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Donald Leuenberger, vice chancellor for business and finance, speaks about UNMC’s international impact during a management series event. |
The eight-month series was designed to provide supervisors, managers and administrators with the tools to become highly effective leaders, as well as an understanding of UNMC policies and procedures.
Sponsored by UNMC Human Resources, the program covered such topics as leadership, communication, compliance, teamwork, managing change, performance management, employee motivation and diversity.
“A manager’s job is to constantly motivate and engage people to be the best they can be at their job,” said Carmen Sirizzotti, division director of employee relations. “Our goal with the series was to help managerial professionals become the best leaders and managers they can be by using all the tools available to them.”
The series, which began last October, included 50 employees from across campus.
“We had an outstanding group of managerial professionals who added to the sessions with their questions and perspectives,” Sirizzotti said.
“The Management Series was the most valuable educational experience I have been involved in since coming to UNMC,” said Catherine Bevil, Ed.D., director of the College of Nursing’s Continuing Nursing Education program, which has grown from three to seven employees in the past year. “I have learned (or learned more about) invaluable techniques, particularly related to mentoring, coaching and giving meaningful feedback; multigenerational differences in the workplace; and team building . For me, this was the right learning opportunity at the right time.”
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Carmen Sirizzotti, division director of employee relations, and Linda Love of UNMC Continuing Education at a management series event. |
Consultants led the monthly interactive discussions and the following UNMC leaders welcomed the group each month: Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., Munroe-Meyer Institute Director Bruce Buehler, M.D., College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Associate Dean for Graduate Studies David Crouse, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Rubens Pamies, M.D., Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Don Leuenberger and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources John Russell.
“It’s been a great program because so many helpful tools, tips and resources were provided,” said participant Tina Spencer, manager of Parking Services. “Even though every single thing didn’t apply to me as a manager, I can choose the things I need. One tip I implemented was scheduling one-on-one meetings with my staff on a regular basis.”
Spencer also appreciated having a UNMC leader open each month’s session.
“It was cool to see these people in person and hear them talk casually and candidly with us,” she said.
As the program winds down, Sirizzotti will review and revise the curriculum, based on participant feedback, and prepare for a new group of managerial professionals to begin the course in October.
She also acknowledged the resources of the Center for Continuing Education, in particular Linda Love, “for making sure the program ran smoothly.”
Matt Winfrey, assistant director of Research Administration in the Eppley Institute, found the self-assessment component of the series particularly helpful.
“This process enabled me to think about my management style and what I could do differently to be a more effective supervisor,” he said. “Overall, the management series has helped me to think about my strengths and weaknesses, and has provided me with supervisory techniques that have proved to be helpful.”
Laura Bashus, administrator in UNMC’s College of Public Health, agreed.
“Being able to effectively handle daily challenges within an area of work, while still holding the vision of the future and enthusiastically passing that vision onto our coworkers, requires flexibility, creative thinking and creative solutions,” Bashus said. “The management series explores these and many other tools vital to a successful and exciting workplace for all.”