Instructor Training for I–SkillsZone

City & Dates

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Denver, CO - February 20 & 21, 2019 (Wednesday and Thursday)

Denver, CO - April 25 & 26, 2019 (Thursday and Friday)

Denver, CO - September 11 & 12, 2019 (Wednesday and Thursday)

Denver, CO - November 14 & 15, 2019 (Thursday and Friday)

(Also see Instructor Training at Your Company) 

Eligibility for Instructor Training

Instructor training is open to human resource, performance improvement, organizational development and management-supervisory personnel with experience in at least one of these areas: training, teaching, facilitating, coaching, consulting, or counseling.

Description of Instructor Training

The master trainer for the workshop, Sherod Miller, arranges for two or three trainees to attend a 2-day I–SkillsZone workshop he facilitates regularly in Denver (in which about 24 managers and supervisors from a variety of companies participate).  Trainees themselves take part in the workshop, and they meet with Dr. Miller at lunchtime and after the workshop day for discussion of:

Training Methods

Underlying theory

Rationale for Particular Approaches

Ways to Contract with Organizations

Optional Designs

Specific Questions/Issues

Workshop Objectives

The approach to instructor training (described above) prepares facilitators to teach the I–SkillsZone system by:

• Gaining familiarity with the major concepts and skills taught in the I–SkillsZone.
• Identifying the competencies for successful instruction of the frameworks, skills, and processes.
• Practicing skill/process coaching methods (including the use of skills mats) with real and simulated issues.
• Discovering ways to transfer and apply I–SkillsZone skills and processes on the job (including the use of learning tools).
• Exploring guidelines for engaging special circumstances (e.g.,dealing with resistance, working with highly conflicted teams).
• Learning how to select/create instructional designs to match learning objectives.

Workshop Learning Methods
One engaging aspect of the I–SkillsZone system instructor training is that participants choose their own real challenging work issues/situations (not other peoples’ circumstances or case studies) for practicing and applying the material. Other methods include: brief presentations; live demonstrations; use of innovative, interactive skills mats (to accelerate learning) with feedback and coaching on the skills and processes; discussion exercises; and application of reinforcement tools.

Workshop Content

For a description of the content of the workshop, click here.

Instructor Materials

Each Instructor receives his or her own set of Instructor Training Materials with Instructor Training.

The materials include:

• 1 ‑I–SkillsZone Instructor Manual (250 pages, 8 x 1/2 by 11” Loose Leaf Binder, 1 inside pocket) The Instructor Manual guides instructors in teaching the I–SkillsZone system effectively. It contains six sections:          
  1. Instructor Competencies presents 12 specific areas of competency for teaching the systems and describes how to achieve them.
     
  2. Theory explains modern communication and systems principles as well as neuroscientific discoveries of the human brain as they relate to communication.
  3. Contracting provides details on how to contract with clients for results as well as information on marketing the I–SkillsZone system.
  4. Practical Considerations deals with guidelines and techniques for handling special training situations.
  5. Instructor Certification and Company Licensing describes the certification process (and includes the necessary forms to use) for becoming a certified instructor as well as requirements for a company to licsense I–SkillsZone maps, tools and skills.
  6. Instructional Designs provides three detailed training designs
• 1 I–SkillsZone Presentation CD
• 1 ‑set of floor skills mats (1 Information Wheel Skills Mat and 1 Listening Cycle Skills Mat)

• 1 ‑I–SkillsZone Participant Set (I–SkillsZone workbook and binder, tabletop skills mat, Information Wheel pad, and set of 4 pocket cards)

Workshop Leader

Sherod Miller, Ph.D., is a social-psychologist and C.E.O.

of Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc., an Evergreen, Colorado-based publishing and training company. He is an author and master teacher in interpersonal communication and team development.

Dr. Miller specializes in providing practical tools and skills for increasing the capacity to handle complexity. His mission is to develop leaders who are competent in interpersonal communication, conflict-resolution, and collaboration throughout their organizations.

Over a million people have participated in the business and family communication programs that Dr. Miller has developed. Articles on his work have appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, and Psychology Today. Besides the I–SkillsZone, his books include: Alive and Aware, Straight Talk, Talking and Listening Together, Connecting with Self and Others, Collaborative Team Skills, and Core Communication. He has also served as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, appeared on the Today Show, and received four national awards for his teaching and research.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the workshop, as well as an engaging and pleasant teaching style.

Registration Information and Fees

An individual phone conversation with Sherod Miller is required to determine feasibility for attending the training.  If it fits, information is provided for workshop registration, materials, and hotel accommodations.

$580 for attendance at workshop

$360 for an Instructor Set of each of the I–SkillsZone materials
(for description, click here).

Shipping fees for materials are additional.  Travel, hotel, and meal expenses are additional.

Instructor Certification

Following instructor training, a facilitator is qualified to teach the I–SkillsZone system.  For on-going support by ICP, an instructor may choose to continue with a certification process.  This process guides an instructor through additional activities to become the best he or she can be in teaching the I–SkillsZone system.

Process of Certification
The certification process involves:

• Attendance at an I–SkillsZone Instructor training workshop
• Evaluations by 40 I–SkillsZone participants taught or coached by the instructor.
• Provide instructor self-evaluations for each group taught of the 40 evaluations.
• Pass a written exam on the I–SkillsZone Instructor Manual and Participant Workbooks (Details of the certification process, including appropriate forms, are in the Instructor Manual)

Benefits of Certification
Benefits for becoming an active Certified I–SkillsZone Instructor include:

1. Right to promote yourself as a certified I–SkillsZone Instructor.
2. Qualification to purchase I–SkillsZone Participant Sets and other learning and application support tools
3. Eligibility to receive training referrals as the opportunity arises.