EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

ELDP Program Details

The Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) has been designed to respond to the emerging personnel needs the insular governments continue to face by providing customized leadership training to insular government employees. Program participants will meet four times over the course of one year to develop skills in leadership, management, government finance, procurement, and auditing.

Graduation Requirements

The Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is an intensive, year-long program that includes on-site sessions, virtual sessions, and between-session assignments. To graduate from the ELDP, participants must:

• Attend all virtual and in-person sessions
• Actively engage and participate in all activities
• Communicate openly and in a timely manner with ELDP staff and participants
• Complete all assignments promptly and comprehensively
• Build, monitor, and follow an Individual Leadership Development Plan
• Contribute positively to project teams

The ELDP curriculum, outlined below, may be adjusted to accommodate the unique needs of each ELDP cohort. A final schedule with corresponding deadlines will be shared during the opening session of the ELDP. The anticipated assignments and deadlines are as follows:

During Program Preparation

All participants must complete two extensive surveys: the Leadership Effectiveness Inventory (LEI) and the Social Style Model (SS). These surveys, completed by participants, their supervisors, peers, and subordinates, provide 360° feedback on leadership and management behaviors. Participants must ensure their assessors complete the LEI and SS surveys promptly.

Prior to traveling to participate in the first session of the ELDP, the following activities must be delivered:

• Complete the LEI/SS (participant).
• Ensure completion of the LEI/SS by the participant's supervisor.
• Ensure completion of the LEI/SS by three of the participant’s peers.
• Ensure completion of the LEI/SS by three of the participant’s subordinates (if applicable).
• Obtain a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the participant’s supervisor and ELDP managers.
• Indicate project team preferences.
• Participate in a virtual orientation session.

During In Person Session #1

The kickoff session, scheduled for January 13-17, 2025, in Guam, includes various activities to help participants build an ILDP and initiate long-term activities. During this session, participants will:

• Develop relationships with participants, program instructors, and other stakeholders.
• Recognize their behavioral preferences, professional strengths, and areas for growth.
• Identify their social style and appreciate style versatility.
• Enhance self-awareness as a leader and learn leadership fundamentals.
• Discover the stages of team development and be assigned to a team project.
• Engage in team-building activities to facilitate successful team dynamics.
• Complete a draft project plan for team projects.
• Draft an ILDP based on insights gained during the week.

During Virtual Sequence #2

Assignments during Virtual Sequence #2 are derivative of the first in-person session, serving as a roadmap for subsequent weeks. Participants will:

• Select a mentor and complete a mentoring contract
• Write a status report on mentoring meetings
• Seek approval of their Individual Leadership Development Plan (ILDP)
• Write a status report on the progress of their ILDP
• Conduct and report on leadership interviews
• Complete assignments on a selected leadership book

Virtual Sequence #2 also creates an opportunity to think about leadership in the context of the Pacific Islands and the challenges unique to island governments. Specifically, participants will:

• Learn about the “5 Seeds of Leadership”
• Report on and adjust their ILDP
• Present the status of their team project

During In Person Session #3

The second in-person session, scheduled for April 7-11, 2025, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, focuses on an in-depth case study of “Micro-Poly,” a fictional government facing challenges common to Pacific island governments. Participants will:

• Meet individually with program advisors to update their ILDP.
• Learn about the process of working on a team.

During Virtual Sequence #4

Virtual Sequence #4 includes demand-based content and learning activities. As participants move toward the final in-person session, they will:

• Conduct and report on leader interviews.
• Write a summary of what they have learned from leader interviews.
• Write a summary of ILDP accomplishments.
• Prepare for their final team project presentation.

In Person Session #5

The capstone session, scheduled for July 30-August 5, 2025, in the Republic of Palau, features guest speakers, topics of interest to the participant class, and a final presentation of team projects. During this session, participants will:

• Engage in demand-based learning.
• Hear from guest speakers.
• Participate in capstone activities.
• Present their final team project report to a panel of advisors, including representatives from the Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.
• Write a Program Impact Paper describing their learning over the course of the program.

ELDP Skills Development

Session #1: Leading Self: Participants gain insight into their own leadership strengths and areas for improvement by reviewing results of two 360° instruments and participating in a variety of class activities. They also develop an Individual Leadership Development Plan (ILDP) to address their developmental needs. They leave the session with a schedule for ILDP implementation and due dates for reporting on other assignments throughout the program.

