NCSL Legislative Video Resource Center

In a year that seemed doomed to disease and economic ruin, legislative leaders found themselves on the adventure of a lifetime—and made history in the process. As the pandemic and protests swept through the country, keepers of the institution grasped their gavels, dusted off their Mason’s Manuals and governed in a most 21st-century way. Legislative and staff leaders tell their stories of motivation and ingenuity, answer questions about running sessions during a pandemic and share how they continue to lead beyond crisis.

Strong leadership skills, agile management techniques and ongoing self-care are a few essentials legislative staff need to navigate times of crisis. Speakers include Dr. Melissa Furman.

Work inside legislatures invariably brings conflict—whether it be within our own offices, with other legislators or agencies, or with and among external stakeholders. Even if the conflict itself is inevitable, our approach to mitigating, managing and resolving it need not consume so much time and energy. Learn from Larry Schooler, who uses his background and expertise in mediation and conflict management, to guide you through a new approach to conflict resolution, both for your internal team and with competing public interests. You will learn how best to analyze conflict and how to tailor your approach, as well as how to create conditions for less conflict or conflict with less severity.