Twenty-five Facilities/Construction Management employees who took part in the Dale Carnegie program graduated from the Effective Communications and Human Relations course.
All 25 participants graduated, which the course instructor, John Mathieson, noted was an impressive accomplishment. The ceremony marked a proud milestone for the cohort: Many participants testified to their personal growth as well as that of their peers as a result of the 12-week course.
Good News, Real Growth, Special Praise
The graduating cohort was allowed to invite family and friends to attend the ceremony. Many Facilities/Construction Management alumni from past Dale Carnegie programs attended as well.
The ceremony began with Mathieson inviting the entire audience — guests included — to share good news in a “popcorn” style. All those who volunteered to share something stood up, one at a time, across the room, and shared positive life updates to celebrate with everyone.
Next, Mathieson focused on the graduates themselves, inviting them to come up to the podium and pick one diploma that had the name of a fellow classmate (not their own). The purpose of the task was two-fold: Give a two-minute talk on how the Dale Carnegie experience changed oneself personally and then offer praise honoring the peer whose name was on the diploma they held.
The Magic Methodology
There were a few standout themes about the Dale Carnegie experience that several speakers shared during the ceremony.
One prominent theme was how the participants became more confident communicators over the course. Whether they came to the class more or less experienced with public speaking, by the time of the graduation ceremony, all the speakers made eye contact with the audience while speaking clearly and winsomely. Above all, every speaker looked proud as Mathieson called on them to communicate with even greater boldness.
Another major theme that several participants noted was how they’ve learned to lead their staff more thoughtfully, especially with a growth mindset. Instead of trying to win arguments to persuade people, the Dale Carnegie approach teaches the art of thoughtfully moving forward with solutions, practicing curiosity instead of judgment, and offering staff encouragement and support.
Many participants also expressed how much they came to value connecting with their classmates on a more personal level, getting to know one another’s personalities and life stories.
And the Awards Go to…
Towards the end of the ceremony, the cohort voted for three classmates to receive special awards.
- The winner of the Highest Award for Achievement was Janice Weyers, Sr Customer Service Manager, Facilities Customer Relations & Communications (FCRC)
- The winner of Award for Outstanding Performance was Glenn Serdar, University Architect, Facilities Planning & Construction (FPC)
- The winner of the Breakthrough Award was Michelle Le, Assistant Director, Facilities Business Operations & Compliance (FBOC)
“This award means validation of hard work, belief in myself, and a commitment to keep growing,” said Weyers.
For Serdar, taking the course was a positive experience.
“The Dale Carnegie training was a great chance to connect with the team and see how others think about communication, leadership, and teamwork,” said Serdar. “I really appreciated the opportunity to get to know the group.”
Le expressed gratitude for her Dale Carnegie experience and award.
“It was a truly transformative experience. I now feel more confident in public speaking, building relationships, and pursuing personal growth I’m also happier than I was before,” said Le, adding, “The award reflects that I have learned and applied key principles from the Dale Carnegie course, and I will continue to use them as I grow.”
Out of Growth, Graduating to Greater Heights
Facilities/Construction Management (F/CM) is proud of its Dale Carnegie graduates and commends them for their hard work and profound growth. F/CM looks forward to seeing all its Dale Carnegie alumni implement their new skills, especially as they build futures and maintain excellence at UH.