April Professional Development Updates

This April, we are focusing on creativity and innovation. Innovation is not just for inventors or designers. It is a mindset that allows you to see problems differently, generate new ideas, and create opportunities in your work and life. This month is an invitation to explore curiosity, challenge assumptions, and embrace the what ifs that can spark meaningful change.

Creativity thrives when you give yourself permission to experiment, take risks, and see failures as stepping stones. Small creative experiments, like trying a new approach in a meeting, reframing a problem, or testing a bold idea, can reveal insights, build confidence, and lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

Featured Talk: The Art of Innovation by Linda Hill

Linda Hill, a leading expert in leadership and innovation, shares how organizations and individuals can cultivate creative thinking and collaborative innovation. She emphasizes that innovation grows when diverse ideas and perspectives come together, rather than relying on solo genius.

Watch the TED Talk (15 mins)

After watching, consider

How could you create an environment where colleagues feel safe to share bold ideas?
What assumptions about collaboration or problem-solving could you challenge this month?
Where could you experiment with new ways to combine different perspectives to generate creative solutions?

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Explore these LinkedIn Learning courses to strengthen your creative skills and innovative thinking

Creativity Boot Camp - A hands-on course with exercises to boost creative output and help learners explore new ways of generating ideas and innovative thinking.
Thinking Creatively - Covers behaviors and techniques that help individuals and teams broaden their thinking, overcome barriers, and generate original solutions.
Building Your Innovation Skills - Offers a step‑by‑step overview of innovation and how anyone can apply practical innovation processes in their role.

To access more LinkedIn Learning courses, go to Workday Learning, select Search for Available Learning, and filter by LinkedIn Learning under Content Type.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Management Essentials (Virtual Weekly Series)
April 15, 2026 - May 20, 2026 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Classes will meet on: April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, and May 20

This program is designed to provide a baseline of important information and skills for managers to become highly effective leaders and to successfully promote and lead engaged, connected, and productive work teams in today's work environment.

Please note: Registration closes 10 business days prior to the first session to ensure participants have enough time to complete the required prework.

Staff Essentials (In-Person)
April 13, 2026 & April 20 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The two-day Staff Essentials Program provides foundational knowledge and practical skills to help non-supervisory staff thrive in today’s dynamic work environment.

To register or learn more, visit the UHR events website.

Explore LDE Next Level

Leverage these self-paced courses to experiment with new ways of thinking and leading

Fundamentals of Problem-Solving - Learn how to turn imaginative ideas into actionable solutions and tackle challenges creatively

LDE’s Quick Tip of the Month

Pick one task or project this week and try a creative twist. For example

Reframe a recurring problem from a different perspective
Experiment with a new collaboration method
Test an unconventional approach to a familiar task

Afterward, reflect on what new insights emerged and which ideas you could develop further. By embracing small creative experiments, you will expand your confidence, generate fresh ideas, and build an innovation-friendly mindset.