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Human Resources: Upcoming April Programs

Professional & Personal Development Programs 
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.

Networking for Success; 4/4; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. How do we gain power and influence in the workplace? Network, network, network! Learn how to network by building and creating new connections and nourishing current relationships.

Communicating Upward; 4/11; 9 a.m.-noon; $75.  A positive working relationship with a manager hinges on effective communication, whether it’s face-to-face or in written form. Communicating upward is essential to the success of an organization for employees to get their ideas up the ladder and into the hands of top decision-makers. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about communication styles in general and then focus on their specific communication style versus their manager’s. Using communication to boost productivity and efficiency, using listening and questioning effectively, and even disagreeing with your manager are all ways that lead to agreeable solutions.

Career Growth Conversations; 4/12; 12:30 -1:30 p.m.; free. Career growth requires a plan. In this session we review how to create a career plan and engage the support of your manager where possible.
TED Talk Tuesday—Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation; 4/18; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Watch and discuss Dan Pink’s TED Talk on the “Puzzle of Motivation.” Career analyst Dan Pink connects the dots between motivation and performance. He explains why rewards rarely boost productivity. He argues that “autonomy, mastery and purpose” are the only factors that truly motivate people.

Accountability & Empowerment; 4/21; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. Accountability is one of the biggest challenges leaders face, but it can also be one of the most important factors leading to success. This interactive workshop will transform the way you manage, maintain and motivate yourself, your team and, ultimately, your workforce. Lack of accountability is the single greatest obstacle facing even the most experienced leaders. It saps morale and disenfranchises employees—and it can shift your team into crisis mode on a daily basis.

Learning with Lynda: Leading and Working in Teams; 4/26; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. In the online Lynda module, Leading and Working in Teams, Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson reveals how high performance arises when teams are encouraged to take risks, fail and learn from those small failures, a process she calls “teaming.” In this course, she outlines what leaders can do to create the right environment for teaming and explains the responsibilities of individual team members to speak up, collaborate, experiment and reflect. Learning with Lynda utilizes the University’s enterprise-wide license of Lynda.com to provide a blended learning solution to the Penn campus. Prior to attending the in-class session it is strongly recommended that you take the online Lynda module, “Leading and Working in Teams.” During the classroom session we apply the concepts from the module. 

FeedForward: Coaching for the Future; 4/28; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. FeedForward is leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith’s technique for providing feedback in a more positive, future-oriented manner. In this program managers will learn how to use FeedForward for providing feedback to employees. 

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 (EAP) and Quality of Worklife Department, offer information and support for your personal and professional life challenges. 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

Guided Meditation; 4/4 and 4/25; noon-1 p.m.; free. Practice mindful breathing that focuses your attention on the present moment with kindness, compassion and awareness. Self-massage and gentle mindful movements that promote relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary.

Mindfulness Monday; 4/10; 12:30–1:30 p.m.; free. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of minfulness-based stress reduction. Mindfulness practice develops awareness of your present thoughts and feelings to help you manage different situations. In this once-a-month experiential workshop, you’ll see how mindfulness can help you become more engaged and effective both at home and in the workplace. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Breastfeeding Resource Group: Integrating Breastfeeding and Work; 4/11; noon-1 p.m.; free. 
This interactive conversation, led by April Rosenblum, an international board certified lactation consultant, will provide an opportunity for expecting, new and experienced parents on campus to get help with breastfeeding challenges, ensure a smooth transition back to work and academics and share helpful tips with one another. If you are breastfeeding, pumping and bottle-feeding; pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding; or formula-feeding and curious about breastfeeding, this conversation is for you. This event, co-sponsored by Penn’s Family Resource Center and the Division of Human Resources, is open to Penn faculty, staff, students, post-docs and their partners. Please feel free to bring your lunch.

Adapting to and Managing Change; 4/11; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Everyone faces changes and challenges that can be stressful, distracting, and at times, overwhelming. This workshop, led by the EAP, will provide short and long-term strategies for embracing and dealing with personal and professional life changes.

