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Career Enhancement and Electives

Please note: Career enhancement courses are open for all to register. You do not have to be enrolled in a specific program to register for a career enhancement/elective course.
Mississippi Certified Public Manager Program (CPM)
Emotional Intelligence

This class provides a look at a different measure of leadership, development, performance, and career advancement. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence that can serve as a catalyst for individual development.
Objectives:
•    Identify criteria and traits that determine excellence in leadership and performance
•    Discuss how emotional intelligence relates to effectiveness in the workplace and why it is crucial to career development
•    Identify leadership and management competencies with regard to emotional intelligence
•    Discuss how MBTI relates to emotional intelligence
•    Participate in group projects focused on developing techniques for improving emotional intelligence
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, or
Those who manage people, projects, or programs
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Employee Engagement

This course is designed to show you the way to get the best out of a confident, motivated employee and to show them how to motivate that group.

Objectives:

  • Define Motivation
  • Methods of Motivation
  • Identifying personality types
  • Using personality types for motivation

TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track, or
Those who manage people, projects or programs
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Employee Evaluation, Corrective Action, and Disciplinary Procedures

Most supervisors are unsure of the most effective ways to discuss performance issues and conduct performance reviews. This class discusses the most challenging aspects surrounding performance evaluations and provides resources for participants to use in performance conversations.
Objectives:
•    Learn the elements of the Performance Review System (PRS)
•    Discuss challenges to the PRS process and how best to defend decisions with the Employee Appeals Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in accordance with MSPB policies
•    Learn the difference in disciplinary issues vs. performance issues
•    Explain the elements of due process 
•    Learn the role of the Human Resources office in the PRS process
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who supervise people
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Employment Law Hot Button Issues 2025

This session will review:

  • The latest guidance and enforcement regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Social media and the workplace regulations
  • Telework policies
  • Medical marijuana and the workplace
  • Recent employment litigation, legislation, and judicial decisions
  • Trends in federal and state employment claims
Everything DiSC Workplace

Everything DiSC Workplace® is the online DiSC assessment that aids in building more productive and effective relationships at work. Combining the classroom session with online pre-work and follow-up tools creates a personalized learning experience to help participants understand and appreciate the different priorities, preferences, and values each individual brings to the workplace and how they can learn to adapt to the style of others.
Objectives:
•    Discover participant’s own DiSC style: recognize the priorities, motivators, and stress triggers that shape his or her workplace experience
•    Explore other DiSC styles and understand the differences and similarities among them
•    Identify strategies to make more meaningful connections with colleagues of various styles and work more effectively to reduce tension, solve problems, and contribute positively to their organizations
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, or
Those who manage people, projects, or programs
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Finding the "I" in Team

Knowing how to work with others is a vital component of efficiency. By understanding how to effectively
build teams, employees can make teamwork productive. Participants will discover their roles in teams while
examining how personality types interact in team settings.
Objectives:
•   Examine the role that each individual plays in teamwork.
•   Identify who should lead and who should follow.
•   Assess the learning styles that can make or break a team.
•   Determine how proper motive alignment can make teamwork productive.
•   Create a road map for effective team building.
Target Audience: All Staff
Credit: 6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Generations at Work

Several recent studies have cited conflict between different generations as a main contributor to relationships being negatively impacted in the workplace.  Learning to respect generations and the diversity each brings to the workplace improves productivity, communication, and customer service.
Objectives:
•    Recognize and identify the strengths each generation brings to the workplace
•    Commit to seeing generational respect as a diversity issue, rather than an age issue
•    Develop skills to open dialogue between generations
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, or
Those who manage people, projects, or programs
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Grant Writing

This class is ideal for employees who are new to obtaining grant funding. Participants will learn the fundamentals of grant writing and how to identify funding sources.
Objectives:
•    Explain the phases of grantsmanship (the art of obtaining grants)
•    Define and explain the components of a proposal
•    Increase knowledge and skills required to write effective grants for government and private foundations
•    Identify sources of potential funding
TARGET AUDIENCE: All staff responsible for securing funding
6 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Grants Management

This class is ideal for those that manage multiple grants in different phases. Financial management, rules & regulations, working with grant partners obstacles to success, and different grant reports are discussed. 
Objectives:
•    Gain increased understanding of the grants management process
•    Provide an overview of reporting requirements for grants
•    Understand the role monitoring and audits have in the grant process
TARGET AUDIENCE: All staff responsible for securing funding
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit

Guide to Talent Development

Talent development reflects an agency's commitment to continual improvement. Developing employees can have a big impact on an agency when the development leads to improvement in agency services. Developmental activities increase technical, interpersonal, and managerial skills. When employees are equipped to work better, the agency's overall performance improves.
Objectives:
•    Learn about the steps in the development planning cycle
•    Become familiar with performance-potential grid 
•    Learn to recognize where your employee is on the performance/potential grid 
TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who interact with the public,
Those who are on a management track,
Those who deliver critical services, 
Those who manage people, projects, or programs, or
Human Resources professionals
3 Hours CPM Elective Credit