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Use of the term ‘soft skills’ or ‘people skills’ has been thrown around a lot but what are dog trainers really doing to improve them? They are hard to quantify, and as such, employers are not as supportive of professional development in these areas when they can pay for education with more concrete outcomes. In addition to the quantifiable issues, we have an innate aversion to the word ‘soft’ in the professional context.

This presentation provides more modern descriptions of these skills as savvy skills and break them down into more concrete groups – communication, action, and relationships. Within each of these groups, individual skills are identified and ways to improve or change them are explained. With understanding these concepts better, attendees can create plans to improve particular skills.

As professional dog trainers, we need to be cognizant of how we interact with clients, colleagues, partners and other groups integral to your success. Being able to relate to individuals, understand emotions, approach conflict, and develop relationships are key to being successful. In such a specific industry, those who want to serve as leaders need to be more self-aware and build upon their experiences.

Learning Objectives:
•Understanding soft skills and the need for improving them
•Breaking down each area of soft skills to identify areas for growth
•Gain knowledge about each soft skill
•Beginning a plan for improving soft skills

Instructor:
Ericka Harney, CFRE, GPC, CAE, CVA, Former Executive Director of Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA) and The Foundation of AFWA. Born with an entreprenurial drive and passion for service, Ericka has over 15 years of professional experience in the nonprofit and business sectors. A business owner since sixth grade, she quickly grew her career in fundraising, grants, and nonprofit management. Ericka is responsible for raising $14 million in funds, service as a federal grant review chair, providing consulting services to nonprofits, co-founding a social enterprise catering company, and teaching communication and fundraising at the university level. To gain a broad foundation to build on, she pursued higher education in marketing and communication, earning a masters and bachelors in Communication, a bachelor's in marketing and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Organizational Leadership concentrating on Nonprofit Leadership from Eastern University in St. David's, Penn. She currently serves on the board of directors for Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council, Professional Women's Forum and God's Closet, Inc.

1.5 CEUs: CCPDT, IAABC, KPA, IACP, ABCDT-L2

If you need CEUS for CCPDT or IABBC you must e-mail a copy of your certificate of completion and your CCPDT certificate number to education@apdt.com.

Note: Webinars expire 90 days after purchase and are non-refundable after purchase.