Leadership for Five Seasons

Congratulations to those selected into the LFS Adult Class of 2021. Click here to view the list.

Each year, 35 individuals are selected to participate in the Adult program. The ten-month program runs from August through May. This unique program empowers participants with a comprehensive understanding of our community’s challenges and opportunities, providing broader knowledge and their role as engaged citizens.

Participants will gain:

• Enhanced understanding of themselves and their leadership style
• Examples of innovation happening in the community
• Connections to key area leaders
• Greater sense of pride for the community
• An inspired heart to give back and grow beyond the program

Participants must:

• Commit to the ten-month program including an evening orientation and an overnight retreat
• Desire to improve leadership skills and gain community knowledge
• Be employed by an Economic Alliance member business (if not currently associated, participants must join if selected for the program)

What to expect:

• The program kicks off with a two-day leadership retreat based on curriculum used by most by master's programs throughout the country, The Leadership Challenge and the LPI360 survey tool.

o To prepare for the retreat, participants will be given a book (The Leadership Challenge) and asked to take self and peer assessments that will be woven into curriculum through the entire program.

o At the retreat, participants will discuss leadership styles, analyze their LPI360 results and create a customized leadership plan.

• Participants will attend nine full-day monthly leadership days to learn about an area of economic opportunity and quality of life, hear about challenges facing the community and connect with community leaders. The leadership days are as follows:
  
  • History Day
  • Agriculture Day
  • Arts & Culture Day
  • Entrepreneurial Day
  • Human Needs
  • Government Day
  • Economic Development Day
  • Education Day
  • Health Care Day
• In the final two months of the program, participants will have an opportunity to retake their LPI360 self and peer assessments. They will spend a half day evaluating the progress they have made.
• The program ends with the completion of a class project to fulfill an area of need in the community. Examples of past projects include planting trees, raising money and building learning nature trails, putting up inspirational quotes in middle schools, etc. This project serves as a catalyst for the ongoing engagement we hope each participant will carry out through the remainder of their life in our community.

About LPI

Over three million people have taken steps towards their personal leadership best with the Leadership Practices Inventory® (LPI®), a 360-degree assessment tool by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Based on The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model, the 360-degree assessments and facilitator materials illuminate both the effectiveness of your leaders and the level of commitment, engagement, and satisfaction of those that follow.

No matter where leaders are along their leadership development journey, the LPI will support the important work for developing, nurturing and empowering emerging leaders.

About Leadership Curriculum:

Each member of the class receives The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Each session focuses on one of the five leadership principles. Monthly workshops are hosted to dive deeper into the principle and the participants LPI

The continued support of LFS Alumni promotes and develops leaders in ICR Iowa as well as:

• Supporting the LFS Youth program
• Provides continued networking opportunities - socially, professionally and personally
• Ensuring LFS Adult program is representative of all sectors, including non-profit and small business
• Continuing to keep reasonable tuition costs for all LFS programs
• Access and participation to the LFS Alumni LinkedIn group
• Free attendance to the Spring Luncheon, Holiday Breakfast
• Reduced admission cost to LFS Annual golf Outing
• Ongoing exclusive volunteer opportunities across all the Leadership for Five Seasons programs (Youth, College, Adult, Executive, Board of Advisors and Alumni)
• Ongoing leadership and professional development opportunities
• Community impact

Thank you to all our Lifetime LFS Alumni:

Click here to view the participant list for the LFS Executive Class of 2020!

Each year, 8-10 individuals and their spouses are selected to participate in the Leadership for Five Seasons program. The nine-month program runs from August through April and targets recently relocated or new Executives to the area. This unique program empowers participants with a comprehensive understanding of our community’s challenges and opportunities, providing broader knowledge and their role as engaged citizens, while building upon their career network.

Participants will gain:

• Enhanced understanding of the community at large
• Examples of innovation happening in the community
• Connections to key area leaders
• Greater sense of pride for the community
• An inspired heart to give back and grow beyond the program

Participants must:

• Commit to the nine-month program including an evening orientation
• Desire to gain community knowledge
• Be employed by an Economic Alliance member business (if not currently associated, participants must join if selected for the program)

What to expect:

• The program kicks off with an opportunity for socializing over dinner and an overview of the program.
• Spouses are welcome to attend each session
• Sessions will be held from approximately 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
• Participants will attend six monthly leadership days to learn about an area of economic opportunity and quality of life, hear about challenges facing the community and connect with community leaders. The leadership days are as follows:
  
  
  • Orientation and Dinner
  • ICR IOWA Day
  • Business, Industry, and Government Day
  • Education Day
  • Healthcare Day
  • Quality of Life Day

Congratulations to those selected into the LFS Youth Class of 2021. Click here to view the list.

The Leadership for Five Seasons - Youth Program identifies and selects 40 Cedar Rapids Metro area high school students that demonstrate leadership qualities and have a concern for their community. Eight days of in-depth programming acquaints students with community needs, opportunities, problems, and resources, while allowing interaction with community leaders, decision makers and each other. While fostering mutual respect and an interest in voluntary community activities, the students strengthen their leadership skills. The inaugural LFS Youth class participated in 1994 making the Class of 2021 the 26th year of the program. The LFS Youth program will take place August 2020 - March 2021.