Summer Knowledge Share Series: Defensive Fundamentals – Operating with Clarity in Constrained Times
View eventUniversity Business Consulting hosts an annual Knowledge Share Series each summer, which typically consists of two to three sessions which are open to all George Mason faculty and staff. Registration is available in MasonLEAPS. All sessions are offered in-person and via Zoom.
Upcoming Sessions
The summer 2026 series, Winning this Season: Building Your Personal Playbook for Stewardship, Strategy, and Leadership in Uncertain Times, will position attendees as intentional and empowered stewards of resources, people, and change – balancing operational discipline (defense), strategic adaptation (offense), and human-centered leadership (coaching).
Defensive Fundamentals – Operating with Clarity in Constrained Times (2026)June 9, 2026 at noon
Primary Focus: How units can stabilize operations and reduce friction when resources are constrained.
This session may cover the following topics:
• Prioritization frameworks for “doing more with less”
• Role clarity as a risk reduction and morale tool
• Phasing work and sequencing initiatives when everything feels urgent
• Creating repeatable processes to reduce ambiguity and inefficiency
• Continuous improvement fundamentals as a practice, not a project
Register in MasonLeaps
Offensive Moves – Adapting and Coordinating in a Complex Institution (2026)July 8, 2026 at noon
Primary Focus: Helping faculty and staff collaborate effectively across units while aligning to institutional priorities and external shocks.
This session may cover the following topics:
• Coordination and collaboration across units
• Setting up projects well: scope, governance, success measures
• Facilitating groups so they lead to outcomes, not just meetings
• Offensive vs. defensive choices: when to improve efficiency vs. when to experiment
Register in MasonLeaps
Coaching Your Team – Accountability, Well-Being, and Communication (2026)August 11, 2026 at noon
Primary Focus: Equipping supervisors, project leads, and informal leaders to support people amid sustained change.
This session may cover the following topics:
• Managing change fatigue and uncertainty
• Building accountability without burnout
• Strategic communication for busy leaders – clarity, cadence, and transparency during change
• Sustaining change within a team
• Supporting morale while reinforcing priorities and limits
Register in MasonLeaps
