Focus on your career and your well-being with help from the folks at Human Resources. Take advantage of these upcoming Learning and Education (L&E) programs and Quality of Worklife (QOWL) workshops.

For course locations and more information on Learning and Education programs, call 215-898-3400 or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/learning. Registration required for most programs.

QOWL course locations and online registration can be found at www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/workshop.asp or contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or orna@hr.upenn.edu. For personalized assistance with dependent care issues and personal well-being, contact Penn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work and Family Services provider, Penn Behavioral Health, at 1-888-321-4433 or go online to www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/wellness/eap.asp.

Learning and Education programs

Customer Service at Penn

This workshop will focus on the uniqueness of customer service at Penn and the characteristics of quality service in the University community. The workshop will also review effective customer service behaviors and present a model for solving customer service problems. Participants will become proficient in handling even the most difficult customer service situations and will learn how to better manage the stress created by such interactions.

Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $50

Transitioning to Management at Penn

New managers face unique challenges in the workplace. This program is designed to help participants transition into their new roles with ease. During the program, participants learn the difference between working and managing and understand why the delegation of work is a necessary skill. Participants will also receive guidance on establishing credibility and authority as a supervisor and will learn techniques for managing performance issues in the workplace. New managers will also learn about key human resource management principles and their application. This program is designed specifically for Penn managers. Participants meet weekly and also work on-line, utilizing and becoming familiar with Penn’s resources on the web.

Oct. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $50

FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities

Competing priorities. Multiple deadlines. A hundred unanswered e-mails. Sound familiar? “FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities” is Franklin Covey’s next-generation productivity workshop for today’s high-amperage work environment. It’s an ideal first-time workshop or an excellent renewal course for those who have experienced “TimeQuest” or “First Things First” or “What Matters Most.” Success is no longer measured by simply getting things done. It’s the people who know how to focus on the most important goals that move their organization forward—and enjoy a greater sense of job satisfaction.

Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $50

Whale Done! (Brown Bag Matinee)

“Whale Done!” is designed to teach people how to improve their relationships at work in order to become more productive and to achieve better results. “Whale Done!” will help your employees learn how to build trust, accentuate the positive, and when a mistake occurs, redirect the energy for a more productive outcome. It provides a clear, easy-to-use approach that will help employees discover the power of positive relationships and enable them to make more effective choices in their interactions with co-workers.

Oct. 15, noon to 1 p.m., free

Introduction to the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

Taking the MBTI inventory and receiving feedback will help you identify your unique gifts. The information enhances understanding of yourself, your motivations, your natural strengths, and your potential areas for growth. It will also help you appreciate people who differ from you. Understanding your MBTI type is self-affirming and encourages cooperation with others.

Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to noon, $50

Quality of Work Life workshop

Blended Families: Building Strong New Households

The face of the American family has changed. Blended families and step-families are very common, and they bring with them unique stress. This workshop teaches how to help your children through the changes, provides strategies to negotiate the new family norms, and gives tips for keeping your relationship strong. This workshop is sponsored by Human Resources and led by an expert from Penn’s EAP and Work and Family Services Provider. Please feel free to bring a ‘brown bag’ lunch.

Oct. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., free