November 2024 Learning and Organizational Development Updates & Insights

Enhancing Communication Skills in a Safe Space

Effective communication is essential for professional success and career development. Whether it’s managers conducting performance reviews or sales teams training, every employee needs strong communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and leadership effectively. As careers progress, professional conversations may evolve, but the need for clear and impactful communication remains constant. Despite its importance, organizations often struggle to offer low-risk opportunities for employees to practice these skills before applying them in real-world situations. Now, with the advancement of AI technologies, individuals can practice and develop their conversations skills in a completely safe space.

Enter CAISY, the AI-Powered Conversation Simulator, available in Percipio, making difficult conversations less intimidating and more manageable. With over 80 simulations in 10 categories, this useful tool offers a practical way for employees to develop and refine their communication skills. Simulating various business and leadership scenarios, giving employees a safe space to practice difficult conversations—whether it’s handling customer complaints, coaching staff, or leading change. CAISY provides real-time feedback on communication styles, helping users adjust and improve based on their specific needs.

The Benefits of Simulated Practice

By creating a low-risk environment where employees can learn by doing, they can explore different approaches, receive guidance, and build the confidence to handle challenging conversations effectively in real life. The simulator offers scenarios tailored to specific roles, making the learning experience relevant and engaging.

Real-time feedback helps employees understand what works and what needs improvement, while role-modeling options allow them to observe how the AI handles similar situations. This combination of practice and feedback encourages continuous growth.

Responsible AI Use

CAISY uses generative AI with safeguards to ensure fairness and accuracy. It monitors conversations for appropriate content and provides guidance if the learner strays off-topic, maintaining a constructive learning environment.

Access CAISY in Percipio to explore available simulations and start building your conversation toolbox!

Diversity: The Art of Independent Thinking Together

“Diversity is the art of thinking independently together,” noted Malcolm Forbes, underscoring a profound truth about the modern workplace: true strength lies in unity without uniformity. As an organization, we are dedicated to creating a workplace that embraces differences, where each unique quality, experience, and perspective is not just valued but celebrated.

In this inclusive environment, our goal is for each individual to contribute their authentic selves, enhancing both personal and collective growth. We believe in a culture that transcends demographic distinctions such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural background. By valuing these differences, we nurture a space that not only respects but leverages the varied insights our employees bring. Managing diversity effectively is more than an ideal—it’s a fundamental strategy in today’s globalized world. Research consistently shows that diverse teams are more innovative, resilient, and capable of solving complex problems. Our commitment to fostering inclusivity strengthens our adaptability and helps us navigate the intricacies of an interconnected world.

Reflective Questions for Managing Diversity on Your Team

To foster an inclusive environment, consider these questions:

1. How does your background shape your interactions? – Recognizing how personal experiences influence our perceptions helps us approach others’ perspectives more openly and understand the biases we bring to team dynamics.
2. Do you create a safe space for feedback? – Building trust is crucial in diversity management. Encourage open feedback by creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgement.
3. Do you promote balanced participation? – Reflect on your team’s dynamics. Are discussions dominated by certain voices or groups? If so, consider ways to encourage more balanced contributions, allowing all team members to share their unique insights.

Cultivating a workplace where “independent thinking” thrives together is no small task, but it’s one worth striving for. In nurturing diversity, we unlock innovation, enrich our work culture, and position ourselves for sustainable success. To expand your approach to diversity, consider exploring some of the recommended resources, designed to help each of us lead with empathy, inclusivity, and respect.

Learning Opportunity Spotlight

Expand your development with one of these upcoming instructor-led opportunities:

Creating a fair and inclusive workplace can be challenging and may strain departmental relationships. This course aims to equip supervisors with a comprehensive understanding of their responsibilities and practical tools to foster an environment that ensures equal opportunities for all employees. *This course is apart of the WSU Supervisor Training*

Led by HRS subject matter experts, this two-hour roundtable discussion and Q&A session offers supervisors a chance to address their questions, concerns, and challenges related to the entire employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance management, and performance correction. *Please note that registration is limited to supervisors who have completed the core requirements of the WSU Training for Supervisors program.*

Learn how to create new analyses, apply filters and functions, construct compound layouts that incorporate titles, tables, pivot tables, and graphical representations of data in the 12c environment. *This course has required prerequisites, please check the registration information in Percipio before enrolling.*

Featuring the video, “Run. Hide. Fight.” followed by discussion, this training provides a wealth of information and options to bear in mind should the unthinkable happen.

This course is the required training for participants in the WSU Purchasing Card Program. Account Reconcilers are strongly encouraged to attend and attendance is required of all new Cardholders. 

As the initial session in a two-part series on Query training, this course will concentrate on fundamental functionalities of the query tool. Participants will receive practical training in crafting and executing straightforward queries. Upon completion, participants are expected to pass a written examination and preform a final query activity as a prerequisite to the Advanced Query Techniques course.

A follow-up to Query Techniques, this course builds on knowledge gained from Query Foundations. Participants are expected to have working knowledge and understanding of basic query concepts, allowing more time to be spent on authoring, running, and validating query results. To receive credit for the course, participants are expected to pass a written examination and preform a final query activity. *This course has required prerequisites, please check the registration information in Percipio before enrolling.*

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage our own emotions and effectively relate to others. This course covers skills in recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions, which are essential for team development, effective communication, and motivation. *This course has required prerequisites, please check the registration information in Percipio before enrolling.*

This course covers WSU’s planning and budgeting process, identifying the sources and types of funds that impact budgets. It also provides insights into allocation processes and special funding categories, making it valuable for those looking to deepen their understanding of financial management at the university.

*This course is apart of the WSU Supervisor Training*

Navigating employee leave requests can be complex, often raising questions about the type of leave, request procedures, departmental versus HRS handling, managing work during extended leave, and rules for different medical leave scenarios. This WSU Training for Supervisors course aims to clarify these issues and help supervisors manage leave effectively.

As a public institution, Washington State University must provide records or documents upon request. This course introduces managers to the basics of Public Records Law, the types of records that must be disclosed, WSU’s public records policy, and the response process. *This course is apart of the WSU Supervisor Training*

This workshop covers the use and history of WSU’s Business Policies and Procedures Manual, including how it is updated. It also addresses records scheduling, retention, and state records requirements.

This course is designed to equip end users with the necessary skills to effectively utilize the complete array of analysis and reporting functionalities available within the 12c environment. *This course has required prerequisites, please check the registration information in Percipio before enrolling.*

Washington State University is committed to creating a safe and productive workplace that adheres to state safety regulations. This course covers essential topics including the New Employee Safety Checklist, the Supervisors’ Safety Manual, WSU’s Accident Prevention Program, Hostile Intruder Response, WSU’s Alert System, and the supervisor’s responsibilities for inspections, accident reporting, and investigations. *This course is apart of the WSU Supervisor Training*

This virtual instructor led training will provide information on how to review and approve P-Card reconciliations for cardholders in Workday. This course is meant for P-Card Holders or those who hold the Workday security role of Procurement Data Entry Specialist.

Designed for drivers of WSU cargo or passenger vans includes information on conducting a vehicle inspection, safe driving skills, driving environments, and special considerations. Collision reporting procedures are also discussed.