1. CCLA Leadership Academy
Political Astuteness
CCLA Leadership Academy
July 19, 2018
Dr. Frank Benest
Eileen Beaudry

2. Graduation! Our goals for Academy Perspectives from two graduates
Certificates & photo with your entire city team
Each graduate shares “one key learning or take-away”
Group photo
Refreshments &
networking

3. Three Reactors for Today
What resonated
with me?

4. Team Project Run Through
Volunteer Timekeeper
20 Minute Presentation

5. Team Project Run Through
Presentation (15-20 minutes)
Content Questions (5 minutes)
Emerging Leaders
Executive Sponsors
Presentation Suggestions (5 minutes)
Executive Sponsor

6. Overview Team Presentation Dry Run 2nd Team Presentation
Debrief Third Coaching Convo
Two Different Worlds—Policy & Admin
Thinking Politically/Acting Non-Politically
Responding to “Political Ideas”

7. Overview (con’t) Steve Falk—Career journey & case study
TED.com video—Brene Brown
Leveraging your Academy Experience
Reaction Panel
Graduation Ceremony

8. Debrief 3RD Coaching Convo
What did you like about the conversation?
What was inspiring, surprising…
New ideas or insights?
Was anything
uncomfortable?

9. Policy vs. Administration
Two different worlds
Two different mindsets
Go to worksheet

10. Two Different Worlds Two mindsets The overlap
The role of senior managers in navigating the relationship
Key question: How do we
become more effective in
playing in policy world?

11. Think Politically/Act Non-Politically
VS.

12. Think Politically/Act Non-Politically
Thinking politically
a. Practice “positive regard”—acknowledge values, goals, desires, & reference groups of politician
b. Debrief governing board meetings
c. Develop rapport with political actors
d. Ask policy-makers why they
voted the way they did
e. Start with the “why”
f. Frame the issue

13. Think Politically/Act Non-Politically
Thinking politically (con’t)
g. Tie ideas to larger agendas
h. Identify & use language that resonates
i. Engage reference group members
& constituencies
j. Consider the “best” communicators
& presenters
k. Tell the story
l. Know when to push forward or pull back
m. Get political guidance

14. Think Politically/Act Non-Politically
Acting Non-Politically
a. Treating all governing board members equally
b. Providing info to all—elected officials & interest groups
c. Respecting political views of governing board members & acknowledging their interests
d. Providing professional analysis & options

15. Think Politically/Act Non-Politically
Acting Non-Politically (con’t)
e. Making professional recommendations in best interests of community & organization
f. Avoiding the taking of sides in policy disputes
g. Accepting & supporting political decisions

16. Responding to “Political” Ideas
Options
“Sure”
“No”
“Yes but. . .”
“Yes and. . .”

17. Police Oversight Typical oversight by City Manager Enhancements
Racial profile data & reports
Video of all encounters
Demands of activists
Direct Council oversight
Citizen Oversight Commission
Council Member’s suggestion

18. Police Oversight (con’t)
What were Frank’s values?
What did Frank do?
How could have Frank responded to this “political” idea?

19. My Career Journey
Steve Falk, City Manager, Lafayette

20. Case Study Political Astuteness Critique What went well?
What did not go so well?
What can we learn for future
practice?

21. The Power of Vulnerability

22. Accelerating My Development
“Given my learning in the Academy & my self-reflection, what would be a powerful development experience to amp up my leadership capability going forward?”
“How do I get this development experience?”

23. Further Development Seek out new “stretching” assignments
Schedule conversations with coach plus other senior managers about leveraging your Academy experience for good of organization
Participate in ICMA Coaching Program
webinars
Get coach(es)--check out
“Coaches Gallery”

24. Further Development (con’t)
Consider MMANC Credentialed Govt Leader Program or ICMA Emerging Leaders Development Program
Check out Management Talent Exchange Program (MTEP) & “Tomorrow’s Dept Head Forum”
Become member of MMANC & ICMA

25. Leverage Academy Experience
Go back & review material & apply to current challenges
De-brief everything & apply to future practice
Use Academy participants & presenters as part of your network
Get involved in “alumni” activities
Encourage colleagues to apply to
Academy
Include Academy on your resume
Use Academy experience as
springboard for further learning

26. Reaction Panel What resonated with me? What did not resonate with me?
What do I have to add?

27. Congratulations!