Higher Education CoP - Taking the Mystery Out of Leadership and Leadership Development

Abstract

In professional circles there are leaders and followers; even in medicine, education, and countless others. However, leadership development is often overlooked as part of the educational or professional path. Well-developed leaders, and leaders that can effectively and efficiently lead teams are critical to success in project management. Many times, project managers are tasked with building teams in which skill sets and experience vary. Likewise, the ability to build and lead an effective team is a skill set that is not always innate, and is most often honed. The ability to embrace change, recognize and eliminate inequalities, and navigate workplace cultures are also inherent with effective leadership. Great leaders recognize that the success of an organization depends on the combination of people, well-developed leadership, and management skills alongside functional expertise. One cannot exist without the other, making leadership practices and behaviors a key factor in organization success. How much more successful would educational and research organizations be if they were taught leadership traits alongside their functional expertise? This presentation explores the leadership traits and skills necessary for all successful leaders, as well as discusses resilience building leadership concepts. Avenues for gaining education and certification in leadership will also be reviewed.

Learning Objectives

• Leadership skills are necessary for all managers/leaders. People need purpose, regardless of industry/professional, and leaders provide that purpose.
• Increase the demand signal for education/instruction on understanding the necessity for leadership and management traits.
• Introduce the value of the Resilience-Building Leader Program concepts, and how to go about becoming certified.

Speaker

Heather Wells

Heather Wells is the Founder/CEO of a Professional Coaching, Consulting, and Training Partner company. Over the last 31 years, she has led at every level within the United States Army alongside all uniformed services, civilians, and multi-national partners from around the world. Heather has led and mentored thousands of people often in high stress and under dangerous conditions, where leadership is critical to success. She has managed hundreds of projects from start to finish surrounded by highly capable experts. All organizations implement project management processes into their work flow, the military services are not all that different. Among others, Heather’s academic credentials and professional licenses/certifications include Professional Certified Coach, Joint Special Operations University graduate (Summit and Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy), certifications in Leader as Coach, Women in Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion Certificates from Cornell University, Management Development Certificate Program from the University of Louisville, and she is currently pursuing her National Board for Leadership Certification. Heather is also the recipient of the Honorable Order of Saint John Baptist De La Salle.