Conflict Awareness in the Workplace, April 18: We all encounter difficult people. Whether you are a supervisor, a customer service professional, or have a challenging co-worker, it’s important to know how to rise above your initial emotional reaction and turn negative situations into positive outcomes. Topics include understanding why we label people as difficult, types of difficult people, tools and techniques for resolving issues, coping strategies for dealing with the effects of difficult people, and conflict management strategies. Register and learn more.

Introduction to Organizational Performance Measurement, May 8: Have you ever struggled to create measures for your program? Do you ever find yourself getting lost in the sea of measurement jargon? Do you ever wonder why we even measure organizational performance? If you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these questions and have a desire to improve your skills and knowledge of organizational performance measurement, this course is for you. Register and learn more.

View more learning and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.

As a part of the Master Labor Agreement and Investing in YOU, applications are now being accepted for Professional Development Scholarship Awards for training that occurs anytime between May 17, 2019 and December 31, 2019. This is the third of four application periods this year. The final application period will open on July 8, 2019.

Scholarship awards are only available to King County employees who are represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions and who meet additional eligibility requirements.

Scholarships are intended to support employees in growing their careers at King County. This could include enhancing your knowledge and skills for your current job field; obtaining a professional certification, license, or pursuing a degree that is related to paid work performed at King County; or preparing you for a career change in job fields performed at King County. Each quarter, $37,500 of the $150,000 total 2019 budget is allocated for scholarship awards. There is a maximum allotment of $2,500 per qualified employee in 2019 for approved training opportunities. If there are more qualified applicants than funds available, a lottery process will be used.

How to Apply: Eligible employees may apply online at the County’s job page at the posting titled, “MLA Professional Development Scholarships.”

The current application period closes April 12, 2019.

For more information go to Professional Development Scholarship Fund Program or email ScholarshipFund@kingcounty.gov.

When Stef Frenzi, an educator consultant with the Department of Human Resources, saw an opportunity to strengthen team unity, improve employee engagement, and have fun at his last county role, he took it.

“The thing that’s cool about a ukulele is that you can’t help but smile when you play it, because it’s a silly little instrument – you can’t take it too seriously,” said Stef.

Pictured: From left, Terri Hansen, Diana Wurn, Glenn Evans, Stef Frenzl and Elaine Porterfield.

What started as a light-hearted conversation soon became a small group of people playing ukuleles together before blossoming into a movement within the workplace to bring people together.

“We started meeting once or twice a week and practicing songs,” said Stef. “What was interesting about it was the camaraderie that people felt, and what was also fantastic was that our manager was playing. It created a new relationship between management and staff.”

Stef knew the ukulele club was beginning to shift the dynamic of work when people began looking forward to “ukulele club day.”

“We really ended up seeing some huge changes with people’s desire to come into work,” said Stef. “It’s really made a big difference with helping people feel engaged – helping people feel like they have something more than just work when they come to work, in a way that’s not forced upon them.”

When he transitioned to the Department of Human Resources there were a few employees who knew about the ukulele club at his previous worksite and were interested in starting one at DHR. The club, which has only been meeting for about a month, is open to all employees and all skill levels.

“We’re in a society that says you have to be really good at something in order to do it, and that’s not what this space is at all,” said Stef. “This space is about having a good time, learning something, trying out something new, just having fun and connecting with people.”

The club meets every Monday at noon in one of the Administration Building’s Project Space Conference Rooms on the third floor. If you’re interested in learning more about the club or joining reach out to Stef Frenzi.

“Just come, you are welcome,” said Stef encouragingly to anyone considering. “This is one of those places where you can go and it’s a safe place for you to not have to be perfect and where nobody is going to judge you, everyone is going to be supportive, and we are going to learn together. That’s what I think is the magic about this space.”