{"id":1167,"date":"2020-07-08T19:10:33","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T19:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/?p=1167"},"modified":"2021-05-03T15:27:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T15:27:40","slug":"instructor-spotlight-todd-dockery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/2020\/07\/08\/instructor-spotlight-todd-dockery\/","title":{"rendered":"Instructor Spotlight: Todd Dockery, SHRM Certification Exam Prep and HR Leadership Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Our Instructor Spotlight is on our SHRM Certification Exam Prep course<\/a> and one of three HR Leadership Academy<\/a> instructors, Todd Dockery. <\/span><\/span>In our HR Leadership Academy, Todd teaches HR Analytics and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Strategy<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Formulation and Alignment.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Currently, Todd is a full-time faculty member for UTC\u2019s Gary W. Rollins College of Business. He is also a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Compensation Management Specialist (CMS), and has an MBA degree, along with a mas<\/span><\/span>sive PEZ dispenser\u00a0<\/span><\/span>collection<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Marah: What professional experience do you have relating to the HR courses you\u2019re teaching?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Todd: I had 20 years of HR experience prior to teaching. I first began my HR journey as a personnel administration sergeant in the US Army. Then, I worked in healthcare as a human resources coordinator, and after that, in management positions for two different trucking companies. One was a compensation and benefits position, and the other oversaw employee benefits. I then moved on to work as a director of human resources for Open Arm Care, the City of Chattanooga, and most recently, I worked as the deputy HR officer and director of compensation and benefits right here at<\/span>\u00a0my alma mater,<\/span>\u00a0UTC!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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M: Why do you love teaching?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T: Before I became a full-time teacher, I served as an adjunct professor at UTC. I\u00a0<\/span>discovered<\/span>\u00a0that I had such a strong passion for teaching that I wanted to do it full-time! It\u2019s so fulfilling to help others\u00a0<\/span>learn and be successful. I truly enjoy seeing HR students <\/span>being able to apply what they are learning in their workplace or discuss how they would apply what th<\/span>ey are learning in real-world situations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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M: What do you believe students will gain by taking the SHRM Exam Prep course?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T: One thing I emphasize to HR professionals working toward a professional certification is that the exams are not easy. I have taken several certification exams and just having experience in HR may not be enough to pass an exam. Students need to know specifics\u2014certain behavioral and technical competencies that are required for the exam. It\u2019s not just about working in HR and knowing the aspects of HR you have worked in; understanding competencies is important. I stress to students that even if you have worked in HR for many years, it’s important to take the exam seriously\u2026it can be challenging!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jeff: What about the HR Leadership Academy? Why is educating our future HR leaders important?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T: I tell HR professionals all the time that the way you work to make yourself invaluable is by becoming an expert in your field. One of the\u00a0<\/span>key<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>ways<\/span>\u00a0to do this is through\u00a0<\/span>contin<\/span>u<\/span>ous<\/span> personal and professional development. The Academy will teach students up-to-date processes and valuable HR information. For example, HR Analytics has become much more <\/span>imp<\/span>o<\/span>r<\/span>tant now<\/span>\u00a0than it was 15-20 years ago.\u00a0<\/span>It will help you analyze data to reduce turnover, which is information you can take to C-suite level executives and use to position yourself as an HR leader. <\/span>Professionals taking this course will learn that being a strategic HR business partner means having a place at the <\/span>decision<\/span>-making table, and I will help them learn how to find and take hold of those opportunities. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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M: What\u2019s your favorite aspect of the SHRM Certification Exam Prep course to teach?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T: I truly like all the course\u00a0<\/span>topics, and<\/span> working in such a diverse mix of HR specialties has given me experience in many areas within the topics. Not to get too technical, but the SHRM Body of Knowledge goes into both technical and behavioral competencies. Technical competencies encompass people, organizations, and workplaces, so for technical competencies, I really enjoy the people aspect. That\u2019s where you talk about strategic planning, recruiting, employee engagement, learning and development, etc. I really like teaching all of that. For behavioral competencies, I am drawn more to the leadership aspects: leadership, ethics, topics along those lines. Leadership is extremely important. Again, all the topics interest me, but those are the ones I tend to be drawn to a little more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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J: What qualities make a great HR\u00a0leader<\/span><\/b>?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

T: One of the courses I teach in UTC\u2019s COB is Strategic HR, which is the capstone course for seniors preparing to enter the business world. I share with my students the qualities<\/span>\u00a0that, from my perspective, have helped me grow and develop most as an HR leader. Those attributes include\u00a0<\/span>competence<\/span>, confidentiality, consistency, communication, and collaboration (the 5 C\u2019s)! I also believe that trust, empathy, and a sense of humor go a long way\u00a0<\/span>as an HR leader.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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J: What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an HR leader, whether that be through the HR Leadership Academy, the SHRM course, or both?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T: Remember that you can\u2019t please everyone. HR has been seen as the \u201cprincipal\u2019s office\u201d in the past. I don\u2019t like that mindset, but I do like the idea of HR\u00a0<\/span>professionals being<\/span>\u00a0collaborator<\/span>s<\/span> who work to help both sides find a resolution. However,\u00a0<\/span>you may not please both sides at the end of the day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re consistent, fair, and trustworthy, you\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0successfully influence others in powerful ways.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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M:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Ho<\/span><\/b>w<\/span><\/b>\u00a0do you motivate students in your classroom?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0I make sure that we remain professional but also have fun as we are learning.<\/span> I motivate students by relating real-world experiences to what they are <\/span>learning,<\/span>\u00a0whether it be my experience or someone else in the room\u2019s experience. The more they learn from\u00a0<\/span>others<\/span>\u00a0and see how what they are learning relates to the world outside of a classroom, the more motivated they are to get to the point where they can apply the information in their careers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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M: What are three fun facts about you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n