3M, St. Paul

Comments from past participants of LATERAL THINKING, offered quarterly at 3M's Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, plus other sites around the world: Kim J. "Barb is a very professional, high-energy consultant who has worked with 3M for the last 8 years. Her expertise in facilitation and consulting makes her one of the most effective trainers within 3M.” John S. "Well-run class with lots of energy. I learned how to better facilitate the creative process and to get measurable results." Heather K. "Great course! Very useful and fun. I learned a new process to harvest ideas for improving products/processes and generating new product ideas." Beth F. "Fantastic instructor (even if she does cheer for the Iowa Hawkeyes!) I learned how to facilitate idea sessions and to better understand my natural strengths as a member of an innovation team." Dan H. "Useful tools to bring about a different thought process. Timely, kept groups focused and moving. Good use of visual aids--tapes, handouts, job aids for reinforcement, etc."    Comments from past participants of SIX THINKING HATS, offered quarterly at 3M's Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, plus other sites around the world: "Great! Great! Great! This course gives me a productivity boost . . . allows for more productive meetings and effective presentations." "The methods will provide results much quicker because of the systematic focus. Excellent course." "Excellent course for better faciliation of meetings, terrific instructor . . . quite knowledgeable." "I recommend this course be mandated by the Division. Great for problem-solving. Excellent."

Alcan Cable

I would like to let you know that I appreciate the value that you have brought to Alcan Cable since you began working with us. The personal interest that you take in us regardless of whether you are working with our team facilitators or the division managers makes you a credible resource that I can have confidence in. Dennis Houk Division Coordinator

American Express Global Corporate Services

I must tell you that your services have been the best I have experienced in a very long time . . . and I have been in customer service for over 25 years . . . so I know! Linda was outstanding and provided me with extremely valuable guidance and information.  I feel confident now and am excited about my upcoming staff meeting and applying the DiSC info and concepts with my team. Thank you so much for your assistance and follow up. Susan Rutan Director, Account Development

Anheuser-Busch

Everyone received the discipline very well. It has taken little to no effort to use it. I'm looking forward to great successes in the future with Six Hats.

Bankers Trust

Just a quick note to let you know that I have enjoyed using the six hats model for lateral thinking in a couple group meetings and for my own personal thought. I was so moved by the concept that I also bought de Bono's book de Bono's Thinking Course to further study the concept.  David Arens Vice President

Cargill

After reflecting on the revised Cargill Corporate Orientation Program that was implemented last year, I realized one of the valuable improvements we made    to the program was the addition of the Six Thinking Hats course as one of our skill-building workshops. I am impressed with your facilitation style and effectiveness. Your in-depth knowledge of the subject matter allows for you to be creative and adjust to the needs of the group. You answer questions clearly and concisely, and you facilitate interaction and participation.  The value you bring to me as the course designer/manager is your flexibility and willingness to adapt to the needs of my organization. THANK YOU! Lisa Anderson Training Specialist

Christus Health

CHRISTUS Health has included DiSC as a component of our week-long CHRISTUS Center for Management Excellence leadership development program. The DiSC session in the afternoon of the first day continues to be a favorite portion of the course. Our managers appreciate the insight into their behavior as well as the behavior of others that they work with. Course participants love the team view of everyone’s classical profile and use the team view long after the course has ended. From an instructor's viewpoint, I find the DiSC facilitator's report an excellent summary of the makeup of the group. The detailed information in the report provides for great discussion about the group's culture. Lisa Reynolds Organizational Development Program Manager

CONNEX - a Trademark for MobiFon S.A.

This was the first real opportunity we had to practice and use the Six Thinking Hats training.  And it worked! This is a good sign that we can make efforts to concentrate on a specific matter and stick to that matter.  We channeled our discussions in the same direction.  We found a lot of solutions in a very short period of time and it helped us concentrate and focus.  Created a common direction for all people involved and brought discipline to the group. Click here for the full story as it was presented at the First International Dr. Edward de Bono Thinking Skills Conference. Simona Adelina Popovici Associate Director of Organizational Development and Employee Communications

Consolidated Management Co.

