January Staff Development Opportunities

Offerings are happening this week!

Ombuds Workshop & Info Session Descriptions:

Ombuds is proud to offer a 2024 spring event schedule of communication & conflict management professional development opportunities! View the Ombuds Events Google calendar.

Registration is now open for all these January 2024 events. Space is limited.

Date	Time	Workshop Title & Registration Link (descriptions linked and also listed below)	Location
10-Jan	2:00-3:30 pm	Working together on Psychological Safety: Discussions on Belonging	Virtual-Zoom
11-Jan	11:30 am-12:15 pm	Getting Unstuck: Intro to Ombuds Services	Virtual-Zoom
11-Jan	12:00-1:30 pm	Receiving Feedback: Crafting a Constructive Response – Register via K@TE	Virtual-Zoom
23-Jan	10:00-11:30 am	New Leader Advantage – The Empowered Workplace: Clearly Communicating Expectations. Register via K@TE (New Leaders Academy)	Virtual-Zoom
24-Jan	2:00-3:30 pm	Giving Feedback Well: Creating Safe Dialogue	Virtual-Zoom
1-Feb	12:15-1 pm	Getting Unstuck: Intro to Ombuds Services	Virtual-Zoom

PLEASE NOTE: For the sessions with registration in K@TE, you will need to search the titles, the above do not contain direct links to the courses.

Also remember, you can request ANY Ombuds workshop or session to be offered specifically for your group or unit at your preferred time & location!

Questions? Contact ombudsed@utk.edu.

Working together on Psychological Safety: Discussions on Belonging
Have you ever felt afraid to speak up or share your ideas for fear of repercussions or causing conflict? Do you feel uncomfortable expressing or being yourself in the workplace? Are you concerned about staff or peers who have expressed similar concerns? You are not alone!

In this virtual session, you will discuss the importance of psychological safety in open and honest workplace communication, take steps to self-assess your own psych safety needs, and learn strategies to engage in respectful dialogue with peers about increasing psych safety in the workplace. Topics include: workplace culture, belonging, interpersonal risk-taking, compassionate dialogue, and the effects of increased psychological safety on workplace effectiveness and innovation. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

Getting Unstuck: Intro to Ombuds Services
What IS an ombuds and how can they help me “get unstuck” with challenges and conflicts I face at UT?
The Office of Ombuds Services helps to empower graduate students, staff, and faculty to navigate challenges related to their experiences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to a range of free services from the Office of Ombuds Services, our perspectives on conflict as a tool for innovation, and our key approaches to navigating challenging situations. No challenge too small or too big – we are here to help!

This presentation will also include scenarios of typical challenges brought to the Ombuds, the standards & ethics we follow, and how to access our consultation, mediation, and educational services. 15 minutes reserved for Q&A in this session.

Receiving Feedback Well: Crafting a Constructive Response (in partnership with UT HR Career Development)

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. During this session you will:

Examine your current reactions and responses in different types of feedback situations.
Learn strategies for engaging in constructive feedback dialogue to strengthen relationships, improve performance, and foster personal growth.
Make a plan to advocate for your professional goals as part of feedback dialogue.

Topics include: fostering a growth mindset, managing emotions, setting SMART goals, and planning for regular feedback dialogue. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

Communicating Clear Expectations- (offered via UT HR LOD’s New Leaders Academy)
Struggling with how to effectively assert your needs, opinions, and boundaries? Worried you’ll sound rude? Or maybe not be firm or clear enough? Don’t know how to say “this is not OK with me” or feel guilty when you do?

During this virtual session you will:

Explore a continuum of communication styles.
Discuss the benefits of assertive communication.
Examine common barriers to communicating assertively.
Practice specific verbal and non-verbal strategies for communicating clearly, respectfully, and assertively.

Our goal is to empower you to honestly communicate what you think, feel, and want in a way that honors dignity and contributes to psychological safety. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

Giving Feedback Well: Creating Safe Dialogue
Are you frustrated with, or challenged by, giving feedback in the workplace? Do you wish for more engagement in workplace feedback conversations? Looking for strategies you can use to support others’ growth and career success? We can help!

In this 90-minute virtual session, you will examine the complexity and risks – to all parties- in giving workplace feedback. Framing feedback discussions as a dialogue with both parties giving and receiving, we will discuss your role in building trust and a sense of safety for receivers. We will examine effective communication strategies within these dialogues, including: clarifying purpose, focusing on facts vs stories, seeking first to understand, communicating intent, and common pitfalls in communication. Participants will practice strategies for starting a safe and constructive feedback conversation and create a plan for improving their workplace feedback experiences. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

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: