After widespread outcry and national media attention over a controversial training session on how to work with women leaders, the Austin city official who organized the session has been suspended.
Assistant City Manager Anthony Snipes has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation, the Austin American Statesman reported.
Snipes invited two speakers from Florida for the March 27 session called, “Women Leading in Local Government,” which focused on how to interact with the female-majority City Council that took office in January.
The City Council was unaware of the training at the time it was given, and have since expressed their displeasure.
Among the advice and suggestions from the speakers:
Be patient with lots of questions - Speaker Jonathan K. Allen, a city manager in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., advised city workers that women ask a lot of questions, noting how his own 11-year-old peppered him with questions during a brief car ride. "In a matter of 15 seconds, I got 10 questions that I had to patiently respond to."
Be careful presenting women with too many numbers – Allen said he normally would frame his arguments in financial terms, but his female city commissioners would balk. So while presenting numbers might make sense, he's learned he must present information "in a totally different way."
Be prepared for even more female leaders – Now that Hillary Clinton is running for president, city employees should play nice with female officials because you never know when one of them will seek higher office.
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