Dragonfly Thinking Training in how to integrate effective problem solving into your work to get superior results
By Bruce Oberhardt with Martin Brossman
“Advancement is not thrust upon you. You earn it by solving problems.”
(Dragonfly Thinking, Page 7)
An on-site training program to enhance your team’s focus in working together to more effectively solve Big, Important Problems (BIPs) for positive impact.
The ability to tackle extremely difficult problems has been the key to the greatest innovations in history. Now, with global competition at everyone’s doorstep, how a company can gain a competitive edge is to make sure their valuable human resources are maximizing their ability to creatively solve problems. This training draws on and is inspired by the brilliant work of Bruce Oberhardt, who, with a lifetime of scientific and entrepreneurial accomplishments, wrote a book on problem-solving called “Dragonfly Thinking: Problem Solving for a Successful Future”. This 3-part onsite training program was co-developed by Martin Brossman and Bruce Oberhardt. Martin Brossman has over 21 years of business and success coaching and training; his books include Finding Our Fire, which introduces personal development based on the power of Inquiry.
“Bruce and Martin’s presentation on Dragonfly Thinking at the Analyst Summit Committee at Cisco was very insightful. They provided us with new ways to solve problems that we can use today. They have set a high bar that future training events will be measured against.”
– Tom Swanson
Finance Manager
Cisco
The Program Goal
The initial section of this one-day program provides problem identification, validation, and creative tools for solving the problem by an individual. The goal for the entire training program is for the participants to learn and integrate effective tools for identifying and solving BIPs individually, but especially with a team. Team problem solving is useful if there is a deadline or time pressure. The training will deepen problem solving skills and translate to improved productivity and often previously unrecognized pathways to business success.
Scope of Services
I. Section one (“Dragonfly Thinking” for the Individual)
Building the individual’s basic skills in problem solving, this training will include the Introduction to Problem Solving and the selection of the BIP. Basic tools for validating and assessing BIPs will be taught and used. After BIP selection and validation, effective techniques for solving the BIP will be practiced. Other aspects will include:
- Understanding the value of developing your problem-solving skills and how these skills can be enhanced over time with proper practice
- Understanding 4 Fundamental stages for problem-solving in the workplace, along with highly effective problem-solving tools
- Learning how to get unstuck and use the environment to enhance your creative thinking
- Understanding the process of inquiry and the power of NOT Knowing
- Identifying problems in your business that need attention
II. Section two (“Dragonfly Thinking” for the Team)
Applying the Dragonfly Thinking skills as a team.
In this section, you will learn how to organize an effective team to understand and solve problems in the workplace and for customers. Your team will take on a real problem that was identified in the first section, coming up with ways to understand it more fully and to solve it. [Prerequisite is Section I: “Dragonfly Thinking” for the Individual.
III. Section three (“Dragonfly Thinking” Team Integration)
Determining how to implement the best solution from Section 2 with available resources and understanding how to fully integrate Dragonfly Thinking as a regular practice with your team. [Prerequisite is Section II: “Dragonfly Thinking” for the Team.]
Dragonfly Thinking will enable you to deal effectively with conflict and challenges that often emerge when interacting with others in a company or organization and help you to generate innovative solutions to business problems, as well as to make your own life more interesting! You will enhance your ability to think creatively, to problem solve, and to learn how to inspire others to do so as well. You will harness untapped resources in yourself as well as the ability to assist others in doing the same. You will walk away with real life tools to enhance creativity as a continuing resource in your business and life!
If interested in scheduling this event contact Colleen Gray at (919) 858-6122 or contact using email.
More about Dr. Bruce Oberhardt, author of Dragonfly Thinking
Dr. Bruce Oberhardt, a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur, is known for promoting creative thinking and has been involved in recent years in consulting and biomedical technology incubation. He has led and/or participated in a number of first-of-a-kind technological developments including the extremely successful “CoaguChek®” product sold worldwide by Roche, a point-of-care, hand-held monitoring system for Coumadin® and other warfarin and anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners). He invented, developed, and successfully transferred the technology for this product, which employs a disposable microfluidic element that today is perhaps the most widely used microfluidic system in the medical diagnostics field. Dr. Oberhardt previously served in management positions for major multinational medical products manufacturers and founded new companies, based on technologies he developed or co-developed, such as Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc., a successful IPO. He has developed technologies to help in diabetes, blood diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer – products based on these technologies are currently saving patients’ lives daily.
Dr. Oberhardt has served on boards of directors and scientific advisory boards for venture-backed companies and on the board of directors for the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He has also seen the other side of ventures as a member and officer of the Atlantis Group, a North Carolina-based angel investment group. He was involved in the development of many products now on the market and is author or co-author of more than 50 published journal articles and abstracts and inventor or co-inventor on more than 180 issued patents, worldwide. He has won numerous awards, such as the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurial Contribution and the North Carolina Biomedical Entrepreneur of the Year award.
He is still primarily involved in consulting and technology incubation, currently working on major cancer projects, including: a) the world’s first biologic nanoparticle drug carrier for treatment of metastatic cancer and b) development of a simple blood test for detection and assessment of cancer. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and has been involved since shortly after the Department was established.
Dr. Oberhardt is the author of a book published in 2013, titled: “Dragonfly Thinking, Problem Solving for a Successful Future”. Both the book and the eBook version are available on Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. The eBook version is also available as an Apple product. After completing the book, Dr. Oberhardt has been following his passion for helping companies and associations large and small by conducting workshops and training sessions on how to solve big, important problems – in other words – Dragonfly Thinking! See: www.dragonflythinking.com
More about Martin Brossman
Martin Brossman is a leading authority on social media and online marketing. He is a business coach, consultant, and a dynamic trainer known for his insight and humor.
A member of the National Speakers Association, Martin is a popular speaker on social media marketing and professional development topics. He is a presenter at North Carolina community college Small Business Centers and Chamber of Commerce venues throughout the state. He also provides customized coaching and training for individuals and groups, integrating social media, social networking, and reputation management .
Martin co-teaches a Social Media Management certification program through NC State University’s Technology Training Solutions .
He co-produces a popular Social Selling podcast show, Linking Into Sales, focusing on Social Selling for business-to-business professionals and is recognized for his strategic applications of LinkedIn for sales lead generation and overall career enhancement for his clients, students, and audiences. Martin hosted a Linking Into Sales Breakfast Training with Greg Hyer at the City Club Raleigh that is an outgrowth of a 7-year breakfast meeting teaching Business professionals Social Media skills with emphasis on web-based networking for sales generation, called Professional Networking on the Web.
Martin worked with United Professional Sales Association (UPSA) to explore making sales a distinct profession, becoming a certified and registered sales professional, with UPSA. Martin also was their director of Sales Training for the Triangle area (2005 to 2008).
His 20 years of professional experience includes 7 years with IBM, where he received the “IBM Means Service” top customer service award, and 13 years developing and operating small businesses. Coaching since 1995, he developed a certification / mentoring program for Coaches in 2003. He holds a BS in Math / Computer Science from St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, N.C., and currently resides in Raleigh.
Martin’s latest books include: Social Media for Business, a guide to online marketing, and How to use Hashtags, an e-book, both available on Amazon.com.