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Business Leadership Expert Sylvia Lafair Wins Third Prestigious
Book Award
June 30, 2011 - White Haven, PA
“Don’t Bring It to
Work” published by Jossey Bass and written by Sylvia Lafair, PhD, President
of Creative Energy Option, Inc.,(CEO), won a third book award from the New York
Book Festival. This annual competition celebrates books deserving greater
recognition from the world publishing capital. The judging is a multifaceted
process going through several tiers of evaluation.
“I’m honored to have been acknowledged knowing the
competition was strong and I’m proud to be recognized with such a distinguished
group of authors,” said Lafair.
Her award winning book “Don’t
Bring It to Work” has been ranked in the top of Amazon’s Best Selling
Workplace books.
“Don’t Bring It to Work” focuses on the 13 most common behavior
patterns in the workplace includes - the avoider, martyr, pleaser, and
procrastinator - and how to transform them for increased creativity and
productivity.
In addition to the book, she is now offering the new
“Pattern Aware Success Guide” as a daily method to consciously transform
patterns.
Her leadership course, “Total Leadership Connections”
utilizes many of the tools found in the book.
The course, a four session program, offers individuals the opportunity
to make long-lasting, sustainable change within the comfort of a small group
setting; a unique format with people from various industries and organizations.
“Our “Total Leadership Connections” program, now in its 10th
year, has proven results,” said Herb Kaufman, CEO for CEO. “We can see the
change in people and we can prove it with our 360 Degree Leadership Assessment
that is conducted before someone starts the program and again six months
following completion of the program. We’re very proud of the strong results
we’re seeing with this assessment.”
To explore how your company can benefit from “Total
Leadership Connections,” please view our website, www.ceoptions.com and call or email, Mary
Jane Saras, maryjane@ceoptions.com
or 570-636-3858. She will be glad to
provide an overview, the course syllabus, and a quote.
About CEO:
Founded
in 1985, CEO facilitators are workplace relationship experts! We help you
create immediate, profound, and positive change in your work culture using our
proven PatternAware™ tools, tips, and techniques.
We
guarantee improved employee and client relationships. Our practical information and methods, used
in businesses of all sizes, help co-workers cooperate in new and effective ways
to increase productivity and profits.
Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D. and Herb Kaufman have a shared vision
for creating extraordinary leaders in the 21st Century, authentic leaders who
dare to do it differently, leading from a place of honesty, integrity, and
creativity. They believe there is a new and better way for leaders to gain
strategic advantage and improve their bottom line: by learning to observe,
understand, and transform behavior patterns so that productivity and
collaboration thrive.
Contact:
Shirley Sabol
Executive Coordinator
Creative Energy Options, Inc.
570-636-3858
shirley@ceoptions.com
www.ceoptions.com
www.sylvialafair.com
Business Leadership Expert Hosts “GUTSY WOMEN” Leadership
Program
June 6, 2011 - White Haven, PA
Sylvia Lafair PhD, award winning author of “Don’t Bring It
to Work” and President of Creative Energy Options (CEO, Inc.) will host the
powerful GUTSY WOMEN Week-end Retreat August 5-7 at her corporate training
facility, The Country Place in Northeast Pa.
This program shines the spotlight on what women want and
need in today’s ever changing world. With her years of executive coaching and research
Dr. Lafair puts things in perspective “That old battle of the sexes still
lives. It is great that we know it really is all in our heads! Yet,
learning how to communicate based on our brain differences turn that battle into a powerful partnership.”
For over 30 years her dedication to optimize workplace
relationships is evident in this fun and fact filled program that gives women
the tools and tips to find the perfect balance between giving and getting
without selling themselves out. “This is a time for all women to trust that
keen intuition, that gut feeling which is so often right and help lead the way
to a more vital and people friendly work environment.”
This program offers a week-end packed with healthy food,
great conversations, and eye-opening ideas, along with time to reenergize,
recalibrate, and refuel. Friday evening
through Sunday noon addresses three core aspects of a working women’s life: how
to become your best in self-care, self-aware and pattern-aware areas of your
life.
