The Leading Institute offers free peer coaching sessions to planning, urban design, and civil engineering organizations

Many people don't realize how much value Leading from the Middle can bring to themselves, their organization and their professional practice.  The Leading Institute wants to change that.  One of the ways is to offer a free one-hour peer coaching session to any planning, urban design, landscape architecture or civil engineering organization within two hours of travel time from Newark, NJ. 

Peer coaching is one of the more popular parts of the Leading from the Middle program.  At least one member of the group talks about a challenging work problem.  Guided by an expert moderator, other members of the group provide insights and advice.  Peer coaching is a rigorous analytical process that helps participants explore their assumptions, learn strategic listening and coaching skills, manage conflict, and build their capacity to develop high-performing teams.  These are only a fraction of the skills that Leading from the Middle Fellows learn in the full program.


Leading from the Middle is an innovative program that helps high-potential professionals become effective leaders in their field.  Designed for land use and urban affairs professionals, it is the only program of its kind that combines workshops, peer coaching and one-to-one performance coaching. The program is both challenging and practical.  Classes are small and diverse, so Fellows can get every opportunity to learn with and from their classmates.

The next program will be at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from September to December 2010.  The program costs $1,500, but a limited number of scholarships of up to $1,250 are available.

Learn more about Leading from the Middle or contact TLI Director Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP by email or at 732-932-3822, x711.

The free peer coaching session is available to any organization or group in the planning, civil engineering, architecture or public affairs field with at least six participants. 

Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP will be the lead facilitator for all of the free sessions.  Leo is a seasoned community and economic development planner with expertise in organizational development, leadership, strategic communications and cultural competency.  Leo has created or co-founded a number of initiatives in the planning field, including Arts Build Communities, Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program, Latinos and Planning, and Planners for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity.