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Human Resources: Upcoming Programs

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 visiting knowledgelink.upenn.edu or contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.

Coaching Skills for Managers; 3/2; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. An organization’s success relies on the performance of every employee and it is important to foster an atmosphere that allows for employees to grow with the organization. The key to this is guidance. Coaching Skills for Managers recognizes the need for employees to feel committed to their work and is designed to help managers encourage individual performance as a means for increasing engagement and ultimately productivity rather than to use the traditional “command and control” method.  In this workshop, participants learn the key elements of building a successful coaching relationship and how to best implement them using a step-by-step coaching process; in addition, how to help an employee implement a development plan to individually improve their success as well as how to apply effective strategies for overcoming common coaching challenges.

Participating in Performance Appraisals for Staff; 3/7; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Join this workshop to understand the performance appraisal process and learn how you can prepare to have a productive review session.

Communicating More Effectively Using LIFO; 3/8; 9 a.m.-noon; $90. LIFO is an assessment tool that can help individuals gain a better understanding of their own work styles and the work styles of those around them.

Career Focus Brown Bag—Resume Writing Secrets; 3/8; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Resumes and cover letters are your tools to market yourself for your next position. Do you wonder how to create an effective, dynamic resume?  Workshop topic includes effective resume styles and format. We’ll discuss how to focus on the employer’s needs versus your own; how to use powerful assertions; how to inspire and excite the employer; and buzz words to include to catch the employer’s attention.

TED Talk Tuesday: Adam Grant, “Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers”; 3/21; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Organizational psychologist and Wharton professor Adam Grant believes that “originals,” the unconventional thinkers who drive radical change, don’t behave as you would expect. In fact, he has isolated three startling traits that originals share: They procrastinate, they experience self-doubt and fear, and they have lots of bad ideas.

Effective Performance Reviews for Managers; 3/22; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Conducting annual performance reviews is a task many managers are not comfortable with. This workshop provides them information, tips and applications that will make the process easier, more comfortable and more effective in producing real employee performance improvement.

Managers and supervisors will discover how to give effective feedback, understand the difference between standards and goals, why interim reviews are critical to the review process, the right way to document employee performance and many more invaluable tips and techniques for completing effective performance reviews.

AMA: Doing It All: How to Stay Focused & Engaged; 3/23 & 3/24; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; $75. For many of us, our “new normal” job means that we’ve inherited work from others and are multitasking 24/7. Many times, we’re expected to produce positive results with fewer resources. It’s not surprising that maintaining focus and staying engaged can be a major hurdle. With so many simultaneous demands on your time, sustaining focused energy is no longer an option. It’s a “must have” skill for doing your job, and doing it well.

In this seminar you will get your work world into clear focus and in sync with those around you. You will learn tools that help you get into productive flow whenever you need to and how to get back on track when you are thrown off course. You will leave with tools that help you make the best of your innate strengths, mitigate your challenges, and stay focused. You will also learn how to stay in focus and on a productive course when others around you are throwing distractions and barriers your way.

Brown Bag: Learning with Lynda–Embracing Change; 3/29; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. In this short course, author and business coach Todd Dewett explains how you can harness the power of change and benefit those around you by avoiding quick reactions, adopting a positive attitude, and developing a 30-day plan to integrate change.

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

New and Expectant Parent Briefing; 3/2; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. This is an introductory 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, flexible work options, among other topics. The presentation will include Q&A with an FMLA specialist and participants will also have the opportunity to network with other expectant and new parents.

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; 3/10; 12:30-1:30 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; 3/20; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” according to 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.

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; 3/28; 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.

The Power of Positive Thinking; 3/30; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; free. Positive thinking is more than being happy. Positive thoughts can help with handling stress at home and at work in a more constructive way. This session will provide steps and advice to identify and overcome negative thinking and focus on positive thinking.

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

March Wellness Walk (Indoors); 3/3; noon-1 p.m.; free. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “food is fuel for your body” and are familiar with the idea that you can help your body work and feel its best by feeding it the most nutritious fuel. However, did you also know that how, when, why, and where we eat are just as important as what we eat? March is National Nutrition Month, and the theme for 2017 is Savor the Flavor of Eating Right. Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff inside the Palestra and walk a one-to-two mile route while chatting about nutrition and how you can develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods. We hope you will be able to join us. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers!

Gentle Yoga; 3/7; noon-1 p.m.; 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.

Fitness 101: Back to the Basics Workshop; 3/8; noon-1 p.m.; free. Have you always wanted to start an exercise program but don’t know where to begin? Janna Rothschild and Devon Vicari, campus recreation’s fitness professionals, both hold advanced degrees and certifications in fitness and will lead a complex discussion regarding fitness programming. This workshop is perfect for anyone new to the fitness field or who just wants a refresher in fitness basics. Join them to learn how to create a personalized program to help you reach your goals. Topics such as physical/mental benefits, finding your target heart rate, and exercise for specific goals will be covered. Feel free to bring your lunch, with demonstrations and Q&A at the end of the workshop.

Be in the Know Spring Biometric Screenings; 3/13-3/23; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; free. Start this year’s Be in the Know campaign and sign up for a free and confidential biometric screening, which measures your blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and non-fasting cholesterol (total and high density lipoproteins). Biometric screenings are conducted by AREUFIT Health Services, an experienced worksite health promotion company. These screenings should only take 20 minutes. On the spot, you’ll receive your screening results and learn what they mean from an AREUFIT health educator.

Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow to learn about the full campaign, including complete details regarding this year’s Core Activities (biometric screening and online health assessment), Bonus Actions, three participation tracks and new options to receive the full amount of your incentives. Get started today and earn up to $200 (less applicable payroll taxes) and be entered into exciting prize drawings!

Relax with Free Yoga; 3/19; 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 amount 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; no membership required. Bring your own yoga mat. For location updates follow @healthypenn and @pennrecreations

Gentle Yoga; 3/21; noon-1 p.m.; 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.

—Division of Human Resources

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