Bemidji, MN—July 2012 —The Northwest Minnesota Foundation LeaderImpact program is providing leadership training for people with a desire for greater impact in the world. Individuals seeking ways to make positive changes in the effectiveness of their work or business and how it affects their lives will benefit from this program.
NMF LeaderImpact consists of two experiential, competency-based leadership retreats separated by twelve weeks of interactive learning and professional coaching. The first session takes place October 24-26, 2012 with the second session held on February 6-8, 2013. Participants commit to attending both sessions.
LeaderImpact will be held in the Lodge at the Hiawatha Beach Resort near Walker, Minnesota. Each person has their own bedroom in one of eight units in the Lodge. The units, with up to four bedrooms, include a living room, fully equipped kitchen and balcony or fireplace.
Applications must be received by August 13th and a fee of $100 is required with the completed application, which is deducted from the tuition. Costs for this program are $1,000. Scholarships reduce the cost to $200 for persons in rural Northwest Minnesota. The fee is $2,500 for people residing outside this region.
The tuition includes all training, food and lodging, along with six sessions of personal/professional coaching, which is equivalent to three months of consultation with a private coach. Coaching has proven to help ensure that participants will have the best possible experience and understand how they can create a positive impact.
LeaderImpact uses self-awareness tools and activities to enhance leadership capabilities, according to Dawn Ganje, NMF program officer for training, who coordinates the program. She said, “You will learn strategies for continuous development through extensive assessment, group discussions, self-reflection, small group activities and professional coaching.
“The coaching aspect is a key difference from other trainings available.” Ganje added. “Extensive evaluations have proven that the coaching component, which is not included in most leadership programs, greatly enhances the learning and application of newly strengthened skills at work, at home and in the community.”
Contact Dawn at 218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859 with questions. For more information or to download an application, visit www.nwmf.org.
Does LeaderImpact work? Recent participants describe LeaderImpact as the one experience that has changed them the most, both personally and professionally.
According to Robin Wold, executive director of Hope House in Bemidji, LeaderImpact took her to the next level. She said, “It is a life-changing, whole person program that developed and continues to develop people beyond the initial time invested in the actual training.
“I am now a stronger and more supportive person with staff at work,” Wold said. “I have been able to make difficult and necessary decisions without wavering. And I have a solid support system of other directors who are there when I need an idea or a reality check.”
Steve Muzzy, controller of Central Boiler in Greenbush said, “This training is on the leading edge of what is available out there,” said Muzzy. “It really covered a wide gamut of topics and was structured to get the most out of the time required. The two-and-a-half day session covered ten times what is usually done in a one-day class. This makes really good use of time for participants and the trainers.”
Muzzy stated, “For some training sessions, you spend as much time traveling as you do in class. Although some people still travel a distance to the site, they get a lot for their time and they don’t have to worry about paying extra for lodging and meals.” He added, “No matter what your level of leadership experience, everyone contributes to helping each other learn.”
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public charitable community foundation that invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
