Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Transformative Leadership Workshops for Local Government
Nestled on the stunning coastline South-East of Melbourne the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (MPS) faces unique and complex challenges. From managing the demands of a diverse community to navigating climate impacts and tight resources - all while balancing the priorities of two vibrant coastlines - MPS leaders operate in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment.
To meet these challenges head-on, the leadership team gathers quarterly for workshops that go beyond theory. These sessions build practical skills, align leadership priorities, and foster a culture of agility and innovation. Neu21 partnered with MPS to deliver a series of tailored, transformative workshops designed to equip leaders with the tools, mindsets, and strategies to lead with clarity and confidence.
LEADERSHIP • TRANSFORMATION
Workshop 1: Exploring Community-Centricity
This session delved into what it means to put the community at the centre of decision-making.
Examined global examples of best practices in community-centric leadership.
Assessed MPS’s current approach and identified opportunities for improvement.
Developed a strategic roadmap for immediate and long-term community engagement.
Outcome: A shared vision and actionable steps to embed community-centricity into everyday operations.
Workshop 2: Leading Through Complexity and Personal Agility
Leaders explored the intersection of strategy and adaptability, honing skills to navigate complexity and change.
Day 1: Personal Agility and Leadership
Reflected on personal leadership styles to build awareness and adaptability.
Explored tools to manage mind-traps, foster empowerment, and build psychological safety.
Practised radical candour to strengthen trust, communication, and alignment within teams.
Day 2: OKR Training
Introduced Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) as a framework to create alignment and focus.
Developed cascading OKRs to connect team objectives to organisational priorities.
Outcome: Leaders left with strategies to align teams and foster agility—empowering them to thrive amidst complexity and adapt to the unexpected.
Workshop 3: Systems Thinking and Change Implementation
This workshop provided a bird’s-eye view of organisational challenges, focusing on interconnected systems and long-term solutions.
Explored organisational interdependencies and how they shape outcomes.
Learned to use systems thinking and feedback loops to design sustainable improvements.
Shifted from reactive problem-solving to proactive, future-focused leadership.
Outcome: Leaders gained the confidence and tools to approach change systemically, ensuring impact and sustainability.
Workshop 4: Strategic Agility and Wellbeing
Leadership is about navigating change and maintaining resilience—both for teams and for leaders themselves.
Day 1: Leading with Agility
Developed strategies to guide teams through change with clarity and confidence.
Learned techniques to visualise progress, reduce uncertainty, and keep teams motivated.
Created 90-day action plans to focus and prioritise strategic initiatives.
Day 2: Wellbeing and Leading with Intention
Prioritised personal wellbeing as a foundation for effective and sustainable leadership.
Designed individual Purpose Canvases and Wellbeing Scorecards to align personal motivations with professional goals.
Outcome: Leaders strengthened their capacity to lead through change while balancing wellbeing and intention—setting the tone for resilient, people-centred leadership.
The results —
Navigate Complexity with Confidence
Develop self-awareness and the agility to tackle ambiguity and rapid change.
Use OKRs to create clarity and accountability across teams.
Align and Focus Teams:
Anticipate Challenges
Apply systems thinking to address root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
Lead Change Effectively
Support teams through transitions with empathy and focus.
Sustain Leadership Resilience
Balance wellbeing with intentional leadership to deliver long-term results.
These workshops have equipped the MPS leadership team with the tools and frameworks to move towards more proactive, strategic decision-making—laying the groundwork for a culture of innovation and accountability across the organisation.
“The benefits of investing in our leadership team taking time away from the day-to-day to think strategically, plan for how we need to meet our challenges and what we might need to do differently cannot be underestimated. To work on ourselves individually and build our capability as a team ensures we are well equipped to best serve our community. Neu21 have been the perfect partner to guide us through our 2024 program. Their ability to provide support and content that met our specific goals, adapt their approach to suit our emerging needs and to facilitate with a style that provides us with great insight whilst applying new concepts and ideas practically has been highly valued by this group. We have seen tangible benefits in the development of the group and individuals with a broader mindset and skill set to face the future head on.”
Kelly Gillies - Manager
People and Culture
