University at Buffalo (UB) 
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Work Life Coaching
At UB, creating a culture of wellness starts with each employee. Work Life Coaches help you set and achieve personal goals, which can impact your life both at home and work. Topics can be related to physical health (ex. sleep, nutrition, physical fitness or smoking cessation) and related to emotional health (ex. stress, burnout, communication issues and interpersonal relationships).
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What is Work Life Coaching?
The UB Work Life Coaching Program helps faculty and staff develop specific health and wellness goals and an action plan to achieve those goals.
Utilizing a positive, values-based, non-judgmental approach, UB Work Life Coaches assist clients in pursuing goals related to the different dimensions of wellness, including physical, social, and emotional health.
Who is Eligible for Work Life Coaching?
All faculty and staff members from all different UB affiliates are eligible for coaching.
Sample Work Life Coaching Topics
- Lifestyle Changes
- Active Living
- Eating Habits
- Self Care
- Sleep Habits
- Improve Personal Relationships
- Stress Management
- Time Management
Who Can Benefit from Work Life Coaching?
Work life coaching is a short-term option for faculty and staff who want to make behavioral changes and have a goal in mind but need help creating a plan to reach that goal. Clients meet with their coaches for an initial 45-minute session to discuss goals, values and motivations for changing their behavior. After that, clients can choose to meet with their coach to follow up four more times for 20 minutes each to adjust the strategy and assess progress.
Not Sure if You Need a Work Life Coach?
Anyone can benefit from a Work Life Coach. When you think of a coach, what words come to mind? Support, leader, teacher, guide.
“A coach is someone who is trained and devoted to guiding others, into increased competence, commitment and confidence.” - Frederic Hudson
Work Life Coaching gives people the platform to move from where they are now towards where they want to be. Our coaches help you build self-confidence, develop a vision for what you want your life to look like, find the gaps that are keeping you from that vision and take steps to move you forward. Think of your Work Life Coach as your accountability partner.
Coaching Self-Assessments
If you are not sure what your area of focus is for coaching, sometimes assessments can help you by taking an introspective look at your current level of wellness. Taking these assessments may help you to decide what areas you would like to focus on when you begin meeting with your coach.
The assessments are not required, nor are you required to share the results with your coach.
Six Dimensions of Wellness Self-Assessment
The National Wellness Institute (NWI) provides an innovative and helpful framework for understanding the holistic nature of wellness.
Values-In-Action (VIA) Signature Strengths Survey
The VIA Survey is the only free, scientific survey of character strengths in the world. Take this simple, 10 minute character test and discover your greatest strengths. (Please note, registration with VIA is required to take the survey.)
Quickie Well-Being Assessment
This short-form questionnaire developed by Wellcoaches focuses on foundational areas of well-being.
DISC
Improve your communication skills using the DISC assessment to provide insight into your preferred communication style and learn how to determine the ideal approach to use with each of your colleagues.
StrengthsFinder 2.0
Uncover your natural talents using the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment and personal reflection exercises.
Meet the Coaches
Our Work Life Coaches are Certified Wellness Coaches (CWC) through the Catalyst Coaching Institute. They have completed the Master Certified Wellness Coach (MCWC) program to prepare them for the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) Certifying Examination in Spring 2024. They are also trained Powerful Tools for Caregivers Facilitators and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
Pete Logiudice
Pete has been employed in the Faculty/Staff wellness area of UB's HR department since 2011. He is a UB alumnus, a recipient of the 2018 UB/PSS Outstanding Service Award, and a representative of the UB True Blue program for 2023. These achievements demonstrate his dedication to the university and its employees.
Pete is a member of our department who prioritizes wellness in his daily life. You may even see him walking to North Campus during your commute. Pete's positive attitude is infectious, and he is always committed to supporting his colleagues. He emphasizes the importance of self-care, saying: "Work Life Coaching is our solution for helping people on their journey towards making self-care a priority. We meet individuals where they are and assist them in achieving their self-care goals."
Michele Poitras
Michele has been employed at UB for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of UB's Exercise and Nutrition Science and MBA programs and has always been enthusiastic about her belief in employee wellness. Her background in employee training, along with her extensive experience as a volunteer in the community, including the YMCA, animal rescue, and local youth sports, demonstrate her unwavering commitment to helping others.
Michele is excited to work closely with her colleagues at UB. As a mother of college-aged girls, she believes that her job is not just a source of income, but a career that allows her to serve others. Through regular Work Life programming, she enjoys positively impacting her colleagues. However, now she has the opportunity to make a direct impact on someone's life by helping them become the best version of themselves.
Sign up for Coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
Work Life Coaches are staff members from the Wellness and Work/Life Balance area of UB Human Resources. You will select a coach based on the days and times you are available to attend your appointments when you schedule an appointment through the Bookings app. You will meet with the same coach for each appointment as you work towards your wellness goals together.
Work Life Coaches partner with faculty and staff seeking self-directed, lasting changes aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness. Our Work Life Coaches use a client-centered approach where clients decide their goals, engage in self-discovery or active learning processes, and self-monitor behaviors to increase accountability. Work Life Coaching does not utilize a mental health diagnosis or interventions.
Work Life Coaching is free to current UB faculty and staff members from all affiliations and funding sources.
Work Life Coaches typically meet with clients for 2-5 sessions to help them meet a wellness goal. However, we have set a maximum of five (5) sessions per person.
Faculty and staff can meet with Work Life Coaches via Teams or telephone.
Work Life Coaching is a confidential resource. However, there are limits to confidentiality and to ensure the safety of our faculty and staff, it is our policy to report certain information shared by clients with appropriate university authorities, including but not limited to: evidence of self-injury and the disclosure of the intention to cause harm to themselves or others. We are also required to report the abuse or suspected abuse of a minor, instances of physical assault, and sexual violence as defined by the university's Sexual Violence Response Policy. If you have these concerns, contact Employee Assistance (EAP) at 716-645-4461 or University Police at 716-645-2222 instead.
Fee
Free
Related Links
Contact for Questions
Michele Poitras
Wellness and Work Life Balance
Peter Logiudice
Wellness and Work Life Balance