"These practical stories of experience, told by those who understand the complexity of working in the public sector, resonate nationally, regardless of jurisdiction, and help to accelerate the learning of those who strive to improve their managerial and policy skills as public servants."
Dr. David Zussman, IPSL MASTER MENTOR
Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and a Senior Fellow in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa
Dr. David Zussman, IPSL MASTER MENTOR
Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and a Senior Fellow in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa
IPSL POLITICAL ACUMEN MASTER CLASS - HIGHLIGHTS:
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IPSL: POLITICAL ACUMEN MASTER CLASS - SYLLABUS:
Module 1: KEY NOTE
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ACUMEN
What is It and Why is It So Important
Definition | Political Acumen| Political Acuity | Importance |
January 6, 2021
Mentor Panelists: Dr Jared Wesley and Dr Peter Constantinou
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ACUMEN
What is It and Why is It So Important
Definition | Political Acumen| Political Acuity | Importance |
January 6, 2021
Mentor Panelists: Dr Jared Wesley and Dr Peter Constantinou
Dr Jared Wesley
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Dr Peter Constantinou
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This session is a cornerstone of the program and seeks to enlighten participants regarding both the definition and value for a public servant of having political acumen. We will explore the unwritten protocols and grey areas that leaders in today’s public service need to navigate in an environment of increasingly centralized decision making, a stronger political service, permanent campaigning, big data and a 24/7 news cycle.
You will hear perspectives from Dr Peter Constantinou, Professor at York University, who describes Political Acuity as . . . “an understanding and knowing that means you can anticipate future events and individual behaviours in a nuanced context.”
We will also be drawing on Dr Jared Wesley’s definition of Political Acumen which encompasses:
Participants will come away with a better understanding of Why Political Acumen Matters. In part, it matters because everything a public servant does has an impact. The more effectively the public service operates, the better it can serve the public. There is always a need to improve confidence and trust between public sector entities and with the public.
The terms, Political Acumen and Political Acuity have the same meaning and are used interchangeably in the IPSL program by different experts.
You will hear perspectives from Dr Peter Constantinou, Professor at York University, who describes Political Acuity as . . . “an understanding and knowing that means you can anticipate future events and individual behaviours in a nuanced context.”
We will also be drawing on Dr Jared Wesley’s definition of Political Acumen which encompasses:
- Broad knowledge of internal and external power structures, both within and across government.
- Refined situational awareness when it comes to the political, economic, and social environment
- Soft skills in diplomacy, including strong emotional and social intelligence, and skill in persuasion and collaborative negotiations; and
- A firm ethical foundation grounded in the value of the public service.
Participants will come away with a better understanding of Why Political Acumen Matters. In part, it matters because everything a public servant does has an impact. The more effectively the public service operates, the better it can serve the public. There is always a need to improve confidence and trust between public sector entities and with the public.
The terms, Political Acumen and Political Acuity have the same meaning and are used interchangeably in the IPSL program by different experts.
Module 2
EXECUTIVE ROLES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Who Does What and When?
Expectations | Nature of Work | Skills | Attributes |
January 8, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session you will learn more about the essential attributes needed to be successful as a senior public servant at the Federal, Provincial or Municipal level. Mentors will share their experiences working in these roles and discuss:
EXECUTIVE ROLES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Who Does What and When?
Expectations | Nature of Work | Skills | Attributes |
January 8, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session you will learn more about the essential attributes needed to be successful as a senior public servant at the Federal, Provincial or Municipal level. Mentors will share their experiences working in these roles and discuss:
- The difference between the job of an ADM/DM and the work of a CAO;
- The ongoing skill development required especially with regard to relationships with the political service;
- Common expectations held by the political service and the types of situations senior leaders typically face;
- How these senior leaders develop their critical thinking and sense of timing;
- How they manage expectations, learn to anticipate challenges and collaborate with others to help solve them.
Module 3
FROM ELECTION TO OPERATIONAL REALITY
From Planning to Governing
Process | Trust | Roles | Clarity | Relationships |
January 15, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will explore how ideas expressed in an election campaign, or arising afterwards, are developed and carried forward into governing. They will describe their perspectives on the role of the political service including partisan advisors and political staff, and discuss their experiences navigating relationships with politically active stakeholders and lobbyists.
In this session you will gain a better understanding of:
● Government transitions including the process to install a new government federally, provincially and municipally;
● What happens behind the scenes as platforms are developed;
● The role of lobbyists and lobbying;
● The perspective of a newly appointed politician and how to gain their trust;
● How to move forward on new initiatives while providing ongoing services to the public and managing ongoing dialogue with stakeholders;
● Important keys to successfully briefing politicians as they prepare to hold office.
FROM ELECTION TO OPERATIONAL REALITY
From Planning to Governing
Process | Trust | Roles | Clarity | Relationships |
January 15, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will explore how ideas expressed in an election campaign, or arising afterwards, are developed and carried forward into governing. They will describe their perspectives on the role of the political service including partisan advisors and political staff, and discuss their experiences navigating relationships with politically active stakeholders and lobbyists.
