This email is best viewed in your browser:
 
 
March 2016 Issue of Learning Connect
View this email in your browser
A monthly email to all County of Santa Clara employees about professional development training.
Learning Connect - Learning & Employee Development - Employee Services Agency

In this issue:
Explore     Discover     Grow
Help Deciding What to Take Next

 

With the large selection of Instructor Led and Web-Based classes it may feel overwhelming to decide, what to take next? Using the County Competency Models and self-assessments still often results in a long list of potential topics. But there are two categories of classes that have been researched and designed to fit a particular performance need. These are the Certifications and the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) classes.

Each of the four LED Certification Programs combines a series of Instructor Led and Web Based classes to achieve a specific set of skills. If any of these four skillsets fit your professional development requirements then click on it and you will be sent to the LED Certification Program description. 

Your options are:
•    Interpersonal Skills for Professionals
•    Skillful Business Writing
•    Effective Communicator
•    Powerful Project Manager

In addition to Certifications there are now LED Instructor Led classes that meet the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements for some professional groups. Currently we have classes that meet the Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) Program for Probation and Sheriff's Office employees. 

These are:
•    Becoming a Supervisor Series 
•    Business Writing Essentials*
•    Communicating in Challenging Situations
•    Conflict Skills Training  
•    Dealing with Difficult Customers and Co-workers 
•    Editing and Proofreading 
•    Powerful Presentations
•    Project Problem Solving, Team Decision Making 
•    Resolving Workplace Conflict: A Practical Approach for Managers & Supervisors 
•    So You Want to be a Supervisor
•    Supervisor Success Series*  
•    Teamwork and Customer Service  (FISH)  

LED is looking into CEU’s for RN’s, LVN’s, Appraisers, CPA’s, Pharmacists and more! As more classes become CEU eligible we will keep you informed. 

*These courses have classes offered in the Spring. See "Instructor Led Training Classes" listed below.
 
Instructor Led Training Classes 

 
Starting this month we are listing all the available Instructor Led Training (ILT) classes in a single table, divided into content areas. We will no longer separate them by Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall Quarter offerings.

You can browse the entire list or use the links below to go to a specific category.

•    All Staff Skills Development (2 new classes!)
•    Manager/ Supervisor & CEMA Represented (3 new classes!)
•    Degree/ EAP /Retirement /Wellness (9 new classes!)
•    Desktop Applications (Computer Lab Classes) (1 new class!)

 
All Staff Skills Development
Classes highlighted in gold are NEW!

Dates in orange indicate Waitlist started
 		 Start Date More info Register NOW
Strategies for Landing Your Next Position with Santa Clara County 3/16
Conflict Skills Training
 		 3/22
Writing Effective Business Documents
 		 3/30
Project Management Essentials
 		 4/7
Time Management: Get Organized for Peak Performance
 		 4/12
Writing Effective Business Documents
 		 4/13
Communicating in Challenging Situations
 		 4/26
Business Writing Essentials (2 Meetings)
 		 5/18
Work with Me! Increasing Communication in a Multi-Generational Workplace
 		 5/24
Communication Essentials (2 Meetings)
 		 6/2
The Art of Asserting Yourself Without Offending Others
 		 6/14
Editing and Proofreading
 		 6/14
Effective Business E-Mail Writing
 		 6/21
Preparing for an Internal Interview
 		 6/22
Manager/Supervisor & CEMA
Enrollment in these classes is limited to SCC Managers, Supervisors, CEMA represented and Confidential Administrative employees and not intended for those who are leads, interim or working out of class.
Communication Skills For New Supervisors
 		 3/15
Building and Repairing Trust in the Workplace
 		 3/30
Coach Your Employees to Superior Performance 
 		 4/19
Supervisor Success Series (4 Meetings)                  
 		 4/26
Accomplishing More with Less
 		 5/10
Leadership Communication
 		 5/11
Resolving Workplace Conflict: a Practical Approach for Mgr/Sups
 		 5/11
Advanced Process Improvement (2 Meetings)
 		 5/17
Strategies for Analyzing Data & Research Methods
 		 5/19
Writing Skills for Analysts
 		 6/7
Sharpen Those Strategic Thinking Skills
 		 6/22
Degree/ EAP / Retirement / Wellness
457 EZ Enrollment
 		 3/29
Brain Fitness 4/5
Investing for Retirement: Just the Basics (AM)
 		 4/5
Investing for Retirement: Just the Basics (PM)
 		 4/5
Social Security Planning in the Public Sector Focus (AM)
 		 4/6
Social Security Planning in the Public Sector Focus (PM)
 		 4/6
Addiction: Why Can't It Just Stop!!
 		 4/7
Back Health
 		 4/22
Retirement - Ready or Not?
 		 4/26
Retirement Planning Workshop
 		 4/27
The Three Stages of Parent Care (3 Meetings)
 		 5/4
Understanding Life Scripts: An Opportunity for Change (2 Meetings)
 		 5/5
I am Nearing Retirement. Now What? Managing Your ICMA-RC Retirement Accts. (AM)
 		 5/10
I am Nearing Retirement. Now What? Managing Your ICMA-RC Retirement Accts. (PM)
 		 5/10
Eat What's in Season: A Recipe for Healthy Living
 		 5/11
Three Musketeers: Resiliency, Happiness and Mindfulness
 		 5/17
How Far Did Your Food Travel? Buy Local, Eat Local
 		 5/17
Canada College Information Session
 		 5/19
How Far Did Your Food Travel? Buy Local, Eat Local
 		 5/19
How to Beat Burnout
 		 5/20
457 EZ Enrollment
 		 5/24
Retirement Savings Drawdown (AM)
 		 6/7
Retirement Savings Drawdown (PM)
 		 6/7
Sleep Your Way to Better Health
 		 6/22
457 EZ Enrollment
 		 6/23
How to Beat Burnout
 		 6/24
Desktop Applications (Computer Lab Classes)
Microsoft Outlook 2013 Level 2 3/23
Microsoft Publisher 2013 Level 1
 		 3/30
Microsoft Excel 2013 Level 1
 		 4/7
Microsoft Word 2013 Level 2
 		 4/13
Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 Level 1
 		 4/27
Microsoft Excel 2013 Level 1
 		 5/5
Microsoft Excel 2010, Level 1
 		 5/11
Microsoft Excel 2013 Level 2
 		 5/12
Microsoft Word 2013 Level 1
 		 5/18
Microsoft Access 2013 Level 2
 		 6/2
Microsoft Excel 2013 Level 2
 		 6/7
Microsoft Excel 2010, Level 2
 		 6/15
Microsoft Visio Fundamentals
 		 6/22

