VERBAL JUDO COURSES
Call us for pricing on the programs for your organization.
This web site is a far more detailed version than the one found at www.verbaljudo.info and was designed more content heavy to answer the types of questions we receive over the phone and in person when we are asked about the training. If you are just looking for quick content then go to the info site as the course descriptions are the same..
This site was also set up to answer the questions regarding training for law enforcement professionals.
Contact us for a class taught at your organization, for those only wanting to attend a Verbal Judo lecture, or to help us in hosting a Verbal Judo Course in your area. Please view the types of programs and let us know your interests. If you are interested in the Open-Enrollement courses use the OPEN ENROLLMENT button to change sites. Pricing of these classes will be determined by where we have the class, the hosting costs, if you want snacks or coffee in the morning and in the afternoon, and our travel costs to run the class.
Training Goals of the Verbal Judo Programs.
SAFETY
Reducing misunderstandings that injure our pride and diminish our attention toward work safety.
PROJECTING A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE
Helping employees demonstrate to customers, clients, and each other the values of integrity and self control. People buy not just our service or products, but our performance.
REDUCING COMPLAINTS
Dissatisfied people can hurt both company and individual reputations. Saving "face" is critical to prevent revenge as a motive for poor customer service.
REDUCING LIABILITY
Solving problems at the lowest level possible by dealing with people on the spot rather than through litigation caused by “Its not my problem” attitudes.
REDUCING STRESS
Providing the tools to deal with angry or demanding people. The better we deal with conflict the better we look and sound to others and the better we feel about our performance.
REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF VERBAL ABUSE
Verbal abuse in now the greatest form of abuse in north America. It affects everyone, undermining solutions to the real problems.
INCREASING TRUST AND IMPROVING MORALE
Faith in employees and their actions decreases the need to constantly watch over their daily movements through micro-managing. By maintaining personal dignity, people return each day to a workplace they enjoy because it is a safe and secure environment where they can respect others, focus on real priorities, and “build bridges to success rather than burn them.”
WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY LEARN TO DO?
The average business day is largely devoted to some type of communication. Research shows over 86% of your time is spent attempting to say what you really mean. The words you choose, your presence, your appearance, communicates something each time you come into contact with others.
What you communicate can create problems--or solutions.
You can avoid creating problems by controlling not only what you say but how you say it, which is the real source of trouble. Tone is the most dangerous four letter word in the English language and we must learn to control it. You can also avoid creating additional stress in the work place, because excessive stress causes the mind to lose focus, making common sense solutions highly uncommon. Your professional credibility lies in how you communicate important details and the over all picture of our ideas. This affects performance, yours, the people around you, and the company as a whole.
Stress and conflicts are inevitable. The damage done by conflicts and problems resulting from hidden agendas motivated by revenge or frustration are incalculable.
It can stop.
What you can't avoid you must learn to master !
THE MESSAGE
Deliver an effective message that is clear, concise, and to the point.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
List the Traits of Professionals and the expectations placed on professional behavior.
NICE, DIFFICULT PEOPLE, & WIMPS
Identify the three types of personalities and how to deal with them.
The technique of humor
How to use humor and act responsibly.
VERBAL DEFENSE PHRASES
Use specific deflection tactic to handle a verbal assault without stress.
THE PRINCIPLE OF TEAM JUDO
Employ the Art of Representation to stay in contact with both the needs of the organization and the demands of the customer.
THE GRIP OF UNDERSTANDING
The Art of Translation to ensure what is said is actually what was intended.
HOLDS, THROWS AND PINS
Understand and employ the 5 keys for “hands on” negotiating with tough customers, at work or in the home. Learn to create and work the Personal Appeal of Motivation.
DEFLECTION AND REDIRECTION
Employ the Art of Mediation to help people think better for themselves, and as an effective tool for dealing with people under temporary influences like anger, fear, frustration or impatience.
CONTACT JUDO
A winning verbal technique for the Corporate Warrior : The Five Point Method for generating compliance.
STRATEGIC LISTENING
Skillfully receive and deliver information. This includes Active Listening, Question Asking strategies, and the 14 Tools of Paraphrasing for accuracy.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
The working tools of the Verbal Judo Master: the “Four Persuasive Appeals”, and the”Twenty-four Principles of Disinterest “ for crisis intervention.
