How to Handle Conflict and Confrontation (5/10)

We all experience conflict in our professional and personal lives but it does not have to get the best of us. We can learn how to observe ourselves and the situation in a new way and learn powerful strategies for transforming the conflict into a learning opportunity, both for ourselves and our partner. This workshop is a combination of video presentation and facilitated conversation. In this program you will understand the positive and negative effects of conflict; learn the three types and three stages of conflict and various approaches to address conflict; discover five principles for maintaining positive relationships; practice using the Constructive Confrontation model—a model used for having a conversation to address a conflict; and create some strategies you can immediately put into practice.

The workshop will be Tuesday, May 10, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the University Center Room 310.

Register by Monday, May 2, at: http://www.umbc.edu/training/community

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

An Introduction to The Alexander Technique (5/4)

Learn an innovative method that you can practice anywhere and that can relieve stress, provide relief from chronic neck and back pain, allow for improved coordination, flexibility and balance and give you stronger postural and breath support. The Alexander Technique is an educational practice that restores your natural poise, coordination and ease of movement. As a student of the technique, you become a refined observer of the habits that prevent you from moving comfortably, and you learn a specific process by which you can consciously change those habits so that moving becomes pleasurable.

The workshop will be Wednesday, May 4, 9-11:30 a.m., in the University Center, Room 312.

Register by Tuesday, April 26, at: http://www.umbc.edu/training/community

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

Creating a Productive and Healthy Work Environment: The Power of Leadership (4/5)

A “healthy” work environment is a high-performance work environment—it is one that encourages and supports people to perform at their best. Tending to the work environment is one of the most important things leaders can do. This workshop for supervisors and leaders is filled with ways to enable your colleagues to accomplish goals faster and easier, with less stress and more enjoyment.

This engaging workshop is for leaders who are interested in creating a work environment that supports and encourages people to be “adaptively resilient” during change, be more efficient and effective, build collaboration and teamwork, get better results and bring more energy and fun to work.

We will discuss the important role the leader plays to help people stay focused on the mission, goals and priorities; make the most of our talent, wisdom, creativity and time; create a learning environment; and nurture health, focus, mood and energy.

The workshop will be Tuesday, April 5, 9 a.m.-noon, in the University Center, Room 312.

New Features in SkillSoft e-Learning

We are pleased to announce that our SkillSoft e-Learning system has been upgraded to version 7.0, a change that will offer new and improved features. This exciting upgrade offers users streamlined navigation, the ability to place any type of learning asset into “My Plan,” improved and simplified Search & Learn, a new “View in Catalog” feature, as well as a “Breadcrumb” trail to easily keep track of course searches. For more information, click Here.

SkillSoft e-Learning Upgrade on February 28

We are pleased to announce that our SkillSoft e-Learning system will be upgraded to version 7.0, a change that will offer new-and-improved features. For a preview, click Here.

SkillSoft will not be available Monday, February 28, while the upgrade takes place.

New Training Program Registration Process

The familiar URL www.umbc.edu/training will now take you to myUMBC, where you can register and view training events by date. To register for a program, log into myUMBC and click “I Can Attend,” and your information will be filled in automatically. You can also print a program flyer, visit the sponsoring department website and cancel your attendance if necessary. We hope you find this new process efficient and easy to use. For any additional questions, email Training and Organization Development at hrtraining@umbc.edu.

SkillSoft Topic of the Month: Workplace Conflict: Recognizing and Responding to Conflict

Conflicts will inevitably arise in the workplace, so it is critical to deal with them successfully. If you avoid conflict that requires quick, decisive action, or if you take an aggressive approach when you need to gain someone’s commitment, you may make the situation worse. Choosing an appropriate response based on the type of conflict is important. When you address conflict properly, you can experience a number of benefits, including enhanced creativity and stronger relationships.

This one-hour course describes these and other benefits of conflict, explains common workplace conflict situations and describes responses appropriate to the outcome you desire.

Visit the UMBC SkillSoft website for a SkillSoft Demo, FAQs, Quick Start Guide and the link to log in to SkillPort. This module is course number comm_22_a01_bs_enus.

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

To schedule a department presentation, call ext. 5-6262 or email hrtraining@umbc.edu.

Creating Effective Library Assignments (1/24)

Do you struggle with ways to help your students learn how to do library research? Have you found that assignments such as scavenger hunts just don’t seem to be as effective as you hoped? Join a panel of your colleagues, Kriste Lindenmeyer, Katie Morris and library staff Monday, January 24, noon-1:30 p.m., in the Commons Room 329 for a discussion of effective ways to engage students in the all-important skills of finding and using resources. Lunch will be provided.

RSVP to lhodges@umbc.edu by Tuesday, January 18.

SkillSoft Topic of the Month: Creating Work/Life Balance

Prioritizing is an essential skill for any employee. This 15-minute video course considers methods for selecting and setting goals and puts you in the driver’s seat of making key business decisions. This course is part of SkillSoft’s latest content innovation, the Business Exploration Series, interactive video courseware that allows users to craft innovative solutions to real-world business problems in a safe, exploratory environment.

Visit the UMBC SkillSoft website for a SkillSoft demo, FAQs, quick start guide and the link to log in to SkillPort. This module is Course Number: _pc_ch_lach018

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

To schedule a department presentation, call ext. 5-6262 or e-mail hrtraining@umbc.edu.

Redefining Stress (2/24)

In this provocative and interactive session, we will explore our relationship with stress and discover new ways of dancing with it. Through a “being” rather than “doing” approach, we will get beneath the typical stress management techniques (e.g., yoga, meditation, breathwork), to uncover the root place where stress originates—in our language, emotions, and body. In expanding our “frame of reference” we can co-create a more empowered response to stress and move from stress to ease. Participants will learn what stress is and uncover common misconceptions; powerful shifts you can make in your language, body, and emotions to work with it more effectively; and several practices to help you manage your stress in the workplace and in life.

The workshop will be Thursday, February 24, 9-11:30 a.m., in the University Center, Room 312.

Register by Wednesday, February 16, at www.umbc.edu/training/community.
Get a flyer with details at www.umbc.edu/hr/T&OD/schedule.htm.