Thank you for introducing Consolidated Management Company to a new approach to hiring and job assessment. Your enthusiastic and vivacious presentation was easy to understand. The group you spoke to represented various backgrounds and very little exposure to social behavior styles. Your use of specific examples made the new concept tangible for our staff. Whitten Park Jones Director of Marketing

DiSC Certification Participants

"The instructor has a style of training that is second to none. It felt clear that our learning was her goal and that she genuinely cared about each of us. As a participant, I feel well-informed and equipped to use DiSC in a number of settings." "Careful planning was done on the part of the instructor to ensure everyone's application was addressed. Materials were more than expected!" "Materials were exceptional!" "Great, thoroughly enjoyable. Felt like I got all that I expected and more." Comments from DiSC Certification Participants

Dr. Edward de Bono

I first met Barbara Stennes, Lifetime Certified de Bono Master Trainer, in 1992. She was a promising apprentice from the start and has since taught my thinking methods to thousands of individuals, helping to improve thinking in organizations around the world.  Barbara was also one of my first Master Trainers and is now one of only 3 Lifetime Certified de Bono Master Trainers worldwide.  I personally trained and certified Barbara in Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking, and DATT; and I count on her as a key proponent of my work. Dr. Edward de Bono

Farm Bureau

I have long been impressed with your thorough research of a topic before preparing a presentation. It's apparent to me that you are very knowledgeable in the topics you address in your training sessions.  Your knowledge also shows in the way you are able to relate current business trends and happenings. Barb, thanks for your contribution to the professionalism of our local ASTD chapter and for the mentoring you have done for so many trainers in our area. Joan Manternach Employee Training Coordinator

General Electric

You packed a tremendous amount of information into our 3 days. Good ideas and tips to use with my work team.

Gillette

As a follow-up to the courses I recently attended, Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking, I wanted to let you know that I am doing some things differently in my job and personal life as a result of these courses. I am confident that, in the long term, improved results will be a natural consequence.  Jenifer Marchesi Manager, Ink Development

Honeywell

We hope you will remember the Business Process Reengineering Team from Honeywell because you certainly made an impression on us. Six Thinking Hats has become part of our team psyche and we take the work out into our organization. Using the Six Hats method we have worked through many emotion issues, and in conjuction with brainstorming techniques, have come to consensus on many issues thought to be unresolvable. We use the "Hat method" even when we're not discussing specifics. This training has made our task, which is very challenging, a little less overwhelming. BCAS BPR Team

Iowa Credit Union League

I thought you did a terrific job at the Chapter Leaders program and we got excellent comments, including several in telephone calls the following week. The people who take the time to call after a program are the ones who really take the instruction to heart I think. As always, it was a pleasure working with you. You have an excellent grasp of the needs of our audiences and I really appreciate that. Judy Corcoran Director of Communications

Iowa State University Engineering Extension Services

This was my eighth annual conference and it was the best ever! We especially appreciate the time you spent preparing your presentation "Working Smarter, Not Harder." The results of your efforts were clearly evident. Owen Osborne, Director Engineering Extension Service

John Cello Consulting

I just wanted to drop you a quick note and thank you so very much for the hour plus that you spent on the telephone with me today. I can think of no other company that I have ever dealt with that would hold a teleconference for one person. This is a tremendous statement about the high value you place on your customers. I look forward to implementing several of the marketing strategies and web site improvements you suggested. Thank you again for what was one of the most valuable hours I have spent in a long time! John Cello President

Kirke-Van Orsdel

Once again, I would like to thank you for your informative and entertaining presentation at the Trainer's Institute. I was impressed with your knowledge and understanding of how to present a wonderful training session. LuRae Crawford Training

M&M Mars

Six Thinking Hats is still continuing to have a positive impact on our department. The Six Thinking Hats poster has been framed and is hanging, very prominently, in our department. I notice that the hat colors are continuously mentioned, which helps keep us all on the same track. Mary Neville

Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.

I want to commend you on your presentation to the extended Labor-Management Committee. It is not easy to present an abstract subject to such a cross section of the workforce.  Your audience was comprised of individuals with high school equivalency to graduate education levels who occupy semi-skilled to professional positions witin the organization. You established a good rapport with the individuals in your sessions and were able to communicate with them without talking down to them. Your delivery style made everyone feel comfortable even when sharing thoughts and feelings that I am sure many of them had never expressed before. Your knowledge of the subject matter established a credibility with the process which would normally not be present in this type of group. Thomas C. Reiten Personnel and Insurance Manager

Oregon Credit Union League

Your session was superior. The content was relevant and your presentation style was just the right mix of warmth and enthusiasm that our people appreciate.

