Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership

Redefining the Art and Science of Municipal Leadership

Strategically redefine the leadership skills demanded of today’s chaotic and uncertain work environment through an in-depth examination of daily professional interactions, an exploration of cultural transformation and the practice of scientifically-informed techniques of leadership engagement.

• Analyze and redefine the leadership skills demanded of today’s chaotic and uncertain work environment
• Examine the rudiments of corporate culture as based in leadership approaches and apply cultural concepts to excellence in team management
• Practice innovative and scientifically-informed techniques of leadership engagement, specifically geared towards creating a culture of performance and excellence

Coaching and Mentoring for Peak Performance

Develop the interpersonal skills needed to successfully leverage the talents of your staff and turn a good team into a great team.

• Increasing knowledge on coaching and mentoring by reviewing the current theory, research and practices in the field
• Practising coaching and being coached using a variety of tools and techniques
• Differentiating between coaching and mentoring with the most effective skills in certain situations
• Teaching tool: GROW Instrument

Align your role as a municipal manager with your organization’s strategies for overall operational performance.

Leadership Agility and the Art of Strategic Thinking

Leveraging the proven principles of creative thought, conceive of and connect a big picture with the realities of municipal pressures.

• Understand the principles undergirding strategic thought
• Appreciate the critical role of agile thinking in strategic agility, conception and design
• Acquire tools for linking strategic designs with the realities of implementation

Advanced Political Acuity

Cultivate your political acuity as we delve into techniques that will ultimately help meet the needs and expectations of elected officials and their political staff.

• Key players and processes in systems of government
• Formal and information decision-making processes
• The role of influence in getting things done
• Networking and the creation of strategic networks and alliances
• Case studies in applied political acuity: stakeholder relations
• Strategies and techniques for raising political acuity

Be a “transformation agent” and advance opportunities across your department or municipality.

Dynamic Employee Engagement in Times of Change

Acquire the skills and understanding needed to engage employees and maintain constructive employee relations in unionized and non-unionized settings and in a changing environment.

• Develop a mindset that increases staff engagement
• Learn the levers that have the highest impact on employee morale and engagement
• Understand the contribution organizations, senior managers, local managers and staff make to employee engagement

Negotiation Styles & Collaborative Management Techniques

Master proven techniques for communicating, persuading and using power effectively for collaborative outcomes.

• How and when to use the many different ways of negotiating
• How to remain focused and confident in difficult situations
• How to prepare for negotiations and collaborative outcomes

Building Psychological Capital in the Workplace

Through a study of the psychology of leadership, explore and re-frame the fundamental actions leaders undertake to manage uncertainty, as well as the interactional parameters required to overcome the strategic and cultural hurdles inherent in the leadership relationship.

• Devise an approach to day-to-day leadership that heightens performance and promotes ongoing development
• Link corporate culture and departmental performance to leadership behaviours
• Analyze and apply the strategic skills required to transform daily interactions into the building blocks of increased leadership vision