Professional and Personal Development Programs

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu/

Develop Your Presentation Skills; 1/14; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fear: That’s the main reason most people won’t make presentations—or make them poorly. By following some simple lessons anyone can conquer presentation phobia and go on to make his or her case successfully and professionally.

Your Career @ Penn; 1/14; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This series  has been developed to assist staff in building their careers at Penn by helping to connect your skills and abilities with career opportunities. The session will be facilitated by Penn HR. Topics include increasing your marketability at Penn and internal job strategies.

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning; 1/16; 12:30-1:30 p.m. In today’s work environment, complex tasks and projects are more common than ever. By utilizing strategic planning skills, you’ll be able to set yourself and/or your team up for success. Participants in this course will learn to identify the foundation for creating a strategic team, discover strategic values, participate in strategic planning efforts and avoid common pitfalls that derail strategic plans.

Retirement Planning; 1/22; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Everyone has a unique vision of what their retirement is going to look like. However, achieving that vision takes careful planning and dedication. The retirement planning seminar offers you the knowledge and tools that can help you take crucial steps towards achieving the retirement you are envisioning.

Work-life Workshops

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

Guided Mindful Meditation; 1/7, 1/29; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This workshop is offered twice a month for participants to practice present moment awareness with kindness and compassion. The guided meditation will focus on the breath and being in the body. Self-applied massage and gentle mindful movements that promote rest and relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary. All are warmly welcome.

Faculty and Staff Family Days with Penn Basketball—Women’s Basketball vs. Princeton University; 1/11; 1-1:30 p.m.; $3.50 The Division of Human Resources and Penn Athletics invite benefits-eligible faculty and staff to cheer on the Penn Women’s and Men’s basketball teams at the Palestra. Faculty and staff tickets include a discounted game ticket, compliments of Penn Athletics, and a $5 concession coupon redeemable for food and beverage, compliments of the Division of Human Resources. Tickets are required for each game. The maximum number of discounted tickets each eligible employee can purchase is four tickets for each game. Order tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/familypennbasketball and enter the code FAMILY or in person at the Penn Athletics Ticket Office in Weightman Hall, located at 235 S. 33rd Street, between Walnut and Spruce Streets.

Mindfulness; 1/21; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This monthly workshop will offer participants an opportunity to practice awareness activities adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. During the first part of our practice, we will begin with a guided meditation focusing on the breath. The second half of our session will focus our attention on a guided exploration of the body, bringing awareness to the different areas of the body and allowing ourselves to experience how each part feels, without trying to change anything. No experience necessary. All warmly welcome.

Creating a Positive Outlook; 1/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; This workshop provides tools to help participants live life in a more positive way, even when faced with negative people and experiences. They will better understand the causes of negativity, learn how self-talk affects attitudes, and gain tips to be their best selves possible.

An Introduction to WELL Building Concepts; 1/27; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join Penn staff from Facilities, the School of Arts & Sciences and Wharton to discuss the WELL Building Concepts. This introduction will discuss examples of projects at Penn and provide participants with tips and strategies to improve employee health and well-being in workspaces using the WELL Building Standard as a guide; including air, water, nutrition, light, fitness, comfort and emotional health.

Penn Healthy You Workshops

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration 

Gentle Yoga; 1/9, 1/23, 1/30; 11 a.m.-noon; 1/15, noon-1 p.m. 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.

Spinning; 1/14; 11:30-12:15 p.m. 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.

January Indoor Wellness Walk; 1/17; noon-1 p.m. We invite you to get moving and kick off 2020 with our monthly wellness walk. Each January, roughly one-third of Americans resolve to better themselves in some way and even fewer follow through. This month’s New Year’s Resolution–themed walk, held in the Palestra, will occur rain or shine—no excuses not to come! Whether you wish to lose weight, have more energy or just be healthier, it is important to remember to reach your goals one step at a time. We hope you will be able to join us for this Human Resources and Center for Public Health Initiatives co-sponsored event. Bring your water bottle and a co-worker!

—Division of Human Resources