Nelson Mandela stated that “You can’t change society unless you first change yourself.” Two Leadership Essentials program, conducted at MIND, Jamaica for representatives from the public and social sector, helped make this point. The participants were from a wide range of public and social institutions including the Ministry of National Security, Parliament Council, Defense Force, Civil Service Association, Ministry of Local Government, and the Justice Department.
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The programs, delivered by myself and Ruby Brown were focused on leading self, leading others, and leading change. The modules and activities were designed to build self-awareness as well as enhanced skills in working with others. While it was easier for participants to focus on leading others rather than themselves they found the process of self-discovery most powerful. We began the program by co creating intentions for the two days. We then worked our way through the Leadership Essentials modules, such as social identity, mindset, mental models, EQ and boundary-spanning leadership. Some of them shared that leadership programs they attended in the past felt like time off from work but this program was about them and drew them in fully. They were not used to “turning the mirror inward” and examining their values, beliefs and perspectives.
At the end of the program most of them shared that the program was a powerful experience that had helped create a deeper awareness of themselves and their leadership preference and style. Some of them who thought they knew themselves well began to notice in a new way their mental models, mindset, their leadership style, including their listening and decision making skills. The participants said they were energized to take the learning forward in their work and life. We ended the two days by asking them to set goals and write letter to an accountability partners. They took this very seriously and made a public commitment to do at least one thing different as a result of the training.
In the final sharing we heard that this program has been the best they’d experienced in terms of content, delivery, interactivity and personal impact. The Leadership Essentials had helped them examine their own approach to leadership and feel empowered to bring about change in themselves and others in their roles in government.
The programs, delivered by myself and Ruby Brown were focused on leading self, leading others, and leading change. The modules and activities were designed to build self-awareness as well as enhanced skills in working with others. While it was easier for participants to focus on leading others rather than themselves they found the process of self-discovery most powerful. We began the program by co creating intentions for the two days. We then worked our way through the Leadership Essentials modules, such as social identity, mindset, mental models, EQ and boundary-spanning leadership. Some of them shared that leadership programs they attended in the past felt like time off from work but this program was about them and drew them in fully. They were not used to “turning the mirror inward” and examining their values, beliefs and perspectives.
At the end of the program most of them shared that the program was a powerful experience that had helped create a deeper awareness of themselves and their leadership preference and style. Some of them who thought they knew themselves well began to notice in a new way their mental models, mindset, their leadership style, including their listening and decision making skills. The participants said they were energized to take the learning forward in their work and life. We ended the two days by asking them to set goals and write letter to an accountability partners. They took this very seriously and made a public commitment to do at least one thing different as a result of the training.
In the final sharing we heard that this program has been the best they’d experienced in terms of content, delivery, interactivity and personal impact. The Leadership Essentials had helped them examine their own approach to leadership and feel empowered to bring about change in themselves and others in their roles in government.
