Tumultuous times and battered budgets present school leaders with the dilemma of solving massive problems and making necessary changes. In the ACSA Leadership Summit pre-conference session “Unleashing the Political Hero Within: Using Political Know-How to Make Necessary Changes in Chaotic Times,” participants will learn to develop skills and political savvy to influence constructive outcomes and build momentum for a more positive organizational climate.
“Dispirited constituents yearn for a heroic leader who can bring people together around an inspirational vision and work with them to create solutions,” said presenter Pat Clark White. “It’s not charisma and magnetic personality but political intelligence that works.”
White is co-author with Thomas Harvey and Lawrence Kemper of the book “The Politically Intelligent Leader: Dealing with the Dilemmas of a High Stakes Educational Environment.” The authors will lead this session, replete with PowerPoints, table talks, and scenario analysis that aim to bring their concepts to life.
Pre-conference segments include:
• Setting the scene – the need for political intelligence in today’s world.
• Defining political intelligence.
• Defining the “political hero.”
• Analyzing nine political styles, including identifying a personal style as well as understanding the styles of co-workers.
• Effective external and internal political strategies.
• Influencing co-workers by matching strategies with styles.
• Mapping the political terrain; identifying allies and opponents; uncovering the blind spots; and practicing the skills in teams.
• Practicing the political principles; using table talks to analyze scenarios and apply the principles learned.
• Wrap-up; questions and answers.
The “Unleashing the Political Hero Within: Using Political Know-How to Make Necessary Changes in Chaotic Times” pre-conference is set for Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is included.
Two other pre-conference sessions are scheduled for the same time:
• “Building Capacity for Response to Intervention: Developing Practical Strategies for Sustained Outcomes.” This pre-con is facilitated in conjunction with the California Association of School Psychologists. More information is available at www.casponline.org.
• A special session for new principals, “Setting Leadership Priorities: What’s Necessary, What’s Nice and What’s Got to Go.” Suzette Lovely, deputy superintendent for personnel services at Capistrano USD leads this presentation for first- and second-year principals struggling with the day-to-day challenges of accountability and initiative fatigue.
Visit ACSA Online at www.acsa.org for more information on the ACSA Leadership Summit, or call ACSA Educational Services at (800) 608-ACSA.