SOMERSET COUNTY BOOK CLUB

Submitted to:

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders

&Michael Amorosa,Somerset County Administrator

PRESENTED BY: COHORT #6 – “Big Hero 6”Hector Burgos, Michael DiGuilio, Joseph DiNuzzo, Donna Gapas, Jon Gangwer, Heather Mayen, & Antonietta Phelan

Summary

Somerset County implemented the Building Exceptional Leadership Talent (B.E.L.T.) program to cultivate future leaders.

Tasked the cohort with developing a professional “Book Club” where the county’s employees can come together to develop and improve their management skills.

Objectives

Promote the Somerset County Leadership Model

Professional Development

Networking

Increase Employee Engagement

Structure

Meet on a quarterly basis for 60-90 minutes

Maximum of 15 participants

Register through the Somerset County Training Manual

StrategicThinking

and Planning

Business Results

Leadership and

Management

Personal Effectivene

ss

Each quarter will focus one aspect of the Leadership Model

Somerset County Leadership Model

Members will continue to interact between meetings via the club’s forum

Facilitators will be volunteers from within the County (i.e. current managers)

Marketing via in-County resources

Benefits to Somerset County Development of leadership skills Increase employee well being Allow employees some autonomy for their own professional

development Promote County-wide collaboration Develop future leaders Introduce the four areas of the BELT Leadership Model Increase awareness of County-wide services to employees

Benefits to the Employee Increase employee well-being Non-traditional environment to develop leadership skills Ownership of development Increased accessibility and availability to variety of resources Additional elements for use on resumes or in interviews for

advancement opportunities Opportunities for networking Exposure to the ideas and processes of other County offices

Cost

Productivity Time 60 to 90 minutes per session 4 sessions per year 6 total hours of commitment per

year Sessions scheduled during the

work day Forum participation in between

sessions Times will vary by each participant

Monetary Books will be physical copies

Purchased through the Somerset County Library

Cost for eight books (first two years), $130

15 participants for two years totals $1,950

Average materials cost per year, $975

Average cost per participant per year, $65

Future Potential

• Increased interest as word spreads

• Multiple clubs running in quarterly succession

• Participant feedback utilizing a satisfaction survey

• Development of a standard curriculum

• Use of electronic resources

Current Successes

Staff Book Club Successes

A staff book club is beneficial to “employee development, increased motivation, and team bonding.” It allows “team members from various roles and pay grades to share knowledge that may not have otherwise been exposed.” – Andy Baily of Small Biz Daily

Getting staff members together to read and discuss books “can be a potent leadership development tool” which offers members “deep and powerful lessons about leadership.” – Sandra J. Sucher, Harvard Business School Professor

“The themes we discuss can relate to the work we’re all doing” – Michaela Dwyer, Postgraduate Fellow in Ethics at Duke University

A Somerset County Book Club will serve to increase employee engagement and motivation, foster growth and learning, and

provide a fun and stimulating way for employees to take ownership of their

individual leadership development.