Tuesday, June 6 Conference Day 2 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

C1: (a) Communicating Accountability ­ Managing Individual Performance
Presenter: Phil Matthes

How does accountability at the organizational level translate into action? What if the message is not getting through to the employee? What if job expectations are changing, but employees are not making the transition? Accountability at the organizational level must make its way into each job to ensure that actions accomplish the right objectives.

This workshop will help:

• relate job expectations to job descriptions, performance appraisals, and performance standards
  
• determine what and when to document regarding performance
  
• gain hands on experience in documenting and communicating performance expectations.

Phil Matthes is a Staff Relations Officer in Human Resources at the University of Manitoba. His responsibilities include providing advice to managers and employees on the support staff collective agreements, handling grievances, collective bargaining, performance management, and workshops on various management issues. Phil graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B. Comm. (Hons.) in Organizational Behaviour in Industrial Relations.

(b) Competencies, Accountabilities and Pay
Presenters: Katherine Sheehan and Marisa Poon-Tip

Do accountabilities and job descriptions have to be different things?

This presentation will focus on profiling management and professional staff jobs at the U of Calgary using competency-based descriptors and accountability statements. It will include an overview of the people, strategies and competency-based processes. Katherine and Marisa will share the challenges and successes the Uof C has experienced with this approach. Katherine Sheehan is a Senior Human Resources Consultant at the University of Calgary. Her area of expertise is organization effectiveness, performance consulting, conflict resolution and mediation and has worked with teams to define accountabilities. Marisa Poon-Tip, Compensation Analyst, joined Katherine at the University of Calgary. Marisa has been involved in the shift at the U of C from a class specification model for job evaluation to a competency-based job profile model that focuses on accountabilities.

 

C2: Performance Feedback with Impact
Presenter: Gerard Sejits

Giving feedback is a keystone to accountable systems; without it, goals and standards are set and then nothing happens! However, giving feedback to individuals in a way that they are likely to accept and use it, can be very difficult. This workshop will provide principles and tips on how to give feedback on performance, and give you ample opportunity to practice and polish your skills.

Gerard Seijts received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He joined the Faculty of Management in 1997 and teaches undergraduate and MBA courses in human resources management, organizational behaviour, decision making, managerial negotiations, organizational behaviour, staffing, and performance management. He also delivers workshops to mid and senior-level managers. His research activities include training and development, motivation and learning, performance appraisal, group processes, and organizational justice. In 1999, Gerard received the Associates' Award for excellence in both teaching and research. He is a member of the Academy of Management, the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, the American Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

C3: Assertive Communication: Straight Talk
Presenter: Paula McDonald

Clear and effective communication is essential in establishing and supporting accountability. This workshop will demonstrate the differences between aggressive, passive and assertive communications styles, and help develop skills in saying no, and negotiating personal and departmental outcomes. Communicating assertively by email will also be addressed.

Paula McDonald is a Winnipeg mediator and dispute resolution consultant. As president of McDonald P Consulting Services Inc., she advises, trains and facilitates exclusively in the area of workplace conflict. Prior to starting her own company in 1993, Paula served as Ombudsman for the University of Manitoba. Paula holds a master's degree in Educational Psychology.