Anna's Blog

 Posts Tagged ‘Leadership Institute’

For me, today was the close of my experience at the Summer Leadership Institute. Before leaving I enjoyed visiting some of my mentors that included Michael Smull, Patty Scott, Elizabeth Vasquez, and last, but never least “the” Lynne Segel.

As I said goodbye to my new Leadership Institute siblings I found that this class so closely resembled my own just a year ago. It was almost deja vu. Wow! What an amazing group of people I got to enjoy for these past few days.

If there was a message that resonated throughout the presentations this morning, was the importance of adopting technology in organizations. Both Michael Smull and Lynne Segel spoke to the necessity of agencies looking at the future and moving toward electronic documentation and billing. Its the future.

In the afternoon, I gave goodbye kisses to all my new friends (there are too many of you to name and I’d fear leaving one of you out…so I’ll leave it at “friends”) and Lynne and I headed to Philadelphia to catch our flights.

Next stop…back in Texas to pick up where I left off. Did all of my AHS folks miss me? I wasn’t worried, I left you in good hands with Kara. Isn’t she awesome!

Tune in tomorrow as I get introduced to the big city of Amarillo. Ciao!

Leadership Skills Assessments were the order of the day. Participants were split into groups of 6 and videotaped processing a management issue, coming up with solutions, and determining outcomes.

This was my third time to go through this exercise and each experience brings to light different reasons why I’ve found the task to be so useful.

1) The simulation has three parts to it. First, the team reviews a problem within the agency for a 45 minute period of time.

2) Upon conclusion of the problem solving process, the group then watches the video tape of themselves and takes notes on specific criteria they have been given.

3) The final part of the process is the sharing of the data that was recorded from viewing antecedents, behavior, and consequences.

In the group that I facilitated with Nancy Ward and Beth Willis-Hepp, we witnessed a lot of efforts by all of the participants to mirror strong leadership. I enjoyed the interaction of these emerging leaders to engage everyone in the problem solving process. The group indirectly framed the discussion in ways that supported team building, the motivation of others, and creative thinking. It was a lot of fun to watch the process through a simulation role-play.

My afternoon was spent doing “Therap” work from the Courtyard Marriott in Newark. I have to name this hotel because it has been voted the BEST Courtyard Marriott in the nation for the past two years. What kind of leadership does it take to make a hotel the best in the nation, not once, but two years in a row? Trust me, I plan to ask General Manager, Bill Sullivan before I leave tomorrow.

Dinner was enjoyed at Klondike Kate’s, a place that holds a lot of Institute memories. With me above are Rachel, Kathy, Nate, Angela, and Ann.

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Converging on the University of Delaware Campus were 25 emerging leaders there to engage in interactive sessions,network with one another,and discover different means of achieving a stronger advocacy position on their own communities that would result in more fulfilling lives for people with developmental disabilities.

A friend, mentor, and tremendous speaker, Derrick Dufresne, spent the better part of the morning discussing his 5-Star Quality model. Derrick has this amazing ability to leave you wanting more. He tells his story about the days when he worked in a state institution and then how he came about working in community based services. He also talked about choice and people having opportunities for social capital in order to build a life that incorporates the individual into their community.

It was a day of powerful messages designed to empower emerging leaders to become change-agents.

What does leadership really take? Above all, it is a decision one makes to be a leader all the time, not just when one feels like it. It means taking risks and stepping out ahead of the crowd to articulate a vision for the future. It’s a lot of responsibility, but, when done well, positively impacts the lives of so many people.

There is a story about a man who is walking along the shore and he comes upon a boy throwing starfish back into the ocean. The man tells the boy that he can’t possibly save all the starfish that wash upon the shore. The boy responds back to the man that he understands and then he throws another starfish into the ocean and says, “but I saved that one”.

That’s leadership. Understanding that you impact one life at a time by standing firm to your beliefs despite what others may say.

Our dinner was sponsored by Therap, and included a cookout on the patio of the Marriott Courtyard. We enjoyed an “All-American Meal” complete with watermelon and brownies for dessert.

Sorry my dear Texans…and Therap readers, I have to take a pause from my Texas travels to attend an event that is both near and dear to my heart.

Today is the first day of the Summer Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities, located on the University of Delaware campus, in Newark, DE.

The University of Delaware Leadership Institute offers a select group
of future leaders from organizations across the United States and
internationally, the opportunity to come together with a fabulous
faculty of national experts on progressive supports for people with
disabilities. The Institute supports the development of skilled leaders
who are passionate about quality, have the management and financial
skills needed to run solid not-for-profit businesses and government
agencies, are capable of assembling top-notch teams of caring staff, and have a solid commitment to progressive values that assured lives of meaning and impact for the individuals receiving support.

A year ago, I attended the Institute as an emerging leader, joining 25 others who had been selected to work aside National icons like Nancy Weiss, Steve Eidelman, Charlie Lakin, Michael Smull, Derrick Dufresne, Nancy Thaler, Sue Swenson, Renee Pietrangelo, Lynn Seagle, and others.

In the Fall ’07, I was invited back as a guest faculty member. This program was not only one of the richest learning experiences of my life, but it is now a part of who I am, much like the passion I have for Therap.

Even more gratifying is that the leadership of Therap also believes in the vision of the Institute. So much so that Therap recently became a partner of the project. Therap’s support will help to assure that our developmental disabilities system continues growing strong and effective leaders who will push the envelope and continue to keep this vision of a quality system, where people live a life of their choice, moving forward.

I will be back on Thursday to conclude the Great Texas Adventure. Until that time, I invite you to join me in Delaware as I work with some of our country’s finest disability leaders and up-and-coming leaders from across the nation, and the world.

Miss Kara will be staying in Notheast Texas to cover Abiline, Levelland, and Lubbock as we finish out our three week AHS Texas Training Adventure.

See you tomorrow! Gotta go catch a plane to Philly.