This introductory course consists of seven full-day modules that enable current and future managers to develop and improve their leadership and management skills.

The curriculum is designed to foster a safe, supportive environment for professional growth in which participants

• Establish a peer group of new managers
• Understand the interconnectedness of organizational systems and processes
• Clarify their roles as leaders
• Affirm, strengthen, and challenge themselves and each other to achieve personal and organizational objectives.
  

CORE COURSES

Module 1, Appreciative Leadership, utilizes Appreciative Inquiry as a way for participants to explore concepts of leadership and management, formulate a common vision of effective leadership, and identify shared organizational values. Participants assess their own personal leadership style and recognize the range and variety of leadership, management, and organizational development theories.

Module 2, Communications within a Learning Organization, uses small and large group exercises to identify effective communications skills. The module also explores characteristics of a learning organization, with a particular focus on understanding the power of mental models (unspoken assumptions). Participants practice advocacy, inquiry, and narrative techniques as ways to address mental models and other forms of interference in communications.

Module 3, Management, Supervision, and Coaching, further explores characteristics of learning organizations by introducing the concepts of personal mastery and whole systems as a management framework. After identifying their units’ purpose via customers’ needs, wants, and expectations, participants have the opportunity to share exceptional supervisory experiences. They then apply leadership styles and applications to real-life supervisory situations through role playing utilizing objective, reflective, interpretive, and decisional questions.

Module 4, Working in Teams, is designed for mid-level managers who currently head teams but have little or no formal training in group dynamics or team leadership. The module covers essential elements for effective teams (e.g., ground rules, agenda, evaluation), group task and maintenance functions, stages of group development, and climate assessment primarily through interactive exercises and large and small group discussion. The emphasis is on application to current job responsibilities and participants receive extensive printed materials for on-the-job reference.

Module 5, Conflict, Negotiation, and Resolution, presents a framework for understanding conflict, exploring different conflict resolution styles, and adopting a positive approach to resistance. Through discussions and group exercises, participants learn to recognize the value of conflict, identify its various sources, and express, appreciate, and manage resistance.

Module 6, Affirmative Customer Service, combines theory and practice so that participants can understand and address customers’ needs, wants, and expectations. Going beyond surveys and focus groups, participants learn a process to explore best practices for building long-term relationships with customers and for sharing customer-service lessons across the organization.

Module 7, Managing Change, uses a systems approach to highlight the advantages of adaptive change. Drawing on their own work experiences and key leadership concepts introduced throughout the course, participants will envision their accomplishments six months out and will develop individual action plans, as well as next steps towards building and nurturing a learning organization.

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