Becoming an Active Witness Who Hears, Sees, Feels, and Does

Everyone is a witness at some time in their lives. A witness observes unacceptable behavior and knows that the behavior is destructive and could become pervasive if gone unchecked. An active witness responds to unacceptable behavior in some form of involvement. Participants will consider a number of responses and appropriate strategies to active witnessing within their own “voice” and personality strengths. 

Time Management

This program discusses practical, common sense techniques to use time wisely at work.  It provides paradigms to help set priorities, manage meetings, organize workspaces, and develop personal daily and weekly plans.  Employees learn to identify time wasters at work and to recognize time-use barriers.  

Religion in the Workplace - Supervisors/Managers Version

Title VII, as well as most state laws, require employers to accommodate an individual’s religious practices or beliefs. But what kind of religious accommodation is actually required to comply with the law and avoid religious discrimination complaints? When is an accommodation considered an “undue hardship” to an employer? This session provides Penn State supervisors and managers with information to protect the rights of Penn State employees and comply with university policy.

Green Paws Program: Create a Sustainable Office One Step at a Time

Join over 2,000 Penn State employees at 23 campuses who are creating sustainable offices, one step at a time. The Green Paws Program provides you with small steps, organized into four levels, to grow your knowledge and application of sustainability in the office and your personal life. Working with co-workers to accomplish each level provides an opportunity to create community and to learn how to communicate and motivate sustainability behaviors. This orientation will introduce you to sustainability, the structure of the Green Paws Program, its importance and benefits, and how to motive your co-workers to engage with the program and stay motivated.

Run, Hide, Fight - Surviving an Active Attacker

Guidance on how to respond to an Active Attacker situation for Faculty, Students and Staff can be obtained through the Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program, presented by the University Police. The Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program provides information on the steps you can take to mitigate the actions of an Active Attacker.

Health Advocate Program: Throwing a Lifeline: Managing Emotional and Mental Health

As the challenges of this unique year continue, many people are understandably experiencing higher levels of stress, uncertainty and anxiety. Recognizing when it is appropriate to reach out for support is important to help people connect with resources that can strengthen mental and emotional health. Recognizing when you or a loved one needs support is the first step to connect with helpful resources that can strengthen mental and emotional health. It is equally important that we all work together to normalize reaching out for help and destigmatize seeking mental health support.

Getting to Know the LRN: How to Access & Navigate OnDemand Trainings & Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee. 

Mindfulness at Work

This program is designed to help participants improve their workplace experiences by applying concepts of mindfulness. Mindfulness – which focuses on being present and aware – is increasingly practiced in the workplace and in the community. It has been linked to decreased stress, increased well-being, increased mental focus, and increased productivity. Participants will learn a variety of principles and strategies for understanding and implementing mindfulness in the workplace and beyond. Note: Participants will be asked to conduct a brief pre-work reading in preparation for the program. 

How Sexual and Gender-based Behavior Creates a Hostile Work Environment

This session provides basic guidelines for understanding and preventing sexual and gender-based harassment in the workplace. Information regarding the legal basis for sexual harassment as well as Penn State’s policies and procedures regarding sexual and gender-based harassment and other related behaviors that are offensive but might not be a policy violation. Case studies are referenced throughout the session for participants to discuss and assess what qualifies as severe or pervasive inappropriate behavior, particularly at Penn State.

Overview of PSU Policies

This is a proactive program highlighting the positive aspects of Penn State policies, guidelines, and practices. Discover the ways in which Penn State policies impact your work life. Taught by professionals from Penn State Human Resources, this seminar is your opportunity to review or clarify HR topics. 

Green Paws Program: Create a Sustainable Office One Step at a Time

Join over 2,000 Penn State employees at 23 campuses who are creating sustainable offices, one step at a time. The Green Paws Program provides you with small steps, organized into four levels, to grow your knowledge and application of sustainability in the office and your personal life. Working with co-workers to accomplish each level provides an opportunity to create community and to learn how to communicate and motivate sustainability behaviors. This orientation will introduce you to sustainability, the structure of the Green Paws Program, its importance and benefits, and how to motive your co-workers to engage with the program and stay motivated.

Diversity Workout: Microaggressions & Workplace Conflict

This session will cover 2 different but related diversity topics: 

Session 1: Microaggressions: From Confusion to Clarity
Session 2: Competency and the Capacity to Reduce Workplace Conflict

Health Advocate: Keeping Your Head Above Water: Coping with Compassion Fatigue

These past months have been difficult at best, and many of us have focused our efforts on helping others, whether in our jobs or at home. Yet when caregivers neglect to take time for self-care, extreme stress and destructive behaviors can surface. Understanding how to avoid burnout and practice self-help can provide a roadmap to recharge and re-energize. This workshop is especially appropriate for general caregivers, healthcare professionals, and first responders, but many other people may be experiencing these emotions and can benefit from participating. During this webinar we discuss strategies designed to promote optimal well-being while caring for others.

Penn State Police: Who We Are…What We Do

Information on how to contact University Police and Public Safety and services and resources provided by University Park police. 

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee.  

Time Management

This program discusses practical, common sense techniques to use time wisely at work.  It provides paradigms to help set priorities, manage meetings, organize workspaces, and develop personal daily and weekly plans.  Employees learn to identify time wasters at work and to recognize time-use barriers.

Health Advocate Program 101: Learn how to explore and utIlize its vast employee resources

In this session, learn how to navigate the Health Advocate website and find out about the free, personal assistance available to you and your family about personal, family, financial, and work issues to help you achieve a healthy work/life balance.

Intended Audience: Benefits Eligible Penn State faculty and staff wishing to learn more about the Health Advocate Program benefit. 

