Professional Development Webinars

Inclusive and Impactful Leadership

Today's workplace continues to be a place of opportunity for learning and expanding our understanding of each other. At times, it can feel challenging and as if things are not progressing, especially in the area of inclusivity. Folks can often feel as if they do not belong, which can lead to retention issues, among other things. In this webinar, we examined the importance of being an inclusive and impactful leader and shared important tips and guidance to apply at your workplace. 

Key takeaways:

• Identify the importance of an inclusive workplace.
• Outline steps to become an inclusive leader.
• Discuss how to create an inclusive workplace.
• Move from inclusive to impactful.

Webinar presenter Patricia Izek, MEd., is the equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant in the Office of Human Resources at the University of Minnesota. She presents on DEI for units across the University, including two Equity and Diversity Certificate workshops: Implicit Bias in the Search Process and Selection Processes and Addressing Implicit Bias and Microaggressions.

Presented on March 20, 2024.
 

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Working with Challenging People

Working with difficult people is not only frustrating and stressful, it can also cost your organization time and money. In this session we covered some ways to recognize difficult behavior and tactics to respond to it, both professionally and personally. The key is to learn to separate people from problems—act rather than react and encourage respectful behavior.

Key takeaways:

• Understand what can trigger difficult behavior.
• Identify basic types of difficult behavior.
• Manage anger and defensiveness in yourself and others.
• Learn specific strategies for interacting productively in difficult situations.
   

Marilyn Corrigan, MA, is a leadership and communications consultant and coach. Her goal is to help her clients improve performance in the areas of leadership, communications, teams and managing change. She has over 20 years of experience in management roles within organizations.

Presented on February 21, 2024

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Embodied Communication

Too often, when we’re speaking in front of colleagues, peers, or stakeholders, our nervous system engages in the fight-flight-or-flop response, leaving us anxious and tongue-tied. We know what we want to say, but our body gets in the way. During this hour-long session, you will learn ways to recognize this stress response and then dismantle it using both physical and verbal techniques. It’s time to step out of your own way and harness your personal power to get your point across with skill and ease.

Key takeaways:

• The importance of acknowledging the moment at hand and discovering the gifts it holds
• Ways to release counterproductive judgment and convert it into useful curiosity
• Social engagement techniques that foster connection and reduce self-consciousness
• An accepting, conversational mindset that challenges our zero-sum narratives and allows us to adapt to dynamic circumstances
• The use of humor and play as a means to enliven your presentation skills

Webinar presenter Jim Robinson, PhD, has three decades of experience both as a psychology professor and as a professional improviser and actor. His workshop, “Improvisation and Mental Health,” evolved from his work in both fields and recently was the basis of his Fulbright Specialist project and Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund grant, both in Pakistan. 

Presented on January 17, 2024.

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