Tag Archives: learning

Tips to Run a Successful In-Person Meeting

Over the last two years, many of us had to learn how to connect differently than we were used to. Instead of putting on our best suit, we’re still in our jammies from the waist down. Instead of shaking hands we’re pushing unmute.

Slowly but surely, the world is beginning to open back up. Where it’s safe to do so, many meetings are returning to an in-person format. Since we’ve all become accustomed to doing things virtually, it may take a little time and effort to get back into the swing of the face-to-face meetings. Here are a few tips to help make your meetings run as smoothly as possible.

Set the Agenda:

Municipalities know this, but meetings always run more efficiently when there is an agenda to follow. Having a clear agenda helps set the expectations. If the conversation starts going off track, you can always point back to the agenda items to steer things in the right direction. Setting out estimated times each agenda item should take for discussion, will also help provide direction and keep folks on track.

Start on Time. End on Time.

While it may seem polite to wait for some late arrivals to join, there’s a bigger downside to holding off until everyone is in the room. First and foremost, this sets a bad precedent. Accommodating the latecomers shows the others that arrival times are lax. This can spiral out of control quickly. Secondly, the attendees who’ve prioritized arriving on time are now feeling frustrated that their time isn’t being seen as valuable.

Set Ground Rules:

Having a few basic ground rules around meeting etiquette can help provide great flow in your meeting. Some solid rules, or expectations, can be something simple like; participate, get focus, maintain momentum, and reach closure. If you list these rules at the top of your agenda, both new and returning attendees will understand the direction of the meeting.

End with an Action Plan:

We’ve all been in meetings where the conversation seems to go around in circles without resolving anything. It’s important to establish a plan of action for the agenda items that need follow-up. Assigning certain people to particular tasks and plotting out a course of accountability will ensure that your meetings have purpose and value to all of those involved. We’ve conducted meetings by video teleconference for so long, (and honestly, we’ve become pretty good at them), it will be an adjustment for everyone to start attending again in person. But a well-organized meeting, and Chairperson with good leadership skills, will get us all back
in the swing of things soon.

Oh, and one more thing – dig out that suit again. Things may have changed over the last couple of years, but it’s still not considered socially acceptable to wear pajama bottoms to an in-person meeting.

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Free Webinar – Connecting Through Story

Connecting Through Story

Our digital world is busy, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by information. How can we cut through the noise and communicate effectively? The short answer: storytelling. Research tells us people learn by relating a story to their own experience. Stories bring people together, build relationships, and create context.

Learn how stories put life into your communications, giving you a much better chance of keeping your audiences engaged.

Jun 24, 2021 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register here

By: Wavelength Communication Skills Training

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Are you a Winner or a Learner?

It seems to me that most of us are happy to just be agreeable when it comes to our perspective about how the world works. As individuals we find some sense of mental peace knowing that we think like the rest of a group.  

But I’ve always looked at things differently.  Sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m wrong.  And when I am wrong, I’m never afraid to admit it.  I forgive myself and accept it as a learning experience.

As Lionel Ritchie recently told a contestant on American Idol, “When you win, you win.  When you lose, you learn.” 

It’s one thing to allow yourself this flexibility, but as a Manager or Leader do you extend this same flexibility to your team’s innovative ideas?   And, perhaps more importantly, if an idea fails, do you offer the same “forgiveness” for your team as you would for yourself?

Continue reading →

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Why You Should Become an Asset Management Coordinator

Asset Management Coordinator – have you heard this of this career before?  

Well, if you haven’t, you’re about to hear a lot about it from municipalities over the next little while.  

Many municipalities are facing challenges to fund their infrastructure at levels that ensure their sustainability. With ageing assets, increased renewal needs and pressures from changing climate there is a need to do things differently and collaborate to address the “infrastructure gap”.

The end goal is for municipalities, provinces, and the federal government to leverage asset management planning to optimize infrastructure investment decisions. For example, in December 2017, the Province of Ontario passed O.Reg 588/2017 that sets out new requirements for asset management planning for municipalities.  

This makes the need to hire Asset Managers and/or Asset Management Coordinators, even more important and urgent. Therefore this is a rapidly growing and expanding career in Canadian municipalities.

So what is asset management and why do municipalities need an Asset Management Coordinator?

 

What is Asset Management?

