Fierce, Inc. Unveils Virtual Instructor-Led Training Solution: Fierce Conversations O2

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - Aug 10, 2011) - Fierce, Inc., a world-class leadership development and training company that drives results for businesses by developing conversation as a skill, today announced the launch of Fierce Conversations online via its new Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) solution, Fierce Conversations O². Fierce Conversations O² was created in direct response to increasing customer requests for an effective, remote training offering to enable both ongoing education and learning retention, and to increase accessibility to the Fierce program.

According to a recent Fierce survey of more than 1,400 corporate executives, employees and educators, a surprising 30 percent of respondents said that their employer did not provide any form of conversation training, despite the fact that over 80 percent believe that a lack of candor within their organization limits optimal performance. Additionally, nearly 50 percent said that they were dissatisfied with the training they were receiving. The same survey found that 86 percent of respondents felt that poor collaboration was to blame for workplace failures.

"Even as businesses increasingly recognize the impact of poor communication on productivity and the bottom-line, many still struggle to implement an effective conversation training program," said Halley Bock, CEO of Fierce. "As companies continue to embrace distributed workforces, there is an even greater need for innovative training solutions that move beyond traditional means of onsite training. With Fierce Conversations O², companies can provide their employees with dynamic, interactive training that not only improves communication, but also offers the flexibility to further ongoing education at the employees' convenience, regardless of location."

The Fierce Conversations O² allows participants to experience Fierce Conversations, including the Team, Coaching, Delegation and Confrontation modules, in an interactive online environment through "real play." Real play allows participants to use their real life issues to learn and apply the Fierce modules in a virtual format.

Fierce Conversations O² is designed to mirror the classroom experience by engaging participants with interactive features including:

• Virtual breakout rooms which provide participants the opportunity to engage in live practice sessions to instantly apply their learning. Facilitators are able to move between breakout rooms to monitor activity and offer feedback.
• Modules that range from 90 to 120 minutes with a live Fierce facilitator present to moderate and deliver the content.
• Controlled classroom size allowing participants time to ask questions, give their perspectives, and interact with the facilitator and group at a deep level.
• Materials in the form of e-workbooks to enhance learning, take notes, and provide written instructions.
• Icons and chat boxes so participants can communicate visually with the group by sharing thoughts, raising their hand, applauding, indicating agreement or disagreement, etc.

The versatility of Fierce Conversations O²'s interactive features allows for easy integration into many different technology platforms, including Adobe Connect, which offers Fierce clients the opportunity to extend ongoing communication training to their executives and employees through a virtual classroom environment. Clients can have employees certified in Fierce Conversations O², enabling these employees to deliver and embed Fierce content across the organization. Once deployed, the Fierce Conversations O² courses will become an engrained part of the corporation's culture, providing ongoing training for existing employees and an introduction to Fierce Conversations for new employees.

"At Fierce, we believe that learning to effectively communicate requires going beyond teaching conversations skills, and actually transforming behavior," said Bock. "Good communication happens when people are authentic, candid and willing to delve deeper to interrogate reality. Fierce Conversations O² provides companies with an ongoing training solution that reinforces these behaviors through practice and interaction."

For more information on Fierce, Inc. and Fierce Conversations O², visit www.fierceinc.com or email the company via the contact page.

About Fierce
Fierce, Inc. is a leadership development and training company that drives results for business and education by developing conversation as a skill. Fierce creates authentic, energizing and rewarding connections with colleagues and customers through skillful conversations that lead to successful outcomes and measurable ROI. Tailored to any organization, Fierce principles and methods translate across the globe, ensure individual and collective success and develop skills that are practical, easy-to-learn and can be applied immediately. Fierce, Inc. is certified as a Women-Owned Business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and the Astra Women's Business Alliance. Please find us in Seattle and online at www.fierceinc.com.