Powerful Strategies for Leaders: Four-Part Series

Part 1: Tapping the Power of Influence (Oct. 16)

Effective leadership is built on influence, not authority. While authority may grant someone formal power, the ability to influence is what allows leaders to inspire, motivate, and guide their teams toward shared goals. Explore the fundamental differences between exerting influence and applying pressure, and how the former builds trust and loyalty. Walk through a range of influencing strategies, from emotional appeal to rational persuasion, and discover how each helps support collaboration, trust, and emotional intelligence across the team. 

Topics:

• The difference between influence and authority, and their respective outcomes.
• How influence strengthens leadership effectiveness, fosters innovation, and supports team cohesion.
• Influencing strategies and how to use them.

Part 2: Unlocking the Power of Collaboration (Oct. 23)

Collaboration is not just a desirable organizational value — it is essential for driving innovation, enhancing outcomes, and building high-performing teams. Effective collaboration goes beyond simply working together; it requires a structured approach, clear communication, and mutual trust. Explore how to become a leader who can foster true collaboration to create a workplace where diverse perspectives are valued, creativity flourishes, and goals are surpassed.

Topics:

• The distinctions between collaboration, coordination, and cooperation, and when and how to use each approach effectively.
• An effective, structured process for fostering genuine collaboration.
• Creating a culture of trust and idea sharing.

Part 3: Harnessing the Power of Collective Problem Solving (Oct. 30)

When teams tackle challenges together, they are more innovative and have a sense of shared ownership in outcomes. Discover why collaborative problem-solving is a hallmark of strong and effective leadership, and how leaders excel at guiding their teams through solving common problems. Review how to tap into the diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives of your team members to develop more creative and effective solutions — independently and together. 

Topics:

• What critical thinking looks like at different levels and how to foster it within your team.
• A structured, repeatable problem-solving process.
• Aligning strategic decisions with organizational goals.
• How to coach and mentor team members to become more independent and effective problem solvers.

Part 4: Building Resilience for Change  (Nov. 6)

Change is inevitable in any organization, but is particularly ubiquitous in utilities today. Successfully driving and managing change requires more than implementing new processes or strategies — it demands strong leadership, adaptability, and guidance in the face of uncertainty. Learn the elements of effective change leadership, from creating a vision for the future to ensuring alignment with organizational goals and sustaining momentum in the face of resistance. Delve into how to help your team embrace transformation and sustain effective changes for long-term success.

Topics:

• Common pitfalls in change initiatives. 
• Best practices for ensuring your organization remains adaptable and resilient in the face of transformation.
• The psychology of change resistance — why it happens, how to address it constructively, and how to guide your team through transitions with empathy and transparency. 
• How to sustain long-term change.

Questions?

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org

Register now!

Registration Fees

Registration is for individual access. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available. 

Group Discounts

Save money when your organization registers five or more people for the webinar series. The larger your group, the more you save! 

Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders. 

If you need assistance, contact Registration@PublicPower.org.

Registration Help

Check out our Registration FAQs for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues. 

Cancellations /No-Show/ Refunds/ Substitutions

All webinars will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive a copy of the recordings, in case you can’t attend live.

Registrants who cancel in writing at least 7 days in advance of the first webinar in the series are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after that will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel at least 7 days before the course start date are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund. 

Cancellations must be received on/before October 9. 

Cancellation requests should be made through your My.PublicPower portal, or addressed to: Registration@PublicPower.org.

Questions?

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in virtual programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs). 

Requirements for Successful Completion: Virtual

• Registration is for individual access, so each person participating must register. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.
• Individuals are required to attend and actively participate in 90% of each live session and complete an online evaluation after the last session in a course. 
  • Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of each live session (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
  • Participation: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: polling/check-in questions, and Kahoot quizzes (tracked electronically). There will also be small group breakout sessions, in-class exercises, and Q&A sessions.
  • Activities vary by class: Information on participation will be provided the day before (and during) class. Participation is tracked electronically.
  • Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after the course concludes
• Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance.
• Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member during the event, through an online report log, and upon review of the post-event evaluation data.
• Completion certificates will be available within two weeks of the last session in a live event (for those who meet the requirements) through your APPA member portal (access instructions will be provided).
• Virtual sessions are recorded (attendees automatically receive access to recordings within a week of the last session), though continuing education credits can only be given for attending live events. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session.

Guidelines for Group Participation in Virtual Events

• If a group is participating in a conference room together, we recommend each person still logs in individually from a laptop to ensure attendance and participation requirements are met (as noted above).
• If individual log in is not possible, the organization must designate one person as the main point of contact. Email Academy@PublicPower.org in advance of the virtual event noting this information
  • This person will record attendance in the room in the room (we can provide a sample attendance tracker) and ensure attendance and participation from the group throughout.
  • Submit the attendance record to APPA within 2 business days of the conclusion of a virtual event.
  • Ensure each person fills out the required online evaluation.

What educational credits are available?

You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live sessions — provided the following requirements are met:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. For information regarding certification status, attendance requirements, and obtaining attendee transcripts, contact Academy@PublicPower.org. Verify our IACET Accreditation.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs): The American Public Power Association’s educational practices are consistent with the criteria for awarding Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Course eligibility and number of PDHs may vary by state.

Questions? 

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org

Format and Log-In Information

These webinars will be offered on the Zoom meeting platform. 

Communication

• 24 hours after registering: You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, which contains some preliminary information.
• 24 hours before: You’ll receive your Zoom log in link the day before the first session in a course (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account <no-reply@zoom.us>)
  • You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class. 
• If you don’t receive this correspondence, email Academy@PublicPower.org

Course Access and Materials

• Zoom Links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the first session.
• Course Materials: Attendees will receive access to course materials the day before each session through the "Documents" section of their My.PublicPower.org user portal. 
• Recordings: All sessions will be recorded and can be accessed through your user portal as well (within a week of the last class in the program), in case you can’t attend the live versions. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions.

Technology Requirements

• Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform. Please see below for more information on downloading the Zoom Web Client.
• Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will also need a webcam, so you can fully engage in the small group breakout sessions and group discussions.  
• Padlet Site: The instructor will also utilize a Padlet site to provide additional resources and post after-session assignments.

New to Zoom?

If you haven't participated in a Zoom meeting before, please download the Zoom web client from the Zoom Download Center. This will enable you to access all of the Zoom tools and functionality vs. using the web version. Then, visit Zoom.us/test to ensure you are able to join a meeting. 

If you are not able to download the Zoom web client, you can still participate via your Internet browser. We recommend using Chrome for the best results.

Privacy and Security

The American Public Power Association takes your privacy and security very seriously. For this reason, we have put the following security measures in place for this course:

• Each course has a random Meeting ID
• Meeting is password-protected
• Enabled waiting room to screen meeting participants
• Screen sharing restricted to hosts only

Questions? 

• Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
• Schedule/Content/Accreditation: Academy@PublicPower.org