Daniel Robin & Associates

Making Workplaces Work Better

What We Do

Investment | Alignment | Commitment

We help organizations, teams and departments run more smoothly and productively by focusing on interpersonal and individual performance, providing the tools people need to invest in their success, align on goals, work together to make change stick, and enjoy a culture of commitment, performance and results.

Our programs and services help develop leaders -- those who find ways to innovate, turn obstacles into creative solutions, make lasting improvements via negotiating clear agreements and accountability systems, building an inclusive workplace culture that cuts across interpersonal, departmental, and organizational silos. But we help achieve this in ways that last ... in ways that can truly make a workplace work better.

We stand for healthy and workable workplaces because it directly benefits companies, employees, customers and suppliers, as well as the communities in which the companies operate.

If you are looking for effective training, browse our COURSE CATALOG where we highlight some of our more popular workshops on people skills, leadership, and communication. Most programs can be delivered at the the location of preference, or Webinar style, or a hybrid combination of the two (recommended as the best use of time and resources). Contact us if your situation might require a customized program -- carefully listening and responding to clients with "special needs" is one of our specialities. Otherwise, you could buy an off-the-shelf, more mainstream program and it would be faster and less expensive. We pride ourselves in delivering on-target programs that meet or exceed client expectations, and we have years of testimonials to prove it.

In addition to our catalog of well-proven programs, we also provide "a la carte" services to assist with any situation where results depend on people working well together, such as culture change, coaching or facilitation and mediation. We have been in business since 1985, and in that time have also developed specialities in

• Effective leadership, executive and supervisor coaching, teamwork and tools for collaboration, productivity and recognition systems.

• Performance management: scorecards, dashboards, key measures for tracking goals, critical success factors and sustainability.

• Group facilitation, presentation and working with complex, entrenched disputes.
  
  Note: We began in the 1980s focusing on disputes and interpersonal "jogjams" but fortunately have seen great improvements in workplace cultures and available tools, so the emphasize is now preventing interpersonal differences from escalating into conflicts. Of course, sticky situations can still sometimes require a 3rd party neutral, so we still offer mediation, faciltiation and facilitated negotiation. Professional facilitation is often an important first step for any workgroup where tensions are high or people are at risk of putting up barriers to collaboration. In order to tear down these walls, at least one party has to be willing to extend the proverbial olive branch. Our facilitation and mediation services have helped some of the most "at risk" groups put aside their differences and come to agreements about the way ahead.  For examples of our track record of success with large, diverse groups, click here. 

Synopsis of our approach and philosophy:  We emphasize the skills of participatory and collaborative management (as opposed to autocratic or dictatorial) and effective interpersonal realtions to gain full commitment to giving one's best effort. Many of us compromise our performance when we blame others, lack skills, or harbor resentment (AKA "bad attitude"). Thus, we inspire and assist leaders at all levels to use an inclusive style that balances assertiveness (focus on goal or task achievement) with cooperation (flexibility in relating to others, dealing with differences, finding out what others think and know...).  Steven Covey calls this "courage and consideration." A time-tested approach that gets results without putting anyone down.

This approach, nicknamed "go slow to go fast," doesn't require extra time or giving in to other people's wishes. This is not "soft" leadership.  Quite to the contrary, in fact; with practice, collaborative approaches can be more direct and powerful, and can lead more strongly and quickly toward the desired results.  There's more of a win-win when the other person feels included, consulted.  Interpersonally, you can be more directive once there's an increased awareness of the unpredictable and chaotic nature of human interactions.  (We humans think we're rational and sensible animals, but even seasoned professionals can, at times, lose track of true north.)

Have you noticed yourself feeling "distracted" their your reactions to others people's stuff? We can get hooked into emotional reactions if otherwise reasonable people play games, act willfully defiant, immature or rebellious, ... or due to stress -- which often makes people temporarily stupid -- or because of conflict, too much change, or unreasonable expectations of self and others.  

