Florida Sons of The American Legion College
Course 1C – Personal Development
Florida SAL College System Objective
The objective and purpose of the Florida SAL College System is to increase, improve and
enhance the administrative and managerial skills of current and future leaders of the Florida Sons of
The American Legion through education and direct skill development.
Name
Squadron Number and Location
Current Position or Title
Years of Membership in the SAL
What was the best thing you got out of Course 1 or 2?
Time for Introductions!
Course 1 - Communications◦ Written
Communication◦ Speaking Effectively◦ Delivering
Presentations
Course 2 –Personal Administration◦ Organization◦ Planning/Scheduling◦ Prioritizing◦ Manage Execution◦ Work Efficiently
Let’s recap Courses 1 and 2
Building Action Plans for results
Driving for results
Develop Oneself
Acting with Integrity
Thinking Strategically
Course 3 – Personal Development Agenda
What’s good planning ?◦ Planning is organizing the tasks to be done
◦ Planning is identifying scheduling/coordinating
◦ Planning is understanding all elements affecting the task to be done
◦ Planning is working out the method or details. “A Plan of Attack”
Action Plans...getting results
Not always !!!
So, does good planning lead to good action plans ???
Start with all the elements of good planning
Have Specific goals and objectives
Are time bound and defined
Measurable against the plan
Combine talents and energies of all team members
Have Conclusions and Ends !!
Good Action Plans
At the beginning of a project to establish clear direction and goals
When established objectives are not being achieved
To ensure results above expectations can be achieved
To accomplish results
When are action plans needed
To Achieve results
Be effective
Accomplish the goals they set
Always be the best they can
To be great leaders !
Why do good managers plan and use action plans ?
Course 2 we discussed Planning
Course 2 we discussed Organization
We just discussed “Action Plans”
Now……how do we pull it all together ?
Now, the “big picture” !
Effective leaders focus on achieving results through and with others
Effective leaders persistently go after goals and measure their success in terms of results achieved
Effective leaders accomplish results beyond the ordinary
Driving for Results
Effective leaders drive hard for results !!!!
And Win Big !!
Strengthening your sense of purpose
Putting a Top priority on Getting results
Conveying a sense of Urgency
Persisting in the face of difficulties
Bringing issues to closure
Driving for results
Effective leaders persistently focus on what is important
to the organization and work to achieve those goals
Sense of Purpose
Determine what is most important to you -- what do you want to achieve
What results do you value and believe in ?
Consider the importance of achieving your goal - for yourself and your team
Develop a statement of the results to which you are committed
Strengthening your sense of purpose…...
Getting results is critical for our organization’s survival and growth. As a leader, you must be perceived
as putting a high priority on getting and achieving results. With a strong sense of purpose, and a priority for results, you will be
driving for results !
Making results a priority
Make sure your team has measurable goals and objectives. Then focus on results, not only the activity
Monitor results frequently and give feedback
Keep your team focused on the goals they deem important and critical
Making results a priority
Challenge yourself, and your team, to do better without minimizing what has already been accomplished
Communicate with your team about organizational successes
Persistently and positively work to solve problem
Be there when your team needs you !
Making results a priority
Everything is Important!!
Nothing is Important
Why isn’t it done yet!!
Don’t worry….be happy!!
Its urgent -- must be done now!
JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!
Conveying a sense of Urgency
Seek feedback from your team -- what is their impression of the projects status and needs
Determine which projects and parts of the projects are urgent and less urgent
Communicate those priorities to your team
If it is important to you, it will be important to them
The appropriate way to convey a sense of urgency
Some goals are difficult to achieve!!
Yet, successful leaders are persistent, even with difficult tasks
Despite evidence to the contrary, persistence does not mean banging one’s head onto an obstacle until one or the other gives way. That just causes more pain!
Persisting in the face of Difficulties
Use pre-established checkpoints to judge success. If not being achieved, develop a alternate plan
Involve anyone/everyone in solving the problem
Re-evaluate future targets and goals - maybe they were not realistic
Step back - examine it from a new angle, a fresh perspective
Overcoming Difficulties
Nothing saps energy faster than constantly dealing with the same problem!
