Reversal Theory: Motivation in Action

Workshop Description

How can you foster a healthy concern for due dates and the consequences of failure or inaction without also bringing the stress and anxiety that accompany those realities? How can you motivate everyone to follow rules and procedures, but then expect them to innovate? Learning to strike a balance between these requirements — and a hundred others that we demand of ourselves and our organizations — demands an understanding of motivational states and how to work within them.

Reversal Theory, a theory of motivation and emotion, is one of the most significant psychological theories to have emerged in the last forty years. Unlike conventional trait theories that measure the amount and consistency of your behavior, Reversal Theory focuses on flexibility and what spurs reversals from one psychological state to another. For the last thirty years clinicians and researchers from around the world have been testing, exploring and writing about Reversal Theory, but not until recently has the world of organization development benefited from this revolutionary set of ideas.

Workshop Objectives:

• Develop an experiential understanding of Reversal Theory, including domains, states and dominance
• Practice using a detailed workbook and Reversal Theory guide as a means of introducing the material
• Generate a functional list of reversal triggers (behaviors, words, actions & props) to use with yourself and others
• Give and receiving Reversal Theory feedback
• Strategize approaches for applying Reversal Theory to selfawareness, leadership, teams and system-wide change efforts

General Information and Policies

Rescheduling Policy. You may reschedule one time only at no additional charge, but you must notify OKA in writing or email 14 business days prior to the start of the program, providing the registration has been paid in full. If the registration has not been paid in full, then full payment is required before a date transfer can be made. If you reschedule after the 14-day cutoff or have subsequent transfers, a fee of $100 will be due immediately for each instance.

Cancellation Policy. Cancellations must be received in writing 7 business days prior to the start of the program, and are subject to a $200 administrative fee. For one-day programs, the cancellation fee is $100. Cancellations after the 7-day cutoff and no-shows will forfeit 50% of the tuition. Materials are not refundable.

General Information. Fairfax, VA courses are held at OKA. They begin either at 8:00 or 8:30 AM, and generally run a full day; you will receive specific information about class logistics after you register. We provide a continental breakfast and healthy snacks throughout the day; there is a refrigerator on site if you wish to bring lunch. There are a number of restaurants and a drug store within walking distance. OKA is not a handicapped-accessible facility; we are happy to make whatever reasonable accommodations we can for our visitors.

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