A Leader's Toolkit

Despite popular perception, leaders are neither born nor created overnight. They arise from commitment: intentionality developing key skills, applying them in personal and professional relationships, and using feedback and reflection to continuously grow. In this series, participants will learn and practice fundamental skills that should be in the toolkit of any effective leader, such as:
- Recognizing and appropriately responding to emotions (in ourselves and others)
- Learning how to ask for what you need (from bosses, teammates, friends/family/partners, etc.)
- Navigating difficult conversations
Join our next series!
Is there a relationship you would like to improve or a conversation you know you need to have, but have been avoiding? Empower yourself to take on the challenge! Join this series to learn new strategies, try them out, and reflect on your progress. Participants may attend any session(s), but will gain maximum benefit by attending them all. Register below.
Bonus: Participants who attend all four sessions are eligible to receive one-on-one feedback/guidance to apply concepts to their real-life situations.
Sessions
Session descriptions are provided below. All take place in person and there is no option for online participation.
Emotional Intelligence – It Starts with You
Thursday, May 22nd – 9:30-11:30am (515 Goodell)
Do you grow anxious or annoyed in meetings, but struggle to understand why or how to manage your way through it? Do you get the sense others are frustrated with you, but don’t understand why? Despite our best intentions, relationships can suffer from a lack of self-awareness. In this session, we will explore the emotional intelligence framework and use interactive exercises to recognize and manage emotions for better decision-making. Technical skills may get you the entry-level job, but emotional intelligence will get you the promotion!
Emotional Intelligence – Emotions as Data
Thursday, May 29th – 9:30-11:30am (515 Goodell)
Whether you are hoping to motivate a team, negotiate with your boss, or improve a relationship, navigating complex emotional landscapes can mean the difference between success and failure. This session will help you recognize emotions as data, map them across a framework of core concerns, and use the information to drive decisions that maximize value in your personal and professional relationships.
Developing an Effective Negotiation Strategy
Thursday, June 5th – 9:30-11:30am (515 Goodell)
Graduate and postdoctoral training (and life!) require the careful balancing of relationships and resources. Learning what to ask for, how to ask, and when to respectfully say no are essential survival skills. This interactive session will introduce a negotiation framework that can help you achieve success in your personal and professional trajectories.
Navigating Difficult Conversations
Thursday, June 12th – 9:30-11:30am (515 Goodell)
When you sense conflict, do you address it or avoid it? Have you ever had a conversation go terribly wrong and wonder “What just happened?” You are not alone! In this interactive session, we’ll explore what makes some conversations difficult and discuss strategies to reduce anxiety and engage with greater confidence.
Register
Registration will open late spring.