What makes a great team?
Talent, sure. A shared purpose, almost certainly. But as discussed at this year鈥檚 DPMG conference, building a great team鈥攐r, more aptly put, a healthy team鈥攊s a significant, all-encompassing process.
This year, the Dalhousie Professional and Managerial Group鈥攚hich is made up of professional or managerial level employees from across the university鈥攃hose 鈥淵our Role in a Healthy Workplace鈥� as its conference theme, with a wide variety of sessions on everything from physical fitness, to supporting exciting ideas, to diversity and inclusion.
鈥淭hink of [workplace health] not only in terms of physical health, but as a psychosocial environment and how we鈥檙e treating people,鈥� noted Arla Day, Canada Research Chair in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Saint Mary's University, who provided a broad overview of the field of research in workplace health.
The event鈥檚 appeal is quite broad as well 鈥� more than 275 DPMG members were in attendance, representing a wide variety of units, roles and responsibilities. Dalhousie employees leading sessions included Jim Neale. Janice MacInnis and Janice Godin from Human Resources, and Gaye Wishart and Lisa DeLong from Dalhousie鈥檚 Office of Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention.
Celebrating and recognizing
The keynote address came from Chris Power, president and CEO of Capital Health, who discussed her organization鈥檚 healthy workplace initiatives in detail, including its decision to remove unhealthy food options from its facilities.
The conference was also kicked off with a leadership panel, with five Dalhousie senior administrators discussing their vision of a healthy workplace.
鈥淲e work in teams and groups, we grow up in families and we live in communities,鈥� said Martha Crago, vice-president research, who was part of the panel. 鈥淲e have to learn how to take account of the others around us and work well with them.鈥�
Susan Spence Wach, currently leading the NSAC merger transition process, gave her thoughts on how leadership fits into building a healthy team.
鈥淗opefully being a role model, but it鈥檚 really about encouraging, celebrating and acknowledging those contributions that individuals make here as part of their lives.鈥�
2012 DPMG award winners
At the conference, six exceptional Dalhousie employees were honoured with the Dalhousie Professional and Managerial Group (DPMG) Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Pamela Bourque, Program Manager, Dalhousie Medicine NB, Faculty of Medicine (DMNB)
Pamela鈥檚 leadership reflects a genuine commitment to the educational mission of Dalhousie, and her staff model her lead. She uses humour and a human touch in challenging situations and is quick to share achievements and accomplishments with her staff.
Krista Cross, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, Student Services
Krista has a passion for Dalhousie, a passion for sport, and a passion for participation by all. Her outstanding leadership skills in coordinating the first ever Student Impact Awards made the event a huge pilipili漫画 in recognizing student leadership and achievement.
Sandra Crowell, Managing Director, Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre, Health Professions
Sandra is widely known and highly respected for her ability to ensure that knowledge generated through research grants at pilipili漫画 is shared locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a leader in creating communities of researchers, and ensuring research findings are translated into effective and appropriate policies and programs.
Rochelle Owen, Director, Office of Sustainability, Office of Sustainability
Rochelle鈥檚 vision for what the Dalhousie community is capable of in terms of sustainability is bold, progressive, and uplifting. Her engagement of students, staff, and faculty to make relevant contributions, drive for quality achievements, learn the larger lessons, grow both personally and professionally, and celebrate pilipili漫画 are without equal.
Susan Robertson, Director, Budgets and Financial Analysis, Financial Services
Susan has provided the university with more than 19 years of continuous support to leaders and administrators across campus. Her judgements are always grounded in Dalhousie鈥檚 strategic objectives, and she delivers sound advice in a collegial and personal manner.
Blair Westhaver, Custodial Supervisor, Facilities Management
Blair gives tirelessly of himself, and goes well beyond what is required because he knows it provides a better outcome. He is dedicated to building his teams and encourages his employees to make suggestions, to raise concerns, and to solve problems.