Strengthen Your Leadership Muscle

This past week I had the privilege of attending the OPM’s Center for Leadership Development course Building Coalitions—The Art of Successful Collaboration.?While I have thought of myself as accomplished in this area I undertook this learning journey to build upon my skills.?This interactive class—instructed by Karen Butler and Christine Librizzi—and attended by senior leaders across the federal government?was fantastic! This class focused on the executive competencies of external awareness, influencing/ negotiating, interpersonal skills, partnering, and political savvy.

I can honestly say that I had my share of “aha” moments from this course and insightful takeaways from the sharing of experiences with my classmates from a wide array of agencies in the civilian and defense sectors. ?For example:?

• Personal behaviors I follow that facilitate and may impede collaboration (self-awareness).
• It takes a prism versus a single lens fully develop all the facets of the challenge (diversity of thought)
• Methods to keep project momentum when its sponsor leaves (resilience and creativity)
• Backgrounds of potential collaboration parties is key (stakeholder analysis).
• Leveraging driving forces and minimizing restraining forces for change (solve the problem, not the people)

I wish to thank my office for supporting me to take this training and my terrific colleagues at DOT’s Office of Inspector General who held down the fort on audit matters while I was in training.?

Final point--have you trained today?