Leadership 2020 - Blended Cohort FAQ - The Federation of ...
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Leadership 2020 - Blended Cohort FAQ
Q: Why this program?
A: The Federation of Community Social Services of BC has been working on recruitment
and retention issues since 2008 and we were asked by our members to address what
has been called a ‘leadership crisis’. Leadership 2020 was launched in September 2011
and is our response to this concern. It supports emergent, experienced and legacy
leaders (described below) in a co-learning process that prepares them to meet current
and future leadership challenges and to successfully lead and support their teams and
agencies.
The program takes place over nine months and includes residential, online and self-
directed learning opportunities. It is very relevant and practical and participants are
encouraged to apply what they learn in their day-to-day practice, and to continuously
learn from their experiences. Participants also build a strong community of practice or
network of colleagues and advisors that they can draw upon long after the program
finishes.
Q. What is distinctive about the Blended Program?
A. In early 2013, at the recommendation of graduates from previous Leadership 2020
programs, we brought together MCFD and community sector leaders in a ‘blended
cohort’. Half of the participants came from MCFD and half from Federation member
agencies. The opportunity to learn together and from each other, work across
differences in ‘the spaces between’ government and community agencies, and
strengthen working relationships, proved to be very positive and beneficial. It surpassed
all of our expectations and helped us live more fully into our belief that we have to work
together differently in order to address the complex challenges of our times. MCFD and
the Federation have since collaborated to deliver five blended cohorts with between 35-
40 participants in each.
1Q. I understand that there is also a Leadership 2020 Indigenous focus program? Who
may apply to that program?
A. The Federation and MCFD have also collaborated to develop and deliver the
Leadership 2020 Indigenous focus program that has brought together leaders from
Delegated Aboriginal Agencies, Friendship Centres, Metis services and MCFD. It offers
the same content as the Blended Program, and also weaves in Indigenous knowledge
and ways of being, story-telling, ceremony and practices, critical analysis, and a spirit of
‘living into reconciliation’. The aim is to enhance individual cultural agility and our
collective capacity to better meet the needs and interests of the Indigenous people and
communities that we serve. Creating an Indigenous-focused program has allowed for
more intentional development of leadership skills, knowledge and a community of
practice that is relevant to the unique relationships, challenges and opportunities within
Indigenous child, family and community services. More information about this program
is available at http://fcssbc.ca/learning/leadership-2020/2020-indigenous/
Applications for the fourth offering of this program will be received until May 18th and
additional information and application forms are available on the Federation website.
Please contact Jennifer Charlesworth at Jennifer@fcssbc.ca if you would like to discuss
whether the Blended or Indigenous focus program would be the best fit.
Q. Can practitioners that are not in either MCFD or Federation member agencies apply
to the program?
A. As leaders from the health and social sectors that are not affiliated with either MCFD
or the Federation have expressed interest in this program, we have decided to create a
more robust ‘blended cohort’ for the next offering. We have set aside up to 5 spots for
leaders from non-affiliated organizations and sectors. See below for more information
about this opportunity.
Q: Who participates in Leadership 2020 Blended Program?
A. We invite applications from emergent, experienced and legacy leaders (see below)
that are working in community-based social and health sector organizations and MCFD.
Each cohort has between 35 and 38 participants. We welcome people from diverse roles
ranging from frontline practitioners to senior managers and executive leaders and we
also seek to include people from every region of the province to build a rich and diverse
learning cohort. Each group has between 25-28 emergent leaders, 5-8 experienced
leaders and 2-4 legacy leaders.
2Q: What is an ‘emergent’ leader?
A: Emergent leaders are individuals who have been working in the field for at least 5
years and have a desire and intention to step more fully into leadership roles within the
social and health sectors (i.e., community social and health services and non-profits,
delegated agencies, government ministries and health authorities). They are both keen
to develop their leadership practice and also to support, encourage and mentor others.
