The Foundations of Leadership Program

Foundations of Leadership

LDI Level 1: Foundations of Leadership
Foundations of Leadership is the first program to be implemented through the Institute and is designed to sharpen fundamental supervisory skills, develop core competencies and advance the goals of the University. As a supervisor, you are expected to be a coach, mentor and motivator - to provide direction and make tough decisions. You are required to not only get the job done, but also develop others in the process. The Foundations of Leadership program will help you gain a clear perspective of your role and responsibilities, how to overcome challenges and successfully lead people, teams and your organization to achieve results.

The program is offered twice a year, spring and fall. For program schedule and specific dates/times see Program Schedule.

The fee for the Foundations of Leadership program is $500 and can be paid with an Internal Services Request. The Internal Services Request form, with an authorized signature, is required upon check-in on the first day of the program. For registration, click here.

Build Knowledge Capital

We work in an increasingly diverse, complex, and changing environment. To be an effective manager, you must not only know your own job, you also must know what to expect of your staff and how your department and the University operates. You are responsible for getting things done and done right-on task, on time, on budget. The Foundations of Leadership is designed to help prepare you for the growing demands of our dynamic work place. You will discover smarter, faster ways to work, learn about University policies, procedures and resources as well as explore how to get the most out of others, and most significantly, yourself.

Engage Your Mind

The Foundations of Leadership is very hands-on and interactive. It is a reality-based program that focuses on the challenging management situations and issues you face every day. Through a stimulating mix of discussion, experience-sharing, self-assessments, multi-media presentations and group exercises, you will try-out different solutions and practice new skills and techniques. Seasoned professionals, from on and off campus, facilitate the sessions by providing practical, relevant information and insight as well as essential management practices. In a relaxed, highly supportive learning environment, you will learn what works and in some cases, you'll discover why some things don't.

Learn from Others

When you are in a Foundations of Leadership session, you may find yourself nodding in recognition when someone shares a situation they are currently dealing with-you have experienced the same thing! Maybe you found a good solution. Maybe the problem never got solved no matter what you tried. In a Foundations of Leadership program, you will establish vital relationships with your peers and facilitators and share with them your successes and failures. You will generate ideas and be sparked by the ideas of others. Long after the classes end, you'll have a network of people you trust to call on, who will provide encouragement and solutions when you need help, and who you can support in return.

What You'll Learn

Foundations of Leadership is designed to assist participants in improving results in their organization by sharpening their basic supervisory skills. It is focused on sound principles, common sense and hands-on skill improvements. The program format is highly interactive and filled with practical tools and knowledge that will help supervisors be more effective. Throughout the sessions, activities will help participants apply what they have learned. They will also have valuable networking opportunities to help them learn from each other. Some of what participants will learn includes:

· The role, functions and expectations of today's UM supervisor
· University of Maryland personnel practices, policies and procedures; including applicable Federal, State and local laws
· Successful leadership behaviors and how their leadership style influences the actions of others
· Communicating effectively with a diverse workforce
· Achieving goals through team facilitation skills and processes
· Building and managing effective teams
· Conflict management strategies and how to handle difficult people and situations
· Coaching to get the best out of employees
· Building and maintaining quality to increase customer satisfaction and cost effectiveness
· Anticipating, initiating and managing change
· Planning, executing and monitoring projects and work activities
· Resource management and available campus resources