Session #2 and #4: Leading Others: Participants learn how to combine passion, reason, choice, empathy, and discipline to lead others effectively by participating in highly interactive and experiential classroom activities.

Session #3: Leading Institutions: Participants are immersed in an in-depth case study to learn about the fiscal and economic challenges of small island governments and to develop policy advocacy skills.
 

Session #5: Capstone – Looking to the Future: The final session is dedicated to reinforcing concepts learned throughout the year, making final team project presentations, and celebrating the participants’ learning during the ELDP. Participants will also create personal growth plans that focus on their next steps in developing as a leader.

During each of the above weeks, various guest speakers will address the group, and ELDP faculty will meet individually with participants to track their progress.

 

ELDP Session Descriptions

Program Preparation: Communication and complete assignments

• Provide Biodata
• Submit Supervisor Memorandum of Understanding
• Indicate Team project preferences
• Complete Social Styles assessment (participant, supervisor, peers, and subordinates)
• Complete Leadership Effectiveness Inventory (participant, supervisor, peers, and subordinates)
• Consider possible mentors
• Connect with ELDP alumni
• Share an introductory video with classmates

In-Person Session #1: Leadership Fundamentals - Leading Self and Teams

• Extend a warm welcome and set the tone for the program
• Provide an overview of the program, timeline, assignments, and expectations
• Build community and relationships among participants, ELDP staff, and other stakeholders
• Begin the process of self-awareness as a leader
• Learn about the importance of feedback and how to make the most of it
• Develop a shared understanding of leadership fundamentals
• Establish project teams and set them up for success
• Offer numerous opportunities for questions, answers, and feedback

 Virtual Sequence #2: Five Seeds of Leadership – Leading Others (Part 1)

• Share best practices for virtual etiquette and engagement
• Maintain progress on individual leadership development plans and meet one-on-one with a coach
• Reinforce leadership concepts learned in IPS1
• Engage with mentors, conduct leader interviews, and read leadership materials
• Develop new leadership skills by knowing and sowing the Five Seeds of Leadership
• Sustain project team progress through presentations and feedback
• Support participants individually as they review their feedback and begin setting development goals

In-Person Session #3: Micro-Poly Case Study – Leading Institutions

• Continue to develop relationships and community among the cohort
• Interpret and use financial and economic information from government and consultancy reports
• Develop alternative policy reform options to address issues relevant to island jurisdictions
• Synthesize and communicate issues, findings, and policy recommendations to decision-makers
• Demonstrate effective policy advocacy skills using various leadership concepts and principles
• Recognize individual leadership skills in need of further development
• Prepare to undertake higher-level leadership positions in communities, organizations, and governments

Virtual Sequence #4: Five Seeds of Leadership – Leading Others (Part 2)

• Develop new leadership skills by knowing and sowing the Five Seeds of Leadership
• Maintain progress on team projects and Individual Leadership Development Plans
• Provide opportunities for demand-driven content (informed by ILDP group challenges)
• Facilitate team presentations and feedback in preparation for the final in-person session
• Engage in ongoing mentoring and leadership interviews
• Conduct one-on-one coaching

In-Person Session #5: Capstones, Celebrations, and the Road Ahead

• Synthesize lessons learned throughout the program
• Incorporate demand-based content and activities based on cohort needs
• Prepare participants to sustain their leadership development beyond the ELDP
• Deliver final team presentations to an esteemed panel of judges
• Reflect on lessons learned from team processes and presentations
• Identify and commit to next steps with the ILDP
• Celebrate the success and growth of ELDP participants
• Gather program feedback

ELDP Schedule

The current schedule for the 2025 ELDP session is as follows:

DATE	ACTIVITY
August 30, 2024	ELDP Announced; Applications Received
November 1, 2024	Application Process Closes
December 6, 2024	Candidates for the ELDP class of 2025 Announced
December 9, 2024 - January 12, 2025	Program Preparation: Communication and complete assignments
January 13 - 17, 2025	In-Person Session #1 - Leading Self and Teams. Class hosted by Guam.
February 3 - March 10, 2025	Virtual Sequence #2 - Leading Others.
April 7 - 11, 2025	In-Person Session #3 - Leading Institutions. Class hosted by RMI.
April 21 - June 30, 2025	Virtual Sequence #4 - Leading Others (Part 2).
July 30 - August 5, 2025	In-Person Session #5 - Capstone - Looking to the Future. Class hosted by Palau.