Emergent leaders include people that are already in leadership positions as well as
people who are not yet in defined leadership positions. The common thread however is
that emergent leaders are committed to developing their leadership capacity and
practicing and contributing where they can – in their organizations, boards, networks
and communities.
Q: What is an ‘experienced’ leader?
A: Experienced leaders are people that have already made a significant commitment to
their field. Many, although not all, currently hold management or leadership positions.
What distinguishes an experienced leader from a legacy leader is that they plan to stay
working in the field for some time yet. They want to continue to learn and develop their
leadership practice, and expand their knowledge and skills so that they can be even
more effective and influential. Experienced leaders also want to support, encourage and
mentor others.
Q: What is a ‘legacy’ leader?
A: Legacy Leaders are individuals who have distinguished themselves as effective
leaders and mentors within the social sector. They are planning to transition out of the
paid workforce within the next 5+ years, but they want to continue to learn and develop
their leadership practice and also support, encourage and mentor those who will
succeed them.
Q. How long is the program and when does it start?
A: The Leadership 2020 Blended and Indigenous Focus programs are 9-10-month
commitments. We are continually evaluating and improving our programs and for the
upcoming Blended program (our 6th cohort) we are changing things up a little bit. We
will begin our work together in late August and September with introductory webinars
and learning activities. At that time we will also connect with supervisors to share
information about the program and enlist their support. We will then gather on Bowen
Island from September 19-23 for an intensive residency hosted by our core team of five
facilitators and teachers. Thereafter we will come together every two weeks for 90-
minute online learning webinars.
3From February 27-March 3, 2017 we will reconvene on Bowen Island for our second
residency to focus on change-making and adaptive, resilient leadership. Thereafter, we
will continue to connect as a community via webinar until the end of April to support
change-making work. At that point, graduates will transition into the graduates’
community of practice. Throughout the entire 2020 journey, all participants are
expected to undertake a personal leadership project and will be encouraged and
supported to apply the 2020 learning in work and community.
Q: How was the Leadership 2020 program developed?
A: The program is one of the Federation’s recruitment and retention initiatives. The
curriculum design was initially informed by extensive research and inquiry over a two-
year period. This lead to the identification of the leadership qualities, knowledge, and
skills that are needed to deal with the complex and difficult social challenges we face in
our communities and to find sustainable, thoughtful and effective solutions now and
into the future. These findings were then considered by an Advisory Group and Design
Team that ‘mapped out’ the overall program design and core curriculum.
Participants in each offering of the program have helped to refine and develop the
program, consistent with our generative curriculum model. We also continually review
the contemporary research and look for ways to incorporate new knowledge and
approaches, and our Advisory Group members help us ensure that the Leadership 2020
program’s content and processes remain relevant.
Q: What is included in the curriculum?
A: Leadership 2020 is built on four core beliefs: great leadership is personal, practice-
based, participatory and perceptive. Therefore, participants work on themselves to
enhance self-awareness, strengths and capacity (personal); they practice leadership and
learn by doing (practice); they learn how to engage, develop and bring out the best in
others so that ‘together we are better’ (participatory); and they develop capacity to
discern what actions are appropriate given the context and intentions (perceptive).
Because Leadership 2020 takes a generative approach to curriculum development, a
portion of the curriculum is developed in response to requests and direction provided
by the participants and advisors. However, the foundational elements include ways of
knowing, leadership styles and approaches, strengths-based approaches, authentic
leadership and trust-building, working through fears and limiting beliefs, coaching skills,
team development, working with complexity and systems, collaborative ways of
working (such as Circle practice, Appreciative Inquiry, World Café, Open Space
Technology), working across differences and conflict resolution, communications,
change and adaptive leadership, inter-cultural practice, cultural agility, social
innovation, courage and voice, activism and advocacy.
4Q. Who are the facilitators and teachers?
