www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
IN-SERVICE EDUCATION SESSIONS
Becoming More Comfortable with Conflict
Length: 1 - 2 hrs.
Conflict, anger, and stress take their toll on employees, hurting their sense of well-being, job
satisfaction, attendance, and performance. This workshop provides faculty and staff with valuable tools
to handle difficult situations in the workplace with greater confidence and success, leading to reduced
stress and a healthier work environment. Participants will learn ways to move from an emotional
response to a more ‘issue-centered’ approach to conflict. Exercises designed to help participants
understand their experience with and style in dealing with conflict will be included.
Office Politics
Length: 3 hrs.
Too often, people regard office politics as a form of manipulation and choose not to “play the game.”
However, understanding the “rules” of the game, recognizing and dealing with uncivil or disrespectful
behavior, and understanding your own interpersonal dynamics can be useful and effective
communication tools. This workshop explores: the nature of office politics and how to survive and
thrive; practical suggestions for recognizing and dealing effectively with incivility; and tools and
techniques for navigating challenging workplace situations.
Civility in the Workplace
Length: 2 hrs.
Incivility has become a regular occurrence at work and impacts job performance and satisfaction,
productivity, and turnover. The basis for civility is demonstration of respect. Incivility by contrast
implies rudeness and disregard for others in a manner that violates norms for respect. This workshop
explores the ways in which incivility manifests in the workplace, offers practical solutions for dealing
with workplace incivility, and outlines basic workplace social skills and workplace etiquette.
Increasing Your Influence at Work (AKA “Influencing without Authority”)
Length: 1 - 3 hrs.
Everyone wants to have greater influence at work. For those not working in positions of authority,
increasing influence is especially challenging. In this workshop, faculty and staff participants will learn
constructive methods of persuasion and political skills to improve the expression of their ideas—and
others’ response to these. Even people in positions of authority will benefit.
Generational Diversity in the Workplace
Length: 1 - 2 hrs.
This program for faculty and staff highlights differences in values and communication styles among
members of four different generations at USC (traditionalists, baby boomers, generation Xers, and
millenials). Participants will gain greater perspective of the expectations upheld by various generations,
learn to improve communication and manage differences, and ultimately reduce stress and increase
workplace harmony and productivity.
Making Chaos Work: Getting the most out of disorganized people in the workplace
Length: 1 hr.
This workshop for faculty and staff teaches a unique approach to helping people who struggle with
organization to become more productive and functional at work. Supervisors, co-workers, and the
disorganized themselves can tap into hidden strengths and set up the workplace for success!
Rev. 1/2012
www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
Supporting Colleagues in Times of Crisis
Length: 1 hr.
In the wake of a disaster, for every physical injury, there may be 5-6 psychological injuries. However, a
mental health degree is not required to provide valuable support to people involved in traumatic
situations. For anyone with the desire to help, this workshop teaches straightforward, manageable
approaches to working with people in a crisis. Participants will learn the do’s and don’ts of
psychological first aid to help others survive and recover from a major disaster or human tragedy.
Understanding Personality Type as a
Means to Improve Workplace Relationship*
Length: 3 - 6 hrs.
With an understanding of how different people prefer to use their minds, we can develop appropriate
expectations based on specific personality differences. This understanding may allow us to work more
constructively with people whose personality type is different from our own. In this interactive
workshop you will: become familiar with personality type theory; understand the basic principles of the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®); take the MBTI to discover your own psychological-type; learn
how different types perceive and interpret information and events; and discuss how an understanding of
type differences can improve communication and reduce conflict at work.
* A materials fee is charged for this session to cover the costs of assessments and workbooks.
FOR FACULTY, MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS
Techniques for Dealing with Troubled Employees
Length: 3 hrs.
Managing the performance of employees can be a difficult and time-consuming task, even in ideal,
uncomplicated situations. When an employee’s performance is impaired by personal or emotional
problems, the management of job performance can become much more complex. This workshop will
assist you to: identify an employee who may be experiencing personal problems; develop constructive
approaches to confront employees with performance difficulties; understand the responsibilities and
limitations of managers and supervisors; and effectively use the university’s employee assistance
program and other consultative resources available to supervisors.
Offering Constructive Criticism and Recognition
Length: 1 hr.
This course is designed for staff and faculty who supervise others. The presentation reviews the function
and impact of constructive feedback as well as exploring free or inexpensive forms of recognition.
Navigating the Whitewater:
Constructive Approaches to Managing Change and Transitions
Length: 2 hrs.
