Practicing What We Preach


Practicing What We Preach

By: Beth Schaefer

The Metro State Institute for Professional Development (known as The IPD to most of you) uses the tools it teaches to run its department.  Every 3 years or so, IPD uses those tools to check in with its customized training clients.  Customized training clients have purchased training to be designed and delivered to their employees to build specific skill sets useful to the organization.  This usually occurs at their organization, but The IPD has the ability to host training sessions at the university too.

This article discusses some of the tools we teach and use while sharing the results of our most recent survey.

 

Business Architecture

Our Business Architecture Certificate Program has two core components: understanding the business and moving from business strategy to execution.  The survey is part of the first component of understanding out customized training clients’ needs.  IPD wanted to measure if we are providing the products and services our customizers need and delivering them in a useful way.  To do this, we used a process we teach in the business architecture course:

  1. We described the work our clients are trying to get done by outsourcing the training of their employees to The IPD.
  2. We described qualities of the product (The IPD training) that they found valuable.
  3. We described how The IPD does is unique from others who offer training and may be the reasons that our clients use us for training.
  4. We used the survey to verify with our clients that we had guessed correctly (or not – in some cases) on their work, their needs, and their IPD value.
  5. At this point, one usually writes a value proposition statement to keep their products and services focused; however, IPD already had this statement, and when our team revisited it, we verified that our value proposition statement is still accurate.

Our next step is to define our strategy and align projects to execute that strategy.   As an intermediate step, I have summarized our results using a strategy we teach in our leadership courses.

 

Leadership Evaluation Strategy

In our Public Sector Supervision courses, we teach the use of the STOP, START, CONTINUE strategy.  As a leader, when you get new information from an internal source (like a new process from finance) or an external source (like new legislation or best practice from a training workshop), the STOP, START, CONTINUE allows you to do a quick evaluation on how that new input could or should change what you currently do.

Here is what it looks like when I apply that evaluation tool to our customized training clients survey results.

STOP

  • Spending too much time and money developing virtual/online courses for customized training. Unless our customized training clients have employees spread out at national locations, they prefer to have them gather in person for our training workshops.
  • Handing out paper certificates. While this may be helpful sometimes, most are interested in acknowledging accomplishments in a more streamlined way.

START

  • Using electronic badges when someone completes a stackable credential or certificate.
  • Adding advanced training topics on the topics and courses we already offer.
  • Figuring out how to add ongoing support after the direct training is completed and participants try to implement their new skills and learning.

CONTINUE

  • Vetting and using instructors that are both knowledgeable of the topic and able to engage their audience.
  • Developing training that is about the immediate application of new skills.
  • Being flexible on where and when training is offered.
  • Using the training proposal as both a tool to scope projects and a tool to speed up contract execution. Note: In every past survey, the contract process (8+ weeks) was listed as something we needed to improve.  Thanks to this new process and a new contracts expert in the finance office, The IPD can now execute a contract with a client in 8 days.

 

Armed with this client information, IPD will define some long-term strategies.  For instance, IPD is currently developing some courses for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training.  As we do that, we are looking at client information to align those training features with the ones our clients need and want.

 

Thank you very much to the clients who took the survey and the clients who continue to support our work with repeat business and by recommending us to others!

 

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Who’s Sitting at Your Table?


By: Destyn Land, M.Ed.

 

Imagine that you were personally invited to a dinner party hosted by one of your favorite celebrities (for me this would be the late Chadwick Boseman).

Upon your arrival, you realize the table you were assigned to sit at has seats that you do not fit in comfortably. Because you’re so excited to be in the same room as (fill in the blank) celebrity, you try your best to make it comfortable and not make too big of a deal out of it. As the night continues you realize that the food that is served is not in alignment with your dietary needs, and there’s no other options. You also notice that the people at your table don’t tend to listen when you speak, and say things that offend you, but say, “it’s just a joke” when you try to interject. I imagine that regardless of how excited you may have been to see the celebrity you choose, your night wouldn’t have been the greatest, and you would probably not come back for another party.

