Dr. Frank Benest
Eileen Beaudry
2016 Local Government Leadership Academy
--Curriculum--
Session #1—Jan 21, 2016
The Essential Nature of the Leadership Task
Academy overview, requirements, topics
Ice-breaker
“One thing I want to learn during the Academy”
Internal and external context of local government
Unique public sector values
Big issues driving change and disruption
Constant disruption requires constant innovation
Leadership at all levels, learning and adaptation required for local governments to survive and thrive
Technical vs. adaptive challenges
Management vs. leadership
Exercise: “Why would someone want to follow me?”
Leadership competencies
Ethics—a key leadership issue
Reaction panel
Discussion of possible team projects
Team Meetings
Guest presenter: Kevin Duggan, former City Manager of Mountain View and current West Coast Director of ICMA
Homework: Identify a “mini-crucible” experience; develop team project scope of work (with assigned team)
Articles: Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones, “Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?” Harvard Business Review; Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas, “Crucibles of Leadership,” Harvard Business Review
Session #2—Feb 18, 2016
Communications Skills and Values Clarification
Video interview with Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and the Social Sectors
Crucibles of leadership
Discussion of articles
Values clarification exercise
Essentials of strategic communications
Importance of story-telling
Selling your ideas
San Jose case study and critique
Reaction panel
Review of team project outlines
Team meetings
Guest presenter: Kip Harkness, Director of Technology Engagement, PayPal, and former Citizen Engagement Manager, City of San Jose
Homework: 1) Develop a strategic communications plan regarding a difficult internal or external issue; 2) Critique Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech; 3) Conduct information interview with one-to-one coach
Articles: Frank Benest, “Making Presentations Like a Pro; Ed Everett, “Today’s Local Government Model—It’s Broken, Let’s Fix It”
Session #3—March 17, 2016
Employee and Citizen Engagement
TED.com video, Simon Sinek “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”
Myers-Briggs Communication Styles Assessment and Core Motivation
Discussion of articles
Review of strategic communication plans
The art of story-telling
Case study of San Mateo County Employee Engagement Initiative and critique
Debriefing of information interviews
Reaction panel
Team meetings
Guest presenter: Donna Vaillancourt, HR Director, San Mateo County
Homework: 1) Schedule development conversation with one-to-one coach; 2) Try out one new leadership behavior based on Myers-Briggs assessment results
Articles: San Mateo County Guide on “How To Engage Employees;” Frank Benest, Career Compass columns “Dealing with Angry Crowds” and “Engaging Employees for Success”
Session #4—April 21, 2016
The Freedom to Think, The Courage to Act
Discussion of articles
Creativity exercises and lessons learned
Enhancing your capacity to think creatively
Barriers to becoming a change agent
Approaches for minimizing risk
Case study of Alma Affordable Housing Project and critique
Strategies to effectively promote change
Debriefing first development conversation
Reaction panel
Team meetings
Guest presenter: Ed Everett, former City Manager, Redwood City
Homework: Review your agency’s budget message from chief executive
Articles: Frank Benest, Career Compass columns “Selling Your Ideas” and “Smart Risks”
Session #5—May19, 2016
Creative Budget Responses to the Economic Meltdown
TED.com video, Dan Pink “The Surprising Science of Motivation”
Discussion of articles
The big issues driving budget challenges
Financial “red flags”
Developing a financial IQ
Typical cutback measures and organizational impacts
Paradoxes and dilemmas
Exercise: Redesigning the County Probation Department
Service redesign strategies
Engaging employees and citizens in the bottom line
Reaction panel
Presentation of team projects
Team meetings
Guest presenters:
Finance Director from local government agency in Contra Costa County
Homework: Conduct follow-up development conversation
Articles: James Lucas, “Managing Through Meltdown,” American Management Association; Frank Benest, “Creating a New Future for the Downsizing Organization,” Public Management; and Frank Benest, Career Compass column, “Developing a Finance IQ”
Session #6—June 16, 2016
Talent Development and Coaching
Discussion of articles
Talent crisis facing local governments
Accelerating your own development
Exercise: “Filling gaps in my development”
Career development strategies
Promoting the development of others
Coaching model
Exercise—“Conducting a development conversation”
Reaction panel
Presentation of team projects
Guest presenter: Greg Larson, Local Government Consultant, and Former Town Manager, City of Los Gatos
Articles: Monique Valcour, “You Can’t Be a Great Manager If You Are Not a Good Coach,” hbr.org; Douglas Ready et al., “Are You a Potential?” HBR; Frank Benest, Career Compass column “Developing a Dream Team of Advisors”
Session #7—July 21, 201
Political Astuteness and Resiliency/Graduation Celebration
TED.com video, Brene Brown “The Power of Vulnerability”
Discussion of articles
Promoting self-awareness and overcoming your blind-spots
Political astuteness
Concord case study and critique
Leader resiliency
Reaction panel
Debriefing one-to-one coaching element of Academy
Follow-up activities and opportunities for Academy participants
Presentation of team project
Guest presenter: City Manager from participating agency in Contra Costa County
Articles: Frank Benest, Career Compass columns “Political Savviness” and “Bouncing Back from Defeat;” Kevin Duggan, “Leadership Without Appearing Political, Public Management
Graduation celebration and certificates
4