6 UNBC Life - l LEAD: New program at UNBC Maryna Dakhno Team Member tudent Life coordinator, Lisa Scheck, decided that UNBC was in need of a high quality leadership program. According to Lisa, the best fitting program for our student body would increase their engagement with UNBC campus, and offer valuable leadership training at the same time--important skills for students to develop early on because it sets them up for success in life. By building these skills, students who participate in the leadership program are modelling the way towards their future careers. “Modelling the way” is setting up a strong foundation for your vision or project, and is also the first one of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, according to James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Kouzes and Posner have been studying and researching leadership for over thirty years now. According to them, leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations. Kouzes and Posner created an award winning and bestselling book called The Leadership Challenge, which became the focus of UNBC’s new leadership program. By the end of June 2014, LEAD was born. LEAD is a new leadership development program available through Student Life at UNBC. Its structure is composed of skill building workshops and discussion sessions, which explore the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. According to The Leadership Challenge, the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership are: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. During discussion sessions, students explore components of each practice which leaders can employ to make amazing things happen. So far the sessions have been led by Scheck and her assistant, but they are hopeful for students to take the initiative to prepare and lead future discussions. Cooperation and teamwork skills bloom when individuals with different values can teach each other as well as share their knowledge and experiences with each other. Many students who joined LEAD are seeking to gain a confidence boost in their leadership skills. Scheck informed me that the ultimate goal of LEAD is to get students confident enough in leadership to take it to the next level, and get involved with leadership positions on campus, such as student government, clubs, or other community opportunities. The program increases employment opportunities on campus and in the community for the involved students by connecting them with key individuals and building skills. Having strong connections with influential people is always handy when trying to successfully bring a project to life. If current leadership students are willing to stick with LEAD, this program could become a multi-year opportunity with its own conferences. It has a ton of room to grow and expand, and many projects to take on. Students are required to put their newly built skills to practice by completing a capstone project that promotes positive change on campus. The project may range from social issues, health and wellness initiatives, academic supports, transition support for new students, and many others. Recently, LEAD had to determine the values which they will uphold no matter what. It is essential for leaders to know their vision and what they stand for before they can inspire others to act. Respect, empowerment, integrity, trust, perseverance, challenge, friendship, thankfulness, environmentalism, knowledge, and self-reliance are the values LEAD decided to stand by. If you are a prospective leader, LEAD is the ultimate first step offered by UNBC towards a leadership role in your life.