lead.coopercenter.orgLEAD: Leading, Educating and Developing | Cooper Center

Featured Navigation Research Training Virginia Institute of Government Programs Services Certifications Team Log In Virginia Institute of Government LEAD: Leading, Educating and Developing See All VIG Programs Image Leading, Educating, and Developing (LEAD) is a dynamic and engaging one-week residential leadership development program designed for local government department heads, supervisors, and rising stars. Apply Today Join our 2024 residential LEAD Programs. Apply EXPLORE THE PROGRAM About None of the ideas about leadership are really new. Our programs are special because of 3 things – context, environment, and connection. The context is exclusively based in the world of local government. Instructors and facilitators are either local government practitioners (still working or recently retired) or subject matter experts that fully understand the world of local government. There is great effort in deliberately creating a safe learning environment. This is a shared responsibility between participants, instructors, and facilitators. This environment encourages speaking up, asking for help, being candid about mistakes and failures, putting the human first over the employee, and continuous support. Connection is at the heart of who we are as people and leaders. Work is rarely completed alone and relationships are paramount. In LEAD, there is an emphasis on the strong skills needed for building and maintaining relationships. There are often lifelong connections and networks built at LEAD. What Today’s Leaders Face The world of the public manager and leader is evolving at a speed that challenges even the most robust organizations. Local governments are continuously being asked to do more with less. Federal and state support is declining. Citizens are demanding a more caring, responsive government. New technology is revolutionizing communication. To respond to these forces, our local governments must become laboratories for a new style of organization - one grounded in basic democratic values and guided by a collective vision of community-building and empowerment. To take our communities confidently into the future, public leaders and executives must adopt a proactive approach to change both inside the public organization and outside in the community. They must invest the time and resources required to create and maintain a continuously improving, learning organization. Program Details LEAD programs consist of 30-40 participants. All classes are sponsored by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and take place in person at the Darden Business School in Charlottesville, Virginia. What LEAD Offers LEAD programs provide local government leaders essential skills they can directly apply in their organizations to make positive change. In our new LEAD programs, participants will Examine, discuss, and apply the most relevant and powerful leadership practices, with focused discussions on the distinct and complex experiences of local government leaders Leave the LEAD session with a clear roadmap of the concepts learned in the program that can be applied to their organizations immediately Develop interpersonal skills and community and organizational leadership skills Build skills and awareness through team engagement, including developing coaching techniques, an understanding of how key experiences have shaped leadership styles, and empathy for others gained through attentive listening Develop a deeper understanding of inclusive leadership through sessions specifically focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion Experience a learning environment that is highly interactive (less than 20% lecture), engaged and application-based, with every session including a concept to learn, a local government example, and an application exercise. The environment is safe, supportive and built on trust and vulnerability, which allows for a nonjudgmental, open exchange of ideas and experiences. Dates, Fees, Key Details & Cancellation Policy Upcoming Program Dates March 2 - 8, 2024 April 6 - 12, 2024 May 4 - 10, 2024 August 17 - 23, 2024 October 5 - 11, 2024 November 9 - 15, 2024 (includes Veterans Day) The LEAD fee is $5,500 for 2024. The fee includes instruction, lodging, most meals, and materials. A 10% discount is available for members of the Virginia Institute of Government. Payment in full is due 60 days before the start of the program. Information You Will Receive in Advance of Program Shortly after you receive your LEAD welcome email, we will send you: Materials to help you plan your visit, including hotel and parking information; details on getting to Charlottesville whether it is by plane, train, bus or car; and recommendations for places to visit while you are here. Program schedule that includes meeting times and places. Additional information about meals, required evening activities, and other details, like meeting etiquette, attire, as well as recommendations for getting the most out of the LEAD experience. Pre-work to do in advance to better prepare for your experience. Cancellation Policy If you cancel more than 2 weeks in advance of the program start date, you will forfeit half of the tuition cost. No refunds can be made within 2 weeks of the start date. However, substitutions may be made with our advance approval. We greatly appreciate notification ASAP of any need to cancel. Image WHY LEAD? "I would recommend LEAD to local government leaders and staff because you get a chance to unpack what constitutes as true leadership in a form where the trainers and the teachers show that they are really invested in you. You get the opportunity to better yourself for your staff, your community and your agency." Monique Upshaw-Smith Program Manager, Social Services Humboldt County, CA LEAD 2023 PROGRAM CURRICULUM Exploring the Heart & Soul of Public Service Doug Walker, Deputy County Executive, County of Albemarle, VA Goals: Understanding of the roots of public service going back to the Athenian oath Practitioner example of how Albemarle County used this activity in creating and defining their values Reminder of the value of public service Write a version of the Athenian oath that is reflective of your group’s core beliefs about citizenship and public service Description: Public service is a calling. Leadership is getting people to own and mobilize around collective values. In this session, discover how powerfully public service and leadership can come together. Emotional Intelligence Kaki Dimock, Chief Human Services Officer, County of Albemarle, VA Goals: Define what EQ is and why it matters at work Broaden your awareness of the role your emotions play on the job, in your profession, and at your organization Define and develop each of the four EQ skills| Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness and Relationship Management Discuss real-world examples and experiences – what works, what doesn’t and what to do next time Identify your current level of emotional intelligence (strengths and weaknesses) and where to focus your development Complete your own EQ development plan to include one EQ goal and specific EQ practice strategies that will help you achieve this goal Description: Emotional intelligence (EQ) is not about being nice, nor is it about suppressing emotions; it is a proactive approach to managing emotions to achieve better results – in regard to your relationships as well as business goals. Put simply, emotions drive behavior and behavior drives performance. Successful leaders leverage this knowledge to achieve greater leadership impact. Psychological Safety Molly Harlow M.S., VIG Assistant Director – Leadership Development Goals: Explore the 4 stages of psychological safety and their importance in creating engagement and motivation Learn about one locality’s use of psychological safety to increase performance Create a plan to apply psychological safety to your leadership role Description: Amy Edmundson (Harvard) defines...