Emerging Leaders’ Program Development Handbook

Creating a Program for Developing and Supporting

Emerging Public Health Leaders

Key Features

  What Are Key Features of an Emerging Leaders’ Network?

Key Features of an ELN

Who is eligible to participate?

How is an ELN different from other leadership institutes?

What are the goals for participants?

What skills do participants learn?

Minnesota's ELN

Creating an ELN

ELN Resources

“We want the energy and commitment of the emerging leaders to light a fire in the public health system in Minnesota, to encourage change that spreads like wildfire. We will do everything within our power to encourage current leaders and supervisors to fan the flame for these leaders.” -
—Trish Todd, Emerging Leaders’ Network Program Coordinator

An Emerging Leaders’ Network (ELN) identifies potential leaders in public health and offers them information and skill-building experiences to build the confidence needed to take on leadership roles. Participation in an Emerging Leaders’ Network provides a range of growth opportunities. Members:

• Learn about personal leadership potential, identify opportunities for growth, and create a personal leadership development plan
• Gain knowledge and experience in applying collaborative leadership practices
• Learn how to build productive professional networks
• Become part of a larger public health network, by virtue of being a member of the cohort

What is an emerging leader?

The Minnesota Emerging Leaders’ Network defines an emerging leader as someone who shows potential to grow into a leader and who has the aspirations to accept additional leadership responsibilities. An emerging leader:

• Exhibits motivation and enthusiasm
• Desires to learn and be mentored
• Possesses the inclination to assume responsibility
• Demonstrates the ability to manage ambiguity
• Sees challenge as opportunity
• Enjoys working with others in a collaborative environment
• Shares leadership, power, and recognition
• Shows integrity and is dependable
• Seeks ways to grow, develop, and work toward self-improvement
• Looks at life positively
• Values diversity and actively seeks diverse perspectives

Who is eligible to participate?

In Minnesota, for example, the program is available to those who are new to leadership, but it isn't limited to the young. Young professionals bring enthusiasm and willingness to plow new ground, of course, but seasoned professionals who venture into leadership also bring new perspectives and energy as well as passion and hard-won wisdom. The eligibility criteria for participating in the Minnesota Emerging Leaders’ Network are:

• At least two years of public health work experience in: the private sector, an academic setting, a community-based nonprofit organization, or a government agency
• Present employment in a position that includes working to improve the public’s health or the conditions that influence health
• Interest in developing leadership skills and a professional network
• Interest in enhancing knowledge and skills to become a strong collaborative leader

How is an ELN different from other leadership institutes?

An Emerging Leaders’ Network program differs from many other programs in the way it identifies its recruits. The Minnesota Emerging Leaders’ Network program, for example, intentionally seeks those with leadership potential, regardless of their current job title.

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What are the goals for participants?

• Learn about their own leadership potential
• Gain a greater understanding of effective collaborative leadership practices
• Learn how to build productive professional networks
• Explore leadership potential and apply leadership skills in practical ways
• Create a personalized leadership development plan

What skills do participants learn?

• How to apply six key collaborative leadership practices:
  - Assessing the environment for collaboration
  - Developing trust and create safety
  - Sharing power and influence
  - Developing visioning and mobilizing skills
  - Developing mentoring and coaching skills
  - Practicing self-reflection
  
• How to build professional networks, including:
  - Assessing the depth and breadth of professional networks
  - Building ethical and resourceful relationships
  - Developing clarity on networking goals
  - Identifying gaps in the network
  - Creating a plan to build a professional network that helps to achieve leadership goals
  
• How to create a personal leadership development plan by:
  - Understanding the value of a leadership development plan
  - Creating a personal leadership vision
  - Identifying personal values
  - Gaining insight into personal traits, qualities, strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles
  - Committing to specific actions

What activities are available through the program?

Training: In Minnesota, for example, participants attend four two-day retreats. At each retreat, the emerging leaders are exposed to new concepts of leadership, given time to practice new skills, and take part in challenging experiential learning situations and guided self-reflection. See formal retreat schedule.

Support: Throughout the year, participants have opportunities for in-depth conversations with current leaders, who encourage them to apply what they have learned, in their professional work as well as their personal and community commitments.

Networking: During the yearlong program participants are given assignments to work on in small groups and pairs. After their year of training ends, they are encouraged to stay in touch with each other. Minnesota, for example, helps former participants stay in touch through a newsletter and email lists and also invites them to networking events.

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For additional information about an Emerging Leaders’ Network that is operating in Minnesota, please contact:

Tricia Todd
Minnesota Department of Health
612-789-6689
todd0002@umn.edu

or

Lee Kingsbury
Minnesota Department of Health
651-296-9162
lee.kingsbury@health.state.mn.us