Leadership

This blog post explains scenario planning, which the author describes as a way to think through “what if” possibilities.

This blog post introduces the concept of strategic intuition, or the ability understand, foresee, and respond quickly to ever-changing circumstances. The author explains how strategic intuition is something that is often developed over time.

This paper argues that current approaches to early childhood research, policy development, and investment are too narrow and only address one aspect of the entire system. It advocates for a broader approach that focuses on systemic reform, universal access, improved quality, accountability, increased respect for the value of children and the families who raise them, and increased public investments in services and leadership. The paper culminates with a concrete proposal for reforming the early childhood system.

This Web site provides a compilation of resources related to leadership skills. It includes articles and tools on a range of leadership-related topics, such as general leadership, understanding power, leadership styles, emotional intelligence, becoming a leader, young and future leaders, and crisis and contingency planning.

This toolkit was designed to help identify and develop adaptive leadership skills. It includes reflective questions to help individuals consider their own and others’ adaptive leadership skills, as well as a process for identifying areas to strengthen, a self-assessment, and questions to help with next steps.

This toolkit focuses on building capacity through succession planning and leadership development. It was created to provide community organizations with a guideline for implementing a systematic approach to meet short-term leadership needs while developing long-term strategies to cultivate future leaders. This toolkit outlines major steps, discusses key considerations, and provides tools related to the succession planning process.

This Web site provides a compilation of resources related to management. It includes articles and tools to support individuals with recruiting, building and managing a highly effective team; developing and motivating team members; delegating effectively; and managing teams.

This tool is used for building consensus through participatory decisionmaking. Its quantitative process enables large and small groups to discuss and weigh items and either reach consensus or identify the sources of differences of opinions. This tool could be useful in building state capacity and identifying priorities.

This report presents the Pathway to Third Grade School Success framework, which aims to guide choices made by community coalitions, service providers, researchers, funders, and policymakers to achieve desired outcomes for children and their families. The Pathway framework assembles a wealth of findings from research, practice, theory, and policy about what it takes to improve the lives of children and families, particularly those living in tough neighborhoods.

Strengths Finder is a book and self-assessment tool that helps individuals discover, understand, and apply their strengths. It provides users with a strengths profile, and guidance for applying these strengths and working with others. Results-Based Leadership is a related book for individuals in a leadership role. It describes three keys to being a more effective leader: knowing your strengths and investing in others' strengths, getting people with the right strengths on your team, and understanding and meeting the four basic needs of those who look to you for leadership.