Lafair states “GUTSY women learn that self-care is not
selfish-care. Patterns often inherited from past generations will not suffice
in the contemporary world. We all need to design our own balance sheet for what
makes us effective in the long run”.
This program helps to retrain the brain for happy, healthy, and hearty
living.
Self-care will include the opportunity for massage, hiking,
yoga, nutritional information, and exercise.
Self-aware modules will include some easy to follow
techniques for taking an “inner snap shot” to make life enhancing decisions.
Pattern-aware lectures will help highlight new knowledge
about relationships; why patterns repeat and what to do about them.
Always a GUTSY woman, Dr. Lafair did plunge into new
territory first as an innovative family therapist and then as a business
leadership expert. Her new book, “GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change” to be
published in August 2011 includes the long view of the way women have changed
the patterns of history, or as she calls it “herstory” and ways to be both
feminine and tough, in a word GUTSY.
As she is so often quoted “Take the road less traveled;
there’s no traffic to hold you back”.
Here’s the formula:
take a group of women from diverse backgrounds, combine with a beautiful,
serene setting, a dynamic program on what it means to be powerful and gutsy,
plus great food, time to become self-aware and pattern aware, and add in some
time to relax and have some self-care, and you’ve got GUTSY Success.
Attendees at the highly successful May event described the
weekend as, “amazing, empowering, inspiring, and motivating”, and did not want
to see it end. One attendee stated she returned home and sat with her daughter
for two hours sharing what she learned. She told her how important it was to
get quiet and take care of herself, especially when stressed with relationships
and work. She dialogued with her
daughter using questions she had been asked at the retreat. They discussed
family, relationships and work, and after a lot of tears and hugs her daughter
was on her way home and this attendee had already paid it forward to someone
else. Each attendee left with a GUTSY
Action Plan for making a difference in their own lives and paying it forward to
others.
The next GUTSY Women Week-End Retreat is scheduled for
August 5-7 at The Country Place Retreat and Conference Center. For a brochure
and registration materials, please call 570-636-3858 or email Shirley@ceoptions.com or visit http://www.ceoptions.com/?page_id=55
.
About CEO:
Founded in 1985 Creative Energy Options (CEO, Inc.) is an
internationally recognized consulting firm with expertise in redefining
leadership, workplace relationships, and conflict resolution. We help you
create immediate, profound, and positive changes in your work culture using our
Pattern-Aware™ tools, tips, and techniques.
We guarantee improved employee and client relationships. Our
practical information and methods, used in businesses of all sizes, help
leaders and employees ACT for Success by being Accountable, Collaborative,
Trustworthy.
Sylvia Lafair’s award winning book “Don’t Bring It to Work” is now being used in undergraduate and
graduate classes at Purdue University and workplaces throughout the United
States. She is a sought after workshop leaders and keynote speaker.
GUTSY
Women Leaders Make Change
White Haven, PA - May 23, 2011
In honor of Women’s Health Month and
International Women’s Day, Sylvia Lafair PhD, is doing a double launch of her
newest book “GUTSY! How Women Leaders
Make Change” and her “GUTSY Women
Week-End Retreat” May 20-22. The new
event will be held at her corporate training facility, The Country Place in
Northeastern Pa. Women, at the forefront
of business, are making positive changes happen every day in every way by
redefining leadership, and Dr. Lafair is here to give the short cuts to amazing
success.
Sylvia Lafair has done it again! Her new GUTSY
women’s leadership program, retreat style, gives working women what they need:
time to reenergize, recalibrate, and refuel. The Friday evening through Sunday
noon program addresses three core, areas, “how to be the best” in self-care,
self-aware, and pattern-aware.
“In my research I really understand how vital
it is for women to find the balance between what to give and what to get, and
the essence to all of this is a new view of workplace relationships”, states
Lafair.
GUTSY women learn that self-care is not
selfish-care. Time is put aside to get quiet and get relaxed.
GUTSY women learn to be self- aware, when to
plunge forward or stop. Time is spent with easy to follow tips on how to trust
your gut and retrain your brain.
GUTSY women learn that pattern-aware means
knowing everything you can about relationships, why patterns repeat and what to
do about them.