The Art of Delegation

The course provides instruction on why delegation is important, what delegation is, and insight into a multi-step process for delegation.

PLEASE NOTE: There is PRE-PROGRAM WORK that needs to be completed as part of this course. You will receive the pre-work assignments in the 10-day before the course reminder email you will receive from the Learning Resource Network:

 - Read Case Studies (one page) --- will receive in 10 day before reminder email
-  Complete checklist (one page) --- will receive in 10 day before reminder email

Creating a Healthy Work Environment Begins with You

In this seminar, you will learn how to become the ultimate team player through managing adversity and contributing to creating a positive work environment.  When faced with adversity, you have the power and the choice to “feed the good wolf” inside you and do the right thing.  Bob will present seven “Good Wolf Behaviors” that empower work teams to build and maintain a healthy work environment.  You will also learn about three Emotional Intelligence strategies that will empower you to manage work-place adversity and contribute to a positive climate and team morale.

Balancing Work/Family/Life

Balancing your work and home life can seem impossible in our busy world. Feelings of guilt and turmoil are stirred by the demands of work and home, and the lack of personal time and time for family and friends. Through open discussion, this workshop outlines how to work toward attainable personal and professional goals, while reducing stress levels. It also offers effective workday tips for reducing discomfort and guilt, and successfully “keeping it all together.”

TIAA -- Money at Work 2: Sharpening investment skills (Follow-up to Money at Work 1)

Knowledge is the best investment. Feel more secure in your savings strategy by verifying you’re on the right track. And if you’re off track, know what adjustments you need to make. Are you saving enough? Have you taken taxes into account? Do you have a financial plan—and have you thought about what retirement looks like? TIAA’s workshop leaders will teach you how to plan your investments and to help you hold on to as much of your nest egg as possible.

*Follow-up to Money at Work 1 -- offered this past Fall (not a prerequisite but suggested)

Coaching Conversations for Supervisors

Coaching conversations will provide supervisors the basic skills necessary to have effective coaching conversations  

Strengths Discovery -- Individual Clifton Strengths

This course will introduce participants to their natural areas of talent so they can grow their talents into strengths, use them to do their work, and offer maximum value to their teams, partnerships, and relationships. Each participant will complete Gallup’s CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) assessment ahead of time and receive custom reports to understand their talents better.

Companion Book: Clifton Strengths Books in the Learning Resource Network 
Once in the Clifton Strengths library – choose: StrengthsFinder 2.0
*Note: Book only – assessment link will be emailed to you apx. 3 weeks prior to the training for completion

*IMPORTANT NOTICE – Please check your calendar to be sure that you can attend the training and complete the assessment 3 weeks prior to the event. The fee for the assessment is included at no cost to you but must be paid for by Talent Management -- based on number of registrants – so we want to be sure that everyone that registers is fully committed to attending and completing the assessment when you receive the email request to do so.

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee.  

Mindfulness in the Workplace

This program is designed to help participants improve their workplace experiences by applying concepts of mindfulness. Mindfulness – which focuses on being present and aware – is increasingly practiced in the workplace and in the community. It has been linked to decreased stress, increased well-being, increased mental focus, and increased productivity. Participants will learn a variety of principles and strategies for understanding and implementing mindfulness in the workplace and beyond. Note: Participants will be asked to conduct a brief pre-work reading in preparation for the program.  

Resiliency: Secrets of Successful Employees

Studies have found that when the same events happen to different people, it’s the individual’s response that makes a difference in terms of staying healthy, and using the experience in a positive way in order to grow and thrive—also known as resiliency. What’s the secret? This seminar explores this dynamic and what we can learn from those who are successful at surviving whatever life throws their way and developing their resiliency. The good news is, resiliency can be learned, and many examples exist where it has made all the difference. Participants will leave with tips and techniques for maximizing their own resiliency and positively influencing those around them.

Styles of Leadership

This facilitation will present the six styles of leadership, visionary, pace setting, command directive, participative, affiliative and leader as coach.  The application of each style of leadership within leadership team and individual situations will be explored and practiced. 

UPPS Scamming and Phishing Safety Training

Presentation on the numerous scams and frauds committed in person and online.

TIAA: Paying Yourself: Income Options in Retirement

It’s time to consider a little payback. You’ve made a lot of sacrifices in order to put away enough money to retire. When it’s finally time, do you know how to get the money back? There are lots of considerations, rules and tax implications that make these decisions very important and more complex. Relax. We can help.

Health Advocate Program 101: Learn how to explore and utilize its vast employee resources

In this session, learn how to navigate the Health Advocate website and find out about the free, personal assistance available to you and your family about personal, family, financial, and work issues to help you achieve a healthy work/life balance. 

Intended Audience: Benefits Eligible Penn State faculty and staff wishing to learn more about the Health Advocate Program benefit. 

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee.  

Managing Mental Health & Employee Well-Being

Mental health may be one of the last remaining taboos in the workplace. Yet many workers experience depression, anxiety or stress on the job. This shows up in absenteeism, medical claims, safety, and lower productivity. The purpose of this workshop is to increase confidence of managers when supporting an employee who may be experiencing an emotional health issue or other disruptive event. Participants will learn objective warning signs of deteriorating behavior, understand what emotional (mental) health is and is not, and how to partner with resources, including EAP, to effectively assess and address employer and employee concerns. Additional rate may apply.

Reducing Workplace Conflict: Promoting a Climate of Respect and Inclusion

This program is designed to address the many ways in which workplace climates either promote organizational success or contribute to decreases in both morale and productivity. Attention is given to the challenges of facilitating belonging within a diverse workplace. Participants are expected to individually assess how their own actions and attitudes impact this process, while working with others to develop strategies aimed at improving the climate in diverse workplaces.

