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Managing Time, Stress, and Communications in a Busy Audit Environment

Date(s): Mar 26, 2019 - Mar 27, 2019
Time: 8:15AM - 4:30PM
Registration Fee: $299.00
Cancellation Date: Mar 19, 2019
Location: JOHN M. KEEL LEARNING CENTER
City: Austin
Parking Info:

Parking for SAO, Professional Development courses is in Garage B (1511 San Jacinto Blvd.). The Garage signage may read 1511 San Jacinto or Garage B. The elevator in Garage B is not reliable. If you are unable to walk the stairs, please contact the professionaldevelopment@sao.texas.gov for alternate parking arrangements. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.

A course coordinator will Email you a parking permit prior to the course start date. A permit must be displayed or you will be ticketed.


Course Description

Most auditors are busy and face competing demands.  As a result, they may encounter heightened stress levels, an inability to address high priorities due to poorly developed time management skills, and trouble communicating with colleagues regarding, for example, expectations and feedback.  This course will help busy auditors better manage their projects, time, stress, and communications.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

·         Understand and overcome barriers to priority setting

·         Eliminate activities that waste time

·         Organize and handle paperwork, phone calls, and e-mail more efficiently

·         Handle stress

·         Clarify expectations

·         Seek feedback

·         Understand directions correctly the first time they are received

·         Handle competing demands

·         Manage projects more effectively and efficiently


Potential CPE Credits: 16.0
Govt Hours: This class meets 16.0 hours of the 24-hour requirement for governmental CPE under Government Auditing Standards (yellow book), in most cases.
Technical Hours: This class meets 16.0 CPE credits of technical training in compliance with Texas Admin. Code Rule 523.102.

Instruction Type: Live
Experience Level: ALL
Category: Business Management and Organization

Course Objectives

Module 1.  Overview

This fast-moving, learning-centered, and engaging workshop begins with a facilitated small-group discussion on the challenges of handling multiple priorities.  The facilitator introduces herself, and participants introduce themselves.  The facilitator covers course objectives.

Module 2.  Time Management

Learning objectives:

·         Identify obstacles to effectively managing time

·         Understand the importance of setting priorities, and identify priority-setting challenges

·         Understand and be able to apply eight techniques for handling procrastination

·         Identify and be able to apply time-saving tips for telephone, e-mail, and personal interruptions

·         Understand the consequences of and tips for overcoming work overload

Module 3.  Stress Management

Participants will assess their stress levels and discuss ways to overcome stress.

Module 4.  Clarifying Expectations and Seeking Feedback

The facilitator will “set the stage” for this module by leading an engaging discussion on the importance of--and consequences of not--receiving clear expectations and being assertive in seeking feedback.

Participants will:

·         Define “expectations”;

·         Identify strategies for effectively communicating expectations;

·         Understand the importance of setting and receiving expectations;

·         Learn the attributes of SMART expectations (expectations that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely);

·         Discuss the importance of feedback;

·         Identify and define two types of feedback:  positive and constructive; and

·         Discuss approaches for successfully giving and receiving feedback.

Module 5.  Communicating with Confidence

Participants will learn how to:

  • Listen to understand
    • Using open-ended questions
    • Paraphrasing
    • Asking questions
  • Say “no” with confidence

Module 6.  Planning Work Meaningfully

Key topics:

  • Writing objectives that are outcome oriented
  • Determining the appropriate methodology(ies) to collect information
  • Considering skills needed and how/where to get them

Instructors

Carole Buncher

Owner of Carole Buncher and Associates: The Competency Company, Ms. Buncher is dedicated to providing role-model, client-focused training and consulting to public and private-sector customers. She has 23 years' distinguished service with US Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyzing public programs and policies, and has provided customer-centered services to the US Department of Transportation, US Government Accountability Office, US Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Energy, State of Delaware, and City of Philadelphia, among others.

Ms. Buncher is a highly motivated, energetic trainer with experience in training thousands of adult students as well as designing, developing and evaluating courses. Ms. Buncher is a principal instructor for GAO's International Fellowship Program and received a faculty excellence award from Graduate School USDA. As owner of Carole Buncher and Associates, Ms. Buncher is frequently sought after to deliver addresses at conferences, including the Association of Government Accountants' regional and national conferences as well as the Midwest and Southeast Intergovernmental Audit Forums.


Additional Information

TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.

If you are making travel plans to come to Austin, we recommend making "refundable" air and hotel reservations or waiting until 14 days before the class to actually book your reservations. Courses are occasionally canceled or rescheduled due to low enrollment. We determine whether a course has enough participants 16 days prior to the course date. If we cancel or reschedule, we will email the participant and his or her billing contact no later than 14 days before the original class date.

The course coordinator will contact you with parking information. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.

Vending machines with Coca-Cola products and various snack items are available. There is also a refrigerator and microwave in our coffee bar area. Feel free to bring in your own drinks and food if you prefer.

You might want to bring a light sweater or jacket, as room temperatures vary.

To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.