Upcoming Events

Rethinking Leadership for the Modern Workforce

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

We will highlight five “old school” leadership approaches that might be damaging your organization and offer practical solutions for future.

Supporting First Generation Employees

Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

Being the first in one’s family to attend a four-year college where neither parent graduated from college can have a lasting effect, both in college and after graduation. Coupled with the feeling of being an Imposter, like you really don’t belong, can also haunt us in the workplace. This session will examine what it means to be a first-generation college graduate who has experienced the Imposter Phenomenon and how that can continue to impact us in our careers. We will examine tips and strategies to overcome these ghosts of our past and gain an understanding of the universality of these conjoined statuses. Whether you are in a position of being a First-generation Imposter or in a position to help someone who is, this session is for you!

Past Sessions from 2022 - 2023 Season

Mindfulness and Cognitive Function

Thursday, March 23, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

The widespread popularity of mindfulness is growing exponentially. However, what do we really know about how it can help us stay focused, resist distraction, and bounce back from mistakes? What is more - what is really meant by the term “mindfulness”? In this talk, Dr. Moser will review findings from our lab in the Neuroscience Program of the Department of Psychology as well as those of others to bear on these questions. Dr. Moser will highlight some promising results as well as the limits of our knowledge so far, with our enthusiasm likely outpacing the scientific knowledge base.

Distinguishing Between Functional and Dysfunctional Conflict

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

Because conflict is inevitable in teams, leading teams successfully requires the ability to manage and resolve conflict. However, not all conflicts are alike. Debating or arguing over ideas can improve those ideas and ensure that the best ideas are selected. But when people take criticism and disagreement personally, conflict can also derail team performance. This session will help leaders differentiate between functional and dysfunctional conflict and provide tips on how to encourage functional conflict while managing dysfunctional conflict.

High Performance Systems and Teams

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

Amidst the ‘great resignation’ and frequent labor shortages, businesses are increasingly challenged in staying competitive in product and service markets. Businesses that adopt High-Performance Work Systems can achieve a strategic advantage by enhancing employees’ contributions to product or service value addition. This online event will be focused on explaining how a business can design and implement a high-performance work system to create a skilled, committed, and versatile workforce that is responsive to market demands.

Improving Well-Being Outcomes for Veterans

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

There are many unique populations in businesses. This includes persons with disabilities and Veterans. They may bring many unique perspectives to your business and work. We can learn how to be resilient from Veterans and Persons with Disabilities. We can also help persons with disabilities and Veterans be healthier and happier via employment. With this talk, you will learn these unique populations, positive psychology, and employment as public health interventions.

This topic is presented by Emre Umucu, Ph.D, a partner in the V³ Lab. The V³ Lab, a lab dedicated to improving veteran well-being, recently received funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to improve health care access and services for veterans and caregivers living in rural areas. This work is an excellent example of how MSU collaborates with our community partners such as the Michigan Center for Rural Health, Battle Creek VA Medical Center and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. This project was highlighted by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who said, “Our service members put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we must ensure they have the support they need when they come home. It is vitally important that we support all of our veterans, especially our underserved veteran populations. This includes making sure they have access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services throughout Michigan.”

Come join us to learn what you can do, as an employer and/or colleague, to improve well-being for veterans and unique populations that work in your organization.

The Burden of Responsibility

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

Having self-control has been noted as a highly desirable trait, as those with high self-control are more successful in their personal and professional lives. However, might there also be some downsides to being highly disciplined? In this Business and Bagels event, we explore the possibility that having high self-control may also have some interpersonal costs, leading individuals to become burdened by others’ reliance. During this virtual event, Christy Zhou Koval, Ph.D., will present her work on the interpersonal dynamics of self-control followed by some time for you to ask her questions and / or share your experience about being relied on by others.

Does Accountability Really Matter?

September 20, 2022 | 8 - 9:15 a.m.

We are very excited to invite Angela Hall, Ph.D., a top researcher in accountability, to share her work during our first Business and Bagels of the season! Do you know the impact of accountability? Accountability is not only an organizational requirement, but also a perceptual lens that can be used to observe and understand behavior in, and of, organizations. Join us to learn how accountability is positively related to political skill, core self-evaluations, an internal locus of control, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extraversion, as well as negatively related to trait and state anxiety and negative affect. In our first Business and Bagels of the year, come learn about accountability and its impact on your organization. During this virtual event, Angela Hall will present her work followed by some time for you to ask her questions and/or share your experience with accountability.

Improving Workflows and Reducing Friction

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 | 8 – 9:15 a.m. ET

In normal times, maintaining long-term focus in the face of day-to-day challenges can be difficult. In recent years, the sea of changes we have experienced demand both crisis navigation and a rethinking of the long-term destination for your organization. With information technology redefining operations in almost every industry, managing the “business process” has become more essential than ever. Business Process Management (BPM) is a critical skillset for analysts who design the way work is performed and for managers who must ensure ongoing process improvement. This webinar will address BPM’s role in reshaping and executing strategy.