Topics and Offerings
Leadership in the 21st Century
What is leadership all about? This workshop provides an overview of core leadership concepts The seminar examines the fundamental ideas and assumptions of six leadership views and discusses the connections between leadership theories, including the concept of authenticity in leadership. Examples of how different theories are practiced in organizations and communities will be presented. Additional resources and readings for in-depth study will be provided.
Exceptional Personal Leadership
What kind of leader are you? This workshop helps participants identify personal leadership preferences and approaches. Using a leadership preference inventory, the Dimensions of Leadership Profile®, participants determine their preferences regarding leadership awareness and action. Discussion of the inventory provides information on how to recognize common ways leadership is perceived and demonstrated in organizations and communities. An analysis of the types of leadership behaviors that are most helpful in various situations is also included. Other popular inventories and tools including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator that uncover preferences are also available.
Visionary Leadership
What’s vision got to do with it? The workshop focuses on understanding the purpose and power of a vision, for individuals, organizations and communities. Participants identify and share their personal visions as a leader and analyze the vision for their organization or community. Particular attention is given to tools and techniques to help name and frame visions and to translate visions into actions and reality.
Assessing Civic Leadership
How is your community doing with leadership? Unique challenges and opportunities come from working on public issues in an environment where power is shared. Many qualities and team members are needed to provide effective leadership in communities. This workshop provides information about civic leadership, and a card sort method that helps groups of up to 24 people consider the strengths and weaknesses of the civic leadership system in their community. From this, goals can be set for education, action, partnerships and planning.
Ethical Leadership
How can leaders tell right from wrong? In the 21st century, multiple worldviews and values co-exist in communities and organizations. Ethical decision-making models can be used by leaders facing ethical dilemmas. This workshop reviews these models, as well as assessments of ethical issues. The workshop discusses challenges for ethical leadership in a complex age and delivers practical tools that can be used in organizations to develop plans of action.
Communication and Conflict
Can’t we all just get along? This workshop teaches participants about typical patterns and dynamics of conflict. Using the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument® or the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory participants discover their conflict and communication style and those of others. Specific strategies and options for preventing, reducing and addressing conflicts are included. Participants learn and practice communication methods to increase their effectiveness in dealing with conflicts.
Team Building and Team Assessment
Who’s on your team? Team members exhibit certain preferences and styles as they interact with each other. Using the Parker Team Player Survey® this workshop provides an assessment of the styles and strengths of each team member. Participants will learn strategies to enhance overall team effectiveness using this information.
Committees that Work -- Common Traps and Creative Solutions
How do we get the job done? This workshop, and its helpful 58-page guide, is for individuals and teams that want to improve the performance of their committees. Seven common traps of committees are identified, along with practical methods to address them. The guide describes traps such as: letting private interests influence public decision-making; making decisions outside of the meeting, getting stuck in conflict, losing control of the group and more.
Leadership for the Common Good
Who’s really in charge? This workshop introduces concepts of leadership in a shared power world. Citizens live in a world where no one is in charge, where the needed resources for coping with most important public problems extend well beyond the capacity of any group or organization. It takes people from many different disciplines roles to make progress tackling those problems. Citizens, elected officials, business executives, nonprofit staff, educators, and public managers must take on the combined leadership challenges of building shared-power arrangements of lasting value.
