Leadership
The following are leadership priniciples designed by Graduate Program Faculty for the upcoming Graduate Program class.
Communication
- Listen actively, paraphrase for clarity, ask questions
- Use “I” language – speak for yourself
- State what you think, feel and want with tact
- Be transparent when appropriate
- Address conflict directly and compassionately
- Use inclusive language that honors differences
- In feedback: Be timely, be growth oriented, be specific
Awareness of Self, Others and Place
- Self-reflect
- Practice self-control – of language and actions
- Understand your strengths, limitations and needs
- Develop awareness of internal thoughts and feelings
- Strive to understand how you affect others, the environment, and your community
- Demonstrate and ask for respect
- Realize the power of role modeling
Integrity
- Be courageous – consciously challenge yourself
- Be honest – with yourself and others
- Own your mistakes and celebrate success
- Be present
- Practice self-acceptance
- Be kind
- Discover your own values and live accordingly
Judgment and Decision-Making
- Reflect on experiences to predict potential outcomes
- Use situationally appropriate decision-making models
- Think critically, question assumptions, challenge norms
- Offer feedback, welcome feedback
- Learn from mistakes
Systems Thinking
- Develop the ability to think in terms of relationships, connectedness and context
- Consider long and short-term consequences of actions
- Recognize the possibility of unintended consequences of any action
- Strive to recognize complex and interdependent relationships
- Develop the ability to look at an issue from many angles and perspectives
- Consider underlying mental models that contribute to patterns of behavior
Vision and Action
- Articulate goals, inspire shared vision and achieve group success
- Motivate others
- Create and facilitate learning experiences
- Help to create what you want to see
- Role model the way
- Be bold - be an agent of social change
Adaptability and Resiliency
- Practice personal sustainability
- Learn to endure and even enjoy hard work and challenge
- Control what you can, recognize what you can’t
- Turn challenges into opportunities to grow and learn
- Search for creative solutions to problems
- Work hard, play hard – laugh
- Stay focused in difficult circumstances and be aware of internal emotions