In this session you will gain a better understanding of:
● Government transitions including the process to install a new government federally, provincially and municipally;
● What happens behind the scenes as platforms are developed;
● The role of lobbyists and lobbying;
● The perspective of a newly appointed politician and how to gain their trust;
● How to move forward on new initiatives while providing ongoing services to the public and managing ongoing dialogue with stakeholders;
● Important keys to successfully briefing politicians as they prepare to hold office.
Module 4
NAVIGATING THE HALLS
Relationships, Mechanics and Information Flow in Government
Challenges | Connections | Communication | Structure |
January 22, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session, Master Mentors will talk about the important attributes and common challenges of working in Government today. The relationships between politicians, senior public servants, Crown Agencies and Boards will also be discussed as well as the connection between International, Federal, Provincial and Municipal Levels of government.
Master Mentors will offer a glimpse into the mechanics and information flow between organizational structures such as Cabinet Committees, Treasury Board, Cabinet Operations, Offices of the Legislature such as the Auditor General, the Judiciary, Crown Agencies, as well as municipal governments.
Participants will gain insights into key roles in the Premier’s Office/PMO such as that of the Chief of Staff, political advisors, the DM to the Premier/Clerk of the Privy Council and other roles in his/her office, as well as the role of Ministerial Assistants and key roles in Municipal governments.
NAVIGATING THE HALLS
Relationships, Mechanics and Information Flow in Government
Challenges | Connections | Communication | Structure |
January 22, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session, Master Mentors will talk about the important attributes and common challenges of working in Government today. The relationships between politicians, senior public servants, Crown Agencies and Boards will also be discussed as well as the connection between International, Federal, Provincial and Municipal Levels of government.
Master Mentors will offer a glimpse into the mechanics and information flow between organizational structures such as Cabinet Committees, Treasury Board, Cabinet Operations, Offices of the Legislature such as the Auditor General, the Judiciary, Crown Agencies, as well as municipal governments.
Participants will gain insights into key roles in the Premier’s Office/PMO such as that of the Chief of Staff, political advisors, the DM to the Premier/Clerk of the Privy Council and other roles in his/her office, as well as the role of Ministerial Assistants and key roles in Municipal governments.
Module 5
POLITICAL PRESENCE
Speaking Truth To Power
Courage | Trust | Difficult Conversations | Culture |
January 29, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will explore how to navigate the impossible/impassable corner, where there are no easy answers and where your role requires you to tell your superiors that, in your professional opinion, the options to achieve their goals are slim or costly. In other words, what are the best ways to tell them what they may not want to hear?
Master Mentors will share their experiences to illustrate not only the strategies that can be considered but also the subtle ways - tone of voice, turn of phrase and body language - that can be most effective.
You will gain a better understanding of:
POLITICAL PRESENCE
Speaking Truth To Power
Courage | Trust | Difficult Conversations | Culture |
January 29, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will explore how to navigate the impossible/impassable corner, where there are no easy answers and where your role requires you to tell your superiors that, in your professional opinion, the options to achieve their goals are slim or costly. In other words, what are the best ways to tell them what they may not want to hear?
Master Mentors will share their experiences to illustrate not only the strategies that can be considered but also the subtle ways - tone of voice, turn of phrase and body language - that can be most effective.
You will gain a better understanding of:
- Ways in which difficult or unpopular decisions can be presented to a Mayor, Council, Minister, DM or CAO;
- How to create an environment in which staff at all levels can share the information they need to share with their colleagues and superiors;
- When to involve others such as the Chief of Staff or DM to the Premier;
- How to work with a difficult Mayor, Councillor, Minister, DM or CAO;
- How to develop trust with the Minister/Mayor and his/her staff.
Module 6
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Scanning, Anticipating and Judgement.
Information | Trust | Networks | Acumen | Relationships|
February 5, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will share how they learned to anticipate and recognize the impact of political, bureaucratic or cultural themes that can have a direct or indirect impact on your ability to carry out your mandate.
Mentors will discuss the development and exercise of leadership judgment, the collection of situational intelligence and provide examples that illustrate:
● Knowing when to act/contribute;
● Knowing what to say and how to say it;
● Knowing how to ‘socialize’ the idea;
● Knowing your audience and knowing who can influence the outcomes positively or negatively;
● Knowing how to distinguish between the urgent and the important, between gossip and rumour, between good advice and slanted advice.
Module 7
ISSUES MANAGEMENT
The Inside-Out Story
Media | Complexity | Trust | Timeliness | Relationships|
February 12, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will discuss how to manage issues in a 24/7 news cycle.
Participants will gain a better understanding of:
ISSUES MANAGEMENT
The Inside-Out Story
Media | Complexity | Trust | Timeliness | Relationships|
February 12, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will discuss how to manage issues in a 24/7 news cycle.
Participants will gain a better understanding of:
- How to condense a complex story into a series of bullet points;
- How to manage issues while continuing with the regular business of government;
- The expectations of central communications offices;
- What a politician needs from the bureaucracy when dealing with tricky, time bound, high risk, media sensitive issues ;
- Strategies on how to respond in a crisis such as an environmental disaster or a pandemic.