This dinner party is what our workplace is like when we only think about “diversity.”

Diversity is all about getting different people into the door, while equity and inclusion make sure that the people we’ve invited are given what they need to thrive and have a great experience. Before we ask the question, “what can we do to recruit more diverse candidates?” we must ask, “what are we currently doing to retain our Black, Indigenous, and staff members of color?”

If we want people to feel a sense of belonging in the workplace, we must understand the role and importance of diversity, but also prioritize creating equitable and inclusive environments that support diverse populations. Over the next three months, I’ll be discussing three different ways you can begin building or growing your equity and inclusion initiatives:

  1. Broaden the Definition of Diversity
  2. Utilize Inclusive Language
  3. Look for Gaps in Policy and Practice

Every table that we sit at is full of people with varied experiences, and histories (even when the people at our table share similar identities). While it’s important for us to be aware of who’s sitting at our table, we also must be aware of who’s not there, and what voices are not being heard.

Whether you are just starting your DEI journey, or have been riding the road for some time, remember that each of these concepts (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), work together to create workplaces where everyone can feel supported, safe, and empowered to be their most authentic self.

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Stay up-to-date on upcoming DEI blogs from this series.

What’s Love Got to Do with It?


When we think about our work lives, and the way that we engage with our colleagues, I imagine most of us (including me) would ask, “What’s love got to do with it?”

Happy Holidays?


By Beth Schaefer

IPD Director

Last week I attended an annual holiday party with friends that I have been attending for 30-some years.  Fun!  It was a potluck, and I made a pretty ordinary salad – for about $35 dollars in grocery supplies – not fun.   While many of us look forward to the holiday season, it does come with extra everything – including stress.

Even though most of this stress is from our home environments, it can creep into the workplace.

As we move into the last 4 weeks of the calendar year, be aware that the stress of holiday preparations and celebrations may affect your staff and coworkers in different ways.

Based on my own experience and some light internet research, here are some top holiday stressors:

  1. Time Management – more parties and potlucks, more shopping, more pageants and festivals, more cooking, more decorating, and more wrapping – all this can lead to more decisions being made with less sleep and changes to routines. Stress.
  2. Family Conversations – so many divisive topics and so much time together – in addition, some family members may no longer be part of the family (death or divorce) and some may be failing cognitively or physically and seeing these changes first hand can be jarring. Stress.
  3. Money – while your own cash reserves may be spinning downward, many do not even have cash reserves making economic disparities more visible, frustrating, and discouraging during the holidays. Stress.
  4. High Expectations – Besides trying to plan the perfect holiday gathering, finding the perfect gift within your budget, or trying to provide idyllic memories for your children, you may also be scrambling to wrap up the goals you had for 2022. Stress.
  5. Illness –More gatherings also mean more opportunities to spread illness. While this is a relatively new item on the list, it carries quite a bit of stress. The pandemic has made us more aware of doing our part for not spreading any germs, but having to choose to stay away from a special gathering because you might have something that you do not want to spread is a tough decision to make – and can also be a no-win situation.  Some will be pleased with your consideration, and some will be miffed that they missed seeing the grand kids or that you could not bring your famous dessert.

STRESS!

All this busyness and stress can lead to less exercise and more eating and more stress –  which may mean weight gain and decreased immunity, or the stress can even lead to physical illness, such as upset stomach, headache, sleeplessness, or even sore muscles.

You can take some actions to manage this year-end stress.

Managing Holiday Stress at Work

As a supervisor:

  • Encourage team members to handle extra holiday chores during lunch times so that workers are present and focused at their tasks.
  • Workplaces can have extra visitors or visiting or parties taking place this time a year; provide some additional quiet spaces for those who need them to concentrate and stay focused to complete work.
  • Remind staff that some people, such as the finance department closing out year-end, are extra-busy during this time and to be patient when interacting with them.
  • Encourage employees to stay home when sick so that you do not spread illness across the department or to each other’s families
  • Help team members prioritize work– especially with theirs and others’ holiday and vacation time.