 

Asset management refers to the systematic approach to the governance and realization of value from the things that a group or entity is responsible for, over their whole life cycles. It may apply both to tangible assets and to intangible assets. Asset management is a systematic process of developing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, and disposing of assets in the most cost-effective manner.

 

What kind of background and training do I need to have for this career?  

 

Many asset managers have engineering, finance and/or planning backgrounds but another key criterion is Project Management, as addressed in a recent Public Sector Digest webinar, “Hiring an Asset Management Coordinator”, sponsored by muniSERV/muniJOBS, as being integral to the success of someone looking to enter this career. 

Municipalities reported that core competencies should be there but much more important is that you can tell them how you’d add value to the position. Because this is an emerging field, you have a great deal of liberty to build the position as you go.  Articulate it in your cover letter. You may not have all the skills right now but if you’re willing to learn, municipalities are willing to provide you with the right training to do the job.

Top skills reported are;

  1. Willingness to learn on the job
  2. Systems thinking
  3. Relationship building and
  4. Communications skills.

 

At present, there are no courses available at universities, although, the Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA)and Public Sector Digest can help.

For municipalities looking for an Asset Manager or Coordinator, muniJOBS has some candidates with Asset Management listed as one of their skills. To search candidates, simply register for a free Employer profile.

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Simple Ways to Make Continual Growth and Learning Part of Your Personal and Professional Life

Lifelong learning enhances our knowledge base, improves our quality of life, and expands our awareness of the world around us. By dedicating yourself to continual development, you will find yourself
advancing in every aspect of your life.

For job seekers, it’s imperative you can demonstrate to employers exactly how you stand out from the rest. What makes you a good fit for the team? At a glance, you need to be able to highlight your
expertise on all the essential tools, techniques, and customer service skills required to succeed in today’s dynamic workforce. Having upgraded skills allows you to do just that.

For those already in the workforce, maintaining an updated arsenal of skills will help you keep pace with current industry standards and remain competitive in your field. It helps you maintain a high calibre of service for your clients and teammates, while also making sure you don’t get left behind in your profession.

No matter your age or what stage you’re at in your career, there is always something new to learn and always an opportunity for growth.

 

Always be learning.

 

The good news is that it’s easy to update your skills in today’s digital world. With tons of free ebooks, YouTube videos, digital courses, podcasts and a vast collection of free articles, tips and teachables available 24/7 at your fingertips, and even on your smartphone if you like. There is no excuse not to!

The bonus? You can learn something new from the comfort of your own home, in your pyjamas, at any time of day (or night).

Along with online learning, there are also incredible workshops and courses available right here in your local community. Attending in-person workshops not only provides you with important networking opportunities, but it also gives you a new level of knowledge and perspective as many of us are better learners when we collaborate, connect and join in. They can be a lot of fun as well!

 

Make continual growth a lifelong goal.

 

Knowledge can be gained and skills can be developed every day – in fun and interesting ways!

Whether you choose to participate online or in a workshop, creating big picture goals and breaking them down into easily achievable tasks is the best way to ensure success. Simply commit to learning one new thing every single day and you will soon be a wealth of information.

Here are some simple ways to get started!

  • Create a daily learning habit. Set aside 30 mins a day to read something new, reflect, and make notes.
  • Check newsfeed headlines for articles of interest while scanning social media each morning.
  • Try something new. Focus on learning a wide variety of information, not only things related to your current position. Challenge your ideas and beliefs.
  • Watch a documentary.
  • Consider job shadowing another employee to learn about different roles in your company. This can broaden your skills and increase your value.
  • Connect with a mentor to help gain knowledge and insight from an up-leveled perspective.
  • Attend workshops, classes and training sessions to boost skills, confidence and expertise.
  • Join a book club. Connect with peers, open up dialogue, and learn new ways of communication.

Once you have instilled daily development into your personal and professional life, you will naturally expand into bigger leaps of learning.

muniserv can help every step of the way! Our muniLEARN platform lets you access over 1,000 internationally accredited digital courses, programs and examinations on topics such as; Leadership Soft Skills, Change Management, Project Management and more.

Contact us today to find out how you can get started! Which will you be joining first?

 

muniSERV is Canada’s leading online solution for helping municipalities and professionals connect.

 

We help municipalities save time and money searching for the consultants & CAOs they need, while offering professionals the opportunity to showcase their profile and services to get found and grow their business.

 

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