About Us
Mission
Our mission is to improve results by facilitating the process of strengthening employee performances and cultivating personal achievements.
"A few hours into our workshop with Nancy Stampahar, my management staff remembered why they love their positions. The strategy of bringing out the best in everyone, and showing each of us how to live up to our possibilities, was exactly what we needed. The feeling of true teamwork is now a part of our daily culture.....something I did not think possible with multiple locations. I highly recommend this program." Dorothy Andreas Tuel, President, Sewickley Spa
Our Company
Silver Lining Solutions® improves employee performances in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors with a practical, interactive and enthusiastic style of organizational training and keynote speaking. We bring a results-oriented, no-frills, refreshing approach to employee work and self-development needs while reminding everyone that “learning” and “growing” can be engaging and fun! Our “soft” skills workshops and presentations can increase your return on investment.
We create collaborative, positive work environments to eliminate the “us versus them” attitudes. The key is to change the way we think and act by not accepting the status quo, finding courage and desire to break out of our comfort zone and by dealing with any obstacles that may stand in our way. It takes self-respect and respect for others. It requires all employees, at all levels, to take action and be accountable.
We will identify what’s holding you and your organization back, and inspire you to reach and exceed your greatest potential. So you can get the results you really want in your work and personal lives. Your ways of working and being can be yours, if you want them. You decide.
Our Philosophy
Silver Lining Solutions®’ philosophy runs on two factors. First, the heart of each organization rests with its employees. Second, each organization’s situation is unique, and “one-size-fits-all” formulas never do “fit all.”
With that in mind, we research and identify challenges within your organization. Then, we tailor and facilitate an intimate, people-centered, learning environment. It’s engaging. It’s thought provoking. This solution not only focuses on the individual's professional and personal growth, but also equips your organization with competencies and resources to achieve results aligned with your vision, mission and goals. Our primary focus is on the individual. Because when you work from the inside out, from the bottom up, you improve the overall performance of your organization. We bring about greater awareness and enhance the skills and knowledge of people. For when your people succeed, your organization moves beyond succeeding; it thrives!
About Nancy
Nancy
Stampahar is a sought-after organizational development consultant, trainer and
speaker. She has improved performances in the academic, business services,
healthcare, manufacturing, non-profit, retail, telecommunications and travel and
tourism industries. She is backed by over a decade of leadership, organizational
development and training experiences in more than 20 different performance
improvement methods and has held employment positions that developed diverse
business skills in customer service, human resources, general operations
management, organizational development, sales and training in various parts of
the country. Nancy earned her BSBA in human resource management from Robert
Morris University.
As the author of peace, love and lemonade: a recipe to make your life sweeter,
Nancy has appeared on television as a change management and adversity expert for
“The Jennifer Show”. She has also been a guest on the radio shows: “The American
Entrepreneur with Ron Morris”, “WAMO with Sly & Vicki”, as well as the internet
radio show “VoiceAmerica, Disability Matters”. Nancy’s organizational
development expertise and life stories have been sought after and written about
in several local and national publications like Baseline Magazine, Personal
Excellence, Pittsburgh Business Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
newspapers.
Nancy believes in volunteerism and is committed to helping people with
disabilities with the fundraising initiative she created called, “The Over 21
Disabilities Project”. Nancy currently serves as a Trustee for The ARC of
Greater Pittsburgh and is donating a portion of her book’s proceeds to this
initiative in memory of her brother. She is the co-chairperson for the Arc 58th
National Conference to be held in November, 2009.
Nancy Stampahar is passionate. She practices what she speaks. True to her
company’s name, she believes in silver linings and the possibilities found in
every day. Nancy is a resilient individual whose life experiences have shaped
her into a wellspring of positive energy, compassion and achievement. She has
found her calling and is continually helping people discover the abundance of
opportunities within themselves and in the worlds around them.
Nancy’s Notes to Lead By
When we open our minds to learning, we can discover that something else is possible.
Motivational Speaker and Author, Dr. Wayne Dyer, states, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. Powerful.
Why do we either perceive a person's message correctly or do not understand the message’s true intent when we communicate with our customers, employees, colleagues, family and friends?
It's been stated that we have misunderstandings because either the speaker has not been clear about what was intended to be said; or their body language contradicts the words spoken; or the listener has predetermined what the message means through their own perceptions that can be affected by individualized filters or recordings playing inside their own mind. Perceptions are very different for everyone due to our unique past experiences, education, training, gender, culture, etc. These individualized perceptions can greatly impact the true intent of the message and block the need for empathy.
It is the understanding of the message being sent that affects communication more than the words being spoken. This is why the power of empathy is critical to building healthy relationships with your customers, employees, colleagues, family and friends. Empathy is not the same as sympathy. Empathy is about deeply understanding and validating another person’s perspective and needs. Even if you do not agree with the situation, you get it. Sympathy is about sharing the emotions and ideas of another person. There is mutual agreement and similarity.
You can change your perceptions (filters/recordings) by opening your mind and being exposed to new ideas, people, situations and environments. The more you learn and experience in life and work, the more you can see other ways of being and doing. The more you know, the less you fear. So, get out there and discover all that life has to offer. Or as we say in Pittsburgh, go ahead and cross the river “an nat.” ☺
The next time you have a misunderstanding, put forth some effort to become self-aware to minimize the negative effects of filtered perceptions by asking yourself the following questions:
- What is making me believe this is really true?
- What are the facts of the situation? When and how did it actually happen?
- Is my reaction based on the actual current facts or my past experiences?
- How are my predetermined filters and recordings impacting the current situation and the people involved?
- And most importantly, what will I do differently the next time it happens?