As a coworker:

  • Plan ahead so that the work you need others to do can get completed amongst the extra time off and holidays.
  • Check in with co-workers if you note the stress. Remind them of any Employee Assistance programs they could use or just listen.
  • Be mindful of those who may be alone during the holidays or are experiencing the first holiday without a loved one. Offer comfort if your co-working relationship allows, “I know that this is the first New Year’s Eve without your husband, that must be difficult.”
  • Partner with a coworker and take walks during your breaks.
  • For those who have taken the IPD communication course, remember to flex! Assess the communication style of the person you need to receive your message and then flex your communication style to accommodate them – and remember – we all communicate differently when under stress.

Manage your Personal Holiday Stress

The tried and true include:

  • Eat smart whenever when you are not at gatherings.
  • Skip tasks (do not send out cards) or cut corners (do a cookie swap rather than baking them all yourself).
  • Set a budget for gift-giving and stick to it.

Some more strategic and thoughtful approaches to holiday stress include:

  1. Generate a master schedule of events, prioritize them, and remove the bottom 10 or 15 % of the list. Fewer events and less hustle and bustle will allow you to be present and focused at the ones you attend.  Choose quality over quantity.  Think about planning gatherings with those you missed in December a few months into the new year instead.

 

  1. Trigger your feel-good endorphins by spending time or money on others. Consider visiting a relative or friend who cannot get out to the big gatherings due to limited mobility issues.  Save money on presents for friends and family and donate it to a homeless shelter or a woman’s crisis center. Pack some food for those who are in need. Use technology to reach out to friends and family who may be long distance and not able to travel back to see their loved ones.

 

  1. Avoid these questions at family gatherings:
    • When do you plan on starting a family?
    • Why aren’t you engaged yet?
    • Remember when (fill in any embarrassing moment or past argument)?
    • Have you gained weight? Gotten more gray?  Lost weight?
    • Don’t you need a job that pays more money?
    • What do you mean you are not working; what do you do all day?

 

  1. Mark some days as “off limits.” Mark them off at somewhat equal intervals. Do not schedule anything on those days or nights and use them to get caught up, or just take time to relax, or just hang out on the couch to watch a favorite holiday film or binge-watch a favorite show.

 

  1. Prepare yourself for difficult social situations (family or otherwise) with these tips:
    • Anticipate awkward questions you might be asked and have a light-hearted vague answer at the ready.
    • Try to position yourself so that you can walk away from conversations you do not want to be a part of.
    • Prepare a list of questions to change topics if a conversation gets heated:
      • I am wondering where to travel this year. Where have people been?
      • I am looking for a good BBQ Shrimp (cake, salad, chili) recipe. Anyone have one or know where I could look?
      • ____ and _____, I am not sure if I know how you met. Can you share that story with us?
      • I want to binge watch some shows this winter, what do you recommend?
      • I need to pick the next book for book club. Any ideas?
    • Prepare a list of questions that people (generally) enjoy answering:
      • What are you looking forward to in 2023?
      • How is your (garden, hobby, cooking class, sport, DIY project) going?
      • How was your trip to ____ last summer; do you have any pics on your phone?
      • How old are your grandkids (kids, nieces, nephews, dog, rabbit) now?  Any pics on your phone?  What are they up to these days?
      • And follow most answers up with, “Tell me more.”
  1. Choose. For those of you who have taken the IPD course on handling conflict, remember there are five choices for how to handle conflict with others.  While you learned these strategies in a workplace context, they work for other environments as well.  Review your 5 strategies for handling conflict and make a choice rather than defaulting to whatever the situation brings.

With those 6 strategies, go forth and have a happy and stress-free holiday season!