Skills and Knowledge
Bursting Your Bias Bubble: How to Broaden our Perspective in a Polarized World
The proliferation of mass media and technology in the last 20 years has created a paradox: despite easy access to every possible perspective and point of view, we find ourselves increasingly locked within an echo chamber of our own opinion. This dynamic not only increases our political polarization and interpersonal conflict, but it also robs us of the ability to develop our own information literacy and critical thinking skills. In this module we will examine the forces that create this “bias bubble,” and explore methods that allow us to escape it, broadening our perspective, and enriching our knowledge lives.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Civility: Pass It On
America has a civility deficit. And most Americans think civility will worsen in the years ahead. Let’s do something about it! This presentation focuses on the concept of civility: how to define it, promote it and protect it. In this session we will focus on examples of effective civility within the legislative environment, and consider tangible techniques you can use to increase and promote civility within your legislature.
In-person: 45 minutes
Fee: May apply
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Legislative staff can be part of situations where two sides are locked in a conflict, and they need to help resolve it. This hands-on workshop is designed to teach staff to apply the principles of negotiation to help explore creative ways of delivering solutions to conflicts in ways that can help all sides feel satisfied.
In-person and online: 90 minutes
Constituent Service is Customer Service.
As an old business adage goes, “a happy customer tells a friend; an unhappy customer tells the world.” Excellent customer service differentiates good organizations from great ones and poor customer service can have a lasting and negative impact on any organization. This session will uncover the organizational values of businesses that are best known for their culture of customer service and apply them to the legislative environment.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Cultivating Your Craft: Five Principles of Being an Effective Staffer
Legislative work, as any staffer knows well, is not easy. Public service is rewarding, but legislatures are unique and demanding workplaces and it takes time to learn to navigate them successfully. In this session, staff will learn and discuss five principles of being an effective staffer.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Dealing With Difficult Stakeholders
Legislative staff often find themselves interacting with stakeholders (members, constituents, etc.) who present themselves in challenging ways. Whether it’s an emotional issue, or the stakeholder lacks trust, dealing with these types of situations can take a toll. This workshop will explore techniques to deal effectively with these sorts of situations in a way that preserves the relationship.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Finding Resiliency During Challenging Times
When we encounter difficult circumstances in life, it is easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed or defeated. We can feel ill-equipped to deal with the uncertainty and change that swirls around us. But this doesn’t have to be the case. In this training, we practice the use of several simple, easy-to-employ tactics that can build our capacity for “grit”—the ability to demonstrate perseverance, mental strength and resiliency in the face of life’s challenges.
In-person and online: 45 minutes
Media and Social Media Training
Staff often get calls from the media requesting information and insight into issues facing state legislatures. This program will train you on how talk with media representatives while keeping legislators in the forefront when discussing legislative issues. This training features media experts with more than 17 years of communications experience who can create guidelines to help your staff avoid potential landmines. This program is recommended for communications or partisan staff.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Personal Productivity
Whether you work for a single legislator or more than one, a caucus or an entire legislative body, managing competing demands and multiple projects is challenging. During this short program, learn how to get organized, set priorities, create a work plan for keeping on top of project details, communicate with collaborators, and meet deadlines.
In-person and online: 30 minutes
Presentation Skills
Public speaking is said to be one of people’s great fears. Legislative staff, however, are often required to present complex information to legislative committees and other groups. This workshop will present tips on developing the confidence and capability to give presentations that clearly convey essential information while keeping the audience engaged.
In-person and online: 90 minutes
Techniques for Effective Messaging
Oftentimes legislative communication goes beyond merely educating or informing an audience. In speeches, on social media, and through talking points, the objective may be to persuade, to create content that advances a particular point of view. In this session, you will learn what the latest brain science says about crafting a compelling message, and you will be exposed to techniques that are sure to increase the persuasive power of your work. This program is recommended for partisan staff.
In-person and online: 60 minutes
Writing for a Legislative Audience
Legislative staff create a wide variety of written products. From newsletters to emails to constituent correspondence—the list goes on and on. But regardless of the purpose, certain tactics are essential to crafting concise, efficient and easy-to-digest content. In this workshop, you will learn how to effectively organize your thoughts and put them across in a form that maximizes the impact of your information.
In-person and online: 75 minutes
Train the Trainer: Best Practices in Adult Learning
Legislative staff often find themselves tasked with providing internal training to other staff. From bill drafting, to fiscal analysis, to committee procedures or IT— many staff sections rely on their own in-house trainers to deliver important skills and knowledge. This workshop provides training for those trainers, offering concrete best practices for maximum student engagement and content consumption.
60 minutes (virtual or in-person)