Toolkit
Welcome to our Organizational Development Toolkit, your one-stop resource hub for enhancing your daily work. This webpage offers a range of valuable resources, tools, and templates to support anyone and everyone in their daily work.
- If you're a City of Madison Supervisor, check out our Supervisor Resources for more specific on-the-job resources.
Reach out to OrganizationalDevelopment@cityofmadison.com if you have questions or suggestions.
Below are our current Online Learning Resources in alphabetical order within each category listed.
We're always adding more, so check back often!
Customer De-Escalation
Learn what customer de-escalation (also known as verbal de-escalation) is, why physical force should be avoided, and tactics to effectively de-escalate customer conflict situations.
- Access the Recording: On our Online Courses webpage, under the "Customer Service" section.
Course Resources:
- Customer De-Escalation Slides
- Customer De-Escalation "One-Sheeter"
- Customer De-Escalation 11 x 17 Print-Out
- Printable on 11 x 17" paper to display in your workspace(s).
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
If you're looking for a structured process to create and communicate an action plan, look no further! Use this plan to communicate with others to achieve personal and professional goals.
Values to Action Learner Activity
The City holds five core values at the forefront of our operations. These values function as a guide for employees to make decisions related to the services we deliver to our community, and as a way to ensure our employees grow confidence in our ability to do our jobs well.
This can also be found within our Supervisor Resources under Onboarding. The Supervisor Resources are a directory of information and tools that support City of Madison Supervisors in their day-to-day management work.
Giving & Receiving Effective Feedback
These resources, designed to supplement our Feedback Courses, includes comprehensive materials and sub-topics on the art of giving and receiving feedback.
Individual Resources:
Combined Packet: Effective Feedback Resource Packet
Additional Feedback Tools:
Additional Feedback Learning Channels:
Interpersonal Communication
These communication resources are designed to enhance communication effectiveness. This is vital for:
- Developing high-performing teams
- Fostering psychological safety
- Increasing collaboration and innovation
Use these resources to help build stronger, more dynamic teams.
Individual Resources:
Combined Packet: Interpersonal Communication Resource Packet
Presentation Guideline Checklist
Use this checklist as a guide for creating clear, concise, and effective presentations for your audience(s).
Included are tips for:
- While you're preparing your presentation materials
- When you're presenting
- Additional considerations to shape your content
Disability Justice - Internal Audit Tool
"'Disability Justice: An Audit Tool' is aimed at helping Black, Indigenous and POC-led organizations (that are not primarily focused around disability) examine where they're at in practicing disability justice, and where they want to learn and grow." - Northwest Health Foundation
- Access the Tool: Disability Justice: An Audit Tool
To discuss this tool, or to learn more about Disability Justice at the City of Madison, reach out to the following contacts:
- Rebecca Hoyt at RHoyt@cityofmadison.com - Disability Rights and Services Specialist, Department of Civil Rights
- Tory Larson at VLarson@cityofmadison.com - Occupational Accommodations Specialist, Human Resources
1:1 Agenda Template
This 1:1 Agenda Template - created for supervisors and managers - is designed to:
- Foster leadership effectiveness
- Boost day-to-day efficiency
- Build trust and psychological safety
- Enhance motivation and engagement.
This collaborative tool ensures impactful and meaningful one-on-one discussions, benefiting both managers and employees.
Project Charter Template
A Project Charter outlines the scope, objectives, and stakeholders of a project. It also ensures clarity and alignment from the start.
Minimize misunderstandings, streamline communication, and increase your project's chance of success by using this template!
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
A SOP is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled to help staff carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output, and uniformity of performance while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with industry regulations (if any apply).
Use these resources to begin to build your own SOP library for knowledge transfer and procedure documentation.
Team Meeting Agenda Template
Use the Team Meeting Agenda Template to help facilitate your team/unit discussions and increase meeting effectiveness.
Employee Burnout
The Organizational Development Unit (OD) and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) have created these three resources to help employees and their supervisors identify, converse about, and address root causes of burnout.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is preventable, and recognizing the signs can make a crucial difference.
This guide provides essential information for responding to suicidal thoughts among City of Madison employees, including warning signs, effective communication strategies, and available resources.
Learn how to approach these sensitive conversations with empathy and support, and discover the resources that can offer professional help. Remember, reaching out and providing support can save lives.
Resources You Can Refer To:
- EAP: 608-261-6561 or eap@cityofmadison.com
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
- Dane County Crisis Line: 608-280-2600
- Crisis Text Line: Text or use WhatsApp to message HOME to 741741
- Emergency Number: 911