Jennifer Mitchell Earley

Effectively onboarding new hemployees is critical to their success as well as to the success of your organization. It allows employees to feel welcomed and comfortable in their new role, on their new team/department, integrated into the culture of the organization, and acquainted with the organizational mission, vision, and objectives. Additionally, employee onboarding provides pertinent information such as specifics concerning employee roles and responsibilities, who/where to go with questions, relevant departmental protocols and procedures as well as fosters employee confidence. Thus, helping employees adapt faster to their new role, environment, and expectations. This is also true for newly Elected Officials. In 1997 as a newly Elected Official, I was thankful to have my dad to help me navigate my first four-year term. For many newly Elected Officials, this is their first foray into public service. It’s an exciting time, but without having prior political knowledge or the wi...

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This is as true in business as it is in life. Organizations whose leaders have no vision are doomed to work under the burden of mere tradition or to chase ill-conceived illusions of grandeur. They cannot prosper and grow because they are either reduced to keeping things status quo or because they have failed to realistically “count the costs” by vetting all outcomes. Leadership entails, “holding and casting” the vision. “Holding" the vision means taking full accountability for the job of keeping the vision alive. Leaders are charged with inspiring confidence in everyone in the organization at all times. Leaders are charged with the task of “writing the vision and making it plain…” (Habakkuk 2:2). You know it is alive when people are continually excited, inspired and committed to its achievement. If they are stressed, weary, overloaded and resigned, they've lost it. It's a leader’s job to...

Each year, leaders (i.e. Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers, Executive Directors, Presidents, etc.) in public and private sector reflect on their past year; evaluate relationships; examine areas where time, money, and energy were invested; evaluate whether or not the goals set were reached; and, if not, revise new ones accordingly. This is referred to as Strategic Planning which is an organization’s process of identifying its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people (Wikipedia.com).  Simply stated, it is the process of determining your long-term goals and then identifying the best way to achieve those goals. The State of the Union Address is an example of Strategic Planning.  The President outlines where we’ve been as a country (our nation’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats); where we’re going (our goals, key initiatives, reforms, etc.); and how, specifically, their adm...

I’m a big proponent of setting expectations. As a Learning and Development Consultant for over 20 years, I have yet to encounter a leader, supervisor, frontline manager, or individual contributor who has not felt flustered and discouraged when expectations, roles, and responsibilities are not clearly defined. Everyone benefits from clear expectations, relevant work knowledge, and clearly documented processes and procedures - even Elected Officials. # Adopted # Resolution2019 -28

In 1997 as a new Elected Official, I was thankful to have my dad to help me navigate my first four-year term.  My dad’s guidance helped me steer clear of the slippery slopes that entice, entangle, and sometimes envelop novice elected officials... Nearly fourteen years into my career, I truly understand how vital it was to have had the tutelage of my dad.  For many newly elected officials, it’s an exciting yet overwhelming period.  Without having prior political knowledge or the wisdom of a mentor, this begins the “sink or swim” or “trial by fire” season of their political life. As a learning and development consultant with over 20 years of experience designing, developing, and delivering training programs, I can attest to the necessity of providing individuals with the opportunity, encouragement, and tools/training that they need to succeed.  To this end, I developed a handbook to assist Council by documenting acceptable practices and clarifying expectations to help...

As an Elected Official, I have always believed in the importance of keeping my constituents informed.  So much so that for the last 10 years I have provided my residents with a monthly, quarterly, or semiannual newsletter containing news that they can use on policies, processes, laws, budget, state and federal issues, municipal matters, etc. No tax payer dollars have been used for the production or dissemination.  Rather, the newsletters are paid for and delivered to each resident by me.  This was something instilled in me by my father who did the same throughout his 25-year record of public service. Knowledge is power and I want my electorate (home owners and apartment dwellers) to be actively engaged in order to effectively participate in our local democracy. Keep in mind, your target audience won't always come to meetings, town halls, or events.  Some won't visit your website due to capability, access, or other issues.  Various avenues should be used to prov...