susan hendrich

How to Make a Flow Chart

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Flow Charts

Understanding and Communicating How a Process Works

Re-printed from MindTools.com.

 

Flow charts are easy-to-understand diagrams showing how steps in a process fit together. This makes them useful tools for communicating how processes work, and for clearly documenting how a particular job is done. Furthermore, the act of mapping a process out in flow chart format helps you clarify your understanding of the process, and helps you think about where the process can be improved.

A flow chart can therefore be used to:

  • Define and analyze processes;
  • Build a step-by-step picture of the process for analysis, discussion, or communication; and
  • Define, standardize or find areas for improvement in a process

Also, by conveying the information or processes in a step-by-step flow, you can then concentrate more intently on each individual step, without feeling overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

How to Use the Tool:

Most flow charts are made up of three main types of symbol:

  • Elongated circles, which signify the start or end of a process;
  • Rectangles, which show instructions or actions; and
  • Diamonds, which show decisions that must be made

Within each symbol, write down what the symbol represents. This could be the start or finish of the process, the action to be taken, or the decision to be made.

Symbols are connected one to the other by arrows, showing the flow of the process.

Tip:
There are many other flowchart symbols that can also be used. However, remember that an important use of flow charts is in communication: If you use obscure symbols that only part of your audience understands, there’s a good chance that your communication will fail. As ever, keep things simple!

To draw the flow chart, brainstorm process tasks, and list them in the order they occur. Ask questions such as “What really happens next in the process?” and “Does a decision need to be made before the next step?” or “What approvals are required before moving on to the next task?”

Start the flow chart by drawing the elongated circle shape, and labeling it “Start”.

Then move to the first action or question, and draw a rectangle or diamond appropriately. Write the action or question down, and draw an arrow from the start symbol to this shape.

Work through your whole process, showing actions and decisions appropriately in the order they occur, and linking these together using arrows to show the flow of the process. Where a decision needs to be made, draw arrows leaving the decision diamond for each possible outcome, and label them with the outcome. And remember to show the end of the process using an elongated circle labeled “Finish”.

Finally, challenge your flow chart. Work from step to step asking yourself if you have correctly represented the sequence of actions and decisions involved in the process.

And then (if you’re looking to improve the process) look at the steps identified and think about whether work is duplicated, whether other steps should be involved, and whether the right people are doing the right jobs.

Vitality affects

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Get in sync with “Vitality Affects”

The concept of “vitality affects” is all about joining the rhythm of another, whether that “another” is a person, a song, a place, or a moment. Vitality affects are at the core of my therapeutic style.  My style is a natural and literal entrainment with a person’s cognition and emotion, which helps “mirror” the client’s internal experience.  This mirroring, or reflecting, allows the client to “see” herself outside of herself, and thus make tweaks and adjustments to her personal “music.” It’s no accident that the term is synonymous with affective attunement (get it? a-TUNE-ment, as in “tuning in” to the music of another). 

A great poster on vitality affects: http://www.phil.gu.se/posters/musicmove.pdf.

Tuning in to America’s Got Talent

I have been watching “America’s Got Talent,” a stupid yet mesmerizing talent show with Jerry Springer as host. The two front-running acts include a 400-pound young opera singer and two african american violinists from inner-city NY. The reason these two acts have risen to the top is that we in the audience become entranced by the symphony that is their music, movements, facial expressions, and tangible passion (not to mention their inspiring personal stories).  Their vitality affects become hypnotic pendula that mysteriously draw us in and help us to make our own symphonies. 

What types of vitality affects are you tuning in to these days?

Susan Hendrich

About

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Susan Hendrich – Leadership and Training Specialist

Download Susan’s Résumé

  

Susan’s Professional Profile

 

Leadership
Fifteen years’ experience in leading highly successful learning development and change management in business, technology and human service teams. Proven record of facilitating accomplishment of team goals through trusting relationships. Able to foster environments of exceptional employee morale, productivity, and impeccable customer service. Possess a big-picture understanding of business operations within multiple industry settings.

Solutions
Proven ability to bridge technology and business goals to provide productive learning solutions and facilitate a positive orientation toward problem solving. Utilize strategic methods to find best-practice solutions to complex problems. Offer a solid balance of business operations knowledge, interpersonal relations, and industry best practices. Able to infuse hopeful perspective in difficult situations.

