Facilities launches redesigned leadership program ‘The Art of Management’

This September, the Office of Facilities will launch an expanded and redesigned version of the successful “Management Essentials Program.” Now known as “The Art of Management,” the program is open to employees in Facilities and University Services. Participants will explore their leadership potential and develop the skills to build a motivational team culture and strengthen relationships across the University.  

Facilities and University Services are partnering to deliver this refreshed employee learning experience, creating opportunities to build cross-campus connections. The University’s cost-saving initiative provided a timely opportunity to reimagine the program’s structure and bring the teams together.

The three-day program, led by Paula Gallo, assistant director of talent development in the Office of the Vice President for Facilities, and Danielle Dennis, talent and organizational development manager in the Office of the Vice President for University Services, is open to employees from their respective departments nominated by senior leaders.

“Many things changed in this iteration of the program,” said Gallo. “We reshaped this cohort model into leadership-focused sessions that cultivate a stronger element of community and personal accountability.”

The inaugural version of the course aimed to support supervisors and people leaders who were new to managing direct reports, providing them with the basic principles and policies relevant to Facilities and the University. Now, the target audience has been expanded to include both new and experienced leaders, and the program will be offered twice a year, in the fall and spring semesters. 

“We feel empowered to develop content that is relevant to and benefits both groups,” said Gallo.

Gallo also noted that a standout feature of the program is the informal peer mentorship and relationship-building that occurs when “different generations” of employees learn from one another.

One of the outcomes Gallo and Dennis envision for the course is that it allows people to dissect, build and refine their leadership skills in community with others. “We want to maximize the time people have together and build connections,” said Dennis. In fact, the informal peer mentorship woven into the program has the potential to enrich participants’ professional journey long after the course has concluded.  

For Michelle Lee, finance and budget manager in Facilities Finance and Administrative Services, the pilot “Management Essentials Program” proved to be transformative. She credits the curriculum with deepening her confidence in her communication and presentation skills. 

“The last day of the training, we were asked to give a presentation to the group, which gave me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and reflect on my own management style,” said Lee.

The personality assessment Lee and other participants took during the program gave her an added awareness of her strengths. “My goal is to build a climate of support that gives my team independence while ensuring that their growth is nurtured,” said Lee. “I learned a lot about how to be aware of hierarchy in team dynamics, and how to use motivational language.”