The Future of Work at Brown will bring with it tremendous change in where and how Brown staff work. This Learning and Resources page has been built to help staff to successfully prepare for, plan and manage the changing work landscape. Topics will shift biweekly but will remain available through our archived pages. This page will be refreshed regularly with suggested eLearning modules, curated articles, featured TED talks and other relevant videos and podcasts. Whether you have 10 minutes, 45 minutes or more, there are self-directed learning or instructor-led sessions for everyone.

Our current topic is Effective Hybrid Meetings.

Visit our Upcoming Virtual Learning page to see what new instructor-led programs have been added for Spring 2022.

Quick Hits

(Each resource below takes 10 minutes or less.)

• Engage: "Leading Productive Meetings" by OpenSesame
• Watch: "How to Cope with Meeting Madness" TED Talk, Madeleine de Hauke
• Read: "Virtual meeting best practices: 7 ways to improve your remote meetings" Adeel Qayum for thedigitalworkplace.com

Tell Me More

(Each resource below takes 45 minutes or less.)

• Engage: "Leading Virtual Meetings" by Linkedin Learning
• Watch: "10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation" TED Talk, Celeste Headlee
• Read: "How to Have a Good Meeting" NY Times

Deeper Dive

Each resource below takes 50 minutes or more.)

• Engage: "Leading Productive Meetings" by LinkedIn Learning
  TD Tip! Also checkout “Leading Productive One-on-One Meetings” by LinkedIn Learning to learn how you maximize your time and impact during one-on-one meetings.
• Listen:  "A Meeting Makeover" "How you ask other people to spend their time is the most important power that you have." Brené Brown in conversation with Priya Parker
• Read: "What Great Listeners Actually Do" Harvard Business Review

In Their Own Words 

Storytelling is used by many cultures to pass on ideas, share histories, and, sometimes, teach life lessons. Regardless of how it’s used, storytelling helps us better understand the human condition through shared experience, showing that despite our differences, we are not so very different after all. (Stories from the Stage is produced by WORLD Channel). 

• This week’s story comes from Season 3, Episode 12, “On the Spot” (skip to 9:31) 
  Conversations that have the potential to change lives. “Anthony Azanon debates whether he should grant a stranger a simple favor.”
  https://worldchannel.org/episode/sfts-on-the-spot/ 

Additional Training Resources

A Manager's Guide to Reviewing Alternative Work Assignments (AWA) Requests:  Provides managers with high-level information about key AWA policy-related information, a suggested five-step process for focusing on the Future of Work and a step-by-step approach to planning a discussion surrounding an AWA denial. The module includes a downloadable worksheet for completing an equitable AWA review and concludes with key resource links.  

A Staff Guide to Writing An Effective Alternative Work Assignments (AWA) Request:  Provides staff with high-level information about key AWA policy-related information to inform an AWA request along with suggestions for writing an effective AWA request and three sample requests.  The module includes a downloadable worksheet for writing an effective AWA request and concludes with key resource links.

Visit the Wellness Programs website for instructor-led sessions covering a wide range of topics such as health, wellbeing and wellness. Topics related to the Future of Work and the transition to campus will be covered beginning in August.

Take advantage of Brown's Faculty & Staff Assistance Program for assistance with work/life balance, emotional wellbeing, caregiver support, and more.

Learn about other wellness and family support benefits on the Benefits Website.

previous topics

Empathy and Resilience

Quick Hits

• Engage: Health and Wellbeing: Wellbeing and Resilience Strategies - Part 1
  TD Tip! This course is the first part of a series. Use the Search for Available Learning feature in Workday Learning to enroll in Part 2 and Part 3.
• Watch: Brené Brown on Empathy vs Sympathy
• Read: "Empathetic Leadership: Returning to the Workplace," by Kye Hawkins 
  “How José Andrés Faces the Challenge of Feeding Millions” NY Times, “Sometimes very big problems, they have very simple solutions.” - José Andrés

Tell Me More

• Engage: Building Resilience
  ​TD Tip! Check out the awesome available resources for this course;  Learning Groups, Exercise Files, LinkedIn Certificates to show your achievement and even Continuing Education Unit for certification holders!
• Watch: “The routines, rituals and boundaries we need in stressful times.” TED Talk, Esther Perel
• “We’re experiencing an empathy shortage, but we can fix it together.” TED Talk, Jamil Zaki (13:02)
• Read: “What Makes Some People More Resilient Than Others” NY Times

Deeper Dive

• Engage: Enhancing Resilience
  TD Tip! Check out the awesome available resources for this course;  Learning Groups, Exercise Files, LinkedIn Certificates to show your achievement and even Continuing Education Unit for certification holders!
• Watch: “The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage” TED Talk, Susan David (16:39)
• Listen: “Cultivating Resilience and Emotional Agility” Susan David, Ph.D. on the Good Life Project Podcast
• Read: "What Is Resilience? Your Guide to Facing Life’s Challenges, Adversities, and Crises" by Katie Hurley, LCSW for everydayhealth.com
  “We Want to Travel and Party. Hold That Thought.” NY Times Opinion

In Their Own Words

Season 2, Episode 10, “Sugar & Spice”: Gastor Almonte goes above and beyond to satisfy his wife’s sweet cravings. (Note: This particular story begins at minute 2:37.)

Change and Transition

Quick Hits

• Engage: Aaron Dignan on Transformational Change

  TD Tip! Check out the first 8 minutes for insight on committing to a new way of working and changing how we change!

• Watch: “3 Ways to Measure Your Adaptability - and How to Improve It” TED Talk, Natalie Fratto
• Read: “3 Tools to Help Leaders Steady Their Teams During a Transition” Harvard Business Review

Tell Me More

• Engage: Preparing Yourself for Change

  TD Tip! We chose this course because it does a great job of quickly addressing the psychology of change and reframing our experience from surviving to thriving in change.

• Listen: “Embedding Change” The Change Management Podcast, Jul 24, 2020
• Read: “The Power to Change” David Michels and Kevin Murphy for Bain & Co.

Deeper Dive

• Engage: Change Management Foundations

  TD Tip! This course offers a palatable framework for change and transition, with great real-world examples in just 45 minutes! Check out downloadable exercise files in this course.

• Listen: “Managing Change as We Transition to the New Era of Work” Alex Fraser for  Hays Worldwide - Leadership Insights Podcast
• Read: “To Build Emotional Strength, Expand Your Brain” NY Times

In Their Own Words

• Season 4, Episode 11, “She Persisted": Joan Anderman learns that it’s never too late to radically change her life. (Note: This particular story begins at minute 17:39.)