visionary, authentic, and high achievement leadership
Program Description, 2010

What content will the leadership program cover?

The NNFP’s Enhancing Creative Leadership Program consists of five focus areas:

• Purpose, vision, and systems thinking
• Self awareness and authenticity
• Social awareness and diversity
• Team building, communications, and developing others
• Self-renewal and balance

As change agents, collaborators, and leaders of a more sustainable world, our future and day-to-day realities require a profound cultural change based on far more than mere skill development.  It requires that we grow and significantly upgrade our ‘operating system’ – the underlying habits of thought that drive our behavior – to be able to embody the kind of leadership that can create the envisioned culture; leadership that “plays to win”, rather than playing not to lose.  It requires that we build skills in social awareness and relationship management and in understanding systems.

Research now recognizes that leadership is a process of transformation whereby leaders are encouraged to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, the world, and their relationship to others.  It is with a deeper understanding of the source of behavior that we can get the greatest leverage for change. Daniel Goleman’s research, for example, has demonstrated that emotional intelligence is twice as important as academic, intellectual, or technical knowledge for people to be successful in organizations these days. (Richard Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee, Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence, Harvard Business School Press Boston, Massachusetts 2002) For too long our emphasis has been on the external or quantitative, rather than on the internal or qualitative.

In the Enhancing Creative Leadership Program, participants become aware of and learn to manage their “reactive tendencies”, those leadership styles that emphasize caution over creating results, self-protection over productive engagement, and aggression over building alignment.  The program also builds and strengthens the “creative competencies”, those skills that leaders use to achieve results, lead with vision, bring out the best in others and teams, enhance communications, act with integrity and courage, improve organizational systems, and enhance their own development.  Unique to this program is that it reveals the internal assumptions (e.g.: “operating systems”) that runs behavior.  This allows participants to see how their inner worlds of thought translate into a productive or unproductive style of leadership.

Coupled with the “creative tendencies”, all leaders need to understand and operate in their “system” – whether their organization, regional context, value chains, etc. – and identify leverage points where they can have the greatest impact.   Effective leaders are also able to express their vision in a compelling and inspiring way, where inspiration comes from a deep connection to purpose.

Key to this process is gathering honest feedback and a realistic picture of one’s strengths and challenges.  All participants will complete a 360 assessment and develop a learning agenda to build on strengths, close the gaps, and make dreams and aspirations become a reality.  Different from a “performance agenda”, which focuses on achieving measures of success, a learning agenda focuses on changes within the leader’s “operating system” and deep rooted habits.

Finally, leaders everywhere know they need to care for themselves and renew their passion and what drives them.  The training explores different avenues for renewing ourselves and participants develop their own “self-care” strategy.  Topics include: work-life balance, time management, succession planning, and building leadership throughout the organization by developing others and using coaching skills.

How is content delivered?

The program uses a peer learning model, in which a small group of leaders (15 participants) commit to learn together over six-months.  A number of delivery mechanisms, tailored to the needs of active leaders, will be used, including the following.  Participants must commit to all components.

First Retreat: A 3-day event in Nashville, Tennessee March 12-15, 2010 to introduce participants to the competencies of creative leadership and explores the participants’ leadership strengths and areas for growth through the 360 assessment.  This session also introduces the fundamentals of purpose, vision, and systems thinking.  Tools used include: small group work, individual reflection, journaling, and presentations.

Bi-Weekly Assignments:  Research shows that many of the skills needed for leadership are developed in the limbic areas of the brain and are therefore best learned through motivation, extended practice, repetition and feedback.  The more parts of our lives that we can identify as relevant to our leadership learning goals, the more chances to practice.  One way to improve quickly is to be mindful of learning opportunities when they arise and to spontaneously seize them as a way to practice new abilities (April – September 2010).

Six Monthly one-on-one coaching calls with an Executive Coach (may be two per month if requested): Coaching will focus on specific issues as identified by the participant and on the adaptation and application of learning gained through the other project activities (April – September 2010).

Six Monthly Peer Learning Calls:  Once a month, participants will join 2-3 of their fellow participants as established during the launch event.   In addition to learning from each other, project fellows learn with each other through discussion of readings, and individual and shared reflection.  It is anticipated that the calls will foster continuity, applied learning, and peer networks program participants can call upon (April – September).

Second Retreat:  This three-day session October 1-4, 2010 focuses on social awareness and relationship management skills, including diversity, team building, communications, and developing others.  Participants also develop strategies for self renewal and balance.

What are the Costs?

• NNFP Member: $1,250
• Non-member:    $1,630
• Includes: all training sessions (2 retreats) and materials, lodging, meals, 360 assessment, up to 10 executive coaching sessions, peer learning groups, and on-going support
• You pay travel and long-distance phone charges
• Join NNFP: $60 for organization, $35 for individual

Who should attend?

Lead staff, executive directors, and board members who are passionate about their work, energized by a creative peer learning environment, willing to look at themselves, and can commit to seven months of enrollment. This is not a train-the-trainer program.

For More Information contact: Barbara Wyckoff at 301-367-2406 or bwyckoff1@earthlink.net

Scott's attendance was a real turning point. It helped him clarify his sense of himself as a leader and want he wanted from his work. After this training, Scott expressed interest in a leadership position in the organization. He was clear what he needed to do to step into the position and has done a great job since then.
~Justin Maxson, Executive Director, MACED

As a result of the leadership program, I am better equipped to understand and handle some of the day to day stresses I encounter in the office, which makes me feel stronger, calmer and better able to get what I need to do done. I've also become more assertive and proactive. The program has been invaluable in giving me helpful tools, exercises, and opportunity for discussion, exploration and learning. I feel like I have an awesome experience, great contacts, and valuable resources to draw on in the future!
~Program Participant