Successful change requires the engagement and participation of the people involved. Change
management provides a framework for managing the people side of change. Change management can
be described as a systematic approach to dealing with change, both from the perspective of an
organization and on the individual level. This workshop will provide insight into the stages of change,
resistance to change, the meaning of endings and new beginnings, the role of control as well as the role
of loss-both tangible and intangible, and how attitude, resilience and values impact our ability to
successfully manage change.
Rev. 1/2012
www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
Supporting Colleagues in Times of Crisis
Length: 1 hr.
In the wake of a disaster, for every physical injury, there may be 5-6 psychological injuries. However, a
mental health degree is not required to provide valuable support to people involved in traumatic
situations. For anyone with the desire to help, this workshop teaches straightforward, manageable
approaches to working with people in a crisis. Participants will learn the do’s and don’ts of
psychological first aid to help others survive and recover from a major disaster or human tragedy.
Leading High Performance Teams:
Creating Loyalty and Retention Through Employee Engagement
Length: 90 mins.
Employees who are highly committed to the work of your team will create more innovation, go the extra
mile to contribute to the team’s success, and are less likely to leave. Managers can create an
environment that promotes discretionary effort and talent retention by adopting an approach called
“employee engagement.” This course will review the benefits of employee engagement efforts, and
describe the manager characteristics that promote discretionary effort and employee retention.
Dismissal with Dignity: Communicating and Implementing Reorganizations and Layoffs with
Confidence and Compassion
Length: 2 hrs.
Telling an employee that he/she is going to be laid off likely ranks as one of the most difficult tasks a
supervisor or manager has to face. A key consideration for management during these times is HOW to
communicate this information – to those affected and to those remaining. Issues to be considered
include preparation, delivery and recovery, as well as the personal responses of the manager him/herself.
The Importance of Positive Emotions in the Workplace
Length: 90 mins.
Human beings are social animals and the workplace is a social context. Research and experience is clear
that the best work product is achieved in the context of positive social relationships. Using research
findings from the fields of business, social and neuroscience, this interactive session provides
supervisors with a framework and suggestions for improving workplace human relations, which may
translate into improved productivity, satisfaction and “pro-social” behaviors in the workplace.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR COPING WITH STRESS
 Breathing: The Natural Tranquilizer
Length: 1 hr.
Breath is one key to health and relaxation, a natural function we can learn to regulate and
develop in order to improve our ability to induce instant tranquility and relaxation with no side
effects. In this ‘hands-on’ workshop, a specific breathing technique will be taught for use at both
work and home.
 Using Meditation to Relax
Length: Two 1 hr sessions spaced one week apart.
Meditation is an effective technique used to relax the body and calm the mind. In this ‘hands on’
workshop, participants will learn and be able to apply this technique immediately for use at work
or home.
Rev. 1/2012
www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
 Visualization and Progressive Relaxation Techniques
Length: 1 hr.
This hands-on workshop incorporates the use of all the senses to produce a visual effect that is so
real and powerful that it transports participants to a place of total relaxation.
 Self-Hypnosis: Programming Your Mind for
Positive Change
Length: Two 1 hr sessions spaced one week apart.
Hypnosis allows individuals to achieve a state of deep relaxation. In this state, your imagination
can be used to make suggestions real giving you the ability to create new internal realities that
can help you change negative habits, relax and make positive changes in your life.
Stress Reduction Lab Overview
Length: 1 hr.
It’s no secret that too much stress can negatively impact health, productivity, and quality of life. The
CWFL has created a set of tools and approaches to help faculty and staff manage their stress, and we call
these our “Stress Reduction Lab.” In this workshop, participants will be familiarized with the Stress
Reduction Lab and the computer-based biofeedback tool, the emWave, will be demonstrated. Offices
and departments can also learn how to set up their own Stress Reduction Lab of onsite, allowing faculty
and staff to have regular, local access to the program.
Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Stress Management
Length: 2 - 4 hours.
Many of us have deeply ingrained patterns of behavior that often make it difficult to consider different
ways of approaching stressful circumstances in our lives. However, by altering your thoughts it may be
possible to make significant, positive changes in your life. In this session, you will be informed about
the cognitive-behavioral model used to identify your stress triggers and learn dynamic new ways of
tackling them head on. Specific skills that are addressed include assertiveness, boundary setting, life
balance, positive coping, and developing a healthy support network.
Manage Your Energy
Length: 90 minutes
While time is a finite resource, energy is renewable. In this session, participants will learn to gain
balance and identify specific strategies to increase mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual energy.
This workshop will also help participants identify “energy leeches”, allowing them to preserve their
energy and improve efficiency, productivity, and overall well-being.
The Balancing Act: Doing Your Best at All Your Job
Length: 2 – 6 hrs.
