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The Leadership Learning

RoundtableFunding and Evaluating Leadership

Development: What Works?

Dr. Claire Reinelt

Leadership Learning Community

September 25, 2008

Meeting Objectives

• Develop a shared understanding of leadership

development and what works to support it

• Deepen knowledge about how leadership investment

strategies link to desired outcomes

• Share highlights from the Leadership Solutions report

• Explore the value of being in a learning circle together

What does leadership mean?

• Classical heroic definition: Leadership is the behavior of an individual directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal.

• Focus on leadership as an influence relationship:

Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement

Leadership Continued

• Focus on leadership as a shared, communal responsibility:

Leadership is speaking, listening and acting in ways that enable an

organization or community to address its key challenges most

effectively -- Alain Gauthier

• Leadership is a communal responsibility with a concern for the

welfare of the 'people' or tribe and then sharing the work that needs

to be done based on skills and abilities. Leadership is shared

responsibility and promoting people's well-being. -- LaDonna Harris

Comparing Leadership and Management

Leadership

• Scanning for trends, strengths,

challenges and opportunities

• Focusing on mission, strategy

and priorities for action

• Aligning individuals and groups

around a shared vision and

mobilizing resources

• Inspiring innovation, learning

and commitment

Management

• Planning the operational approach, including goals, objectives and allocation of resources

• Organizing structures, systems, processes and staff to support the plan

• Implementing the plan in an efficient, effective and responsive manner

• Monitoring, evaluating, and improving systems, processes and results

Key Leadership Development

Principles

• Leadership development always occurs in a context

• Leadership development is a process not an event or a product

• Leadership development is influenced by many different experiences and learning activities

• Leadership development needs to align with the goals you want to achieve

What Are Promising Directions

in Leadership Development?

• Focus on Inner Work of Leadership

• Broadening Perspectives and Systems Thinking

• Cohorts and Relationship-Building

• Experiential Approaches

• Opening up the Leadership Paradigm

• Sustaining Connections and Expanding Networks

What are pressing questions you have about

leadership development?

• What is the role of management education in leadership development?

• How do managers who dominate in nonprofit workplaces support the growth of leaders in their midst?

• How does the sector move to encouraging leaders when the dominant culture in Canada is to suppress leaders as soon as they appear on the scene?

• What is an appropriate timeframe for evaluating impact?

• How do you do a cost-benefit analysis for investing in leadership training for senior paid leaders in the voluntary sector?

• How do you evaluate the outcomes of leadership development post-training?