A. The program is directed by Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth. The Federation has retained
her to guide and develop the 2020 initiative and to serve as the primary contact and
facilitator through all aspects of each program. Jennifer has been in the social and
health care field for almost 40 years, having held leadership positions in the community,
government, and philanthropic sectors (including as the ED of the Federation). She
received several teaching awards while a lecturer at the University of Victoria’s School
of Child and Youth Care and then went on to develop her craft as a community
facilitator and ‘animator’ before taking on the ED role at the Federation for 5 years. She
now has a private consulting practice and works with community agencies, First Nations,
international development NGO’s, and government ministries on engagement, strategic
thinking and leadership.
Jennifer works with an exceptional team of co-facilitators/hosts. As the Leadership 2020
Blended and Indigenous focus programs are done in partnership with MCFD, the hosting
team for the residencies includes MCFD’s Director of Aboriginal Organizational
Development, Wedlidi Speck. Wedlidi is a member of the Namgis First Nation of the
Kwakwaka’wakw cultural group. He brings extensive cross-cultural training experience,
leadership and collaboration in a number of community events and projects. He self-
describes as a “bi-cultural First nations man caught in the web of contemporary times.”
For more than 18 years, Wedlidi served the John Howard Society as an Aboriginal
therapist working with youth and families. He has had status as an Executive Director for
the Kwakiutl District Council and Wachiay Friendship Centre. Wedlidi now works at
MCFD and carries responsibility for the development of Indigenous cultural competency
training and education. He works towards a vision of Aboriginal children and youth living
in strong, healthy families and sustainable communities where they are connected to
their culture and traditions. Wedlidi is steeped in the tradition of storytelling as a way of
being and brings an amazing energy and freshness to the extraordinary work he does.
Chris Corrigan and Caitlin Frost from Harvest Moon Consultants have been involved
with Jennifer since the very first design sessions and offerings of Leadership 2020.
Caitlin is a facilitator, teacher and coach – working with conversation, transformation,
and authentic leadership. She works and teaches across North America with individuals,
leaders, facilitators and groups wanting to open space for more possibility in their work
and lives. Caitlin works with participatory process and offers inquiry based personal and
leadership coaching. She is also a Certified Facilitator and trainer in The Work - a
transformative process for working with limiting beliefs, fear and change. Leadership
2020 participants are coached in the use of The Work for themselves and for use with
others.
5Chris Corrigan is an internationally recognized facilitator, trainer and writer, focusing on
leading edge consultation and conversation methodologies to gather information, build
relationships and create emergent results. Chris has spent much of his professional life
working with communities, non-profit organizations and governments across North
America and Europe. Chris works extensively with Aboriginal organizations and
communities and has participated in cutting edge work to redesign the child welfare
system for aboriginal children. He has worked in support of programs for children and
families for more than 20 years. He also co-leads Art of Hosting trainings
internationally.
Annemarie Travers brings an extensive background in adult learning and development.
Her work has focused in the areas of child welfare, domestic violence, cultural
awareness, clinical supervision, management, and leadership. She has practiced
participatory facilitation and hosting approaches within government for over 15 years,
in support of a wide variety of initiatives both internal and external to government,
moving these initiatives to action. Annemarie has pioneered a range of learning
programs that bring government staff together with their sector partners in a safe
learning environment. These programs have resulted in human service workers finding
new ways to work together in areas of common interest. Having now left her long-term
career in government, Annemarie remains committed to supporting those who work
with the challenges faced by children and families in our province. She has chosen to
remain with the Leadership 2020 design and hosting team because she has seen the
profound effect the program has had on individuals and organizations in the human
service sector. A dedicated lifelong learner who prizes experiential learning, she is
grateful for this opportunity to continue to learn with her colleagues and the
participants in the program.
In addition to this core design and hosting team, we bring in highly regarded and skillful
speakers to share their knowledge about specific topics. These speakers join us for the
bi-weekly learning webinars.
Q: How much does the program cost?
A: There are three cost scenarios.
For MCFD participants, all tuition, travel, accommodation and meal costs are
covered by Learning and Development, Strategic Human Resources in MCFD.
