Legislator Training Menu

Committee Chair Training

Elections often bring a changing of the guard among committee chairs. NCSL’s committee chair training program delivers insight, skills and practical advice. Experienced committee chairs from other states participate in a peer-to-peer, case-study driven format that keeps participants engaged.

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.

Finding Resiliency During Challenging Times

When we encounter difficult circumstances in life, it is easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or defeated. We seem ill-equipped to effectively 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.

Boosting EQ: How to Increase our Emotional Intelligence

Everyone wants to think of themselves as intelligent, in possession of a high IQ. But recent research in the field of organizational psychology suggests that Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is an even more important attribute for success in both our personal and professional lives. In this training we will explore what EQ is, why it matters, and how you can boost your own EQ score to improve the outcomes of your interactions with others.

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.

Critical Conversations: A Protocol to Strengthen our Work Relationships

In the fast-paced, often chaotic world of the legislature, it is easy to find ourselves in professional silos, disconnected from our co-workers, and feeling isolated in our work environment. This team building module seeks to reinvigorate our interpersonal connections with other team members through the power of authentic conversation. By exploring our answers to critical questions of purpose, values, and organizational culture, we will leave the room with a richer understanding of both our colleagues, and ourselves.

Being and Effective Legislator/Leader

NCSL offers an effective legislator training that highlights the most important points legislators need to know going into their first (or fiftieth!) session. We bring in seasoned legislators to provide real-life examples of why these tips are imperative for legislators to master.

Parliamentary Procedure

A basic knowledge of the proper conduct of public meetings and an understanding of the fundamentals of parliamentary procedure are essential. This workshop will provide an overview of basic parliamentary procedure principles, as well as where to locate the rules that apply to legislative bodies.

The Art of Legislative Negotiation

Traditional business and legal negotiation practices have centered on an oppositional, zero-sum game approach that seeks clear winners and losers. But negotiation in the legislative realm is different in many ways, with multiple stakeholders, complex interests, and both policy and political considerations to balance. In this workshop, legislators will learn to identify their primary interests, and the interests of their negotiating partner, develop creative options to circumvent roadblocks, preserve relationships with their negotiating partners for future interactions and more. Participants will engage in negotiation simulations designed specifically for the legislative setting. The goal of this hands-on training is to develop the skills and creativity necessary to engage in successful negotiation practices that produce more optimal outcomes.

Ethics

Many legislatures include ethics training in orientation programs, but this content is almost always focused on ethics laws and rules. While these are important, NCSL can take your ethics training to the next level with a “Values-Based Ethics” approach to this difficult topic. In this session you have the opportunity to consider your personal and legislative values and see how they can motivate and guide you to make ethical, values-based decisions.

The Social Media Landscape in Legislatures

New and emerging technology means that in the social media landscape there is something new every day. This workshop will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the use of social media as it pertains to you as a legislator and some tips on how you might be able to better connect with your constituents. The interactive presentation is designed to be relevant, provide current examples of best practices employed by others, and address the overall use of social media with a constituent centric mindset. The presentation encourages participation and is designed for a beginner all the way to the more advanced tweeter.

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 than17 years of communications experience who can create guidelines to help your staff avoid potential landmines. This program is recommended for communications or partisan staff.

Policy Briefings

On nearly every topic legislatures address, NCSL experts can do in-depth, national-overview briefings on developments in the states and at the federal level. General topics include education, health, criminal justice, energy, environment, transportation and children and family issues. Briefings can be informal for selected groups, presented as formal testimony before legislative committees or caucuses, or as part of orientation programs.

Presentation Skills and Public Speaking: Developing Dynamic Delivery

Public speaking is said to be one of people’s great fears. Legislators, however, are often required to present complex information in a variety of public speaking settings. This workshop will present tips on developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations that clearly convey essential information, while keeping the audience engaged.

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 writing objective may be more persuasive, 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 specific techniques sure to increase the persuasive power of your work.

Personal Productivity

As a legislator, managing competing demands and multiple projects is one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Learn how to get organized, set priorities, create a work plan for keeping on top of project details, communicate with collaborators, and meet deadlines. This program last 30 minutes.

TRACOM Social Styles

NCSL offers the TRACOM Social Styles model which categorizes people according to personality traits and how they interact with others. Behavior studies like Social Styles are important because the information can help improve relationships and performance. Learn how your style can interact with other styles to build an effective team and productive work environment.

Fee: $50 per person

Strategic Planning Facilitation

NCSL has a network of highly experienced facilitators who understand the world of the legislature. Using established techniques for planning and brainstorming, NCSL can help your caucus or leadership team cut through the clutter and the side issues to find strategies aimed at taking the caucus and chamber to the next level.

Caucus Retreats and Workshops: A Specific Service for Legislative Leaders

NCSL offers two principle services for state leaders: customizable workshops that allow you to connect with your caucus or leadership team, build followership and determine future direction.

• Facilitated caucus retreats: Help your team set values and culture while goal setting and strengthening the team.
• Strategic planning workshops: Design your strategy for a vital goal or the coming session while getting the caucus on the same page.

Led by legislature-specific facilitator Curt Stedron of the NCSL Legislative Training Institute, these customizable workshops are half-day or full-day and can be combined, and they are designed for any sized group, from the leadership team to the full caucus.