Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 1

EMPLOYEES’ NEWSLETTER

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 2

Inside This Issue

2 Farewell to our HR Director

3 Inspiration from Around the Web

4 Upcoming EU Classes

5 Empower Dates

6 Open Enrollment (Benefits)

7 Coaching Skills for Business & Work

8 Skillsoft Courses

9 Tech Tips: Word

10 What we are Reading

11 Events

Dr. Leonie Mattison EdD. MBA

The Human Resources Department Wishes Our Director, Lori Gentles, a Warm Farewell and Best Wishes on Her Future Endeavors.

For the past three years Lori has provided leadership and direction for our team, enabling us to deliver on many key HR initiatives, including:

o Supporting Joe Pisano and the Employee Relations team as they negotiated various Employee and Family Friendly Policies (Organ Donor, Winter Holiday)

o Developed a Civil and Respectful Workplace Policy o Implemented New Policies to Support Employees Impacted by the

Thomas Fire and Montecito Mud Slides o Completed a Comprehensive Total Compensation Study for

Benchmark Positions o Digitized and Automated Various Processes (E-verification,

Personnel Files) o Coordinated Annual High Quality Leadership Education (Congress)

for Unrepresented Management One of the legacies she leaves us with is the principle of Essentialism, as defined by Greg McKeown: the disciplined pursuit of doing less but better. Lori introduced us to McKeown’s book, which has since influenced other processes throughout the organization and led to McKeown’s keynote remarks at the 2018 Leadership Congress. We will miss her leadership, energy, enthusiasm, and adventurous spirit. Don’t miss Open Enrollment 10/15/18 - 11/04/18; details on page 6. Check out our upcoming EU classes such as Outstanding Customer Service, Communication Fundamentals, and Court Practice and Legal Terminology to enhance and build your skills. The Employees’ University (EU) Division of SBCHR is committed to cultivating a culture of learning where all employees have the tools, resources, and support to develop your authentic self, achieve your career goals, and fulfill your passion for positively impacting our community through public service.

Happy Learning - See you in November!

Dr. Leonie Mattison, EdD. MBA Director of Organizational Transformation and Leadership

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 3

A toothy grin is always fun to see on your pumpkins, but why not mix it up this year? These creative designs will give you the best jack-o’-lantern in the neighborhood. Good Housekeeping will help you make these easy yet fun pumpkin carvings!

We’ve spent weeks----maybe months counting down to the first day of fall. Now that our favorite season is almost here, we’ve complied a complete list of fun activities that will ensure you have the best fall yet!

Bring out the best in you by baking or cooking these terrifying but oh so delicious recipes from Tastemade

From The Positivity Blog:

from Entrepreneur.com Halloween Costume Ideas for the Whole Family.

• The Incredibles: Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Jack Jack, Dash, and Violet • Despicable Me: Gru, Minions • Inside Out: Fear, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust • Harry Potter: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid • Disney Villains: Jafar, Syndrome, Malefiecient, Ursula • Star Wars: Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Rey, Finn, Han Solo, Chewbacca • Toy Story: Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie • Popeye’s Crew: Popeye, Olive Oyl, Sweet Pea • The Monster Family: Frankenstein, Vampire, Mummy, The Werewolf • The Ghostbusters with a ghost • Angry Birds

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 4

PAGE 4

October EU classes – Sign Up Now!

IP 232 Outstanding Customer Service (All Staff) This course covers in depth, the three crucial skill sets needed to deliver outstanding customer service and increase customer satisfaction. Learn how to build winning relationships, provide the right assistance of the right times, and effectively handle angry customers. We will also share ways to find out what your customers really think about your service, and use their feedback to improve.

October 10, 2018 (WED) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Santa Barbara

OP-615 Intermediate SBC Accounting (All Staff) This class will cover method, procedures, and accounting systems used by COSB, including an update of current government accounting issues and the latest GASB pronouncement(s) that may affect County accounting policy and procedure. Topics covered: the accounting side of the county payroll cycle including the payroll system and its links to FIN; the County’s periodic month/quarter/year end cycles, deadlines, and department responsibilities, FIN Web, web training on reports, tips and tricks with templates and eForms, and getting the most out of the search page.

