University Human Resources

October Professional Development Updates

This October, we are exploring the theme Better Together. Everyday success, big or small, relies heavily on how well we connect, communicate, and navigate differences across our teams. This theme centers on essential interpersonal skills for every role: practicing active listening, understanding unique work styles, expressing ideas clearly, and approaching difficult workplace conversations with calm and clarity.

For individual contributors, strengthening everyday collaboration makes routine interactions smoother and builds stronger workplace partnerships. For managers, it fosters an environment of psychological safety where team members feel supported, heard, and aligned.

Featured Talk: 10 Ways to have a Better Conversation by Celeste Headlee

Veteran interviewer Celeste Headlee shares practical insights into the ingredients of meaningful dialogue: honesty, brevity, clarity, and genuine listening. She lays out simple, high-impact strategies, from avoiding multitasking to asking open-ended questions, that help us set aside personal assumptions, navigate differences, and make every conversation count.

Watch the TED Talk (11 mins)

After watching, consider:

  • Which of Celeste’s 10 rules could immediately improve your daily interactions with colleagues?
  • How does setting aside the need to "win" an argument create a safer space for open, honest workplace collaboration?
  • What small shift can you make today to focus less on preparing your response and more on truly understanding others?

Featured LDE Next Level Digital Course

Take your learning further with our self-paced, on-demand course library:

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Leading From Where You Are

Please Note: To participate in Leading From Where You Are sessions, complete your program enrollment and An Orientation to Leading From Where You Are before registering for individual courses.

Leadership Certification Program

  • Building & Sustaining Psychological Safety (Virtual)
    Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    Create a culture of courage by fostering psychological safety, encouraging risk-taking, amplifying diverse ideas, and building trust.
  • Coaching for Success and Improvement (Virtual)
    Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    Drive high performance by tailoring coaching to individual strengths, addressing underperformance with integrity, and turning interactions into growth opportunities.
  • Navigating Workplace Conflict (Virtual) 
    Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    Transform potential disputes into productive conversations by managing tension, understanding underlying interests, and finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Recommended Reads from the LDE Lending Library

This month’s selections focus on enhancing connection and navigating conversations with confidence:

  • The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher: Provides simple, highly tactical communication habits to break defensive patterns, stay in control of your reactions, and turn everyday workplace friction into productive dialogue.
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Joseph Grenny et al.: Offers practical strategies to keep calm, express thoughts clearly, and achieve positive outcomes during high-stakes or sensitive workplace conversations.
  • You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy: Pairs seamlessly with our featured TED Talk, diving into the science and art of active listening to build deeper workplace connections and mutual understanding.

Explore these titles and use our request system via the LDE Lending Library.

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Explore these LinkedIn Learning courses to strengthen your workplace relationships, communication, and collaboration:

LDE’s Quick Tip of the Month

The Communication Pause. Before entering a meeting or difficult conversation, take 10 seconds to ask yourself: "What communication style will serve this interaction best?" Adapting your approach to match the listener's needs leads to clearer alignment and far better outcomes.