Since the inception of Leadership 2020, the full cost of tuition ($3500) has been
covered as a benefit of membership. Starting with the Blended 6 Cohort in
September 2016 participation will require a financial contribution of
$1000/person. This will support tuition and programming costs and ensure the
sustainability of the Leadership 2020 program for years to come. We recognize
how limited professional development budgets are in the community social sector
and work hard to keep fees as low as possible to support access to high quality
professional development.
6 Agencies must also cover the cost of travel, accommodation and meals for each
residency. We keep these costs as low as possible by hosting the residency on
Bowen Island which is easy to get to from Vancouver airport or by car from the
Island, Lower Mainland and Interior, by offering shared accommodation, and by
keeping our meal costs low. Accommodation and meal costs range from $550-
$830 per residency depending upon type of accommodation. The Federation has
expanded its travel subsidies to include travel related to participation in
Leadership 2020. For more information please review the Travel Subsidy Policy
located in the Members only section of the FCSSBC website or contact Bess
Williams at the Federation (Bess@fcssbc.ca).
For staff not affiliated with either MCFD or the Federation please contact Bess
Williams at the Federation (Bess@fcssbc.ca) to discuss options. Sponsoring
agencies would be expected to cover tuition, travel, accommodation and meals.
We are happy to discuss different payment options and schedules.
Q: What are the time commitments for the program? A: The program includes two
4.5-day residencies, which take place near the beginning and end of the ten-month
program. In addition to the residencies, participants will meet every 2 weeks for 90-
minute online webinars throughout the program. Bi-weekly leadership investment
bulletins are also distributed with suggested readings and online presentations that help
to deepen the inquiry into the topics being addressed in the webinars and by the
participants.
Participants are also expected to apply their emerging knowledge and skills to a
“personal leadership pursuit”. This could be an existing or new project within the
workplace or community. Coaching is available from the hosting team. Participants may
also seek out opportunities to collaborate on group projects and engage in other
activities that allow for leadership ‘practice’. We also ask all participants to bring their
wealth of knowledge and experience and serve as a coaches, mentors, and resources to
each other.
Q: Can I miss a residency or working session?
A: The first residency lays the groundwork for the program, and the final residency is
designed to facilitate future learning and development. Therefore, participation in the
residencies is mandatory. If you are not able to commit to the residencies you should
defer your application to a future cohort. The webinar sessions also play an integral role
in both group and individual processes, so participants are expected to attend. We
recognize however that attendance at every webinar may not be possible, therefore
each webinar is recorded and available for review. Attendance at the webinars is an
important preparation for the final residency and graduation.
7Q: I am not too familiar with online learning – will this be a barrier?
A. The online learning component is very straightforward and easy to use. At the
beginning of the program we will do a primer on how to get into and use both the
webinar learning platform and our private social networking ‘hub’ site. The hub site
hosts all the recordings and reference material for every webinar, for every program we
have offered so it is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for any materials, resources and recordings. Even
if you are not comfortable with online technology, this will not be a barrier as our tools
are very easy to use.
Q. What does a generative approach to program design mean to me as
a participant?
A: A generative approach to program design is a way of viewing teaching and learning
that respects the fact that each participant comes with varied interests and knowledge
of the world and a sense of what she/he wants and needs to learn. A generative
curriculum has both structure and flexibility. What this means is that, as we proceed
through the program we will adapt and add to the curriculum so that the emerging
issues and learning interests of the participants are addressed through the choice of
topics covered in the webinars, and the information provided in the leadership
investment bulletins. It also means that each participant is encouraged to “ask for what
you need, and offer what you can” as a leader/learner - asking for certain topics to be
covered and also sharing knowledge and experience with the group.
Q: How might I benefit from participating in the program?
A: Participants develop a suite of new knowledge and skills, assess and refresh their
current knowledge and skills, build a powerful network of colleagues and mentors and
build an individualized learning plan specific to their goals and learning needs. The
program promotes self-awareness, builds leadership capacity, and inspires continuous
learning.
