During the Lab, we will explore the some of the Leadership Competencies we think are most valuable in the 21st century world of work, including: 

• Hosting space/Convening--Moving from hero leadership to hosting leadership and learning how to hold space for important conversations and real change to happen. This includes using creative facilitation techniques and using the arts for exploration, discussion and expression. 

• Asking Powerful Questions--Learning how to develop and use more powerful questions--game-changing questions, questions that challenge our assumptions and questions that create possibility and energy for change. 

• Becoming a Self-Directed, Agile Learner--Our lives as leaders require us to take our personal and professional learning into our own hands. We will learn how to learn and how to grow and nurture our own curiosity and possibilities. 

• Connecting--We live and work in a connected world. Knowledge, trust, credibility and purpose are core elements of networked ways of working and we must learn how to get work done in collaborative, networked spaces. 

• Future-Mindedness--How do we cultivate our awareness of the future--of the impact of various trends, patterns, etc.? Our ability to consider the future in today's decisions and actions is critical. We will learn the skills of horizon scanning, strategic foresight and looking for future possibilities in today's problems. 

• Co-Creating with the people we are trying to help--How do we think  and act like designers? How do we use empathy, ideation, prototyping, testing and feedback to create the programs, products and services that work best for the people we work with? These are critical skills we will develop in the Lab.

• Transparency and "Working Out Loud"-- Our ability to build knowledge, trust and credibility depends in part on our ability to "work out loud"--to share not only the products, but the process of our work. We will learn how to use purposeful discovery and public reflection on our works in progress to grow as leaders. 

• Media Literacies--New technologies are creating the need for new literacies. How do we use images, video and words to tell a story? How do we use social media to engage and build movements for change? These are skills we will grow through participation in the Lab.

• Working in-person and virtually--Ideas, information, and opportunities can come from anywhere. We will learn how to work together effectively in-person AND online. We are citizens of both physical and digital space and must learn how to be leaders in both. 

As we go through the Lab process, we will also discover together what other competencies may be necessary for our growth as leaders. Part of what it means to lead is to define for ourselves how we can best grow our own possibilities. Discovering where we need to grow is a major requirement for all of us. 

The Logistics

We will be meeting both in-person and online throughout the Lab. For our in-person sessions, we will be meeting at:

Innovative Solutions Collective

3026 E Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19134

All in-person sessions will include a light meal/refreshments. 

For our online sessions, we will be using the Zoom.us, a video-conferencing platform that works with your laptop/desktop, tablet or smartphone. We will provide you with more information on using Zoom at our Kick-Off Meeting. 

As part of the Lab, you will also have various assignments you are working on that we will share with you using the Ruzuku E-learning platform. We will share additional information with you on how to access and use Ruzuku during our Kick-Off session. 

Session Schedule 

January 30, 2016--In Person Lab Kick-off Session--10 a.m.--2:30 p.m. 

February 4, 2016--In-Person Meeting (6-8 p.m.)

February 18, 2016--Online Meeting (7-8 p.m.)

March 3, 2016--In-Person Meeting (6-8 p.m.)

March 17, 2016--Online Meeting (7-8 p.m.)

March 31 2016--In-person Meeting (6-8 p.m.)

April 14, 2016--Online Meeting (7-8 p.m.)

April 30, 2016--In-Person Closing Session--10 a.m.--2:30 p.m.