Organizational Development and Training (ODT) is kicking off October with a diverse slate of professional development opportunities designed for all UNL employees. This month’s NRICH and NSPIRE sessions cover everything from fostering an empathetic workplace to mastering Microsoft tools for project management. We invite you to explore the sessions below and discover how they can help you grow as a leader, a team member, and an individual. Register today to secure your spot.
NRICH: Professional Development for All.
NRICH is a program dedicated to comprehensive professional development for all UNL employees, offering sessions that enhance a wide range of skills.
Emotional Intelligence — Developing Your Emotional Strengths
Date: October 21, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Description: This seminar explores the four spheres of Emotional Intelligence (EI): Self-awareness, Self-management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management. The session will focus on how to strategically use a personalized appraisal of one's emotional intelligence in life.
Speak Up, Listen Well: Creating a Culture Where Feedback Works
Date: October 29, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Description: Learn how to effectively give, seek, receive, and act on feedback to strengthen relationships and improve performance. This training will cover how to differentiate genuine feedback from criticism and how to use the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) model for constructive communication.
Collaboration and Project Management with Microsoft Tools
Date: October 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Description: This session teaches advanced collaboration and project management techniques using Microsoft Teams and Planner. Attendees will learn how to efficiently manage small to moderate-sized projects and how to integrate these tools for seamless project management.
NSPIRE: Inspiring Leadership
The NSPIRE sessions equips supervisors and aspiring leaders with the skills and mindset to communicate clearly, coach effectively, and create a workplace where people feel valued and motivated. More than training, it's a development journey to becoming the kind of leader who inspires others—and never stops learning.
Helping Employees During Difficult Times
Date: October 2, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Description: Learn about the importance of empathy, active support, and effective resources to help faculty and staff dealing with stress. This session will help campus leaders become compassionate and active leaders in their departments or teams.
Building Trust and Engagement Workshop
Dates: October 15-16, 2025
Time: Day 1: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Day 2: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Description: This two-day workshop focuses on two key leadership concepts: trust and engagement. On Day 1, you'll delve into Stephen Covey's "The Speed of Trust" to learn about the "5 Waves of Trust" and the 13 behaviors that build or break it. Day 2 shifts to engagement, using Gallup's Q12 framework to help you understand what drives employee motivation and performance. Through discussions and exercises, you'll develop targeted strategies to improve team morale, retention, and productivity.
A Supervisor’s Guide to Retention Conversations
Date: October 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Description: Supervisors will learn the purpose and process for having effective retention and engagement conversations with their team members. This course covers who to talk to, when to talk to them, what questions to ask, and how to determine next steps.
Visit the ODT event calendar https://events.unl.edu/ODT/ to stay up to date on the latest offerings and programs designed to develop you professionally and personally.
More details at: https://events.unl.edu/ODT/upcoming/