*Please note: class topics/speakers are subject to change.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
History and Talk Soup
Knowing from where we came is integral to planning the future for ourselves and the profession. The very foundations of the parks and recreation field have not changed, but expectations of those we serve have. This “get warmed up” session will be fast paced, presented in an entertaining way, and allow you to better understand the foundation of our profession.
Strengths Based Leadership
This interactive workshop will guide participants through an exploration of the strengths you have to offer and how to put those to work. Using results from your personal assessment as a jumping off point, you will learn more about your competitive edge, create plans to use and develop their strengths to achieve professional goals, and also see others that you work with in a new light. Not only will this help you better understand yourself individually, but also through group activities, you will discover techniques for your own teams within your agency.
Government Budgeting 101
Government budgeting is a bit different than home finance. Participants will learn a general overview of government budgeting. During this session we will dive into learning about direct vs indirect cost, cost analysis, and price strategy. We will also explore why data and the evaluation of programs are important to the budget.
Productive Decision Making and Critical Thinking
Leaders are asked to make many decisions in their daily work. Some allow the luxury of time to prepare and analyze; others must be made quickly. Effective leaders understand the need to think quickly and inclusively of everything necessary to make sound decisions and recommendations. Our own implicit bias will inevitably creep decision making processes; by understanding those biases, we can incorporate critical thinking about how to solve challenges and take advantage of opportunities.
Change Management
In·san·i·ty /in’sanƏdē/ - Doing the same thing you’ve always done and expecting different results. The only constant in our world is change, and as the environment around us changes, so must our operations, services, and processes. But leading change can be just as uncomfortable as the change itself. This session will give insight to understanding change, how to strategically plan for it, how to successfully implement it, and the skills needed to be an effective change agent.
Building Powerful External Relationships that Develop Advocates
This session will prepare you to identify potential advocates within your internal and external audiences. The primary focus of this session is on managing and maximizing relationships internal to one's agency, and external with other city/county departments and the general public. Pitching a new program or initiative requires one to gain support internally first. Whether that is to one's supervisor or to the agency head, an emerging leader must master the skill of selling the benefits of your ideas. You are the best advocate for things you believe in and are committed to. Other city/county departments may also be your advocate if you can demonstrate value for them being involved. Unlock the potential of powerful external relationships and enhance your influence.
Communication
Ninety percent of what you are saying isn’t coming out of your mouth! As leaders, it is critical that we understand the power of clear, concise, and professional communication, and that the burden lies on us as the communicator to be understood. As we engage with peers, leadership, stakeholders, and the community, it is critical to be the best connectors and communicators we can be.
People Management: From Greetings to Goodbyes
How to find the right people and keep the right people. In today’s war for talent, we need to be sure we are RIGHT. Are we recruiting the RIGHT people and ensuring they are doing the RIGHT things at the RIGHT time and for the RIGHT reason. It is also critical that we are prepared to have the difficult conversations needed when the people who are not RIGHT need to be coached up or transitioned out to a more appropriate role within or outside of your agency.
Building Your Network
This open discussion time will allow you to take the information you have heard thus far in the Institute and apply that to your every day work life. Discover how challenges and opportunities that you face mirror those of your fellow Institute classmates, and talk through potential solutions. This is your time to ask questions and receive responses from classmates and seasoned faculty members.
Time Management and Delegation
The largest resource you have available for any program you're planning or project you're managing is time. During this session we will talk about time management for yourself and others and the importance of prioritizing and delegating. Identify techniques for
delegating tasks and monitoring progress without micromanaging your team members.
Building Organizational Culture
As an emerging leader, understanding the culture of your agency is critical. Culture is not just about your mission statement, it is about the values that you as a leader instill in your team and how those values are integrated into all facets of what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. Culture not communicated and not visible in an organization's workforce is a recipe for lack of team commitment and often contributes to confusion and lack of performance.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 12:30 pm Check In 1:45 pm Welcome/Introduction 2:45 pm Sessions 6:30 pm Dinner with Group 7:30 pm Evening Activity
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Thursday, February 20, 2025 7:00 am Breakfast with Group 8:00 am Sessions 12:30 pm Lunch/Group work 1:45 pm Sessions 6:30 pm Dinner with Group 7:30 pm Evening Activity |
Friday, February 21, 2025 7:30 am Breakfast with Group 9:00 am Sessions 12:00 pm Lunch 12:45-2:30 pm Sessions 2:30-3:00 p.m. Wrap Up & Depart
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