Stephen Desjarlais

Writer, Storyteller, Educator

Stephen Desjarlais

Corporate Projects

SERVICES

  1. Training Development
    Evaluate programs, prescribe learning, solutions, develop blended approaches-instructor led, eLearning, video training, social media learning, live video training-and implement to increase success and solidify teams.
  2. Retail & Hospitality Consulting
    Focused on the most critical issues in the complex retail and hospitality industry, including performance improvement, team consistency, marketing strategy, customer service, sales initiatives, leadership development, store layout and design and site selection
  3. Leadership Development
    Collaborate with company executives and leaders to customize leadership initiatives and training to build a leadership bench to elevate company culture and values and increase team performance. Customized programs and in person leadership training available.
  4. Public Speaking
    Spoken to thousands of current and future leaders on trainer skills, workplace stress reduction, leading v managing, effective public speaking, building culture, sales training, communication skills and successful recruiting. *Training in 3 Acts. *The importance of The Story.
  5. Copywriting
    Manuals, marketing releases, radio/television/new media scripts, press packets, web & magazine articles, brochures, catalogs.
  6. Ghost Writing
    Need your name on the cover, byline, or speech, ghostwriting services are available for professional or creative purposes. Hourly, project and royalty rates are negotiable.

 Marketing ​

  1. Airtime Marketing Intro
    Writer
  2. Airtime Plans Intro
    Writer
  3. MyVDM Marketing Video
    Writer, Director, Producer, Editor
  4. 7 Steps to YES! - Sneak Peak
    Writer, Director, Producer

 Training 
 Philosophy​

 All learning should revolve around a single corporate goal and brand. In teaching anything--product knowledge, management skills or sales technique--it is trained within that goal, using the same consistent language and feel, in an entertaining way to allow the best use of training resources and with best practices to release the attendee.

Training revolves around doing the class work at home and the homework in class. The best use of training resources is not walking into a room and listening to a trainer talk for hours. The best use of the resource is as a coach and an expert. By requiring the training attendees to do the class work at home through entertaining process and product videos, eLearning and read material, the trainer/coach is free to concentrate on the homework of role playing, integrating the material into "real world" situations, and leading the class through questions and concerns.
All material is integrated in and around one central goal. For training attendees to fully understand how to utilize new material or build upon existing knowledge, all material is taught within one goal. New material is woven within and not separated. It is more difficult for a training attendee to implement material in "real world" situations when it is taught as separate entities. Traditional training teaches product knowledge and then application. By separating the two, they remain separated longer. In the job function, these two are integrated so we train the material as integrated. The two pieces taught together are more easily used together.
All training is presented by utilizing visual, audible and mechanical learning styles. Because each person learns differently, all three learning styles must be used to catch everyone. Although one learning style is stronger for a person than the others, by seeing it (visual), hearing it (audible) or getting their hands on it (mechanical), they learn best by using all three.

All training is delivered with high energy and entertainingly. Traditionally, an attendee's attention within a training session, whether in live instructor led sessions or in eLearning, could be held solely by it being required or the fear of being fired. This does not work. They may sit through it, but they will not likely retain or fully use the information. We are a multi-media, social network, fast paced, and entertainment driven society. With society's evolution, so must training approaches evolve. We do it differently. Material must use a high energy, part pep rally, multi-faceted, shared learning, social, lively, and entertaining approach.
Training uses a high level of practice and role play. Application of the material and the confidence involved is better utilized if they have practiced how to apply it. By role-playing the material in a classroom setting, the training attendee retains the material better as it is attached to its use. Role playing builds confidence. If they can perform confidently with and in front of peers, they will be even more confident in the field. Other attendees can critique their own performance and each others to learn from and coach one another.

Training not only recognizes that adults bring a different set of experiences to training but utilizes those to increase learning. Adults are internally motivated and goal oriented. They must understand the relevance, and importance of the material in "real world" application. They bring life experiences from inside and outside the industry and are encouraged to share those best practices. Adults learn from one another, and by creating a safe and secure environment, they are more likely to share their experiences, providing more class driven and receptive learning. For leaders and managers to better coach their team, they should be provided with immediate and continuous feedback throughout the training process. This is provided one on one, in group sessions and/or through written reports. Candid and honest evaluations are always encouraged to provide the best possible future of the client's team and the training. This training philosophy has taken the traditional dry and separated approach to assure attendees gather and retain the most out of the training.

 Training Videos
 and Computer
 Based Training​​​​

  1. Mastering Wireless Sales Intro
    Writer, Director, Producer
  2. Moshi Culture Training
    Writer, Director, Producer, Videographer, Editor
  3. SodaStream Merchandising Training
    Wrier, Director, Producer, Editor
  4. Microsoft Steps of Service Training
    Writer, Director, Producer
  5. VideoCenter Training
    Writer, Director, Producer, Videographer, Editor
  6. Family Order E-learning captured as video
    Writer, Instructional Designer, E-learning Author
  7. Timeline E-learning Activity captured as video
    Writer, Instructional Designer, E-learning Author

ADDITIONAL E-LEARNING & VIDEO SAMPLES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

 Training
 Programs​
​(excerpts)

Microsoft Stores Steps of Service Team & Train The Trainer Training
Blended approach-ILT, e-learning, mentorship (excerpt)

Rogers of Canada- Using the Store as a Sales Tool-Team and Train The Trainer-Experiencial ILT approach (excerpt)

Retail Business Development Manager Training-Part of a week long conference
ILT and experiential approach
(excerpt)

360 Market Solutions Sales Training-
ILT Team and Train The Trainer
(excerpt)

  7. 360 Market Solutions Sales Training
    ILT, Train The Trainer (excerpt)

ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM SAMPLES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

 Manuals​​
(excerpts)

ADDITIONAL MANUAL SAMPLES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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