The Leadership Challenge®
Extraordinary Leadership Is Everyone’s Business
16-Hour Facilitator-Led Experience with Pre-Work and Post-Work
Leadership is not defined by a title, position, or rank.
It is defined by choices.
Every day, leaders are faced with opportunities to model values, inspire confidence, challenge the status quo, enable others to succeed, and recognize the contributions of those around them. The most effective leaders don’t wait for the perfect circumstances. They intentionally choose behaviors that build trust, strengthen relationships, and inspire extraordinary performance.
The Leadership Challenge® is the globally recognized leadership development program based on decades of research by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Built around The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®, this highly interactive learning experience helps participants discover that leadership is not reserved for a select few. It is a learnable set of behaviors that can be practiced, strengthened, and applied every day.
Through self-assessment, reflection, discussion, experiential activities, and practical application, participants gain the confidence and skills to lead authentically and effectively in their organizations and communities.
This is not a lecture about leadership.
It is an opportunity to discover the leader you are capable of becoming.
What You’ll Learn
Participants will explore research-backed leadership practices and practical strategies, including:
- Understanding the research foundation behind The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®.
- Clarifying personal values and aligning daily actions with those values.
- Building credibility through consistency, authenticity, and trust.
- Inspiring others around a shared vision of the future.
- Challenging existing processes and embracing opportunities for innovation and growth.
- Creating an environment where others are empowered to contribute and succeed.
- Recognizing contributions and celebrating accomplishments in meaningful ways.
- Strengthening collaboration through intentional leadership behaviors.
- Applying leadership principles to real-world challenges and organizational change.
- Developing a personalized action plan for continued leadership growth.
Key Outcomes
By the end of this experience, participants will be able to:
- Lead with greater self-awareness and authenticity.
- Build trust through consistent values-driven behavior.
- Inspire commitment around a compelling shared vision.
- Foster innovation by questioning assumptions and encouraging improvement.
- Empower others through collaboration and shared ownership.
- Recognize contributions in ways that strengthen culture and engagement.
- Apply the principles of exemplary leadership in everyday interactions.
- Create a practical plan for continued leadership development.
Who Should Attend
- Emerging leaders preparing for greater responsibility
- Frontline supervisors and managers
- Experienced executives seeking renewed perspective
- Leadership teams looking to establish a common leadership language
- Educators, coaches, and mentors
- Military and public safety professionals
- Healthcare and nonprofit leaders
- Human resource and organizational development professionals
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Anyone committed to leading with authenticity, integrity, and purpose
Training Format
Method: A highly interactive leadership development experience featuring self-assessments, facilitated discussion, peer learning, individual reflection, small-group exercises, and practical application. Participants connect research to their own leadership challenges and develop strategies they can implement immediately.
Length: 16 hours, including required pre-work and post-work activities.
Participant Experience: Participants complete validated assessments, engage in collaborative learning, examine personal leadership behaviors, and create an individualized development plan grounded in The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®.
The Big Idea
Leadership is not about position.
It is about behavior.
The most respected leaders consistently model values, inspire others, challenge the process, enable people to act, and encourage the heart. Those behaviors can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time.
Extraordinary leadership is not reserved for extraordinary people.
It is the result of ordinary people making intentional choices, one interaction at a time.
