I call my time management and boundary setting workshop "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Councillors Universe".
Don't Panic - the best advice to intergalactic travellers and new councillors.
As a councillor you quickly learn that the pressure to respond, attend, support and deliver can make the role feel overwhelming. The work can easily expand to time available and become all-consuming, but it doesn't have to be that way.
This practical workshop is about helping councillors set realistic boundaries and manage available time without losing touch with themselves or their family/friends or their work. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the role, so the focus is on helping participants reflect on their own personal and professional commitments, working style and capacity.
It covers:
Agenda for a typical three hour online or in person workshop:
There is also a workbook that accompanies this workshop, to help participants develop their own personalised plans.
This workshop can be delivered online, in person or hybrid. It is typically 3 hours with a short break.
It can be separated out to create two different but related workshops "time management" and "boundary setting".
It can also be split as an shorter introduction at the start of a councillor's term of office, and revisited with more details six months later, once the councillor has settled in the role.
The workshop will be tailored to the council's support offer for councillors, if appropriate.
Delivered by Liz Green, an experienced councillor, former council leader and facilitator with over 20 years in local government. Liz was working full time when first elected and had both her children whilst holding SRAs, so understands why boundaries are necessary and how to set and stick to them.
Whilst aimed at new councillors, it can be helpful for more experienced councillors to reprioritise commitments, especially if they take on a new position such as cabinet member or committee chair. A combination often works well as new councillors will gain knowledge from their experienced colleagues and the 'old hands' will be able to understand the pressures for newer colleagues.
It can be run in individual political groups or cross-party. Councillors will only divulge personal information on other commitments if they wish, as they will be able to complete their personalised workbook privately.
The cost varies depending delivery such as online, in person or hybrid and level of adaptation required. We always offer value for money as we know council's have tight budgets.
There are many variations of this workshop available, but as an indication a 3 hour in person workshop would cost around £1,200, but please contact us for an accurate quote.
"Liz combines expertise with an engaging style that makes her training sessions practical and enjoyable."
General workshop feedback
" I like the relaxed but formal approach of the speakers. each section wasn't too long, so you didn't lose interest, I liked the interactive QR code polls as that broke up the session"
Online workshop webinar
"Liz brings 20 years of being a councillor, from backbencher to leader, and it is that experience that makes her training sessions so valuable."
Political group session
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy starts with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect hitchhiking a lift with a Vogon spaceship. Sometimes being elected for the first time can feel as daunting as an experience!
Whilst both universes can seem vast, confusing and often absurd, the main advice for both is Don't Panic.
It is possible to navigate the vastness of local government whilst still keeping your sanity and your own life intact.