THE ART OF GOING TO THE MAT
Effectively use the Arts of Discipline, praise , and Punishment, to create consistency and increase credibility. We recreate the carrot and the stick minus the offensive overtones.
LEGAL JUDO
Recognize when words can fail (SAFER). When to stop talking and when to act. Learn to act when:
Security of a project or company property is in jeopardy.
Attack occurs physically or verbal harassment is present.
Flight or evasion of responsibility for actions is imminent.
Excessive Repetition of a verbal request or order is ignored.
Revised Priorities indicate a condition of greater importance requiring immediate attention.
These conditions begin a clear chain of events making punishment inarguable and legal.
VERBAL JUDO LIVING PRINCIPLES
Continue improving relations with the Maxims for using Verbal Judo everyday.
What makes Verbal Judo training unique?
Verbal Judo does not waste time in educational theory. In business, communicating ineffectively can create the greatest and most potentially dangerous social environment in the world today. There is no better, or worse, way to make a lasting impression. If we do not appear credible and in control of our actions, we cannot persuade customers to buy our products, use our services, or remain loyal to us when inevitable mistakes happen. Even if we personally dislike the poor attitude of others mutual respect in business enough to preserve future opportunities . We must find ways to work with people we might not wish to invite into our homes. We need to focus on the behavior of others and not their attitude which may be the result of circumstances beyond our control.
A “Habit of Mind” approach must be present always to avoid personalizing insults or criticism. People will rarely become reasonable just because we point out how unreasonable they are at the moment. What might seem like common sense under normal conditions can become highly uncommon under stress.
Verbal Judo teaches that we must perform as if we were on a stage, regardless of our personal feelings. True skill is the ability to persuade people toward a positive resolution, more in line with our goal so both the company and the customer are served in the best way possible.
Verbal Judo is adaptive. The training enables students to approach people and problems with creative solutions, forming the necessary persuasive appeals to gain Voluntary Compliance from initially resistant minds. Verbal Judo training enhances problem solving skills by focusing on behavior not attitude. Necessary, because a sharp tongue can cut a throat, possibly our own.
When the deal is done, we may still not like some people, but mutual respect for what is necessary is enough to preserve future opportunities. We must learn to use words as tools rather than weapons. With employees, peers, customers, or even family members, Verbal Judo will give you the edge in any verbal encounter, increasing the value of your business and the quality of our life.
Work does not have to be a four letter word.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON VERBAL JUDO
WHY IS THE TRAINING CALLED VERBAL JUDO?
Physical Judo, “The Gentle Way” teaches how to redirect physical energy with maximum effectiveness with minimum effort. Judo does not require the opponent to be injured for it to be effective. Like Judo, Verbal Judo uses redirection. It differs not in purpose but in application. We use words and principles of persuasion to Generate Voluntary Compliance from people under emotional influences from rage to simple frustration.
HOW CAN YOU REDIRECT ANGRY PEOPLE WHEN ALL YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IS GET THEM OUT OF YOUR FACE?
The concept is called “Mushin.” It means to anticipate situations and stay open minded toward possible solutions. Falling into the trap of releasing our own emotions is easy and can happen even before we have a chance to marshal our thoughts. Under pressure, the first thought that comes to our mind is rarely the best thing to say. We must remember that we REPRESENT both the company we work for and the irritating personality in front of us.
WHY CAN’T I JUST SAY WHAT I’M THINKING? DON’T PEOPLE APPRECIATE HONESTY?
They do indeed. But, people want honesty in very controlled doses. Selective honesty is more often the correct response if we are to preserve the personal feelings and dignity of everyone involved in the encounter. The maxim we teach is, “Feel what you want, just don’t say what you’re feeling, if those feelings are negative.” We guarantee this technique also works pretty well in the home. It has saved more than one marriage, friendship or business deal.
WHAT IF I’M THE ONE HAVING THE BAD DAY?
Sadly, when you are the one who needs something from the other person, you can’t afford to have one. That’s why we teach that professionals are in control of their thinking and their actions when others may not be. A consistent philosophy of action keep us from becoming victims of the “Bad Day” syndrome.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN THE PRINCIPLES OF VERBAL JUDO?
Although they are not absorbed in an instant, they do permeate our lives so effectively they become a philosophy for living. They are quickly rooted and grow as a new type of common sense for our time because they are founded in the way people think and act already at their best. The principles guide future actions.
WHY PRINCIPLES? IS FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY?
