A Model for a One-Year Leadership Development Component

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Oklahoma State University

College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

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A Model for a One-Year Leadership Development Component
for the
Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma

Ten pilot projects selected for the Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma are for a one-year time period. The emphasis for these projects is community leadership development.

Some Initiative projects had specific efforts in mind for their one-year leadership development project, while others asked the Initiative to provide a leadership development model that they could incorporate into their projects. The model described below was developed by the OCES Leadership Initiative Task Force in response to that request and offers a model that counties can use.

Convened and Managed Locally. This model is designed to be locally based rather than statewide. “Local” can be defined as neighborhood, community, multi-community, county, or multi-county/regional.

Duration. The community leadership development model can be conducted over 6-10 months (during the one-year pilot project of the Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma).

Coordinator. A person needs to be identified as coordinator for the local leadership program. Typically this person will be a county Extension Educator.

Local Steering Committee. Working with the Coordinator, the next step is the formation of a local steering committee of 5-10 persons. [Note: the steering committee can be the team pulled together for the Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma proposal]. For information on the local Steering Committee’s recruitment, responsibilities, formation, meetings, etc., please see the section in the web site on the “Coordinator and Steering Committee”. The Coordinator is part of the Steering Committee, and may serve as the chair.

Format. The model uses the following format:
     An opening retreat (full day)
     A planning and goal setting retreat (6 – 8 hours); may include a graduation
     Intervening sessions between retreats

Opening Retreat – (full day – approximately 8 hours). The theme is leadership skills and team building . Each participant is to receive a notebook prepared in the county in whatever format the county prefers. Original copies of handouts will be sent to the counties for duplication and assembly into the notebook, based on the topics chosen by the Steering Committee .Choose from the following topics:

Length	Topic	Contact Persons ( All are OCES employess unless and otherwise noted)
3 hours	Understanding self and others (uses the True Colors personality inventory)	Karla Knoepfli (state 4-H office) Susan Meitl (Canadian Co.) * Elaine Dodd (Leadership Oklahoma, 405.232.0001) *
3 hours	Understanding Leadership – topics: definition of leadership; characteristics of leaders; servant leadership; transformational leadership; situational leadership; practices of leadership; 10 commitments to leadership	Sue Williams Renée Daugherty Elaine Dodd (Leadership Oklahoma, 405.232.0001) ***
Varies	Communication and listening skills	Mike Woods
2 – 3 hours	Team building / group dynamics*	Sue Williams
Varies	Managing change*	Larry Sanders
3 hours	Managing Challenging People and Situations*	Sue Williams Renée Daugherty
2 – 3 hours	Managing Controversial Public Issues: Solve a Problem or Create a Riot*	Sue Williams Renée Daugherty
Varies	Socio-economic trend analysis	Mike Woods, Jack Frye Stan Ralstin
1 – 2 hours	Asset inventory and needs assessment	Mike Woods, Jack Frye Stan Ralstin

* Topics are appropriate for either opening retreat or intervening sessions.
*** Travel expenses should be offered at the time of invitation. If the person is not with OCES, an honorarium should be offered and should be negotiated directly with the invited presenter.

Intervening sessions (8 – 10 sessions, each about 3 hours in length, 2-4 weeks apart). The theme is local issues and concerns. Below are some possible topics for intervening sessions, but local Steering Committees may want to develop sessions on their own that are specific to an issue unique to the community.

