Lil Blume

There are probably hundreds of incidents a day in industries and offices in Ontario in which feelings are bruised, productivity is impaired, and corporate health is endangered due to POOR INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS among employees.

To address these problems, I give workshops and courses at conferences and through in-house staff development programs. These workshops are adapted to suit the needs of your organization.

I focus on the following communication skills:

Perception Checking -- to prevent overreactions, misunderstandings, and false accusations
Giving "I" Messages -- to facilitate clear communication and minimize defensiveness
Active Listening -- to show understanding and create a supportive environment
Communicating Nondefensively -- to encourage problem-solving and prevent unproductive defensive spirals
Effective Self-Assertion -- to insure one's ideas are heard in a way most likely to make others receptive
Counteracting Passive-Aggressive Behaviour -- to stay focussed and achieve your goals
Productive Problem-Solving -- to understand different conflict resolution styles and maximize the possibility of win-win solutions

I am also active in leading writing workshops and coaching public speaking.

TESTIMONIALS

"I wish you’d come back to Victoria to give the faculty another session. The few hours I got to spend with your were some of the most useful I’ve ever spent on professional development." Lorna Crozier, award-winning poet, professor University of Victoria

“The ability to communicate effectively is especially important in my role as an elected official, and I have Lil Blume to thank. Her communications course has taught me important lessons on how to listen with empathy and communicate non-defensively – skills that are essential whether I am in a boardroom debate, being interviewed by the media, or on the phone with a constituent. Lil is a dynamic and energetic teacher who delivers with passion."
– Shaun Chen, Trustee (Ward 21, Scarborough-Rouge River), Toronto District School Board

I have had the privilege to attend two different memoir writing workshops given by Lil Blume, the first was a workshop at Har El Synagogue in North Vancouver which was open to all members of the congregation and the second was for the Vancouver Second Generation group (adult children of Holocaust survivors) who have been meeting regularly over many years and doing workshops with Lil Blume. In each case Lil was enthusiastic, interesting, and motivating. In each of these workshops, participants ranged widely in age, writing ability, and experience as writers. Lil demonstrated an inspiring ability to make the workshop relevant for all participants while supporting each of us in such a way that we not only moved forward individually, but learned to honour and appreciate the contributions of others. I cannot recommend Lil highly enough as a teacher and mentor.

-- Helen Mintz, storyteller, performer, translator www.helenmintz.com