Human Resources: Upcoming Programs |
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August 25, 2015, Volume 62, No. 02 |
Professional and Personal Development
Improve your skills and get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the many development opportunities provided by HR. You can register for programs by visiting knowledgelink.upenn.edu or contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.
9/2; Effective Listening; noon-1 p.m. Effective Listening skills can help anyone become a better listener. Two things can stand in the way of effective listening: bad habits and style differences. The first step to becoming a better listener is to break and eliminate those habits. The second step is to understand the different ways people listen, along with their benefits and potential trouble spots. Participants explore the difference between effective and ineffective listeners and participate in a listening self-assessment.
9/9; STEP UP: First Steps to Excellence; 9 a.m.-noon; $150 for the seven-part course. STEP UP is a new pre-supervisory training program designed for motivated individuals who aspire to be supervisors or managers. This course, First Steps to Excellence, is the entry point for the Pre-Supervisory Curriculum. For your scheduling convenience, all seven courses are offered multiple times on a rotating basis throughout the year. Please also enroll in the STEP UP Pre-Supervisory Curriculum, which tracks your program completion. By the end of the First Steps to Excellence, you’ll have a deeper understanding of your five signature strengths and discover additional ways to take charge of your career at Penn.
9/9; Mastering the Art of Small Talk; 1-2 p.m. Being able to connect with others through small talk can lead to big things at work and in life in general, but many people have difficulty determining what to say and how to say it when they meet new people or are placed in new situations. In this session, we will explore how to start conversations, how to build rapport, how to maintain conversations and how to end those conversations tactfully.
9/10 & 9/16; The Art of Presentation; 9 a.m.-noon; $75 for a two-part course that will help you improve your presentations skills, whether you are persuading, educating or informing. This interactive workshop focuses on professional business communication, including preparation, structure, delivery and strategy. Personal presentations will be followed by peer evaluations and coaching and personalized one-on-one feedback from the instructor. In addition, participants will receive a tool-kit containing information on the use of visual aids, PowerPoint Dos and Don’ts and handling Q&A.
9/15; Creating and Maintaining an Engaged Team: A Program for Managers; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. Engagement matters more than you may think! Research shows that an employee’s level of engagement in the workplace is directly tied to achieving goals, increased productivity and greater financial viability. In this session you will have the opportunity to understand the importance of engagement to your teams, understand what the drivers and influencers of engagement are, and then to think through how to create and maintain engagement. We will also get you thinking about the University-wide engagement survey.
9/17; How to Become a Better Communicator; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. If you are supervising or managing other employees and feel the need to learn more about how to prepare for and conduct performance appraisals, then this is the course you’ve been looking for! Join us to find out best practices for this important annual procedure.
9/23; Building Effective Workplace Relationships; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. Being a team player is a complex skill and one that’s increasingly important to all of us in today’s work world. You will have the opportunity to reflect upon the challenges of being a team player, assess your collaboration skills, examine ways that you can promote teamwork, practice team facilitation and identify and commit to teamwork strategies you will apply “on the job.”
Quality of Worklife Workshops
Dealing with the demands of work and your personal life can be challenging. These free workshops, sponsored by HR and led by experts from Penn’s Employee Assistance Program and Quality of Worklife Department, offer information and support for your personal and professional life challenges. For details and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/registration or contact HR at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu
9/8-9/29; Mindfulness Skills Course; noon-1:30 p.m. The four-week course, offered by Penn’s EAP, is designed to teach you the core principles and practices of mindfulness, which include breathing meditation, body scan, sitting meditation and movement meditation. Each class will focus on a theme linking mindfulness, stress and quality of life. Ample time will be devoted to experiential guided meditations. After all, the best way to learn about mindfulness is to practice it yourself! The course emphasizes skill-building and sharing one’s experience with mindfulness practice in a group format. This session currently has a waiting list. To register for an upcoming session, call EAP at 1-888-321-4433, select option 3, and ask to register for the mindfulness course.
9/11-10/9; Mindfulness Skills Course; 3:30-5 p.m. For details, see the 9/8 to 9/29 description. This session currently has a waiting list. To register for an upcoming session, call EAP at 1-888-321-4433, select option 3, and ask to register for the mindfulness course.
9/14; Breastfeeding Support Group; noon-1:30 p.m. Come meet other new moms on campus, get help with breastfeeding challenges or share what’s worked for you. If you are breastfeeding, pumping and bottle-feeding, pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding, or formula-feeding and curious about breastfeeding, this group is for you. This group is open to Penn faculty, staff, students, post docs and their partners. During the semester, the group will meet on 9/14, 10/5, 11/2 and 12/7. Funding for this group is provided by HR, the Family Resource Center and the Penn Women’s Center.
9/18; New and Expectant Parent Briefing; noon-1 p.m. This is an introductory resource briefing designed for expectant parents and those who are new to parenting or child care. Participants will learn about local and University childcare and parenting resources including breastfeeding support and the nursing mothers program, childcare locators, back-up care, adjusting to new schedules, and flexible work options. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with other expectant and new parents.
9/18; Webinar: Planning for Long Term Care; noon-1 p.m. We will discuss the seven simple steps you can take immediately to overcome obstacles that caregivers and seniors encounter regarding healthcare, finances and opening the lines of communication to keep your independence and enjoy your golden years without worry.
9/22; Mastering Change at Home and at Work; noon-1 p.m. This will highlight skills for coping, handling and managing change on a day-to-day basis. It will also cover adaptive strategies to help you anticipate and prepare for future changes and situations.
9/30; Thinking About Retirement; 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you’re retiring soon or just considering it, Penn offers an informative program just for you. The information sessions cover the essentials of your retirement package, including your Penn Retirement Plan, Social Security and Medicare.
Healthy Living Workshops
Get the tools you need to live well year-round. From expert nutrition and weight loss advice to exercise and disease prevention strategies, we can help you kick-start your body and embrace a healthy lifestyle. These free workshops are sponsored by HR. For complete details and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/registration or contact HR at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu
9/11; Fall Wellness Walk; noon-1 p.m. Take a lunchtime break and get moving for a one mile stroll along Locust Walk! Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff in front of College Hall by the Ben Franklin statue and walk a loop down Locust Walk, returning to College Hall. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers!
9/15; Workspace Ergonomics; noon-1 p.m. The goal of this workshop is to enhance your workspace comfort, health and productivity. It will be led by Valerie Perez, a Penn industrial hygienist with 15 years of experience in occupational health & safety, and Maureen Malachowski, a senior industrial hygienist with 18 years of experience. They will provide tips for improving your workspace and preventing ergonomic-related injuries and you’ll learn techniques for maximizing your “fit” with your equipment and environment.
9/2 and 9/9; Gentle Yoga; noon-1 p.m. Let your body reward itself with movement! Join us for Gentle Yoga. During this session, you will flow into modified sun salutations that loosen those tightened muscles and joints of the lower back, neck, shoulders and wrists. As an added bonus, you’ll get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.
9/30; Chair Yoga; noon-1 p.m.. Chair Yoga is a more moderate form of yoga that’s done while sitting in a chair or using a chair for support. You get the same benefits of a regular yoga workout but don’t have to master complex poses. Ready to give it a try? Join us for a free Chair Yoga workshop. And don’t worry about your experience or flexibility—chair yoga can be modified for all levels! This workshop will be led by John Wylie, Department of Public Safety at Penn.
—Division of Human Resources |