The LeaderShape® Institute is an interactive, energizing and unique experience that builds leadership skills no other program can match. And since 1986, over 30,000 participants have graduated from our program from all over the world. But be prepared! It is six days of non-stop self-discovery and learning from practical experiences that build your leadership concepts and abilities. It's go, go, go 12 hours a day... And you'll love it!
The Institute will take place in a fraternity/sorority house environment with plenty of activities. You will also have an opportunity to meet with high level leaders that impact the fraternal movement from various institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations .
The Learning Community and Family Clusters
You’ll begin to explore what leadership means and discuss its core components. You’ll meet the other participants in the “Learning Community,” and you’ll also join 10-12 other young adults in a group called your “Family Cluster.” As your primary reference group, the Family Cluster will offer you feedback, support, and help you develop and refine your vision for the future.
Daily Highlights
DAY 1: “Building Community”
You’ll begin to explore what leadership means and discuss its core components. You’ll meet the other participants in the “Learning Community,” and you’ll also join 8-12 other young adults in a group called the “Family Cluster.” As your primary reference group, the Family Cluster will offer you feedback, support, and help you develop and refine your vision for the future.
DAY 2: “The Value of One, The Power of All”
You’ll begin the second day in an experiential team-building activity. By working your way through a series of initiatives and discussions, you’ll discover how relationships, trust, and problem solving can be enhanced in a supportive group setting.
Next you’ll add another dimension to your self-awareness by completing a behavioral style inventory. From that information, you’ll have an opportunity to set several personal goals for the week and share those with members of your Family Cluster. You’ll also participate in exercises which explore the concept of “inclusive leadership” and how to create communities which value respect, openness, and diverse opinions.
DAY 3: “Challenging What Is, Looking to What Could Be”
Creating a powerful vision is one of the most important aspects of leadership! During this exciting day, you’ll begin work developing your own vision for the future which defines a bold change for your community, group, cause, or organization back home.
The evening will conclude with a Guest Leader Forum and Reception. This is your opportunity to interact with significant leaders in business, education, and many different professions. Using an informal question-and-answer format, these individuals will share their insights and experiences related to the challenges of “leading with integrity.”
DAY 4: “Bringing Vision to Reality”
A vision is only a dream unless it results in action. Three key requirements will be discussed (relationships, stretch goals, and action steps) which move a vision forward. In addition, the issue of power will be explored in a dynamic group simulation exercise.
DAY 5: “Living and Leading with Integrity”
The concept of “integrity” is a challenging one, but central to LeaderShape’s philosophy of lifelong leadership development. You will discuss how core ethical values, thoughtful decisions, and courage all play critical roles in sustaining integrity and fostering trust and respect. During the afternoon, you’ll have open time to discuss “burning issues” before you prepare for a creative Family Cluster LeaderShape Revue in the evening.
DAY 6: “Staying in Action”
On this final day, you’ll prepare to return home and face your responsibilities as a LeaderShape graduate who practices the discipline of “leading with integrity.” You’ll learn what it means to be a part of the nationwide LeaderShape community - a network of mutual encouragement and support. A Learning Community commencement ceremony concludes the week.
© LeaderShape, Inc.
What Others are Saying
A description of The LeaderShape Institute may be best described in Komives et. al (2011) The Handbook for Student Leadership Development (2nd ed.) that states:
“Examples of evidence-based leadership programming abound. The LeaderShape Institute is a phenomenal example of an individual leadership experience that successfully embeds multiple high-impact learning strategies to enhance student learning. LeaderShape is a six-day intensive retreat experience focused on building college students’ leadership capacities. The curriculum integrates theoretical leadership content consistent with contemporary philosophies with a delivery that taps into many of the positive influencesidentified in the literature. Specifically, the program provides extensive opportunities for groupinteraction that stimulate critical self-reflection. Groups also build trust and engage in experiential learning designed to enhance students’ leadership efficacy as well as capacity. The content incorporates sociocultural conversations both across the curriculum as well as in a focused section that allows participants to delve deeply into issues related to power, privilege, and oppression. Mentoring also plays a key role, with participants interacting with adult facilitators and building relationships that continue well beyond the boundaries of the six-day experience” (p. 79).
Komives, S. R., Dugan, J. P., Owen, J. E., Slack, C., Wagner, W., & Associates (Eds.). (2011). The handbook for student leadership development (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass