LI Comes to a Close (But the Sharing Continues)

While the 2010 Delta Sigma Phi Leadership Institute has officially come to a close, the sharing hasn’t. We will continue to post content on this blog, including videos, photos, and pieces that reflect the content of the LI for everyone to see. Delta Sigma Phi builds better men, and in order to do so, we will continue to help our brothers learn the tools to become better leaders and lead change within an organization.

In that vain, we have two things to share today – a video from our third and final keynote speaker Allen Fore talking about his speech, and a link to an amazing piece that was read at the event by one of our alumni volunteers.

First, the video. Allen Fore discussed putting leadership into practice, and talked about a number of things that effective leaders do. In our conversation with Allen, he also discussed why he gives his time as a member of the Foundation’s Board, as well as how he puts leadership into practice through his work.

Second, LI facilitator, Art Richard, Tulane ’59, shared a blog post he had read called You’re Always Wearing Your Letters written by CAMPUPEAK, Inc. CEO, TJ Sullivan. The post, which was featured in the March issue of the Delta Sigma Philes e-newsletter as well, is a letter to a potential new member about the importance of accepting his bid. Take a read to be inspired about your experience in Delta Sigma Phi once again.

As we said, we’ll continue posting, so check back soon!

Keynote #2: Bob Bloom on Change Management

On Sunday, Bob Bloom, Hartwick ’71, who serves as the President and CEO of ColorTyme, Inc. spoke to the attendees of the Leadership Institute about change, specifically how to understand their tolerance for change. He administered a survey that attendees completed that studied their

Bloom’s discussion focused on how to create opportunities for those members who sit on the fence when it comes to change, and included many personal experiences from his successful career where he has managed a number of turnaround situations successfully. His message – there will be those adaptable to change, those who resist change, and the group who is sitting on the fence. Answering the question “What’s in it for me” for those people will help determine the success of the change desired.

See the video below for a quick overview of his talk and to hear more about his career:

One of the Great LI Moments – The Leadership Tap

At each Leadership Institute a part of the curriculum focuses on the fifth practice of effective leadership from Kouzes & Posner’s The Leadership Challenge – Encouraging the Heart.

During this session, attendees take part in what’s called the leadership tap. The leadership tap asks all participants to sit in a circle with their eyes closed while members of the group are asked questions such as “You have shown me how to Model the Way” (another practice in the Leadership Challenge… The people standing tap people in the group on the shoulder who have done what the statement says, thus allowing them to feel the difference they’ve made on members of the group.

Encouraging the Heart is usually one of the lowest ranked areas for men when completing the Leadership Practice Index, an index meant to determine people’s usual leadership styles. However, when put into such a simple piece like the Leadership Tap, the attendees of the Leadership Institute can see how easy it is to actually show brothers how to incorporate this practice within their own groups that they lead.

Content-Related: Creating a Movement and Change

Special thanks to fellow staffer PJ Schinella, GCSU ’06, for sharing this story that relates well to our discussion on Day 3 about Creating a Movement and Change.

Facilitators and attendees discussed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have  Dream” speech, and talked about how he was able to create a movement through not only his words, but also the way in which he spoke and created the vision that others were able to follow. While his vision wasn’t immediately recognized and acted upon, eventually, the change he had hoped for was initiated thanks to his perseverance.

A quote that was shared to close the evening – Change “It takes 5% of a population to create a movement. It takes 20% of a population to create an unstoppable force.”

What the Attendees Are Learning at the LI

To give an understanding of what the attendees of the Leadership Institute are learning, we thought we’d provide the basic framework from which the curriculum is based.

Based on The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, attendees are learning about five practices of effective leadership:

Three brothers achieved their goal to get to the top by utilizing the five practices!

Challenging the Process – Searching for opportunities and experimenting while taking risk…

Inspiring a Shared Vision – Envisioning the future and enlisting others…

Enabling Others to Act – fostering collaboration and strengthening others…

Modeling the Way – Setting the example and planning small wins…

Encouraging the Heart – Recognizing individual contribution and celebrating accomplishments

In addition, attendees are learning about how to create effective change, which as we all know is an important part of being a leader. On Day 3, the curriculum discussed the Change Curve which talked about Denial, Resistance, Exploration and Commitment. Our Keynote Bob Bloom discussed many ways in which he has mastered the change curve in his career as well.

The curriculum has been well received, and it’s been a great three days thus far. Today closes us out, and we’ll post again mid-day with some photos and hopefully a video of our second keynote speaker talking about his leadership philosophy.

Thanks for reading!

Day 2 & 3 Photos

Take a look at a few of the photos that were taken at the 2010 LI today, Day 3 of the event.

Check back on Monday to see a video of our second Keynote Speaker, Bob Bloom, Hartwick ’71, and perhaps some of the photos and videos from some of the attendees’ free time in Camp Tecumseh’s lake!

Day 3 Begins with Outdoor Events and Brothers Share their Experience!

Day 3 of the Leadership Institute started out with attendees participating in one of two outside exercises to build teamwork and leadership skills, and to put the lessons learned during the first two days into action. Brothers were split into four groups to complete the exercises, which took place on a high ropes course and in the Camp Tecumseh wilderness.

Kelly Strough, Idaho ’08, and Dylan Howser, Millikin ’09, foght the sound of the cicadas to explain how they accomplished working together to get to the top of the Giant’s Ladder, one of the outside exercises.

Attendee Casey Dwyer Reflects on Day 2

Casey Dwyer, an incoming junior at the Alpha Upsilon Chapter at Kansas State University, took a few moments at the end of the longest day of the Leadership Institute to discuss his key learning points from the day. He speaks about an important quote he heard from the keynote speaker, as well as his experiences at the institute in general.

Are you attending currently? If so, let us know your impressions in the comments!

More LI 2010 Photos…

Here are some additional photos from the Leadership Institute’s second full day:

Brothers at the LI take part in a number of team building exercises...

Creating and Inspiring a Shared Vision is an Important Aspect of the Leadership Institute Curriculum

Keynote Speaker Doug Gehrman signs a copy of his Leadership for Life book after his speech at the 2010 LI

Check back soon for more updates and photos!!

First Keynoter Talks About the LI

Doug Gehrman, Arizona State ’59, a retired Human Resources Executive and author of Leadership for Life – Your Guide to Becoming a Transformational Leader, spoke to attendees at the 2010 Leadership Institute earlier today.

Following his speech, Gehrman spoke with the Fraternity about his philosophy on leadership, his experience at the LI, and what he feels are the keys to effective leadership. See the video below for his thoughts: