Services Alignment Aligning human resources and training initiatives to strategic business goals. Assessments Assessment and development of individuals, teams, and organizational cultures. Workshops & Coaching Helping people to perform at their best; helping mangers create the environment where people want to do their best. Organizational Development Creating a culture of accountability, shared values, commitment vs. compliance. Benefits Develop a compelling vision Business plans that provide a competitive edge Better articulate your vision Provide better focus Employer of choice Attract & retain the best Reduce unwanted turnover Improve productivity, performance & profitability Build teamwork & trust Reduce scrap & rework Generate new ideas Increase acceptance of change Lower stress & conflict Affiliations We are proud of our affiliation with the following providers of world class performance improvement products and processes: Consulting Psychologists Press Cortright & Associates DDI Inscape Publishing Company Integro Learning Company HRD Press/Training House Vital Learning Company Areas of Expertise Workshops and Coaching Executive Team Alignment Leadership/Management/Supervisory Sales & Sales Management Internal/External Customer Service High Performing Teams Consulting Executive Coaching Needs Analysis Job Analysis Rotational Development Processes Organizational Culture Assessment and Development Organizational Climate and Employee Attitude Surveys Conducting Team Trust Analysis 360 degree feedback processes Performance Management Issues Personnel Assessment & Selection

Core skills are those essential human competencies that make the critical difference in the ultimate success or failure of any business or enterprise whether we realize this or not. There is a “leadership crisis” in America. Research shows that over two-thirds of the workforce is “disengaged” which means basically disconnected from the work they do. Most people drag themselves to jobs they have no heart or passion for and, basically, go through the motions every day. Why? Mainly it is due to a lack of effective leadership. Countless organizations say that people are their most important asset, yet few actually walk that talk. Those that do are the standout performers that consistently outperform the competition and exceed shareholder expectations. Of the five basic resources, people, not capital, equipment, technology, or materials are the only sustainable resource that can add value and provide a competitive advantage. Many organizations talk teamwork, but a noted researcher on teams stated that “seldom do you find top management teams acting as true teams.” “They don’t even practice the basics.” “And why they don’t is due to conflicting and competing priorities and agendas, politics and egos.” Core Skills are not soft skills as some refer to them. Soft implies less important and/or not measurable. Core Skills are critically important and they are measurable. Our improvement processes include pre and post measures of effectiveness at the individual, team and organizational levels. And we can demonstrate the bottom line benefits of the improvement process! Why else would you undertake an improvement process at any level unless there was a solid business case for doing so? If you are an internal change agent or decision maker in need of funding, we can help you develop the business case. Core Values We believe you will be best able to determine whether or not we are meant to work together by examining our core values; they are: To create intentional business partnerships that have impact and add value (read to never “blow smoke at you”) To be strategically focused on your needs and intended results To use the most cost-efficient and effective tools and methods To share our talents in a proactive and consultative way—if what you are asking for will not produce the results you seek, we’ll tell you that To continuously learn by being both teachers and learners When in your pocket, we’ll spend your money (and time) wisely Implied in the above is that we coach and train you (transfer the learning) so that your organization continues to benefit without dependence on us We always strive to live not just the Golden Rule (to do unto others as you would have them do unto you,) but the Platinum Rule (do unto others as they want to be done unto) as well. About Core Skills Founder, Bernie Reuter Bernie Reuter is an executive consultant and master facilitator who brings over 30 years of experience in education and training, organizational performance improvement and business development to bear on his work in client organizations. His broad and diverse background includes teaching at the senior high school, community college and university levels; serving as at Training Administrator for a public utility responsible for all technical and non-technical training; and playing an instrumental role in developing a significant profit center for a major performance improvement company. He developed an independent training and consulting practice serving a variety of organizations in both public and private sectors. Bernie is active in leadership and volunteer roles in his neighborhood, local community and schools, church, the Chamber of Commerce, and in professional organizations. He received the “Excellence Award” from the Detroit Chapter of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) for an integrated management and organizational development process he implemented for a county government. He received his Bachelors Degree in Social Science & Education, a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, and completed all coursework and comprehensive examinations for a Ph.D. in Adult & Continuing Education and Organizational Development all from Michigan State University. A final Word About Our Work Research proves that most training doesn’t work! That is, it does not lead to behavior change on the part of the individuals involved and does not lead to any bottom line improvements in the organization. Some of the most prominent reasons for this are: 1. Ineffective methods, 2. It is not linked with organizational strategies or day to day management behavior and 3. what is taught in training workshops is typically not modeled, followed up or reinforced by senior management. On the other hand, training can have as much as a $33 to $1 return on investment if it is done properly. We believe in implementing improvement processes, not training events, which will have bottom line impacts on your organization. If you are serious about making change in your organization, the best way to begin is to start at the executive team level. Organizational change happens best when managers come alongside people and demonstrate how they want employees to behave through personal example, teaching and coaching. Employee disconnectedness, suspicion and mistrust increase when change is implemented in a top-down way that basically says to people "do as I say, not as I do. You can change this approach, and we can help. Core Skills, Inc. PO BOX 1084 Clarkston, MI 48347-1084 Phone & Fax: (248) 620-1082 CoreSkills@Comcast.net