "power nap" when you feel stressed and tired). The last tape includes a 15-20 minute section having people close their eyes, breathe deeply, and listening to quiet music. This tape would probably be good for new supervisors, or people new to the workforce.
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How to Overcome Negativity in the Workplace - Training to help you create a more positive, productive work environment
Video One: "Protecting yourself from pessimism"
Learn of the three common sources of workplace negativity and how to avoid them. Build up an immunity of negative thinking. Understand the language of negativity.
Video Two: "Stopping the spread of negativity"
Learn how to keep someone else's negative mood from affecting everyone else. Learn how to hold others accountable for their negative behaviors. Learn positive thinking.
Video Three: "Proactive approaches for positive results"
Learn how to turn a possible argument into a problem solving session. Recognize the stalemates before they can shut down communication. Learn how to change a negative thinker into a positive thinker.
Video Four: "Creating an optimistic organization"
Learn how to watch out for negativity in the workplace and how transform the negative environment into a productive workplace.
(with workbook and Facilitator's Guide binder)
Laura Ridge Walker and Kathleen Sears, CareerTrack Publications
Review: This is a series of four seminars, each a little over an hour long, focusing on identifying negativity and dealing with it. It is basically a filmed Career Track workshop in four arts, with the speakers' talk interspersed with a series of marginally acted vignettes illustrating the principles being discussed.
It is designed to be used with an accompanying workbook (I didn't have this), but the principles seemed pretty straightforward and understandable without it, and not having the workbook did not interfere with the lessons. The tape does provide graphic text summary of the key points at regular intervals to assist the viewer with note-taking and establishing the general outline. It was well done, overall.
Part 1
The first seminar deals with recognizing negativity in others, and most importantly, within ourselves. I liked the way it pointed out the subtle ways that negativity manifests itself, and how to recognize those early signs. It's weakness is the weakness of the overall workshop...rather boring at times, being basically a taped workshop, and the vignettes are not particularly well done or especially convincing. They do, however, provide some relief from the usual "talking lead" type presentation.
Part 2
This segment focuses on the effects of negativity and how it can "rub off" on other people, leading to a larger problem than just one individual. The strength of this segment is that it provides realistic mechanisms for holding people accountable for their attitudes and behavior, and preparing you to deal with the defenses likely to be thrown up when negative individuals are confronted with their behavior.
Part 3
This section provides insights on how to deal with "relational" negativity, encountered in dealings with other individuals. It discusses how to detect this type of negativity in its early stages, and to prevent it from affecting you. It focuses on communication skills, including several pitfalls to avoid as well as positive principles to apply. It also provides tips on how to more effectively "coach" employees toward an optimistic attitude.
Part 4
The final segment deals with organizational negativity. This includes negativity encountered at different levels within the organization, from an individual's immediate workgroup all the way up the organizational ladder. It details the consequences of allowing such negativity at any level to spread unchecked and offers tips on how to head it off and promote more "positive" approaches. It basically seeks to find ways to make employees feel better both about themselves and then, as a result, the organization. This segment is workbook-heavy, and would have been much more effective if we had access to it. Still, this tape was reviewed by other staff members, and all agreed it was well done, informative, and valuable.
I really enjoyed this one since I have a "Mr. Negativity" working in this office who could have served as the basis for the seminar. The seminar really does a excellent job in pointing out the potential problems and pitfalls in dealing with a negative person in the workplace. However, this seminar would be better if it was done live with an experienced facilitator. It is difficult to first recognize, then effectively deal with negative person by just viewing this seminar without interatively participating in role playing. The workbook helps but actually acting out some of the rolls live would be extremely benifical. Training on negativity in the workplace would be very helpful to the new manager. |
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How to Set and Really Achieve Your Goals
Learn to manage change; define goals and attain them; plan and prioritize for success. (Video/Audio/Booklet Set)
Jeff Blackman; Jack Wilson and Associates, Inc.
Review: The information covered in this 35 minute video reinforces the concept already being applied at LCH - without written goals, it is difficult to accomplish things. The audio tape covers the same material but can be used in your car. The only reason the video tape did not get 5 stars was that, while talking, Blackman uses excessive gestures which I think are distracting. |
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How to Supervise People - A powerful program that will launch you to peak performance in motivating, managing, and taking charge of projects and people
Video One: "Developing Supervision Essentials"
Learn to handle difficulties, control emotions, and diagnose and reverse performance problems.
Video Two: "Achieving RESULTS through Exceptional Management"
Learn the meaning of the acronym R.E.S.U.L.T.S.
Video Three: "Motivating for Peak Performance"
Learn the power of responsibility, maximize the power of recognition, and how to reward appropriately and effectively.
Fred Pryor Seminars
Review: This is a very good overview of basic supervisory skills. Would be better if used along with a basic supervisory correspondence course such the USDA Basic Supervision. If viewed after the taking a written course, would be excellent in reinforcing skills needed for the beginning supervisor. By itself, it is still a good intro to beginning management. |
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