Leadership important during economic downturn - San Francisco Business Times:

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“High-quality leaders are what we need most to get throughu thesedifficult times,” said JoAnne Brandes, one of the prograj leaders and creators of the recently launched at Brandes is a retired executivse from The center’s other program leader is Debrza Lake, who also formerly workecd for the Johnson family The center was introduced to the community at a breakfast at Carrolkl in June. Some programs have already been piloted, and the centerf is seeking participants fora 60-hour Leadershilp in Action comprehensive program. Brandes points to lack of leadershil as one of the causes of the currentteconomic recession.
“I think part of it’s been created by not havinhg strong enough leadership all overthe place,” she said. Leadersw have looked to the short term rather than long andleadership hasn’t been as ethical as it shouls be, she said. “I think that almost anybodhy can lead when timesare great,” she But during tough economic it becomes clear that “we need people who can be inspirationa and motivational, who can look to the longerf term, who can drive innovation, who can get the most out of she said. The center seeks to provide the comprehensive types of leadership programs that companiews might have only found out of state and at ahighe cost, Brandes said.
The programs will be different because they can be customizeed to meet the needs ofindividuaol businesses. Another important element is ongoing coachinfg that will be included in the programs and continuingy networksof leaders, she The classes will be taught by highly experiencerd businesspeople, Brandes said. “The people who are runnint this not only understand organizationaldevelopmentt tools, but they’ve lived it and they’ve breathedr it,” she said. The center’s capstoned program will be the 60-hour Leadership in Action The center is recruiting its firstg class of 20 to 25 participants for the sessiom that beginsin August.
It’w designed for mid- to senior-leveo managers and will includer intensive personalized training with experienced executivesand coaches, accordingh to a program description. Participants will meet everhy Monday for six or seven weekas with either their executive coach orlearninh circle. The program includes intensiveself assessments, including feedbackj from co-workers in addition to lectures, case studies and smalll groups. Participants will then become part of a network that will be broughr backfor programs, and the coachinfg will continue. The cost is Brandes said.
Other shorter programs include effective communications and conflict personal development and career planning and essentials of Feeswill vary, but would typically be about $300 to $500 for a three-daty program, depending on materials, Brandes The center hopes to offert scholarships for leaders of Debra Crawford, a leadership and executive coach and ownerr of LLC in Brookfield, observed some of the center’s first sessions earlier this summer. Executive coaching is one of the program’sx unique dimensions, she said. She also like the center’s focus on ethics-based leadership.
Many governmeny and business leaders have moved away from anethicakl core, she said, and that makew the center’s programs timely. She believez that in the future people will be more concerner about how businesses attain their resultes rather than just the results Crawford hopes to be one of the executive coachesx the center uses in its programs and said she also will recommenddthe center’s programs to corporate clients. Bill Mitchell, executivew director of the , also believed the center’s timing is good.
In remarka he made at the introductory breakfast, Mitchell said availabilityu of strong talent in the area will be a key factot in business retention and recruitmentf as companies come out ofthe recession. Partnerships between the business community and educational institutions like Carroll are an important part of developin g thattalent pool, Mitchell said.