SOM E-learning Module Wins Award

A online training program created by the SOM’s Office of Organization Effectiveness placed third at the 2008 Pennsylvania Distance Learning Association (PADLA) e-Learning Excellence Awards in November. Several SOM staff members lent their voices to the project. Read More…

Seven Tips for Writing Effective Emails

We’ve all received emails we thought were confusing, annoying, or just plain rude. Follow these seven tips to make sure that you’re not on the “Send” end of one of those emails. Read More…

LeadingSuccess™ Nominations Open Up

The SOM Office of Organization Effectiveness is seeking nominations for its new cohort of LeadingSuccess™ , a first-level program for leadership skills development. Read more…

Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline

The deadline for signing up for the fall Supervisory Skills Certificate Series is Friday, January 16, 2009. Read more…

Resource Spotlight

Did you know…the Department of Organization Effectiveness provides customized training services to departments? Here are ways we can help you with your staff training initiatives. Read more…

Knowledge Link Help Desk

 “Sometimes I log into Knowledge Link and find that I have required training that I didn’t know about…and sometimes it’s even past due! Is there some way Knowledge Link could notify me if I have required training?” Read More…

UPCOMING SEMINARS

Your Position is Grant-Funded:  What Next?
Date: Thursday, January 15
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Preparing for Retirement
Date: Wednesday, January 21
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Hiring Issues for International Staff
Date: Wednesday, February 4
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place: Reunion Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Retirement Investing Basics
Date: Tuesday, February 10
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Business Writing
Date: Thursday, February 12
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 251

Resume & Cover Letter Clinic
Date: Thursday, February 26
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Reunion Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Listening Skills
Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 1412

Presentation Skills
Date: Thursday, March 12
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Presentation Skills Lab
Date: Thursday, March 12
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (By appointment)
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Tuition Benefits Q&A
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m.
Place: Reunion Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Pre-Tax Expense Accounts Seminar
Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m.
Place: Reunion Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Interview for Success
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m.
Place: Class of ‘62 Auditorium - John Morgan Building

Performance Appraisals for STAFF
Date: Tuesday, April 7
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

Performance Appraisals for SUPERVISORS
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m.
Place: Biomedical Research Building (BRB II/III), Room 253

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

A online training program created by the SOM’s Office of Organization Effectiveness placed third at the 2008 Pennsylvania Distance Learning Association (PADLA) e-Learning Excellence Awards in November. Several SOM staff members lent their voices to the project.

The program, “Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors” was created at the direction of Christopher P. Kops, Vice Dean of Administration, to ensure that the school’s managers and supervisors knew their responsibilities to create a work environment safe from sexual harassment.  It was designed by Senior Training Specialist Gina Barrett and Training and Instructional Technology Specialist Ryan Frasch, and developed by Frasch.

PADLA  is the regional chapter (representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) of the United States Distance Learning Association, an organization which promotes the development and application of Distance e-Learning for training and education.

Ryan Frasch accepts the award from PADLA President Louis Stricoff.

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue

Seven Tips to Writing Effective Emails
LeadingSucces™ Nominations Open Up
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Resource Spotlight
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

Seven Tips for Writing Effective Emails
By Megan Maxwell

We’ve all received emails we thought were confusing, annoying, or just plain rude. Follow these seven tips to make sure that you’re not on the “Send” end of one of those emails:

1. Should You Email at All?
Communicating via email can become such a mindless habit that we can find ourselves using it for messages which would be best delivered through other means. It’s important to always step back and ask the question, “Should I be communicating this through email?”

Avoid email for sensitive issues where correct interpretation is crucial. It lacks the added layers of communication that voice and body language add, and thus can be more easily misconstrued than face-to-face or even phone conversations.

Email is also a poor candidate for communications that require confidentiality or security; emails should be seen as having the visibility of a postcard. Don’t send anything you wouldn’t want forwarded or viewed by others.

And finally, sometimes other methods of communicating are just more practical. After laboring for some time over an email, one woman thought, “I wish I could just talk to them.” Then it occurred to her, with a blinding flash of the obvious, that she could pick up the phone and call. (How retro!)

2. Hello & Goodbye
Be sure to greet the recipient of your message. It would be rude not to say “hello” to someone before requesting something of him in person, and the same goes for electronic communication. Include a salutation as well as your contact information at the end of your message. Practice professionalism and show the same courtesy you would in a letter or face-to-face interaction.

3. The ABCs of CC, BCC & Reply to All
Be careful when using these options. Make sure that those individuals being Carbon Copied are aware of why they are receiving the message. If a message does not need to be seen by all on the original list, then only reply to the necessary individuals or groups rather than crowding inboxes unnecessarily with a “Reply to All.”

4. Don’t Get Too Attached
Attachments take up space; only send them when necessary. Make sure to send them in a format the recipient can open.