TIAA: Tomorrow in Focus: Saving for your ideal retirement

Believe it or not, your retirement starts now.

No matter how old or young you are, or where you are in your career, your retirement begins when you start saving for it. Join us for an interactive exploration of retirement saving and learn how to help create an effective plan to help maximize your retirement potential.

Demonstrating Leadership in Your Sphere of Influence

Do you ever wonder what leadership means?   
Where does it fit in your life? 
Do you ever wonder if you were ever “cut out” for leadership?

This workshop is designed to help you explore questions like these and help you to determine how you can develop your leadership traits within your own personal sphere of influence. 

Leading by Developing People

Are you responsible for developing others?

Developing people is an important key to effective leadership.  In this facilitated discussion, we will review the concepts introduced in the Leading by Developing People Skillsoft video training that you will complete before the session and discuss opportunities and challenges for you to put them into practice.

Enhancing Your Confidence & Clarity in Giving Presentations

In this course participants will have opportunities to learn and practice presentation skills in a safe environment. This will include creating and practicing an elevator speech. The course is intended to help participants enhance their abilities to deliver presentations, speak with confidence and engage their audience.

Purchasing Card Policy and Procedure Training

Approvers are an integral and essential part of the Purchasing Card process. Approvers are the direct link to the cardholders for each department and Financial Officer.  Approvers are the ones ensuring financial integrity to the posting of all monetary transactions.

This training / refresher program would provide consistent, accurate, up-to-date information that will be a resource not only for approvers, but also for cardholders and anyone new in a financial role looking to understand this part of the purchasing process.

Highly recommended for all new Purchasing Card approvers, seasoned approvers, cardholders, and anyone new to a financial role (Financial Officer, Assistant Financial Officer, or Financial Coordinator) at all campus locations.

Purchasing Card Policy and Procedure Training

Approvers are an integral and essential part of the Purchasing Card process. Approvers are the direct link to the cardholders for each department and Financial Officer.  Approvers are the ones ensuring financial integrity to the posting of all monetary transactions.

This training / refresher program would provide consistent, accurate, up-to-date information that will be a resource not only for approvers, but also for cardholders and anyone new in a financial role looking to understand this part of the purchasing process.

Highly recommended for all new Purchasing Card approvers, seasoned approvers, cardholders, and anyone new to a financial role (Financial Officer, Assistant Financial Officer, or Financial Coordinator) at all campus locations.

Domestic Violence Awareness

When it comes to domestic violence, there are often ways that we can help friends, colleagues, and loved ones around us who may be experiencing a harmful relationship. Join Centre Safe to learn about our free, confidential services, and to walk through a domestic violence case study, to learn about what domestic violence is, how to recognize it, and what you can do to help. Participants will leave the session empowered and better equipped with knowledge and practical tools to join us in our mission of empowering survivors and eliminating violence. 

Coping with Change

Change in the workplace is inevitable. However, a changing environment can often produce stress or anxiety. Change and the resulting stress derive from both positive and negative events. This workshop explores the various stages of change, and steps employees can take to achieve acceptance. Through awareness, participants can increase their ability to cope with change in both their professional and personal lives.

Records Management at Penn State: Getting Your Files Organized the Easy Way

Are you unsure of which department records to keep, and for how long? Are hard drives and shared network drives filled with files created years ago? Have you been tasked with managing documents for your department but feel uncertain where to begin? This course will provide an overview of Penn State’s Office of Records Management, beginning with Policy AD35 which specifies how University Records are defined, filed, utilized, securely destroyed, and archived. This course will provide training on how to follow retention schedules for your department’s records, to ensure that active records are appropriately managed and that inactive records are properly disposed of. Useful information will also be provided on the Inactive Records Center, a secure storage solution for University Records which provides transfer, retrieval, and destruction services. Finally, this program offers tips and solutions for organizing records while working remotely, so that overall management of your department’s records is efficient and easy.

Performance Reviews: Setting Goals & Expectations for Managers

Join us via Zoom to learn more about Penn State’s performance review program and how to begin strong by helping your direct reports set goals and expectations for the current performance review year.

You’ll be given useful guidelines, exercises, and examples that you can apply in order to help your direct report successfully complete the first step of the performance management process!

This session will also help you prepare for being part of your own performance review process if you are a full-time staff member.

Performance Reviews: Setting Goals & Expectations for Individual Contributors

Performance management is a year round process which includes performance reviews. These reviews include goal setting, continuous feedback conversations and an end of year review. The process should be a collaborative effort to define expectations and enhance staff performance. 

Join us via Zoom to learn more about Penn State’s performance review program and how to begin strong by working with your supervisor to set goals and expectations for the current performance review year.

You’ll be given useful guidelines, exercises, and examples that you can apply in order to successfully complete the first step of the performance review process!

Performance Reviews: Setting Goals & Expectations for Individual Contributors

Performance management is a year round process which includes performance reviews. These reviews include goal setting, continuous feedback conversations and an end of year review. The process should be a collaborative effort to define expectations and enhance staff performance. 

Join us via Zoom to learn more about Penn State’s performance review program and how to begin strong by working with your supervisor to set goals and expectations for the current performance review year.

You’ll be given useful guidelines, exercises, and examples that you can apply in order to successfully complete the first step of the performance review process!

Penn State Police: Who We Are…What We Do

Information on how to contact University Police and Public Safety and services and resources provided by University Park police. 

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee. 

Power of the Positive: Cultivating Optimism

Studies have found that when the same events happen to different people, it’s the individual’s response that makes a difference in terms of staying healthy, and using the experience in a positive way in order his session explores ways to cultivate an authentic optimism that enhances resiliency and helps individuals and groups navigate change. Participants will gain a better understanding of what optimism is and is not and, ultimately, how to put it to work in their life to influence co-workers and others to become more optimistic. The overall goal is to enhance self-assurance through the power of optimism and learn specific techniques for maintaining the awareness of the power of a positive approach to work and life.

