Much
has been written on the aging baby boomers and the leadership drain as they
retire – both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. The Executive Leadership
Institute [ELI] is a partnership with the Phoenixville Community Health
Foundation, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations [PANO], and
Arcadia University. It is designed to address the need for leadership training
for the emerging leaders of the non-profit community within the greater
Phoenixville region. Designed, implemented and funded by the Phoenixville
Community Health Foundation, the mission is to provide executive-level and
management-level staff within the non-profit sectors with an opportunity to
gain self-awareness, knowledge and experience to become more effective leaders
within their professional and personal lives.
Curriculum
components included a personal self-assessment through the well-recognized
Myers/Briggs psychological instrument. From there students were guided through
aspects of leadership and assisted in the development of their personal
leadership style as well as the practical application of leadership skills. For
their final assignment, students presented their own personal leadership plans
and goals. There will be follow-up with
each student at six months and then one year to assess progress on their personal
leadership plan.
Initial
feedback from students included comments like: “I have changed my leadership
style to be less task oriented and more people oriented. I am also better able
to understand the dynamics of the organization and where it needs to change.”;
“Personal development to grow in your career. It was an extraordinary
experience.”; “ELI is an opportunity to purposefully think of your leadership
style and grow.”; and “Profound.
Powerful. Enriching.”.
