Events

Format: Hybrid conference

The Waterloo Staff Conference is an annual two-day learning and development opportunity designed exclusively for staff to attend for free at Waterloo. Featuring employee-led workshops and expert keynote speakers, the conference is hosted by Human Resources' Organizational and Human Development (OHD) team and made possible through the Staff Excellence Fund. 

Upwards of 1500 staff members participate every year, and it’s a wonderful way to delve into new topics, reflect on your own professional growth, and connect with colleagues from across all our campuses.

Format: In-person workshop

Do you want to know how you can be more mindful of how social inequities and the marginalization of equity-deserving groups plays out in your daily meetings, discussions, presentations, and workshops? Are you seeking to learn how you can intentionally embed tools and practices within your facilitation style which will help address these harmful dynamics and ensure deeper inclusivity? Then you should enroll in this workshop! – especially if you are a leader or manager and/or someone responsible for holding space during educational or training opportunities. 

Format: Online workshop

We often hear people say “take care of yourself.” What does this really mean? This one-hour virtual session will increase participants’ awareness and understanding of self-care and highlight the factors that can promote and preserve their health and well-being – now and always. Participants will gain practical tools and resources to activate their own personal self-care practice. 

Format: In-person workshop

Are you looking to improve your facilitation skills - either for the presentations you do or for the meetings you lead? This workshop is ideal for those already facilitating and those looking to hone their skills while preparing to facilitate more.  

Through demonstration and experiential opportunities, tangible tips for tailoring facilitation to your specific audiences, increasing participation and discussion, and for addressing potential challenging behaviours will be provided via a hands-on, supportive workshop. 

Format: Online workshop

Join us for a 45-minute LinkedIn Learning (LiL) Lunch and Learn session designed to help you unlock the full potential of LinkedIn Learning. Whether you're new to the platform or looking to deepen your knowledge, this workshop will provide you with practical tips and strategies to make the most of your learning journey. 

Format: In-person workshop

In a work environment as big as University of Waterloo, we want to offer intentional space for employees in non-supervisory roles to come together to collectively think through how broader university culture and direction impacts them. Leadership Lab: Personal Leadership aims to bring individual contributors together to explore how they can lead themselves, and others by example, all while receiving and providing each other with compassionate care. 

Format: In-person workshop

Leadership Lab: People Leadership offers comfortable and supportive space for managers, supervisors, and folks leading people at the University to co-create an informal peer community. Using the Circles of Influence Framework to guide the conversation, participants will reflect on their leadership style and practices, identify where their control and influences lies with respect to a pre-selected issue, and learn from each other about how to approach challenges arising.  

Format: Online workshop

Most work settings have been designed by neurotypical employers, for neurotypical employees, yet an estimated 15-20% of Canadians are neurodivergent. Many highly skilled neurodivergent individuals encounter workplace barriers that affect their ability to thrive in the workplace. In this participatory workshop we will focus on two forms of neurodivergence: autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We will identify common workplace barriers and challenges and review recommended practices and processes that support neurodivergent employees. Through interactive activities, participants will review their workplace from a neurodivergent perspective, explore the hidden curriculum in their office, and discuss ways to incorporate recommendations that would benefit neurodivergent and neurotypical employees, alike.

Format: In-person workshop

Self-awareness, communication, influence and learning agility are some of the cornerstone skills required of leaders who contribute to trust based organizations. Building those trust-based organizations takes time and it begins with authentic leaders that offer both credibility and compassion to their teams.  

Workshop participants will engage in conversations and activities with campus colleagues who are also faced with the challenges of building trust-based teams while exploring tools and techniques that align to their leadership learning journey.    

Format: Online workshop

Join us for a 45-minute LinkedIn Learning (LiL) Lunch and Learn session designed to help you unlock the full potential of LinkedIn Learning. Whether you're new to the platform or looking to deepen your knowledge, this workshop will provide you with practical tips and strategies to make the most of your learning journey.