The Daily Bulletin Archive

Buffalo State’s newest leaders are in the making.Leadership development is part of Buffalo State’s strategic directions, which include a commitment to “empower leadership at all levels, promote representative and inclusive governance, and provide superior services to the campus community.”

“Being a leader is about being strategic versus just knowing how to be a manager,” said Marie Mance, director of leadership development. “There’s a delicate balance in higher education of succession and bringing in new people and ideas. The leadership programs we offer at Buffalo State help good people think more broadly about what they’d like to accomplish, what they’d like to learn, and how to position themselves as people others would think of first for leadership support.

“Leadership is teachable,” she continued. “The key capacities needed for effective leadership— self-awareness, systemic thinking, and creativity—are developable.”

Two leadership programs—“Achieving Success through Leadership” (ASL) and “Emerging College Leaders” (ECL)—stemmed from planning via task forces created in conjunction with the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan. By the 2005–2006 academic year, the first sessions of both programs had launched.

The third installment of ASL, a yearlong program tailored to department chairs, directors, and managers, will be under way soon. ECL, an abbreviated program for other faculty and professional staff members, begins this May. The fourth installment will include roughly 15 members from across campus.

Both programs—which were developed by Mance, the Strategic Planning Office, and the International Center for Studies in Creativity—focus heavily on self-awareness as the key to effective leadership.

Christine Cali knows that well. A recent ECL graduate, she presented creative problem solving tools at last week’s annual conference for the National Student Exchange.

“The program helped me look at my own leadership style and grow,” said Cali, an assistant with the Special Programs Office. “I gained the necessary skills to generate more ideas and look at situations from different angles, which leads to a more comprehensive solution.”

Don Erwin, associate vice president for information systems and services, is also a recent ECL graduate. As a result of the program, he established relationships with many people he might not have otherwise met and also gained a new perspective on leadership that was helpful in creating the Banner system.

“At first, I didn’t consider myself a leader, particularly because I didn’t have many support staff members reporting to me,” said Erwin. “But I learned that actions and communication are what define a leader, not just an assigned role. I think the more faculty and staff who can participate in leadership development programs will help effect positive change.”

Susan Hall, a lecturer and coordinator of business marketing and education, said her training last May could not have come at a better time. She had just become president of the Business Teachers Association of New York State.

“The group was in need of strategic changes,” said Hall, “and the Emerging College Leaders program helped me learn how to better brainstorm and provide creative organization. With a team, I helped develop a mission, vision, and tagline, as well as increase and provide greater value to our members.”

This year, about 10 participants will experience the intensive ASL program, which includes 360-degree assessments, a series of workshops, monthly group meetings, and individualized coaching and development plans. The ECL program will run over the course of two weeks in May, with follow-up meetings later in the year. Sessions include a series of self-assessment tests, workshops, and individual development planning.

“Everyone is in a different place and has different development needs,” said Mance. “Feedback is so important because it helps you know if the things you’re trying are working. People may tell you things you never would have known. For effective leadership development, it’s all about undergoing assessment, being challenged while you learn, and having support to grow.”

All of last year’s ASL participants agree they feel more confident as leaders within their departments, are able to apply skills in their daily responsibilities, and are better able to handle challenging interpersonal situations.

Erwin said that other campuses are “insanely jealous” that Buffalo State offers leadership development programs—particularly with support at the highest level as part of strategic goals. Mance echoes Erwin’s sentiment.

“Our campus prides itself in helping others learn and getting them to think about developing leadership skills to, in turn, help others,” she said. “The overall idea is that if everyone does a little something, the college as a whole will move forward.”