Participants strengthen emotional intelligence, executive presence, change leadership, and conflict management strategies. Senior leaders interested in gaining practical tools to thrive during times of uncertainty and change will benefit most from the curriculum.
The course helps participants be better equipped to lead change through a deeper understanding of leadership and team building skills and practices. The curriculum covers topics such as leading in turbulent times, emotional intelligence and leadership roles, leadership presence, situational leadership, change dynamics and tools, team development and trust, and appreciative inquiry. This course will address the theoretical and practical leadership aspects essential for survival in today's changing environment. Examine how the leader's attitude, values, and beliefs influence organizational performance. Analyze your critical thinking/decision-making processes and apply strategies to improve them. Learn to be resilient, overcome setbacks, and avoid career derailment in the rapidly changing, high-pressure environment of executive leadership.
Target Audience
Individuals at the GS 13-15 level, participants in agency Candidate Development Programs, and SES members seeking additional or refresher training.
This course has a prerequisite
Ideal for those who have been in a leadership position for five years or more.
What You'll Learn at a Glance
- Explain the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and competencies.
- Identify accomplishments that describe your leadership efforts in achieving goals or overcoming challenges.
- Describe the OPM Challenge, Context, Action, Results (CCAR) Model, and apply the model in outlining accomplishments.
- Match your CCAR outline to an ECQ through identified core competencies.
- Expand the CCAR outline into a story that fully illustrates your ECQ.
- Discuss leadership skills you demonstrate through accomplishments.
- Outline an accomplishment using the CCAR model and match it to an ECQ through the underlying core competencies.
- Write your narrative story based on the CCAR outline, and in telling your story, convey how the competencies that underlie the ECQ were applied.
Course Syllabus
Module 1: Climate Setting / Course Overview
- Introduce course objectives and participant expectations
- Establish a collaborative learning environment
- Begin discussion of key leadership concepts
Module 2: Leading in Turbulent Times
- Define "executive survival" and understand its leadership relevance
- Explore the Executive Survival Framework: Self, Others, Environment
- Identify key survival characteristics and political competence behaviors
- Complete political skill assessments and reflection exercises
Module 3: Emotional Intelligence
- Apply Daniel Goleman’s EI framework and Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT)
- Practice emotional self-regulation and social awareness through case studies
- Use emotional intelligence in team conversations and performance discussions
Module 4: Executive Presence
- Define and self-assess executive and leadership presence
- Explore key presence behaviors using the PRES model
- Practice authentic expression and behavioral adjustments to improve presence
Module 5: Change Dynamics
- Understand the executive’s role in organizational change initiatives
- Apply concepts from Bridges’ Transition Model and Kotter’s 8-Step Process
- Identify leadership pitfalls and strategies for navigating transitions
Module 6: Situational Leadership
- Use Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership model to assess team needs
- Identify personal leadership style through assessments and exercises
- Practice adapting leadership approaches in group decision-making activities
Module 7: Conflict Management
- Explore personal conflict management style through self-assessments
- Understand emotional and interpersonal dynamics during conflict
- Apply learned techniques through structured case studies and debriefs