Expertise
• E-Learning Solutions Development
• Strategic and Operational Planning
• Information Technology Management
• Diplomatic Intervention and Negotiation
• Team-Building, Problem Solving and Training
• Graphic / Creative Design
• Crisis / Critical Incident Stress Management
• Nationally-Recognized Presentations

Recent Highlights
Led development of comprehensive CRM, SRM, LMS, LCMS software suites • Leadership Wichita Mayoral Cabinet Nominee • Facilitated hundreds of workshops for corporate, university, non-profit & military teams • Taught Leadership, Management, Learning Strategies Courses at several major universities • Produced 5 national award-winning wall calendars • Penn State University: President’s Award – Finalist • President’s Commission on Racial / Ethnic Diversity – Appointee • American Red Cross Commendations • Kansas Psychological Association Board of Governors – Board Member

Education and Training
Florida Tech University, Melbourne, Florida
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Conferred: 9/95

Florida Tech University, Melbourne, Florida
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology Degree Conferred: 8/93

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Clinical Option Degree Conferred: 6/91

Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
Executive Development Institute Certificate Earned: 11/99
Coursework in Computer Science 9/00 – 12/01

Career Progression
Randstad In-house Services, placed at THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC. – Malvern, Pennsylvania
Instructional Design Contractor – www.vanguard.com
6/07 – PRESENT
Design and develop training courses for the world’s largest pure no-load mutual fund company. Conduct needs-analysis, identify target audience, & develop learning objectives, functionality, & interface appearance. Partner with subject matter experts to develop high-level designs, detail-level designs, storyboards, testing, & flow charts. Supervise production and assist in managing project budget. Ensure compliance with current brand consistency and corporate requirements.

NIGHT KITCHEN INTERACTIVE – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructional Designer / Project Manager – www.whatscookin.com
3/06 – 6/07
Supported development of training courses for the pharmaceutical, arts/culture, and multimedia communications industries. Conducted needs analysis, identified target audience, & developed learning objectives, functionality, & interface appearance. Partnered with subject matter experts to develop storyboards, testing, & flow charts. Supervised production & assisted in managing budget. Ensured compliance with worldwide regulatory requirements & SOPs.

Clients: The Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Delaware Art Museum, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Academy of Natural Sciences, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Sequent Learning Networks

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY – Wichita, Kansas
Director, Kansas Children’s Mental Health Training 2/00 – 2/06
Led a training and technology program responsible for serving more than 3000 community-based service professionals. Planned/directed technology integration into a $3.6 million government contract housed at the University. Managed development, implementation and maintenance of integrated software systems designed for total customer care.

HSP, INC. – Wichita, Kansas
Advisory Board Member   9/01 – PRESENT
Business Consultant   1/96 – 8/99
Provide consultation on customer & employee relations, shop flow processes, product development, and management of an aircraft parts manufacturing firm. Assist C-level, LOB and technical professionals in change management and strategic planning. Provide crisis management and resolution. Contribute leadership vision at management and planning sessions. Assist in establishing intermediate and long-term company goals, marketing strategies, and product development lines.

COMCARE of Sedgwick County, Wichita, Kansas
Director of Family & Children Community Services, Licensed Clinical Psychologist 
8/97 – 1/00
Provided leadership and oversight of Kansas’ largest community mental health center children’s program. Focused on quality service delivery, continuous improvement and optimization efforts, including developing and streamlining processes, as well as designing innovative programs to assist target populations. Utilized strong interpersonal relationship skills to facilitate increased productivity through problem solving and morale building.

Technical Expertise
Original Software Co-Developed

  • YOTO™  (Your Online Training Organizer)
  • KidSoft ™ System (Kids Information Database Software)
  • FeedbackLOOP ™ (Learning Optimization Online Program)
  • CMO™ (Case Management Online) Learning Management System
  • KT Course Builder™ Learning Content Management System
  • Content Builder™ Authoring Tool
  • Kids Training Team: www.kidstraining.org
  • Training Teams: http://www.trainingteams.com

Information Technologies Managed
Microsoft SQL Server 2000/7.0 • Exchange Server 2000 • Adobe Creative Suite (CS2) – Photoshop, Illustrator • Visual Basic.NET/ 6.0 • C# • Crystal Reports 8.5 • MS FrontPage 2000 • HTML • Active Server Pages.NET/3.0 • Javascript 1.3 • VBscript 5.0 • Macromedia/Adobe Flash MX, Freehand 10

Operating Systems Used
Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP • Palm O/S

Software Application Expertise
MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio, Access, FrontPage 2000 • Adobe: Photoshop CS2, Illustrator 10.0 • XML Articulate Presenter, Quizmaker 2.0 • Lotus Notes • Xara 3D Macromedia: Freehand 10 • Dreamweaver MX 2004 • Moodle LMS Captivate / RoboDemo • Camtasia

Other Administrative / Supervisory Experience

  • Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research: Editorial Board Member / Reviewer 11/00 – PRESENT
  • Sedgwick County Stress/Trauma Assistance Team
  • Critical Incident Stress Management Team Lead 11/99 – 2/06
  • Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program, Wichita, Kansas: Curriculum Committee Coordinator; Doctoral Internship Supervisor 8/97 – 3/06
  • Kansas Psychological Association, Board of Governors: Member 12/98 – 1/01
  • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas: Graduate Research Project Committee Chairperson 8/98 – 2/02
  • Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania: Counselor Education: Senior Teaching Assistant 1/90 – 5/91