Assessing Leadership and Problem-Solving Skills and Their Impacts in the Community

Abstract

A pretest-posttest control group design was employed to assess the leadership and problem-solving skills of participants in a statewide community leadership development program. Quantitative data and analysis revealed that significant changes had resulted from the program. Qualitative data collected after the conclusion of the program revealed how program participants became further involved in their communcties in a variety of ways and on several local issues. The need for evaluation of community leadership development programs to document community impacts is then discussed

The evaluation of two key leadership development program components: Leadership skills assessment and leadership mentoring

“…Given the popularity of leadership development programs and the promises of their implementation (Kincaid & Knop, 1992;Rohs & Langone, 1993;Williams, 1981), there is a greater need for the fidelity of such programs to be evaluated, scrutinized, and studied (Rohs, 1999). The aim of this paper was to further examine two critical components of leadership development programs: 360-degree assessment of leadership skills and mentors.…”

“…Researchers argue that leadership performance can be enhanced through formal leadership programs (Bolton, 1991;Earnest, 1996;Rohs, 1999). The benefits of leadership development training include: enhanced leadership skills, increased confidence, broadened perspectives, and increased communication skills (Kincaid & Knop, 1992;Rohs & Langone, 1993;Williams, 1981). However, implementing such training programs can be extremely challenging (Messmer, 2003).…”

Community leadership development education: promoting civic engagement through human and social capital

“…In the CLDE program evaluation literature, there is a body of research that documents training effects on individuals (Black & Earnest, 2009;Brundgardt & Seibel, 1995;Earnest, 1996;Langone, 1992;Pigg, 1990Pigg, , 2001Rohs & Langone, 1993). Other research has focused on differences in participant outcomes Community Development 33 (Dhanakumar, Rossing, & Campbell, 1996;Whent & Leising, 1992).…”

Putting “development” back into community leadership (development) programs

“…Leadership skills and leadership awareness should be inherent in the curriculum of a Community Leadership Program (Earnest, 1996); however numerous researchers have noted that the most cited benefit of community leadership programs was increased citizen involvement and volunteer activity, leaving the development of leadership skills as secondary (Rohs & Langone, 1993;Seeley, 1981;Williams, 1981;Whent & Leising, 1992). The National Association for Community Leadership criticized CLPs for not promoting leadership skills and concepts (NACL, 1995), confirming earlier findings that leadership competencies should be emphasized in training community leaders (Strand, 1981).…”