Workplace Skills
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At the University of Alberta we’ve experienced tremendous change and yet we are united in our goal to inspire the human spirit through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and citizenship.
Whether you are in an academic or administrative role, work in a research lab, or in facilities and operations, every employee at the University of Alberta shares in driving this vision forward. Building and deepening our workplace skills will help us address the challenges we face and move us towards our goals.
About
Workplace skills training equips University of Alberta employees with transferable professional behaviours and skills that support effective collaboration, process excellence, and personal awareness, accountability, and productivity. Training sessions draw on current research and are facilitated by experts to deliver high impact workshops related to our six curricular areas:
- Working with others.
- Communication.
- Personal effectiveness.
- Problem solving and innovation.
- Process excellence.
- Hybrid workplace.
Workplace skills training moves beyond the abstract and theoretical to context specific application. In these day-long, in-person sessions, participants take a deep dive into a variety of topics that support their day to day work. These skills building sessions take an experiential, interactive, and practical approach where participants apply concepts and tools through practice and critical reflection that immediately translate into their work.
Why these areas? Learn more about the campus-wide needs analysis.
Eligibility
Workplace skills training is open to all University of Alberta employees.
Cost
Workplace skills training is free to all University of Alberta employees.
Availability
There are 25 seats in each workplace skills workshop. Registration in the sessions are on a first come, first serve basis.
Available Training Sessions
- Collaborating in a Complex Environment.
- Strategic Conversations.
- Communicating with Impact.
- Managing Time Authentically.
- Navigating Change *NEW.
- Finding Your Path: Engagement and Career Development in Large Organizations.
- Vision in Action: Strategic Thinking and Planning.
- Mindsets and Skills for Today’s Problem Solver.
- Leading Hybrid Teams: Doing Hybrid Well.
- Thriving as a Team Member in the Hybrid Workplace.
Workplace Skills Curriculum
Instructors
Wendy Wilton, M.Ed (DE), ACC
For over two decades, Wendy Wilton has brought her energy, enthusiasm and expertise to training development and facilitation, engaging with learners from across North America. Moving from the private sector into consulting, she has worked with clients from diverse fields including nursing, banking, engineering, health care, the energy sector and various levels of government. In addition to a Masters in Education and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University, Wendy holds numerous certifications in tools and assessments such as DiSC, Meyers Briggs, Strength Deployment Inventory, EQi 2.0 and Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching.
Lyall Samaroden
Lyall Samaroden is all about helping individuals and teams build their innovation and change capability. Market leaders within government, media, insurance, automotive, energy, and the defense sectors have turned to Lyall for exceptional results during times of disruption. Lyall is a leader in the emergent field of Design Thinking. He uses human-centered tools and techniques to help his clients think differently, see new opportunities, and shape the future.
Lyall is a proud alumni of the JR Shaw School of Business at NAIT. Like other busy parents out there, he is actively pursuing his Master’s in Life Administration. J Lyall is a certified ExperienceChangeTM, ExperienceInnovationTM and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator.
He is also Prosci® certified. Lyall’s energy, theatrics and thought leadership puts him in constant demand as a keynote speaker and leadership trainer.
Laurie Hillis, MA Leadership, Prof. Cert. Coach
Laurie is an executive and team coach, a facilitator and leadership development practitioner whose purpose is to help others examine and create their most courageous selves as they rumble with the daunting unknown arenas they navigate in this world. She is a sought-after speaker who is known to create an engaging and powerful learning climate, especially in the hybrid workplace many of us now work within. Laurie’s mission in life is to support vulnerable, shame-free and psychologically safe workplaces and classrooms. Megatrain, her company is a youthful 30 years old and she loves to learn and share her learning with other keeners. Her current fascination includes three inspiring thought leaders, Dr. Brené Brown, Dr. Amy Edmondson and Dr. Timothy Clark. She is a “grammie” and has a wonderful Havinese pup named Rizzo who has stolen her heart. She is grateful to have taught for the UofA and been associated with the School of Business for more than 20 years.