Book review

Humble Inquiry, The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling
by Edgar Schein

Reviewed by: Kathleen Sexton, Manager - Learning and Employee Development 

Available as both an audio book and an e-book, the key message from Dr. Schein is to really listen to people in order to build connections.  Humble inquiry is his specific technique on how to ask effective questions and then really listen in order to create better dialogue and connection.

He believes western culture is much more comfortable with telling people what to do instead of asking them for their input, thoughts, or feelings on a topic.  His formal definition of humble inquiry is “the fine art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not already know the answer, of building a relationship based on curiosity and interest in the other person.”

He differentiates humble inquiry from the other types of inquiry by describing both various types of humility and inquiry.  

His three types of humility are:  
1) the humility that we feel around elders and dignitaries, 
2) the humility that we feel in the presence of those who awe us with their achievements, and 
3) here-and-how humility which results from our being dependent from time to time on someone else in order to accomplish a task that we are committed to.  
 This third type of humility is his key to building positive relationships.  

He also differentiates four type of inquiry:  
1) humble inquiry, 
2) diagnostic inquiry,
3) confrontational inquiry and 
4) process-oriented inquiry.  

He recognizes that our conversations occur in a context and asks us to be aware of:
•    the purpose of the conversation, 
•    the relative status between the people, 
•    the degree to which they already have a relationship.

To begin applying humble inquiry he suggests starting a conversation with a variety of openers like:
•    “So …” (with an expectant look)
•    “What’s happening?”
•    “What’s going on?”
•    “What brings you here?”
•    “Go on …”
•    “Can you give me an example?”

These opening questions and invitations won’t attract the culturally scripted question/answer pattern of “Hi, how are you?” which we all know the response should be “Fine, how are you?”

The central lesson from the book is to think about asking or inquiring of others and then actively listen to them.  The challenge is to develop the habit of asking an open ended question and actively listen to the response.  Try it, and see what happens!
 
******************************************************************

Interested in this title?
  1. Log in to sccLearn.
  2. Launch the Videos and Books course.
  3. After launching the Videos and Books course, click e-book to be sent to the e-book version.
  4. If you prefer, after launching the Videos and Books course click audio and be sent to the audio book version.
Remember, you can save both in your folders, so when you return they are waiting for you.

Not yet enrolled in Video and Books 24x7? Click the logo and you will be sent to sccLearn and then the enrollment page. Explore the opportunities waiting for you! 
Congratulations to this quarter's Class Pass winners!

Thank you to everyone who completed last month's Learning Connect survey!
10 “Class Pass” recipients were randomly selected and have been notified via email. The "Class Pass" is good for enrollment in any sccLearn Instructor Led Class, including Computer and Fitness classes, during the Spring Quarter (April–June 2016).

*"Class Pass" is NOT transferable and is only good for the time indicated. 
 

Return to: In this Issue

We want to know…

We usually have a survey here, but later this month you will be receiving a County Wide Survey on Learning and Staff Development so we want to encourage you to watch for and participate in that survey.
 
In February we asked you about your experience with ILT’s, Media and Waitlists. You told us:
 
You ranked the reasons for enrolling in an ILT as:
1.    Description convinces me
2.    Need it to perform my current role
3.    Need it for a future role
4.    (Tied) Certification Requirement or Recommended by Manager or Supervisor
5.    Meets a skill I need from a Skill Set Model
6.    Recommended by friend or coworker
7.    Skill I need based on an online assessment 
 
How far in advance do you enroll in a class?
1.    More than a month
2.    One month
3.    2-3 weeks
4.    A week 
(No one selected “the day before”.)
 
You ranked the resources in sccLearn Video and Books 24x7 as:
1.    Short video (under 5 min)
2.    Have not yet enrolled
3.    E-book
4.    Executive Summary
5.    Full Length video (30 – 90 min)
6.    Audio clip (Under 5 min)
7.    Audio book (multiple hours)
 
You ranked the media you prefer to access online resources as:
1.    Work computer  (large screen)
2.    Work laptop
3.    Personal computer (large screen)
4.    Personal laptop
5.    Work tablet or smart phone (small screen)
6.    Personal tablet or smart phone (small screen)
7.    Audio playback device
 
The 3 most visited or used online resources are:
1.    All Staff Certificate Programs 
2.    LED Homepage 
3.    ERP Submit a Claim 
 
The 3 sites “not interested” in are:
1.    Manager /Supervisor,  CEMA Self-Assessment
2.    Hiring External Trainers
3.    sccLearn End User Support Site
 
The 3 sites people “Did not know exist” are:
1.    Hiring External Trainers
2.    Manager /Supervisor CEMA Self-Assessment
3.    All Staff Self-Assessment 

 

Return to: In this Issue
  • Questions? Contact Learning & Employee Development Staff at 408-993-4830.
  • Find more information on our website: www.sccgov.org/led
     
Employee Services Agency logo