SkillSoft Topic of the Month: First Time Manager Essentials

This set of modules is for anyone who is new to a supervisory role. The three one-hour modules below will give you success strategies for the various facets of management. The first module addresses myths and truths of management, recognizes constraints and offers strategies for dealing with common mistakes. The second module gives you insights on how to establish credibility, offers new management success techniques and teaches you how to bring techniques that worked with coworkers into this new role as manager. The third module helps you how to meet organizational expectations and how to create a strong relationship with your boss. The fourth module is a 20-minute challenge video course that explores how to create a transition strategy for moving into management. Taking all four will help ensure you are ready for your role as a new manager.

• Understanding a Manager’s Role – Course Number: mgmt_16_a01_bs_enus
• Challenges – Course Number: mgmt_16_a02_bs_enus
• Meeting Expectations-Course Number: mgmt_16_a03_bs_enus
• Making the Move Into Management – Course Number: _pc_ch_lach029

Visit the UMBC SkillSoft website for a quick start Guide, FAQs and the link to log in to SkillPort.

For more information about the Business Exploration Series courseware, click here.

To schedule a department presentation about using SkillSoft for professional development, call ext. 5-6262 or email hrtraining@umbc.edu.

SkillSoft Usability Issue with Internet Explorer 9

During recent compatibility testing following the launch of Internet Explorer 9, SkillSoft identified a small number of issues using this browser with the SkillPort Learner Management System which would result in a negative experience for end-users. Updates to SkillPort have been identified that will correct these problems and will be released to UMBC’s SkillPort site in the coming weeks.

If you have already updated your web-browser to IE 9, see the SkillPort Product Alert for Internet Explorer 9 (.docx file) for more information. This link will provide workaround instructions as well as contact information for SkillSoft.

Mental Health First Aid Training at UMBC (8/4-8/5)

Sign up now for a two-day training session, August 4-5, 2011.

To register, email your name, department and cell phone number to studentaffairs@umbc.edu. You will receive a confirmation along with location of the training.

Mental Health First Aid is a training session offered in a few states, including Maryland. Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis is resolved.

The goals of Mental Health First Aid are to:

1. Preserve life where the person may be in danger to self or others;
2. Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a serious state;
3. Promote recovery of good mental health; and
4. Provide comfort to a person with a mental health problem.

Mental Health First Aid does not teach people to be therapists. Rather, it teaches how to recognize the symptoms of mental health problems, how to provide initial help and how to guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

Jennifer Lepus from Health Services and AJ Arizarry from The Commons will conduct the training on August 4-5, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Individuals who sign up for this training must be committed to completing this two day training in its entirety. There is no charge for the training.

Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate.

A recent trainee said, “I think the training helped me to better understand the signs and symptoms of students in distress. It also gave me insight into what a student who is dealing with mental illness is going through. I actually used some of the trainers’ tips when dealing with a student recently. The tips helped me to better communicate with the student and not feel so awkward.”

This training is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs.

UMBC Professional Development Day 2011 (9/22)

What does it cost when you are tense or have trouble concentrating at work, are unsure about your ability to perform a task, feel overwhelmed about having too much to do or avoid having an honest conversation about a challenging situation?

This year’s Professional Development Day is dedicated to helping you develop calm, confident power at work. New findings about the brain show that staying calm in challenging times can help our minds think more clearly, prioritize our workload and accomplish tasks more easily.

When we can talk honestly, our stress decreases and productivity improves. In this program participants will learn and practice specific tools to use on the job including how to calm the naturally negative mind, push the “reset button” to refocus your mind in a few minutes, notice and neutralize stressful stories that make a challenging situation even more difficult and use a four-step formula for giving and receiving feedback and making requests of co-workers or your boss.

This workshop for faculty and staff will be held Thursday, September 22, 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the University Center Ballroom.

Continental breakfast will be provided. Supervisors are asked to encourage employees to attend.

Register by Tuesday, September 13, at www.umbc.edu/training.

Get a flyer with details at www.umbc.edu/hr/T&OD/schedule.htm.

“On Course” Workshop Presented by Skip Downing (6/13)

The Learning Resources Center (LRC) presents Skip Downing’s one-day workshop, “On Course,” Monday, June 13, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in Meyerhoff 256.

Who should attend?

