Category Archives: Leadership & Teams

Business Bits: Welcoming a New Generation into the Workplace

Born after 1996, our newest generation is on the workforce horizon:  Generation Z.  Also called GenZ, iGen, and the Cloud Generation, these post-millennials were the first to conduct childhood friendships on portable devices, a skill that has come in handy during COVID-19.  They’ve mastered the art of achieving an entire conversation with images (emojis).  Independent, pragmatic, stubborn, and always in a rush, Generation Z will bring a new challenge to corporations.   That’s if they arrive as workers on the corporate scene at all.  Most reports say over 75 percent of GenZ-ers want to start their own company and not work for others.  If they do arrive on the corporate scene, how will they want to be trained and supported at work? Continue reading Business Bits: Welcoming a New Generation into the Workplace

NOVA Workforce’s Vice President Speaks on ACTE Panel

Northern Virginia Community College’s VP of Workforce Development, Steve Partridge, participated in a panel at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Career Tech VISION 2017 in Nashville.

The panel, titled “From Policy to Practice,” highlighted recent policy changes in each of the panelist’s states. The panel members discussed challenges and best practices of connecting educators with employers, among other workforce development topics. Continue reading NOVA Workforce’s Vice President Speaks on ACTE Panel

Management Tips from Kermit the Frog

America’s hardest-working frog has a few things to say about good management practices. From emotional intelligence to team building, project management, contract management, and risk and change management, Kermit has a lot of experience in managing a diverse team.

Kermit has always been the leader of The Muppets. He’s a brave risk-taker who inspires the people around him to do their best… Seriously – what business wouldn’t want a level-headed frog like Kermit running the show? (SimplyHired, June 2015)

Management Tips from Kermit the Frog

Are you a new manager? A little green on leadership skills? (sorry – we couldn’t resist the pun!) Check out our Management Practices Certificate program, with 9 courses that will teach you the essential skills of being a manager.

An overlooked skill, Emotional Intelligence, is essential to anyone in a leadership role.

“Always stay calm. Never let your team see you get red in the face. —Of course, that’s much easier when you happen to be green.” (Kermit the Frog)

Additional management tips from Kermit:

  • “Support your team!”
  • “Make a schedule each day and stick to it.”
  • “Read over your contracts carefully!”
  • “Be prepared for [anything].”

Of course, management skills can be put to good use even if you are not managing a team, a project, or a hilarious troupe of Muppets. We all have natural leadership skills, and NOVA Workforce Development is offering a new class this fall, called Leading Where You Are (Manassas Innovation Park, November 7, 2015).

Wondering how some leaders are able to inspire employees to go the extra mile? If you have a staff that is diverse and multi-talented, you need to understand social intelligence and how it affects interactions with co-workers, customers, and business associates. Leadership Using the Social Intelligence Model will be held on November 14 in Woodbridge.

Of course, we have many courses that will help you strengthen your management skills. Check out our new MyWorkforce online course listing and registration portal for a listing of Leadership and Management courses being offered at our NOVA campus locations this Fall!


If the video below fails to load, watch Kermit’s “Top 5 Management Tips” video online at ABC.com or on YouTube.

<iframe width=”704″ height=”396″ src=”http://abc.go.com/embed/VDKA0_pws0nm6o” frameborder=”0″></iframe>

 

The Muppets premieres Tuesday, September 22 on ABC.

The Muppets Studio, LLC, formerly The Muppets Holding Company, LLC, is a wholly owned entertainment subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media Labs, formed in 2004 through The Walt Disney Company‘s acquisition of The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House assets from The Jim Henson Company.

Leadership: Truths, Trends and Training

Leaders can be iconic, causing a shift in how people approach leadership.  Unfortunately, a leader who really changes things—a company, a product, or an industry—often causes a “guaranteed success!” rallying cry that is doomed to fail for many. After all, leadership, at its very core, is unique to each company and each individual. Some people can respond to a leader who is authoritative and dynamic; others may perform better under a leader who acts as a mentor to the team. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership; leaders must think beyond themselves, and develop their skills at every level.

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” ~ Jack Welch

Leaders are human, first and foremost. They may not have graduated magna cum laude. They might have strange habits that inspire them. They might wear the same outfit every day to put more energy where it belongs. They’re just like us, only NOT like us. And they might not even be in positions of leadership.

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” ~ Lao Tzu

Today’s leaders are tasked with adapting to an ever-evolving workforce that is highly diverse and tech-savvy. Since Baby Boomers are now heading into retirement, younger generations—including internet-native Millenials—are assuming leadership roles earlier in their careers. Teams and mission drive progress more than hierarchy and duties.

Compton City, CA, Mayor Aja Brown made history in June 2013 as the youngest Mayor the city had ever elected. Her leadership has created positive changes in the city, with Compton’s crime rate dropping 25% and an urban renewal underway. Aja Brown was one of nine leaders featured in Leadercast 2015, “The Brave Ones.” The one-day event, held at NOVA’s Annandale Campus, featured leaders from many diverse backgrounds, but all shared the same essential quality of bravery in leadership.

Bravery is … reserved for those whose innovation in their industry cause them to stand out from the crowd, whose unyielding effort and error push their organizations into new territories, and whose boldness compels them to stand up for those less fortunate. [VIDEO: highlights from Leadercast 2015]

BlogCollage_1200x800

 

In our shifting economic landscape, leadership is evolving. Gone are the days of seniority and perks. Today’s leaders are mission-driven, team-centric, and flexible. Here are some essential skills that can help you become a more effective leader, and all are taught through NOVA’s Workforce Development Division.

  1. Learn to cope with change.
    Change is going to happen. Understanding change and risk, and how they are related, is both an art and a science. A good leader should know how to acknowledge and handle change, and reduce stress induced by it. [July 2015 / register online]
  2. Learn to cope with conflict.
    Leaders must learn to resolve differences, reduce the potential for continued conflict, and build more positive relationships both professionally and personally. It all begins with self-analysis and understanding. [July 2015 / register online]
  3. Know your team.
    The effectiveness of a team can make or break a business. Know how teams function, including individual and group dynamics.  Learn strategies to create effective virtual teams for better collaboration and relationships. [August 2015 / register online]
  4. Know your mission.
    Your plan will undoubtedly evolve and adapt from its original idea, but every organization needs a plan to stay on track and grow. Learn how to carry out a planning process and follow through in order to keep your mission moving forward. [August 2015 / register online]
  5. Know your limits.
    Delegation is a critical skill that many leaders fail to understand. Learn how to properly delegate responsibility, authority, and accountability. Recognize things that can’t be delegated, and learn how to monitor progress without micro-managing. [July 2015 / register online]

NOVA’s Workforce Development Division has a Certificate in Management Practices for those seeking a firm foundation in management fundamentals. Many individual courses are also available in addition to the five listed above, for personal development and leadership skills training.

If you are interested in learning more about leadership, management, or just want to learn how to record your ideas and dreams so you can plan your next steps, check out our offerings at nvcc.edu/workforce.