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Professional Development Series
Overview
The Professional Development Series (PDS) is a professional development opportunity offered by the Division of Human Resources. PDS offers a variety of professional development classes designed specifically to enhance your skills and competencies. All the PDS classes are open to benefits-eligible employees, and offered at various times throughout the year. PDS classes are designed to offer a blended learning environment with in-class participation and online pre-work. The classes are scheduled in the University Services Building (USB). We invite you to explore our 2011-2012 PDS classes listed below. Please come back and visit this site often, as new additional classes might be introduced.
Application Procedures
Please direct comments and questions regarding the PDS to Loretta Pedraza at 520-621-7183 or email to lpedraza@email.arizona.edu
Class Descriptions
Class Titles
Dates and Times
Supervisory
Managing Student Employees
Class description: Student employees are a vital part of our workforce and integral to the effective operations of many University departments. On-campus employment also offers students an opportunity to enhance their academic experience by applying practical learning in a supportive and challenging job setting. Supervising a student employee is uniquely demanding and rewarding, but it is rarely easy. Student employees come with their own set of challenges as they struggle to juggle school, work and life responsibilities. This session will offer strategies for the effective supervision of student employees and help supervisors find solutions to their most taxing student management issues. Show...• 09/29/2011; 1:00-4:00 pm
• 01/12/2012; 1:00-4:00 pm
Moving Into Management
Class description: So much more is expected of supervisors today — hiring quality talent, encouraging excellent performance, communicating unit objectives and paving the way for change. Many people bring strong technical skills to their management roles, but new and emerging managers can be challenged by the essential interpersonal and management skills necessary for success. In this session you will identify your leadership style, build credibility, manage challenging team members and facilitate change to ensure that you begin your new role with the confidence that you have the “right stuff” to help others be successful! Show...• 10/26/2011; 8:30-10:30 am
• 04/10/2012; 8:30-10:30 am
You're Hired: Finding Your Next Great Colleague
Class description: New colleagues can invigorate an organization or cause debilitating disruption; that’s why making wise hiring choices is so important. Learn screening techniques that separate the awful from the amazing and review the practices that can help you steer clear of legal landmines as you make decisions about which candidate should be invited to join you. (Staffing II) Show...• 11/08/2011; 1:30-3:00 pm
• 01/30/2012; 1:30-3:00 pm
Organized Chaos: Leading Others Through Change
Class description: The old adage “People Dislike Change” is simply untrue. People are very willing to change – as long as it was their idea or they see change as personally beneficial. The challenges begin when change is imposed on those who aren’t interested in doing things differently. The most effective leaders create “change ready” cultures and are successful in creating a shared vision for a better future. This session will discuss the barriers to change and the strategies that can move people forward. Show...• 10/27/2011; 1:30-3:00 pm
• 02/28/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Managing the Unexpected
Class description: How do you handle an employee crisis, critical incident or other unexpected event in the workplace? How do you help employees cope with the death of a colleague? What would you do if the ex-spouse of an employee threatened another employee? How should you respond to claims of sexual harassment or illegal discrimination? What do you do about employees you suspect are stealing or engaging in other criminal acts?
The "unexpected" has become a growing part of our everyday lives. In the chaos and confusion that arise from workplace issues, problems, and critical incidents, it can be difficult to keep a cool head and develop effective action plans. In this session, we’ll focus on developing skills and strategies for responding to critical leadership challenges with complete confidence and resolve. Show...• 11/16/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 02/16/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
When Feedback Isn't Enough
Class description: There are times when coaching fails to turn things around and there are times when coaching is not even appropriate. When that becomes clear, it may be time for progressive discipline. In this session, participants will learn to determine when it's time to take formal action, how to document concerns, and the range of disciplinary actions available. Show...• 10/25/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 02/02/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Write me up, PLEASE: Documenting Performance Conversations and Disciplinary Actions
Class description: By the time it’s time to “write up” an employee, there is generally tension and ill will, but that does not have to be the case. When managers use positive language that describes aspirations for the future, employees are encouraged to believe that productive change is possible and can begin to accept personal responsibility for their actions. When the need for change is not realized, a past practice of positive documentation will make disciplinary actions less subject to legal challenges. Show...• 11/02/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 02/08/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Business and Professional Development
Can We Talk? Effective Workplace Conversations
Class description: Letting people finish their sentences; listening to the other person’s words and understanding their perspective; asking questions to ensure that what you heard is what the other person meant - these are all strategies that effective communicators employ. This session will discuss communication dynamics, review barriers to effective communication, and address the techniques critical for difficult conversations. Show...• 12/01/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 03/01/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Surfing the Change Wave
Class description: Remaining energized and optimistic in the wake of constant and sometimes unexpected change can challenge even the most change resilient individuals. This session will explore participants’ comfort with change, examine the factors that may limit flexibility, and identify opportunities to think about professional, personal and career change in new and positive ways. Show...• 12/06/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 04/05/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Beyond “My Way or the Highway” Conflict Management Strategies That Work
Class description: Despite what many people believe, conflict can be enormously productive. In fact, healthy, respectful conflict can surface new ideas and help us avoid unfortunate mistakes. This session will explore the origins of conflict and discuss opportunities conflict can provide. Participants will also examine their personal conflict style and discuss how it helps or hampers when there are disagreements with others. Show...• 11/09/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 03/20/2012; 8:30-10:00 am
Getting in Sync with Your Supervisor - The Art of “Managing Up”
Class description: In a perfect world, managers would be well… perfect. But they’re not - and just as managers have to learn to manage - those who are being managed need to learn to manage upwards!