October 11, 2018 (THU) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Santa Maria

IP-375 Business Writing Fundamentals (All Staff) Discover the secrets to effective business writing and crafting messages that other want to read and act on. This course will introduce you to the 10 C’s of strong business communications and provide you with before-and-after writing samples that give you the opportunity to apply each principle and sharpen your communication skills. We point out common grammar and writing mistakes and share special considerations for formats like emails and reports.

October 17, 2018 (WED) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Santa Maria

LD-420 From Manager to Leader (Managers & Supervisors) Shift your mindset from manager/supervisor to leader. Enhance your personal growth by increasing your self-awareness and emotional intelligence, expanding your strategic scope, and identifying and cultivating top talent.

October 18, 2018 (THU) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Santa Barbara

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 5

CT-305 Excel 1 Basics: From the Ground Up

Microsoft Excel has become one of the most powerful business tools in today’s workplace, but if you’re not familiar with its basic functions, formulas, commands, and keystrokes, you’re setting yourself up for frustration. Excel 1 covers the toolbar, shortcuts, cell selection (different cursors), editing data, formatting worksheets, autofill, and more!

October 19, 2018 (FRI) 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Santa Barbara

OP-511 Introduction to the California Legal Systems This class will review the criminal justice system and the identification of each sub-system (law enforcement, judicial, and corrections), including the roles and responsibilities of each and how they interact with each other; criminal and civil laws, including the processing of criminal defendants from the original arrest through court process and the judge’s sentencing options; and comparison of criminal and civil cases, including the different processes involved in each type of case.

October 23, 2018 (TUE) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Santa Barbara

OP-515 Court Practices and Legal Terminology This course provides participants with a view of Federal and State court processes, as well as the legal procedures involved from arrangement to the sentencing hearing including: the roles of trial and appellate court judges, constitutional principles, etc. This course will benefit anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of the legal system.

October 30, 2018 (TUE) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Santa Maria

IP-240 Communication Fundamentals (All Staff) Effective communication is more than what you say. Make your message more impactful, and get the results you want in work and life. In this course, we walk you through strong and clear communication strategies that will help you improve your listening, your message, your delivery, and your effectiveness.

October 31, 2018 (WED) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Santa Maria

EMPOWER RETIREMENT (Individual Appointments)

Employees’ University – Valley Room 267 Camino Del Remedio, Santa Barbara Oct 10 Wednesday Call for appt: (800) 382-8924

Board of Supervisors Hearing Room 511 E. Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria Oct 17 Wednesday Call for appt: (800) 382-8924

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 6

PAGE 6

DON’T FORGET – OPEN ENROLLMENT IS 10/15/18 – 11/04/18

You can make changes to plans via BenXcel during this time period. Employee Benefits would like to invite all Santa Barbara County employees to one of the following Open Enrollment meetings. This year, we will be highlighting the various County benefits that are available to you at no cost and that you may be unaware of. We hope all employees take the opportunity to come to one of our Open Enrollment meetings and talk with out Employee Benefits staff and carrier representatives.

Santa Barbara October 15 10:30 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Public Health Auditorium

300 N. San Antonio Rd Santa Barbara October 16 10:30 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Admin Building

1st Floor Planning Hearning Room 105 E. Anapamu St

Lompoc October 17 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Veterans Memorial Building 100 E. Locust Ave.

Santa Maria October 18 10:30 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Workforce Center 1410 S. Broadway

Santa Maria October 19 10:30 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Board of Supervisors Conference Room 511 E. Lakeside Parkway

Why attend?

• See what’s new for 2019 • Learn about the no-cost benefits programs availble to you • Find out how you can save on maintenance medications • Obtain information on how to reduce surgery costs • Have yourbenefits questions answered • Register to WIN on of our donated raffle prizes

Flu and pneumonia shots will be available at the Open Enrollment meetings. You must bring your Express Scripts ID card (Low EPO, High EPO or PPO Plan) or Blue Shield ID Card (HDHP) with you in order to get a free flu or pneumonia vaccination. Note that there are certain FDA guidelines in order to receive a pneumonia vaccine.

Tuition-Free Learning at SBCC

Sign up for one of the following tuition-free classes in business, design, and technology under the AEBG Passport Program/SBCC School of Extended Learning.

