Employee Services > Benefits and HR Managers > Training > Transition Wellness Seminars

1. DESCRIPTION:

The transition wellness seminars (1 hour each) are designed to be used independently or as a series, half day program for employees who are undergoing changes in their work environment, work status, or relationship with the organization. Each deals with different aspects of managing the personal issues surrounding the loss of control, familiarity, security, and optimism (often associated with change).

The seminars are upbeat, practical, and informative with most of the materials gathered from experts around the nation, recent studies, or materials currently published in the areas of transition discussed.

There is also a series for supervisors (1 - 2 hours each) designed to assist them in managing the stress, change, and conflict associated with major job transitions.

2. OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective of the course is to provide participants with an accurate expansive view of some of the divergent realities associated with each of the three aspects of transition. The goal is to provide them with a clearer perspective of their own particular situation as it relates to the situations that all people find themselves facing during life's changes. By providing a sense of normality within the context of some very abnormal situations, the participants can begin to manage their expectations, emotions, reactions and consequences.

3. DESIGNS:

STRESS MANAGEMENT:
The course is designed to move the participants past the traditional stress coping skills seminar to a higher understanding of the causes of stress, the ways in which individuals are more prone to being effected by stress, and the tools of coping which can be adapted and tailored to enable a complete management of stress. The seminar addresses: levels of stress, types of stress (personal and professional), reactions to stress, and analysis of the steps needed to resolve stress.

The participants use questionnaires, surveys, charts, and graphs to assess how they are being effected by stress and how well they manage it. The final part of the seminar gives them practical strategies to overcome the stress dynamic and begin to plan each day for a less stressful life.

MANAGING CHANGE (PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY):
The course is designed to enable individuals to recognize that there are different levels of change and different personal reactions to those levels. Change is portrayed as a difficult reality and yet a strengthening force to be harnessed towards gain and growth. The individual is asked to assess the level of change they are currently experiencing and identify what area(s) of their lives are being challenged by the changes. Change is identified on both the personal and organizational levels and suggestions are made on how to move past coping to handling and finally managing change.

Practical solutions are given for personally and professionally resolving roadblocks to better behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles. Suggestions are provided to help the individual recognize, prioritize, utilize resources and finally enact appropriate resolutions to deal effectively with the changes.

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PROBLEM SOLVING:
The seminar is designed to provide insight into the causes of conflict, the five major styles of interaction that resolve or create conflict, and the multiple forms which conflicts may take once they have begun. Discussed are: the role of personal perceptions, biases, and misdirected tactics which may escalate conflict. The seminar also highlights some problem solving techniques that can be employed to move past the conflict, form a cooperative atmosphere and provide a future framework of interaction to gain constructive resolutions early.

This seminar contains several role playing opportunities, tactics for better contol of emotions, and communication skills. The participants will find the experience extremely practical and logical while they discover their own perceptions and feelings about conflict and how it functions in their lives. Included are some forms and diagrams which can help each person begin to resolve the conflict situations in their own lives while actively engaging the participation of others in the process.

4. MATERIALS:

For each seminar, the following materials will be required:

  1. (LCD) and screen
  2. A newsprint flip chart with markers
  3. Packets of materials (handout materials) for each participant
  4. Pencils (for each participant)

5. CURRICULUM OUTLINES:

1) STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Purpose of the Seminar
    2. Overview of the Agenda and Materials
  2. THE CURRENT SITUATION
    1. National Studies
    2. Defining Stress (Productive and Non-productive)
  3. THE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF STRESS
    1. Specific Events (Stressors)
    2. Personal Vulnerability (Filters)
    3. Consequences (Symptoms)
  4. THE SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING STRESS
    1. Physical
    2. Emotional
    3. Social
  5. THE EVENTS CAUSING STRESS
    1. Internal and External Sources
    2. Personal Stressors
    3. Professional Stressors
  6. THE FILTERS EFFECTING STRESS
    1. Personality
    2. Beliefs, Attitudes, and Thoughts
  7. MANAGING STRESS
    1. Physical Tactics
    2. Emotional Strategies
    3. Social Supports
  8. COMBATING STRESS
    1. Recognizing
    2. Characterizing
    3. Personalizing
    4. Resolving
  9. LIFE CHANGING STRATEGIES
    1. Personal Action Plan
    2. Daily Log
    3. Resources

2) MANAGING CHANGE (PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY):

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Purpose of the Seminar
    2. Overview of the Agenda and Materials
  2. PERSONAL REFLECTION ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CHANGE
    1. Your Own Personal Reflection
    2. Similarities of Experiences (Life Chart)
    3. Change as a Two-Edge Sword
    4. Three Adaptation Needs for Change
  3. PERSONAL CHANGES
    1. Life Cycle Transition
    2. Adjusting to Personal Changes (Dealing with Stress)
  4. WORK RELATED CHANGES
    1. Work Cycle Transitions
    2. Adjusting to Organizational Changes (Personal Revitalization)
  5. COPING WITH CHANGE (Immediate)
    1. Resolving Personal Issues
    2. Assessing Individual Values
    3. Using Adaptive Mechanisms
  6. HANDLING CHANGE (Short Term)
    1. Face the Changes
    2. Develop Plans
    3. Initiate Actions
  7. MANAGING CHANGE (Long Term)
    1. Get in Touch with Feelings
    2. Scan Environment
    3. Explore Alternatives
    4. Make Choices
    5. Acquire New Skills
    6. Obtain Feedback
  8. PERSONAL ACTION PLAN

3) CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PROBLEM SOLVING:

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Purpose of the Seminar
    2. Overview of the Agenda and Materials
  2. WHAT IS CONFLICT
    1. Primary Reasons
    2. Position vs. Interest
  3. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONFLICT
    1. When Conflict is Productive
    2. When Conflict is Unproductive
  4. RESPONSES TO CONFLICT
    1. Impose
    2. Avoid
    3. Accommodate
    4. Collaborate
    5. Compromise
  5. PERSONAL ATTITUDES TOWARD CONFLICT
    1. Conflict is Uncomfortable
    2. Conflict is About Matching Wits
    3. Conflict can be healthy or Destructive
  6. DIMENSIONS OF CONFLICT
    1. Maintain Mutual Respect
    2. Identify the Real Issue
    3. Change the Agreement
    4. Invite Participation
  7. EFFECTIVE WAYS OF HANDLING CONFLICT
    1. Conflict Resolution Process
  8. PROBLEM SOLVING
    1. Preconditions
    2. Steps
  9. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES
    1. Communication Rules
    2. Personal Action Plan
    3. Resources