SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harrassment Awareness Program

In early June, the Office of Organization Effectiveness (OE) conducted an “SOM Star Search,” looking for volunteers to narrate and act in an online Sexual Harassment Awareness Program. One dozen SOM staff members were selected as vocal talent for the module. Read more…

Preventing Communication Breakdowns

My three-year-old daughter wriggled as I pulled her hair through an elastic band to make a ponytail. “Hold still,” I teased her, “I don’t want it to pull so tight that I make your eyes pop.”

“Ice pop!?” she exclaimed, visions of popsicles dancing in her head.

Her misinterpretation was comical – but most communication breakdowns are not. In the workplace, they can cause mistakes, hard feelings, and an unpleasant work environment. Read more…

Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline

The deadline for signing up for the fall Supervisory Skills Certificate Series is Friday, September 5, 2008. Read more…

LeadingSuccess™ Program Members Selected

The SOM Office of Organization Effectiveness has chosen participants for its first cohort of LeadingSuccess™, a first-level program for leadership skills development that will begin in the fall. Read more…

Harnessing Strengths

You have talented people on your team - but they just don’t seem to be performing on all cylinders. This could be because they’re not sufficiently using their strengths. What can be done to improve that? Read more…

Workplace Q&A

“Where can I go to get computer training?” Read more…

KnowledgeLink Help Desk

“How do I print a certificate from Knowledge Link showing that I have completed a course?” Read More…

UPCOMING SEMINARS

Managing Your Career
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 251

Understanding Penn’s Retirement Plan
Date: Wednesday, September 17
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Retirement Investing Basics
Date: Tuesday, October 7
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Stemmler Dunlop Auditorium

Presentation Skills
Date: Thursday, October 16
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Presentation Skills Lab
Date: Thursday, October 16
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Tuition Benefits Q&A
Date: Thursday, October 30
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Business Writing
Date: Thursday, November 13
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Guaranteed & Enhanced Mortgage
Date: Wednesday, November 19
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Managing Up
Date: Thursday, November 20
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Reunion Auditorium

Resume & Cover Letter Clinic
Date: Wednesday, December 3
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Listening Skills
Date: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 1412

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Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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In early June, the Office of Organization Effectiveness (OE) conducted an “SOM Star Search,” looking for volunteers to narrate and act in an online Sexual Harassment Awareness Program. One dozen SOM staff members were selected as vocal talent for the module.

OE created the online module for managers, supervisors, or faculty members who oversee staff, in order to support the SOM’s commitment to creating a work environment safe from sexual harassment. Joining in the effort was the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, and the Division of Human Resources.

This short (under 15 minute) module explains what sexual harassment is (and isn’t) and what those who oversee staff or students are responsible for with regards to sexual harassment. OE advertised the “Star Search” primarily to the program’s intended audience.

The SOM urges all faculty and staff who supervise others to view the program, and to use it as a reference tool whenever they may be dealing with a potential sexual harassment situation. It is available through Knowledge Link. To view it:

1. Login to http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu using your PennKey and Password
2. On the left navigation bar click “Optional” (under “Training”)
3. Find the course titled “Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors - SOM”
4. Click “Enroll”

Below is a list of the SOM “Star Search” volunteers, as well as the individuals from departments throughout the University who joined in this effort.

Keith Mickelberg narrates the online Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors learning module. Mickelberg is the Lead Project Manager in the Clinical Research Computing Unit of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics.  

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Also in the September 2008 issue

Preventing Communication Breakdowns
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Leading Success™ Program Members Selected
Harnessing Strengths
Workplace Q & A
Knowledge Link Help Desk

==================================================

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Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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My three-year-old daughter wriggled as I pulled her hair through an elastic band to make a ponytail. “Hold still,” I teased her, “I don’t want it to pull so tight that I make your eyes pop.”

“Ice pop!?” she exclaimed, visions of popsicles dancing in her head.

Her misinterpretation was comical – but most communication breakdowns are not. In the workplace, they can cause mistakes, hard feelings, and an unpleasant work environment.

