R2023-151 Resolution Authorizing Approal of Proposal from Leadergov for Leadership Development

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August 3, 2023 TO: Mayor Pro-Tem Lisa Gregory& Members of the Decatur City Council FROM: Scot Wrighton, City Manager RE: Training Agreement The city of Decatur is fortunate to have employees at all levels of the organization who are very knowledgeable in the technical and theoretical aspects of their jobs, and who have a considerable depth of practical experience in their chosen fields of public service. The city has always invested in technical skill development, but it has not invested as much in employees' leadership,supervisory and "soft skills."Soft skills include leadership concepts, managing teams, delegation methods, effective communications,time and project management, proper uses of power and influence, conflict management, creative and analytical problem-solving, motivating others, coaching subordinates, understanding different work styles and personality traits and connecting this to the workplace, as well as change management. Too many organizations neglect the importance of"soft" people-skills training—especially in their supervisors and managers.This kind of interactive training was sidelined for a few years, in part, by COVID; but even before the pandemic, some organizations assumed that these aspects of managing and leading others was something employees would somehow pick-up on their own. I believe that soft skills and leadership training is one of the most effective ways to invest in the future of the organization and in the city's current supervisors and managers. After discussions with several potential vendors,we have developed a customized training program just for the city of Decatur with a provider specializing in delivering this kind of training to local governments—LeaderGov.All but two of the training sessions will involve in-person learning.A summary of the training sessions is attached. Only LeaderGov was willing to create a program customized to the city of Decatur.The FY 2023 budget sets aside$24,900 for this training, and this amount is included in the budget's line-item detail. However, the cost of the program will be $36,000 plus faculty travel expenses, so council approval is required to move forward. If the contract is approved by the council,the training sessions will take place over several months, and conclude before the holidays. The expenditure differential will be charged either to council contingency or to the travel and training line items of individual departments who will make up the initial cadre of 15 to 18 participants.