It is my great pleasure to announce the launch of the new MLS leadership program LEAP: Leader Engagement and Acceleration Program.

We believe in our MLS staff and their potential.  We want to provide opportunities for those who are interested to grow and develop their leadership abilities for current and future leadership positions at all levels of the organization.    Author John Maxwell said, “The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.”  We want to be that organization. 

Applications [1] will be accepted through the intranet from Monday November 18 through Sunday December 15.  Notifications of acceptance status will be the week of December 16.   The program participants will meet two mornings each month from January through September.  Additional time will be required for participants to work together as a group on the project that they will identify. 

If you think you might be interested, begin by considering your individual career goals, talking with your supervisor, and considering the following:

The key aspects of this program will be:

• Tiered program to develop each participant with respect to their current level of leadership skills
• Learning opportunities such as guest speakers and a leadership assessment
• Mentor matching with an MLS leader to help coach the participant in achieving their leadership goals
• Group activities for participants to develop trust, engagement, and a network of fellow MLS leaders
• Opportunity to develop teamwork and showcase achievement through a group project
• Acceleration into future opportunities to serve on MLS teams and assist with projects that will continue to develop each participant after the graduation.

Participants will gain:

• Practical hands-on leadership experience 
• Awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system 
• Understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission 
• Support and mentorship 
• A role in developing the workplace environment and culture 

Applicants:

• must be regular, full-time employees to be eligible for admission to LEAP program. 
• must have received a minimum rating of “Meets Expectations” on each standard area on his/her most recent performance appraisal for the period prior to the beginning of the program. 
• will not be eligible if they have a formal disciplinary action taken within the 12 months prior to the time of application.
• must complete an application that will include the following:
  • List Previous/Current Leadership Experience(s)
  • Leadership Belief Statement
  • Reference from a peer as well as their supervisor  

Areas of leadership development are planned to include:

• Leadership vs. Management
  • Learning “your” style of leadership
  • Diversity
  • Team Building
  • Emotional Intelligence
• Communication
  • Active Listening
  • Difficult Conversations
  • Managing Conflict
• Networking and Engagement
  • Changing roles
  • Community
  • ODL
• Relationship Building
  • Boundaries
  • Customers
  • Government Officials
• Leading through Change
• Critical Thinking
  • Ethics
  • Risk Management
• Metropolitan Library System
  • Budgeting
  • Facilities
  • MLS Commission
• Legal aspects
  • Privacy
  • Open Records