To all library employees:
Last year at this time, library supervisors were engaged in workshops designed to get us together and talk about working together as a group. This time around, employee training is focused at the individual level by sponsoring workshops aimed at sharing information and strategies to increase awareness of the skills needed to be considered an effective listener, or able to handle conflict, or able to monitor feelings and emotions which emerge during a conversation.
If these workshops sound too touchy-feely, let me assure you they are not – they will present information with proven effectiveness in both one-on-one and group interactions. If they sound too academic, let me assure you it’s not as the sessions will be interactive and engaging.
For these workshops, attendance is voluntary and open to all library employees, per supervisor approval. You are encouraged to participate in all four workshops, as their content relates to and builds on each other. At the same time, if you can’t attend each workshop, feel free to attend the ones you can. See below for dates, times, and locations.
The facilitators of these workshops have expertise in the field of human interaction. Connie Brooks, Adjunct Associate Professor of Teaching, School of Nursing, School Communication and School of Public Health, kicks off the workshops by talking about three types of listening: discouraging understanding; problem-solving; compassionate listening, and how only one of those types contributes to real dialogue. Participants will increase awareness of the skills needed to promote energetic and resourceful conversations even on difficult topics.
Workshop #2 will be led by me and considers the skills needed to increase one’s conflict competency. Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. A 2009 survey by the Center for Creative Leadership found that 85 percent of leaders experience conflict on a regular basis. As such, the question isn’t one of avoiding conflict but rather what you will get out of conflict when it does occur. Participants will identify different types of conflict, discuss the difference between trust and trustworthiness, and identify behaviors that push their ‘hot buttons.’ In addition, participants will be able to reflect upon the skills needed to demonstrate conflict competency, e.g., compassionate listening.
Workshop #3 will be led by Dr. Greg Holliday and Dr. Jill Hermsen, both of UM System HR. Greg is the Director of Talent Management and Jill is the Assistant Director. This workshop will focus on about the set of skills that involve the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to distinguish among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.
The final workshop is an interactive skit based on the book written by Patrick Lencioni ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.’ This is a dynamic training program in which audience members interact with each other and with skit characters, assessing character behavior and comparing their recommendations for improving the skit team. In addition, the skit provides audience members with the opportunity to talk about the listening skills demonstrated by the characters as well as conflict competency, self-monitoring of emotions, etc. As such, this workshop helps to bring together the skill awareness gained in the previous three workshops.
How do you sign up for these workshops? I will use Outlook to send invite notices to all library employees. Simply click on ‘Accept’ to add the workshop to your calendar.
Workshop I – Connie Brooks, Effective Listening. Feb. 17, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
Workshop II – Leo Agnew, Developing Conflict Competency. March 3, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
Workshop III – Greg Holliday and Jill Hermsen, An Introduction to Emotional Intelligence. March 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis.
Workshop IV – Interactive skit, April 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
–Leo Agnew