Closure must be achieve in order to keep driving for results!
Sometimes closure means negotiation, and sometimes it means change of plans
It always takes leadership
Bring Issues to closure
Bring all people together and insist on a resolution!!
Value all opinions, but establish that issues must be resolved
Rely on the people who do the work the best to accomplish the tasks
Review the goals and current status to get the best results possible
Methods of closure
With the elements just discussed:◦ Action Plans◦ Driving for results
Using the sheets of paper that were handed out only and no other materials
Construct the tallest free-standing structure - in 10 minutes.
Team Activity - Driving for Results
Team Activity
Driving for
Results
:00:01:02:03:04:05:15:301:002:003:004:005:0010:00
LET’S TAKE A BREAK
10 MINUTES
Time Remaining
10:00
Time Remaining
9:00
Time Remaining
8:00
Time Remaining
7:00
Time Remaining
6:00
Time Remaining
5:00
Time Remaining
4:00
Time Remaining
3:00
Time Remaining
2:00
Time Remaining
1:00
Time Remaining
:59
Time Remaining
:58
Time Remaining
:57
Time Remaining
:56
Time Remaining
:55
Time Remaining
:54
Time Remaining
:53
Time Remaining
:52
Time Remaining
:51
Time Remaining
:50
Time Remaining
:49
Time Remaining
:48
Time Remaining
:47
Time Remaining
:46
Time Remaining
:45
Time Remaining
:44
Time Remaining
:43
Time Remaining
:42
Time Remaining
:41
Time Remaining
:40
Time Remaining
:39
Time Remaining
:38
Time Remaining
:37
Time Remaining
:36
Time Remaining
:35
Time Remaining
:34
Time Remaining
:33
Time Remaining
:32
Time Remaining
:31
Time Remaining
:30
Time Remaining
:29
Time Remaining
:28
Time Remaining
:27
Time Remaining
:26
Time Remaining
:25
Time Remaining
:24
Time Remaining
:23
Time Remaining
:22
Time Remaining
:21
Time Remaining
:20
Time Remaining
:19
Time Remaining
:18
Time Remaining
:17
Time Remaining
:16
Time Remaining
:15
Time Remaining
:14
Time Remaining
:13
Time Remaining
:12
Time Remaining
:11
Time Remaining
:10
Time Remaining
:09
Time Remaining
:08
Time Remaining
:07
Time Remaining
:06
Time Remaining
:05
Time Remaining
:04
Time Remaining
:03
Time Remaining
:02
Time Remaining
:01
Time Remaining
00:00
Change continues to intensify in today’s business environment. Our Organization is no exception.
Continued development of one’s skills is not longer optional
Success in one’s career now requires a serious commitment to learning and self-development
Develop Oneself
Capitalizing on Opportunities for learning
Creating a Plan for Learning and Self-Development
Implementing your Development plan
Find/Be a mentor
Several steps to Developing Oneself
Employ the strategies of successful people/successful learners
Broadening your learning experiences
View mistakes as learning opportunities
Expand the scope of your knowledge base
Leveraging your areas of strength
Opportunities for learning
Analyze your skills portfolio
Focus on Your Development Objectives
Create a plan for personal growth
Ask for feedback from a respected mentor/colleague
Identify barriers to your development and plan to overcome them
Creating a plan for Learning and Self-Development
Spend time each day on your plan
Seizing On-the-job Development Opportunities
Involve Others in your Development Efforts
Seeking honest feedback from others
Eliminating defensiveness when receiving feedback
Implementing Your Development Plan
Find a Mentor who represents the best in the skills you want
Be a mentor!
Partner your needs and plans with him
Get feedback, give feedback
Reflect on what you have learned
Mentors
Review the questions on the hand out
Decide/ Analyze if you are or are not doing these things.
No right or wrongs, just a chance to establish a “base line” of where your at.
