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Since 2008, Vera Jones of Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC has been facilitating Play Through the Foul Team Building & Communication Training to corporate, government, academic, association, community, and athletic teams. Highly interactive and fun professional development workshops are designed to empower, enlighten, and encourage effective interpersonal communication, particularly given challenging group dynamics. PTTF Training Workshops are a win for any organization seeking to improve team unity and overall productivity. Key training topics include Empathic Leadership and Communication; Valuing Diversity; Goal Achievement; Conflict Resolution; Wellness; and Interpreting Communication/Social Styles.
OVERVIEW
Vera Jones presents fun, informative, and interactive training sessions, ideally in 3-4 hour workshops, but also available in condensed “Power Hour” professional development seminars. More extensive team-building sessions are tailored for retreats or ongoing conflict resolution objectives. All sessions are designed to help participants become more relational and relatable communicators and teammates. Coach Jones provides both theory and interactive exercises to uncover growth opportunities for awareness, accountability, and action for team-specific target areas. The ultimate goal is to help participants become effective and empathic co-workers, supervisors, leaders, and relational human beings overall.
DID YOU KNOW?
- More than 60% of workplace conflict has been reported to be a result of personality clashes. (SHRM.org)
- 95% of people believe they are self-aware, but only about 15% actually are. (leaderchat.org)
- Managing conflict is the biggest challenge for most teams, but very few teams adequately plan or train for conflict resolution.
Since 2008, Vera Jones of Vera's VoiceWorks, LLC has been facilitating Play Through the Foul Team Building 8 Communication Training to corporate, government, academic, association, community, and athletic teams. Highly interactive and fun professional development workshops are designed to empower, enlighten, and encourage effective interpersonal communication, particularly given challenging group dynamics. PTTF Training Workshops are a win for any organization seeking to improve team unity and overall productivity. Key training topics include Empathic Leadership and Communication; Valuing Diversity; Goal Achievement; Conflict Resolution; Wellness; and Interpreting Communication/Social Styles.
OVERVIEW
Vera Jones presents fun, informative, and interactive training sessions, ideally in 3-4 hour workshops, but also
available in condensed “Power Hour” professional development seminars. More extensive team-building
sessions are tailored for retreats or ongoing conflict resolution objectives. All sessions are designed to help
participants become more relational and relatable communicators and teammates. Coach Jones provides both
theory and interactive exercises to uncover growth opportunities for awareness, accountability, and action for
team-specific target areas. The ultimate goal is to help participants become effective and empathic co-
workers, supervisors, leaders, and relational human beings overall.
DID YOU KNOW?
- More than 60% of workplace conflict has been reported to be a result of personality clashes. (SHRM.org)
- 95% of people believe they are self-aware, but only about 1 5% actually are. (leaderchat.org)
- Managing conflict is the biggest challenge for most teams, but very few teams adequately plan or train for conflict resolution.
TOP 6 MOST REQUESTED TRAINING PROGRAMS
1. Empathic Leadership:
LEADERSHIP 6-S
In today’s corporate landscape, empathy is not just a soft skill but a critical leadership competency. Vera Jones’s Empathic Leadership training program helps leaders develop the ability to understand and share the feelings of their team members by recognizing six research-backed core workplace motivators. This program focuses on:
- Understanding the principles of empathic leadership and how it impacts engagement
- Building self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- Creating an inclusive and supportive workplace culture
- Enhancing team morale and productivity through empathy-driven communication strategies
2. Communication and Culture
PLAY THROUGH THE FOUL TEAM BUILDING & COMMUNICATION TRAINING
A strong, cohesive team is the backbone of any successful organization. Vera’s foundational Play Through the Foul Team Building and Communication training program is designed to foster collaboration, trust, and synergy among team members. Participants will learn to:
- Recognize and leverage individual strengths and diverse perspectives
- Improve collaboration and communication within the team
- Resolve conflicts and build mutual respect, trust, and inclusiveness
- Develop a unified vision, define and embrace values, and implement collective goals
3. Public Speaking for Professionals
PLAY THROUGH THE PUBLIC SPEAKING FOUL
Effective public speaking is crucial for professional success and organizational influence. Vera equips participants with the skills to deliver compelling presentations and communicate with confidence. This program covers:
- Techniques for overcoming public speaking anxiety and developing confidence
- Crafting clear, persuasive, and engaging presentations
- Utilizing body language and vocal variety to enhance message delivery
- Strategies for connecting with diverse audiences and personality styles
4. Conflict Resolution
CLASSES FOR CLASHES
Conflict is inevitable in any workplace, but how it is managed can make all the difference. This highly engaging training program provides tools and techniques to handle disputes constructively and maintain a harmonious work environment. As an MTI Certified Mediator and Trainer in Conflict Resolution, Vera brings critical knowledge that includes:
- Identifying sources and types of workplace conflict
- Effective, empathic communication practices for conflict resolution
- Self-Mediation and third-party resolution strategies
- Building a culture of proactive conflict management
- Conflict Dynamics Profile Individual and Group Assessments
5. Communication Styles
COMMUNICATING WITH STYLE
Understanding and adapting to different communication styles can significantly improve workplace interactions and efficiency. Vera Jones is a self-professed “communication and psychology geek” who will bring heightened levels of energy and excitement to this training program which helps participants to:
- Identify their own communication style and that of others
- Adapt communication methods to suit various situations and audiences
- Enhance interpersonal skills and reduce misunderstandings
- Foster a more collaborative and productive workplace
6. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
GIRLS DON’T WHISTLE
Vera believes stimulating greater empathy and building trust are major keys for opening doors bolted for biases, fear, and ignorance. Tempering the need for honest self-introspection, Vera sheds light on why we react blindly to differentness and therefore perpetuate stigmas and negative stereotypes. This program delves into:
- Identifying and addressing biases that hinder workplace diversity and inclusion
- Effective, empathic communication practices to build trust and understanding
- Simple solutions for conflict resolution within diverse and inclusive settings
- Strategies for leaders to develop awareness, accountability, and actionable DEIB plans
Why Choose Vera Jones and Play Through The Foul Training?
