The Essence of the Leadership Matters Course - International Training Alliance

March 2021 – The essence of the Leadership Matters Course is a combination of core values, core outcomes, and core components. When identifying the essence, we asked the questions: “If it’s not present, is it still an LMC?” and “What are the unique ways that LMC is conducted?” –The LMC Curriculum Committee

I. LMC CORE VALUES

We value:

1. The community of learners. Therefore, trainers view all participants and all trainers as learners and contributors to the learning process.
2. Christ-centred character. Therefore, trainers model the Lordship of Christ in all we do, and we help participants to recognize and solidify their identity in Christ.
3. Each participant as God’s unique creation. Therefore, trainers help participants recognize that God has made them unique, and that they have something unique to contribute.
4. A learning process that is transformational. Therefore, trainers present knowledge that is foundational for effective leadership, giving participants opportunities to apply that knowledge through practice in order to acquire life-changing skills and attitudes.
5. Modelling skills and attitudes. Therefore, trainers model the attitudes and skills that participants are to develop.
6. Relationship building. Therefore, we integrate relationship building skills throughout all aspects of the course.
7. Building confidence in participants. Therefore, trainers create a safe, affirming atmosphere that facilitates growth.
8. Team ministry. Therefore, trainers model effective ministry as a team and help participants develop the skills to build effective teams in their situations.
9. Diversity in the body of Christ. Therefore, we are intentional about bringing together trainers and participants from a variety of backgrounds in each course to enrich the learning experience.
10. A standard curriculum. Therefore, ITA has an approved curriculum that we maintain, and all trainers agree to present the course accordingly, while allowing for contextual adaptations.
11. Transferability. Therefore, we choose skills and concepts to include in the LMC curriculum that participants can easily learn and then teach to others.
12. Diversity in Application. Therefore, we encourage participants to apply the principles they learn in a variety of contexts.

II. LMC CORE OUTCOMES

A. CORE CHARACTER QUALITY OUTCOMES

To experience growth in . . .

1. Humility: recognizing our dependence on God, His Spirit, and on other people in order that we might lead well.
2. Integrity: demonstrating honesty and consistency in who we are as leaders.
3. Reliability: exhibiting dependability and trustworthiness in our behaviours.
4. Servanthood: seeking the good of others.
5. Wisdom: increasing in perception and insight into present reality with appropriate application in future action.

B. CORE KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES

To know and understand the fundamentals of . . .

1. Relationship Skills: The Biblical foundation of intentionally building meaningful relationships and the power of affirmation to encourage others.
2. Communication Skills: Principles enabling the communicator to effectively convey a clear and appropriate message to a target audience.
3. Creative Thinking and Decision-Making Skills: Understanding how both creative and judicial thinking are essential to making good decisions.
4. Management Skills: Managerial processes that empower people to produce desired results.
5. Public Relations Skills: Knowing both that communicating who we are and what we do is the responsibility of everyone involved, and that we relate to individuals and not organizations.
6. Motivational Skills: That motivation is a process of helping people move from negative to positive attitudes that lead to effective action.
7. Training Skills: Philosophy and principles of transformational learning to equip and empower others.
8. Life Management Skills: The importance of an examined life in Christ and continued holistic growth.

C. CORE SKILLS OUTCOMES

To apply and implement . . .

1. Relationship Skills: building genuine, meaningful, and affirming relationships that are others-centred rather than self-centred
2. Communication Skills: using succinct stories together with the modular approach
3. Creative Thinking and Decision-Making Skills: discerning between creative and judicial thinking, and knowing how to segment criteria as negotiable or non-negotiable for use in the decision-making process
4. Management Skills: building up a team to accomplish desired results
5. Public Relations Skills: building relationships with stakeholders in an effort to find meaningful solutions where our distinctives are applied to address their particular needs
6. Motivational Skills: prompting others to action by helping them to shift from negative to positive attitudes
7. Training Skills: planning and leading training that is relevant and transformational
8. Life Management Skills: assessing life’s key result areas and planning appropriately for positive change

D. CORE ATTITUDE OUTCOMES:

To experience growth in:

1. Confidence: having peace of mind that flows from an increased assurance in one’s ability as a leader
2. Enthusiasm: excitement for life and leadership that motivates others
3. Positive self-worth: the appreciation of who I am in Christ resulting in a wholesome acceptance of self
4. Love of others: sincerely expressing empathy, appreciation and affirmation toward others
5. Grace: compassionately allowing yourself and those around you to learn and grow through life’s experiences
6. Intentionality: living and leading with focus and purpose
7. Optimism: confidently expecting positive outcomes in situations and from people

III. LMC CORE COMPONENTS

1. Modelling. We do not ask participants to do something without trainers modelling it first.
2. Practice. Participants develop skills through repetition; we do not introduce any skill without providing an opportunity to practice.
3. Coaching. Participants receive one-on-one and small group coaching to assist in the internalizing and mastering of the skills of the course.
4. Community. We intentionally draw participants into experiencing community, camaraderie and trust.
5. Integrative Sequencing. We present the course material in an interwoven manner that connects ideas across content areas making learning and growth more effective.
6. Interactive Training. Interaction among participants and with trainers during the course ensures engagement and therefore enhances
7. Participant Manual. An interactive tool, with space for participants to record their thinking and the concepts presented in order to increase retention and to create an engaging and practical resource.
8. Trainer Credibility. The trainer delivering the course material in a given track is proven and experienced in that field.
9. Team Training Approach. We model the effectiveness of a team approach by trainers through the collaborative delivery of the course.
10. Optimum Participant-Trainer Ratio. An overall ratio of three or four participants per trainer provides a personal focus in the learning process and helps to promote individual success.
11. Environment of Affirmation. Based on the Biblical mandate to build one another up, trainers and participants consistently and intentionally look for, express, and focus on the best in each other.
12. Accepting Environment. The training approach encourages the open expression of differing perspectives and ideas without fear of rejection.
13. Optimistic Perspective. The trainers and course content encourage the envisioning of possibilities rather than focusing on
14. Solitude. A scheduled time of solitude allows participants to reflect, pray and seek the Lord for direction and development of their lives personally and as leaders.