National Speakers Association-North Texas Chapter Lab Presentation with Shari Barth

Topic:  Speakers, There’s More to this Life than Bureaus: Working with a Talent Development Broker

Date:  February 12, 2020

Time:  6:30-8:00p.m.

To Register, go to:  https://speaker.org/lab-february-12-2020/

Session Description:

Most speakers are probably familiar with the term “Bureau” but I’m going to guess that not too many know the term “Talent Development Broker.” Perhaps it’s because I made it up and coined the term myself (maybe?), or perhaps it’s because it’s way less common than a Speakers Bureau is (more likely!). Either way, join us on February 12 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm to learn more!

As a Talent Development Broker, I work nationwide with clients big and small, no matter the industry (corporate organizations, advertising, agencies, non-profits, government, distributors, associations, franchisees, franchisors) to secure top talent across all disciplines for organizational assignments in 4 key areas or channels: Keynote Speaking, Training, Coaching, and Consulting. And, I am always on the hunt for new and unique talent and offerings.

This session is designed for new speakers, experienced speakers, those who want to add new channels to their offerings, and those who want to expand their footprint within key channels. In other words, it’s designed for those who are looking to increase their bookings!

Key Takeaways:

Come discover

• What is a Talent Development Broker?
• How do I best work with a Broker’s clients?
• How can a Talent Development Broker help me work more effectively with my own clients?
• How might a Talent Development Broker partner with me to grow my biggest client accounts?

Shari Barth Bio:

Shari Barth of Optimal Training Solutions (www.OptimalTrainingSolutions.com) is a Talent Development Broker.

Over the last 25+ years, Shari Barth has built a successful career centered around the things that are most near and dear to her: training, coaching, keynote speaking, and consulting, and moving organizations toward success. Professionally, there is no greater motivation for Shari than working with organizations who seek the tools to improve performance and matching them to the right resource, in the right city, at the right price point.

Having contributed for many years as both an internal employee (for JCPenney) and as an external consultant (for Accenture), Shari experienced first-hand how difficult it could be for an organization to navigate the search to find the right person for projects and assignments.  Shari decided, “What if I connect the dots between client needs and top talent?” and an entrepreneur and Optimal Training Solutions (OTS) was born in 2001. Today, OTS (a fully certified woman-owned business) dramatically expedites the connection process, decreases the search time, and helps organizations find better matches than they could on their own.

When Shari’s not “connecting the dots” she enjoys spending time in Plano, Texas with her husband Michael and daughters Zoe and Maddy.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Michigan.

Join Us!

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 / 6:30p-9:30p

Hilton Garden Inn
1001 W. President George Bush Turnpike
Richardson, Texas 75080

Investment:

• All Access Pass Holders: Free (you must register to attend labs)
• Members: $49.00
• Guests (non-NSA Members): $59.00
• Walk-ins (anyone): $69.00
• First time guests of a chapter meeting: $25.00

Seating is Limited – Only 40 spaces available – Please sign up as early as possible. 

Registration at the Door will be accepted ONLY if seating is available.

To Register, go to:  https://speaker.org/lab-february-12-2020/

Negotiation: How to Prepare to Ask for a Raise.

When was the last time that you negotiated a raise or promotion?  Do you get a little weak in the knees at the thought of asking your boss for a raise?

Recently a friend of mine was lamenting to me that she needed to get a part-time job to supplement her income because she had not received a raise in over 3 years.  She explained that she had been instrumental in getting a raise for 15 of her employees but not one for herself.

I said, “Well, we need to change that.”

As we worked together over several weeks, we came up with a firm plan for her to get in front of her boss and boldly ask for that long overdue raise.

Here are a few negotiating pointers that you can use to ask for your next raise:

• Research the salary range of your current position in the area of which you live.  Go to: www.salary.com for reliable information.
  • Decide exactly what dollar figure raise that you expect to receive.
  • If your company traditionally only grants a percentage cost-of-living raise, you must decide if this is reasonable based upon your research.

• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile to include:
  • Continuing education classes – those for credit or industry/expertise education.
    • Include any certifications that you hold.
  • If you are working on a degree or certification, list that with the expected completion date.
  • Projects of which you have been involved.
  • Committees that you have participated.
  • Include all of your external business accomplishments – civic, networking, education, etc.
  • Have you been awarded industry honors?  Include those.
  • What new skills have you learned or attained since your last evaluation?
  • Include any publications, including White Papers you have produced, even if you are the co-author.
  • Are you a volunteer with any community or civic organizations. Include these under Community Service, especially if you hold or have held a position as the leadership team.

• Make a list of all of your accomplishments since the last time you received a raise or had your an annual evaluation.
  • Don’t forget to include industry and community accolades of which you have been honored.
  • How many people do you supervise?
  • Have you been instrumental in creating work improvements objectives for your department and/or for the entire company?
• Make a list of proposed updates, changes or work initiatives that you have determined you can generate.
  • For every recommendation, write a justification to match.
  • If you have a coach or close friend, use them as a sounding board to role-play with them to work through all of your proposals.
  • If you have worked for your boss for over a year, you should be accustomed to what his/her response will be.
  • Think through the possible responses that you will get based upon his/her reactions and be prepared to defend your points.

• List key skill-sets that you have expertise including:
  • team leadership.
  • upper management skills.
  • computer expertise – list programs that you are particularly adept.

• Above all, never go into an annual review without being armed with your written list of what you have accomplished and how you plan to be instrumental in growing the organization in the coming year.

After coaching my friend though these tips, she not only received a raise but also was promoted to Vice President of the company!

You too can be successful in negotiating a raise and/or promotion.  Just remember, everything is negotiable.  Be bold and be prepared to receive a “Yes” answer!

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2017

Peggy is a Certified Professional Coach who works with individuals to set career goals and objectives.  Her focus is to guide her clients to a win-win.

Networker of the Year 2015

I was humbled and honored to be the 2015 recipient of the Jo Wagner Networker of the Year Award by my business-to-business networking organization, Team Networking (www.teamnetworking.com)

It has been my pleasure to service this organization in a leadership capacity for 15 of the 17 years that I’ve been a member.  I can’t begin to enumerate all of the people that I have come in contact with during this time that has not helped me in one way or another.

Truly I believe Zig Ziglar’s statment:

“If you help enough other people get what they want, you will get what you want.” 

Some of the things that I have accomplished through my membership in TN has been:

• Edge Packaging Systems – I joined TN at the same time that I was starting my packaging company.
• I have grown my business strictly from “warm referrals” never cold calling.

I never say to a prospect or client who has a need, “I can’t help you.”  It doesn’t matter that it’s ice for Eskimos.  I will find it or make a connection to someone who can help.  

Why?  Because the competition is always willing to do what someone else in unwilling to do.  Plus, my theory is that if Joe Bob needs, Lucy Jane may need it too!  That’s called:  Your Edge over your Competition!

• Leadership skills  – Being a leader or teacher was the furthermost from mind.   I offered to fill-in as  the Member Liaison back in 2000 when we only had 1 chapter.  That led me to 15 years of being involved in some aspect of Team’s corporate leadership.
• Edge Consultants  – After many years of coaching, mentoring and training others in the fine skill-set of networking, several of my advocates said, “Peggy, you need to be paid for your expertise.”  Well, duh! What a concept!
• I simply put a note on Facebook that said:  “I’m looking for opportunities to speak on Effective Business Networking.  Immediately I received 4 inquiries and 2 of those came to fruition within 2 weeks.
  • Creating and developing the leadership training program at Team has parlayed me into training individuals and corporate sales team on the fine skill-set of networking.
• Professional Coach – Last year, after having researching ways to expand my consulting business it seemed the next natural step would be for me to certified  as a coach.  This April I received my sheep-skin as a Certified Professional coach. 
• The most recent venture that I will be undertaking is to help other groups of individuals develop and grow their own networking organizations around the country.

As all of you know, I’m always looking to see how I can Make Connections and Seize Opportunities.  

Thank you Team for all of the opportunities that you have afforded me.  And…I ain’t done yet!

Peg