Twenty-four freshman state lawmakers enhanced their leadership abilities and decision-making skills during four days of training that Institute of Government faculty presented at the 2013 Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute (GLLI).
An extension of the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, GLLI helps new state representatives and senators strengthen their leadership skills and understand current issues and their implications for Georgia. Five state senators and 19 members of the Georgia House of Representatives were selected for this year’s leadership development program. GLLI’s first session was held from May 30 to June 2; a second session is scheduled for October 3-6.
Stacy Jones, head of the Institute of Government’s training division, teamed with Institute professional development expert Phil Boyle to present a series of workshops that focused on building leadership skills to strengthen legislators’ ability to meet the expectations and challenges of serving in the Georgia General Assembly.
Matt Hauer, the Institute’s demographer, gave a presentation describing the dynamics of Georgia’s changing population in the 21st century so legislators could more effectively understand the state’s needs in the coming decades.
The final day’s workshops explored the implications of effective leadership and allowed the legislators to test their knowledge by working through some practical examples of legislative decision making.
In this fall’s second session, the representatives and senators will fortify their knowledge with training in public policy analysis and advanced legislative processes with a focus on being productive in the legislature.
The Institute of Government coordinates GLLI every two years in partnership with the General Assembly and with financial support from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. Since its inception in 2005, GLLI has enhanced the leadership skills of more than 100 legislators selected by House and Senate leaders.