Recap of the Key Services We Provide

Change Leadership / Process Improvement

• Improve the bottom line: Business Process Improvement consultation, organizational learning strategies, emphasizing the "human elements" of dealing with and leading change.  

• Getting people to work together: Executive management and enterprise-wide leadership, teamwork, and communication issues.

• Handling workplace conflicts: Guidance on dispute management strategies, interventions, and implementation

Leadership Development

• Interpersonal and people skills training for line managers, executives, salespeople, trainers, mediators, lawyers, legislators, consultants, therapists, and other professionals. Refer to course descriptions for details.

• Team development -- Group dialogue, mediation, and problem-solving.

• Private coaching in handling interpersonal differences, personal communication style challenges, presentation and influence skills, negotiation and mediation techniques, and overcoming limiting patterns.

• Group or individual "tele-coaching" to focus and integrate skills learned in workshops.

Alternative Dispute Resolution and Team-Building Services

• Confidential mediation services including, but not limited to employer-employee disputes, manager/supervisor and employee style clashes, departmental turf wars, and executive team conflicts.  Mediation is a human and highly-effective alternatives to litigation and arbitration.

• "Shuttle diplomacy" (similar to facilitated negotiation) where each party agrees to enter into a process of working it out through a 3rd party "diplomat."  This can be helpful when the issue is too hot to handle, but management wishes to see some resolution.  See case studies and success stories.

• Team-building and team development services, included instruments to help people gain perspective and open dialogue.

Individual Development Services

• One-on-one coaching, counseling, mentoring, or consulting, in person or by phone (the choice depends on the goal and the situation): communication, habit change, relationship difficulties, and overcoming limiting patterns.

Speaking, Keynote Presentations and Facilitation

• Speaking:  Principal Daniel Robin is available to speak at conferences, meetings, or presentations on any of the topics described on this website.  

  Daniel has received rave reviews as a public speaker, workshop leader, panelist and panel moderator at the following recent events:

  • Panelist, "How Raising Capital in 2011 is Different for Entrepreneurs," BayBrazil, Palo Alto, CA, June 2011
  • Adjunct Professor/Workshop Leader, Monterey Institution of International Studies (MIIS), Fisher International MBA Program, programs on innovation management, investing for sustainability, and entrepreneurship in emerging markets, 2006-present
  • Opening Keynote Presentation, Green Business Camp, 2009
  • Keynote Presentation, Commercializing Bioresins, Intertech/Pira, Chicago, Il, Sept 2009
  • Keynote Presentation, Annual Meeting of the Chemical Fabrics & Film Association (CFFA), Florida, 2008
  • Presentation & Panel Moderation, Green Trade Network Summit annual conference, Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA), 2007-2010
  • Keynote Presentation, Conference Chair, and Instructor, Commercializing Bioresins, Intertech/Pira, San Antonio, Texas, 2006
  • Presentation Skills, Driscoll's Berries, Watsonville, CA, 2006
  • Commercial Sustainability Network, Panel Moderator, Central Coast of CA, 2002-2006
  • Keynote Presentation and Panel Moderator, Workshop Leader, Commercializing Bioresins, Atlanta, GA, 2005
  • Keynote Presentation, Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), Northern California Chapter, 2003
  • Keynote Presentation, "Toward a Sustainable Economy," GaiaSong Conference, 2003, Santa Cruz, CA
  • Panel Moderator, Agricultural Technology Investment Forum 2002, Marina, CA

  Audition principal Daniel Robin as a speaker/presenter or facilitator (4-1/2 min video, 2.73Mb, RealPlayer format)

• Facilitation:  With solid mediation experience under his belt, Daniel Robin has had great success in working with "at risk" groups that wish to achieve a result, but could benefit from professional facilitation. Examples of recent successes.

Click here for information on retaining our services.

Click here for an overview of our most popular workshops

Click the E-MAIL button below or call us at (831) 761-0700

Toll free in the USA: 800-96-AGREE (1-800-962-4733)

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