Annual Staff Development Workshop Series

How to Prioritize Work When Everything Feels Important 

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by your workload? Do you struggle to stay focused in a world full of distractions? Join us on a journey toward productivity mastery, where you will develop habits that will keep you agile and on track in an ever-changing environment.

• Understand the steps for prioritizing work -Discover tools to manage work
• Consider how to evaluate tasks-based urgency and importance
• Learn the 1-3-5 rule to planning work
• Explore how to focus and be successful in a distracted world.
• Develop habits to review and adjust priorities

Facilitated by Ari Mack, Senior Management Consultant, ODE

Interviewing with Confidence 

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Ben Franklin. Being offered an interview is exciting and can also be daunting. Hear from an expert recruiter about everything you need to prepare for your interview and feel equipped to answer confidently. You will learn how to present your true self, highlight your strongest attributes, and adequately prepare for anticipated questions. Walk into the next job interview with total confidence. 

Facilitated by Brad Stock, Talent Acquisition Partner, HR Recruitment & Employment

Strengthen Against Stress August 4; 12:00 – 12:30 pm

In this 30-minute session Tina will guide you through several body and mind strengthening movements you can do to feel both stronger and more resilient, as well as at ease, during times of stress. Facilitated by Tina Hunt, Wellness & Fitness Specialist, Cornell Wellness

Unlocking Your Authentic Voice: The Art of Public Speaking 

In-person held in the Division of Human Resources Training Room, Suite 102 in the East Hill Office Building (EHOB) at 395 Pine Tree Rd.  

Nervous about leading that meeting? Losing sleep over how you’ll manage to give that talk in front of all those people? Join us for this staff development teaser program where you will explore how to unlock the power of authenticity in public speaking. Our immersive course is designed to empower your voice and presence whether you're a seasoned speaker or stepping onto the stage for the first time. This class is tailored to help you connect deeply with your audience through genuine, communication and impactful presence.

What You'll Learn:

• Techniques to overcome nervousness and speak confidently.
• How to explore/discover your personal speaking style that reflects your true self and values. Strategies for connecting with your audience on multiple levels.
• Understand the importance of authenticity in building trust and credibility with an audience.
• Develop a toolkit of practical techniques to deliver memorable and impactful presentations.

Facilitated by Ari Mack, Senior Management Consultant, ODE

Crafting Your Best Resume 

Your resume is most likely the first impression you’ll make on a hiring manager or internal recruiter, so it’s extremely important to ensure that impression is accurate. While different opportunities require different resumes, the real goal of most resumes is to secure an opportunity to INTERVIEW. In this session, you will learn tips and important information on how to be strategic as you build your resume. 

Facilitated by Jamie Doss, Talent Acquisition Partner, HR Recruitment & Employment

Prioritizing Impact, Maximizing Efficiency

Also available:

• September 18; 1-2 pm

In this hands-on class, participants will learn how to maximize their team’s productivity and impact! This tool helps teams assess, prioritize, and optimize tasks to focus on what truly matters, ensuring that limited resources are used effectively and things that can be let go of are sent on their way! By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with a tool to help streamline their workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and maintain high performance even when short-staffed.

Facilitated by AVP, Kathy Burkgren and Senior Management Consultant, Ari Mack, Organizational Development & Effectiveness (ODE)

Prosci – Employee Orientation 

In-person held in the Division of Human Resources Training Room, Suite 102 in the East Hill Office Building (EHOB) at 395 Pine Tree Rd.  

Using the Prosci ADKAR model, the employee orientation mitigates employee resistance by preparing them for change.  The program addresses employee concerns and equips them with the skills and framework necessary to thrive through change

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate a current change in your job to understand and internalize learning
• Learn how to use the Prosci ADKAR Model to identify your points of resistance
• Discover how to communicate about a change in a way that is productive and proactive
• Create proactive strategies for overcoming your feelings of resistance
• Become confident and empowered in the change process

Facilitated by Tanya Grove, Assistant Director and Senior Management Consultant, ODE

How to Shine as an Internal Candidate at Cornell 

Would you like to expand your opportunities to grow within Cornell? Applying for an internal job posting may allow you to advance your career, move to a different department, and learn new skills. In this workshop, you will learn about Cornell’s recruiting process and what you can do to stand out as an internal candidate. 

