New blended learning courses help you apply what you learn. Dave Ulrich, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, tells a story about a group of turkeys that go to flying school. They study and practice day in and day out. They learn to fly forward and backward, up and down, in wind storms and rain. One day, all the turkeys graduate from flight school and receive their diplomas. Then they walk home. The moral of the story? No one should "walk home" after achieving their goals. Application is key. With this in mind, CUES' new blended learning offerings include a class in how to apply what has been learned. But, keeping to the modes of transportation theme, let me back up the train. Blended learning? What's that? And what blended learning courses is CUES offering? Blended learning seeks to maximize educational value, while minimizing travel and time away from work. CUES' innovative format features online learning led by Cornell's Johnson Graduate School faculty; personal coaching; individual or small-group work focused on establishing priorities; and, as I've mentioned, a focus on creating an action plan that facilitates implementation of new ideas within the credit union. CUES is offering two blended learning courses this fall.
The first is "Leadership Brand and Shadow." A leader’s “brand” is how they are perceived by peers and other staffers; in addition, every leader’s behavior casts a “shadow” on the rest of the organization. This course will help participants understand what their leadership brand says about them, and how it will help them meet (or miss) their career objectives. The program will consider how leadership brand can be revised to better position attendees to lead their organizations. It will also help identify what leadership shadows affect them.
The second course, "Women Who Lead," will help students strengthen their overall leadership capabilities. Drawing on cutting-edge research, they'll discover what’s known about the obstacles women find when reaching for their highest professional potential. Participants will learn concrete tactics for building more effective professional networks, identifying helpful sponsors, and negotiating for resources. If you sign up, you won't walk home like the turkeys. You'll take flight.
Christopher Stevenson is CUES' VP/professional development and innovation. Read more about leadership brand and shadow in "Three Ways to Keep Your Leadership Brand Current" by Chuck Fagan, CUES' president/CEO.
