Current Programs

Program Overview

The Leadership Development for Public Agencies certificate program is designed for emerging leaders to further develop successful leadership behaviors.

At a time when public agencies in Orange County are called upon to engineer innovative and strategic solutions to daunting economic and social challenges, public agency employees must rise to meet these challenges with ingenuity and commitment. In classes led by seasoned experts, emerging leaders will examine the nature of leadership and develop a better understanding of its purpose and role within their organizations.

Learning objectives:

Understand the practice of leadership in a policy-making setting
Develop strategic thinking and decision-making skills applicable in public sector environment
Understand the essentials of communicating effectively when working with various constituents
Develop skills to understand the political, financial and social landscape, and learn to utilize social capital to bring others together
Identify strategies to overcome resistance and develop key partnerships to influence important decisions
Understand the impact of change on the organization and identify the qualities of effective change agents

Cohort 24 Class Schedule

Location: Virtual Instruction

Classes	Date	Time
Developing the Leader Within × Developing the Leader Within *(4 hours/0.4 CEUs)* “Know thyself” is an integral part of understanding one’s leadership style. Leaders who understand how their style impacts others have a definite advantage when it comes to motivating and inspiring. Through a series of self-assessments and in-depth discussions of the outcomes, individuals will begin to see the impact their attributes, skills, and knowledge may have on team performance and morale.	February 14 & 16, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Navigating With Political & Social Intelligence × Navigating With Political & Social Intelligence *(4 hours/0.4 CEUs)* Political savvy and social intelligence are paramount for successful leaders. In organizations where collaboration and buy-in are necessary to ensure success, leaders must use organizational knowledge, influencing skills, and social capital to bring others together to achieve the mission. As a precursor to the Influencing Skills for Greater Results class, participants will first develop situational awareness and understand their personal influencing styles. Class discussion will also focus on strategies to secure support and foster organizational fusion.	February 21 & 23, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Leadership in Public Administration × Leadership in Public Administration *(8 hours/0.8 CEUs)* Leaders in public sector must have a clear understanding of the industry’s importance in the coming decade as our society faces challenges requiring vision and experience. The class is an overview of the field of public administration, looking at current and future trends specific to the culture and history of Orange County. Class discussions will address the meaning of leadership as applied to policy-making settings. You will examine leadership principles and practices, and essential components of organizational behavior.	February 28, March 2, 7 & 9, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Strategic Thinking and Decision Making × Strategic Thinking and Decision Making *(8 hrs/0.8 CEUs)* Strategic thinking involves gathering information, formulating ideas, and planning actions. Leaders who employ strategic thinking in the formulation of visions and missions, as well as in day-to-day decision making, will find themselves more engaged and effective. This class will reinforce analytical, critical, and creative thinking processes by highlighting the critical factors involved while engaging students in hands-on exercises.	March 14, 16, 21, & 23, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers × Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers *(4 hours/0.4 CEUs)* Gain an understanding of the financial aspects of public administration and concepts that are critical to an organization’s financial operations. Examine the various tools used in support of the financial decisionmaking process. The class will address topics including accounting styles, financial transactions, journaling, and financial spreadsheets, as well as their specific applications in the public sector.	April 4 & 6, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Leading Change in Organizations × Leading Change in Organizations *(8 hours/0.8 CEUs)* Chaotic, messy, tumultuous, and continuous are some of the words used to describe the changes experienced by organizations. Forces beyond the control of most organizations play a part in this frenetic process. Organizational managers must learn to not only deal with this, but also utilize it to the advantage of their organizations. Changes that are ignored are done so at the peril of the organization’s survival. This class will introduce individuals to the factors influencing change, leadership qualities needed to successfully manage change, the impact of change on the organization, the methodology of the change management cycle, how to manage change in an organization, and what implications organizational change may have for the future.	April 11, 13, 18, & 20, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Influencing Skills for Greater Results × Influencing Skills for Greater Results *(8 hours/0.8 CEUs)* In organizations where teamwork and collaboration are emphasized, leaders at every level rely on influencing skills by using knowledge and competence rather than position and status to influence others. In this class, individuals will learn to develop political savvy, build value with others, overcome resistance, and mitigate personal risk. Class discussion will also focus on influencing strategies to gain commitment from others and foster collaboration.	April 25 & 27, May 2 & 4, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations × Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations *(8 hours/0.8 CEUs)* Developing delivery skills can make a significant difference in the success of an effective presentation. The ability to deliver information in a style that will keep the attention of the audience while addressing the salient points is an important attribute. Participants in this class will learn how to deliver presentations that grab and hold the attention and learn the necessary steps in preparing an effective presentation.	May 9, 11, 16 & 18, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm
Group Facilitation – An Art Form! × Group Facilitation – An Art Form! *(4 hours/0.4 CEUs)* Group facilitation is a process of thinking through procedures that enable a group to gather its cumulative insights, define the order, and to ultimately decide on a course of action that has group commitment. A successful facilitators a process guide serving to ensure that the group accomplishes its goals. In this class, individuals will learn about the role of a facilitator and the various techniques of facilitation.	May 23 & 25, 2023	4:00 – 6:00pm