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Professional Development and Electives

Please note: Professional development courses are open for all to register. You do not have to be enrolled in a specific program to register for a professional development/elective course.
Mississippi Certified Public Manager Program (CPM)
Everything DiSC Workplace

Everything DiSC Workplace® is the online DiSC assessment that aids in building more productive and effective relationships at work. Combining the classroom session with online pre-work and follow-up tools creates a personalized learning experience to help participants understand and appreciate the different priorities, preferences, and values each individual brings to the workplace and how they can learn to adapt to the style of others.
Objectives:
•    Discover participant’s own DiSC style: recognize the priorities, motivators, and stress triggers that shape his or her workplace experience
•    Explore other DiSC styles and understand the differences and similarities among them
•    Identify strategies to make more meaningful connections with colleagues of various styles and work more effectively to reduce tension, solve problems, and contribute positively to their organizations
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, or
Those who manage people, projects, or programs
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Finding the "I" in Team

Knowing how to work with others is a vital component of efficiency. By understanding how to effectively
build teams, employees can make teamwork productive. Participants will discover their roles in teams while
examining how personality types interact in team settings.
Objectives:
•   Examine the role that each individual plays in teamwork.
•   Identify who should lead and who should follow.
•   Assess the learning styles that can make or break a team.
•   Determine how proper motive alignment can make teamwork productive.
•   Create a road map for effective team building.
Target Audience: All Staff
Credit: 6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Generations at Work

Several recent studies have cited conflict between different generations as a main contributor to relationships being negatively impacted in the workplace.  Learning to respect generations and the diversity each brings to the workplace improves productivity, communication, and customer service.
Objectives:
•    Recognize and identify the strengths each generation brings to the workplace
•    Commit to seeing generational respect as a diversity issue, rather than an age issue
•    Develop skills to open dialogue between generations
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, or
Those who manage people, projects, or programs
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Grant Writing

This class is ideal for employees who are new to obtaining grant funding. Participants will learn the fundamentals of grant writing and how to identify funding sources.
Objectives:
•    Explain the phases of grantsmanship (the art of obtaining grants)
•    Define and explain the components of a proposal
•    Increase knowledge and skills required to write effective grants for government and private foundations
•    Identify sources of potential funding
TARGET AUDIENCE: All staff responsible for securing funding
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Grants Management

This class is ideal for those that manage multiple grants in different phases. Financial management, rules & regulations, working with grant partners obstacles to success, and different grant reports are discussed. 
Objectives:
•    Gain increased understanding of the grants management process
•    Provide an overview of reporting requirements for grants
•    Understand the role monitoring and audits have in the grant process
TARGET AUDIENCE: All staff responsible for securing funding
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Guide to Talent Development

Talent development reflects an agency's commitment to continual improvement. Developing employees can have a big impact on an agency when the development leads to improvement in agency services. Developmental activities increase technical, interpersonal, and managerial skills. When employees are equipped to work better, the agency's overall performance improves.
Objectives:
•    Learn about the steps in the development planning cycle
•    Become familiar with performance-potential grid 
•    Learn to recognize where your employee is on the performance/potential grid 
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, 
Those who manage people, projects, or programs, or
Human Resources professionals
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Leading a Cross-Generational Workforce

The generation we belong to is one of the many differences we may have with our coworkers. Those differences can cause stress, discomfort, conflict, and frustration for supervisors.
Objectives:

  • To understand the changing demographics
  • To better understand the impact of having all generations working together in the workplace
  • To increase understanding and communicating with all generations
  • Increase organizational effectiveness and meet changing needs

TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track
Those who manage people, projects or programs
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Leading Through Crisis

Being prepared for the unexpected is vital to a healthy organization. Leaders should know who is responsible for speaking on behalf of the agency during any crisis or emergency.  This session involves the development of a plan that is communicated to all staff. 
Objectives:
•    Learn how to diffuse emotional responses and think clearly during crisis
•    Identify the areas where critical services must be available during crisis
•    Develop a template for a crisis communications plan 
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, 
Those who manage people, projects, or programs, or
Human Resources professionals
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Managerial Courage

In this class, participants will learn how to communicate effectively as a supervisor and how to approach
difficult conversations.
Objectives:
• Identify misconceptions about workplace communication.
• Discuss environmental barriers to courageous conversations.
• Learn how to appropriately respond to difficult situations.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All Staff/Supervisors/Management
Credit: 6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Managing Stress with MBTI

This class explores conflict in relation to the individual differences that are caused by personality type. Participants are introduced to conflict pairs that can sometimes make interactions stressful and nonproductive.
Objectives:
• Identify likely causes of conflict.
• Predict desired outcomes versus satisfactory outcomes.
• Understand the role of emotion.
• Evaluate others’ impressions.
• Analyze blind spots and hot buttons.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All Staff/Supervisors/Management
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit
Prerequisite: Myers-Briggs (MBTI) Assessment