It has been our experience that participants gain knowledge, skills and approaches that
are relevant and applicable in their day-to-day work. They also gain new perspectives,
ideas and enthusiasm for their work and for the field. While a number of graduates have
successfully competed for more senior leadership roles (including ED and CEO positions)
many graduates stay in their current positions and apply their new knowledge and skills
with greater effectiveness and passion. As one participant said, “Participating in the
2020 residency has been like having lotion on cracked skin” – it offered the input,
support and network she needed to carry on with the very challenging rural practice
work that she is doing. Others have reported that they were considering leaving the
field until they were re-inspired and invigorated through Leadership 2020. What people
gain from the program depends on how they engage in the learning, and there are many
different opportunities to learn, grow and connect.
8At the end of this document we have included some quotes from participants. Take a
look at what some of our graduates have said about their experience.
Q. I am a quiet leader and quite introverted – is this a good program for me?
A. It has been our experience that about 1/3 to 1/2 of the participants self describe as
‘introverted’ including a few of us on the design and hosting team (Jennifer and Wedlidi)
so as a team we are very mindful of creating opportunities for people to bring their
authentic selves into the learning process. First, we bust the myth that leaders have to
be charismatic and outgoing in order to be effective, and then we support learners to
discover their strengths, styles and ways of being that will allow them to be authentic,
engaging and effective – wherever they place themselves on the introverted-
extroverted spectrum. We create space and opportunity for people to be quiet and
reflective during the residencies – just as we create space for people to be outgoing.
Q. How do I apply for the program?
A: An invitation to apply for the sixth Leadership 2020 Blended Program will be
distributed in early June and applications will be due the week of July 11. Applicants
complete a form and submit responses to several questions about leadership and their
goals. This can be done in written form or using audio, video or other mediums.
Applicants are also expected to gain their supervisors’ support. The applications are
then reviewed by selection panels in the Federation for community sector applicants
and in MCFD for MCFD staff applicants. It has been our experience that approximately
three times as many people apply as we have spots for, and almost all are well-qualified
candidates so we build a cohort with diversity in mind. Geography, areas of practice,
roles and experience, cultural backgrounds, size and scope of agencies are all taken into
account as we build a rich and diverse learning community. As such, it is really
important that you take the time to prepare an application that will help the selection
panels understand who you are, what matters to you, what you want to accomplish and
contribute as a leader and how 2020 can help you. The personal responses are often the
most important sources of information for the selection panels. We are looking for
authenticity over formal presentations.
Q. What is the selection process?
A. Up to 38 participants are accepted for each program. During the selection process, a
panel will review all applications and make selections based on individual readiness and
suitability, as well as geography, size and scope of the agency, roles, opportunities to be
involved in collaborative work, etc. The aim is not to exclude people but to build a
learning cohort that reflects many different areas and perspectives.
9MCFD’s selection panel consists of two Assistant Deputy Ministers, three senior leaders
from the field, (all of whom are also graduates from the program), and the Director for
Learning and Development. The Federation’s panel consists of members of the Advisory
Council who are senior leaders in the sector, several graduates from the program, and
the program director.
It has been our experience that the majority of applicants are excellent candidates for
the program, however, due to enrollment limits we are not able to include everyone.
We will ensure however that each area of the province is represented in the cohort, and
that diverse job roles and backgrounds are reflected in the mix (e.g. people with an
interest in mental health, child welfare, special needs, community development, youth
development, family support, traditional practices, health and wellness, etc.).
We will maintain a waiting list for people who are not invited into the program should
any of the selected applicants not be able to participate. We have also re-designed our
Leadership 2020 Online program and will offer that to anyone who wants to participate
in another facet of Leadership 2020.
Q: Will I get University Credits or Certification upon completion?
