Tom K. Hearn Leadership Program

During difficult economic times like these, leadership development for nonprofit executives is something that does not often get funded.  However, this is when we should be developing our nonprofit leadership with the creative and strategic leadership skills they need to withstand the economic crisis and thrive into the future. 

In honor of the former President of Wake Forest University, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has joined the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) to launch the Tom K. Hearn Leadership Program, a 3-day nonprofit leadership program that addresses the salient leadership development needs of our North Carolina nonprofit leaders.  The program includes the following highlights — all of which will be provided by CCL faculty with nonprofit leadership experience to help our grantees apply what they learn directly to their own context:

Program Content	Intended Outcome
A creative exercise on effective models of leadership	Create & communicate vision
A 360-degree feedback assessment	Seek and use feedback for greater impact
Interactive content on leading across differences	Understand different perspectives for improved group performance
A focus on improving their power and influence skills	Learn a variety of tactics to improve their ability to influence others
A personality assessment that informs their preferences when working with others	Understand the strengths and challenges associated with their preferred style for leading groups and teams
Interactive content on communication, decision making, and consensus building	Give participants tools for better communication and decision making both individually and in groups
An assessment that informs their preference for managing change	Enable them to appreciate a variety of change management styles
A 90-minute one-on-one session with an executive coach	Provide a professional coach to integrate data and set goals
Tools, processes, and practice giving others effective feedback	Seek, use, and deliver effective feedback to peers, staff, board
Goal setting and developmental planning	Set realistic goals for improved performance back on the job

The program will be offered free of charge to up to 60 total participants in two sessions: March 23 – 25 and September 14 – 16, 2010.  The target audience for this program would include current executive directors with less than five years of experience as well as those who may be in line to succeed them in the future (current program managers or directors).  Priority will be given to Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation grantees.  The training will be held on the CCL campus in Greensboro, NC. 

Applications may be completed online at Tom Hearn Leadership Program Application Form.  The application deadline is Friday, January 8 by 11:59 pm.  Participants will be notified of their selection by January 16th. Please upload a brief letter from your Executive Director or Board Chair supporting your participation in the program. If you have any questions, contact James Gore at jamesg@zsr.org.