Legislative Staff Management Institute

Program Philosophy

The LSMI program, designed and delivered by NCSL’s Legislative Training Institute, focuses on both self- and social awareness. The week will start with programs and experiences that stimulate introspection, then move to programs highlighting group dynamics and the challenges of managing those dynamics in the complex world of the legislature.

The program offers:

• Eight days of interactive and experience-based learning seminars.
• Tracom’s SOCIAL STYLES® assessment.
• Off-site activities.
• Formal and informal networking opportunities.
• Executive coaching with a certified executive coach (optional).

Interactive and Experiential Seminars

The program will cover the following leadership topics:

• Leadership Brand Exploration
• Appreciating Different Perspectives
• Understanding Emotional Intelligence
• Leading Yourself and Your Team: From Fear to Confidence
• Inclusive Leadership
• Working With Difficult People
• Self-Care in Legislative Environments
• Assessing Risk and Fear as a Leader
• A Leadership Look Inside State Legislatures

Faculty for the program is a mix of subject-matter experts and leadership consultants with an academic background, along with members of NCSL’s Legislative Training Institute.

Short assignments, including journaling, reading articles, or watching videos, may be assigned during the week and in advance of certain seminars. Small-group discussions and individual reflection will be used to help deepen the impact of learning.

Tracom’s SOCIAL STYLES® Assessment

This tool helps participants build their self-awareness by giving them insights about their behavior and communications style as a leader. The tool is both a self- and 360 assessment (multi-rater), and each participant will receive a personalized report about their own style.

NCSL’s certified SOCIAL STYLES® trainer will share more about the four social styles and how they interact with each other, in both productive and potentially unproductive ways.

Off-Site Activities

Throughout the eight-day program, participants’ perspectives are challenged in both content and delivery. While the “home base” is NCSL’s headquarters building, a variety of educational and networking experiences take participants outside of the classroom setting. Planned off-site activities for the 2024 program include:

• An afternoon at the Clyfford Still Museum viewing and discussing one of Still’s abstract works of art to help participants gain, and appreciate, differing perspectives as a leader.
• A morning traversing the Sky Trek Ropes Course at the Colorado Adventure Center, about an hour west of Denver, to challenge participants as they explore overcoming fear and gaining confidence when leading themselves and a team.*
• A tour of the Colorado State Capitol followed by a facilitated discussion with peers who have similar roles and responsibilities.

*Great attention is placed on making risks appropriate for the participant's comfort level and their physical and mental well-being. Participants who are unable to participate in the ropes course due to physical requirements or other limitations will engage in the challenge in a way that is comfortable for them. Colorado Adventure Center has minimum height (3 feet, 10 inches) and maximum weight (275 pounds) requirements for the Sky Trek Ropes Course. Participants must sign a waiver before participating in the course and a safety briefing is provided. 

Networking and Peer-to-Peer Connections

LSMI emphasizes group connections and peer-to-peer bonding. Participant networking and connections are supported through various forums, both formal and informal. Formal offerings will include daily small-group sessions to reflect on and apply the learning content, along with breakfasts, lunches, and selected dinners; informal networking can include self-directed activities organized by participants during open evenings and downtime.

Executive Coaching

The International Coaching Federation defines executive coaching as a partnership between a coach and a client that inspires leaders (clients) to maximize their potential. Participants will have the opportunity to work one on one with a certified executive coach to strengthen their leadership impact upon return to their legislative setting.

Participants may sign up for two, 30-minute sessions that will be held after the conclusion of the residency (in August and September 2024). The confidential sessions are done virtually.

Participants and Admissions

Participants

The LSMI curriculum is designed for both senior legislative staff members and those on their way to such positions. The program is demanding, and the admissions committee seeks senior and up-and-coming staffers who can benefit most from a challenging learning experience. Acceptance into the program is competitive, and program size is limited.

Appropriate candidates include partisan and nonpartisan staff who currently hold critical management positions or are likely to in the future. Essential qualities for any participant are a commitment to public service in a legislature and an aptitude for the challenges that LSMI offers.

Admissions

Candidate admission is determined by the strength of their application, personal statement and the nature of their current responsibilities, accomplishments, challenges faced, and potential for future public policy contributions. Candidates will be notified of their acceptance approximately 30 days after the application deadline.

Since sharing experiences is critical to the LSMI’s objectives, participants will be chosen to include a diversity of backgrounds, geographical regions and varieties of legislatures. Candidates not accepted into the 2024 program are encouraged to apply again for a future program.

Tuition

The tuition covers a seven-night stay at the Moxy Denver Cherry Creek, breakfast and lunch each day, off-site travel and experiences, materials, eight days of high-level faculty presentations, and two 30-minute executive coaching sessions. 

Participants pay significantly less than the actual costs because of a generous award provided by the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures.

• $3,400 with accommodations.
• $3,000 without accommodations.

Program Location and Housing

Most days, the program will be held at NCSL’s headquarters (7700 E. First Place, Denver, CO 80230). Participant housing is in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood at the Moxy Denver Cherry Creek (240 Josephine St., Denver, CO 80206). Transportation will be provided daily to the NCSL building and any off-site events.

Program Contacts