ACEC Leadership Institute Upstate Class of 2015
August 20, 2015
Two of Watts’ engineers completed an eight month leadership course offered through the American Council of Engineering Companies of NY. Here is what Senior Associate Jeanette Koch, PE came away with.
The ACEC New York Leadership Institute develops the future leaders needed to grow engineering organizations and create a more vibrant, dynamic and profitable place to work.
Many people do not see themselves as charismatic speakers or great visionaries and, therefore, may not see themselves as truly effective leaders. While they may believe that they lack the necessary innate abilities and skills to be true leaders, leadership requires the following elements: listening and communicating for motivation, leading in conflict situations, and creating a leadership culture.
These skills can be taught, coached and inspired through a proactive process that draws out leadership abilities and achieves behavior change. Led by The Jennings Group, the Institute takes place in either New York City or Upstate with one full-day class a month over eight months. This course is recommended for senior management, middle management, and anyone who has been identified as a high potential leader.
Two current Watts Senior Associates, Jeanette Koch, PE and Rick Blanch, PE, attended the ACEC Leadership Institute Class, held in Syracuse, New York.
Ms. Koch highly recommends the Institute to anyone in a leadership role or those that are being mentored into becoming a leader.
Leaders need to understand themselves to better understand others, listen better, communicate better and lead better. Listening is a key to becoming a more effective leader; become a 100% Listener. To learn more read “Did You Hear What I Said” by Olin R. Jennings and Laura N. Jennings.
Effective communication is necessary for all leaders, communicate to motivate. All people are motivated differently; your choice of words may motivate one person and demotivate others.
Additional reference materials received as part of the course include: “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by John C. Maxwell; “Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager” by Ken Blanchard, Susan Fowler and Laurence Hawkins; and “Listen up Leader” by David Cottrell. All of these books are excellent resources and well worth reading according to Ms. Koch.
The most important thing that Ms. Koch learned from the Leadership Institute was published in the ACEC Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon & Leadership Graduation Brochure and is quoted as: “Delegation, mentoring, coaching and empowering others are key to becoming a more effective leader.”
Registration typically starts in early summer but the 2015-2016 class is closed; it was sold out prior to the end of the registration deadline of September 11, 2015.
Please visit the ACEC of NY website for more information.
