City of Sun Prairie
The Outcomes
Authored organizational core values and descriptions
Designed new employee recognition strategy and process
Created new approach for performance management + facilitated corresponding leader training
Client Profile
City Government
250 Employees
Incorporated in 1958
Sun Prairie, WI
The City of Sun Prairie recognizes that its employees make the city special and drive the community forward, making it stand out among other Midwest municipalities. Leaders at the City of Sun Prairie are committed to being an “Employer of Choice,” elevating organizational culture and attracting top talent. After establishing new policies and practices internally, The City looked to humanworks8 for support with tying these initiatives together for a big picture values-based strategy, beginning with gutsy, unique and active core values.
humanworks8 Solutions
Culture Elevation
Through the facilitation of eight Values Discovery Sessions, we worked with administration, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Rec and other departments across the City of Sun Prairie to create new core values that reflected the progressive and fun environment of the City as a workplace. Over 75 employees participated in these sessions, creating a collection of stories that were uniquely Sun Prairie. Along with the City Council, the humanworks8 team supported the launch of the new values at the annual Employee Summit.
- Show Up & Step Up: Immerse yourself in the city and be all in for our community, excited to serve. Take pride and make an impact.
- Shine: Be true to yourself. Show respect and compassion for all. Speak and act authentically, and laugh often.
- Find a Way: Bring energy and curiosity. Demonstrate commitment as you embrace change. Nothing is impossible – run with it.
- Guide & Grow: Be an expert and a coach. Let competence inspire confidence. Grow as an individual alongside the city.
- Collaborative Heart: Love the team environment you create. Listen, lead and nurture connection. Back each other up and address challenges as a team.
While preparing for the launch, we also worked with City of Sun Prairie Human Resources and leadership to design a new employee recognition strategy, resulting in a new program named after one of the core values, “Shine.” Using humanworks8‘s best practices for recognition, Sun Prairie’s team garnered excitement and healthy competition for the program through launching a series of collectable stickers. A promotion calendar supports the ongoing advertising of the program internally to employees to maintain steady engagement.
In addition to recognition, the City of Sun Prairie leveraged our expertise to build a new performance management strategy, “Guide & Grow,” that stimulates authentic coaching conversations and promotes both individual and City growth. This process also produced a set of Values Actions that leaders use to encourage values-centric behavior with their teams. Our team developed new performance management tools and resources to accompany a new bi-annual review, and facilitated a series of five training workshops for leaders that focused on not only the new process and resources, but the philosophy and mindset shift behind performance at Sun Prairie as well. This process included simultaneous individual coaching for executives leading the charge on the Guide & Grow initiative.
Client Feedback
Working with humanworks8 to develop our core values was an experience that not only engaged our employees in the moment, but set a new foundation for us to strengthen our internal practices for the long-term.
Caitlin Stene
Director of Administrative Services, City of Sun Prairie
