Growth Mindset for Career Growth - Skills Development for Middle Management Sessions

Stepping into leadership is exciting—and a little overwhelming. This session helps new middle management professionals navigate the real-world “speed bumps” that come with a new role, from earning credibility to understanding the culture they’ve just inherited. Participants will unpack how their organization’s values shape daily decisions, reflect on what assumptions may be holding them back, and identify one behavior change that will accelerate their growth. By the end, learners will walk away with a practical 90-day credibility plan designed to help them show up with confidence, clarity, and purpose in their new title. By the end of this lesson, learners will: -- Recognize common speed bumps that new leaders face and strategies to overcome them. -- Analyze and articulate their organization’s culture and core values to align with their own leadership approach. -- Reflect on their comfort zone and current assumptions and commit to one behavior shift that will accelerate their transition. -- Create their plan to build credibility in their first 90 days.

In parks and recreation, surprises are inevitable—but being unprepared doesn’t have to be. This session introduces forecasting as a critical leadership skill that helps middle management professionals anticipate challenges before they arrive. Learners will explore how forecasting supports smarter staffing, budgeting, and program planning, while also examining common pitfalls that can derail good predictions. Through hands-on application, participants will practice using forecasting tools to make informed, proactive decisions—so when the storm hits, they’ll already have their umbrella open. By the end of this lesson, learners will: -- Define forecasting as a predictive management skill -- Identify the benefits, uses, and common pitfalls of forecasting in Parks & Recreation contexts -- Apply forecasting techniques in their tasks, like staffing, budgeting, and program planning decisions.

Not every message belongs in the same channel—and not every audience needs the same level of detail. This session equips emerging leaders to choose the right communication pathways for different situations, balancing transparency, clarity, and intent. Participants will practice persuasive communication that blends empathy with data, helping them gain buy-in and influence decisions across teams. They’ll also strengthen their self-advocacy skills by learning how to communicate accomplishments and needs using solutions-oriented language—so their voice is heard without losing credibility. By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to: -- Select appropriate communication pathways and level of transparency for different message types and audiences -- Demonstrate persuasive communication by framing messages with clarity, empathy, and data to gain alignment and influence decisions. -- Display self-advocacy by clearly communicating accomplishments and needs using solutions-oriented language.

Moving from “one of the team” to “the one leading the team” can be one of the toughest transitions in management. This session tackles the challenges of managing former peers with respect, fairness, and confidence. Learners will identify common power traps—such as favoritism or avoidance—and develop strategies for clearly communicating new expectations while maintaining trust. With a focus on healthy boundaries, self-care, and collaborative conflict management, participants will gain practical tools to lead with authority without losing authenticity. By the end of this lesson, learners will: -- Recognize obstacles when former peers become subordinates and develop strategies to manage this shift respectfully. -- Identify and avoid power traps — such as favoritism, dominance, or laissez-faire oversight. -- Communicate new expectations to peers effectively while maintaining respect and trust. -- Reflect on personal boundaries to support self-care, role clarity, and sustainable leadership. -- Apply a collaboration model to manage cross-team relationships and conflicts productively.

Leadership is as much about mindset as it is about skillset. This session invites participants to examine how their thought patterns shape communication, decision-making, and resilience under pressure. Learners will explore concepts like growth mindset, fixed mindset, and perspective-taking, and practice reframing challenges into opportunities for learning and improvement. Through simple gratitude and mindfulness techniques, participants will strengthen focus and adaptability—leaving better equipped to approach obstacles not as roadblocks, but as stepping stones in their leadership journey. By the end of this lesson, learners will: -- Define perspective-taking, growth mindset, fixed mindset, and resilience. -- Recognize how thought patterns influence leadership communication and decisions. -- Identify and reframe negative thought patterns into growth-oriented perspectives. -- Apply gratitude and mindfulness techniques to strengthen resilience and focus. -- Demonstrate self-awareness by applying growth mindset principles in challenging leadership situations.