Paul Lawrence Vann Diversity Expert State Johns Hopkins Seventh Annual Diversity Conference Success

Nov. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- I along with over 500 people witnessed a phenomenal undertaking at Johns Hopkins University, November 4th. The driving rain storm, nor the near flooding streets could  contain the desire attendees had for discovering more strategies, tools, techniques and tips on ways to make the workplace more diverse and inclusive.

Paul Lawrence Vann delivered two dynamic and interactive workshops that not only gained the interest of the attendees, but resulted in overflow meeting rooms. His first workshop was originally scheduled to have no more than 13 attendees, however before it was over, there were over 40 people in attendance and it was a very robust and engaging workshop.

The first workshop was titled, Communicating Expectations in a Diverse Environment. "Let me tell you something, this interactive program enhanced a manager's ability to communicate expectations to employees, help managers clarify workplace expectations and improve communication between manager and diverse employees," stated facilitator Vann.

The second part of exercise one was titled, "Language and You." It raised the awareness about language diferences and their impact, increase understanding and empathy about dealing with language barriers and elicit feelings about language differences.

The end result for exercise one was that attendees learned innovative and creative ways to become more effective communicators with their employees and discovered how to leverage the awesome power of constructively working with different languages throughout the diverse departments at Johns Hopkins University.

The second workshop Vann faciliated was titled, "Managing Diversity: Leader Behaviors." This interactive group exercise was attended by 100 people and it was an incredible experience for all in attendance. The objective of this exercise was to stimulate discussion about essential leader behaviors that promotable employees in a cross-cultural environment need to develop.

Attendees quickly interpreted the tasking, formed groups and immediately took the exercise to task. Vann stated, "The assessment aspect of this exercise was off the charts because we collectively observed a trend amongst the nine groups which consisted of them not spending time together after work, or participating in volunteer efforts in the community or getting together for social events after work or on the weekend."

The second part of this exercise was titled, "Coaching Skills Checklist." This was by far one of the more interesting exercises because attendees had to determine which of the coaching skills they have mastered in order to effectively coach employees and or co-workers.

The trends from this exercise also proved to be very enlightening, in that there were so many similarities amongst the nine groups. All in all, the two diversity workshops Paul Lawrence Vann delivered were overwhelmingly and positively received and he is being requested to return next year as well.

After the two diversity workshops concluded, presenters and attendees attended a wonderful luncheon, hosted by Johns Hopkins Uiversity. President Ronald Daniels introduced luncheon keynote speaker, Dr. Benjamin Carson, renowned Pediatric Neurosurgeon.

Dr. Carson discussed growing up in a single parent home and how his mother encouraged him and his brother to read and he attributes this to his phenomenal success. His career highlight include the first and only succesful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987, the first completely successful separation of twins in 1997 in South Africa. Dr. Carson holds more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees and he delivered a stellar speech on investing in the life of young African American boys, who don't know their history, yet they are surrounded with it throughout America.

Paul Lawrence Vann is Founder/President of Wealth Building Academy, LLC a workplace diversity,  leadership and life coaching consulting firm that delivers content rich speaking, training, facilitating and workshops to organizations who want to maximize their human potential and improve their bottom line. Vann is a Certified professional Coach who deliver life coaching with a focus on executive coaching, military transitions, individuals and organizations that want more out of life and more business.

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Wealth Building Academy, LLC is a workplace diversity, leadership and life coaching business. We deliver interactive programs, speeches, training and facilitation to organizations that seek to maximize their human potential through diversity, inclusion and leadership. We also provide individual and organization focused life coaching to assist peope in coming to their on conclusion about their desires and dreams for getting more out of life.