October is overflowing with great classes at the CSAC Institute for Excellent in County Government! Check out our new Communication with Influence (October 6) class. Other classes explore strategy, county financing, and communicating complex data. Download the July-December Course Guide for details. Register now. Class size is limited and they fill quickly.

The CSAC Institute provide 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.

October Classes

Communication with Influence

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

NEW! The ability to have quality conversations, including techniques to engage stakeholders at all levels and build relationships, depends upon one’s ability to communicate effectively. The class explores your preferred communication style and its impact on others to improve your ability to communicate with clarity, impact and confidence. The highly interactive day will enhance your ability to have quality conversations with individuals, teams and key stakeholders. You will learn how to identify people’s preferred communication style and how to relate to differing styles to build rapport, create and lead conversations with maximum impact and effectiveness. Instructors are Angela Giacoumis is CEO of Careerlink, and works at the nexus of business and neuroscience; and John Dare, who transforms organizations to thrive in accelerating change as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.   

The Art and Practice of Organizational Leadership

Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 – 10:00 to 3:30 – San Bernardino County Campus

This interactive course designed for both experienced and new senior county managers explores the practical applications of leadership in creating a high performing county organization - especially in the difficult environments counties operate. Participants engage in discussions of key practices in formal and informal leadership, particularly in achieving sustainable change; employee engagement and team-building strategies; leadership when you’re not in charge; and techniques for developing a vital workplace culture which supports organizational members. Instructor is Dr. Frank Benest, former city manager of Palo Alto and a noted expert in organizational leadership and management.

Manage Conflict (Even Hostility) in Comfort

Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

Conflicts and disagreements are a fact of life. They can contribute to better outcomes or can lead to an escalating situation. Transform the most difficult circumstances into a satisfying experience for all involved. This course helps County glasses-lady-stare.jpg elected officials and executives identify constructive approaches to positively managing conflict whether from the dais, in a meeting, or one-on-one. Participants analyze their own response to conflict and develop tools to quickly assess and respond to difficult situations and create practical, positive outcomes. Instructor is Dr. Laree Kiely, president of the Kiely Group and a professor at the USC Marshall School of Business.  

Negotiations and Collaboration in Complex Environments

Thursday, Oct.19, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Contra Costa County Campus

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 a professor at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

Financing California Counties: The History

Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus 

Have you found yourself overwhelmed trying to understand the county revenue sources and funding streams? And how we ended up with this complex system? This course provides an in-depth examination of the history of county revenue sources and how they have evolved over decades. Exploring the context of county funding decisions by the legislature and administration over the last 40 years is critical in understanding the current state-county funding and revenue relationships. The class examines the history and consequences of major elements in county revenues including: Proposition 13, 172, 1A, Vehicle License Fees, Realignment, ERAF, property tax allocations, current year State budget and more. Instructor is Diane Cummins, Special Advisor to the Governor on State and Local Realignment. 

Thinking Strategically in Trying Times

Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Merced County Campus 

This intense seminar discusses the challenges of strategic agility with the critical, enduring problems counties face. The focus is on the art of possibilities. Participants examine separating probabilities (what’s likely to happen) from possibilities (what could happen) and applying concepts of creative and strategic thinking to find different paths to solutions. The conversation provides strategies to question assumptions; identify the environmental issues; distinguish strategies from tactics; use team resources, and structure learning from experience. Instructor is Dr. Rich Callahan, associate professor of management at the University of San Francisco. 

Strategy: Clarifying, Building, Implementing and Ensuring Alignment

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus 

A seminal article was published recently called “The Strategic Plan is Dead. Long Live Strategy.” It’s staggering when we realize how many public entities focus on the time-consuming and often wasteful activity of creating a strategic plan when indeed they have NO strategy. In this world of unpredictability, high velocity, rapid change, and citizens counting on us to do the right thing, we MUST start by creating and clarifying our strategy. In this session we cover how to construct a solid yet adaptable strategy for your organization, ensuring strategic thinking and alignment to strategy from everyone, understanding how all other organizational elements and processes fit within the context of “strategy,” and determining how to take these concepts back to your environment to make a positive difference. Instructor is Dr. Laree Kiely, president of the Kiely Group and a professor at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

Communicating and Presenting Complex Issues and Data

Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus 

Counties present complex and detailed information to decision-makers and the public, and may fall into the trap of overwhelming the audience with too much content or complexity. This course provides strategies and techniques for presenting data, complex issues and analytical information in a way an audience can understand and apply. Participants explore balancing content with clarity, effective use of tools such as PowerPoint, and determining what evidence to present. Using their own examples, participants examine how to present statistical data, key elements of visual design, and creation of presentations which communicate multifaceted ideas in a clear manner. Instructor is Dr. Mary Kirlin, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration at CSU-Sacramento.  

For information about any of these courses, contact Chastity Benson at cbenson@counties.org.