A SYNOPSIS OF “THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE®” WORKSHOP

THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE® AT A GLANCE

Leadership is a hot topic which has been explored through countless models. In this paper we discuss The Leadership Challenge® which tackles the subject of leadership from a behavioral point of view. It is the research conducted across the world by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner which led to the development of The Leadership Challenge Workshop®.

The practices advocated in the many books written on the subject of leadership have not been quantitatively validated; and often enough, they did not lead to the outstanding results that were anticipated. The main reason for the failures has to do with context: environment, cultures and societies differ so much that it becomes difficult to apply the advocated practices universally. ‘Context’ however was embedded in the research that led to The Leadership Challenge®, which is why the five practices endorsed by the TLC workshop are effective in helping practitioners become better leaders, get better results and build collaborative teams.

WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE®?

Backed by more than twenty-five years of original research and data from over four million leaders from around the world, The Leadership Challenge® cultivates and liberates the leadership potential in every person, at every level, in any organization.

The TLC® was created by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, whose internationally best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge® (now in its fourth edition), first identified the powerful five practices of exemplary leadership. This unique collection of leadership assessment and development tools approaches leadership as a measurable, learn-able, and teachable set of behaviors that can become part of an everyday practice that gets extraordinary things done in organizations.

WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE® DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE?

Immensely practical and hands-on, The Leadership Challenge® is designed to inspire, engage, and help participants develop the leadership skills needed to meet whatever leadership challenges lie ahead of them.

The core curriculum is structured around seven components which include five modules that focus on the five practices of exemplary leadership. Each of these five modules describes one of the practices, reviews the ‘Leadership Practices Inventory’ (LPI) items related to that practice, and ends by getting participants to reflect on how to apply what they learned to a current leadership challenge they are facing. With a plan of action in hand, participants can take the key learnings from the workshop back to the workplace and are fully prepared to implement the new leadership practices on the job from day one.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE WORKSHOP?

The Leadership Challenge Workshop® is designed to help aspiring as well as accomplished leaders achieve their personal best and improve their leadership effectiveness.

Upon completing the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify their leadership strengths and weaknesses.
• Clarify and communicate their fundamental values and beliefs.
• Set the example for others by aligning their actions with shared values.
• Express their images of the future.
• Inspire others to share a common vision.
• Search for opportunities to change and improve.
• Experiment with innovative ideas and learn from accompanying mistakes.
• Build collaboration, teamwork, and trust.
• Strengthen the ability of others to excel.
• Recognize the accomplishments of others.
• Apply the lessons learned in the workshop to a current organizational challenge.

WHAT IS UNIQUE OR DIFFERENT ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE WORKSHOP® APPROACH?

There is a fundamental truth about leadership that lies at the very heart of The Leadership Challenge Workshop®. That truth is: leadership is everyone’s business. It is not a place or position. It is not a rank or title. And most importantly, it is not available only to an elite few.

From the front lines to the executive suites, leadership is a set of skills and abilities that can be learned by anyone with the desire and dedication to fully develop themselves, to achieve their personal leadership best, or to facilitate the development of others as leaders. This program focuses solely on leaders, whether seasoned or new, and their relationships with others. In fact, ‘leadership development is self-development’ is the first of several principles that shape the design and delivery of The Leadership Challenge Workshop®. It permeates the assessment tools, learning resources and activities that are part of the program, and which are all designed to help the individual leader discover what they can do to improve; and that, sets this program apart from all others.

Essential concepts that form the core principles of the program include:

• Leadership is everyone’s business.
• Leadership is a relationship.
• The best leaders are the best learners.
• It takes practice deliberate practice to become a better leader.
• Leadership is an aspiration and a choice.
• Leaders make a difference

WHO IS THE WORKSHOP DESIGNED FOR?

No matter where individuals might be on their leadership development journey, anyone interested in becoming a more effective leader will benefit from participating in The Leadership Challenge Workshop®. The workshop welcomes seasoned leaders as well as those new to a leadership role; participants are supervisors, managers, directors and executives, but also young people looking to enhance their leadership roles in their school or community.

From academia to government, from health care to technology and from faith-based to community advocacy organizations, The Leadership Challenge Workshop® has been designed to be accessible and beneficial to all leaders and aspiring leaders.

WHAT INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS DOES THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE WORKSHOP® INCLUDE?

Take The Leadership Challenge® and you will discover The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® which are:

Model the Way
Leaders establish principles concerning the way people (constituents, peers, colleagues, and customers alike) should be treated and the way goals should be pursued. They create standards of excellence and then set an example for others to follow. Because the prospect of complex change can overwhelm people and stifle action, they set interim goals so that people can achieve small wins as they work toward larger objectives. They unravel bureaucracy when it impedes action; they put up signposts when people are unsure of where to go or how to get there; and they create opportunities for victory.

Inspire a Shared Vision
Leaders passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future.

Challenge the Process
Leaders search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve the organization. In doing so, they experiment and take risks. And because leaders know that risk taking involves mistakes and failures, they accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities.

Enable Others to Act
Leaders foster collaboration and build spirited teams. They actively involve others. Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts; they strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity. They strengthen others, making each person feel capable and powerful.

Encourage the Heart
Accomplishing extraordinary things in organizations is hard work. To keep hope and determination alive, leaders recognize contributions that individuals make. In every winning team, the members need to share in the rewards of their efforts, so leaders celebrate accomplishments. They make people feel like heroes.

THE LEADERSHIP PRACTICES INVENTORY® (LPI®) 360-DEGREE ASSESSMENT TOOL

Over three million people have taken their first steps towards their personal leadership best with the Leadership Practices Inventory® (LPI®), a 360-degree assessment tool by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Based on The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model, the 360-degree assessments and facilitator material illuminates both the effectiveness of your leaders and the level of commitment, engagement, and satisfaction of those that follow.

No matter where you are along your leadership development journey, the LPI® will support the important work you do in developing, nurturing, and empowering you and your emerging leaders.

WHAT DOES THE LPI® MEASURE?

Applying the proven principles of Kouzes and Posner’s acclaimed Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model, the LPI® enables individuals and organizations to measure their leadership competencies and act on their discoveries. Leaders will gain deep insight into how they see themselves as leaders, how others view them, and what actions they can take to improve their effectiveness.

WEASY TRACKING AND FAST, ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK

All LPI Online assessments are easily created, tracked, and managed. Automated scoring means feedback reports are produced immediately and are accessible online. LPI On-line’s individual and group reports examine quantifiable leadership skills, allowing leaders to understand their strengths and weaknesses without the confusion of complicated report analyses.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR YOU?

As a result of completing the LPI® self-development process, you can expect to:

• Learn The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®
• Receive valid and reliable feedback about your current use of these practices
• Find out how others perceive you
• Identify your leadership strengths and opportunities for improvement
• Find specific suggestions on how to improve in each of The Five Leadership Practices®
• Make action plans for continuing your leadership development
• Learn a process for discussing your feedback with others

People who frequently demonstrate LPI® behaviors are seen as:

• Being more effective in meeting job-related demands
• Being more successful in representing their units to upper management
• Creating higher-performing teams
• Fostering loyalty and commitment
• Increasing motivational levels and willingness to work hard
• Reducing absenteeism, turnover, and dropout rates
• Possessing high degrees of personal credibility

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Meirc Training and Consulting can help your organization conduct a one-day (or two) LPI® session to measure your company’s leadership strengths and areas of improvements. Participants will have a full individual report that shows how individuals look at themselves and how they are seen by observers (colleagues, peers, and bosses) based on the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®. Also, every participant will receive an LPI® workbook to plan and follow up on improvements regarding their leadership journey.