Thank you for the summary!!!



Grace and Peace!
Glenda Lynn Rose, PhD

EL Civics Instructor
Austin Learning Academy
(512) 841-4777 - Odom classroom
(512) 789-5131 - mobile
 

--- On Sat, 9/26/09, David J. Rosen <djrosen at theworld.com> wrote:


From: David J. Rosen <djrosen at theworld.com>
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1401] Qualities, experience, behaviors and skills of leadership
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009, 8:36 AM






Colleagues, 
Below is a draft summary of what we have said about leaderhip so far. If I have missed or misunderstood something, please let us know, and it can be added or changed. 
If this list of leadership qualities, experience, skills and behaviors is useful to you, please share with us how you think you could you use it.
There is still time to write your leadership reflection. Post it to specialtopics at nifl.gov Thanks to those who have already posted theirs.
David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
djrosen at theworld.com
------------------------------
 
Adult Literacy Education Leadership
These are not the go-it-alone leaders we see depicted as statues in our parks (Paul Jurmo)
 
Qualities

Positive energy, passion and commitment needed to do this hard work and inspire others 
·        Vision, for example, a vision of a better system of adult learning
·        Patience
·        Courage
·        Persistence/tenacity
·        Honesty
·        Flexiblity/adaptability
·        Humility
·        Sensitivity/understanding
·        Reliability
·        Follow-through

Willingness to learn 
Willingness to “roll up one’s sleeves, and not asking an employee or subordinate to do anything that they themselves are not willing to do
Experience 

Extensive experience with relationship building and networking 
Having a big picture world-view of our profession 
Life-long learner 
Skills and Behaviors
A leader:
·        Demonstrates expertise (i.e., knowledge of the theory and practice, based on study and experience)  in how to:
....  plan and implement effective learning systems for various learner populations, purposes, contexts, etc.
....  deal with funding-related tasks (i.e., get funding, manage it well, deal with funders, . . . )
....  select, train, guide, mentor, support, coordinate, and otherwise lead the people who do this work.
·        Communicates clearly and well and supports the flow of information and ideas throughout the organization
·        Demonstrates valuing collaboration, consultation and participatory decision-making
·        Values  team work, and can facilitate team activities as well as participate while others do the facilitating
·        Engages in participatory decision-making, asking staff members working in classrooms, and with individual adult learners, for feedback, ideas, and opinions
·        Welcomes differing opinions and seriously considers these new or different ideas to make better decisions
·        Freely shares administrative information that impacts the program and seeks input from staff before making final decisions
·        Demonstrates the full range of Equipped for the Future skills.  (EFF includes the basic communication, planning, teamwork, lifelong learning, and other basic skills all of us need, including leaders)
·        Works for the common good
·        Actively pursues excellence

Is fair and ethical in all aspects of a leadership or supervisory role
·        Respects the just rule of law
·        Respects human rights and commitment to human development
·        Allocates and uses resources transparently
·        Values the protection, regeneration and sustainability of the environment
·        Is committed to leadership development for oneself and others
·        Respects others
·        Engages others in having ownership of the success of the organization, staff and clients/students
·        Apologizes when wrong
·        Admits that s/he might be wrong, can do better, and might need to try a different strategy.
·        Admits when s/he does not know the answer and makes an effort to find the answer 
·        Works to develop the skills of his/her staff members (who are truly considered a “team”).
·        Accepts ideas from the field
·        Has a hard enough shell to withstand the sometimes subtle criticism that comes with the leadership role

Follows through and, by this, leads by example 
Trusts in the work of those hired to implement the projects s/he starts 
·        Actively seeks out connections and collaborations within the community
·        Gets things done, and also invents what can be done- generates possibilities and then joins the team in following through. 
·        Works well with others, including those who might have different backgrounds, perspectives, and styles
·        Deals effectively with resistance to change
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