90 Minutes a Month

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Dennis Martino
July 22, 2024

Public Administrators have some advantages. As professionals, we normally get development opportunities. We go to conferences. We get to discuss issues with people just like us. That is great. However, we rarely send our lower-level staff members to events. It is not snobbery or ill-will, we just don’t think it is necessary. Or we think the cost could be prohibitive. As a result, they often can feel unappreciated and unheard.

Here are some ideas on how to include more people. Build the team, encourage people and listen to them.

• Once a month hold a 90-minute staff development event. If once a month seems too difficult, try once a quarter.
• Teach each other?
• Ask clerical staff to present ideas for making work more efficient.
• Ask supervisors to research ideas about inclusion. And ask them to present their findings.
• If any staff member went to a recent training or conference, do not let their training go to waste. Have them do presentations to the rest of the staff.
• If you are the administrator, present the latest news to the staff.
• Form a cross-sectional committee to prepare each monthly program.
• Send out a one-page summary of what was discussed at the 90-minute session.
• Recognize a staff member each month for good work, community service or simply being helpful.
• Anticipate questions and be prepared to answer them.
• At the end of the first session, ask the staff what worked well and what was not so helpful.

This is not hard, and it will reap benefits.

---

Author: Dennis Martino, MS, Ed.D, is the former director of the New Hampshire Bureau of Education and Training. He has taught organizational leadership and public administration courses at the graduate level at several colleges. Prior to his academic work, he worked in labor relations as a union advocate and contract negotiator. Martino is an NOHS educator and fellow, National CPM Consortium. He can be reached at [email protected]

(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...