Take Your Skills to the Next Level with the Ability to Have Crucial Communication

Have you ever found yourself needing to address a problem at work with a co-worker or boss, or been in conversations with friends around politics or other controversial topics and just find you do not feel comfortable speaking up?  You worry about things devolving into arguments and getting heated, possibly severing relationships?  Don’t despair, you are not alone, the vast majority of people today feel this way and avoid having these critical conversations.  Lucky for you there are specific skills you can learn that will help you feel more confident and ready to dive into these types of conversations.  Based around the book Crucial Conversation: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, this training will explore the art of dialogue and how you can better prepare yourself and engage in tense conversations.
Companion Book: Crucial Conversation: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High
 

Overview of Penn State Policies

This is a proactive program highlighting the positive aspects of Penn State policies, guidelines, and practices. Discover the ways in which Penn State policies impact your work life.

Creating a Healthy and Inclusive Work Environment Begins with You

In this seminar, you will learn how to become the ultimate team player through managing adversity and contributing to creating a positive work environment.  When faced with adversity, you have the power and the choice to “feed the good wolf” inside you and do the right thing.  Bob will present seven “Good Wolf Behaviors” that empower work teams to build and maintain a healthy work environment.  You will also learn about three Emotional Intelligence strategies that will empower you to manage work-place adversity and contribute to a positive climate and team morale.

WE ARE Listening: Learning from Narratives by Indigenous and Asian American Populations

According to the latest U.S. Census, with the exception of Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans and Indigenous People of America represent the lowest demographic populations in the U.S. This session focuses on these “seldom heard” racial and ethnic groups and gives voice to their experiences. The individual narratives reveal how biases, stereotypes, and discrimination affects identity formation and sense of belonging. This session supports attendees’ efforts toward attaining cultural competency.

Styles of Leadership

This facilitation will present the six styles of leadership, visionary, pace setting, command directive, participative, affiliative and leader as coach.  The application of each style of leadership within leadership team and individual situations will be explored and practiced.

Halfway There: A Retirement Checkup

Help make sure your retirement is ready when you are.
Halfway? Already? Retirement has a way of creeping up on people. Before you know it, you’ll be depending on all the money you saved and invested. But there’s still time.
It may be time to give your retirement savings a checkup. TIAA’s workshop leader will provide information to help you determine where you need to be in your retirement savings, and how to get back on track if you’re behind:
•    Find out how much you should be saving
•    Discover different investment vehicles and how they can work together to help you reach your retirement goals 
•    Learn what’s competing for your retirement savings

Intermediate: Working with Strengths for the Individual

This intermediate workshop builds on the principles covered in the introductory workshop by going deeper into talents and strengths. We’ll discuss theme domains, themes in development, applying talents, theme dynamics, motivators and demotivators, partnerships, and problem-solving as a team. Attendees will write a theme testimonial to apply a talent to their current work. Emphasis is on utilizing talent themes to achieve workplace outcomes.

Optional Companion Book: Clifton Strengths Books LRN 
Once in the Clifton Strengths library – choose: StrengthsFinder 2.0

***ASSESSMENT NOT INCLUDED***

PREREQUISITE  – In order to attend this program, participants will have already taken the CliftonStrengths/StrengthsFinder assessment and either have attended the Foundation/Strengths Discovery program or have a basic understanding of CliftonStrengths terminology and application.

Dealing Positively with Challenging People & Situations

To realize the importance of effective communication and how to respond positively with internal and external customers during challenging situations.

Sometimes it seems like people are difficult on purpose, even when you try your best to help them. Some days it seems like all your ‘buttons have been pushed’! Attend this engaging seminar to help you recognize when you are going to ‘react’ rather than ‘respond’.

Emotional Well-Being for Employees

This presentation is designed to build awareness of overall emotional well-being and the impact in the workplace and provide tools to identify stressors and signs. It is not intended to diagnose or treat a mental health issue.  We will discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness, what emotional health is, review signs, symptoms, and behavior changes, and share resources for those seeking help.  We will also debunk myths of depression and suicide and discuss ways to help someone you may be concerned about by referring to EAP and professional resources.

The Art of Delegation

The course provides instruction on why delegation is important, what delegation is, and insight into a multi-step process for delegation.

PLEASE NOTE: There is PRE-PROGRAM WORK that needs to be completed as part of this course. You will receive the pre-work assignments a week or so before the course reminder email you will receive from the Learning Resource Network:

- Read Case Studies (one page) --- will receive before reminder email
- Complete Self Assessment (one page) --- will receive before reminder email

Time Management

This program discusses practical, common sense techniques to use time wisely at work.  It provides paradigms to help set priorities, manage meetings, organize workspaces, and develop personal daily and weekly plans.  Employees learn to identify time wasters at work and to recognize time-use barriers.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service in a Hybrid Workplace

Life as we know it is very different; we are living and serving our internal and external customers in ways we could not have even imagined even one year ago. But are we achieving success or are we finding excuses to explain why customer service is falling behind? This program will examine the following topics:
-Understand that your home is now your workplace, and determining what changes need to be put into place to ensure professional service is offered.
-Review some tips and techniques of how to manage phone, email and virtual meetings that will present a professional presence.
-Create customer service habits to ensure that your Penn State’s customer service standards are the ‘best of’ rather than the ‘worst of’ service interactions. 
-Realize how to engage in empathetic listening techniques to really understand and show customer advocacy and compassion during these challenging times.
-Develop a plan of action to determine how to be a customer service hero; how can you make a difference?