An ineffective working relationship with your supervisor can derail years of hard work, while a strong working relationship can accelerate your career. Learning to manage up can make your work life easier, increase your productivity and even position you for a promotion or increased job responsibilities. Show...• 11/29/2011; 8:30-11:30 am
• 03/27/2012; 8:30-11:30 am
Power, Politics and Influence
Class description: It's one thing to have formal authority; it's quite another to have real power. Increasingly, professional influence trumps the authority that may or may not come with one's title or position. But how to get it? Using social change icons to guide us, we'll examine the characteristics of people who make things happen by inspiring others. Participants will also explore techniques for building an ever-larger sphere of personal and professional influence. Show...• 10/27/2011; 8:30-10:00 am
• 03/29/2012 : 8:30-10:00 am
Map Your Way to Organizational Success
Class description: Every organization—including Universities—is a collection of processes. These processes are the natural business activities you perform that produce value, serve clients and manage systems. Inefficiency, waste and redundancy will rob your department of time, resources and productivity. Process mapping is a technique for creating a graphical representation of work processes in the form of flowcharts. In this practical, hands-on session, you will learn to peel away the complexity of your organizational structure and protocols and learn the steps necessary to implement process changes that will have immediate impact on the quality, service delivery, productivity and performance of your units and departments. Show...• 03/22/2012; 8:30-11:30 am
Herding Cats: Lessons in Project Management
Class description: Herd the wild 'beast' of project management! Whether you have been assigned to manage or participate in a project, it helps to understand the typical components of project management, and be alert to unpredictable turns off the beaten path. Prepare to step up when you have an opportunity to apply your interpersonal skills in a project environment. This hands-on session is dsigned for both new and experienced project managers. Show...• 03/28/2012; 8:30-11:00 am
Personal Development and Self Care (Life & Work Connections)
From Stress to Success
Class description: Is your life a tug-of-war between responsibilities to your family, friends, work, community and self care? Learn to move beyond managing stress to finding balance in your daily life. This class will help you:
• Identify triggers for stress
• Understand the mind/body connection between stressful thoughts and feelings
• Learn stress-relieving techniques, including a passive relaxation exercise
We will also discuss traits of resilient people and determine what aspects of your life are most important to you, based on your core values. Show...• 11/30/2011; 8:30-10:30 am
• 02/29/2012; 8:30-10:30 am
The “Art” in the Heart of Caregiving
Class description: The “art” of caregiving can be both challenging and rewarding. Gain a better awareness of the issues, concerns, how to maintain positive relationships, when and where to get help and a “whole person” approach to the benefits of caregiving. Most importantly, refine your skills at taking care of yourself as well as the person who depends upon you. Show...• 10/19/2011; 8:30-10:30 am
• 03/07/2012; 8:30-10:30 am
Just Breathe, Relax and Go!
Class description: One of the best stress reducers and calming techniques available to each of us is something we do 24 hours a day without thinking about it – breathe! It only takes four intentional deep breaths to create a relaxation response. Breathing with purpose allows us to become centered, focused, and better prepared to face whatever challenges come our way. In this session you will learn self-calming breathing techniques, participate in a relaxation exercise and transport yourself to your favorite ‘virtual’ leisure location using guided imagery. You will also learn the 4 key concepts for stress reduction. Show...• 01/10/2012; 12:00-12:30 pm
• 04/24/2012; 12:00-12:30 pm
Preparedness for Critical Incidents
Class description: "Regular people are the most important people at a disaster scene every time." - Amanda Ripley, journalist and author. This class encourages participants to shift from passivity to activity in regards to the responsibility of preparing for self-care during critical incidents. Participants will become familiar with general preparedness principles, the UA Emergency Plan, and key principles and resources for personal, individual preparedness at home and work. Show...• 02/22/2012; 10:00-11:00 am
Qualities of a Resilient Workgroup
Class description: This class examines the qualities of resilient workgroups as found in the research of business and industry, then provides the opportunity for participants to define and analyze these qualities and apply them to participants' own workgroups. Participants develop concrete steps towards the implementation in their workgroups. For managers and supervisors only. Show...• 03/21/2012; 10:00-12 noon
The Drug-Free Workplace
Class description: For managers and supervisors. Designed to fill the federal mandate for compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, this class is designed to give supervisors and managers an understanding of the UA policies about employee drug and alcohol use. Objectives include recognizing signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse in the areas of performance and conduct, understanding the role of work to a substance abuser, the role and steps a supervisor can take, and the resources available to a supervisor or manager. Show...• 04/11/2012; 10:00-12 noon
The Value of Anger
Class description: This class will help participants understand this powerful emotion in themselves, and through this understanding develop healthier ways of mastering it, managing themselves when feeling anger, and using it as a key to unlock the door to positive growth. This class primarily focuses on the person's own anger, and does not significantly address handling the anger of others. Show...• 05/01/2012; 10:00-11:00 am
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