• Instructors and coordinators of student success courses
• Faculty and instructors from all academic disciplines
• Counselors, advisors, retention specialists, TRIO personnel and student support services staff
• Administrators who seek a comprehensive program for improving retention and student success across the curriculum

A light breakfast and a lunch buffet will be provided.

RSVP as soon as possible to Lorine Dabeck at dabeck@umbc.edu or ext. 5-2444. Space is limited. We encourage you to send us a question regarding “On Course” to assist author Skip Downing meet your specific needs.

SkillSoft Topic of the Month: Conquering Conflict Through Communication

How many times have you said nothing because it was “good for the team” or got angry before thinking over a situation? These examples illustrate the importance of communication in the workplace. Communication is more than what you say, it is what you don’t say, how you listen to others and how you listen to what you say. At the end of this course, you will have the skills you need to listen actively, use feedback in your teams, sensitively communicate verbally and nonverbally and assume the best of your team members.

Visit the UMBC SkillSoft website for a quick start guide, FAQ and the link to log in to SkillPort. This is module course number TEAM0214.

For more information about the Business Exploration Series courseware, click here.

To schedule a department presentation about using SkillSoft for professional development, call ext. 5-6262 or e-mail hrtraining@umbc.edu.

Present With Confidence – Fear No More! (7/29)

Learning how to present with confidence goes beyond giving a one-time presentation. The techniques to speak with confidence in public are also skills needed to interact effectively with people on a day-to-day basis. This program is a combination of video presentation and facilitated conversation, and the highly interactive workshop will give you techniques to enhance your confidence while presenting. Upon completion of the workshop, you will be able to recognize the story you tell yourself about public speaking, identify your unique presentation style, apply tips and techniques to bounce back from public speaking faux pas and practice strategies to deliver effective presentations.

The workshop will be held Friday, July 29, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the Information Technology/Engineering Building, Room 456.

Register by Thursday, July 21, at umbc.edu/training.

Get a flyer with details at umbc.edu/hr/T&OD/schedule.htm.

Supervising and Developing On-Campus Student Employees (7/26)

An organization’s greatest assets are the people who produce the products or services. Employee engagement in work activities is a critical factor in organizational success.

For student employees, methods of engagement need to begin early in the learning process, and their supervisors can play a valuable role, not only in helping students learn about appropriate workplace behavior, but also helping them learn about themselves and their future career development. In this workshop, you will learn about generational differences and similarities, obtain knowledge on how to coach student employees, begin to assess strengths of student employees and align them with work tasks, assess critical workplace protocols and evaluate methods to implement student learning and develop a framework for creating a student employee training program based upon “best practices.” Note that there will be an hour break for lunch.

The workshop will be Tuesday, July 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the University Center, Room 301.

Register by Monday, July 18, at umbc.edu/training.

Get a flyer with details at umbc.edu/hr/T&OD/schedule.htm.

T-REX Training Sessions (6/22, 7/15 and 8/8)

T-REX (UMBC’s New Financial Reporting Tool) training sessions have been scheduled for June 22 (rescheduled due to June 6 power outage), July 15 and August 8, 10-11:30 a.m., in ECS training room 025. Users may register at my.umbc.edu/groups/training/events. Contact Jean Donohue donohue@umbc.edu with any questions.

SkillSoft Topic of the Month: Getting Results without Authority

This set of modules is appropriate for anyone who desires enhanced communication skills in situations where one does not have direct authority. The first module on persuasive communication helps you learn the importance of communicating persuasively when you want to get results in situations where you do not have direct authority. You will learn how to keep the other person’s perspective in mind, communicate effectively the “how” and the “what” of the request and learn the importance of sincerity. You will also learn ways to remain persuasive even when you face resistance from the person you are addressing. In the second module on building relationships and credibility, you will learn how to develop relationships and build credibility to get the results you need at work. You will also find out how influencing others benefits you.

• Persuasive Communication, Course Number: comm_27_a02_bs_enus
• Building Relationships and Credibility, Course Number: comm_27_a01_bs_enus

Visit the UMBC SkillSoft website for a Quick Start Guide, FAQ and link to log in to SkillPort.

For more information about the Business Exploration Series courseware, click here.

To schedule a department presentation about using SkillSoft for professional development, call ext. 5-6262 or e-mail hrtraining@umbc.edu.