• Change is the New Constant October 11 (8:30-4:30pm) • Best Practice in Customer Service October 16 (8:30-4:30pm) • Leadership Skills October 17 (8:30-4:30pm) • Assertive Communication October 18 (8:30-4:30pm) • Personalized Career Planning October 20 to October 27 (9:00-1:00pm) • Difficult Conversations October 24 (8:30-4:30pm)

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 7

Coaching Skills/Tips for Business and Work 10 Coaching Skills Every Leader Should Master As more and more companies realize the benefits of hiring a coach, they also realize the benefits of incorporating a coach methodology into the management style of their leaders. After all, there’s a difference between simply telling employees what to do and working with them on a professional development. The Biz Library has some good tips on connecting with your employees and modeling desirable behavior in

their article 7 Coaching Tips for Leaders and Managers.: ASK GOOD QUESTIONS Great questions lead to great answers, and great answers lead to great conversations. As a manager or leader, it is critical that you develop strong relationships with your employees. This will help you determine if your employees are curious, have the capacity to perform and improve, and have a positive attitude. TAKE A POSITIVE APPROACH You should always try to maintain a positive outlook on things, even in tough situations. A positive attitude toward situations will help both you and the person you’re coaching respond and react in a way that fosters positive change! COMMIT TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING. Make a commitment to improve your own skills and competencies. If you’re not continuously learning, why should your employees? Lead by example and your team will follow. Show that you are interested in their success (why wouldn’t you be?). Ask questions about where they see their career going, or how they see their role evolving in the company. Even if they don’t have a plan laid out yet, these questions will make them think about their career and what they want to accomplish within the organization. Show your employees that you don’t just want them to do better so you look better, but that you’re actively interested in their career, accomplishments, and professional success. COACH IN THE MOMENT Learning is best when things are occurring in the moment. If an employee comes to you with a question about a process or protocol, use this opportunity to teach them something new. Most people learn best by doing, so coach as you got if you’re busy at the moment. Try to schedule some time for later that day. They will appreciate that you took the time to show them how it’s done, and they can now coach others who have the same question. Additional websites here: 5 Essential Skills for Successful Coaching by INC. You Can’t Be a Great Manager without Being a Great Coach from HBR

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 8

Internal Customer Service

Do you know who your customers are? In a customer-focused company, everyone knows they are responsible for excellent external customer service, but who meets the needs of internal customers? Whether you realize it or not, when you do things to help other people within your company do their jobs better, you are providing internal customer service. Internal customer service occurs every time you or a colleague requires information or a service from someone else within the company, and the quality of that service often has a huge impact on the overall quality of service delivered to external customers. This course explores who internal customers are, the expectations placed on serving internal customers, and how to treat your coworkers as you would your external customers Objectives

• recognize internal customers and internal customer service providers in a given example

• recognize the importance of identifying your internal customer service relationships

• identify a process to deliver on your internal customers' needs

• identify ways to develop an internal customer service attitude

Course time: 1 hour

Personal Productivity: Self-

organization and Overcoming Procrastination

How is organization related to procrastination? In fact, the two often go hand in hand. A lack of organization, coupled with a tendency to procrastinate, can be a vicious cycle. Becoming disciplined, setting priorities, and eradicating time-wasting activities can reduce the desire to put things off. The key to becoming your most productive self is to embrace organization and to overcome procrastination. This course introduces you to ways of becoming organized to help you accomplish more with the hours you have. It examines the common reasons for procrastination and ways you can overcome them in the workplace. Overcoming the desire to procrastinate can be aided by implementing a strong system of organization. The course presents ways to develop the discipline required to get things done, guidance on setting priorities, as well as approaches to overcommitment. Objectives

• recognize the causes of workplace procrastination

• recognize the benefits of overcoming procrastination

• recognize ways to develop discipline in a given scenario

• recognize how to set priorities and keep focused

Course time: 1 hour

Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence By: Erica Dhawzn Strategist Erica Dhawan argues that the game changer is a thoroughly modern skill called Connectional Intelligence (CxQ). In this this dynamic, engaging, high-energy, fast-paced keynote Dhawan will help participants understand the practice of using connectional intelligence as the key to professional success and leadership in the 21st century.

How to Say No By: Gisele Shelley Although most people say “yes” when asked for help, there are valid reasons for saying “no”—and in some cases, declining a request actually means more than accepting it. Self-Awareness as a Tool for Productivity By: Nicole A. Lipkin Tired of productivity tips that never seem to work? There’s a reason. Productivity starts with self-awareness and figuring out what works for you, not what works for everyone else.