5. Right Write
Writing like THIS, this, or this can be seen as aggressive and may cause misunderstanding or conflicts. Limit or eliminate your use of ALL CAPS as well as language that may come across as demanding or rude. Instead use words that are courteous and respectful.

Take the time to use proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. These practices help to promote a positive and professional image of yourself and your organization as well as deliver a clearer message.

6. Clear, Concise, and Complete
To communicate effectively, make your email concise, complete and easy to read.

• Use active words, lists, or bullets to describe tasks
• Separate information into small paragraphs with short sentences.
• Try to anticipate questions your email may generate, and answer them.
• When writing a reply, be sure to answer all questions.

7. Thanks But No Thanks
While expressing gratitude is an important concept to remember in all interactions, sending an e-mail for this purpose only may be more of an annoyance to individuals with crowded inboxes. Try to say thank you in advance when you request what is needed in an initial e-mail. A phone call or handwritten note for a job well done are more personal and will not take up unnecessary space and time.

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue 

SOM E-learning Module Wins Award
LeadingSuccess™ Nominations Open Up
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Resource Spotlight
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

The SOM Office of Organization Effectiveness is seeking nominations for its new cohort of LeadingSuccess™ , a first-level program for leadership skills development.

Those eligible for the program are SOM staff members nominated by managers who identify them as outstanding individuals with strong potential. These staff members must either currently supervise or be 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.

Nominations for this cohort will be taken until January 30, 2009. For more information or to find out how you can nominate a stellar staff member whom you manage for the new cohort, go to www.med.upenn.edu/oe/leadership.shtml or contact the Office of Organization Effectiveness at oe@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-573-0682.

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue 

SOM E-learning Module Wins Award
Seven Tips to Writing Effective Emails
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Resource Spotlight
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

 The deadline for signing up for the winter/spring Supervisory Skills Certificate Series is Friday, January 16, 2009.

The winter/spring cohort begins January 20, 2009 and is made up of two parts: the Core Program, and Electives.

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

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
• Listening Skills
• Conflict Management
• Coaching Skills
• Assertive Communication

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.)

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue 

SOM E-learning Module Wins Award
Seven Tips to Writing Effective Emails
LeadingSuccess™ Nominations Open Up
Resource Spotlight
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

Did you know…the Department of Organization Effectiveness provides customized training services to departments?

Here are ways we can help you with your staff training initiatives.

We can:

• Conduct needs assessments
• Conduct focus groups
• Conduct interviews
• Advise in training design
• Identify and procure technological training solutions
• Design training metrics
• Deliver training
• Evaluate the impact of training

For more information contact the Office of Organization Effectiveness at oe@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-573-0682.

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue 

SOM E-learning Module Wins Award
Seven Tips to Writing Effective Emails
LeadingSuccess™ Nominations Open Up
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Knowledge Link Help Desk

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

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

Click Here for the January 2009 Issue

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

Question:

“Sometimes I log into Knowledge Link and find that I have been assigned required training that I didn’t know about…and sometimes it’s even past due! Is there some way Knowledge Link could notify me if I have required training?”

Answer:

In the past, if Knowledge Link users had mandatory training, they usually wouldn’t know about it until they logged into Knowledge Link. If their mandatory training deadline was coming soon or even past due, users did not find out about it unless they actively logged in.

The Knowledge Link team is working to improve that. Soon Course Owners (departments in charge of courses) will have the option to instruct Knowledge Link to send automated email reminders about any training they require users to take. 

Depending on your required training, you may shortly begin receiving emails from Knowledge Link letting you know when training has been assigned, or when it is soon due, past due, or in need of renewal.

So for example, this new feature will allow the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity (the Course Owner of HIPAA training) to have Knowledge Link automatically send you an email to inform you that you are required to take HIPAA training, or that your HIPAA training is due soon, or past due, or up for renewal.

Note: Because some Course Owners may choose to not take advantage of this feature, you will still need to log into Knowledge Link periodically to make sure there are no other required courses waiting for you. However, this new feature will be able to give you added support around keeping on top of your training needs.

It is important to know that if your email address is not listed in the online Penn Directory, you WILL NOT receive any of these notifications. According to Penn policy, you must add your Penn email address to the directory. To do so, go to http://www.upenn.edu/directories/ and click on “Update Directory Listings.”) You have the option to make your email visible only to the Penn Community if you wish. For more information see http://somapps.med.upenn.edu/oe/?p=53.

If you have any questions about these changes, contact the Office of Organization Effectiveness at oe@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-573-0682.

==================================================
Also in the January 2009 issue 

SOM E-learning Module Wins Award
Seven Tips to Writing Effective Emails
LeadingSuccess™ Nominations Open Up
Supervisory Skills Certificate Deadline
Resource Spotlight
==================================================