Many communication breakdowns occur because of faulty listening. Here are three things we can do to help us listen more effectively:

Focus on the Message

We are a multi-tasking culture, talking on our cell phones as we drive down the highway with our radios blaring. When we are bombarded with distractions from a variety of stimuli, the message becomes Waldo in a “Where’s Waldo?” cartoon. It is easy to lose focus and miss some of what is being communicated. Controlling auditory and visual “noise” and consciously focusing on the message can help us to best hear what is really being said.

Check Your Interpretation

Periodically check in to make sure you are interpreting the message correctly. We often listen selectively, presuming that we know the whole of the message when we’ve only heard a piece of it, or like my daughter, hearing what we want to hear. You can check in by asking questions for clarity, or by restating the speaker’s position to make sure you understand the message.

Use Appropriate Listening Styles

Have you ever shared a problem with a co-worker, looking for support, and instead found them offering unsolicited advice or making a joke out of what you’ve told them?

Everyone has preferred listening styles, but sometimes people apply the wrong style to the wrong occasion. It helps to be aware of our own preferred listening style, and be conscious of what listening style is best to use for any particular situation, rather than just defaulting to our preferred style.

One person may listen in order to evaluate and make decisions. Another person may listen in an attempt to see “the big picture.” Another person may listen in order to support the hearer. Someone else may listen looking for the humor or entertainment value in the message. Yet another person may listen to comprehend all of the facts and details.

So for instance, if evaluative listening is our default, and a stressed-out subordinate is expressing their frustration about a work situation, we need to resist our natural temptation to automatically start analyzing the situation and offering advice. If all they need is an opportunity to vent, empathic listening may be the best style for that situation.

On the other hand, if they come to us to bounce an idea off of us to see if it has any flaws and our default listening style is empathic, we need to resist the temptation to just give them support and rubber-stamp their idea. If what they really need is for us to play devil’s advocate to their ideas, then an evaluative style may be what is called for.

In order to help prevent communication breakdowns at work, it’s important to exercise good listening skills. Focus on the message, check your interpretation of what is being said, and vary your listening style according to the occasion. Doing so can help you to increase accuracy and productivity, and create a more positive work environment.

The Department of Organization Effectiveness will be offering a seminar on Listening Skills this semester.
Listening Skills is for general staff, and will be held December 9, 2008, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm.
To Register: You will be registering for the program through Knowledge Link.
1. Login to Knowledge Link using your PennKey and Password
2. On the left navigation bar click “Optional” (under “Training”)
3. Find the course titled “Listening Skills - SOM”
4. Click “Enroll”

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Also in the September 2008 issue

SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harassment Training
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Leading Success™ Program Members Selected
Harnessing Strengths
Workplace Q & A
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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The deadline for signing up for the fall Supervisory Skills Certificate Series is Friday, September 5, 2008.

The Supervisory Skills Certificate program for the SOM will give you a strong foundation in basic management skills.

The program begins in September and is made up of two parts: the Core Program, and Electives.

Core Program - This is a sequence of courses that cover the fundamental aspects of supervision. The Core Program consists of:

1. Interpersonal Dynamics – Understanding Personality Style
2. Performance Management for Supervisors
3. Policies Overview
4. Legal Issues of Supervision
5. Interviewing and Hiring

Each course in the Core is a half-day in length with the exception of Performance Management, which is a full-day course. Participants in the Supervisory Certificate Program must take all courses in the Core.
 
Electives - Participants select a minimum of two electives from a menu of courses, depending on their specific needs. The current menu of Electives includes:

• Team Building
• Conflict Management
• Demystifying Compensation
• Listening Skills

The electives give you the opportunity to customize your training program with topics that address your specific development needs. Additional electives will be added to the list as new topics are identified and developed. Electives sessions range from 1½ hours to a half-day in length.

For more information about the program, go to http://www.med.upenn.edu/oe/hr_training_supervisors_certificate.shtml

For answers to common questions regarding the supervisory skills program, please see our Frequently Asked Questions .

