More than 75 participants from 25 different companies reconvened last week for the final seminars of the Executive Leadership Program. Participants in the Engaging & Influential Leader, Advanced Business Development and Strategic & Branded Executive courses came together to discuss and develop leadership skills needed for current and future roles.
The 2023 Executive Leadership Program prepares future leaders for the responsibilities they will face and the qualities they will need as they successfully advance in their organizations.
ENGAGING & INFLUENTIAL LEADER COHORT
The Engaging & Influential Leader course allows exploration of the participants’ sphere of influence in their organization and understanding how to leverage that influence to create positive organizational change.
The group started by revisiting the Living Above the Line model from the previous session, sharing how it’s being implemented into the participants’ daily routines.
One participant shared, “I have been using this model with success. At first, it was a bit awkward, but once I introduced it and utilized it with my team, it allowed for focus and center as our organization went through its various changes.”
Participants discussed new topics, such as critical steps to delivering feedback and worked on practicing approaches to corrective feedback in various situations. Breakout groups allowed the participants to implement the five steps of positive feedback. Then the group discussed using the feedback model when having to give corrective and developmental feedback.
Additional topics of discussion were active listening and influence mapping.
ADVANCED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COHORT
The Advanced Business Development course helps participants develop the skills, behaviors and confidence to address client needs and develop long-term relationships while growing a business. The training gives participants a range of business development and sales techniques to adopt a confident, consultative and solutions-based approach when selling.
The session kicked off with key takeaways, such as utilizing the DISC assessment and the 7 C’s of Professional Success.
“After the first three sessions, I realized I was already using some of these methods; I just wasn’t confident in how I was delivering certain messages. Once I was able to see and discuss these tools in the course and with my coach, it helped build and solidify my confidence.”
Program Participant
Topics discussed during the half-day session were the power of personal brand, the importance of communication and how you communicate, managing your first impression and more.
STRATEGIC & BRANDED EXECUTIVE COHORT
The Strategic & Branded Executive course helps participants build their credibility, improve their appearance, develop and solidify networking skills, and enhance their ability to communicate effectively. The course is to develop participants’ executive presence and confidence and make a positive first impression.
Participants discussed starting to develop a brand mantra.
“When you develop and refine your own brand mantra, I think it’s important to create something concise, genuine and believable. It can ultimately be very powerful for an individual as well as a team.”
Program Participant
First impressions, the principles of influential conversations, connecting your brand with influence and strengthening your personal brand were also topics covered in the half-day session. Breakout groups discussed developing a list of personal, core values.
“Creating the vision and values was very valuable. I have been able to take these from a corporate level and break them down to my team as a way to make it more meaningful to them in their day-to-day.”
Program Participant
Participants from each track of the Executive Leadership Program are scheduled to join their counterparts from the other sessions for graduation on January 17, 2024, hosted by the Emerging Executives Committee.
For more information about the Emerging Executives Committee or the Executive Leadership Program, contact Vice President, Programs & Events Peggy Helfert.
Peggy Helfert, Vice President Programs & Events, writes about the Energy Workforce’s sector-specific best practices and leadership. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
