Three Day Workshop Equips Managers with Essential Skills
For the third year since their 2023 Train the Trainers: Essential Skills pilot program, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has wrapped up their Essential Skills Workshop graduating 42 local managers.
Representing a variety of industries, business sizes, and roles, the 42 participants spent three consecutive mornings at the Chamber Depot with Andrew Robinson of GiANT Worldwide to gain practical skills that they could bring back and apply immediately. In the end, the reach of this year’s program exceeded 450 employees as managers reported how many people they supervise in their roles.
The Essential Skills Workshop model emerged from a need indicated by the business community for more focused workforce development and leadership training opportunities to up-skill and retain employees at the manager level. Reflected by Chamber’s 2024 Business Climate Survey, programming and educational needs in areas of leadership development and managerial training remain high priorities among Springfield area employers. Thanks to the Chamber’s generous Impact Investors, the training is offered at no cost.
Day 1: focus on self-awareness
The first day of the workshop focused on helping participants identify their unique leadership voice through the 5 Voices framework. Attendees arrived having already completed an online assessment and spent the session diving deeper into understanding their communication styles and tendencies. Through a mix of small group conversations, paired exercises, and full-group discussions, participants explored how their voice shows up in team dynamics and decision-making. Time was also set aside for individual reflection, allowing each attendee to connect personally with their strengths and challenges as a leader.
Day 2: focus on other awareness
Building on the foundation of self-awareness, the second day of the workshop shifted the focus toward understanding and adapting to others. Participants examined how increased awareness of different leadership voices can enhance communication, build trust, and expand influence across teams. Activities included paired dialogue, breakout groups, and guided large-group discussion, encouraging attendees to practice calibrating their approach in real time. Individual reflection periods allowed space to consider how these insights could be applied in daily interactions and team environments.
“Being able to take the time and develop as a leader helps you show up for your team, as well as demonstrate a commitment to the continuous improvement of your organization and yourself. When company leaders take that time out of their day, they’re showing their employees that they value this, and they’re infusing that sense of continuous improvement into their entire company.”
– Susan Ordonez, Senior Associate Director, Alumni Engagement at University of Oregon Alumni Association
Day 3: focus on coaching competence
The final day of the training introduced participants to practical coaching tools designed to support the growth and development of those they lead. Participants evaluated their current coaching habits and identified areas for improvement through a structured framework. Small group sessions and peer coaching exercises allowed for honest feedback and shared learning, while full-group discussions highlighted common challenges and opportunities. The workshop concluded with individual reflection on how to implement these strategies in participants’ own organizations, rounding out the three-day series with actionable steps for long-term leadership impact.
Participants reported after the workshop that they took away valuable lessons and applicable skills, excited to make improvements that would help with communication, interpersonal issues, goal-setting, and other day to day challenges occurring in the workplace.
“I came in trying to figure out a way to engage with other people and have that engagement come back to me. Sometimes you wonder, ‘how did that person arrive at their thinking?’ It helped going through the Five Voices– that person thinks the way they think– which shows me how I can connect with that person better. Instead of ‘my way is the only way’, I can bounce off their ideas, get feedback, and work better as a team.“
– Arthur Moore, Manufacturing Supervisor, ASTEC Industries
Looking ahead
The Springfield Chamber’s Essential Skills Workshop has proven an exceptional and highly-sought-after resource for both workforce and leadership development, exceeding participation expectations every year since 2022. The Chamber plans to add a second, three-half-day workshop to expand the program’s reach and impact by 2026.
Thank you to Sponsors, Impact Investors
This Essential Skills Workshop would not be made available for free each year without the support of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Impact Investors: City of Springfield, Chambers Construction, Murphy Company, Lane Transit District, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, NW Natural, Olsson Industrial Electric, PeaceHealth, Sierra Pacific Industries, ASTEC Industries, Inc., Eugene Springfield Firefighters Local 851, Springfield Utility Board, Lane Workforce Partnership, Summit Bank, Umpqua Bank, ZiplyFiber. The Chamber would also like to thank their member Chick-fil-A Gateway for sponsoring Monday’s lunch.
About the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s WorkReady Program
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s WorkReady initiative is a collaborative effort led by business and economic development leaders in Springfield, aimed at revitalizing the local economy, enhancing career-based learning opportunities, and cultivating a well-trained workforce. The initiative aims to achieve these goals through targeted investments and collaborative partnerships that create a strong workforce development system, contributing to business growth, talent attraction, and retention. WorkReady is committed to building a robust education and workforce development ecosystem, recognizing its significance in driving economic prosperity.
