Leadership CORE for New Managers

Leadership CORE

Communicate. Organize. Relate. Empower.

Build the Future Leaders of Your Organization

Leadership CORE supports participants as they work to Communicate more effectively, Organize and prioritize goal-setting and strategy, Relate to others both professionally and personally, and Empower their teams to reach their highest potential.

Designed for new managers or for those striving to take the next step towards professional development, Leadership CORE will focus on the strengths and potential of the individual, highlighting the difference between management and leadership. With a curriculum presented by expert instructors and a built-in peer coaching element, participants will learn and practice vital management and leadership skills, and will work together to apply those skills to real world scenarios.

CORE Alumni List

How to Apply

Candidates for Leadership CORE should share this information with a direct supervisor, check class dates posted below, and then complete the CORE Application at this link.. All applicants received by the Sept. 6 deadline will move on to a Selection Committee evaluation.

This class will be limited to 15 participants and all will be notified of their status by mid-September.

SUBMIT APPLICATIONS HERE

Program Details and Fees

CORE will kick-off in October with a meet-and-greet for accepted participants, followed by a one-day Retreat. The program will continue monthly through April of the following year.

Program elements include:

CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) assessment and practice
six management-centered learning modules
goal-setting and peer-coaching sessions
conversations with CEOs and other business leaders from across our region
team-building activities to enhance learning
Franklin Covey leadership workshop

Tuition for Leadership CORE is $1800 per person for chamber-member companies and $2100 for non-member companies.

Leadership CORE Training Modules

Our CORE curriculum includes six leadership modules. Each module has been designed to include broad management concepts, to incorporate the specific needs of class participants, and to be supplemented by peer activities and other program elements.

The Role of a Leader

Being an effective people leader goes beyond having the technical knowledge to get work done. This module emphasizes the importance of strong interpersonal skills and establishing effective working relationships that engage team members and spark high performance.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the various roles, responsibilities and challenges of being a supervisor
• Explore the differences between management and leadership
• Discover how leaders spark action in others by spreading enthusiasm, inspiring confidence and demonstrating integrity
• Explore interaction skills to enhance communication with team members
• Discover the importance of setting high expectations and providing feedback

Communicating for Results

A leader’s effectiveness stands or falls on his or her ability to communicate. During most hours of the work day, leaders are involved in communicating with others – giving information, explaining a process, persuading someone to do something, listening to what others have to say. Unfortunately, the communication process involves many barriers to understanding. This course helps leaders gain skills to overcome barriers by learning to use feedback and active listening skills.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe the communication process and the importance of feedback
• Construct messages that are clear, concise and focused on the other person
• Explore nonverbal factors that reinforce or detract from the intent of a message
• Identify the barriers that cause communication breakdowns
• Acquire a set of active listening skills to increase understanding and improve results

The Power of Accountability

Accountability for results is at the core of total quality, employee engagement, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. Organizational excellence depends on every individual being personally accountable for his or her performance. This course prepares leaders to help team members make and keep agreements to achieve positive results.

Learning Objectives:
• Identify behaviors that undermine accountability
• Explore a simple process structure to ensure clarity and completion of any task
• Examine the relationships between responsibility, empowerment and accountability
• Learn how to speak the language of accountability

Coaching for High Performance

Coaching is an integral part of the leader’s job. Whether training a new employee or delegating a new assignment, supervisors must be prepared to coach for success. With effective coaching skills, leaders can expand their team’s capabilities and reduce time spent correcting problems and poor performance. This course provides team leaders with a framework for coaching that encourages involvement and increases commitment.

Learning Objectives:
• Identify three types of coaching opportunities
• Explore the benefits of proactive coaching
• Provide feedback that encourages ownership and accountability
• Practice leading a coaching discussion

Leading Work Teams

A high-performing team is the goal of every leader! When things go well, team members share in the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes from struggling together to accomplish a common goal. The leader’s job is to keep the team focused on its mission and goals, as well as to facilitate effective teamwork and communication.

Learning Objectives:
• Define the difference between a group and a team
• Explore the behaviors of members of high-performing teams
• Identify the core characteristics of effective teams
• Explore the stages of team development
• Recognize the leader’s role in helping teams progress in their development
• Take away strategies to intervene when teams are struggling

Resolving Conflict

Conflict is an inevitable part of the workplace. Competing goals, priorities, resources, and approaches can lead to disruptive situations. When conflict is managed effectively, it can provide opportunities for learning and growth. Because the people involved in conflict are often unwilling to solve the problem themselves, the leader’s role in resolving conflict is crucial to the team. This course helps team leaders spot conflict and respond to it quickly and effectively.

Learning Objectives
• Recognize the warning signs and costs of workplace conflict
• Discover the positive aspects of conflict
• Explore five conflict management strategies
• Learn a process to move from conflict to collaboration

CORE Sessions Schedule and Attendance Requirements

All sessions are scheduled from 8:30am-3:00pm unless otherwise noted. Participants may miss one session and still officially complete the program. Participants attending all sessions will receive digital credentials and certificates of completion issued by the York County Regional Chamber.

Detailed agendas for each day will be sent to participants in advance.

2025-2026 SCHEDULE

**Aug 25 - Program Orientation & Opening Retreat

Sept 9 - Leader vs. Manager

Sept 23 - Communicating for Results

Oct 14 - The Power of Accountability

*Oct 28 - Franklin Covey Workshop - TBA

Nov 11 - Coaching for High Performance

Dec 9 - Resolving Conflict

Jan 13 - Generational Leadership / Year-End Retreat

*Jan 27 - Graduation & Presentation Event, 4:00-6:00pm

**Aug 25 Retreat is mandatory for all participants. Dates are subject to change with advance noticed

Instructors and Facilitators

LeadershipCORE sessions will be presented by various business professionals with guest presentations by area CEOs and Executives. Our Leadership Development Advisory Board members are:

Katy Motsinger, Children's Attention Home
Kyle Neely, Founders Federal Credit Union
Roger Owens, Ferguson Financial
Kelli Shannon, Comporium
Amanda Stewart, Winthrop University
Drew Turney, Atrium Health
Jarrett Wofford, Founders Federal Credit Union
Colleen Dick, IOM, CCEC, LDCP, York County Regional Chamber
Celeste Tiller, MBA, York County Regional Chamber

Leadership CORE is sponsored by

Our Leadership Development Initiatives are sponsored by

Leadership CORE

Communicate. Organize. Relate. Empower.

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