Case Study: Long-term Leadership Development Institutes

Description

In 1997, one region of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services engaged Deborah Reidy to design a long-term leadership development program for them. From 1996 to 2015, 256 people graduated from the 8-month program. In 2015 and 2016, she designed and delivered an 8-day advanced leadership program entitled "Values in Action" for the incoming senior leadership team in that region.

Methods

Design of two custom, long-term leadership programs following in-depth assessment of the leadership qualities needed to succeed in the DDS Northeast Region System.

Development of numerous one- or two-day workshops addressing such content as Leadership Theory, Systems Thinking, Leading through Conflict, Leading in a Multicultural World, Best Practices in the Disabilities Field, Communication, Change and other topics tailored to the audience. 

Delivery, over 19 years, of these workshops by Deborah Reidy, lead facilitator, in partnership with the region’s Director of Training. 

Impact

• More than 250 graduates of the programs
• Consistently positive feedback
• Creation and maintenance of a leadership development pipeline in the region (many graduates promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, then sent subordinates in subsequent years)
• Core group of like-minded colleagues who shared the same experience and were exposed to a common set of tools and skills