The GUTSY Week-end Retreats are based on her 35
years of being a leader, often at a time when women were still standing behind
men. She did plunge into new territory in healthcare, education, and business,
learning how to partner in an equal way rather than seeing men as adversaries.
Her new book “GUTSY! How Women Leaders Make Change” includes the long view of
the way women have changed the patterns of history, or as she calls it
“herstory” and practical ways to be both
feminine and tough, in a word, GUTSY.
As she is often quoted, “Take the road less
traveled; there’s no traffic to hold you back”.
Sylvia Lafair, President of CEO Wins Top 25
Women in Northeastern Pennsylvania Award
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, President
of CEO and award winning author has recently been recognized by her community
as one of the Top 25 Women in Business.
The award is presented annually by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business
Journal and NEPA National Association of Business Women.
Dr. Lafair shares the award
with an elite group of business leaders and entrepreneurs from around the
community and their achievements will be celebrated at a luncheon on June 17th.
The best part of Dr. Lafair's
day is the people she gets to spend it with. Although she spends a great deal
of time with words-articles, blogs, and books that she writes-it's really about
engaging people. As Dr. Lafair states, "The best part of my day is
talking to people, relating to others and exploring better ways to handle
problems that come up at work and at home."
Dr. Lafair's advice for aspiring leaders is to look with a
critical eye to relationships they saw around them, mother, father, other
relatives, coaches, or teachers and how
these important people in their lives behaved in situations; if they stood up
or backed down in times of stress or conflict. We repeat these situations
without ever realizing it. The way we react and respond to everyday situations
is deeply ingrained in us from family, culture, and crisis. In looking forward, today's aspiring leaders
need to observe if they are repeating patterns or charting their own
course. Men and women of all ages need
to explore working in partnership with each other-it's no longer about your gender,
the color of your skin, or the language you speak, it's about how we can meet,
understand, and accept all of our differences.
Lafair's philosophy has long
been that life is a daring adventure-or it's nothing. She believes taking the
road less traveled means fewer traffic jams!
Her award winning book "Don't Bring It to Work" (Jossey Bass) has been ranked in the top
of Amazon's Best Selling Workplace books. She is the author of the e-book,
"Pattern Aware Success Guide" and has an upcoming e-book on women in
leadership, "GUTSY Women". She
was a contributing author for the acclaimed book, "Working Together" and she is
often quoted as a workplace relationship expert in newspapers and magazines
across the country, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, USA Today,
Time, New York Times, as well as being on radio, webinars, television, and
presenting at national conferences. She has two business blogs and contributes
to many national leadership blogs.
For
more information on Dr. Lafair, visit www.sylvialafair.com or www.ceoptions.com.
How to be Calm, Comfortable, and Relaxed during a Speech or
Presentation
White Haven, PA, - Janurary 26, 2011
Results First Training, Inc. and Creative Energy
Options, Inc. are teaming up to offer a new workshop to improve your
presentations skills. Whether you’re making your first big keynote address,
presenting a new concept to your boss, or making a sales presentation, this
workshop from business and communication experts will give you the confidence
and skill needed to be calm, comfortable, and relaxed during your speeches and
presentations.
Presentation Skills Training is
probably one of the most important steps you can take for yourself and your
business. Some may think this is a soft skill. Unfortunately, there's
nothing soft about it. Communicating is the one make or break skill that
affects every area of your life. Whether you are on a job interview, asking for
a raise, negotiating with a spouse or children, or of course, speaking at work,
you have an opportunity to create powerful change.
And...
there's good news! It's easier than you think. Once you know what the hidden
systems are and have the tools to use them, you will create new possibilities
in your life. Imagine connecting with
your audience and inspiring them to take action.
Jess
Todtfeld is one of the leading public speaking and communication authorities in
the U.S. Prior to running his own training and consulting company, Jess was a
television producer on the national level for 13 years for networks including ABC, NBC, and FOX. Jess spent two years
with Cable’s #1 prime time show, “The O’Reilly Factor.” While there, Jess saw many guests
that could have benefited from proper communication training. Before making his
way to FOX, Jess spent two years at the NBC's cable channel “America’s
Talking." Jess performed on-air duties reporting and delivering humorous
on-air feature pieces.