Module 8
THE MEDIA & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The Outside-In Story
Channels | Social Licence | Framing | Transparency |
February 19, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session you will gain a better understanding of:
- How to work effectively with media;
- What is the role of public engagement;
- The impact of social media on public policy;
- How the mainstream media works including their timelines and how to anticipate their interests;
- The evolution of public engagement;
- Strategies to manage public consultations in the digital age;
- How to frame and discuss feedback from the public that does not match the expectations of politicians.
Module 9
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Working with Empathy, Trust, and Respect
Unconscious Bias | Communication | Awareness |
February 26, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session you will learn more about understanding what it means to lead with a diversity and inclusion mindset and why it’s essential in today’s workplace.
Mentors will also share insights into:
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Working with Empathy, Trust, and Respect
Unconscious Bias | Communication | Awareness |
February 26, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session you will learn more about understanding what it means to lead with a diversity and inclusion mindset and why it’s essential in today’s workplace.
Mentors will also share insights into:
- Why diversity and inclusion are so important;
- How diversity and inclusion are different;
- The role of empathic leadership in empowering others;
- The importance of assumptions and unconscious biases;
- How to resolve systemic issues that prevent the full participation of public servants and members of society;
- How diversity and inclusion can accelerate innovation;
- How to develop trust in workplace relationships.
Module 10
ETHICS & INTEGRITY
The Cornerstone of Good Governance
Authenticity | Impartiality | Standards | Role of Culture
March 5, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
This session focuses on the subtleties of leading with authenticity, and decision making from the perspective of ethics, integrity and impartiality. Master Mentors will discuss examples of potentially unethical behaviour and the criteria you can use to evaluate what’s happening in order to choose your next steps.
You will gain a better understanding of:
- The role culture plays in ensuring ethical behaviour;
- The value of having a checklist that sets out the steps to follow in the event of an investigation;
- What to do with a brown envelope or other whistle-blower complaint;
- The importance of putting aside personal interests in decision making;
- The need to allow time for delayed reactions and healing after a significant event;
Module 11
CONFLICT COMPETENCE
The Cycle and the Solutions
Trust | Psychological Safety | Compromise | Anticipation |
March 12, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will share ideas and opinions about how to develop your competence in:
CONFLICT COMPETENCE
The Cycle and the Solutions
Trust | Psychological Safety | Compromise | Anticipation |
March 12, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will share ideas and opinions about how to develop your competence in:
- Navigating interpersonal conflict between colleagues;
- Mediating between conflicting opinions;
- Knowing when to call an expert;
- The importance of trust in relationship building;
- Navigating long standing disagreements;
- Anticipating conflicts between individuals and different levels/branches of government;
- The importance of psychological safety;
- How to set the stage for successful outcomes and compromise.
Module 12
CAREER BLINDSPOTS
Overcoming What's Holding You Back
Networking | Feedback | Wilful Blindness | Recovery |
March 19, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session Master Mentors will share thoughts on what behaviours and circumstances can interfere with a technically competent public servant’s ability to achieve peak performance and promotability.
You will gain a better understanding of:
- How to network with others;
- How to bring attention to your work;
- What Wilful Blindness is and why it matters;
- The value of a thick skin;
- Key skills that successful public sector leaders need;
- The value of self awareness and how to gather feedback;
- Your own blind spots and how to overcome them;
- How to recover from career limiting mistakes.
Module 13
THE FUTURE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION
Perspectives on a Post Covid-19 Future
Federal | Municipal | Provincial & Territorial |
March 26, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session, mentors will discuss how and why it is important to develop an understanding of the strategic implications and downstream efforts that a decision made in one Ministry/Sector/Jurisdiction can have on another. Discussion will include how to work with colleagues to develop solutions to seemingly unsolvable national challenges with very real regional/local social and economic implications.
You will gain a better understanding of:
THE FUTURE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION
Perspectives on a Post Covid-19 Future
Federal | Municipal | Provincial & Territorial |
March 26, 2021
Mentor Panelists: TBA
In this session, mentors will discuss how and why it is important to develop an understanding of the strategic implications and downstream efforts that a decision made in one Ministry/Sector/Jurisdiction can have on another. Discussion will include how to work with colleagues to develop solutions to seemingly unsolvable national challenges with very real regional/local social and economic implications.
You will gain a better understanding of:
- How to collaborate effectively with other Ministries.
- How to collaborate effectively with other levels of government.
- How to handle issues with transparency while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
- How to include interest groups in public policy decisions.
- How to work with colleagues to develop solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges.
- The key variables that will influence the future need for collaboration across government.
- The impact of intergovernmental collaboration on politics and politicians.
***Please note that the opinions expressed in Resource Room materials, or by any of the Mentor Presenters during the course of this program, do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of Ingrid Bergmann and Associates Inc., The Public Sector Leader, the Inside Public Sector Leadership: Practical Wisdom (IPSL) production team, or any other person(s) involved in the delivery, production or support of these programs. All materials and information on this website is intended for the sole use of registered attendees of IPSL only. © 2020 Ingrid Bergmann and Associates Inc.
