Program Design:
For over two years, a subcommittee of the Education Committee, chaired by Sandy Smith, recently retired from the Eastern District of California, brainstormed, researched, and wrestled with many competing leadership models to create the perfect fit for the NCBC – a leadership program designed to encourage non-supervisory court employees to lead in place.
“I think that the idea that anyone can lead, regardless of position, is very valuable.”
The foundation of the LEAD (Leadership, Excellence, and Development) Academy paired candidates with mentors who guided them through over 40 hours of readings, videos, and workshops framed by the Mentor Connect Workbook created by faculty who would be presenting these leadership topics at the workshop. Creating a self-development plan was the final step to successfully complete the program, galvanizing these skills for use in their courts.
Connecting through Mentors:
After receiving over 100 applications, 49 candidates were chosen, representing various positions and court locations from around the country to participate in the pilot program. Each candidate was then paired with a mentor.
The LEAD Academy officially kicked off in May 2019 with an introductory meeting between candidates and mentors. For the next three months, candidates dove into foundational leadership topics ranging from coaching peers and being a positive influence, to recognizing the influence of culture and trust in the workplace. Each topic built on the next, facilitating bi-monthly conversations with mentors and preparing each candidate for the workshop and creation of their self-development plan at the end of the program.
“The mentor I was connected with was such a good fit that I feel like I will be interacting with them for years to come.”
The Workshop:
The LEAD Academy culminated 18 months of planning, preparation, and hard work at the pilot workshop the day before the official opening of the 2019 NCBC Conference in Chicago. All 49 candidates met for the first time at the pre-conference workshop where they had an intense day of exercises and discussion. Our program faculty presented the following topics:
· Lisa Haney (Western District of Tennessee), “The Power of Positive Influence.”
· John Kohler (Western District of Wisconsin), “Getting things Done when you’re not the Boss.”
· Gina Walton (Western District of Washington), “Organizational Culture and the Components of Trust.”
· Beverly Griffeth-Bryant (Northern District of Illinois), “Leading with your Strengths.”
· Barry Lander (Southern District of California), “It Takes a Village to be a Successful Team.”
Participants studied each topic ahead of time, guided by their mentors. The workshop provided a place for exercises to drive home leadership topics discussed in the workbook. Finally, an immersive exercise capped the day, honing and toning new leadership skills, and creating a new class of leaders for our courts.
The Final Step:
The final component of the LEAD Academy program challenged candidates to develop their own leadership goal-setting plan, in coordination with their mentors. All participants received a Certificate of Achievement once they completed their self-development plan in recognition of their achievements and successful completion of the program.
“The program helped me to realize that I am a leader, without the title, within my organization. I also learned techniques on how to lead from afar and how important it is to gain and keep the trust of your co-workers. I also discovered the areas, for myself, that I need to improve on.”
Moving Forward:
NCBC surveyed all candidates, mentors and court unit executives of LEAD Academy participants. The Education Committee will evaluate all the responses to determine whether or not to retain the LEAD Academy as a permanent component of the NCBC. Stay tuned for more information going forward.
Special Thanks:
The LEAD Academy could not have existed without members of the subcommittee, led by Sandy Smith (CAEB), workshop faculty and key support from the NCBC Education and Mentorship Committees who fostered the LEAD Academy development and provided crucial support in make it all come together successfully.
For over two years, a subcommittee of the Education Committee, chaired by Sandy Smith, recently retired from the Eastern District of California, brainstormed, researched, and wrestled with many competing leadership models to create the perfect fit for the NCBC – a leadership program designed to encourage non-supervisory court employees to lead in place.
“I think that the idea that anyone can lead, regardless of position, is very valuable.”
The foundation of the LEAD (Leadership, Excellence, and Development) Academy paired candidates with mentors who guided them through over 40 hours of readings, videos, and workshops framed by the Mentor Connect Workbook created by faculty who would be presenting these leadership topics at the workshop. Creating a self-development plan was the final step to successfully complete the program, galvanizing these skills for use in their courts.
Connecting through Mentors:
After receiving over 100 applications, 49 candidates were chosen, representing various positions and court locations from around the country to participate in the pilot program. Each candidate was then paired with a mentor.
The LEAD Academy officially kicked off in May 2019 with an introductory meeting between candidates and mentors. For the next three months, candidates dove into foundational leadership topics ranging from coaching peers and being a positive influence, to recognizing the influence of culture and trust in the workplace. Each topic built on the next, facilitating bi-monthly conversations with mentors and preparing each candidate for the workshop and creation of their self-development plan at the end of the program.
“The mentor I was connected with was such a good fit that I feel like I will be interacting with them for years to come.”
The Workshop:
The LEAD Academy culminated 18 months of planning, preparation, and hard work at the pilot workshop the day before the official opening of the 2019 NCBC Conference in Chicago. All 49 candidates met for the first time at the pre-conference workshop where they had an intense day of exercises and discussion. Our program faculty presented the following topics:
· Lisa Haney (Western District of Tennessee), “The Power of Positive Influence.”
· John Kohler (Western District of Wisconsin), “Getting things Done when you’re not the Boss.”
· Gina Walton (Western District of Washington), “Organizational Culture and the Components of Trust.”
· Beverly Griffeth-Bryant (Northern District of Illinois), “Leading with your Strengths.”
· Barry Lander (Southern District of California), “It Takes a Village to be a Successful Team.”
Participants studied each topic ahead of time, guided by their mentors. The workshop provided a place for exercises to drive home leadership topics discussed in the workbook. Finally, an immersive exercise capped the day, honing and toning new leadership skills, and creating a new class of leaders for our courts.
The Final Step:
The final component of the LEAD Academy program challenged candidates to develop their own leadership goal-setting plan, in coordination with their mentors. All participants received a Certificate of Achievement once they completed their self-development plan in recognition of their achievements and successful completion of the program.
“The program helped me to realize that I am a leader, without the title, within my organization. I also learned techniques on how to lead from afar and how important it is to gain and keep the trust of your co-workers. I also discovered the areas, for myself, that I need to improve on.”
Moving Forward:
NCBC surveyed all candidates, mentors and court unit executives of LEAD Academy participants. The Education Committee will evaluate all the responses to determine whether or not to retain the LEAD Academy as a permanent component of the NCBC. Stay tuned for more information going forward.
Special Thanks:
The LEAD Academy could not have existed without members of the subcommittee, led by Sandy Smith (CAEB), workshop faculty and key support from the NCBC Education and Mentorship Committees who fostered the LEAD Academy development and provided crucial support in make it all come together successfully.