Inside Money: Managing Income and Debt

It’s your budget—take control.
Everyone talks about a budget, but how many of us actually make one? Most people have some debt, but how many understand its effects on their lives and their futures? Let us show you the real impact of budgeting and debt—and how to help make your money work.
TIAA’s workshop leader will explain the big picture of budgeting:
 
-Learn the importance of cash flow—and how to use it
-Change how you look at saving and spending
-Understanding debt and how to manage it

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee. 

Navigating Change

Change is the one constant we can count on and the pace of change over the past year has accelerated like never before.  This webinar is designed to help individuals explore change, it’s impacts as well as provide strategies for navigating a rapidly changing environment.

Managing Conflict

This interactive session is designed for you to focus on ways to manage conflict more effectively.

Coaching Conversations for Supervisors

Coaching conversations will provide supervisors the basic skills necessary to have effective coaching conversations.

Overview of Penn State Policies

This is a proactive program highlighting the positive aspects of Penn State policies, guidelines, and practices. Discover the ways in which Penn State policies impact your work life.

Introduction to Empathy for Leaders

Empathy is the basis of social awareness and relationship management. It is the ability to sense the emotions and understand the perspective of others. In leadership, empathy is the ability to relate to different types of people, listen attentively, and communicate effectively.

Mindfulness: An Experiential Workshop

Mindfulness can improve concentration, focus, health, efficiency, accuracy and reduce stress. Participants will receive an overview of Mindfulness and why it is a popular topic as our society grapples with the exhaustion of multi-tasking. The facilitator will guide participants through several experiential exercises. 

Run Hide Fight: Active Attacker Response Program

Guidance on how to respond to an Active Attacker situation for Faculty, Students and Staff can be obtained through the Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program, presented by the University Police. The Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program provides information on the steps you can take to mitigate the actions of an Active Attacker.

Effective Meeting Facilitation

To provide practical strategies that ensures efficient use of meeting time through amazing facilitation.  

Have you ever sat in a meeting asking yourself, ‘why am I here’, or ‘this is such a waste of time—when will this end’? If you lead meetings, you certainly don’t what this said about your meeting leadership. Attend this interactive session to pick up some new tips and techniques to make the most productive use of everyone’s meeting time. 

Cultivating Your Cultural Intelligence

Culture can be defined as “deeply rooted patterns of values, customs, attitudes and beliefs that distinguish one group from another.” Culture subconsciously guides our behavior and thoughts, and often influences our sense of belonging, motivation, and effectiveness at work. Developing an understanding and awareness of different cultures can help managers and employees from different backgrounds interact more effectively. This session focuses on how individuals can cultivate their cultural intelligence and work well across cultures.

The Art of Persuasion: Doing it Your Way

In this interactive training seminar, participants will learn about various strategies and techniques to help them persuade others on important issues and ideas.   Certain Emotional Intelligence techniques will be presented that are important to utilize when trying to persuade coworkers on an issue or idea.  Participants will also learn about the art of “Winning Others Over” or “WOO” – including the importance of surveying the situation, confronting potential barriers, securing commitments, and generating your pitch.  Participants will have a chance to practice their persuasion skills while engaging in a mock debate.  Finally, participants will uncover their own Persuasion Style through completing a persuasion-style assessment. 

introduction to Sustainability

This orientation will introduce you to the concept of sustainability and how it relates to Penn State’s mission, strategic plan, and your role as an employee. All segments of the university, from academics, research, operations, outreach and student affairs, are involved in this endeavor. We will offer many examples so that you leave the one-hour session understanding ways to support the University’s mission to “ensure a sustainable future” and resources available for those efforts. 

Introduction to Sustainability

This orientation will introduce you to the concept of sustainability and how it relates to Penn State’s mission, strategic plan, and your role as an employee. All segments of the university, from academics, research, operations, outreach and student affairs, are involved in this endeavor. We will offer many examples so that you leave the one-hour session understanding ways to support the University’s mission to “ensure a sustainable future” and resources available for those efforts.

Green Teams: Engaging the Penn State Community in Sustainability

Join Penn State’s network of over 57 Green Teams that are contributing to positive changes in their workplace and personal lives. This network is developing an understanding of sustainability, gaining communication and leadership skills, and putting these talents into action, supporting the University's sustainability goals. Join this training to learn more about Green Teams, their activities, steps to forming a team in your building or department, available supportive resources, and how Green Teams are connected to the other sustainability organizations at Penn State. It is recommended that participants take the Introduction to Sustainability Training (SUS-002) prior to this class. The Zoom link for the orientation will be sent out a few days prior to the training.  

Success Strategies for Hybrid Workers

For many, having a split schedule of working from home and going to the worksite is a new experience. This webinar provides practical strategies for maintaining productivity, staying connected, collaborating effectively and preventing burnout. Other topics include communicating effectively with leaders and peers, focusing on self-care, organizational strategies to maximize the demands of a hybrid schedule, and finding a healthy work/life balance.  

TIAA - Gaining Insight: Navigating Debt Consolidation & Understanding The Mortgage Process

Let us explain how to manage debt more effectively and how debt consolidation works. We will also demystify obtaining a mortgage with an overview of each step, plus how to find the right loan from a credible lender.

Purchasing Card Policy and Procedure Training

Approvers are an integral and essential part of the Purchasing Card process. Approvers are the direct link to the cardholders for each department and Financial Officer.  Approvers are the ones ensuring financial integrity to the posting of all monetary transactions.

This training / refresher program would provide consistent, accurate, up-to-date information that will be a resource not only for approvers, but also for cardholders and anyone new in a financial role looking to understand this part of the purchasing process.

Who Should Attend?
Highly recommended for all new Purchasing Card approvers, seasoned approvers, cardholders, and anyone new to a financial role (Financial Officer, Assistant Financial Officer, or Financial Coordinator) at all campus locations.

