
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:
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- The community of learners. Therefore, trainers view all participants and all trainers as learners and contributors to the learning process.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Modelling skills and attitudes. Therefore, trainers model the attitudes and skills that participants are to develop.
- Relationship building. Therefore, we integrate relationship building skills throughout all aspects of the course.
- Building confidence in participants. Therefore, trainers create a safe, affirming atmosphere that facilitates growth.
- Team ministry. Therefore, trainers model effective ministry as a team and help participants develop the skills to build effective teams in their situations.
- 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.
- 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.
- Transferability. Therefore, we choose skills and concepts to include in the LMC curriculum that participants can easily learn and then teach to others.
- 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 . . .
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- Humility: recognizing our dependence on God, His Spirit, and on other people in order that we might lead well.
- Integrity: demonstrating honesty and consistency in who we are as leaders.
- Reliability: exhibiting dependability and trustworthiness in our behaviours.
- Servanthood: seeking the good of others.
- 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 . . .
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- Relationship Skills: The Biblical foundation of intentionally building meaningful relationships and the power of affirmation to encourage others.
- Communication Skills: Principles enabling the communicator to effectively convey a clear and appropriate message to a target audience.
- Creative Thinking and Decision-Making Skills: Understanding how both creative and judicial thinking are essential to making good decisions.
- Management Skills: Managerial processes that empower people to produce desired results.
- 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.
- Motivational Skills: That motivation is a process of helping people move from negative to positive attitudes that lead to effective action.
- Training Skills: Philosophy and principles of transformational learning to equip and empower others.
- Life Management Skills: The importance of an examined life in Christ and continued holistic growth.
C. CORE SKILLS OUTCOMES
To apply and implement . . .
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- Relationship Skills: building genuine, meaningful, and affirming relationships that are others-centred rather than self-centred
- Communication Skills: using succinct stories together with the modular approach
- 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
- Management Skills: building up a team to accomplish desired results
- Public Relations Skills: building relationships with stakeholders in an effort to find meaningful solutions where our distinctives are applied to address their particular needs
- Motivational Skills: prompting others to action by helping them to shift from negative to positive attitudes
- Training Skills: planning and leading training that is relevant and transformational
- Life Management Skills: assessing life’s key result areas and planning appropriately for positive change
D. CORE ATTITUDE OUTCOMES:
To experience growth in:
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- Confidence: having peace of mind that flows from an increased assurance in one’s ability as a leader
- Enthusiasm: excitement for life and leadership that motivates others
- Positive self-worth: the appreciation of who I am in Christ resulting in a wholesome acceptance of self
- Love of others: sincerely expressing empathy, appreciation and affirmation toward others
- Grace: compassionately allowing yourself and those around you to learn and grow through life’s experiences
- Intentionality: living and leading with focus and purpose
- Optimism: confidently expecting positive outcomes in situations and from people
III. LMC CORE COMPONENTS
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- Modelling. We do not ask participants to do something without trainers modelling it first.
- Practice. Participants develop skills through repetition; we do not introduce any skill without providing an opportunity to practice.
- Coaching. Participants receive one-on-one and small group coaching to assist in the internalizing and mastering of the skills of the course.
- Community. We intentionally draw participants into experiencing community, camaraderie and trust.
- Integrative Sequencing. We present the course material in an interwoven manner that connects ideas across content areas making learning and growth more effective.
- Interactive Training. Interaction among participants and with trainers during the course ensures engagement and therefore enhances
- 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.
- Trainer Credibility. The trainer delivering the course material in a given track is proven and experienced in that field.
- Team Training Approach. We model the effectiveness of a team approach by trainers through the collaborative delivery of the course.
- 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.
- 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.
- Accepting Environment. The training approach encourages the open expression of differing perspectives and ideas without fear of rejection.
- Optimistic Perspective. The trainers and course content encourage the envisioning of possibilities rather than focusing on
- 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.