Recent NVAA Leadership Institute Paticipants Talk About Their Experiences

"This training has truly been an eye opening opportunity for me and has given me a lot of new skill sets to work on and enhance. Before this training, I had had no formal training on leadership and really came into this class with high expectations of being able to exit this program with new skills; these expectations were met and exceeded."

"This training came at the perfect time in my career. We are undergoing a large transition in our unit, and my first thought was that this training could help me deal with the change in a more positive way. Over the weeks, I have been motivated to take the concepts learned each week and apply them to my every day challenges. As we built upon different skills each week, I started to use these skills in practical situations here at work to help test my skills when in a real life setting. Each week, my focus was on not just coping with the changes but also having a more positive attitude towards the change by using new skills I learned from this class."

"This training has encouraged me to think differently, more holistically…like a leader! It's challenged me and opened my eyes to things I didn't even realize I had neglected. I've become more mindful of my employees and their needs and also my reaction to others. I've learned about conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, so many great things to help me become a better professional!"

"More than anything, this training has changed my perspective on the importance of communication--not just as a leadership skill, but also as a behavior. It motivated me to be more self-aware of my communication style and how it influences others' perception of me, and to notice other people's communication styles and adapt accordingly. Finally, it motivated me to …develop communication skills and cultivate behaviors that enhance my rapport with my colleagues and subgrantees. …I have changed my tone, approach and attitude about professional communication, and I've found that not only has it helped me to build relationships but also has increased my effectiveness and productivity."

"…this is probably the most beneficial professional development course I have taken, and it was free and online!"