Leading from the Middle can help you become a better leader -- and a better placebuilder

The Leading Institute's Leading from the Middle program, which starts in late January is designed to help you learn better ways to manage conflict and be more persuasive.  You can also learn a number of skills that will help you in making places stronger and more sustainable.  These include:

*Values-based planning -- a model that helps you make decisions even when you have too little information, and helps you adapt better to unforeseen conditions.
*Cost-effective evaluation -- an approach that gets you to focus on the most important measures of success in your work.
*Cultural competency -- a critical skill set for anyone working in a community or organization that is getting more diverse.
*Team and alliance building --  An important skill set for sustainability.  Behind every successful plan is a group of leaders who are committed to making it happen.

The most successful placebuilders are not just technicians.  They are transformative leaders who can shape how community stakeholders think about places and persuade them to act on their new beliefs.

Leading from the Middle starts January 28, 2011 in New Brunswick, NJ.  Some seats and scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Leonardo Vazquez, The Leading Institute Director, at vazquezl@rutgers.edu or 732-932-3822, x711

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Questions about BOCEP or Leading from the Middle? Learn more at a free info session

We are hosting a free online information session on upcoming courses and initiatives on September 7, from 2 to 3 pm eastern.  You can learn more or ask questions or about:
*Bloustein Professional Certificates
*Upcoming Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program Deep Learning courses
*Upcoming Leading from the Middle programs
*Leadership coaching
*Upcoming Learning Labs
*Arts Build Communities initiatives and our work in places such as Trenton and Essex County, New Jersey
*The Leading Institute's technical assistance work in places such as Garfield and Linden, New Jersey


PDI and TLI Director Leonardo Vazquez will host the meeting and take your questions and comments.  If you have a webcam or computer microphone, you can speak your questions.  Otherwise, you can type in your questions or comments.  Or just listen in.


Register for the information session

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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.

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