Spring has sprung a great lineup of classes at the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government. Professional development classes from IT strategy and inter-generational leadership to negotiations (and advanced negotiations) and persuasion. Read more about next month’s classes and join us! Download the full schedule of Institute classes through June. We have a great line-up for you. Register Now! Seating is limited and classes fill quickly. 

The CSAC Institute provides county officials, senior executives and managers with consummate opportunities to expand your capacity to exercise leadership and governance in volatile and uncertain times. Classes are open to all county staff and elected officials. They are an affordable $149 each and include instruction, class materials and lunch. Discounts available when registering for three or more classes. 

April Classes

Define an IT Strategy and Roadmap

Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
Sacramento Campus

NEW! Most IT departments struggle to develop a strategic IT plan that aligns with their organization, is understood outside of IT, and demonstrates ROI and the value that IT provides. This course will look at a visual approach to developing an IT strategy. One based on mandate and organizational context; that will ensure IT meets the rapidly changing needs of the organization and articulated in terms the organization understands.

Instructor is Valence Howden, Research Director in the CIO Advisory Group at Info-Tech Research Group. 

Storytelling and Other Leadership Practices in the Art of Persuasion

Friday, April 6, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
Sacramento Campus

Persuasion is interpreted as an attempt to evoke a voluntary change in the attitude or behavior of another person. Effective leaders are able to tell stories that speak to others and markedly influence their behaviors. Through hands-on activities the class explores elements of story-telling and how to construct and use stories in the practice of leadership. Participants examine case studies and experiences to develop their own stories. Other practices examined include metaphors, humor, reciprocation, contrast and conformity. These tools are placed in the context of enhancing the transaction between leader and follower and authentically hearing the needs of listeners.

Instructor is Bill Chiat, Dean of the Institute and a practitioner of leadership (and storytelling) for 35 years.

Negotiations and Collaboration in Complex Environments

Thursday, April 12 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM — Shasta/Tehama Campus
Thursday, April 26 - 10:00AM – 3:30PM — Sacramento Campus
Please also consider taking Advance Negotiations on Friday, April 27.

Negotiation is “a back and forth interaction among two or more people who wish to arrive at a mutually agreeable outcome where the parties have some interests in common and some that are opposed.” This definition from Fisher and Ury’s book Getting to Yes describes most “Public Good” negotiations. Solution-Based Negotiation teaches participants how to achieve the most beneficial outcomes for all negotiating parties while ensuring the outcomes are in the best interest of the public while the negotiating parties’ relationships end positively. This course covers the most current tried and tested behaviors in the field of negotiation and gives you tools that will be immediately useful in your work. Best of all, it can help you serve your constituents in the best possible ways without needless compromise.

Instructor is Dr. Laree Kiely, president of the Kiely Group and professor at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

Advanced Practices in Negotiations

Friday, April 27, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
Sacramento Campus
Prior completion of 356 Negotiations class required — can be taken on April 26. 

Whether applied in labor relations, conflict resolution, contracts, intergovernmental agreements and hundreds of other situations – this advanced course takes your negotiation practices to the next level. Participants will explore and apply tools in typical negotiation challenges including scarce resources, rigid timeframes, emotionally charged issues, power struggles and multiple negotiators. Practical strategies and tools for difficult people and complex situations will highlight the class discussions. Participants will have hands-on experience with advanced tools and how to develop their “going forward” plan in a variety of situations.

Instructor is Laree Kiely, Ph.D., president of the Kiely Group and professor at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

When Bad Things Happen: Managing the Media in Crisis & Emergencies

Friday, April 13, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
San Bernardino County Campus

This course focuses on the communications principles required to respond to organizational crises. Case studies are analyzed to identify successful and unsuccessful responses. A set of steps are presented to prepare a communications response, including role assignments, strategies and tactics which target affected audiences, key messages which tell the county’s story, and delivering the response via the media and other communications vehicles. Techniques are shared for response options, sample messages, understanding media perspective and how to avoid common pitfalls and missteps.

Instructors are Sheri Benninghoven, APR President of SAE Communications; and Scott Summerfield, an expert in public agency strategic communications. 

Leadership and Change: Practices to Move People and Organizations

Thursday, April 19, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
Contra Costa County Campus

County officials and managers discuss the need for change in their organizations, yet struggle when change is difficult to accomplish within the depths of the organization. This course helps participants move past technical solutions to the practices for approaching adoptive challenges. Discussion highlights why some changes happen relatively quickly while others are stymied. Participants explore change from the perspective of those whom the change affects. Practical discussions focus on design of a change process; practices to diagnose, interpret and select interventions; barriers; and creating an environment in which people can expand their capacity to address adaptive change.

Instructor is Bill Chiat, Dean of the Institute and for the last 35 years has worked with hundreds of local agencies in crafting change. 

Intergenerational Leadership

Friday, April 20, 2018 – 10:00AM – 3:30PM
Merced County Campus

In today’s workplace we have to understand, communicate and interact with people from different eras, different values and habits, and fundamentally different ideas about life! This class focuses on understanding and practicing how to integrate deeper generational insights into practice. Participants do self-assessments of their eras and their own values. They profile their work environments to discern the complexity of the generational mix. Most importantly they learn a unique set of skills and processes to employ when encountering people whose values, habits and business practices may be at odds with their own. This workshop provides participants skills to blend generations to get the best from everyone.

Instructor is Larry Liberty, Ph.D., who works with Fortune 500 companies and teaches in MBA programs across the globe.