Facilitated by Carolyn Chow, Talent Acquisition Partner, HR Recruitment & Employment

Write a Winning Cover Letter 

Cover letters are an important part of your application materials and can serve as an example of your communication skills! In this workshop, we will review important details to pay attention to when communicating your interest and fit for a job. You’ll see examples of what to include and how to format a cover letter and you’ll hear about what hiring managers look for in cover letters. 

Facilitated by Carolyn Chow, Talent Acquisition Partner, HR Recruitment & Employment

Rewiring for Growth: Mindset & Resilience Skills for Today’s Workplace 

In this interactive session, you’ll discover how to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset, develop practical resilience strategies, and turn everyday setbacks into opportunities for learning. Walk away with tools to thrive in the face of challenges, and the confidence to grow, adapt, and succeed in any workplace.

Facilitated by Senior Management Consultant, Ari Mack, ODE

The Power of Transferable Skills 

Curious about how your skills can open doors to new opportunities? Join us for an engaging session on Transferable Skills, where a panel of colleagues will share their real-life stories of career change and growth. Hear how they identified and leveraged the skills they already had to successfully pivot into new roles or industries. Whether you’re actively exploring a change or just want to be more intentional about your development, this session will offer inspiration, insight, and practical takeaways you can apply to your own career journey.  

Facilitated by Radhika Nayak, Career Development & Coaching Program Consultant, Organizational Development & Effectiveness (ODE)

Strengthen Against Stress 

In this 30-minute session Tina will guide you through several body and mind strengthening movements you can do to feel both stronger and more resilient, as well as at ease, during times of stress. Facilitated by Tina Hunt, Wellness & Fitness Specialist, Cornell Wellness

Set Your Retirement Date: Understand the factors to get you to your goal 

Whether you plan to retire today or 30 years from now, it’s never too early—or too late—to design the life you want. Let’s explore the steps to getting you there.

Presented by TIAA

What Educational Benefits are Available to Me? 

It really is possible to be a full-time employee and complete an undergraduate or graduate degree at the same time! One of the biggest advantages is that you have an open-ended graduation date. No pressure! Representatives from Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions will provide you with information on how to begin the process and answer your questions.

Facilitated by Michelle La Fave, Benefits Associate, Health and Welfare Benefit Programs, Benefit Services

Investing for Beginners August 7; 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Understand basic investing terms and concepts. Learn about the building blocks of investing and determine what type of investor you want to be.

Presented by Fidelity Investments

Focus and Flow: Developing Your Time & Energy Playbook Thursday, August 7; 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Feeling stretched thin or struggling to keep up? Join us for “Focus and Flow,” an interactive session designed to help you reclaim your time and energy. Discover proven strategies for prioritizing what matters, managing distractions, and creating healthy boundaries, so you can work smarter while protecting your energy!

Facilitated by Senior Management Consultant, Ari Mack, ODE

How Can I Get a Degree While Working? 

Managing coursework and a full-time job can be tough, but there are ways to make it work. Here’s an opportunity to meet participants in the Employee Degree Program and hear about their experiences combining work, family, and studies, each with a unique story about their journey.

Facilitated by Michelle La Fave, Benefits Associate, Health and Welfare Benefit Programs, Benefit Services 

Online Learning 101 Friday, August 8; 9:00 – 10:00 am

This workshop is for beginners wanting to learn some tips to help make online learning easier to navigate. We will demonstrate how to log in and navigate many of the free online learning options available to active Faculty, Staff, and Students. Platforms such as Workday Learning, eCornell, Skillsoft, LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft, Adobe, and Edx will be covered with time for questions as we go along.

Facilitated by Julia Leonard, Program Assistant, CIO-CIT Communications