Supervisory Training Achieves Results (STAR)

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Leadership is one of the most influential elements of governments, organizations and businesses. Leadership training provides leaders with the tools, knowledge and ability to impact and inspire their followers. The results of a countywide needs assessment and feedback from exit interviews revealed deficiencies in training for leadership. The County’s former training program required more than 110 hours of classroom instruction, had only 100 graduates over a four-year period, and generally did not produce results. In 2017, Wake County implemented the Supervisory Training Achieves Results (STAR) program to provide training in eight competencies identified by senior leadership as essential for leaders. The 40-hour, application-based program covers topics such as problem-solving, decision-making, collaboration and managing the workforce. Once accepted into the program, participants complete a self-assessment and engage with senior-level executives during the Leadership Advisory Panel. To graduate, participants must identify, develop and present a SMART goal and demonstrate progress quarterly. Participates also take a pre- and post- test that allows Human Resources to evaluate the knowledge gained in the program; which is a best practice in the training industry. Participants have shown an average increase of 21 points in their post-test scores, substantiating the knowledge gained in the program. The STAR program promotes Wake County’s culture of continuous improvement and professional development.