We have been around for over three decades providing the finest in training that can change the way you think and speak during conflict. From customer service to supervision and from home to boardroom, Verbal Judo can change the way you say things.

Company Profile:
We have been in business for over 30 years teaching people to work better with others during conflict. Training that initially began with law enforcement grew into working with business and corporations, the airlines and cruise lines, medical facilities, educational institutions, and the government. The company founder and president, Dr. George J. Thompson, Ph.D. took a background as a tenured professor of literature and five years as a police officer to create Verbal Judo, or as it is also called, Tactical Communication. 

Although the untimely death of Dr. Thompson has taken the founder of the Institute and creator of the Verbal Judo program, he has left a very capable group of original member training instructors to continue his legacy.  There is a tribute to Dr. Thompson on the Presenters page of this site. 

Our Purpose:
We teach how to speak and act professionally under pressure. People rarely think well during conflict. We train how to use presence and words as tools rather than weapons, helping people build bridges to success rather than burn them. Verbal Judo is the single best course in communicating effectively available today. It use has reduced complaints by as much as 57% to 77% in many police departments and is making great strides in the corporate sector, city and county government, the travel industry, the medical profession, in our schools, and in our homes.

Verbal Judo is derived from the classic worlds of eastern and western philosophy, taking the best in persuasion from the powerful thinking of Aristotle and the martial philosophy of Jigoro Kano, the creator of physical Judo. The goal of Verbal Judo is Generating Voluntary Compliance from others when they are not at their best. 

Working to modify and change behavior and not attitude gives us great power in getting what we need from other people under stressful conditions. We must sometimes think for others as they would think for themselves under better conditions. The success of the Tactical Communication program can be measured in keeping our people safe from the wrath of others, making us more professional under pressure.  Verbal Judo training is instrumental in decreasing potential complaints and liability, while reducing work site stress and improving productivity, morale, and how we manage our time.

Please examine the information content in both the day program and the supervisory sessions to gain a better understanding of what components to choose for your session. The Verbal Judo programs are for any type of organization and perfect for any problem or situation where communicating effectively or dealing with conflict and difficult personalities exist. 

We will happily tailor any of the programs for your group. 

Please contact me with any questions and although this site was specifically designed for the non-law enforcement audiences we still continue to conduct programs which made the Verbal Judo name a world-wide recognized company.  For enforcement programs you can reach me through www.verbal-judo.com and you will be connected to a new site for Verbal Defense & Influence.  Contact me for additional specifics on program adaptation and costs.

Keynote programs are designed to be both relevant, humorous and can be tailored to fit any time slot needed.

From the page listing on the right you can view participant comments and below the comments are the client listings for both corporate, government, travel industry, medical, and sports officiating will be followed by the law enforcement agencies and departments.  Under the page marked Overview you will find the course modules and components for the types of programs listed just below this message.  My sincere thanks for your interests.

My regards,
Lee Fjelstad

VERBAL JUDO PROGRAMS

SUMMARY TALKING POINTS OF THE TWO-HOUR KEYNOTE

• Why are people difficult in America?  The “Three Personalities” of people.
• Thirteen things never to say when trying to reduce conflict and resolve problems.
• Developing a “Habit of Mind” for effectively dealing with resistant minds.
• The "First Truth" of communicating effectively: Active Listening.
• The “Second Truth” of communicating effectively: Understanding the psychology of "roles."
• Representing both the Company and the Customer in the arena of conflict.

And one of the following in a summarized fashion:

• The Five-Step Approach for redirecting behavior and Generating Voluntary Compliance.
• An effective strategy in communication and problem solving: L.E.A.P.S.
  

SUMMARY TALKING POINTS OF THE FULL-DAY PROGRAM

• Representing both the Company and the Customer in the arena of conflict.
• Remaining professional while the people around you act like amateurs.
• Dealing with verbally abusive or hostile language.
• Thirteen things never to say when trying to reduce conflict and resolve problems.
• The "Three Truths" of communicating effectively.
• The Four Appeals of Persuasion.
• The Five-Step Approach for redirecting behavior and Generating Voluntary Compliance.
• An effective strategy in communication and problem solving: L.E.A.P.S.
• The Five-Times when words fail: S.A.F.E.R. 
• Using the "Means versus the End" Argument in persuasion and for making effective decisions.

 

SUMMARY TALKING POINTS OF THE SUPERVISOR PROGRAM

• Reviewing the true purpose of supervision and leadership, defining organization roles and relationships.  Understanding the ladder of success of credibility after promotion.
• Representing both the Company and the Subordinate in the arena of conflict.  
• Importance of staying professional while the people around you act like amateurs.
• Dealing with verbally abusive or hostile language.
• Thirteen things never to say when trying to reduce conflict and resolve problems.
• The "Three Truths" of communicating effectively.
• The Four Appeals of Persuasion.
• The Five-Step Approach for redirecting behavior and Generating Voluntary Compliance.
• The Five-Times when words fail: S.A.F.E.R.
• Using the "Means versus the End" Argument in persuasion and decision making.
• The "Quadrant of Leadership skills" as designed by Carl Jung to understand your "style of leadership and how to work in harmony with others who have different styles than you.
• An effective strategy in communication and problem solving: L.E.A.P.S.
• Using Praise and Punishment effectively.
• Rhetorical Thinking, P.A.V.P.O. and P.A.C.E. for credibility and better results in our decision making, praise and punishment, delegation, and self analysis of our actions prior judging others. These components can also be used for problem solving and group discussion.

For additional information click on Contact Us page 
or call me at 941-350-9559.

W Lee Fjelstad, Vice President,

Verbal Judo Institute, Inc.