LEADing What’s Next Certificate

Leading What’s next

Leading What’s Next is a cohort-based leadership development curriculum designed for Charlotte supervisors and managers of full-time employees. This curriculum focuses on enhancing critical leadership soft skills, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge they need to be successful and impactful leaders. It is delivered in a cohort format to foster peer learning and networking among campus leaders. To earn a certificate, participants must complete at least five of the seven offered courses; these courses include:

Delegate to Elevate

This course will explore the art and science of effective delegation. Participants will learn how to identify tasks suitable for delegation, select the right individuals, provide clear expectations, and offer the necessary support. The course will also delve into the importance of trust-building, accountability, feedback, and recognizing and rewarding delegated work.

Strategic Communication for Leaders

This course will delve into the principles of the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott. This book provides a framework for communicating direct, honest, and kind feedback to coworkers. Participants will learn how to balance caring personally with challenging directly and how to give and receive feedback effectively even when it is critical. In this session participants will explore real-world scenarios and practical exercises to apply Radical Candor principles in their leadership roles.

Meeting Mastery: Running Productive and Effective Meetings

This course will equip participants with the skills to plan, lead, and facilitate productive and efficient meetings. Participants will learn how to set clear objectives, create effective agendas, manage meeting dynamics, and follow up on action items. Participants will learn about time management techniques, decision-making strategies, and the use of technology to enhance meeting productivity. This course will also explore the four types of meetings described in Patrick Lencioni’s book Death by Meeting and when they should be utilized.

Resolving Conflict: Building Relationships for Managers

This course will explore various conflict resolution strategies, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Participants will learn how to identify and address conflict early, manage emotions effectively, and find common ground. The course will also cover specific techniques for resolving conflicts among employees as well as conflicts occurring between managers and employees.

Building a Culture of Accountability

This course will provide participants with the tools and techniques to navigate difficult conversations with employees. Participants will learn how to deliver constructive feedback, address performance issues, and hold employees accountable in a fair and respectful manner. The course will also cover Charlotte’s progressive discipline process and help managers ensure they are addressing concerns appropriately and equitably. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the skills and confidence to effectively address performance issues and navigate difficult conversations with their employees.

Future-Focused Leadership

This course will introduce participants to the fundamentals of strategic and continuity planning. Participants will learn to analyze their department’s current standing, identify opportunities and threats, develop strategic goals and objectives, and create action plans. The course will also cover the importance of aligning strategic plans with the university’s values, mission, and 10-year plan. It will review continuity planning strategies so organizations do not miss a beat if an employee leaves.

Leading Well-being

This course will explore various topics related to leadership and employee well-being. Participants will learn how to develop emotional intelligence, manage stress, and achieve work-life balance. The course will also cover strategies for retaining top talent, building high-performing teams, and fostering a positive work environment. Through interactive scenarios, participants will practice selecting the most effective responses to employee situations, demonstrating empathy and care while maintaining a realistic and business-focused approach.

Class dates

The classes of the Spring 2025 Leadership Cohort and Fall 2025 Leader Cohort are taking place on the following dates:

Class	Spring 2025 Cohort Dates	Fall 2025 Cohort Dates
Delegate to Elevate	Monday, February 17 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, September 15 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Strategic Communication for Leaders	Monday, March 3 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, September 29 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Meeting Mastery: Running Productive and Effective Meetings	Monday, March 17 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, October 13 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Resolving Conflict: Building Relationships for Managers	Monday, March 31 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, October 27 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Building a Culture of Accountability	Monday, April 14 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, November 10 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Future-Focused Leadership	Monday, April 28 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, November 24 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Leading Well-being	Monday, May 12 9 to 10:30 a.m.	Monday, December 8 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Application for the 2025 Spring Cohort

Apply for the 2025 Spring Cohort using the Google form.

Training Focus Survey

Not sure which five courses to take? The Learning and Organizational Development Team have developed a 360 Leadership Survey that can help leaders get an understanding of their leadership strengths and limitations. After applying to participate in a cohort the Learning and Development Team will offer you the opportunity for you to benefit from this type of assessment. The anonymous survey is sent to your direct reports, peers, and supervisor to provide feedback on specific leadership abilities; you will then receive the results which could provide information for areas of growth on your leadership journey.

Questions

If you have any remaining questions about the LEADing What’s Next Certificate please contact the Learning and Organizational Development team at hrtraining@charlotte.edu.