Over the weekend of September 15th, 16th,
and 17th, Iron Range Engineering sent six students to the
internationally acclaimed Dave Ellis Leadership Conference in St. Paul
Minnesota. Dave is a best-selling
author, successful businessman, entrepreneur, and CEO of a nonprofit. The program, titled Coaching Practices
for 21st Century Leadership, focused on developing leadership skills among
students, industry professionals, and leaders of non-profit organizations. We learned a variety of skills
including a new kind of note taking with 3x5 inch index cards, brilliant
listening, and coaching as opposed to giving someone advice. Note taking on the index cards
emphasized taking brief notes, one per card, to help organize thoughts and
tasks while maintaining a simple approach. Mr. Ellis recommended including on these cards a priority
rating, deadline/timeline for the goal or task, areas of support or potential
collaborators, and potential subcategories. Brilliant listening entailed being a better listener-giving
both verbal and nonverbal feedback, not interrupting or issuing assurances, and
then reciting what you heard from the speaker. The main difference he wanted us to understand between
coaching and giving advice is that while coaching, you are there to help the
other person think-not to think for them.
Often times, if we ask the right questions or probe the person with a
problem, and allow them to articulate their thoughts, they will formulate a
solution on their own, which is much more valuable than simply being told
another person’s solution. Coaches
facilitate thinking and problem solving.
They do not do it for you. These skills can be used in a variety of
situations pertinent to IRE students, particularly in the areas of time and
task management, group work, and leading a project team.
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