Professional & Personal Development Programs

Improve your skills and get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the many development opportunities provided by Human Resources. You can register for programs by visitingknowledgelink.upenn.edu or contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400. 

Learning with Lynda: Building Accountability into Your Culture; 1/10; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. In this course, leadership consultant and executive coach Mike Figliuolo reveals how to create a culture of accountability by developing accountability at the individual level, team level and brand level. Along the way, he shows how to set employee expectations, create incentives and align the practice of accountability with the values of your organization.

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. During the classroom session we apply the concepts from the online module.

Learning with Lynda: Giving Your Elevator Pitch; 1/11; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. It’s important to make a good impression in just the first few minutes you spend with potential mentors, clients  or even friends. In this short course, author and business coach Todd Dewett explains how to tell others what you do and make a memorable impression in a short period of time with a personal “elevator pitch.” Maximize your connection in a minimal amount of time, and start making valuable additions to your network from the get-go.

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. During the classroom session we apply the concepts from the online module.

TED Talk Tuesday: Drew Dudley’s “Everyday Leadership”; 1/24; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Society commonly perceives leaders as individuals who make grand, world-changing decisions. Thus, the vast majority of people are reluctant or shy to identify themselves as leaders. But true leadership is about making the life of another person better, and most people do that every day–perhaps without knowing it. Employing a personal anecdote from his past, leadership trainer Drew Dudley outlines the importance of celebrating everyday leaders.

Project Management;  1/25; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. Managing projects can feel daunting. It requires a focus on defining the initiative, planning for work, managing the initiative and monitoring results. Join us for a seminar to learn about tools and techniques that can help you manage your projects. Learn how to identify the key activities in the project life cycle and how to construct a project timeline. Understand the role of the “triple constraint” in project management and apply it in determining project scope. Learn how to keep projects on track by managing project risks and effectively using a communication plan. Capture valuable project lessons and use them to define and improve project management practices within your organization.

Brown Bag: Getting Work Done; 1/25; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. How often is your well-planned day disturbed by interruptions? No matter what skills and strengths you already possess, the skill of acquiring more time cannot be one of them. Get more work done by learning how to develop an effective workflow system, eliminate time and energy wasters. By the end of the course, you will have a toolbox full of strategies to cope with your daily distractions.

Learning with Lynda: Leading Productive One-on-One Meetings; 1/31; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free.  Regular one-on-one meetings provide managers with an opportunity to head off problems and efficiently answer the many small,  quick questions that arise during the workweek. In this course, Dave Crenshaw shows you how to establish a one-on-one meeting schedule and agenda, assign and review actions items and assess the results of the meeting and follow up on promises. The course also explains how to effectively listen to employees’ needs and when to offer training and development.

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. During the classroom session we apply the concepts from the online module.   

Quality of Worklife Workshops

Dealing with the demands of work and your personal life can be challenging. These free workshops, sponsored by Human Resources 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 complete details and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/registration or contact Human Resources at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu

Mindfulness Monday: From Mind Full to Mindful; 1/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free.
Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn. 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.

Managing Relationships; 1/26; 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.; free. Managing relationships isn’t always easy, especially when conflicts arise. With the right strategies, you can effectively manage even the most difficult relationships. This workshop can show you how. You’ll learn to find “win-win” solutions to personal and professional conflicts with assertiveness, collaboration, handling internal reactions and other skills.

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 Human Resources. For complete details and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/registration Or contact Human Resources at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; 1/17; 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.

—Division of Human Resources