Our Primary Purpose

Your presentation was a "huge" success with the support staff. I heard many positive remarks after the meeting. Thank you for an excellent presentation. Barb Blough Support Staff Coordinator

Outdoor Technologies Group

I am pleased I was able to participate in the "Six Thinking Hats" training last month. This process has already helped me in planning and conducting my Affirmative Action Committee meeting, even though other committee members have not had the training. I know the six thinking hats process can be of great assistance in communicating with my 16-year-old if I just take time and discipline myself! I am going to try the process with two of my brothers at a family gathering later this week. It should be fun and interesting! Mary Christianson Employment Manager

Pella Corporation

I have such trust in your competence. We always look forward to seeing you. Thanks again for your conscientious preparation.

Philip Morris

In pockets of R&D, we are using the Six Thinking Hats methodology to structure group processes towards achieving meeting goals in less time. By using the Six Thinking Hats, we made it! It really does work. And, we'll keep on using it and building additional expertise. Thank you for the new tools!  Kenneth Newman R&D Continuous Improvement

Polk County - County Managers Office

I have had the pleasure of observing you conduct numerous presentations on a variety of topics. My experience has been that you are always professional and well prepared. You have a great deal of experience which is projected by the ease with which you work with a variety of audiences. Your presentations have always been interesting and informative. Marie Grabenbauer Training Specialist

Qwest

On behalf of Qwest, I want to thank you for your participation in the All-Iowa Management Meeting. From the results of our follow-up survey, I feel the meeting was a great success and much of the credit goes to you and the fine seminar you presented. The planning committee continues to hear positive comments about the meeting and particularly how beneficial the seminars were. Lynn Gipple Director-Public Relations

Roto Rooter Corporation

I want to thank you for all the help you've given me and the rest of the organization putting togehter comprehensive seminar programs for the Roto-Rooter Management Conferences we schedule around the country six time a year. I think we presented you with a difficult task in that you had to train the trainers. Your presentations are always on track, with clear and concise explanations of the subject matter that are informative and professional in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. You were well prepared with materials and visual aids tailored to our company's needs and your sense of humor, easy relaxed personality and experience as a facilitator kept us on track and focused. Gary Burger Vice President-Sales

State of Iowa

Thank you for your wonderful facilitation of the Six Thinking Hats for the Iowa Quality Leaders Quarterly. Even though it was my second time through the course, I still came away with new ideas on how to use the tools! I have been using the hat method before and after meetings with amazing results. This process helps me to take a 360 degree look at issues while remaining as neutral as humanly possible.  Linda Hurst Department of Management

Texas Instruments

Great Class! Powerful. It can be used in virtually every aspect of my life and job! Very stimulating. I am eager to use the tools.  Excellent facilitation and instruction.  A very good class that needs to be available at all levels of the organization.  Barbara was outstanding - one of the best trainers I have experienced!  It was amazing to see the many ideas that were developed as a result of the positive interaction among group members. Comments from participants in Six Thinking Hats

The Equitable

The Equitable found Barb, not only a trainer and facilitator, but a person who was genuinely concerned about our organization's success in developing this group and with each individual's growth personally. The expansion of her business is an indication that Barb has this same genuine presentation style for all of her customers. Kris Manning, FLMI Division Manager

University of Arkansas, Criminal Justice Institute

I truly enjoyed the Virtual DiSC Train-the-Trainer Program.  Your knowledgeable trainer tailored the instruction to my needs, which was extremely helpful and important.   She gave me some great ideas that will make training very interactive for our audience of police officers. I look forward to working with you in the future.  It's not often anymore that when you need help, you have a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.  Tell Resources Unlimited not to stop this person-to-person contact.  We need more of it in the business world. Deborah Flowers

University of Iowa Hospitals

All of the staff gave you the highest ratings on EVERY aspect of the workshop. They especially mentioned the practical, helpful information and your willingness to answer all their questions. You certainly made our day a success! Marlys Dunphy, RN Assistant Educational Coordinator