Length	Topic	Contact Persons ( All are OCES employess unless and otherwise noted)
30 minutes	The land-grant system	To be identified
3 hours	Citizen engagement in public decision making through public deliberative forums (a forum on any of 30 topics, such as: land use, choosing a future for the community, violent kids, terrorism, access to justice . . .)	Renée Daugherty Sue Williams
2.5 days	Oklahoma Public Policy Institute (learning to convene, moderate and record public deliberative forums)	Renée Daugherty Sue Williams
2 hours	* Managing controversial public issues: Solve a problem or create a riot	Renée Daugherty Sue Williams
3 hours	Land-use planning and managed growth (experienced in a deliberative forum)	Claude Bess Renée Daugherty Sue Williams
2 – 3 hours	**Public policy formation	Larry Sanders, Sue Williams
3 hours	*Managing Challenging People and Situations	Sue Williams Renée Daugherty
2 hours	Mediation: Problem solving for communities	Sue Williams Sue Darst Tate (Alternative Dispute Resolution System, OKC, 405.522.7876) * Vicki Corbin (Early Settlement, 800.464.5677; Stillwater) *
1 hour	Ethical leadership	Sue Williams
1.5 hours	Personal power tools	Renée Daugherty
1 hour	Kings and kingmakers; power clusters	Sue Williams, Larry Sanders
2 – 3 hours	*Team building / group dynamics	Sue Williams
3 hours	Public speaking	Renée Daugherty
1 – 3 hours	Effective use of volunteers	Karla Knoepfli
1 – 3 hours	Effective use of committees	Karla Knoepfli
1 – 3 hours	Using parliamentary procedure to your advantage	Karla Knoepfli
Up to 6 hours	Numerous topics (examples below) Business etiquette Etiquette for young people How to be interviewed How to do a bio and résume How to appeal for money Public speaking Meeting agendas Robert’s Rules of Order Working with boards How to manage an event (scripting, etc.)	Richard Ratcliffe (businessman in Weatherford and OKC; cell 580.819.0251) ***

         *       Topics are appropriate for either opening retreat or intervening sessions.
**      Topics are appropriate for either intervening sessions or planning/goal setting retreat.
**      Travel should be offered at the time of invitation. If the person is not with OCES, honorarium should be offered and should be negotiated directly with the invited presenter.

Intervening Sessions, cont’d

Length	Topic	Contact Persons ( All are OCES employess unless and otherwise noted)
Varies	Diversity and inclusion	Extension specialists can help projects identify a speaker
Varies	Working with the media	To be identified
Varies	*Communication and listening skills	Mike Woods
Varies	Managing change	Larry Sanders
3 - 4 hours	Economic diversification	Mike Woods
3 – 4 hours	Understanding your local economy	Mike Woods
Varies	Understanding county government	Notie Lansford, Jack Frye, Stan Ralstin
Varies	Duties and responsibilities of councils, commissions, and boards	Notie Lansford, Don Sporleder
Varies	Local government finance and taxation	Notie Lansford, Jack Frye, Stan Ralstin
Varies	Recreation programs and facilities	Mike Woods
Varies	Health care services	Gerald Doeksen
Varies	Solid waste management	Gerald Doeksen
1 – 3 hours	Tourism for economic development	Jack Frye; Stan Ralstin
Varies	Time management	To be identified
2 – 3 hours	**Goal setting and building a strategy	Mike Woods, Jack Frye, Stan Ralstin
3 – 4 hours	Quality service and hospitality to give your community the competitive edge (includes PRIDE program)	Mike Woods, Jack Frye, Stan Ralstin
3 – 4 hours	Lazy Fair: A community development case study and workshop	Mike Woods
	Formation of bylaws for community organizations	Specialists can help projects identify a speaker
3 hours	Business retention and expansion	Mike Woods, Jack Frye Stan Ralstin
2 – 3 hours	Small business management and marketing	Glenn Muske
2 – 3 hours	Youth workforce development / youth entrepreneurship	Glenn Muske
Varies	Community appearance and landscape design: Design Works	Jack Frye, Stan Ralstin
Varies	Value-added food and agricultural products	Mike Woods
Varies	What is entrepreneurship: What it is and how to do it	Mike Woods, Glenn Muske
Varies	Web site development	Glenn Muske
Varies	E-commerce	Suzette Barta, Glenn Muske
Varies	Visual merchandizing	Glenn Muske, Mike Woods

         *       Topics are appropriate for either opening retreat or intervening sessions.
**      Topics are appropriate for either intervening sessions or planning/goal setting retreat.
***     Travel should be offered at the time of invitation. If the person is not with OCES, honorarium should be offered and should be negotiated directly with the invited presenter.

Planning and Goal Setting Retreat – conducted by specialist(s) (6-8 hours). The theme is action planning for community development. Possible topics:

Length	Topic	Contact Persons ( All are OCES employess unless and otherwise noted)
Varies	Group decision-making skills	Mike Woods
2 – 3 hours	Public policy formation	Larry Sanders, Sue Williams
3 – 4 hours	Strategic planning, goal setting and building a strategy	Mike Woods, Stan Ralstin, Jack Frye

Optional Elements. Steering Committees may want to consider the following optional events and activities as part of the leadership program experience:

Visit to the Capitol

Community visits. Also known as “community swaps”, the community visit can be similar to a “secret shopper” experience.

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