Teams are essential for business success, but getting team members to work together can be a challenge. We specialize in working with leadership teams, serving as a catalyst to equip, inspire and support. Since 2005, we have been engaged in developing workshops that focused on such topics as:
- Developing a Leadership Team Vision
- Strategic Thinking and Planning
- Addressing Organizational Development Challenges
- Improving Team Communication and Performance
Dr. Switzer is a State of California approved Team Building Workshop Facilitator with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. He and his vetted team of experts are available to help you maximize the potential of your teams and business.
To prepare for your customized workshop we start with an interview of the senior leader in order to identify the desired outcomes. From there, we typically will use such methods as team interviews, team building assessments, and employee surveys which will be used to get to know the unique dynamic of your team, their strengths and their challenges. Once we have all this information, we will draft your customized Team Development Plan and submit it for approval.
Workshop materials are customized to help the leaders and organizations move forward. Activities are frequently used to allow participants to have fun while yielding rich dialogue and experiential learning. These activities are also used to help teams identify opportunities for growth, prioritize issues, and develop strategies.
We have worked with and have experience with many business sectors. We are proud that we have a depth of experience in working with CPA, police, and fire organizations.
Here are our net promotor scores in two important workshop evaluation elements: To what extent do you agree
- You would recommend this facilitator to others? Net Promoter Score: 91
- Overall, the workshop was worth your time? Net Promoter Score: 94
Additionally, consider these testimonials:
Merle Switzer has been amazing to work with. Just over a year ago I interviewed Merle and we invited him to our annual company kick off meeting for our first work together. Although we had not worked together prior to that all-hands meeting, in which Merle led some teamwork exercises, the company completely embraced Merle and the work we did together. Looking back a mere 12 months, at our organization, management team, and the individuals, I can see a huge evolution and transformation. Merle was the catalyst or change agent who made this transformation possible. When the management team reflected on all the positive growth at the conclusion of our last fiscal year, Merle and the work we did together was cited as one of the most important things we did.
Since our first all-hands meeting with Merle, we have engaged Merle for personal coaching (myself and all my management staff), and several management development workshops, and additional team building with our company. The 360-degree process work we did with Merle was amongst the most impacting work – opening management individuals’ awareness to how their colleagues’ experiences in working with them. This began a tremendous positive evolution within SOS. However other management workshops have been just as impacting – Merle’s training on employee coaching/counseling was critical information that we use now as a methodology within our organization. I will also say that personally, reflecting back 12+ months ago, my life has personally transformed into a life I am in love with – and that is something that came through my coaching with Merle, and actions resulting. Even my marriage has improved! I can’t say enough great things about Merle and the work he has done with me and our organization.
- Gia McNutt, CEO, TEAM SOS
To understand the significance of this testimonial you need to understand some of the history at Anderson Police Department and appreciate the fact that this management “team” was functioning as anything but a team. The Department had suffered a catastrophic blow to public image and trust when an officer was arrested and prosecuted for sexual assault under color of authority. The victim was a female in-custody for DUI and sexually assaulted by the officer while in custody. The impact this had on the reputation of our small department, as well as on our quaint community was immeasurable, and, at the time immediately following the incident, seemed permanent and irreparable. The city manager determined that a review of Departmental policies and procedures was necessary and hired an outside source to conduct the evaluation. Employees were interviewed and encouraged to voice their comments, concerns, and disapproval of administration, which seemed to cause distrust to form, morale to diminish, and ultimately stimulated the employees to engage in unethical slander against administration and move to force the removal of the chief of police from his position in May 2011. Local media was used for a platform to cause unrest and further degradation within the Department. There was no cohesion, common goal or mission, or unity in this department.
POST graciously acted quickly to approve a Team Building Workshop. I thoroughly researched several companies and spent the effort to contact agencies for references before choosing Switzer Associates Leadership Solutions. Merle Switzer came highly recommended for his thoroughness, expertise, and sensible approach to facilitating change and trust within an organization. In January 2014, the APD management team (comprised of the new Chief of Police, one new Lieutenant, three Sergeants, one Support Services Manager, and one Support Services Supervisor) met to embark on a three-day training retreat with facilitator Merle Switzer.
Over the course of the three-day sessions, our group transformed from a divided, non-communicational and autonomic operating set of persons to a trusting, collaborative and unified team of leaders. During the training, we learned to break down walls of mistrust through a variety of exercises and realizations. Open and honest communication led to foundations in which relationships have grown. Merle provided us with management tools, such as conflict resolution techniques, that have allowed us to move forward with a greater understanding and common goal in the best interest of the organization. We developed a strategic mission statement and agreed upon rules of operation within our team.
One year later, January 2015, I facilitated a one-year reunion, offsite, two-day training to reflect on our progress and to revisit the concepts of our original session. We are better known collectively now as the “First Team” at APD and operate accordingly. The turnaround has led to phenomenal success in our organization and community. Morale has remained at an all-time high, steady for the past year.
I am not a touchy-feely or politically correct type of guy. I typically see training sessions/retreats of this nature as a gigantic waste of time and a form of new age liberalism that I staunchly resist and detest. However, given the extremities of the situation and the importance for this management team to come together for the good of the organization I approached it with an open mind and full participation. Merle Switzer’s facilitation, course instruction, and management reform techniques has paid immeasurable dividends for this agency. I strongly recommend Merle as a Team Building Workshop facilitator.
- Chief Michael L. Johnson, Anderson Police Department
Dr. Merle Switzer’s coaching of my leadership team collectively and individually has been an incredible blessing and brought results. Merle provides specific and tangible resources to equip, encourage and empower my key leaders to exceed in their performance goals by applying proven methods of leading their respective teams. After their sessions with Merle, they were highly motivated in areas where they were previously discouraged. They and I attributed to Merle’s leadership coaching. I would highly recommend Merle and the leadership solutions he provides.
- Jenny Williamson, Founder/CEO, Courage Worldwide, Inc.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your guidance and assistance facilitating our Team Building Workshop for the Rocklin Police Department leadership team held May 9, 2017 – May 11, 2017.
This is the second time we have been fortunate enough to utilize your services. Although some of our current members had attended your previous session, your material was current, relevant and helpful in the success of our team building experience.
I was really excited to see our team come together as a unit and address the challenges of our organization in a meaningful and constructive way. I am convinced, more than ever, that my managers and supervisors are committed to the success of our organization and motivated to carry out our mission with a renewed energetic enthusiasm.
- Chad Butler, Chief of Police, Rocklin Police Dept.
Want more information? Click here to request information or call us at 916-788-1094.