For more than 15 years, Jess has helped CEOs, U.N. officials, business
executives, spokespeople, mid-level managers, experts, and authors to not just
do a better job when speaking, but to create powerful and measurable action.
On
a daily basis, Jess helps people to propel their business forward by helping them
with small and easy changes that yield large results.
Jess
feels one of his greatest accomplishments is being able to give people the
confidence to master this area of their lives. Jess
Todtfeld, President of Results First Training, states, “I am so proud to be
able to offer this workshop to the public. Almost all of my business is
private, corporate trainings and I am pleased to offer this program to the
public.”
Sylvia Lafair, President of Creative Energy
Options, Inc. and award winning
author of “Don’t Bring It to Work” will co-present at this open to the public
workshop.
Lafair is a business leadership and communications expert. Dr.
Lafair’s talents to make the complex simple, has revolutionized the way
employees cooperate and teams collaborate. Her company is dedicated to
redefining leadership and optimizing workplace behavior.
Her award winning book “Don’t Bring It to
Work” (Jossey Bass) has been ranked in the top of Amazon’s Best Selling
Workplace books. She is often quoted as a workplace relationship expert in
newspapers and magazines across the country, including the Wall Street Journal,
Forbes.com, USA Today, Time, New York Times, as well as being on
radio and TV programs.
As an executive coach and leadership educator, she has
30+ years of experience with all levels of management from corporate officers
of global companies to executives of non-profits, owners of leading
family-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs. She holds a doctorate in Clinical
Psychology.
As a workshop leader or keynote speaker, Sylvia engages audiences with her
natural storytelling ability. Her thought-provoking messages leave audiences
with information to take back to the office and immediately put into practice.
Lafair
states, “I am honored to be presenting the plus part of this workshop,
addressing the unique gifts and challenges you bring to your presentation
skills and of course giving you the techniques to transform the challenges into
gifts by being aware of your patterns that have developed over the years.”
Outcomes
from this workshop:
-
Gain a new level of
confidence ANY time you speak in front of people
-
Feel more relaxed and confident
-
Overcome nervousness
-
Connect with colleagues,
bosses, or any audience at a level you never thought possible
-
Be able to put a speech or
presentation together in half the time,
with twice the results.
-
Create more action when you
speak, whether you are motivating co-workers to work harder, or compelling
others to "buy" what you are saying or selling
You
should attend if you are:
-
Executives, managers,
business owners, sales people, entrepreneurs, and anyone who thinks an
improvement in communication skills can help their career or personal
life.
-
Those who currently give
presentations.
-
Those who plan to give
presentations.
-
Those who AVOID presentations
but would like to change that.
To
receive more information on this program contact Mary Jane Saras, maryjane@ceoptions.com, 570-636-3858
or go to http://www.presentationsplusworkshop.com
to register.
Business Leadership Expert to Host Women’s Leadership Program.
White Haven, PA – January 6, 2011
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, award winning author of “Don’t Bring It to Work” and President of Creative Energy Options, Inc.(CEO) will host the popular WELL, “Women Executive Leadership Learning” program. The two-day event, “REINVENT YOURSELF”, will focus on what it means to be a female leader in today’s world. This workshop puts the spotlight on what women leaders want and need in our complex world.
The program will be held at The Country Place Retreat and Conference Center located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Pre-registration is suggested. We begin at11:00am on Wednesday, March 2nd and will conclude at 4:00pm on Thursday, March 3rd.
What happens when you hit the wall? How do you pick yourself up and keep going? Ever think, "Is that all there is?" Has your career hit a lull? Do you want more or maybe something different? Have you realized your dreams? Do you need help getting there? Then come drink from the WELL (Women Executive Leadership Learning), an intensive program that will help you untie old “NOTS” of ‘am not’, ‘cannot’, ‘will not’, and ‘not enough.’ Once unbound, there is a new kind of freedom awaiting you!!
WELL was developed by women for women and has been conducted previously at The Country Place and Retreat Center on the topic of breaking through the glass ceiling.
