Professional & Personal Development Programs

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

July

STEP-UP Introduction: the First Steps to Excellence; 7/17; 9 a.m.–noon, $300 for entire course. STEP-UP Introduction: the First Steps to Excellence is the first session of a multiple-session course. STEP-UP (Self-Management, Teaming, Empowerment and Professionalism at the University of Pennsylvania) is for motivated individuals who want to lead themselves and others more effectively. By the end of the First Steps to Excellence, you’ll have a deeper understanding of your five signature strengths and discover additional ways to take charge of your career at Penn. Pre-work is required, so please register as far in advance as possible.

Tools for Career Assessment and Development; 7/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m. In this program we will examine questions for assessing and developing your career. You will contrast your career options by utilizing a variety of tools. By the end of the session you will have the resources needed to develop a plan for career success.

Tips for Effective Meetings; 7/25; 12:30-1:30 p.m. In this program we will discuss key things that can be done as both the meeting organizer and participant to ensure meetings are more effective and productive.

Challenging Negative Attitudes; 7/30; 12:30-1:30 p.m. By challenging negative attitudes, we have the power to take control of pessimistic perspectives and stressful situations. During this course, participants will learn to manage the impact of negative situations and deal with negative people.

August

Adapting Your Leadership Style; 8/8; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Leadership styles can vary based on working environment, personal background, or industry. Knowing how to effectively channel the right leadership style given a specific audience or setting is key to being an effective leader.  In this course, we will uncover the qualities it takes to be a leader, recognize style differences, understand how to conduct one-on-ones, and develop motivation approaches for employees.

Project Management; 8/13; noon-1 p.m.,;$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 successfully.

The Gift of Feedback; 8/21; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feedback can be an amazing gift that helps improve performance, but many managers feel challenged by giving and receiving feedback.  In this session managers will learn how to frame feedback as a gift that creates productive dialog and improved performance. We will also cover how managers can solicit feedback from staff in order to become more effective leaders.

Work-life Workshops

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

August

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Caregiving Challenges and Strategies; 8/6; 1-2 p.m. There are more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 15 million family caregivers who help them in the United States. Within the next 10 years, that number is projected to increase by 40%. This seminar will review the different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and signs your loved one may have the disease. Despite the devastating nature of Alzheimer’s disease, there are supports out there that can make a difference and help you continue to connect with your mom or dad. Learn about caregiving strategies and types of care that can improve the quality of life for both you and your parent.

Guided Meditation; 8/15 and 8/27; 12:30-1:30 p.m. 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; 8/21; 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.    

Coping with Change; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Change in the workplace is inevitable. However, a changing environment can often produce stress or anxiety. Change and the resulting stress derive from both positive and negative events. This workshop explores the various stages of change, and steps employees can take to achieve acceptance. Through awareness, participants can increase their ability to cope with change in both their professional and personal lives.

Lactation Resource Group: Integrating Breastfeeding and Work; 8/27; 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, Lactation Program; and director, Mothers’ Milk Bank, 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.

Penn Healthy You Workshops

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

July

Cigarette Butt Clean-Up Walk; 7/18; noon- -12:30 p.m. Join the Healthy Penn Partnership and beautify Penn’s campus with a cigarette butt clean-up walk! We will split up into small groups to cover an assigned section of campus. Each group will ideally have one person with an iPhone to download the Rubbish app, which will be used to log the locations of cigarette butts on campus. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Your work will help clean Penn’s campus and identify areas not in compliance with Penn’s Tobacco-Free Campus policy. Clean-up walks will be offered monthly this summer, each focusing on a different area of campus. This is a Be in the Know “Special Bonus Action Opportunity” for 2018-2019! Participants can submit a proof of bonus actions form to earn 10 bonus action points for this event.

August

Gentle Yoga; 8/1 and 8/8; 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.

August Wellness Walk; 8/2; noon-1 p.m. Our wellness walks encourage participants to increase their physical activity by stepping outside to pump up their heart rate by walking through Penn’s beautiful campus. What better way to get motivated and gain energy for the day! Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff at noon in front of College Hall by the Ben Franklin statue. The walk will be approximately 2 miles and we will inform you when we have reached the 1-mile mark in the event that you need to exit the walk early. We hope you will be able to join us. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your bring along a colleague and your sneakers!

Chair Yoga; 8/14; 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.

Spin; 8/14; 11:30 a.m.-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.

—Division of Human Resources