Some of the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government’s premier leadership and management classes highlight the November calendar.  Check out two special classes — leadership in divisive times, and acting techniques to improve your leadership — the week of the CSAC Annual Meeting (attendance at conference not required). Plus other classes on strategy, hiring and retention, and leading change. 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.

November Classes

Thinking Strategically in Trying Times

Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento 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. 

Practitioner’s Guide to Hiring, Developing & Retaining Great Employees

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

This course is designed to help drastically reduce personnel problems with a systematic approach to hiring, retaining and rewarding the very best employees, and best practices to identify and remove people who don’t meet the needs of the department or public. Course participants will have the tools to make personnel problems a thing of the past. Executives and managers will be able to “see the future,” recognize personnel problems at their earliest onset, and then take the appropriate action. This session will help every manager make better personnel decisions based on four key points: Character, Skills, Aptitude, and Commitment. Following these C-S-A-C principles will improve every aspect of the human resource element in organizations regardless of the agency size or complexity of mission. Instructor is John Mineau, Undersheriff of Monterey County and Corrections Operations Bureau Chief, as well as a community college instructor.

Leadership and Change: Practices to Move People & Organizations

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento 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 CSAC Institute. For the last 35 years he has worked with hundreds of local agencies in crafting change.  

Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Merced County Campus

What characteristics and practices distinguish great from good performers? What evidence based practices should be part of your daily routine to be a high performer? We will answer these questions from a 30 year data base and research of top performance as we dive into the four areas of Emotional Intelligence (EI): 1) Understanding Yourself, 2) Managing Yourself, 3) Understanding Others and 4) Managing Others. You will take an assessment to determine your EI strengths. Hands on tools to enhance your EI will be explored. Emotional Intelligence is a prime factor to one’s success when compared to Intelligence Quotient and technical expertise. Business simulations, practices sessions, videos and group discussions will help participants enjoy, engage and learn more. Instructor is Relly Nadler, Psy.D., founder of True North Leadership, Inc. and author of Leading with Emotional Intelligence. 

Financing California Counties: The History & Context

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – San Bernardino County 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.  

\TWO EXCITING CLASSES BEFORE & AFTER THE CSAC ANNUAL MEETING

Bridging Contentious Communities: Fostering Catalytic Leadership in Counties

Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus 

Join former Nebraska State Senator Dave Landis for this engaging and entertaining discussion of how to work with others to solve community and organizational problems, particularly in this era of divisiveness. The course examines problem solving and negotiation practices which will improve the likelihood of achieving your desired objectives. Case examples demonstrate application of ideas and challenge participants to consider alternative approaches in dealing with community problems and opportunities. Participants gain hands-on experience with tools and exploring application to real world situations. This is a class and instructor you will not forget. Instructor is David Landis, former long-time Nebraska state senator who has successfully brought together opposing sides to find common ground on difficult policies and issues. 

Drama at the County: Acting Techniques to Improve Your County Performance

Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus 

Leadership and acting have a lot in common. Both crafts require practitioners to be aware of and manage their emotions and those of people around them. They evoke different emotions – leaders generally don’t try to get people to cry and actors generally don’t get people to work through difficult workplace changes - but their crafts overlap nonetheless. In this lively, interactive class, participants learn and practice classic theatrical training techniques they can apply to their work as county leaders. Learn how to add passion and meaning to your communication. Instructors are Stacy Corless, Mono County supervisor and founding member of Sierra Classic Theatre in Mammoth Lakes; and John Gioia, Contra Costa supervisor, Vice Chair of the California Counties Foundation and founding board member of CSAC Institute.