- THE CAPITAL TIMES Thursday, October 2, 1997 Police Services releases sketch of suspected purse thief Journalism Students Enter Work Force Employers ask, how about experience? No Article Available No Article Available Leadership Workshop fosters coordination, cooperation By Stephanie L. Kardohely Capital Times Staff It's not every day you get to hear Dr. Bruhn sing, but Dr. Bruhn along with a talented group of students performed their own unique rendi tion of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" for fellow participants in the Leadership '97 Mini Work shop held in the CUB on Saturday, September 20th. This workshop was designed to foster team building skills in Penn State Students. It was also the first activity co-planned and attended by representatives from both the Schuylkill and Harrisburg Campus locations. Janet Widoff, Student Activities Coordinator for the Har risburg Campus noted that the Workshop was planned through meetings at both campus locations. The theme of this fall's work shop was Together Each Achieves More or TEAM. Ali Rhodes, As sistant to the Director of Student Affairs at the Schuylkill Campus said, "Students were happy about coming to see the [Harrisburg] cam pus. A team, that's what we're really trying to create between the campuses." Workshop participants were en couraged to find and get to know their counterparts from clubs and organizations on the opposite cam pus. Karl Martz, Coordinator of Ca reer Services at Penn State Harris burg explains why the concept of team building is important to stu dents. "Team building, team skills...these are skills you can learn and take with you when you leave. Every employer is looking Campus construction, headaches begin with October groundbreaking No Article Available for team players," says Martz. Workshop facilitator Maryann Leidigh would second that state ment. In addition to working as Adjunct Instructor in Behavioral Sciences and Education, Leidigh does consulting for area businesses where she addresses topics ranging from stress management to super visory skills to team building. "Companies need people who know team skills rather than just paying them lip service." asserts Leidigh. Leidigh gave participants four goals for the workshop: to have fun, to be open to sharing ideas, to network with other participants, and to take one new idea away from the workshop and apply it to something in their lives. Penn State Harrisburg student Lisa Coley, a junior accounting major will have a chance to take the skills she learned back to her clubs and organizations. A mem ber of IMASC (International Man agement Accounts Student Chap ter), CCF (Capitol Christian Fel lowship), and BSU (Black Student Union), Coley says she has "learned the importance of getting to know what the members of a group are about and how to play on their strengths; and strategies to get per sons who are not interested in par ticipating in a group to become involved." From ice breakers to working to gether to solve puzzles, partici pants had a chance to experience the dynamics of working in small groups and learning to recognize the unique strengths each person can contribute. Unfortunately, not all groups of people work well together. In many groups conflicts and misunder standings overshadow any achieve ment. "It is important to realize not everyone in a group shares the same goal. You may be there to get an 'A' and someone else may not care." says Leidigh. Leidigh and conference participants discussed ways of establishing concrete group goals and communicating inten tions and expectations to increase group participation and effective ness. At the end of the day Leidigh proved that teamwork can, above all, be fun. Groups were given cups, crayons, scissors and paper towel rolls and asked to brainstorm in small groups about what they could create. From elevated highways to playgrounds and the performance of "Old McDonald" with voice and cardboard instruments, each group exhibited it's unique poten tial. "This is my favorite activity." says Leidigh. "Too often we set rigid rules for ourselves, but here, given the same circumstances, the same materials, they took ideas and ran with them." Because par ticipants were given a chance to get to know group members during the course of the workshop, they were comfortable brainstorming any number of ideas. "Everyone came up with a vari ety of ideas. Teamwork is out there now and here to stay," says Leidigh. Leadership Workshop '9B is planned for February 7th. Con tinuing the theme of team build ing, community, government, and business leaders will be invited to speak to students about teamwork in their careers.
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