Strategies for Creating Real Impact in Government

Citizens and taxpayers expect immediate results and it’s your responsibility to deliver these results.
Do you have a strategy to achieve what you promised? Where are your revenue sources? Are you communicating with the right people? Are you tracking your performance metrics to build on what works for your organization?

Here’s the good news - there are strategies in negotiations, finance and resource management and communication that are universally used in the public sector. This 4-part certificate will give you hands-on experience and ability to learn from others in your position and get skills that can impact the performance of your organization immediately.

With this certificate you will be able to:

• Understand of the functional areas of economics and public finance
• Learn the principles, strategies and tactics of effective negotiations
• Learn how to get the most from your resources to achieve success
• Engage your constituents through impactful communication to create public presence and build credibility
• Use metrics to quantify your results and make data-driven decisions to drive performance.

Four Sessions (6 pm - 9:30pm) at the Dively Building

• Economics and Finance with Daniel Shoag, PhD

  Effective public sector leadership requires understanding the functional areas of economics and public finance. This session, based on cutting edge research in the field, covers key topics in budgeting, accounting, procurement, and economic development. Learn how to develop practical tools and frameworks that are crucial to financial management. 

  Topics

  • Revenue Sources: Where does public money come from (and is there more of it)?
  • Budgeting and Financial Policies: Making sense of confusing statements and processes
  • Economic Development:  What do we know about how to grow?

  Learning Outcomes

  As a result of attending this program, participants will:

  • Understand how the budgeting process works for different parts of the public sector
  • Know major revenue sources and challenges
  • Learn the different aspects of standard financial statements, intergovernmental revenue and economic development.

• Strategic Negotiatons with Roman Sheremeta, PhD

  Negotiations occur in every aspect of public leadership and regardless of where they occur, they are governed by similar principles. In this interactive workshop you will learn the principles, strategies, and tactics of effective negotiation through a series of interactive, hands-on negotiation exercises. Test your analytical ability and strategic skills, and experiment with new approaches to understand the central concepts of negotiation strategy. Expand your negotiation tool-chest and develop greater flexibility across situations and people by trying out new behaviors and strategies.

  Topics

  • Preparing for negotiation
  • Negotiation styles
  • Strategies for an effective negotiation
  • Strategies to reach a win-win agreement
  • How to effectively use interests, rights and power

  Learning Outcomes

  As a result of attending this program, participants will:

  • Learn general strategies for successful negotiations
  • Understand essential concepts and common biases in negotiations
  • Improve your ability to negotiate successfully

• Political Communications with Jessica Cohen

  This session focuses on four essential elements of political communications - correspondence, social media, creating public presence, and building relationships.  Through a combination of instruction and self-reflection, you will build a toolkit of materials for use in or out of political office.   

  Topics

  • The elements of political communications
  • The art of public speaking - from a renowned toastmasters’ expert about the dos and don'ts of public speaking when addressing a variety of audiences

  Learning Outcomes

  As a result of attending this program, participants will:

  • Learn how to engage your constituency
  • Building credibility among donors, constituents, and colleagues
  • How to polish your reputation

• Public Performance with Daniel Shoag, PhD

  How do you get the biggest impact from your resources? This session will walk you through how to quantify results your organizations’ need to achieve success by aligning mission, strategy, and performance metrics. Learn how to use data to enhance contracting and increase transparency, and discover the innovative financing possibilities that are possible as a result.

  Topics

  • Measuring Outcomes: What do we mean when we say something works?
  • The Data-Driven Now: What new programs are already working and what is around the corner
  • Common pitfalls to the data revolution in the public sector
  • Practical Steps:  Bringing innovation home.

  Learning Outcomes

  As a result of attending this program, participants will:

  • Learn about efforts to use data and performance metrics in the public sector
  • Know what works and what cutting edge programs are being introduced
  • Learn performance-based contracting and financing, and the challenges of a growing data focus
  • Discover the resources available to bring new analytical tools to your agencies and governments