A: Leadership 2020 does not currently offer a formal certificate or university credits,
however the Federation is in discussions with several post-secondary institutions in the
hopes of both establishing a post-degree certificate credential for the program and of
arranging for some ‘special recognition’ for the graduates of this program should they
decide to pursue a Masters degree in leadership or community development. Seven of
our graduates have applied for and been accepted into leadership focused Master’s
programs and their affiliation with Leadership 2020 has been recognized and valued by
the universities.
Q. I have some additional questions – how can I learn more about the program?
A. Jennifer Charlesworth and program graduates will host two orientation webinars in
June for people who are interested in learning more about the Blended 6 offering. The
dates/times are:
Leadership 2020 Blended Program Informational Webinar 1: Tuesday, June 21st from
11:00am to 12:00noon (Pacific)
Leadership 2020 Blended Program Informational Webinar 2: Thursday, June 30th from
9:00am to 10:00 am
10Please subscribe to the Leadership 2020 communiques to ensure that you receive
notifications of the application call. You are also welcome to contact Jennifer
Charlesworth (Jennifer@fcssbc.ca) for more information and to discuss how the
program might support your development as a leader. If you have a question that we
haven’t addressed in this FAQ document, please send your query to Jennifer. You may
also check out the Leadership 2020 website at http://fcssbc.ca/learning/leadership-
2020. If you are interested in speaking with graduates, Jennifer can put you in touch
with graduates in your area. Please also take a look at the sample of quotes below.
Sample quotes from Leadership 2020 Graduates:
“It is well known that the sector loses wonderfully rich and innovative minds due to the
constant economic pressures and challenges. I heard several 2020 members talk about a
feeling of defeat and temptation to move out of the sector UNTIL participating in the
Leadership 2020 curriculum. With the encouragement within 2020 to be honest, and
even vulnerable with each other in an effort to deeply explore complex systems and
challenges bonded this province wide group of leaders for life. We became wealthy....in
resources, knowledge, to each other, and to ourselves and our own agencies....retaining
those rich and innovative minds in this sector, which will in turn be modeled for the up
and coming minds that instead could have also been tempted to leave the sector.”
“I can see where there would have been a strong temptation to build the program along
the traditional lines of leadership training and I am grateful for your vision and foresight
in breaking the mold and looking at new and vibrant forms of leadership... We all talk of
the challenges that our sector faces and how these problems keep recurring in cycles,
whether it be the changes of priorities, new models of funding or the frameworks in
which we are required to engage clients. It has been said many times that we will not be
able to solve the issues that confront us with the same intelligence and skills that
created them. The Leadership 2020 Program moved people well beyond the traditional
forms of leadership.”
“The impact of the Leadership 2020 program has been extremely profound personally
and professionally.”
“Leadership 2020 has helped me develop my own practice of leadership by provided me
the opportunity to realize and developed my personal leadership qualities, as well as,
being able inspire others to develop as leaders themselves. Moreover, I’ve been able to
apply the knowledge gained through the program directly to my practice of leadership
within my workplace and even personal life.”
“Leadership 2020 has also enabled me to refocus my personal goals. For example, I was
so impressed with the breadth the program, I was able to determine that leadership was
the area I wanted to learn more about. As a result, my graduate degree focus has
shifted from counseling, to that of leadership. And now my goal is to remain within the
non-profit community social service sector.”
11“I can certainly say the content of the course through the twice monthly webinars and
two residencies provided some very practical tools to use and apply to help me be a
more competent leader... However the value added piece, the x factor that made the
course be more than described ... was the bonding that took place with my classmates.
Through very pro-active facilitation from the instructors, the Leadership 2020 attendees
generated so much of the content that evolved from real work examples. The outcome
was a connection that relationally went much deeper, and so much richer than I would
typically get in classroom environment.”
“The deep connectivity between a group of emergent and legacy leaders that are ready
and prepared to look at the work differently brings inspiration and hope to the sector.
This is the beginning of a movement that has the capacity to dramatically shift the
cooperation, collaboration, delivery and perception of social services in BC. I get excited
thinking about growing this initiative to include emergent and legacy leaders within
partnering entities (Unions, Ministry, Parent and Family Groups, etc.) and the
possibilities become endless. I can't think of a time when I said to myself, "the
possibilities are endless" when talking about our social service system....until
now. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in Leadership 2020, I can say quite
confidently, it has changed my life.”
“Leadership 2020 has reinforced the importance of starting with self as this is really all
we have control over. We know this when we understand clinical work with others but
the same tenets apply with leadership. It is our ‘being’ that we bring into the workplace.
Our being affects others and this impacts our exchanges and relationships with others
and ultimately our experience in the workforce. Leadership 2020 has really helped me
be mindful of this especially on more challenging days and this has improved my work
satisfaction by increasing my sense of self-respect and congruence with personal values
in my work performance.”
“For me, Leadership 2020 was the right program at the right time. Several of my long-
time mentors recently retired and I felt a bit adrift. Leadership 2020, and particularly
Jennifer Charlesworth, facilitated a renewed network for me. I value the relationships
created within my L2020 cohort – our connections will extend beyond our program’s
end. I am grateful for the opportunity to intentionally practice leadership – it has given
me new energy and a wider perspective for my work/career/life.”
“Leadership 2020 gives meaning to the work we do. It is energizing and revitalized my
zest for opening my mind to what is possible.”
12“I have really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Leadership 2020 program.
The start of the program on Bowen Island was great with opportunities to reconnect
with old friends and to meet new friends. I have really appreciated the twice-monthly
teleconferences as many of the discussions really resonated and gave me ideas on how
to approach certain issues with and outside of my team. I have enjoyed the organic
process that has occurred as well as the support received throughout the program,
particularly given the challenges that we face in the Ministry. Sometimes it is hard to
always be positive, but when you surround yourself with a community of practice that is
supportive while at the same time willing to have the tough conversations, it somehow
makes it easier.”
“This program was like lotion on cracked skin”
“I commend you and your team on the following:
Clearly articulating and meeting the program goals and objectives.
Preparing a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that facilitated positive outcomes
for the learners.
Taking care of each other during the learning process. “Ask for what you need.
Offer what you can”.
Raising the bar through encouraging the learners to push their boundaries and to
work outside of their comfort zones.
Creating a safe place for people to be honest about their capacity and what they
believed they needed to know and learn.
Various interesting and thoughtful experiential learning opportunities.
Listening to the nuances that often accompany new learning and responding to
these in a positive and helpful way.
Assisting the learners to find their voices and to use them as loudly as was
comfortable.
Being curious and always through the lens of Appreciative Inquiry.
Providing useful processes to make our work in Leadership richer, more fulfilling
and more meaningful.”
Interested in being a legacy leader? Here are a few comments from the legacy leader
graduates:
“A year ago when I first heard about the program I was intrigued and thought it would
be a good opportunity to, as Stephen Covey would say, ‘sharpen the saw’. As a legacy
leader in the program I was expecting to learn a few things to support my continued
growth and learning and that primarily my role would be there as a mentor and support.
I was in for a big surprise. Over the nine months of the program I found myself
continually challenged to look at the leadership strategies that I’ve engaged in over the
past 20 years. I had always considered myself open and on the progressive edge of
leadership. I realize now that I was only baby steps out of the box. As it turned out,
instead of just sharpening the old saw, I got a new one! The benefits to my organization
have been significant.”
13“I have worked in social services for 32 years, in the community sector for 24 years, and
in leadership for over 20 years. In all this time I have not seen anything else that comes
close to the value, usefulness ‘groundedness’, skill building, confidence building, and
affirmation of Leadership 2020. I watched/participated in the program assisting
participants to reach clarity regarding each individual's greatest challenges and
aspirations, and all teachings, learnings and exercises focused on assisting participants
with these. No other program does this. I was pleased to volunteer my time as a legacy
leader, and would do so again.”
“In 41 years, Leadership 2020 is by far the best thing I’ve ever done as a social worker
and supervisor. Well done!”
14You can also read
