Oklahoma State University - Tulsa
Oklahoma State University - Tulsa
Professional Development - Relationships in the Making

Cherries and Bologna: Turn on the Power of People and Ideas
Fall Staff Conference

Thursday, Nov. 13 and Friday, Nov. 14
11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m..
OSU-Tulsa Helmerich Research Center

Creativity in the workplace is a highly sought after skill; however, what does it look like?  How do we encourage our employees to think creatively?  Join our fall conference to learn new ways of thinking outside the box and to reap the rewards of changing the way you think.

You will be able to receive a one-time incentive payment by attending workshops and submitting an action plan. You will be able to count the workshop hours toward your respective training certificate.

View Conference FAQ

Schedule and Session Descriptions

Lunch/Keynote (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) - HRC Atrium

Thinking Outside the Box
Jennifer Lawson-Newby, HR Coordinator, OSU in Tulsa

OSU Pride Works With Me
Wizard
OSU Pride Works…Diversity
OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works For Our Customers

When is the last time you went to a brainstorming session and an answer was given that involved spaceships, martians and planets?  Encouraging our team members through a trusting environment allows ideas to flow no matter how crazy they may seem.  This interactive, hands-on, full participation keynote will encourage laughter and friendly competition that will allow our imaginations to take hold.

Lunch provided by Baxters Interurban Grill. Registration for lunch is required.

Session 1 (12:40-2 p.m.) Choose one:

Once Upon a Time: The Benefits of Being a Good Storyteller
Karen Castle, OSU-Tulsa

OSU Pride Works With Me
Wizard
OSU Pride Works…Diversity
OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works For Our Customers

Storytelling is more than something you do around a campfire. It is also an important tool to use in the workplace.  Being a good storyteller can help you sell your ideas, influence others and gain confidence.  This workshop explains the value of storytelling and offers examples of different styles of presentation.  Among the examples are tips to help you become a better storyteller.  There will be time for practice, so think about your favorite story to share with a partner.

Let CHAOS Reign!
CHAOS: Creating Harmony Among Our Schedules

Jennifer Lawson-Newby, HR Coordinator, OSU in Tulsa

OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works With Me

"Time is of the essence."

"How to squeeze 26 hours of work into a 24-hour day."

These two phrases have been become common threads in our language and lives.  It seems trying to find ways to save time is always on our to-do lists. Take "time" to learn a variety of strategies to become organized resulting in time saving actions. Participants must be willing to reflect and document on their time-stealing activities. Take-aways include: the 80/20 Rule, activity logging, five stages of workflow and "the loop."

Sesson 2 (2:10-4:10 p.m.) Choose one:

Thursday, Nov. 13 Only

Wellness and You: Ways to Stretch Your Mind and Body at Work
Dr. Suzy Harrington, OSU Chief Wellness Officer

OSU Pride Works With Me
Wizard
OSU Pride Works…Diversity
OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works For Our Customers

Wellness!  Wellness!  Wellness! It’s the rage these days!  But how do we implement it into our working hours?  Join Dr. Suzy Harrington as she explores the world of wellness with tips, suggestions and ideas for how to gain a healthier mind and body.

Nov. 13 and 14

Changing the Office Dialect
Sara Gallagher, The Persimmon Group

OSU Pride Works With Me
Wizard
OSU Pride Works…Diversity
OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works For Our Customers

This session focuses on understanding conflict management, decoding expectations, the power of perception and its role in the decision making process, and establishing a culture of open, transparent communication in the workplace. Learn about audience engagement, the communication purpose, and techniques in presentation development. Participants will also explore what drives the personalities of team members and how to adapt to them to better develop a culture of effective communication.

 

Closing Session (4:20-5 p.m.) - HRC Atrium

Making it Work
Jennifer Lawson-Newby, HR Coordinator, OSU in Tulsa
OSU Pride Works With Me
Wizard
OSU Pride Works…Diversity
OSU Pride Works In Our Leaders
OSU Pride Works For Our Customers

This closing program will wrap up the discussions and learning points that have been reflected throughout the day. Participants must have attended at least one other workshop during the day to take part in the closing session.

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Incentives

Attendees will be able to apply workshops toward their currently enrolled certificate program in conjunction with obtaining credit for this workshop day. The lunch/keynote speaker session counts as a workshop.

  • Attend one workshop + Action Plan (does not include the closing workshop) = $25
  • Attend two workshops + Action Plan (does not include the closing workshop) = $35
  • Attend three workshops + Action Plan (does not include the closing workshop) = $50
  • Attend all day (three workshops and closing) + Action Plan = $100

All action plans are due to Human Resources by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15. If an employee is unable to obtain their manager’s signature on the action plan, they should submit their plan to HR with at least the employee’s signature. A training representative will follow up with the manager to obtain final signatures if needed.

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Register

Participants must have their supervisor's approval to participate in the conference. Register by submitting the online form, which will email your supervisor to confirm approval for participation. Your supervisor must reply to the email in order for you to be enrolled in the workshop.

Register online

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Follow-up

Download and fill out the Tracking/Completion and Action Plan forms and return to Human Resources by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 to receive credit for your participation in the conference and your incentive.

Download Tracking/Completion Form (DOCX)

Download Action Plan form (PDF)

Download Example Action Plan (PDF)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enroll?

Enrollment for the conference and/or a workshop is done online.  Once completed, your request will forward to your supervisor via email.  To approve enrollment, your supervisor will need to click on Reply All and Human Resources personnel will be notified.

Do I have to enroll in the Conference to attend a workshop?

Enrolling in any workshop (with supervisor’s approval) automatically enrolls you in the Conference. 

Do I have to attend all day? Can I attend both days?

Some workshops will be repeated both days of the conference, while others will only occur once. Participants are not required to attend all day, nor are they expected to attend both days.

To receive the $100 incentive, a participant must attend the opening, two workshops and the closing session. While participants may attend as many workshops as they choose, only one incentive payment will be given for this conference and workshops only count toward one training program.

Do I have to sign up for lunch?

If you plan on attending lunch, yes.  This way we have an accurate count to order food.

How do I write an Action Plan?

Each incentive option requires an Action Plan.  The template for the Action Plan can be found online.

What are the incentives for attending the Conference?

View all incentive options here.