Spring Semester Workshops Provide Professional Development to New and Current Supervisors

The Office of Human Resources is offering several professional development workshops throughout the spring semester for both new and current supervisors of benefits-eligible staff. The workshops initiative is an outcome of a recommendation by the Advisory Work Group on Staff Climate Matters.

The 12-member advisory work group was formed in December 2017 to work in cooperation with Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Andrew R. Gordon to address areas of concern identified by staff in the Universitywide Climate Assessment Survey conducted during the Spring 2016 semester.

The New Supervisor Orientation program was successfully piloted this past December and will now be offered four times per year. New supervisors are encouraged to attend orientation within the first few months of starting in their supervisory role.

The program consists of three consecutive sessions, with attendance at all three sessions required. The next sessions will take place Monday, Feb. 11, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Monday, Feb. 18, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in 201ABC Goldstein Student Center on South Campus. Registration is available online.

New Supervisor Orientation offers a high-level overview of how to better understand and achieve University expectations by learning more about the “Big Picture” of Syracuse University and specific resources, offices and processes that will help supervisors to be successful in their new roles. In addition, the sessions will articulate specific expectations for supervisors about performance and their responsibility for compliance with key University requirements. Senior leaders and several directors and campus partners will be involved, leading discussions and offering insights.

Individual-session workshops will be offered this semester for current supervisors of benefits-eligible staff:

• “Emotional Intelligence for Supervisors” – Monday, Feb. 25, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Milton Room on the fourth floor of the Whitman School building
• “Introduction to Project Management” – Friday, March 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Milton Room on the fourth floor of the Whitman School building
• “Effective Interviewing for Supervisors” – Wednesday, April 3, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in 304AB Schine Student Center

“Emotional Intelligence for Supervisors” introduces the components of Emotional Intelligence, explores the personal and professional benefits of Emotional Intelligence, provides clarity for understanding the connection between Emotional Intelligence and effective supervision, identifies the advantages that Emotional Intelligence can provide in the workplace, and provides strategies for supervisors to increase their own Emotional Intelligence. The workshop is limited to 30 participants. Registration is open now online.

“Introduction to Project Management” offers an introduction and overview of project management, project teams, budgets and schedules, and reporting and project closeout. The workshop is limited to 20 participants and carries a fee of $100 per participant (payable by the participant’s department). Registration is open now online.

“Effective Interviewing for Supervisors” covers best practices on how to make the most of employment interviews. Participants will learn to recognize legal and policy issues related to interviewing, identify which type of interview is best for the situation and position, plan and develop an interview strategy, develop effective interview questions, conduct interviews, and select the most qualified individual for the position. The workshop is limited to 30 participants. Registration is open now online.

For more information on the wealth of professional development resources for faculty and staff—including access to more than 6,000 online, on-demand courses from Lynda.com—visit hr.syr.edu/careers/professional-development.