The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. Henry Kissinger

The Leadership Perspectives Program

Who Should Participate:
The program is open only to nominated candidates from the UVa community and is intended for those at the Associate Vice-President or Director level including teaching faculty serving in senior level academic positions. Others whose responsibilities require them to have a broad view of the University and executive level leadership skills may also be considered. All candidates must be nominated by their Vice President or Dean and have the support of their immediate supervisor for participation in this program.

Program Focus:
Leadership Perspectives focuses on two critical aspects of effective leadership at The University.

• First, as senior leaders you will examine in-depth the strategic agenda of the Institution, including the direction emerging from the Commission on the Future of the University. You will not only become much more knowledgeable about the University but you will also enhance your ability to provide strategic direction to your unit and school.
• Second, you will deepen your understanding of the personal leadership qualities and skills needed to be maximally effective in your University role. You will be both challenged and supported as you seek to transform and strengthen the leadership you provide.

Unique Structure of the Program:
The program follows a unique format, designed to stimulate and energize you while also taking into account the competing demands on your time. The required group sessions are strategically focused on critical issues at the University and will provide a forum for dialogue between you, the other participants and members of the President's Cabinet. In order to extend learning between group sessions, you will:

• Meet individually with an experienced leadership coach to focus on targeted growth areas in your leadership
• Exchange perspectives with other participants regarding key leadership issues and applications of program material via structured internet interaction
• Review briefings and read pertinent articles, all posted for easy internet access

Program Commitment and Cost:
Participants will attend 5 1/2 days of program sessions, spread out over a 4 month time period as well as a half-day follow-up session in the late summer. Approximately five hours of independent work is required in-between each group session. These hours can be scheduled at convenient times for you, and include activities such as completing assessment materials, meeting with your leadership coach, preparing postings for online discussions, reviewing briefings on key topics, and reading the latest views on contemporary leadership.

The program cost is $1,500 and includes all program sessions, assessment materials, leadership coaching, and meals during the program meetings. The tuition is payable upon acceptance into the program.

Nominations Process:
All participants must be nominated by their Vice President or Dean and complete the required application materials.

Program Dates:

For additional information, including a nomination form please contact Audrey Dodson of the Leadership Development Center at 434-924-0997 or aed2f@virginia.edu.

The Leadership Strategies Program

A core component of the program is a 360-degree leadership assessment. The assessment is derived from the UVA leadership characteristics identified by President Casteen and his Cabinet. Through this process, participants receive feedback on their leadership behaviors from a wide range of observers including supervisors, direct reports, peers, and professional colleagues. In addition to receiving a customized feedback report, each participant completes a confidential, one-on-one session with a Leadership Development Center (LDC) consultant to review the results and to begin setting development goals. During the program participants leverage what they have learned about themselves and effective leadership practices to create personalized leadership action plans and three months after the last session reconvene to assess and reflect on the progress they have made.

Who Should Participate:
Leaders of work-groups and teams across the University in both administrative and academic roles. Examples of academic roles are assistant, associate or full professors who run research projects, labs, programs, institutes or centers, research coordinators or assistant department chairs.

Benefits of Participating
Program participants will:

• Deepen their understanding of University values, stakeholders, and purpose through conversations with senior leaders and one another;
• Clarify the values that are the foundation from which they lead others;
• Understand the impact of their individual leadership behaviors on their work group and organization;
• Assess the implications of their preferred leadership style for approaching and dealing with both team and organizational challenges;
• Enhance their ability to create the conditions that lead to high performance within a work group;
• Enhance their ability to collaborate within and across departments to achieve their objectives and effect change;
• Learn about leadership best practices and proven strategies for achieving organizational objectives;
• Participate in a variety of individual and group exercises to develop their leadership skills and abilities; and,
• Create a specific plan to develop their leadership effectiveness.

Commitment
Participants must complete a 360-degree leadership assessment process and attend all five day and a half program sessions (68 total hours in the classroom) as well as the orientation, opening dinner, one-on-one coaching session, and post-program follow-up. Participants are expected to develop a leadership action plan and between sessions complete some reflection exercises and light reading assignments. Participant's supervisors are expected to provide feedback through the leadership assessment, to check-in on what the participant is learning, and to support development and implementation of the participant's leadership action plan.

Eligibility
Leadership Strategies is open to anyone who leads a work-group or team and has a minimum of three years working experience at UVa. Exceptions to the eligibility requirements may be granted on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for the program, applicants must be officially nominated by their supervisor or department head. To ensure best fit with program goals and objectives, potential participants and departments are encouraged to discuss their nominations with Audrey Dodson (924-0997 or aed2f@virginia.edu).

For More Information or to Apply for Enrollment see below for the the attached program schedule and nomination form, or contact Audrey Dodson (924-0997 or aed2f@virginia.edu).

Program Schedule (PDF, 33 KB)

Nomination Form (PDF, 15 KB)

The Exceptional Assistants' Network Leaders Program

• Understanding personality differences to foster enhanced working relationships
• Dealing with difficult people including customers and co-workers
• Interpersonal communication and the art of persuasion
• Improving leadership style and professional growth
• Effective use of time through improved organization skills
• Balancing work as a means of reducing stress
• Problem solving in a complex and fast paced environment
• Cooperation and team methodology

Spring 2008 Dates:
Tuesday, May 27, 9:00am-4:30pm
Thursday, May 29, 9:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday, June 10, 9:00am-4:00pm
Thursday, June 12, 9:00am-12:00pm
All sessions are held in Newcomb Hall South Meeting Room

Registration:
Click Here to Register ONLINE or print the registration form below and return to Audrey Dodson at aed2f@virginia.edu or via fax at 243-0240.

Registration Form (PDF, 34 KB)