Balancing work, family, and personal obligations is a challenge for all of us. This two-session program
helps participants assess the degree of balance in their own lives and identify strategies for creating a
healthier work/life balance. This workshop explores: values, roles and relationships, duties and
responsibilities; effective ways to communicate individual needs, while defining what is most important,
setting realistic boundaries; identifying unhealthy patterns and looking at new approaches to self-care.
Creating Your Personal Work/Life Balance Plan
Length: 1 hr.
This brief workshop provides busy professionals with a quick way to create a personalized action plan
for balance by looking at three key areas of their lives: self, career and family/friends.
Rev. 1/2012
www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
Making Chaos Work: Getting the Most Out of Disorganized People in the Workplace Length: 1 hr.
This workshop for faculty and staff teaches a unique approach to helping people who struggle with
organization to become more productive and functional at work. Supervisors, co-workers, and the
disorganized themselves can tap into hidden strengths and set up the workplace for success!
Fresh Ways to Stress Less
Length: 1 hr.
Stress affects all of us in different ways. However, how we handle stress can affect our productivity and
enjoyment of life. This one hour interactive group teaches participants creative and innovative ways to
identify and cope with life’s stressors in an effective and positive manner.
Sailing Through Your Next Performance Evaluation
Length: 1 hr.
This workshop is designed for staff and faculty who will receive feedback from their manager in an
annual performance meeting. The speaker will prepare participants for a productive evaluation meeting
that feels more like a dialogue than a confrontation, in order to better understand the manager’s goals for
your development and thereby achieve greater success throughout the coming year.
Finding Forgiveness
Length: 1 hr.
This course will provide concrete steps towards finding forgiveness, starting with self forgiveness skills
and forgiveness in relationships. The session also explores the connection between lack of forgiveness
and physical/ emotional stress. Participants will also learn the five steps to finding forgiveness, a four
part model for “letting go” of grievances, and how to practice statements of self-forgiveness.
Dealing with Difficult People
Length: 1 – 2 hrs.
We all encounter difficult people in our lives, but this can be especially challenging when these
interactions occur in a workplace environment. This workshop will provide an identification and
awareness of “difficult” personality types, help with developing coping strategies for personal success in
communicating and engaging with these personality types, and reduce stress and personal investment in
the negative feelings generated by conflict with difficult people. In addition, it will highlight issues, such
as mental illness or substance abuse, to help you know when to seek support from a supervisor.
Communicating More Effectively
Length: 1- 2 hrs.
It is easy to get frustrated when you cannot get your point across, feel misunderstood or are not being
heard. By changing the way we communicate, we can make progress in improving our personal
interactions and self-satisfaction. This workshop will help you understand your style of communication
and examine whether it is working effectively for you, learn to set boundaries better, use strong
emotions productively, identify anger triggers, and identify your locus of control.
The Role of Work-Life Integration in Career Longevity
Length: 1 hr.
Originally created for our faculty physicians, this workshop reminds active professionals that practicing
good balance between our work and personal lives now is a necessity for avoiding long term burnout
and enjoying a lengthy and successful career. The workshop will define the two key measures of
successful work-life balance, identify the common traps and barriers to work-life balance, and provide
many several concrete and achievable solutions that will enhance and sustain work-life.
Rev. 1/2012
www.usc.edu/worklife
213-821-0800
Avoiding Burnout
Length: 1 hr.
People commonly misuse the term ‘burnout’ to describe feelings of stress. Properly used, the term
burnout refers to a progressive condition, which if left unaddressed, can lead to a profound sense of
alienation, exhaustion and de-motivation. Learn how to identify symptoms of burnout and what you can
do to mitigate or avoid this serious condition.
Making Change Work for You
Length: 1 – 3 hrs.
Change can be difficult—often creating feelings of loss—but can also present opportunities. In this
workshop, faculty and staff learn the risks of resisting or ignoring change, the process of transition, and
the benefits of dealing with change proactively. Participants will also explore the three options when
faced with change, and engage in exercises to help execute these options more effectively.
Making Resolutions Stick: Setting SMART Goals
Length: 1 hr.
Only 75% of people maintain their New Year's resolutions past the first week. Do you REALLY want
to lose weight, exercise more, or spend less this year? Join this workshop to learn more about the stages
of change and how you can develop realistic goals to position yourself for resolutions that last.
CWFL In-Service Education Sessions are provided
to USC departments at no charge.
All sessions are led by members of the
Center for Work & Family Life’s professional staff.
For more information or for customized consultation,
please call John Gaspari or Linda Snouffer at
213-821-0800.
Rev. 1/2012