Interested in sharpening your management skills? For noncredit professional development courses in management that are relevant, cost-effective, and close to home, register now for one or more upcoming training sessions at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) this spring.

Developed by IUPUC’s Center for Business & Economic Development (CBED), these half-day and evening sessions are appropriate for executives, middle managers, supervisors, and other professionals who work in enterprises of all types and sizes, including small businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, civic groups, and large corporations.

Individual employees or groups of employees from the same organization are encouraged to register, notes Nancy Wilson Head, quality director for IUPUC’s Executive Education program. “The sessions are also appropriate for those who want to refresh their existing management skills as well as anyone who is re-entering the workforce or new to a management role,” she explains. IUPUC can also provide these and other management training sessions at off-site locations. “Offering training at the company itself is often more convenient for employees with busy work schedules, plus it can reduce professional development, training, and travel expenses for business owners,” says Head. Custom-designed sessions to address specific managerial and organizational needs are also available, she added.

Operations Management & Innovation Series

This series consists of eight stand-alone modules that provide proven, current concepts and strategies for the workplace. In addition to those listed here, the series also includes sessions on creating innovation frameworks, enterprise integration, principles of world-class manufacturing, and establishing workplace priorities. The entire series will be offered again this fall.

• Motovating Employees-Tools of Engagement: April 29, 8 a.m. to noon | May 2, 5 to 9 p.m.
  Learn important actions and methods to create effective work environments capable of attracting new employees and retaining your best organizational performers Utilize the strategic relationship chain to drive employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and bottom-line business results.
  

• Creating Collaboration and Engagement: May 6, 8 a.m. to noon | May 9, 5 to 9 p.m.
  Explore best practices for proactive employee coaching, mentoring, and engagement. Learn how to collaborate with employees of diverse ages, demographic backgrounds, and skill sets by actively practicing effective coaching techniques.

• Leading Change: May 13, 8 a.m. to noon | May 16, 5 to 9 p.m.
  Learn how to provide organizational leadership even in times of great change. Identify important trends that are transforming the workplace and identify employee behaviors that can derail even experienced leaders.

• Ethics: May 20, 8 a.m. to noon | May 23, 5 to 9 p.m.
  Become more assured in your approach to managing ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Learn how to make solid decisions based on ethics frameworks, employer core values, legal requirements, and personal integrity. Explore the business case for corporate responsibility and social ethics.

Management Series

This course in this series focuses on a key aspect of management in the workplace. Practical models and tools will be introduced and explored.

• Managing Conflict: April 20, 9 a.m. to noon
  This applied course teaches methods to effectively manage conflict encountered by those in leadership positions. Self-awareness and self-management, proactive approaches, building partnerships, and developing long-term positive relationships are emphasized. Participants will receive practical strategies, tactics, and goals that can immediately be applied in their daily lives to manage and reduce workplace conflict.

• Managing Meetings: May 4, 9 a.m. to noon
  This experiential course will provide participants with the tools they need to leave effective meetings and achieve intended outcomes. Learn how to understand and apply group dynamics and the basis of group development, distinguish between different types of meeting activities, identify the components of a successful meeting, apply meeting management tools, recognize and respond to problem behaviors in a meeting, and determine when a meeting may NOT be the best course of action. Participants will leave with practical tools to achieve immediate results and improvement in the meetings for which they are responsible.

• Managing Performance: May 18, 9 a.m. to noon
  Participants will be introduced to and explore the critical elements of an effective performance management and review process. Learn practical tools that create a solid foundation for managing employee performance and leave with a hands-on set of tools that can be used to communicate employee expectations and manage performance.

• Managing Teams: June 1, 9 a.m. to noon
  Explore and identify multiple aspects of effective management in a team-oriented environment. A model for effective team functionality will be introduced, including the stages of team development and related issues and actions. Learn to increase participation by individual team members, key communication strategies, and specific tools for planning and setting expectations for work groups.

Participants will be well-grounded in key management frameworks and leave with tools to immediately improve their team management skills.?Cost is $125 per session and discounts are available for groups of three or more individuals.

“Those interested in attending one or more of these sessions can register online at www.iupuc.edu/execed with a credit card or call us to register by phone and pay by check when they arrive for each session,” says Head.

For more information, please contact the IUPUC Office of Executive Education at 812.348.7204.