Gator Business Administrator Services (GBAS) fall institute focused on civility, inclusion
“Respect Works Here” was the theme for the most recent Gator Business Administrator Services (GBAS) Institute, held at Emerson Alumni Hall in November. The event was kicked off by UFHR Vice President Jodi Gentry, who spoke about the importance of developing skills to facilitate and promote civil conversations in the workplace.
Guest speaker Catherine Mattice of Civility Partners — a consulting firm committed to ending workplace bullying — provided specific tools to deal with a range of behaviors from unprofessionalism to bullying. Attendees learned strategies for having difficult conversations and intervening in response to incivility as a bystander.
The afternoon breakout sessions provided big-picture information for several operational areas of UF. The UF Foundation’s Joe Mandernach, senior associate vice president and chief development officer, and Karen Rice, associate vice president and chief operating officer, along with Alan West, assistant vice president and controller, highlighted the alignment of fundraising goals with UF’s mission and provided tips on how business administrators (BAs) can help with the process of ensuring that contributions are spent according to donors’ intent.
Tiffany Schmidt, associate director of Contracts & Grants Accounting in the Office of Research, and Stephanie Gray, assistant vice president and director of the Office of Research’s Division of Sponsored Programs, demystified sponsored programs, providing real-world examples of complex concepts to make them understandable.
In the Inclusive Leadership session, Training and Organizational Development Director Bob Parks challenged BAs to reflect on what they can do to promote specific behaviors and actions that will create a more inclusive work environment.
Upcoming GBAS events include the Spring Workshop on Feb. 14 (learn more below) and the Spring Institute on April 3.
GBAS Spring Workshop 2018 – Giving and Receiving Feedback
Feb. 14, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Human Resource Services, Training Room 120
903 West University Ave.
Does the thought of giving someone candid feedback make you uncomfortable? Is being on the receiving end of feedback something you dread? Whether you are the giver or the receiver, feedback is NOT an easy thing to do.
Join GBAS colleagues and learn how to deliver direct and caring feedback, discuss ways to seek input and feedback from others, and practice strategies for responding to feedback without being defensive.
Registration will open Jan. 15 in myTraining and will be announced through the GBAS listserv. For more information, email gcadwallader@ufl.edu.