February 2024

Staff Development Opportunities

Receiving Feedback Well:  Crafting Constructive Responses

Wednesday, February 7^th 2-3:30 pm Online

From the Office of Ombuds UT

Do you find receiving workplace feedback a challenging experience?
Are you comfortable requesting and holding feedback dialogues?
What strategies do you use to advocate for your career goals and needs?
If receiving feedback is unpleasant, frustrating, or simply missing in your workplace experiences, you are not alone!

Join us for a 90-minute virtual session where we will discuss the receiver’s role in fostering constructive feedback experiences. Register vis link on the workshop calendar HERE

Creating a More Psychologically Safe Working Environment

Wednesday, February 14^th 2:00-3:30 Online

From the Office of Ombuds UT

~ How can you support others in your workplace to improve their own feelings of psychological safety?

~ What can you do to create workplace change that strengthens psychological safety for all?

Note: this session is not only for managers but will be

This session, presented by UT Ombuds, will briefly summarize key concepts of psychological safety* and ask you to share your recent efforts in strengthening psychological safety at work. We will then examine key strategies for creating a more psychologically safe working environment. Topics include: appreciative listening, clarifying shared expectations & purpose; pro-active inquiry; destigmatizing failure; modeling inclusivity; & continuous renewal. Register for this and more workshops HERE  

Dignity: A Key to Constructive Conflict Management

Wednesday, February 21 2-3:30 Online

From the Office of Ombuds UT

What is Dignity and how does it relate to communication & conflict? We all have an inherent value (dignity) that drives our need to matter and belong. Attending to feelings and experiences of dignity is crucial to building relationships of trust and mutual understanding. Violations of dignity are often the root cause of anger, resentment, mistrust, and destructive conflict.

In this session, you will explore the importance of dignity in workplace relationships; discuss how to honor dignity & avoid violations; and strategize ways to uphold the dignity of yourself and others. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities. Register HERE

Physical Wellness: Stretching

Tuesdays 11-11:15 and Thursdays 2-2:15 Online

UTC is invited to join the UTK Wellness Coordinator who will be facilitating the sessions for staff, faculty, and graduate student employees. The purpose of these sessions is help us learn how to stretch and to build our own routines for stretching.

You can join by registering HERE

Or join in using this link at the time of the session: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/81835059849 (this link will be used for all sessions).

CDPI - Understanding your Individual Conflict Dynamics Profile

Wednesday, March 6^th 2-3:30pm

Have you felt uncomfortable in conflict? Feel like you want to lash out or avoid the situation altogether? Most people would say yes, and that is absolutely normal. Did you know that not all conflicts lead to destructive outcomes? Instead, many conflicts—when managed well—can lead you and others to growth, innovation, and improvement.

This 90-minute workshop is designed to enhance your personal ability to navigate conflict. You will learn about both helpful and unhelpful behaviors in conflict as well specific “hot buttons” that tend to draw out unhelpful behaviors. This online interactive session provides both in-depth information as well as an interactive debriefing of your CDP survey results.
Registration Closes one week before the workshop date.

Starting two weeks before the workshop, registrants will receive an email invitation to take the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) survey for free . Complete this 20-25 minute online survey no later than the Sunday BEFORE the workshop. (You will receive your digital survey profile report & a Zoom link the morning of the session).  Register HERE

Spring Development Opportunity!!

A Crucial Conversation is a discussion between two or more people where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. When conversations turn crucial, people tend to follow one of two ineffective paths: they either speak directly and abrasively to get the results they want but harm relationships, or they remain silent with the hope of preserving relationships only to sacrifice results.

This 12-hour virtual hybrid training builds skills for constructively engaging in conflict —rather than stepping over or around it— turning disagreement into dialogue.

Held over 5 weeks, this training consists of 5-6 hours of asynchronous online learning from Crucial Learning paired with Ombuds-facilitated discussion and application activities over four 90-minute Zoom meetings (1 per week) for 12 total PD hours. More about CCMD training content.

Materials Cost: $300 online materials access fee per person.

A limited number of materials fee scholarships are available for $100, $150, or $300 if full funding is not available to registrants. Contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

You are not fully registered for this training until you complete the SEPARATE SPECIAL registration form linked above and here: REGISTER for Crucial Conversations HERE

ALL virtual workshop activities take place from May 3 - May 31, with pre-work mailed on May 3
Synchronous meetings (Zoom) are scheduled from 11am -12:30 pm on May 10, 17,2 4, & 31, 2024.
Registration deadline April 22, 2024.
CLICK HERE to REGISTER

NEW!! K@TE Courses

A Guide to Workplace Professionalism – 1 hour course

How to Build Better Relationships with Your Manager and Coworkers – 1 hour course

Others self-paced HR 0128 courses available on K@TE:

• Time Management Essentials
• Dealing with Stress, Pressure and Burnout
• Workplace Communication Basics
• A Guide to Workplace Integrity
• Workplace Distractions: How to Avoid Common Time-Wasting Traps
• Developing a Growth Mindset
• Problem-Solving Fundamentals
• Advanced Problem-Solving
• Scheduling 101
• Do You Have These Four Essential Customer Service Skills?
• A Guide to Empathy at Work
• Resolving Conflict with Coworkers
• Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Highlighted articles and resources:

Write Your Own Goals & Take Control of Your Performance  Candid Culture Jan 2024

Your Burnout is Trying to Tell You Something  Harvard Business Review, Jan. 2024

How to Intervene When You Witness Workplace Aggression  Harvard Business Review, Jan. 2024

Podcast:  IdeaCast Making Peace with Your Midlife, Mid-Career Self  Harvard Business Review (32 minutes)

Register for TIAA’s live webinars! 

Each month, TIAA hosts several live webinars.  You can also view recordings of past webinars. 

Find the topics and register here.

You can also visit the UTC Training Calendar by clicking here or visiting the HR Professional Development webpage.