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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/27/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
June 23, 2004 New institute aims to build leadership skills By Kelly McBride
But Langenberg's casual comment has turned into a new venture for the university and local business community.
In May, UW-Green Bay launched its Leadership Development Institute, which teaches and enhances leadership skills for local businesses and other organizations. The first session begins in August.
Leadership skills are crucial in today's business climate, said Langenberg, shareholder in charge of the Green Bay office of Schenck Business Solutions.
"When we hire individuals out of school," he said, "they're trained in all the hard skills. They know all the technical stuff. But the soft skills — they are not trained in those."
Soft skills, Langenberg said, include leadership and communication.
"(They) need to have those refined through this training," he added.
Twelve to 15 people are expected to participate in the first session, said Doug Gjerde, director of the university's Small Business Development Center. About half that many already are enrolled in the program, which will meet once a month for eight months.
Gjerde hopes the program attracts people from local businesses, nonprofit organizations and government.
"It's all focused on the leadership aspects, versus just general management," he said. "It's going to be things like making those tough decisions ... (and) the abilities of influencing others, engaging and inspiring people, coaching and developing others."
Barbara Nixon, an organizational development consultant for Wisconsin Public Service Corp., will be among the first participants.
Not having to travel for leadership training is a big plus, said Nixon, who served on the committee that helped create the program.
"I think it's critical that we have something available in the local area," she said, "partially to save on travel expenses and time away from work."
In addition, Nixon said, program participants will be able to network with other local businesspeople.
Instructors include UW-Green Bay faculty from a variety of disciplines, as well as some outside trainers and consultants, Gjerde said. For the pilot program, companies will pay $2,000 per participant.
Suzan Murray of Wisconsin Public Service Corp. hopes the program gives participants a competitive advantage.
"We are hopeful that the quality is there, that the price is right, that it's balanced with theory as well as practical applications," she said. "We certainly want it to be a success, also."
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