This premier government leadership workshop for elected officials provides city and county leaders with the strategic frameworks required to transition from a campaign mindset to effective institutional stewardship.

Format: One-Day Leadership Intensive for Elected Officials

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (MST)

Forum: Live Online with nationally known author, organizational development consultant, and leadership instructor, Stephen L. Kent.

The transition from citizen and neighbor to the council dais is one of the sharpest learning curves in public service. Winning an election requires a competitive mindset; governing effectively requires a collaborative, strategic focus. This high-impact, interactive course is designed to equip elected council members with the foundational insights needed to protect their credibility, avoid common political traps, and lead with confidence from day one.

Who Should Attend

This public sector leadership program is custom-built to support public officials navigating municipal governance, making it essential for:

Elected Municipal & County Officials

• Newly Elected Council Members & Commissioners: Public servants looking to build immediate role clarity, establish constituent workflows, and navigate their first 90 days in office smoothly.
• Veteran Council Members & Mayors: Experienced leaders seeking advanced strategies to align policy goals, enhance board collaboration, and sharpen their institutional stewardship.

Public Sector Administrative Leadership

• City Managers & County Administrators: Executive administrators who want to build a shared, healthy vocabulary with their governing body to protect policy-to-operational boundaries.

Workshop Curriculum

1. The Mindset Shift: From Candidate to Steward

Stepping into public office changes your operational reality overnight. This session explores the psychological and cultural adjustments required when you stop challenging the institution and become the steward of it.

• The Reality of the Fishbowl: Managing the loss of privacy and understanding the permanence of public records. Navigating the noise of competing voices.
• The Trustee Framework: Shifting your focus from representing a single campaign faction to protecting the long-term health of the entire municipality.
• The Risk of Losing Touch: Maintaining focus in a new relationship dynamic with other elected officials.

2. The Boundaries of Involvement: Policy vs. Implementation

The most common point of failure for officials is "in-the-weeds" micromanagement, which may inadvertently create unnecessary risk exposure and paralyze city staff. This block establishes the critical boundaries of municipal governance.

• The 30,000-Foot View: Mastering the clear line between setting the destination (Policy) and flying the aircraft (Implementation).
• The Temporal Scope of Power: A vital professional reminder regarding exactly when—and where—an individual official possesses the authority to act, and the catastrophic hidden risks of the "Us vs. Them" tribal mindset anywhere in municipal government.

3. The Launch: Your 90-Day Action Plan

We close the day with a hands-on, collaborative workshop. Participants will not just listen to a lecture; they will build a personalized operational roadmap to guide their next few months in office.

• The Citizen Intake Protocol: Designing a foolproof personal workflow to handle constituent complaints efficiently without violating administrative boundaries.
• The Communication Compact: Establishing healthy rules of engagement for proactive, "no secrets, no surprises" communication with peers and city leadership.

Technology Requirements & Legal Disclaimer

• Equipment Required: Each participant must have a laptop or PC with a functioning camera and microphone. These are necessary to join peer conversations and interactive drills.

Disclaimer: The content, materials, and discussions presented in this course are for informational and educational purposes only. This training focuses strictly on organizational development, strategic leadership principles, and governance structures. It does not constitute, and should not be substituted for, formal legal advice. While statutory frameworks and municipal authorities are discussed conceptually, participants should consult their City Attorney or qualified legal counsel for specific legal guidance regarding open meeting laws, public records requirements, or municipal liability.

RECOMMENDED READING: Check out Steve's book on Strategic Planning by clicking on the cover:

Whether you operate in the for-profit, non-profit, or public sector, this is the detailed trail guide for strategic planning your organization requires. It is an indispensable carry-on for your rucksack—a mechanical framework for charting a course from current operations to a twenty-year horizon.

Stop wasting energy on the "dead weight" of the past and trade corporate noise for Trail Language to build a team of self-actualized adults who own their accountability. By mastering the Statures of Guidants, you will learn to move beyond daily drama and focus on the strategic needs of the next three generations. This guide provides the tools to stop reacting to the immediate noise and start leading toward a certain, high-value destination.