After last year’s successful pilot, the NCBC Lead Academy launches another group of future leaders.
Basics of the LEAD Academy
Last year, the NCBC chose to address the national need of a leadership development program open to any bankruptcy court employee. It was a big task, but a subcommittee was formed and developed the LEAD Academy: Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, and Development, stressing active leadership skills taught by experienced court leaders. The LEAD Academy Pilot Program was launched before the Annual Conference in Chicago. Leadership topics covered included:
Participants were supported on their journeys by mentors, who helped guide them on their journeys through the program using a wide variety of learning resources over a four-month period. A full-day LEAD Academy Workshop at the Chicago conference was the highlight of the program as each of the 48 participants were in attendance and enjoyed educational sessions facilitated by Beverly Griffeth-Bryant, Lisa Haney, John Kohler, Barry Lander, Sandy Smith, and Gina Zadra Walton. The program concluded weeks after the conference with the creation of an Individual Development Plan, which participants created with input and feedback from their mentors.
Changes for 2020
Course evaluations, interviews with staff and participants, and beaming faces after the workshop demonstrated the LEAD Academy’s success. No significant program changes were needed for our next class, but the selection process for this year was revised. For this year’s cohort, participants were nominated by their Clerk of Court to allow for common goals to be made between participants and CUEs. Class size was held smaller for greater interaction at the workshop, so each court could nominate only one participant. This year’s LEAD Academy has 28 eager and talented participants, who began their own journeys at the beginning of April. In the absence of a conference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LEAD Academy Workshop will be conducted virtually, covering the topics remotely while allowing for full interaction and engagement with all participants.
Basics of the LEAD Academy
Last year, the NCBC chose to address the national need of a leadership development program open to any bankruptcy court employee. It was a big task, but a subcommittee was formed and developed the LEAD Academy: Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, and Development, stressing active leadership skills taught by experienced court leaders. The LEAD Academy Pilot Program was launched before the Annual Conference in Chicago. Leadership topics covered included:
- Peer coaching;
- Working in teams;
- Establishing a culture of trust in the workplace;
- Accomplishing goals with others; and
- Promoting self-awareness
Participants were supported on their journeys by mentors, who helped guide them on their journeys through the program using a wide variety of learning resources over a four-month period. A full-day LEAD Academy Workshop at the Chicago conference was the highlight of the program as each of the 48 participants were in attendance and enjoyed educational sessions facilitated by Beverly Griffeth-Bryant, Lisa Haney, John Kohler, Barry Lander, Sandy Smith, and Gina Zadra Walton. The program concluded weeks after the conference with the creation of an Individual Development Plan, which participants created with input and feedback from their mentors.
Changes for 2020
Course evaluations, interviews with staff and participants, and beaming faces after the workshop demonstrated the LEAD Academy’s success. No significant program changes were needed for our next class, but the selection process for this year was revised. For this year’s cohort, participants were nominated by their Clerk of Court to allow for common goals to be made between participants and CUEs. Class size was held smaller for greater interaction at the workshop, so each court could nominate only one participant. This year’s LEAD Academy has 28 eager and talented participants, who began their own journeys at the beginning of April. In the absence of a conference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LEAD Academy Workshop will be conducted virtually, covering the topics remotely while allowing for full interaction and engagement with all participants.