Caregiving and Sibling Warfare; 4/19; 11:30  a.m.-12:30 p.m.; free. Siblings can be our best friends, toughest critics or partners in crime growing up. But once we’re adults, siblings can make caring for an aging parent challenging. One of the greatest sources of stress around caregiving is sibling discord. Learn how to focus on the present, address sibling conflict, achieve consensus as much as possible and manage your own stress.

The College Search: Selecting a Potential Major and Program of Study; 4/20; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free.
Join staff from Penn’s undergraduate admissions office for discussion and tips in working with your college bound dependent, faced with hundreds of choices, in selecting a potential major and program of study. How might that selection of program impact their admission review?

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day; 4/27; free. A unique opportunity for staff and faculty to share a career development experience with kids between 9 and 15 years. You must have your supervisor’s approval to participate and you must accompany your young guests to all activities.

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 

The Psychology of Eating: Does It Really Come Down to Willpower?; 4/6; noon-1 p.m.; free. Do you feel like you have all the willpower in the world and still don’t always stick with your plan? Come and learn brain tools and tricks to overcoming eating challenges. Join Elizabeth May, a Family Food registered dietitian, who will cover mindfulness, intuitive eating and stress management.

Relax with Free Yoga; 4/9; 3-4 p.m.; free. Open to all levels. Join Campus Recreation and Campus Health in a 50-minute yoga practice to calm your mind and strengthen your body through movement and breath. A limited number  of mats will be provided so we encourage you to bring your own! Registration opens 15 minutes prior to class. Free to all faculty and staff; bring your own yoga mat; no membership required; for location updates follow @healthypenn and @pennrecreation

Body Pump; 4/10; 11 a.m.-noon; free. Here’s a toning and conditioning class with weights that’s for everybody! It’s perfect for anyone who wants to add strength training into their aerobic workout. You won’t know if you don’t go. So meet the challenge and reap the rewards!

Get to Know What’s Healthy at Houston Market; 4/25; 11-11:30 a.m.; free. Join Dan Connolly, Bon Appétit’s registered dietitian nutritionist, on an interesting tour of the many delicious, healthy options in Houston Market. Meet him at Houston Hall’s Information Desk, where he will give a brief history of Bon Appétit and explain the elements of a healthy meal. Then, you’ll follow him downstairs, where he’ll walk you through the various food stations and explain how you, too, can eat healthy at Houston Market! 

Gentle Yoga; noon-1 p.m.; 4/25; free. Let your body reward itself with movement! Join us for this Gentle Yoga session and explore the natural movements of the spine with slow and fluid moving bends and soft twists. 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. And as an added bonus, you’ll get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.

Tour of the James G. Kaskey Memorial Park-BioPond; 10:30-10:50 a.m. and 11:30-11:50 a.m.; 4/27; free. Join Joshua Darfler, greenhouse and garden manager, for a brief tour of the park. Learn about the history of the oldest greenspace on campus and hear fascinating facts about the amazing plants growing in the garden and greenhouse today! Tours will meet by the BioPond.

April Wellness Walk; 4/28; noon-1 p.m.; free. It has been proven that spending more time outside reduces stress, increases energy levels and boosts immunity. Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff at noon in front of College Hall by the Ben Franklin statue, then walk to the Schuylkill Boardwalk and back. The walk will be approximately two miles and we will inform you when we have reached the one mile mark in the event that you need to exit the walk early. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers! This walk is a great way to participate in Penn’s Green Campus Partnership 30x30 Challenge and Penn’s StayWell HealthyTrails Challenge.

Spinning; 4/28;1-2 p.m.; free. Pedal your way to a fantastic workout indoors! With the use of stationary cycles, each class is led on a “virtual” outdoor road, complete with a variety of exercises. This class will give you an energizing, calorie-burning, fun workout and it is great for all fitness levels because you will always ride at a self-directed pace.

Open Enrollment

Benefits Open Enrollment and Wellness Fair; 4/18; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; free. At the Open Enrollment and Wellness Fair at Houston Hall, Penn faculty and staff can take advantage of free health screenings and other wellness activities. Representatives from Penn’s healthcare insurance providers and administrators will be onsite to share information and answer questions. Learn about medical plans, prescription drug coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, flexible spending accounts and the Penn Benefits Center. 

—Division of Human Resources

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