Professional & Personal Development Programs

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

Dealing with Difficult People; 3/2; 12:30- 1:30 p.m. We all work with a variety of personalities in the workplace. Coworkers or clients who are difficult or impossible to work with can affect your job and productivity. Effectively coping with difficult people is an invaluable skill. This workshop addresses how focusing on the issue, not on the anger or strong emotions conveyed by others, can lead to a more productive work environment. Clear and open communication, as well as customer satisfaction, can be increased through active listening and being more assertive in difficult situations.

Assertiveness Skills; 3/4; 12:30-1:30 p.m. You may experience situations when you need to utilize assertiveness to complete a task, goal or project. In this class, we will identify personal blocks to assertiveness, identify both assertive and non-assertive language and behaviors and learn ways to use assertiveness in everyday situations.

Navigating Difficult Conversations; 3/5; 9 a.m.–noon; $75. Difficult conversations are inevitable in any workplace. Those conversations can create unhappiness, stress and tension. While you can’t avoid these conversations, you can learn how to handle them more effectively. Developing the ability to handle these challenges will offer increased confidence, improved relationships, higher productivity and better career opportunities.

Participating in Performance Appraisals for Staff; 3/10; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join this workshop to understand the performance appraisal process and learn how you can prepare to have a productive review session.

Project Management; 3/17; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Not everyone who has to manage a project knows how to do it well. This brief session will provide solutions for project leaders to better manage your team and meet your objectives and timeline.

Conducting Performance Appraisals for Supervisors; 3/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m. You are supervising or managing other employees and feel the need to learn more about how to prepare for and conduct performance appraisals. This is the course you’ve been looking for! Join us to find out best practices for this important annual procedure.

TED Talk Tuesday: Confessions of a Recovering Micromanager; 3/24; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Think about the most tired you’ve ever been at work. It probably wasn’t when you stayed late or came home from a road trip—chances are it was when you had someone looking over your shoulder, watching your each and every move. “If we know that micromanagement isn’t really effective, why do we do it?” asks entrepreneur Chieh Huang. In a funny talk packed with wisdom and humility, Mr. Huang shares the cure for micromanagement madness—and how to foster innovation and happiness at work.

Work-life Workshops

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

New and Expectant Parent Briefing; 3/9; 12:30-1:30 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 child-care and parenting resources, including breastfeeding support and the nursing mothers program, child-care locators, back-up care, adjusting to new schedules and flexible work options, among other topics. This session will also cover Penn’s time away policies, including short-term disability (STD), parental leave and related sick leave policies.

Guided Mindful Meditation; 3/10, 3/31; 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.

Lactation Resource Group: Integrating Lactation and Work; 3/17; noon-1 p.m. This interactive conversation, led by Diane Spatz, professor of perinatal nursing and Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition, nurse researcher, director of the Lactation Program and director of Mothers’ Milk Bank at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will provide an opportunity for expecting, new and experienced parents on campus, to get help with lactation challenges, ensure a smooth transition back to work and academics and share helpful tips with one another. If you are breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping and bottle-feeding, pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding, formula-feeding and curious about breastfeeding, this brown bag conversation is for you. This event is open to UPHS and University faculty, staff, students, post docs and their partners. Please feel free to bring your lunch.

Resiliency: Secrets of Successful Employees; 3/16; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Studies have found that when the same events happen to different people, the individual’s response makes a big difference in terms of staying healthy. This seminar explores this dynamic and what we can learn from those who are successful at surviving whatever life throws their way and developing their resiliency. The good news is resiliency can be learned, and many examples exist where it has made all the difference. Participants will leave with tips and techniques for maximizing their own resiliency and positively influencing those around them.

Webinar: Working Through Stressful and Changing Times; 3/19; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Change is all around us, and without it we would be stagnant as individuals and organizations. We all respond differently to what we call “change,” so how can we make it work for us? This workshop examines what change means for employees and organizations, and how can they can get on the same page when discussing and understanding its attributes, benefits and pitfalls. For most people, adjusting their perception and viewpoint can help them adapt more successfully to changing roles and environments.

Introduction to Mindfulness Presentation; 3/30; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This one-hour presentation will provide an introduction to the practice of mindfulness and how it can be utilized as a tool to manage stress in personal and professional settings. Attendance at one of the one-hour intro presentation sessions is recommended prior to registration for the eight-week Mindfulness in the Workplace program, which begins in May.

Penn Healthy You Workshops

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

Gentle Yoga; 3/5; 11 a.m.-noon. 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.

Chair Yoga; 3/11; noon-1 p.m. Interested in trying yoga but don’t know where to start? Join us for a wonderful class of chair yoga. You get the same benefits of a regular yoga workout (like increased strength, flexibility and balance) but don’t have to master complex poses. Chair yoga can even better your breathing and teach you how to relax your mind and improve your wellbeing.

Be in the Know Biometric Screenings; 3/16, 3/17, 3/19; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. free for benefits-eligible Penn faculty and staff. Join this year’s Be in the Know faculty and staff wellness campaign and sign up for a free and confidential biometric screening, which measures your blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and non-fasting total and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol. You may also choose to fast to include low-density cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride results. Get started today and earn up to $300 this Be in the Know campaign year!

Investing 201 Financial Wellness Workshop; 3/26; noon-1 p.m. Join our speaker, Albert Corrato, Jr., certified financial planner professional from Creative Financial Group, MassMutual, for this financial wellness learning opportunity, sponsored by MetLife. This workshop is best for those who have attended our Investing 101 workshop or have general investment knowledge. It will include in-depth information on investing, tax implications, performance measurement, managing risk, determining the right investments and common investing terminology.

March Indoor Wellness Walk; 3/27; noon-1 p.m. March is National Nutrition Month. Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff and walk one- or two-mile route while chatting about nutrition and how you can develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers!

—Division of Human Resources