If You Want To Turn Vision Into Action, Being Smart Is Not Enough

The Leading Institute

As planning and community development professionals, we were trained to think that strong analysis and a well-presented argument were all we needed to convince and persuade. But being smart is not enough – it takes leadership skills to turn vision into action.

The Leading Institute's Leading from the Middle program can help you become more effective, efficient and productive. You will learn ethical ways to persuade clients, colleagues and supervisors; build and sustain collaborations; manage conflict; and balance planning, action and evaluation.

Leading from the Middle is unique, effective and affordable.
Designed by and for mid-career and mid-level professionals in planning and community development, the program adapts successful leadership and management techniques to the unique challenges in our fields. The program combines six training sessions with three months of personal executive coaching. Graduates said the program helped them in many ways; Fellows said they are now better able to promote their agendas, have become more effective at working with conflict, and have learned how to become the kind of leaders who strengthen their organizations and communities. Graduates – who range from project managers in their mid-20s to vice presidents in their mid-50s – said that almost half of what they know about leadership today they learned in Leading from the Middle.

Graduates also join a growing network of professionals from the public, private and nonprofit sectors throughout New York and New Jersey.

The program runs from late March to early December. Classes are offered in New York City or New Jersey.

Leading from the Middle provides sliding scale fees of $250 to $1,250, depending on the size of the applicant's organization. Scholarships are available, and anyone who applies by March 1 gets a 10% discount. Planetizen members receive a 10% discount if they apply by March 15. (Refer to Planetizen in the application to receive the discount.) To learn more, or to register, go to http://www.theleadinginstitute.org

The Leading Institute Leading from the Middle program is affiliated with the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University.

Questions? Comments? Contact TLI Director Leo Vazquez at [email protected] or 732-932-3822, x711