Governor Parson Continues Focus on Professional, Leadership Development of State of Missouri Employees with The Missouri Way Program
JANUARY 29, 2019
Jefferson City — – Governor Mike Parson opened up the third The Missouri Way management training program today with a speech to more than 200 leaders from across the state’s 16 executive departments. The management program supports the governor’s priority to provide State of Missouri managers, supervisors, and employees with the training and tools they need to both lead their teams better and improve how they serve the citizens of Missouri.
Governor Parson’s fiscal year 2020 recommended budget dedicates resources to give State of Missouri employees important training opportunities, including $300,000 for programs to build skills for state workers to design and lead “lean” process improvement programs to reduce waste, improve productivity, and maximize citizen value; and nearly $1.4 million for training in project management, which will help improve the quality, timeliness of delivery, and overall cost for major state projects, especially related to information technology.
Governor Parson launched the first-ever The Missouri Way training in August. The program is now established as an important component to the state’s back-to-basics management transformation.
“In my visits to state departments, I have found that our state employees are true public servants who want to do right by our citizens every day,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Investing in our leaders at every level is important. Good leaders mean good teams, and that is how we get better results for our citizens.”
“Through his budget recommendations and State of the State address, Governor Parson has made it clear that we must invest in our public servant across state government,” said Drew Erdmann, State of Missouri Chief Operating Officer. “This is an important part of our common sense approach to improving how we manage state government. By investing in building the skills and capabilities of our dedicated public servants, they can then deliver results more effectively and efficiently for all Missourians.”
“It’s imperative that team members across the State of Missouri’s executive departments have the professional development opportunities they need to learn new tools and skills,” said Office of Administration Commissioner Sarah Steelman. “Governor Parson’s support of The Missouri Way training and other training opportunities ensures managers, supervisors, and team members are equipped to deliver the best results possible to the citizens of Missouri.”
The Missouri Way is an intensive three-day training program designed to introduce senior leaders, managers, supervisors, and other emerging leaders to the tools and approaches to solve basic management challenges, change their organizations, and improve their teams’ performances. The January 2019 session lasts from Tuesday, January 29 to Thursday, January 31.
At the conclusion of the training this week, more than 470 state employees will have completed the program. The state is holding the training approximately every 60 days in 2019, with the goal of training 1,200 managers by the end of 2019. The Missouri Way is a regular part of leadership development in the State of Missouri.
The Missouri Way’s approach is practical and based upon proven principles from high-performing businesses and other government organizations. The curriculum will provide common approaches, tools, and vocabulary in areas ranging from how to manage change within an organization and redesigning business processes to customer experience and project management. The sessions involve a mix of classroom instruction with individual and group exercises. Learn more about The Missouri Way at missouriway.mo.gov.
In addition to The Missouri Way training, the state has led multiple efforts to reform management, including its increased focus on the professional development of its employees, revamping its employee recruitment efforts, and introducing new leadership development opportunities like the state’s new Leadership Academy.
The state also recently held the first-ever Show Me Challenge competition, a new way for employees of Missouri’s 16 executive departments to compete to identify solutions that improve how we serve our citizens, cut out unnecessary bureaucratic work, and/or save time and money.