Depression, Anxiety and Burnout: Moving Toward Hope and Health

After more than a year of coping with ongoing challenges in a pandemic environment, it is understandable that feelings of depression, anxiety and burnout have intensified. Those experiencing these conditions are far from alone, but recognizing when we need extra support for our emotional and mental well-being is critical. Join us for this discussion during National Depression Awareness Month to understand how to identify and cope with these challenges and how to seek help when needed.

Becoming an Active Witness Who Hears, Sees, Feels, and Does

Everyone is a witness at some time in their lives. A witness observes unacceptable behavior and knows that the behavior is destructive and could become pervasive if gone unchecked. An active witness responds to unacceptable behavior in some form of involvement. Participants will consider a number of responses and appropriate strategies to active witnessing within their own “voice” and personality strengths.

Styles of Leadership

This facilitation will present the six styles of leadership, visionary, pace setting, command directive, participative, affiliative and leader as coach.  The application of each style of leadership within leadership team and individual situations will be explored and practiced.

Foundation: Discovering Strengths for the Individual -- Using Clifton Strengths

This course will introduce participants to their natural areas of talent so they can grow their talents into strengths, use them to do their work, and offer maximum value to their teams, partnerships, and relationships. Each participant will complete Gallup’s CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) assessment ahead of time and receive custom reports to understand their talents better.

Companion Book: Clifton Strengths Books in the Learning Resource Network 
Once in the Clifton Strengths library – choose: StrengthsFinder 2.0

*IMPORTANT NOTICE – Please check your calendar to be sure that you can attend the training and complete the assessment 3 weeks prior to the event. The fee for the assessment is included at no cost to you but must be paid for by Talent Management -- based on number of registrants – so we want to be sure that everyone that registers is fully committed to attending and completing the assessment when you receive the email request to do so. Thank you!

Reconceptualizing the Teaching of Ethics in a Global Classroom

Varying demographics, backgrounds, and life experiences have a profound influence on what shapes someone’s view of right and wrong. Consequently, an ethical dilemma may form for the educator who is aware that the audience’s background, culture, and norms may not support the ethical decisions outlined in the required teaching manual. This presentation conceptualizes competency development as a means of teaching ethics in global classrooms. 

Improving Your Professional Writing Skills

This program is designed to teach employees how to improve their professional writing, including e-mail messages and letters, marketing copy (i.e. brochures), and more. Individuals will learn how to create accurate, clear, compelling content for any medium. Through hands-on, skill-building activities and interactive discussions, individuals will be confident that their message will be received. 

Who should attend: This course is designed for individuals who want to enhance their writing skills and learn how to create messages that will connect with their audiences. Continue your journey to becoming an expert writer who understands their audience, can craft a clear and meaningful message, and edit it to a perfect shine.  

Intermediate Strengths: Working with Strengths for the Individual

This intermediate workshop builds on the principles covered in the introductory workshop by going deeper into talents and strengths. We’ll discuss theme domains, themes in development, applying talents, theme dynamics, motivators and demotivators, partnerships, and problem-solving as a team. Attendees will write a theme testimonial to apply a talent to their current work. Emphasis is on utilizing talent themes to achieve workplace outcomes.

Optional Companion Book: Clifton Strengths Books LRN
Once in the Clifton Strengths Library – Choose: StrengthsFinder 2.0

***ASSESSMENT NOT INCLUDED***

PREREQUISITE  – In order to attend this program, participants will have already taken the CliftonStrengths/StrengthsFinder assessment and either have attended the Foundation/Strengths Discovery program or have a basic understanding of CliftonStrengths terminology and application.

Getting to Know the LRN : How to Access and Navigate OnDemand Trainings and Free Books

Learn how you can quickly navigate through the over 17,000+ FREE, online courses available to faculty and staff. These courses allow you to learn at your convenience by using the Learning Resource Network (LRN) to browse, launch and learn. Plus learn how to take advantage of the over 95,000 free, online book titles that are available to you as a Penn State employee.  

TIAA - Inside Money: Managing Income and Debt

It’s your budget—take control.
Everyone talks about a budget, but how many of us actually make one? Most people have some debt, but how many understand its effects on their lives and their futures? Let us show you the real impact of budgeting and debt—and how to help make your money work.

TIAA’s workshop leader will explain the big picture of budgeting:
-Learn the importance of cash flow—and how to use it
-Change how you look at saving and spending
-Understanding debt and how to manage it

The Art of Delegation

The course provides instruction on why delegation is important, what delegation is, and insight into a multi-step process for delegation.

PLEASE NOTE: There is PRE-PROGRAM WORK that needs to be completed as part of this course. You will receive the pre-work assignments a week or so before the course reminder email you will receive from the Learning Resource Network:
 

Cultivating Your Cultural Intelligence

Culture can be defined as “deeply rooted patterns of values, customs, attitudes and beliefs that distinguish one group from another.” Culture subconsciously guides our behavior and thoughts, and often influences our sense of belonging, motivation, and effectiveness at work. Developing an understanding and awareness of different cultures can help managers and employees from different backgrounds interact more effectively. This session focuses on how individuals can cultivate their cultural intelligence and work well across cultures.

Please note, this program is an individual development program and not apart of Supervision Essentials.

Managing Change in an Ever-Changing Environment

Change is constant, and not always predictable. How we manage change and interpret the experience makes a difference in how we navigate our emotions and choices. Understanding how you view and interpret change can help you manage your interactions with your  colleagues and staff. 

Includes Assessment: Personal ADKAR Assessment (delivered during the session) 

Note: While not a requirement, we strongly encourage you to attend the, “What is Change Management” Session after attending this session.

