You heard about this initiative at the retreat and now is your chance to join us! Open to all UMSOD Faculty and Staff (State and Corporate).
We’re recruiting! Open to all UMSOD Faculty and Staff (State and Corporate).
Goals:
- Be an ambassador for our community
- Get to know SOD leadership and engage in regular conversation with them
- Expand your SOD community by getting to know colleagues in your small group and others in the SGI program
Format:
- Commit to attend a monthly, in-person, hour-long meeting with 5 - 6 colleagues and an SGI Facilitator
- Spend 15 – 30 minutes prior to meetings reflecting on discussion material
- Talk about a brief reading, video, article, etc. with your small group
- One year participation
Anticipated start date:
- August 2024
Perks of involvement:
- Grow your sense of belonging and connection with the UMSOD
- Further the UMB Core Values through concrete actions
- Partner with colleagues to explore new ways to celebrate our community and promote our UMSOD mission
Interested? Please email: dentalsmallgroups@umaryland.edu
First and foremost, being a part of the SGI has encouraged me to be able to share my opinion and talk about it, while others listened. It has allowed me to hear, respect, and learn from others’ opinions, as well. I have met people that I didn’t know (who they were or what department they work in the building). It opened me up to hear what ideas and concerns they may have when it isn’t always clinical. I have developed relationships with colleagues outside of my clinical world.
Even though I knew the participants, there was certainly considerable trust-building through getting to know each other in more depth in a safe, intimate space. The information provided ahead of time was a labor of love - a lot of time and thought has gone into this evidence-based body of work. Reinforcing the institution’s core values is essential, as we may see them on posters in the garage each morning and when entering the school, but what do they really mean? The discussions helped us deepen our understanding and appreciation. Even when we could not make it, at times we would communicate our thoughts to my facilitator to share with the group. Many thanks for the opportunity!
Employee voice is not an isolated initiative and here at UMSOD it is included in our broader strategy through SGI. Creating opportunities for people to have an effective voice at work is a fundamental aspect of ensuring job quality. SGI allows a collective voice platform which significantly influences employee engagement. Within my group we have been able to motivate, clarify misunderstandings, educate and support each other while working toward improving our workplace.
