Saline Leadership Institute

Two Day Kick-off Retreat

Our program is launched with a two-day retreat led by Diane Biondi Mukkala, Head of Daycroft Montessori School.  The purpose of this retreat is to create an excitement for learning, build participants into a learning community, introduce Peter Senge’s Five Disciplines and learn how to envision and create possibilities through personal growth.  At the retreat you will:

• Reflect on your personal values and create a vision for yourself that will spark future action
• Develop a basic understanding of Peter Senge’s Five Disciplines: Personal Mastery, Shared Vision, Mental Models, Team Learning and Systems Thinking
• Learn about what makes a leader
• Participate in a visioning session for the Saline Area Community that develops an understanding of the needs, challenges and opportunities facing the community
• Become bonded into a learning community reflective of trust and openness.

“Laughter, friendships, building trust and sharing insights are a big part
of what happens, along with significant personal visioning work.”

Personal Mastery – Insight

This Personal Mastery session is conducted by Pat Everett, owner and principle consultant of Insight, Inc.  During this session you will learn about yourself and others through the Insight Personality Instrument.  This will give you a new perspective on how to appreciate and capitalize on your own and others' strengths and differences.

“This is a whole new way of understanding people.
I would recommend this workshop to family and friends.”

Team Learning – Conflict Resolution

During this Team Learning session, conducted by Betsy Maxwell, Learning Consultant, you will develop knowledge and skills to understand and manage conflict.  Through discussion and interactive exercises you will learn how to apply this knowledge to address conflict that arises in your professional and personal life.

“It was valuable to see how different people
address and resolve conflict in their lives.”

Systems Thinking

Our Systems Thinking session is taught by Paul Morris, Systems Engineering Manager at Visteon.  Paul uses over two decades of experience to bring the concepts of Systems Thinking to life for our participants.  This interactive session will enhance your knowledge about these valuable concepts and how to apply them to better understand your organization and community, how they work and what it takes to improve them.

“I came away with a good understanding of how the 'entire' system
works – often we fail to see what lies below the water line.”

Shared Vision / Team Learning

Our participants enjoy this outdoor team building experience facilitated by Kurt Roy-Borland, teacher and director of the Saline Outdoor Education Center for the past 14 years.  During this energizing session, you will learn what it takes to be an effective team member and develop personal insights about yourself.  You will experience first hand knowledge and skills required to build a high performance team in your organization.

“The strongest part of the workshop was the overall teamwork
and how it made each exercise easier to complete.”

Personal Mastery – Marketing

Dan Stotz, Director of Strategic Partnerships at University of Georgia Terry College of Business, uses real life examples to explore and analyze effective marketing strategies and tools.  You will learn about essential concepts needed to develop a successful marketing strategy for you and your organization.

“Another amazing session that is applicable in all areas of life!
I never thought about marketing being part of my job, but it is!"

Shared Vision

During this learning session Bill Lavery, Adjunct Professor at Eastern Michigan University, explores the role of individuals in building communities and addressing community needs.  You will gain knowledge about issues facing communities, how to address problems and use your  talents to advance and sustain your community.

“For me it was the emphasis on dialogue rather than discussion.”

Personal Mastery – Idea Mapping

Jamie Nast, author of "Idea Mapping," teaches participants a powerful whole-brain visual thinking tool that enhances memory, organization and communications.  You will leave this session equipped with new skills that will improve your ability to analyze, remember and apply information and concepts.

“I had an 'aha' moment of how Idea Mapping
can  work.  I can’t wait to use this!”

Mental Models

Our Mental Models session is taught by Laila Howard, psychology teacher at Saline High School and the University of Michigan. Participants explore the different ways people think about the world and draw conclusions.  This learning discipline helps you better understand and recognize your internal "picture” of the world and how it shapes your actions and decisions.

“Very enlightening - learning how people are shaped to have the beliefs
they do and how those beliefs can be influenced was very important.”

Next Steps

During our final session facilitated by Margaret Nowak, art therapist, artist, and educator, you will participate in a series of activities to define what leadership and community have come to mean to you.  The session ends with a graduation ceremony to acknowledge this special learning community and your accomplishments.

“The talking stick activity was very powerful!”