"Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which flows into you as life, place yourself in the full centre of that flood, then you are without effort impelled to truth, to night and a perfect contentment."

TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Annette E. Petrick, CAE designs and creates dynamic traditional leadership training sessions that are customized to the preferences and needs of the sponsoring organization.

Sessions include ice breakers, team building, table exercises and tests. Petrick queries and meets expectations, even when non-traditional, provides lots of how-to strategies, uses multiple check lists, work sheets and short, telling tests.

The tone is highly participative, light and inclusive, with lots of humor and loads of examples. Stories bring home the point and reach into the center of comprehension and ideals of those who serve. Assignments in advance can be included (optional).

Typical group reaction was stated by one client who said, "They almost wouldn't let you go!"

(Formats differ, depending on the structure provided. Training can be done as a portion of another event, or as a separate retreat. Most such sessions range from a few hours to a half day to an evening and two days.)

10 NEW MODELS - LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Associations are taking new approaches to leadership training. They're asking for continuing training that does not end with one session. They want programs to identify and entice leaders early on. They use a facilitator to seed new leadership list serves, to be sure there is interesting content and participation. Here are ten new models created to fill these needs: Leadership Boot Camp - Participants enter one or two day retreat in jeans and tee shirts with dog tags and tin eating utensils; graduate a year or two later in full business attire at formal event held during annual event of association or society, with much pomp and circumstance. (One to two year program with 2 to 4 in-person sessions.) Moving Along the Leadership Track - Leadership training that associations can offer to all members, their spouses and their teen-age children. This session includes a focus on skills to use on the job, in school and socially. Registration can be fee-based, provided as a membership benefit or offered as a reward for service. (Format flexible - from 1 day to 2.5 day format.) Future Leadership Program - Calls out those willing to serve in leadership positions in the future (one year away or more). Establishes a program where participants get to know the association and its multiple opportunities and the organization gets to know them.(Ongoing program. Full responsibility can be outsourced.) Leadership Alive - On-site program where group meets in person for training, then stays together with electronic communication through listserves, online education and testing, reading assignments and such. (Format flexible - from 1 day to 2.5 day format in-person. Full year supplement with contact weekly, monthly or every six weeks. May conclude with optional 1 day on-site session at the end.) Executive Women's Workshop - On-site program directed specifically to women and customized for their industry or profession. (Format flexible - from 1 day to 2.5 day format on-site. Optional electronic contact supplement.) Partnership Workshop - For association chief staff executive and association chief elected official - preferably before their term of office begins. Concentrates on understanding the distinctly different and separate duties and responsibilities of leadership, and those of staff. Explores the strategic vs. the tactical and defines parameters of endeavor. Includes team building, bonding, visioning and trust. (Format - Usually 1 evening/1 day.) Focus on Leadership - Web-assisted leadership training - Online sessions, assignments, readings, testing, preparation for leadership. (Format - totally electronic; highly flexible schedule of interaction frequency and content.) Brain Strain - Web-centered grouping of thought leaders in the industry or profession - Facilitated brain trust with ongoing discussions that are future-centered and strategic. Four times a year, experts are invited to present interactive scenarios, which are then analyzed and discussed over the following month or two. (Format - totally electronic; year long groupings. Expert scenarios quarterly. Optional - One or more teleconferences or on-site workshops.) Personal Strategic Plan - Finding the leader within yourself. Determining what you do best and what kind of workplace best suits your current interests and future preferences. Guide to future personal and professional decision-making. (Format - from 2.5 hours to full day.) The Path from Home - Second Generation Leadership - Creating your own image, style. Commanding and deserving respect. Getting your ideas considered. Multi-generational collaboration. Building on the proud family tradition. (Format - Any of those described above.) As you plan your leadership training, consider which of these models, or a combination of models, could bring new life to your program. Each model is customized for each association or society.