Lafair states, “Yes, a lot has changed, but maybe not enough. Or maybe it’s that a whole lot has changed and now you’re not sure you want to buy the whole package. There are unanswered questions that tug and pull: “what about my family, are my children getting what they need, is my partner still finding me intriguing, are my colleagues supporting me, when do I find “me” time, do I really want another promotion? These questions and more will be addressed in the March 2-3 program”.
In addition to Dr. Lafair, the program will be facilitated by Mary Jane Saras, LCSW, Vice President of Leadership Development for CEO, as well as other guest presenters.
For registration information, please contact Shirley Sabol, Executive Coordinator of CEO at shirley@ceoptions.com or call 570-636-3858 or follow this link to download the registration form.
Build and Give Team Building Helps Kids and Teams
White Haven, PA - October 14, 2010
The staff of Attalus Capital, a Philadelphia based investment management firm, recently participated in “Build and Give”, a unique team building event facilitated by Mary Jane Saras, Vice President of Leadership Development for Creative Energy Options, Inc., a consulting firm focused on optimizing workplace relationships.
“Build and Give” is a fun and specialized team building event designed to improve communication and conflict skills, increase strategic thinking and collaboration skills, while having fun and doing something good for others. The give-back in this event is the end result of a brand new, shiny bicycle that is donated to charity. Not only is the team gaining new skills, they are creating a model of team philanthropy by giving back to the local community with the gift of new bikes for those in need.
Attalus Capital graciously donated five children’s bicycles to Youth Infusion, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging young men and women in the process of improving their communities. Youth Infusion in turn invited Pocono Services for Families and Children (PSFC) to join them in accepting these bicycles as part of a donation to their Head Start Program in Monroe County which serves 188 low income pre-school children and their families. Tim Lee, Executive Director of PSFC gladly accepted the 5 bicycles and stated, “In the world of the majority of families we serve through PSFC, a bike of this nature would be considered a luxury item. What a wonderful gift not only to the children who receive them, but to their parents who experience the joy in seeing their child receive such a gift.”
Also present at the “Build and Give” event at the Skytop Lodge was Garret Frank and David Lee Ping, both are students representing Youth Infusion’s Youth Advisory Board along with Elika Almeida, Co-founder and Director of Marketing for Youth Infusion and Patricia Tiernan, Youth Infusion’s Board Secretary, East Stroudsburg High School South’s English Teacher and Cavalier Justice Academy’s Service-Learning Instructor. Garret Frank shared his reflections on the event by stating, “It was a great experience to see people take time out of their day to donate to children who are less fortunate and may not have opportunities to experience the joy I had as a child riding my first bike.”
This teambuilding event was possible through collaboration and communication between several non-profit organizations and businesses and proves that giving and donating back to the community is gratifying and at the same time, a lot of fun.
For more information on The “Build and Give” program and Creative Energy Options, visit their website, www.ceoptions.com or call 570-636-3858 or email Mary Jane Saras at MaryJane@ceoptions.com.
Business Leadership Expert and Keynote Speaker Sylvia Lafair Wins Prestigious Book Award
White Haven, PA -- September 21, 2010
“Don’t Bring It to Work” published by Jossey Bass and written by Sylvia Lafair, PhD, President of Creative Energy Options, Inc.,(CEO), has recently been named “Best Book” from Nautilus Books in the Business and Leadership Category. The book was featured at the Book Expo in New York City. The judging is a multifaceted process going through several tiers of evaluation. Judges include editors, college professors, writers and publishers.
“I’m honored to have been acknowledged knowing the competition was strong and I’m proud to be recognized with such a distinguished group of authors,” said Lafair who speaks frequently about leadership at corporate and association conferences, where her message offers immediate and profound transformation.
Her award winning book “Don’t Bring It to Work” has been ranked in the top of Amazon’s Best Selling Workplace books.
“Don’t Bring It to Work” addresses the 13 most common behavior patterns in the workplace, the underlying cause of office politics and poor communication. The book offers tips and tools to transform them for increased creativity and productivity.
In addition Dr. Lafair is now offering the companion “Leadership Success Guide” as a daily method to consciously transform your life both at work and at home.
Her leadership course, “Total Leadership Connections” utilizes many of the tools found in the book. The course, a four session program, offers individuals the opportunity to make long-lasting, sustainable change within the comfort of a small group setting; a unique format with people from various industries and organizations.