Improving Overall Well-Being: The Mind-Body Connection

There is growing evidence of the connection between our mental and physical health. How we think affects how we feel, which impacts behaviors like keeping our bodies active and moving. By becoming more conscious of how these pieces work together, we can take more effective steps to maintain and improve our overall well-being. Throughout this webinar participants will discover how to make choices to feel their best, even during times of stress. It will also discuss how exercise can improve mood, as well as creative ways to stay active despite one’s current challenges.

Negotiation Skills for Daily Work and Personal Life

Negotiation is a skill we all use every day. In two, two-hour sessions, learn the key strategies and rules of negotiating. Then delve into the intangibles of competing, problem solving, and resolving conflict situations. Examine how leverage works. Explore principles and tactics of persuasion – time-tested ways to get people to do things they might otherwise not do. Learning these principles will help you in your daily interactions both in the workplace and in your personal life. 

*Please Note that this is a two-part program, and that participation is expected at both sessions to receive credit for attending. The program dates are as follows: March 22, 2022 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and March 24, 2022 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.*

*Additional Note: This training includes the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument Assessment. The fee for the assessment is included at no cost to you but must be paid for by Talent Management -- based on number of registrants – so be sure to check and mark your calendar before fully committing to attending. You’ll receive a separate email about 2 weeks prior to the training, requesting you to complete the assessment. 

The Importance of Adaptability and Flexibility

The purpose of this training is to provide a knowledge base as to the role in which qualities such as adaptability and flexibility play in professional and personal success.    

We will discover ideas and discuss strategies to help you become more adaptable. We will build upon current skills to aid in adapting to both personal and professional change.  We will uncover coping mechanisms and learn how to take risks. Lastly, we will develop an action plan to apply to a current situations.

What is Change Management?

The term “change management” might seem to be a buzz word but, in fact, it is a defined process that organizations use to manage the people aspects of change. Change management professionals often work in collaboration with a project manager to help ensure the change being implemented is more likely to be successful. Becoming aware of this process can provide you with context on a change project you are involved in. 

Includes Assessment: Personal ADKAR Assessment (delivered during the session) 

Important Note: While not a requirement, we strongly encourage you to attend the, “Managing Change in an Ever-Changing Environment” Session prior to attending this session.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service in a Hybrid Workplace

Life as we know it is very different; we are living and serving our internal and external customers in ways we could not have even imagined even one year ago. But are we achieving success or are we finding excuses to explain why customer service is falling behind? This program will examine the following topics:

-Understand that your home is now your workplace, and determining what changes need to be put into place to ensure professional service is offered.
-Review some tips and techniques of how to manage phone, email and virtual meetings that will present a professional presence.
-Create customer service habits to ensure that your Penn State’s customer service standards are the ‘best of’ rather than the ‘worst of’ service interactions. 
-Realize how to engage in empathetic listening techniques to really understand and show customer advocacy and compassion during these challenging times.
-Develop a plan of action to determine how to be a customer service hero; how can you make a difference?

Finding Balance in Busy Lives

Finding balance between our personal and professional lives is something many people strive for. However, consistently striving to achieve total balance can lead to feelings of guilt. By setting and working towards attainable goals at work and home, we can find ways to reduce guilt and feel more balanced. This webinar offers daily tips and long-term strategies to find the work/life balance that works for you, minimizing stress in the process. 

Crucial Accountability

Accountability is a critical performance criterion for the workplace. Accountability exists at all levels of an organization/team. The accountability term is frequently used when tasks and team objectives are not being met, but more frequently than not, it was not defined up front what ‘it is’ to the accountable individuals and teams. Supervisors in particular are responsible for ensuring that accountability exists within the team but frequently ‘defer’ and do not confront the lack of accountability. At the same time individuals within an organization/team need to understand their individual accountability and holding their peers accountable. All need to understand what the elements are for achieving it and how to coach/counsel when it is not being met. Much of the presentation will be based upon the book, ‘Crucial Accountability: Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments, and Bad Behavior’. 

Companion Book Located in the LRN: Crucial Accountability: Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments, and Bad Behavior.

Effective Email Communication

This session will explore how to communicate with others via email and messaging apps. Learn how to craft strong emails that get to the point professionally and quickly. The session will also briefly examine messaging apps, such as Microsoft Teams, to uncover the best practices for these modes of communication.

Subtle Slights and the Impact of Bias on Cultural Identity and Mental Wellbeing

How do we handle the unspoken, often unrecognized “little things” that foster sentiments and attitudes of inequity and incivility? Microaggressions speak to the attitudes, dispositions, and comments that many times lead to the devaluing of members of a community. This session will focus on recognizing, validating, and ultimately managing the display and impact of microaggressions.

Overview of Penn State Policies

This is a proactive program highlighting the positive aspects of Penn State policies, guidelines, and practices. Discover the ways in which Penn State policies impact your work life. Taught by professionals from the Office of Human Resources, this seminar is your opportunity to review or clarify the following topics:
-Relevant Recent Updates to the policies 
-Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
-Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 
-Sick/Family Time 
-Personal Holiday 
-Flex Time 
-Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment and Misconduct 
-Code of Responsible Conduct 
-Protection from Retaliation 
-Tangible Assets 
-HR 79 Staff Grievance Policy 
-Background Checks 
-Alternative Work Arrangements 
-Resources 

Purchasing Card Policy and Procedure Training

Approvers are an integral and essential part of the Purchasing Card process. Approvers are the direct link to the cardholders for each department and Financial Officer.  Approvers are the ones ensuring financial integrity to the posting of all monetary transactions.

This training / refresher program would provide consistent, accurate, up-to-date information that will be a resource not only for approvers, but also for cardholders and anyone new in a financial role looking to understand this part of the purchasing process.

Who Should Attend?
Highly recommended for all new Purchasing Card approvers, seasoned approvers, cardholders, and anyone new to a financial role (Financial Officer, Assistant Financial Officer, or Financial Coordinator) at all campus locations.

Supporting Your Kids: Identifying and Addressing Signs of Stress

Many people have experienced higher levels of stress and uncertainty during the pandemic, including children. While we slowly move toward a sense of normalcy, the residual effects of the pandemic and other events may continue, making it more important than ever to support children as they navigate ongoing changes to their school life and daily routines. This webinar discusses how to identify signs of stress in children of all ages, and provides strategies to support them through challenging times. 

A Look at Incongruence with Race and Ethnicity and Why We Should Care

While race is ascribed to individuals on the basis of physical traits, ethnicity encompasses everything from language, to nationality, culture, and religion. We generally assume that people see our race, ethnicity, and culture the way we see ourselves. This session explores the influences of race and ethnicity on how we describe ourselves, which may be congruent or incongruent to how others describe us or according to official racial and ethnic designations. This diversity education topic considers how and why race is socially real, although not biologically real.

Enhancing Confidence & Clarity in Giving Presentations

In this course participants will have opportunities to learn and practice presentation skills in a safe environment. This will include creating and practicing an elevator speech. The course is intended to help participants enhance their abilities to deliver presentations, speak with confidence and engage their audience.

PNC Financial Wellness Workshop: It’s a Balancing Act – A Workshop for the Sandwich Generation

Members of the Sandwich Generation — adults caring simultaneously for their children and parents — may struggle to find a balance between their own financial security and the demands of caring for both children and aging parents. This workshop will help you understand your parents’ needs and how to talk to them about future financial decisions and potential living situations. Most importantly, we’ll talk about how you can continue to look out for yourself and your needs. 

Military Cultural Competency – Be a Veteran Ally

Do you know a military service member or veteran? Have you ever worked with one? What are they like and what were their experiences while they served? What challenges do they experience while serving or as they transition back to civilian life? How are they different from you and I, if at all? How do I engage and talk to them?

This session is an introductory session about the military and veteran community that lives in Pennsylvania, works alongside us, and are students at Penn State. We will discuss why it is important to understand the military/veteran culture and how to close any gaps that exist between service members/veterans and civilians. We will also learn about the military services and the military experience. We will discuss military/veteran stereotypes and myths as well as veteran experiences and challenges.

Finding Balance in a Digitally-Driven World

Prior to the pandemic, many of us became increasingly reliant on technology in our daily lives. However, recent events have made virtual life the norm as we now do everything online – from work to school to socializing and more. It may no longer feel like we have the option to unplug, yet it’s important to consider how to use technology in a way that enhances (rather than detracts from) our mental health and well-being. This webinar reviews how to better understand this modern dilemma and explores strategies to find more balance and avoid technology burnout. 

Managing Hybrid Work Teams

Before the pandemic, it’s estimated that 15% of employees worked remotely. Today, many managers lead teams who are working in a variety of ways (i.e., from home, hybrid), creating many unique challenges. This webinar examines these challenges and provides strategies for navigating issues such as flexibility and creating equitable working arrangements… while keeping employees accountable for performance goals. Additional topics include countering disconnection, fostering collaboration, encouraging engagement, and leading workers who may still be adjusting. Participants will also learn best practices for building a stronger team and bringing out the best in their team members, while stressing the key role they play in the areas of employee retention and development. 

Improving Your Professional Writing Skills

This program is designed to teach employees how to improve their professional writing, including e-mail messages and letters, marketing copy (i.e. brochures), and more. Individuals will learn how to create accurate, clear, compelling content for any medium. Through hands-on, skill-building activities and interactive discussions, individuals will be confident that their message will be received. 

Who should attend: This course is designed for individuals who want to enhance their writing skills and learn how to create messages that will connect with their audiences. Continue your journey to becoming an expert writer who understands their audience, can craft a clear and meaningful message, and edit it to a perfect shine.  

Performance Management - How to Prepare for Your End-of-Year Review

Please join us via Zoom for a brief session to get you moving in the right direction to complete this year’s performance management process. Useful information will be provided to help you set the stage for participating in a successful review conversation with your manager (including tips for how to finish the performance management cycle in Workday) and to plan for your continued growth and development.

https://psu.zoom.us/j/945549645

Performance Management - How to Prepare for Your End-of-Year Review

Please join us via Zoom for a brief session to get you moving in the right direction to complete this year’s performance management process. Useful information will be provided to help you set the stage for participating in a successful review conversation with your manager (including tips for how to finish the performance management cycle in Workday) and to plan for your continued growth and development.

https://psu.zoom.us/j/945549645

Performance Management - Tips for Making the End-of-Year Review as Effective as Possible - Managers

Please join us via Zoom for a brief session to equip you with the skills necessary to ensure that you are ready to conduct an effective review conversation (including tips for how to finish the performance management cycle in Workday), and to help your employees plan for their continued growth and development.

https://psu.zoom.us/j/959495709 

Performance Management - Tips for Making the End-of-Year Review as Effective as Possible - Managers

Please join us via Zoom for a brief session to equip you with the skills necessary to ensure that you are ready to conduct an effective review conversation (including tips for how to finish the performance management cycle in Workday), and to help your employees plan for their continued growth and development.

https://psu.zoom.us/j/959495709 

Performance Management - Tips for Making the End-of-Year Review as Effective as Possible - Managers

Please join us via Zoom for a brief session to equip you with the skills necessary to ensure that you are ready to conduct an effective review conversation (including tips for how to finish the performance management cycle in Workday), and to help your employees plan for their continued growth and development.

https://psu.zoom.us/j/959495709