Students are heading back to class — and you can, too. The UCOP Learning and Development team is providing opportunities throughout the month of August to help you boost your career.

Select each course name to register; courses reflect Pacific Time and take place virtually unless noted otherwise. For questions, contact ucopld@ucop.edu.

Build your leadership skills

Information Session: Leadership Fundamentals for Aspiring Leaders
Aug. 8, 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Aug. 13, 2 – 2:30 p.m.
If you’ve never been a manager or supervisor, but are interested in learning key aspects of leadership, time management and wellness, the UCOP Leadership Fundamentals for Aspiring Leaders program (LFP) might be just what you’re looking for! Created and facilitated by long-time and highly rated UCOP vendor Pierre Khawand, this cohort-based learning opportunity is designed to help you develop and practice leadership, behavioral and wellness skills that are crucial in today’s information overload and fast-paced work environment. Join us at an information session to learn more!

People Leader Forum: Bottom Line Up Front
Aug. 16, 1 – 2 p.m.
People Leader Forums (PLFs) are monthly opportunities for people managers to connect with one another to develop leadership skills, build community, share best practices, swap strategies for navigating current challenges and learn to better support themselves and their teams. In this month’s session, we’ll focus on using the Bottom Line Up Front (aka BLUF) technique to streamline clarity in reports, emails and other communications. Save the date for our upcoming PLF sessions: Sept. 20, Reflecting on People Management Biases, and Oct. 18, Equity Process Review.

Communicate more effectively

Reflective Listening
Aug. 20, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Whether you’re a leader or an independent contributor, reflective listening is a necessary skill for today’s workplace. It’s key to better communication and, ultimately, better workplace performance. People have a fundamental need to feel heard and understood; when they are, problems are more easily solved or averted, and trust and psychological safety grow. Learn fundamentals of reflective listening with techniques you can start practicing today.

Delivery Skills for Connecting with Your Audience
Aug. 28, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
No matter who you’re presenting to, how you share your information matters. This interactive workshop will help you gain the skills to make your next presentation succeed. We’ll identify common presentation and public-speaking anxieties, then learn to prepare for and overcome them; explore presentation styles and techniques to keep your audience engaged; and discover new tips and tricks to make your presentations stand out!

Impactful Storytelling — New!
Aug. 29, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn to use storytelling as a strategic communication tool by to conveying compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, including colleagues, stakeholders and clients. Through interactive exercises, practical application and expert guidance, you’ll discover how to effectively use storytelling to clarify your vision, motivate teams, and drive organizational objectives. We’ll also cover how to apply storytelling principles to articulate strategic visions and insights, emotionally engaging your audience to inspire and drive action.

Deepen your software and project-management expertise

Box Advanced
Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
If you want to know how to securely store sensitive data in Box, how to get data into Box via email or URLs, or other advanced Box techniques, sign up for this workshop! We’ll cover a range of topics including setting up alerts to monitor folders and using Box groups to manage department collaborations.

Project Management for Non-Project Managers
Aug. 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Enhance your project-management skills and better manage projects of all kinds! In addition to covering traditional project management concepts, we’ll focus on bringing innovative insights and practical techniques to revolutionize your approach to managing projects of all sizes.

Excel Intro to Data Analysis
Aug. 15 & 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Both sessions required.)
Learn how to use Excel’s built-in data analysis tools to better understand your records and use them for decision-making purposes. We’ll cover analyzing data in lists and tables; summary-based IF Functions, chart tools, and building and working with pivot tables and pivot charts.

Creating Accessible Documents
Aug. 21, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Digital accessibility is about ensuring users with disabilities can easily access and engage with any digital content. In this course, you will learn the principles of digital accessibility, as well as how to generate accessible Microsoft Office documents and export them to PDF.

Have more productive STEP conversations

GROWing your Check-In Conversations for Managers
Aug. 1, Aug. 9 or Sept. 4, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
GROW is a popular coaching framework used worldwide for problem-solving, goal-setting, and performance improvement. This interactive session provides managers with an opportunity to discuss and practice using the GROW framework as a strategy and tool to support engaging STEP checkpoint conversations. Learn to promote a growth and development stance in your coaching and feedback conversations.

GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers
Aug. 23, Sept. 23 or Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
This is the second part of the required live training series on manager and employee performance conversations. This training answers the question: “What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance?” In this virtual, live, and highly interactive workshop, we will cover: providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice role-playing accountability conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

STEP Define Criteria
Aug. 27, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
In this instructor-led training on the Staff Talent Evaluation Process (STEP), we will expand on the materials presented in the STEP Fundamentals for Employees eCourse, going into detail on the first stage of STEP, called Define Criteria. You’ll have an opportunity to practice writing goals and learn strategies for choosing focus competencies.

Focus on personal well-being and safety

The Science of Managing Stress
Aug. 2, 9 – 10 a.m.
Job stress can be all-consuming — but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to identify your triggers, keep a focused perspective and know when to seek help.

UCOP Safety: Basic Awareness
Aug. 6, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Sept. 11, 2 – 3 p.m. | Oct. 10, 9 – 10 a.m.
Melissa Collins, program manager for security, risk and resilience, will facilitate this live virtual class, providing basic safety tips to help you feel informed, alert and safe as you travel to and from the workplace. Extra time is allotted for questions and feedback.

UCOP Safety: Active Attacker Training
Aug. 28, 2 – 3 p.m. | Sept. 17, 1 – 2 p.m. | Oct. 15, 10 – 11a.m.
This live virtual class will teach you skills and strategies to respond if you’re exposed to an active-attacker situation. We’ll review real-life incidents and discuss options in the event of similar encounters.

About

View all post by