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.

Project Management; 7/11; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. 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.

Penn Perks; 7/19; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. You love the benefits you gain by working for Penn. But there is a good chance there are even more benefits than you knew existed! Be prepared to be surprised and delighted by more than 100 perks we will reveal in this session. We’re sure there is something that will make your day. Join us for this invaluable treasure hunt!

Helping Your Staff Grow Professionally; 7/20; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Managing the professional development of the staff that report to you is critical to the success of a leader. In this session we will review how to help your staff grow professionally in order to achieve greater engagement and results.

Ted Talk Tuesday: Tim Urban—Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator; 7/25; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Tim Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes, and bouts of staring out the window-and encourages us to think harder about what we’re really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.

Creating and Maintaining Your LinkedIn Profile; Presented by HR Recruitment; 8/3; 12:30 -1:30 p.m.; free. Creating a professional presence on LinkedIn can pay off big time. In this session we will review how to create a LinkedIn profile and provide ideas on how you can use LinkedIn to maintain your professional network.

Learning with Lynda: Leading with Emotional Intelligence; 8/9; 12:30–1:30 p.m.; free. “Emotions are all around us in the office, and it’s important for leaders to understand how to harness them to cultivate productivity and positive relationships. In this course, lynda.com director of learning and development Britt Andreatta shows how to develop emotional intelligence to better lead teams, work with peers, and manage up. Learn what emotional intelligence is and how it factors in at work and discover concrete techniques for raising your own emotional quotient (EQ). This includes perceiving yourself accurately, exercising emotional self-control, practicing resilience, and developing empathy. Then turn those lessons around to build your awareness of others and learn to inspire helpful communication and manage conflict.”

Designing Your Resume; 8/15; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Resumes are critical to landing the right job and while the contents are important, how you design the resume itself can have a large impact. In this course we will review tips for designing your resume. Please bring a copy of your resume to class.

Ted Talk Tuesday: Adam Galinsky - How to Speak Up for Yourself; 8/22; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Speaking up is hard to do, even when you know you should. Learn how to assert yourself, navigate tricky social situations and expand your personal power with sage guidance from social psychologist Adam Galinsky.

STEP UP: Introduction; 8/23; 1-4 p.m.; $150. This course, First Steps to Excellence is the entry point for the seven-course STEP UP Pre-Supervisory Curriculum and must be completed as the first course in the curriculum. For your scheduling convenience, all seven courses are offered multiple times on a rotating basis throughout the year. Please also enroll in the STEP UP Pre-Supervisory Curriculum which tracks your program completion.

Accountability; 8/30; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.; free.Take charge of your actions and efforts to become more effective and promote better relationships throughout Penn. Join us for an engaging video and discussion that focuses on three basic concepts that make up the accountability model: responsibility, empowerment and accountability.

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 Event and Program Registration or contact Human Resources at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; 7/11; 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.

Getting Organized at Work and at Home; 7/12; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. It’s the time of year when employees are gearing up and planning for the next academic year at work and at home. Would you like to make your plan a reality? This workshop will focus on strategies to integrate in your daily life that flow back and forth from work to home, resulting in more time and energy. Through these strategies you gain insight to seen and unseen clutter which causes stress in your life and learn to manage your time and energy smartly.

Mindfulness Monday: From Mind Full to Mindful; 7/17; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” 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; 7/20; 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.

Webinar: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Caregiving Challenges and Strategies; 8/8; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.; free. 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 US. Within the next 10 years, that number is projected to increase by forty percent. This webinar 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 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: Take a Breath and Relax; 8/8; 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: From Mind Full to Mindful; 8/14; 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” 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.

Mastering Change; 8/17; 12:30 -1:30 p.m.; free. This workshop will highlight skills for coping, handling and managing change on a day-to-day basis. It will also cover adaptive strategies to anticipate and prepare for future changes and situations.

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; 8/24; 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.

Penn Healthy You 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 Event and Program Registration or contact Human Resources at (215) 573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Wellness Programs will be listesd on www.hr.upenn.edu as soon as they are scheduled.

June: Employee Health and Wellness Month

June 1: HR will kick off the month with a two-mile walk at noon beginning on Locust Walk in front of the Ben Franklin statue. The walk will conclude at Pottruck Health and Fitness Center where Campus Recreation will be running an Open House with info tables, giveaways and facility tours (12:45-1:15 p.m.).
Free group fitness classes throughout June at Pottruck:

For other June Programs, see the May 23 issue of Almanac or visit the HR events website.