I did a thing... I chose to L.E.A.D.

So I did a thing... In order to attend the Nevada Recreation and Parks Society (NRPS) Conference, I said I would sign up for the L.E.A.D. Institute program.

The LEAD Institute by the Nevada Recreation & Park Society is an annual leadership development initiative catering to professionals at various career stages. Requiring two years of commitment, the program is designed to improve individual leadership skills through networking with likeminded professionals in the field of Parks and Recreation, with a focused emphasis on understanding diverse leadership styles, philosophies, and skill sets.

The first year, I will be a mentee; I will focus on my own professional growth by attending webinars, networking events, and workshops. The second year, I will be a mentor, enhancing my mentee's individual organizational leadership skills, specifically addressing leadership styles, philosophies, and competencies. If selected, the third year, I could be appointed to the Mentor Advisory Committee.

As a mentee, I have about 33 different assignments to complete throughout the year. Then, we will package all those experiences into one final project. Using the L.E.A.D. matrix, there are some assignments that we must do and some assignments that are elective or optional so we do have some autonomy about how we approach the program. I will use this blog to document my progress and showcase what I discover along the way.

My first step was to get organized. I created a binder and an Excel sheet that I have shared in TEAMS with my mentor and supervisors. I will use these documents to plan opportunities of compliance and track my accomplishments. I'm so grateful to have the support of my mentors as this program is a true commitment... and one that will pay off in the long run. I already feel it has already taught me how to lead with intention.

Leading with intention offers numerous benefits not only for myself, but for my organizations. I will have improved focus for productivity and better communication up and down the chain for improved trust among colleagues and the public. My goal for this program is to learn more about the field of parks and recreation (not just about the unit I work in, which is Special Events) while becoming the type of leader that I would want to follow. I hope to create a shared sense of purpose, align my actions with my values, and encourage my teams to achieve their full potential. Stick around while I document each assignment I complete for the L.E.A.D. Institute and lessons learned!

So incredibly lucky to be learning from one of the best! Priscilla Scott, former President of the NRPS and current L.E.A.D. Institute Board Member, hosts the introductory meeting for the program. As a group, we discussed the things that make a good - and a bad - leader ... so we understand the challenges and pitfalls of being in a supervisory position.