Leadership Toolkit: Four-Part Series

Part 1: Leadership Foundations: Core Skills for Emerging Professionals 

(Jan 29, Feb 5, 13 & 19 | Thursdays, Noon – 2 p.m. ET, except Friday February 13)

• Webinar 1: Communicate with Clarity and Confidence (Thurs, Jan. 29)

  • Explore your communication style and learn about assertive communication, which enables you to navigate challenging conversations, provide valued feedback, and express your ideas while building trust with others. Mastering this style of communication reduces misunderstandings, prevents resentment, and promotes a more positive and respectful workplace culture. Review key elements in communicating effectively as a leader and take part in scenarios to help you build self-confidence in participating in productive, solution-oriented dialogues.
  • Topics:
    • How effective communication supports improved leadership
    • Core elements of powerful communication
    • Assess your personal communication style
    • Key traits of assertive communication
    • Practice assertive communication in high-stakes situations

• Webinar 2: Cultivating Trust (Thurs, Feb. 5)

  • Trust profoundly influences our connection with others, shaping the quality of relationships and the overall effectiveness of a leader. Trust is what enables open communication, fosters collaboration, and builds emotional connections rooted in respect, empathy, and loyalty. Learn how leaders build and nurture trust to create meaningful connections with their teams and more unified and resilient organizations. Reflect on your experiences with trust and evaluate how you can improve your “trust brand” to foster a healthier workplace.
  • Topics:
    • Getting in the right mindset to build and sustain trust
    • Seven key components for fostering trust
    • Recovering from damaged trust
    • Assess your personal "trust brand"
    • The distinction between offering apologies and making amends

• Webinar 3: Becoming a Resilient Leader (Fri, Feb. 13)

  • New leaders often navigate the inevitable stress and time pressures that come with increased responsibilities. In today's fast-paced work environment, effective leaders are those who can adapt, recover quickly from setbacks, and maintain emotional balance in the face of adversity. Resilient leaders not only safeguard their own well-being, they also inspire confidence and stability within their teams. Learn ways to build emotional tolerance, improve time management, and better understand and manage stress.
  • Topics:
    • Understanding stress: causes and effects in the workplace
    • Expanding your window of tolerance
    • Effective techniques to prioritize and manage time
    • The benefits of single-tasking for yourself and for productivity
    • Four key strategies for managing stress with confidence

• Webinar 4: Fostering Results through Accountability (Thurs, Feb. 19)

  • Accountability is a cornerstone of effective leadership. When leaders hold themselves and others accountable, they set the stage for maintaining organizational alignment and driving results. Learn strategies for demonstrating accountability, from how to set clear expectations, show follow through on commitments and create an environment of transparency and mutual respect. Discuss how to foster a sense of ownership across your team and how your organizational cultures might hinder accountability.
  • Topics:
    • The differences between responsibility, ownership, and accountability
    • Setting and communicating goals and expectations
    • Practical strategies for sustaining a sense of ownership
    • Evaluate your organizational culture’s effectiveness in fostering accountability
    • Techniques for conducting effective accountability conversations

Part 2: Leading Teams with Purpose 

(July 7, 14, 21, 28 | Tuesdays, Noon – 2 p.m. ET)

• Webinar 1: Understanding Your Leadership Brand (Tues, July 7)

  • Get introduced to the critical roles and responsibilities that come with supervisory relationships, and why it’s essential to balance management and leadership functions. Effective leaders must not only manage processes and teams, but also lead with vision, purpose, and emotional intelligence. Learn why leaders need to be self-aware of their strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers, and how effectively managing oneself allows you to connect authentically with your team. Finally, review why it’s important to understand and maximize your power bases — the sources of influence that leaders use to motivate and guide their teams.
  • Topics:
    • Differentiate between the roles of a manager and a leader
    • Using the Johari Window in creating your leadership brand
    • The six power bases (e.g., legitimate, reward, expert power) and how they form the foundation for leadership influence
    • Elevating your presence through self and situational awareness

• Webinar 2: Unlocking Motivation Through Focused Goal Setting (Tues, July 14)

  • Effective leaders understand that setting clear, motivating goals is crucial to driving performance, engagement, and organizational success. Learn how to create team and personal goals that align with organizational objectives, and how to leverage the goal setting process to imbue a sense of direction and purpose for the team. Discuss how to connect goals to employee performance in a way that motivates and inspires.
  • Topics:
    • The connection between goal-setting and employee engagement
    • The top five reasons for nonperformance of employees
    • Principles of goal setting, including the SMART goal framework
    • How to set clear and effective learning goals that drive motivation and performance

• Webinar 3: Giving Constructive Feedback that Drives Development (Tues, July 21)

  • Providing productive feedback is one of the most critical, yet challenging, responsibilities of leadership. Review what makes for constructive feedback and how leaders can adopt a positive coaching mindset when giving and receiving feedback. Walk through the skills and strategies behind providing feedback that not only corrects behavior but also inspires growth, fosters a culture of learning, and strengthens the overall team dynamic.
  • Topics:
    • How a positive coaching mindset affects feedback
    • The principles of giving clear, constructive, and actionable feedback
    • How to apply the Situation-Behavior-Impact, or SBI, method
    • Adopting a growth mindset when giving and receiving feedback

• Webinar 4: Creating Teams that Solve Problems (Tues, July 28)

  • If you want your team to be innovative, efficient, or successful, then your team members must have strong problem-solving skills. Learn how to actively help team members develop and strengthen their problem-solving abilities, think critically, analyze challenges, and create an environment that generates creative solutions. Review the differences between complaints and problems and how and when to tap into different decision-making styles.
  • Topics:
    • Strategies for maintaining a constructive work environment
    • Complaints versus problems
    • Creating strong problem statements
    • How to foster critical thinking to strengthen team problem solving
    • The six different decision-making styles and when to use each

Part 3: Strategic Leadership in Action 

(Sept 9, 16, 23, 30 | Wednesdays, Noon – 2 p.m. ET)

• Webinar 1: Tapping the Power of Influence (Wed, Sept 9)

  • 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.

• Webinar 2: Unlocking the Power of Collaboration (Wed, Sept 16)

  • 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.

• Webinar 3: Harnessing the Power of Collective Problem Solving (Wed, Sept 23)

  • 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.

• Webinar 4: Building Resilience for Change (Wed, Sept 30)

  • Change is inevitable in any organization and 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.

Part 4: Authentic Leadership in Times of Change 

(Nov 19. Dec 3, 10 | Thursdays, Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET)

• Nov 19: Title Pending

• Dec 3: Title Pending

• Dec 10: Title Pending

Questions?

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

Registration Opening Soon!

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 January 22. 

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