Verbal Judo is so important in our society because if we can’t “walk the walk or talk the talk,” we lose. The training teaches us to look creatively at conflict and redirect behavior. This is accomplished by not attacking the solutions of other people but the process by which they arrived at those solutions. This way, everyone saves face. It creates respect. We can go a long way in reducing violence in our workplaces if we restore dignity to people, even while unfortunate things are happening to them. People surround themselves in a psychological box called a “Safe and Secure Environment.” They fear anything outside the box if it makes them uncomfortable. Fear makes the mind rigid to change or new ideas. To penetrate the box we must be adaptable and creative.
CAN I USE THIS OUTSIDE THE WORKPLACE?
Yes. In fact, it is just as important at home and with our friends as it is at work. Even if you lose you cool and your job, there are always other jobs, but the destruction of respect within our family is far more dangerous. Remember that respect is earned, not bestowed by our position or station in life. People may forgive our statements but they rarely forget the hurt. Verbal abuse is now classified as the greatest form of abuse in our country today. We must learn to use words as tools, not as weapons.
WHY IS KEEPING A SENSE OF HUMOR IMPORTANT? Humor is perhaps the greatest technique of communication we can use. But, how it is used is important. People don’t wish to be made fun of on a personal level, but they will clearly admit mistakes and learn when they find their own experience parallels an example from the class. Through humorous metaphors, examples, and maxims,
VERBAL JUDO training helps people remember more specifics than a normal class of just facts and data. It overcomes the overload syndrome. Research shows people comprehend only 50% of what they hear immediately after they hear it and only 25% after 48hours. Humor relaxes people, and relaxed people remember more of what they hear. Besides, laughter is good for the mind. It reduces the pressures and stress of our day by helping us keep our perspective. And, all research clearly demonstrates that humor makes people more productive and effective. Work does not need to be another four letter word! We learn to enjoy the challenge of difficult people.
CAN I EARN REAL RESPECT FROM OTHER PEOPLE?
Yes, without a doubt. The primary cause of failed business ventures, marriages, and good relations with our children is often cited as a lack of communication. Most people want to tell us something for our own good but few know how to correctly approach this subject. They fear offending us so much they instead watch us fall into the abyss of failure. Verbal Judo teaches how to reach out and get attention without destroying credibility by improving respect, empathy, and tolerance. Wouldn’t you like to be treated the same way?
Why is the training called Verbal "Judo" ?
Verbal Judo combines both eastern and western philosophy.
Ancient Japanese warriors were an integral part of their society. Their actions were governed by a code called "Bushido." They were protectors of both the law and the citizens in their charge. These warriors studied and practiced techniques and tactics for both survival and the taking of life. It is important to know that their actions, however violent, were never random but for a specific purpose as their duties were defined by their Shogun. These men of steel discipline studied and trained both physically and mentally to be ready at a moments notice, their thinking not from reactions to an event but conditioned responses to resolve the situation. Very little was chance in their lives, and they believed that "Success favored the prepared mind". They governed and took action when necessary for the benefit of others over themselves. The were men of sacrifice.
As a black belt in Judo, Dr George I. Thompson studied the martial art popularized by Dr. Jigoro Kano to use an opponents strength against them to defeat them in combat. Judo means the "Gentle Way" and practitioners do not advocate punching or kicking to harm an opponent. As their opponent uses force and pushes, a judoka will pull, using the physical momentum of the other person to unbalance them. A judo expert redirects their opponents body into a position where no harm is done to them nor can they harm others. It was then a modern approach to the "Way of the Warrior" because it did not require the defender to injure or kill to protect themselves or others. Kano had taken killing arts of the battlefield and created a humane approach toward the violence in society.
Dr. Thompson, whose classical education included post-doctoral studies in the work of Aristotle, combined the two philosophies of east and west to create VERBAL JUDO as a way of deflecting negative criticism or comments, or harsh words and tones to help others think better for themselves during conflict. Aristotle, considered the founder of what is called "rhetoric" or persuasion, created the very arguments (persuasive appeals) we use everyday in sales, customer service, as buyers of products, with our subordinates and supervisors, and even with our own families to get what we need from them. We create respect by persuading people to think differently, not by demanding or dictating they change their actions to suit us.
Verbal Judo became a means to redirect the poor behavior of others using words and not force.
In business or in the home, this is the way of the modern "Peace Warrior", as the protector. A 21st century approach to conflict.