Customer Service Course Featured Soft Skills Course Leadership Channel

Skillsoft Login

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 9

Auto-Generate Nonsense Text If you ever just need to add some place filler text into a document, Word has your back. There’s an auto Lorem Ipsum generator that allows you to create a custom chuck of Latin text. Just type =lorem(p,l) and replace the “p” with the number of paragraphs you want, and “l” with the number of sentences. Place the cursor to the end of the equation and hit Enter. Conversely, you can also just include one number in the parentheses and it will create that many paragraphs. If you have something against the ancient Romans, you can also use random Office documentation as the source material for your place filler. Instead of “lorem,” use “rand,” so the equation is =rand(p,l). Hit enter, and boom! Write Text Anywhere. An-y-where! You can use word to easily place text anywhere on the page. Just click twice on any place on the page and Word will allow you to start typing there. Word automatically inserts hard returns and tabs to allow you to enter text.

Show Hidden Characters If you are working on a complex document with different styles, columns, and formats, you might soon find that something seems a little… off; perhaps an extra space between paragraphs or excess spaces in the middle of sentences. The best way to see what’s going on is to make all the invisible marks (hard returns, soft returns, tabs, spaces) visible. To turn this function on and off press Ctrl-Shift-8 (on a Mac it’s Command-

8.)If you need more help with formatting, sign up for a Word Productivity class at the EU! Our instructor Vince Wong knows all the Microsoft tricks.

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 10

PAGE 10

Connectional Intelligence unlocks the 21st-century secret to getting "big things done," regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you do. We typically associate success and leadership with smarts, passion and luck. But in today's hypercompetitive world, even those gifts aren't enough. Get Big Things Doneargues that the game changer is a thoroughly modern skill called Connectional Intelligence. Virtually anyone can maximize his or her potential, and achieve breakthrough performance, by developing this crucial ability. So, what is it? Put simply, Connectional Intelligence is the ability to combine knowledge, ambition and human capital, forging connections on a global scale that create unprecedented value and meaning. As radical a concept as Emotional Intelligence was in the 90s, Connectional Intelligence is changing everything from business and sports to academics, health and politics by quickly, efficiently and creatively helping people enlist supporters, drive innovation, develop strategies and implement solutions to big problems. Can a small-town pumpkin grower affect the global food crisis? A Fortune 500 executive change her company's outdated culture through video storytelling? A hip-hop artist launch an international happiness movement? Or a scientist use virtual reality games to lower pain for burn victims? The answer, you'll read, is a resounding yes. Each of these individuals is using Connectional Intelligence to become a power player to get big things done. Erica Dhawan and Saj-nicole Joni's Get Big Things Done unlocks the secrets of how the world's movers and shakers use Connectional Intelligence to achieve their personal and professional goals--no matter how ambitious. Book summary from Amazon.com

Get Big things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence by Erica Dhawan and Saj-nicole Joni

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 11

Boo at the Zoo

When: October 19-21, 2018 Where: Santa Barbara Zoo Website: Santa Barbara Zoo The Zoo transforms for three nights of safe, traffic-free trick-or-treating for monster-ons thrills and chills including a Trick or Treat Trail, Boo-Choo-Choo train rides, Creepy Crawly encounters, spooky storytelling, goblin games, and more. It is one of the most popular family Halloween festivals in the tri-countries area.

The Great Grape Stomp at Kalyra Winery

When: October 13, 2018 Where: Kalyra Winery

Admission: $30.00 per person Website: The Kalyra Winery

Voted the Central Coast’s best grape stomp event, Kalyra is hosting it’s 16th Grape Stomp on October 13th, 2018. A day for the entire

family filled with music, food trucks, wine (for 21+) and of course GRAPE STOMPING. Open to the public and members. This event sells out every year so don’t delay in getting tickets early!

Division of Human Resources ORGANIZATION TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Page | 12

PAGE 12

Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival

When: October 14, 2018 Where: Santa Barbara Harbor

Admission: Free! Website: Harbor Festival

Coinciding with the start of lobster season, the Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival

on Saturday, October 14 features fresh, sustainable seafood caught in the Santa Barbara Channel by dozens of local fishermen. A variety of Santa Barbara delicacies will be showcased, from lobster to sea urchin (“uni”). Don’t miss the giant paella pan---it may just be the largest you’ve ever seen. The festival features live music, Santa Barbara wine and seafood pairings at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, tall ship tours, free boat rides, and more!