Developing Oneself - Self Test
Develop Oneself
Self-Test
What are your thoughts ?
How much is realistic, and how much is BS !
Is it possible to enact the points made ?
Will it help develop you ?
Let’s Discuss the Self-Test
What is Integrity ?◦Being respected◦Knowledge of right and wrong◦The ability to avoid the wrong◦Willingness to stand up for what is
right◦Having trust and being trusted◦Being consistent between your words
and actions
Acting with Integrity
Establishing Trust and Integrity
Working to Increase your Integrity
Developing Organizational Integrity
Integrity
Make realistic promises and keep them ? Give honest answers to questions/
challenges ? Protect confidential information ? Admit when you made a mistake ? Consider truth and confidence to be
important ? Foster open, honest & sincere
communication ? Encourage others to question practices they
cannot support ? Words and actions are the same ? Allow others to ask questions ?
Evaluating Integrity
Honest Communication◦Open, sincere statements◦Admit to mistakes◦Seek feedback
Realistic Promises and Keeping them◦Trust is built on fulfilled promises◦Avoid statements that can be
misinterpreted as promises◦Follow through - be responsible
Establishing Trust and Integrity
Modeling the Behavior
Working with Confidential Information
Making Decisions
Work to Increase your integrity
Establishing the Organizations Ethics
Developing a “Code of Ethics”
Protecting the Organizations Reputation
Developing Organizational Integrity and Ethics
Establishes a Trust relationship with your team members
Allows for a growth environment
provides honest vision and supports the goals you are driving to achieve
increases effectiveness and results
What does this get you ?
The Real Voyage of Discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.
Marcel Proust, 18th Century Philosopher
Thinking Strategically
Effective leaders think Strategically
They analyze opportunities and problems from broad perspectives
They focus team energies on key activities
Strategic thinking is required for long-term and short term planning
To think strategically, you must first have a “Strategic Mindset”
Thinking Strategically
Developing a Strategic Mindset
Applying Strategic-Thinking Skills
Strategic thinking focus
Strategic Mindset - Self Assessment
Lets evaluate our current strengths
Enhance your strategic thinking
Recognize the Implications of Issues
Developing a Strategic Perspective
Analyzing Factors Outside the Organization
Developing a Strategic Mindset
Identifying Key Strategic Opportunities
Capitalizing on Strategic Opportunities
Developing Strategic Alliances to Increase Competitive Advantage
Applying Strategic Thinking Skills
The Whole Picture !
Course 1
Course 2
Course 3
Course 1 - Communications◦ Communication Skills◦ Public Appearances
Course 2 – Personal Administration◦ Time Management◦ Personal Administrative Skills
Course 3 – Personal Development◦ Action Plans/ Driving for results◦ Develop Oneself◦ Acting with Integrity◦ Thinking Strategically
How it works together
Based on the 3 courses you have completed, create a Florida SAL College System Mission Statement
Should be focused on what the end objective is (for FSCS), and how it should be achieved
Each group has 30 minutes to complete
Should be in “Bullet Point” statements
Florida SAL College Project
The FSCS Mission Statement
The Natural Conclusion to the process of growth and discovery !
Questions and Comments
Florida Sons of The American Legion College System
As we stated in the opening – the objective of the Florida SAL College System is to increase, improve and enhance the skills of current and future leaders of the Florida Sons of The American Legion. It is not intended, nor designed, to create leaders. That, as always, must come through dedication to the ideals of the Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion Family.
FeedbackLet the us know what you thought of this program. We need your feedback to make this successful. Please fill out the Evaluation Form & turn it in to an instructor. Other comments or questions send us an email.
Jim Roberts – [email protected] Ed Sheubrooks – [email protected] John Jennings – [email protected]
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You have just completed theFlorida Sons of The American Legion College
Course Certificates
Congratulations on graduating the Florida SAL College.
There is one more class function and that is GRADUATION.
This will take place at the Detachment Convention.
So look nice for the class picture (coat, tie and cover).
Graduation
Florida Sons of The American Legion College
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING