Core Leadership Trainings

Every leader needs basic skills such as healthy communication, systems thinking, spiritual grounding and an understanding of the dynamics of conflict. Each of these trainings go deeper and deeper to help develop these skills.

Effective Leadership Development teams focus on recruiting and relationship building. By using our suite of three leadership development trainings, you can spend less time on content and more on connection.

Training materials are divided into modules, available “on demand” as pre-recorded presentations with additional reading materials, discussion questions and other resources.

The LeaderLab design team monitors discussion sections in these trainings.

Note: Each training has a $30 fee.

Time Commitment

Centered Leadership 1 and 2 take about 16-20 hours each. Together, they are equivalent to a week-long leadership school.

Congregations can use these trainings in a 16-week semester format (Fall and Spring) so that a module is “due” every other week. Leadership Development Teams can then offer live session after each module to discuss the provided questions and/or do an exercise or case study.

Centered Leadership Part 1: Beloved Community

The first in our suite of Leadership Development Trainings, Centered Leadership Part 1: Beloved Community is designed for people considering leadership, who are beginning to lead or who have leadership experience in contexts other than Unitarian Universalist faith communities.

We will cover:

  • how covenant is the center of UU faith
  • how our congregational polity works
  • how we can create strong, healthy communities
  • a deeper understanding of being a committed member of our congregations and the wider UUA
  • how being a member of a congregation is a “lab” for building Beloved Community

Take the Centered Leadership 1 Training (separate login required)

Centered Leadership Part 2: Leading in Systems

The second in our suite of Leadership Development Trainings, Centered Leadership Part 2: Leading in Systems is designed for people who are brand-new to leadership or have been a leader for decades. This training is ideal for your leadership team to develop a common language and enable you to lead toward health and vitality.

We will explore:

  • dynamics of the interconnection of human relationships in congregations
  • how congregations can develop ways of developing the collective creative and emotional intelligence of the members as a system
  • how your own sense of purpose and your centered presence can have a positive impact
  • how a shared sense of purpose and group emotional intelligence can unleash creative synergy
  • how to reflect on your own spiritual center
  • how to develop some intercultural agility.

Take the Centered Leadership 2 Training (separate login required)

Adaptive Leadership

The third in our suite of Leadership Development Trainings, Adaptive Leadership is designed for experienced lay leaders and professional staff who are looking to help their congregations face challenges without easy answers.

The “Adaptive Leadership” framework, pioneered by Harvard’s Dr. Ronald Heifetz, is more than a toolbox of tips. It will change the way you think about your own leadership and will equip you to lead through any change, welcome or unwelcome.

Course materials are divided into modules, available “on demand” as pre-recorded presentations with additional reading materials, discussion questions and other resources.

For the best results, take this course with several other congregational leaders as a team. You will use the concepts and strategies taught in the course to address a real case study from your own congregation with the instructor.

Take the Adaptive Leadership Training (separate login required)