A Note from Ujima Donalson,
POD Director
We've weathered many things this winter and I, for one, am looking forward to spring. Meanwhile, we're all trying to navigate a new—and still-changing—landscape here at the UW, and I'm pleased that our offerings targeted to leaders and their needs have been so well-received. In this nose-to-the-grindstone environment, it's critical that leaders recognize the importance of stepping away from everyday work and acquiring new ideas, approaches, strategies, and skills.
Earlier this month, about 50 leaders at all levels came together for a continental breakfast and morning session of Network. Presenter Wendy Shepherd gave a stimulating talk on staying optimistic in the face of reality and then kicked off what turned out to be lively and thought-provoking small-group discussion. Even though I'm a positive person by nature, I still found this subject engrossing, and I truly enjoyed talking with leaders at my table about how to keep myself and my team focused and energized. Read more
“The first task of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”
~ Max DePree
Taking Care of Ourselves and Each Other
By Mindy Kornberg, Vice President for Human Resources
Your role as a leader right now is, as you know, difficult and will be getting more so. From modeling budget cuts and contemplating program eliminations to championing efficiency initiatives and making sure enough resources are in place to cover baseline services—if your job is like mine, it is stressful and can be unpleasant at times.
I’d like to share with you two strategies for managing through this winter and spring as we prepare our own teams for the coming round of budget cuts. I wish I could lay out some magical organizational theory for you that would make the road ahead suddenly smooth. Instead, I can offer two simple messages that I hope will ring true. Read more
“Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.”
~ Jesse Jackson
Ask an Expert: Maximizing Staff Training
By Ujima Donalson, POD Director
Question: With limited resources, how can I make the most of staff training?
Getting the most out of training requires an intentional approach. Here are four strategies you can employ to help your staff members excel and boost your return on investment.
Hold Staff Accountable
Employees get more out of training if it's attached to particular goals or objectives. Having a quick conversation with staff members prior to training can help set expectations and open an avenue to discuss what they hope to learn or achieve. The key is for your employees to recognize you're interested in knowing what they think a particular training will accomplish. Read more
“In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions. ”
~ Margaret Wheatley
Distinguished Staff Award Inspires
By Susan Templeton, Training & Organizational Development Consultant
We at POD would like to congratulate all the nominees for the 2011 Distinguished Staff Award—including our own Ujima Donalson. As with every year, I look forward to the awardees being announced and to reading their inspirational stories.
Through my experience with employee development, career management, and workforce planning, I believe that each one of us has unique strengths that we bring to our lives and our careers. Year after year, the stories of those honored with this award validate the idea that if we leverage our strengths, we can have a positive and meaningful impact on our workplaces, our communities, and all the people in our lives. Read more
“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. ”
~ Eric Hoffer
Leadership by the Book
By Renée Hanson, University Consulting Alliance Manager
Boundary Spanning Leadership: Six Practices for Solving Problems, Driving Innovation, and Transforming Organizations by Chris Ernst and Donna Chrobot-Mason
Published in October 2010, Boundary Spanning Leadership provides key practices for some of today's most difficult leadership challenges: leading across silos and differences, leading in an environment where cross-functional collaboration, matrix structures, and mergers are increasingly commonplace, and leading at a time when groups must move beyond an “us versus them” mindset.
Boundary Spanning Leadership is based on ten years of research across six world regions and is co-authored by Chris Ernst, senior faculty member and researcher at the Center for Creative Leadership, and Donna Chrobot-Mason, professor, researcher, and director of the Center for Organizational Leadership at the University of Cincinnati. Read more
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