Listening, Feedback & Personnel Evaluation

Utilizing the Continuum of Interaction tool from Learning Focused Supervision, explore four different stances for conversations with peers, employees, and supervisors. Learn to plan for complex conversations and also how to recognize when you unexpectedly find yourself in the midst of complexity.

Topics include:

• Calibration Conversations

• Consultation Conversations

• Collaboration Conversations

• Coaching Conversations

• Tips to decide which type(s) of conversations are best for the purpose at hand

Meet the Instructor: Dr. Whitney Meissner

When is the last time you wrote a performance review that positively impacted someone's professional growth? How do you engage with employees regarding expectations and opportunities?

In this course, learn three different approaches to inquiry cycles that support engagement, data, progress monitoring, and feedback. The tools we will explore can be used to support employee, executive, and program goals and evaluation. Deepen your understanding of how appreciation and a strengths-based approach will improve employee relations, organizational culture, and outcomes.

Explore the power wheel and interpersonal dynamics that come from working with people who are different from us. In particular, understand the ways we are different from each other impact success in the workplace. Whether you are looking to strengthen your relationships with current staff, diversify your workforce, or both, this course will support your skills and extend your journey further down the path of inclusivity.

When we think about communications, we often focus on what’s being said. However, effective listening is a critical component of a leader's ability to build or rebuild trust. A good leader must also reflect back what they’ve heard, specifically noting how constituent priorities have influenced their thinking. This is the ‘secret in the sauce’ that elevates your listening from merely informative to truly strategic and trust-building.

In this course, we’ll address listening on two levels: personal leadership listening skills and organizational strategies to deepen trust in your organization and in your leadership. We’ll explore how bringing increased clarity and purpose to your listening activities not only refines your decisions but also boosts confidence in public agencies overall. 

This class combines two foundational skills in one useful session! Listening is something most of us do every day without much thought. With the constant bombardment of information, many of us struggle to be good listeners. The good news is that, like all communications skills, listening can be improved with attention and practice. In this highly interactive session, we will explore ways to increase our influence and connection with others by being more intentional in our listening. 

Feedback often makes us cringe for a couple of reasons: we tend to compartmentalize it into annual events like performance evaluations or community surveys, which can lead to an overwhelming amount of information, and we fear hearing negative feedback. In this course, we’ll reframe feedback (it really is a gift!), and discuss ways to make giving and receiving feedback less painful. We’ll share strategies and tips to incorporate feedback into our daily lives, helping us build better relationships and achieve more.

Delivering negative feedback with kindness supports business objectives by fostering a positive work environment and promoting employee growth. When employees feel respected and valued, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and productive. By delivering negative feedback in a constructive and supportive manner, managers can help employees understand their areas for improvement and develop the necessary skills to succeed.

We’ll explore practical methods to navigate sensitive conversations effectively. You’ll learn how to focus on growth and development while offering constructive criticism, fostering trust, and maintaining positive working relationships. By mastering these skills, you’ll become a more effective leader and communicator, contributing to a more productive and harmonious workplace.

We've all been there. You set out with the best of intentions, wanting to help someone or a cause you care about deeply. But sometimes, our actions can have unintended consequences, creating challenges instead of solutions.

We’ll explore the unintended consequences of well-intentioned actions. We’ll learn the importance of building empathy and understanding by shifting our focus from “fixing” to actively listening and learning about needs. We’ll discuss the difference between empowerment and dependency, and the importance of equipping others with the resources and skills to solve their own problems for long-term sustainability.

Authentic leadership is vital for both the leader and their team. When a leader is authentic, they create a genuine connection with their team members. This fosters trust, respect, and a sense of belonging. Authentic leaders inspire their teams by leading by example, demonstrating integrity, and being transparent. This creates a positive and supportive work environment where team members feel valued and motivated to contribute their best. Ultimately, authentic leadership leads to increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall organizational success.

We'll explore self-awareness, core values, building trust, empowering your team, and leading with empathy and emotional intelligence. Authentic leadership is about leading with your true self, which fosters trust, builds strong teams, and drives results.

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant demands of work and personal life. Finding a sustainable balance between the two is essential for overall well-being and productivity. This guide will explore strategies to help you cultivate a harmonious work-life blend, enabling you to thrive in both realms.

We’ll challenge the traditional notion of work-life balance and explore a more holistic approach to creating a harmonious blend between your professional and personal life. We’ll delve into the importance of identifying your core needs and values, and discuss practical time management strategies to help you prioritize tasks and reclaim control of your schedule.

You’ll also learn the art of saying no, empowering you to set boundaries and decline requests that don’t align with your priorities. Finally, we’ll explore the significance of building habits for well-being, such as mindfulness and self-care, to foster a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.