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Tools in 20

Tools in 20 sessions are 20-minute, interactive, virtual sessions that offer practical tools, tips, and techniques you can use right away. All are welcome - enroll today!

Not part of the UMD community? Email cloc@umd.edu.

All sessions are on Mondays from 2:00-2:20 p.m.

Date Description Workday Registration
June 23, 2025 Weathering the Storm: A Leadership Practice for Calmer Thinking and Better Decisions

Ever find yourself spinning in “what ifs”? This session offers a calm, structured way to think through challenges before they happen—helping you stay focused, lead more effectively, and make better decisions under pressure.

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July 21, 2025 Name it to Tame It: Emotional Granularity

Sharpen your emotional vocabulary and boost self-awareness by turning vague feelings into precisely named emotions you can understand—and actually do something with.

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August 18, 2025 "But That Wasn't What I Meant" - Aligning Intent with Impact

Good intentions can still cause unintended harm. Learn practical strategies to bridge the gap, improve communication, and foster more empathetic and effective interactions.

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September 22, 2025 Changing Lanes: From Judger to Learner

Explore the Choice Map and learn how to shift from a reactive Judger mindset to a curious Learner mindset using questions that transform your thinking, relationships, and results.

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October 20, 2025 Balcony and Dance Floor: The Power of Perspective

Learn how to shift between big-picture thinking and on-the-ground action—and leave with practical tools you can use anytime to gain clarity and make more intentional choices.

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November 17, 2025 Start with Connection: The Power of a Good Check-In

A thoughtful check-in question can do more than fill time; in this session, you’ll learn how to craft and select check-in prompts that match your meeting goals and help everyone feel seen and ready to engage.

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December 8, 2025 "Great Job!" - Meaningful Recognition at Work

Unlock the power of appreciation and learn how specific, meaningful recognition can strengthen relationships, boost morale, and make your feedback truly stick.

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January 26, 2026 Facilitator's Toolkit: Pro Tips for Encouraging Engagement

Explore a few simple tools that make all the difference in engaging your participants in meetings, workshops, or team retreats.

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February 23, 2026 Tiny Tweaks, Big Shifts

This bite-sized session walks you through the Four Laws of Behavior Change to help you create momentum with small, powerful habits.

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March 30, 2026 When We Agree to Disagree

Learn an efficient, more nuanced, inclusive approach to group decision making

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April 20, 2026 AMP Up Your Drive: 20 Minutes to Unleash Motivation

Ready to unlock what really drives us? In this session, we’ll unpack Daniel H. Pink’s AMP framework — Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose — and explore how these three keys can help you and your team thrive.

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May 18, 2026 Using the Language Wheel to Communicate Across Difference

Learn to use the Language Wheel to clarify your thinking and craft clear, complete messages for conversations where perspectives vary in a way that fosters greater understanding, connection, and respect.

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June 22, 2026 Don't Assign Tasks. Assign Authority

Re-assessing how we, as leaders, delegate, based on what decisions staff can make, rather than what tasks are to be completed, opens up new conversations and can lead to learning and development opportunities.

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