“Our “Total Leadership Connections” program has proven results,” said Herb Kaufman, CEO for CEO. “We can see the change in people and we can prove it with our 360 Degree Leadership Assessment that is conducted before someone starts the program and again six months following completion of the program. We’re very proud of the strong results we’re seeing with this assessment.”
Back by request is WELL, “Women Executive Leadership Learning”, a 2 day seminar that puts the spotlight on what women leaders want and need in today’s complex world.
To learn more about this program, http://retreatpa.com/programs.php.
To explore how your company can benefit from our leadership programs or having Dr. Lafair speak at your next program, please view our website, www.ceoptions.com or www.sylvialafair.com. You may call or email, Mary Jane Saras, maryjane@ceoptions.com or 570-636-3858.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Experience the Breakthrough that will Help you Succeed
Don't Bring It to Work
"The concepts and action strategies I learned from working with Sylvia Lafair and going through the "Total Leadership Connections" program have been invaluable in my career. As you can imagine, working in the newsroom can be a stressful setting coupled with lots of "bloated" egos. The basic philosophy of understanding how we bring our family patterns to work and how stress activates them has helped me as a leader in handling difficult situations quickly and effectively to get the work done faster and with minimal dissention. If you want to take your work life, your team or your company to the next level or better yet, the level beyond that, do this important work. The payoff is the elusive breakthrough you've sought for years."
--Tyler Mathisen, co-anchor of CNBC's "Power Lunch" and VP of Strategic Editorial Initiatives
"One of the most original and useful books on the family/work/life balance issue."
--Warren Bennis, Distinguished Leadership of Business, University of Southern California
You know the type—maybe he's the office clown, who's a lot like your uncle, or the guy who manages to look busy but avoids work like your brother, or the gal who is the long-suffering victim similar to your mother-in-law there's one in every office. Perhaps you or someone you know fits one of these profiles. These are examples of the behavior patterns revealed in Dr. Sylvia Lafair's Don't Bring It to Work (Jossey-Bass) Price $24.95 hardcover
During this time of constant stress, this book is even more necessary for the office. When stress hits the hot button we all revert to behavior patterns we learned in our families for survival and security. So, if your co-workers are acting like babies...you're right.
This book tackles the people stuff at work and gives answers to handling tension and conflict that can guide teams to optimum productivity. Sylvia Lafair maps out three important steps for becoming aware of patterns and finding the way OUT:
- Observe - you can make positive change once you learn the skills to observe your behavior patterns
- Understand - you can make even deeper and long lasting changes once you understand where the patterns come from
- Transform - and best of all once you transform your patterns you can influence and motivate others.
The result is a new found creative energy that will foster better workplace associations and career success.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D., is an expert on leadership, workplace behavior and relationships. Clients from top businesses often have her cell phone number on speed dial, as she deftly helps them navigate difficult conflicts with board members, employees, associates, and even family. Unlike other executive coaches, she began her career as a family therapist and is fine tuned to the reverberations from family life that play out in the work place. Lafair is the Founder and President of Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO), a consulting firm with retreat centers in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. CEO also runs teambuilding workshops and educational seminars for entire organizations, focused on results through relationships.
Thousands of business professionals have utilized the principles of "Don't Bring It to Work" including those from Microsoft, AstraZeneca, Aveda Salons, Novartis, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Her numerous articles have been published in leading journals and magazines including Business Week, The Wall Street Journal online, and Time.com. She is a much sought-after speaker on the subjects of leadership, effective communication, conflict resolution and creative collaboration.
Many of her earlier programs which explored the newest advances in health, wellness and spirituality presented a stellar collection of thinkers, including Deepak Chopra, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, Matthew Fox, Robert Bly and many others.
Lafair holds a PhD in clinical psychology and is a supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, a charter member of the American Family Therapy Academy, a member of the American Society of Training and Development, and the Society for Human Resource Management.
* * *
Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success
By Sylvia Lafair
www.sylvialafair.com
Jossey-Bass an Imprint of Wiley
March 3, 2009
$24.95; Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0-470-40436-2