Play Through the Foul training programs are not just informative but transformative. Vera’s interactive and engaging training style ensures that participants leave with actionable insights and skills that can be immediately applied in their professional roles. Here’s what sets Vera apart:
- Proven Expertise: With more than 15 years of experience in corporate training, Vera has a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and professional development.
- Engaging Delivery: Vera’s energetic, empathetic, and motivational training style keeps participants engaged and motivated to learn and grow.
- Tailored Solutions: Each training program is customized to meet the specific needs and goals of your organization.
- Sustainable Impact: Vera focuses on creating lasting change, ensuring that the skills and strategies learned continue to benefit your organization long after the training session ends.
- Individualized 1:1 Coaching: Vera not only trains, but she also offers a more extensive, personalized approach with individual coaching for executive, senior leadership, middle managerial, and staff development coaching. This added benefit helps to demonstrate your organization’s commitment to individual professional development beyond the training day experience.
Invest in your team’s growth and your organization’s success with Vera Jones. Transform your workplace through powerful training programs that inspire leadership, foster collaboration, and drive excellence.
Contact Vera Jones Today to Schedule Your Play Through The Foul Training!
Click the images for the downloadable pdf!
These presentations invite participants to:
- lead with clarity and confidence from an engagement and innovation focus of “I Can.”
- understand the mindset, the “how to,” and the importance of communicating significance and security as primary principles in your organizational, community, or social leadership role.
- become motivated to lead others through adversity, as this is when true, empathic leadership is needed most. You matter!
- gain more confidence, knowledge, and excitement about developing your brand, communication style, and message.
- become savvier in verbal and non-verbal communication.
- understand why the fear of public speaking is greater than the fear of death or spiders, and how a good movie helps!
- be empowered to become a more empathic and more effective communicator and leader overall.
- learn constructive and destructive responses to conflict and the hot buttons that most commonly make us all drop the ball.
- understand the difference between active and passive responses to conflict, and how to choose to react constructively.
- learn why “The Catch” is the fundamental key to empathic communication, and why there is never a win-win without it.
- be encouraged to “look into the mirror” and see if the bigger, conflict resolution-focused person is staring back.
Vera’s NOW I SEE keynote is also available as a Mindfulness and Wellness breakout presentation that takes participants on a journey from Blindness to Breakthrough. Vera invites her audience to take her “Chill Pill” Self Assessment for stress awareness and possible blinders to Life Balance. Her 7 Blind Life and Leadership Lessons are all revealed in the NOW I SEE book, available for bulk order pricing to complement this session. CONTACT US for more information.
Frequent Questions
Play Through the Foul began as a basketball saying used to empower a player to stay focused on the goal when trying to score a basket, instead of the foul or opposition that might hinder that objective. In reality it is a life concept or an attitude for overcoming adversity. Vera Jones wrote her first book, Play Through the Foul – Basketball Lessons for the Game of Life© under the realization that when we're not prepared or trained to play through our interpersonal fouls, we're more likely to be defeated by them. With the understanding that the greatest adversity we all face is in effectively communicating and relating to one another, Play Through the Foul Team Building and Communications Skills Training Workshops were born.
We provide training to help individuals and teams become more empowered, enlightened and encouraged as effective interpersonal communicators for the betterment of team unity and productivity.
We develop, design and deliver training seminars and workshops that are motivational, educational, interactive and entertaining. Training forums are typically classroom or conference room based settings. Standard workshops are four hours, but sessions are time tailored for as brief as a one-hour professional development session to more extensive two-day retreats. Our goal and motto is to structurally provide training with “E’s”: Empowerment, Enlightenment, Encouragement, Empathy, Effectiveness and Enthusiasm.
We provide winning team building and communication solutions for athletic, business and community organizations all over the country. We specialize in educational forums, sports and women’s groups. Our most requested training topics include: Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Diversity, Athletic or Academic Achievement. Larger organizations like the US Patent and Trademark Office and Walmart have taken advantage of Play through the Foul Training, but small churches and community organizations have found tremendous value in the training as well. Educational leaders such as the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) as well as individual school districts and schools are regular training participants. The short answer is we train for everyone who is looking to improve their team’s motivation, communication and cohesiveness!
Click here to fill out the Contact form. You can also contact our office directly at (904) 373-1002.
If effective communication is vital to your team’s success, Don’t drop the ball, give us a call!