University Human Resources

July Professional Development Updates

This July, we are focusing on effective decision-making, the ability to make thoughtful, timely, and well-reasoned choices when faced with competing priorities, uncertainty, or limited information. Strong decision-making is not about always having perfect clarity. It is about using the best available information, considering trade-offs, and moving forward with intention.

In today’s work environment, decisions are often made in real time with input from multiple sources and changing conditions. Effective decision-making helps you stay grounded in those moments by applying critical thinking, experience, and context to choose a clear path forward.

It also involves knowing when to decide quickly, when to gather additional input, and when to pause to reassess. The goal is not perfection but progress supported by clarity, reasoning, and accountability.

Featured Talk: The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar

Sheena Iyengar explores how people make choices and why decision-making can sometimes feel overwhelming. She breaks down how we can structure choices more effectively and avoid common pitfalls such as decision fatigue and overthinking.

Watch the TED Talk (20 mins)

After watching, consider:

  • What patterns influence how you make decisions at work?
  • When do you tend to overthink versus decide quickly?
  • How can you simplify complex choices without losing important context?
  • Where might involving others improve your decisions?

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Explore these LinkedIn Learning courses to strengthen your decision-making skills:

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

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (Virtual) - Leadership Certification Program Course
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Elevate leadership from reactive to intentional by mastering self-regulation, reading social cues, leveraging empathy, and building a high-trust, collaborative culture.

Building & Sustaining Psychological Safety (In Person) - Leadership Certification Program Course
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Create a culture of courage by fostering psychological safety, encouraging risk-taking, amplifying diverse ideas, and building trust for high-performing teams.

Driving Conflict Resolution and Mediation as a Leader (In Person) - Leadership Certification Program Course
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Turn conflict into growth by facilitating healthy debate, de-escalating tensions, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and challenger safety.

Coaching for Success and Improvement (Virtual) - Leadership Certification Program Course
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Drive high performance by tailoring coaching to individual strengths, addressing underperformance with integrity, and turning every interaction into a growth opportunity.

To register or learn more, visit the UHR events website

Recommended Reads from the LDE Lending Library

This month’s selections focus on how we think through problems and make choices in work and life.

  • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Explores how people make decisions using both intuitive and analytical thinking, and how cognitive biases influence judgment.
  • Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: Provides practical strategies for avoiding common decision traps and improving clarity when making difficult choices.

Visit our virtual LDE Lending Library to explore and check out these titles or others.

Explore LDE Next Level

Leverage this self-paced course to strengthen your decision-making and analytical thinking:

  • Fundamentals of Problem-Solving: Learn a simple five-step process for solving problems that anyone can use. You’ll then explore strategies and habits that make problem-solving easier. Finally, you’ll get practical tips for dealing with challenges and obstacles as they arise.

LDE’s Quick Tip of the Month

Before making an important decision, pause and run through this quick check:

  • What problem am I actually trying to solve?
  • What information do I have and what is missing?
  • What are the likely outcomes of each option?
  • Who else should I involve before moving forward?

Using a structured approach can reduce uncertainty, improve clarity, and support more confident decisions.