To register for the program contact Megan Maxwell at 215-573-0682 or oe@mail.med.upenn.edu (You cannot self-register for the series through Knowledge Link, but your participation in the series will appear in your Knowledge Link records.)

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Also in the September 2008 issue

SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harrassment Training
Preventing Communication Breakdowns
Leading Success™ Program Members Selected
Harnessing Strengths
Workplace Q & A
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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The SOM Office of Organization Effectiveness has chosen participants for the its first cohort of LeadingSuccess™ , a first-level program for leadership skills development that will begin in the fall.

Participants were nominated by managers who identified them as outstanding individuals with strong potential. These staff members either currently supervise or are in a full-time project manager role that involves others (e.g., running a project team). The Program will include participant assessment, classroom sessions and coaching over a period of nine months.

For more information on how you can nominate a stellar staff member for the next cohort, contact the Office of Organization Effectiveness at oe@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-573-0682.

2008 - 2009 Participants

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Also in the September 2008 issue

SOM Staff Members Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harassment Training

Preventing Communication Breakdowns
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline

Harnessing Strengths

Workplace Q & A

Knowledge Link Help Desk

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====================================================

Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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You have talented people on your team - but they just don’t seem to be performing on all cylinders. This could be because they’re not sufficiently using their strengths. What can be done to improve that?

The SOM Office of Organization Effectiveness can help your staff identify the kinds of activities in their work that are related to their strengths and how to position themselves to work from these strengths consistently.

The Simply Strengths program - based on the Marcus Buckingham book Go Put your Strengths to Work - is presented over six 90-minute sessions conducted weekly for your team. Along with our facilitation, each session uses 10-15 minute videos from the Marcus Buckingham video series, Trombone Player Wanted .

Buckingham’s work in employee effectiveness is based on his nearly two decades of research experience as a Senior Researcher at the Gallup Organization.

Marcus Buckingham hosts the “Trombone Player Wanted” companion video to the Simply Strengths training, which is based on his nearly two decades of research experience as a Senior Researcher at the Gallup Organization.

For more information on how to bring this program into your department, contact the Office of Organization Effectiveness at oe@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-573-0682.

==================================================
Also in the September 2008 issue

 SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harassment Training
Preventing Communication Breakdowns
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Leading Success™ Program Members Selected
Workplace Q&A
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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Question: Where can I go to get computer training?

Answer:
There are a number of places around campus to get computer training – some free, some for a fee:

Penn ISC Technology Training
Penn’s ISC offers fee-based training on a variety of applications such as various levels of Microsoft products, FilemakerPro, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Flash. Conducted both on- and off-campus.

Financial Training
The Department of Financial Training provides programs focused on the University’s financial processes, procedures and systems. These programs cover a wide range of topics which include Penn’s Business Enterprise Network and the University payroll system. Many of the programs have pre-requisites for attendees and all are offered free of charge.

Penn’s Library
The library offers a variety of free classroom courses, from training on applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Photoshop, to how to use sites such as Pubmed and Scopus. They also offer free online training in selected topics such as PowerPoint and Excel.

Unique Advantage
Unique Advantage, the University’s Temporary Employee provider, offers basic computer training in some of the Microsoft applications. The training is online and free.

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Also in the September 2008 issue

SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harrassment Training
Preventing Communication Breakdowns
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Leading Success™ Program Members Selected
Harnessing Strengths
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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====================================================

Click Here for the September 2008 Issue

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Question:

How do I print a certificate from Knowledge Link showing that I have completed a course?

Answer:

To print a certificate from Knowledge Link, follow the steps below:

1. Log into Knowledge Link
2. From the left navigation menu select Training Record
3. Choose the course
4. Click on the certificate icon to view  the certificate                                                               

5. Click on the print icon at the top of your browser to print certificate 

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Also in the September 2008 issue

SOM Staff Lend Voices to Online Sexual Harrassment Training
Preventing Communication Breakdowns

Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline

Leading Success^TM Participants Selected for First Class

Harnessing Strengths

Workplace Q & A

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