January
Tuesday, January 14
12:15–1:15 p.m., Virtual Meeting
The Mid-Year Team Reflection
January is an excellent time to press pause after the intensity of the fall semester and check in together as a team. This virtual Art of Leading Teams session is an opportunity to bring your whole team or department and engage in some collective reflection on goals and group dynamics. We will lead you through exercises in breakout rooms, and offer some additional tools to use together at a later date.
February
Tuesday, February 25
12:15–1:15 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room (lunch available at noon)
Intentional Team or Department Meeting Design
Teams, departments, and committees all meet regularly, but are your regular meetings designed in ways that foster belonging and help you accomplish your goals? Join us to hear about how the Wurtele Center has been experimenting with a team meeting cycle, and gain some example team meeting structures to help build relationships and pursue different types of collective objectives.
March
Tuesday, March 25
12:15–1:15 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room (lunch available at noon)
Navigating Positional Leadership
Fostering a collaborative team culture can be challenging when you’re in a leadership position, particularly if you’re leading colleagues who once were or still are peers. Whether you’re a department chair, team lead, manager, or hold another leadership role, join us to discuss the power dynamics inherent in positional leadership, and how to make use of the power you hold to encourage collaboration and build belonging.
April
Tuesday, April 15
12:15–1:45 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room (lunch available at noon)
Improv to Improve Deep Listening with Pam Victor (‘88)
According to George Bernard Shaw, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." Using improv-enriched (and introvert-friendly!) interactive exercises and guided discussion, this workshop led by Pam Victor (‘88) of Happier Valley Comedy introduces you to an improviser’s approach to strengthening deep listening muscles to be more present, open, and available at work. Quieting the inner critic, resisting assumptions, slowing down - all these improv skills apply beautifully to workplace communication. Open to all faculty and staff, sponsored by the Wurtele Center for Leadership. In-person in Neilson Browsing Room only.
May
Tuesday, May 13
12:15–1:15 p.m., Virtual Meeting
Designing Cross-Unit Collaborations
More and more offices and departments across Smith are collaborating in creative ways, but we rarely get to hear about it. Join this virtual session to hear from colleagues who have successfully collaborated across campus units, to glean what they learned from their partnerships. We will also have an opportunity to foster connections with fellow participants for possible future collaborations, so bring your goals and ideas!