UPLIFTS Hybrid Course

Have you wanted to lead more dynamic projects, engage more effectively with team members, optimize your and others’ strengths, and create change in your organization and community?

UPLIFTS is a fast-paced, 10-hour intensive course that will prepare you to lead your own projects, build equitable and engaged teams, navigate conflict while creating opportunities for growth, and propel the fields of public health education, healthcare, and health administration to ignite forward-thinking systems that can withstand the next health crisis. 

During this 10-hour intensive hybrid course, you will learn the top TEN ways leaders in public health education UPLIFT their professional leadership goals at any level. You will learn how to:

1. Maximize your personal strengths to lead yourself and others
2. Implement adaptive leadership to transform teams and organizations
3. Develop and communicate your leadership philosophy 
4. Build a cohesive and functional team 
5. Leverage your emotional intelligence to mediate common disputes
6. Use conflict as a springboard for positive change
7. Assess for change readiness and build momentum
8. Use systems-thinking to convene partners
9. Elevate collective impact through equity and justice
10. Develop, implement, and assess your own leadership action plan

Ten advanced-level continuing CECHs are being offered.

Module 1: Leader Within

Description
In this introductory module, leadership characteristics will be discussed.  Learners will gain an understanding of how personal growth and development can exemplify good character and how professional development and mentorship can help to hone skills in leading others.  A key focus will be on how learners can develop their own character and position themselves to showcase their own leadership skills. Topics of the following 5 modules will be introduced

At the end of Module 1,
1. Explore at least five personal leadership strengths.
2. Identify up to three areas of leadership growth.
3. Identify six pillars of leadership that support ethical decision-making in health education.
4. Develop a leadership philosophy.

Module 2: Transition to Team Leadership

Description: 
In this second module, leadership within a team is discussed.  Learners will gain insight into the skills required for being effective team members and facilitating teams.  The six pillars of the character covered in module 1 will be expanded upon to include how each characteristic applies to ethical decision-making and how to distribute equitable responsibility and power among team members. A reading assignment will provide depth to the topic and provide learners with practical application. Transitional challenges, team member equity, and problem-solving using ethical leadership will be shared and illustrated in a case study. An assessment of team leadership skills will help learners identify the next step in their personal leadership plan. 

At the end of module 2, learners will;
1. Identify at least five characteristics of effective teams.
2. Describe how at least five cross-cutting skills can be applied to team leadership.
3. Demonstrate at least three team leadership skills using a case study. 

Module 3:  Leader-Oriented Approaches to Conflict

Description
The third module in the UPLIFT series will introduce a strategy for conflict management.  Leadership-oriented approaches to conflict management will be presented.  A case study will demonstrate how leaders bring disagreements into the open and address them. Using their own examples, learners will participate in the asynchronous discussions of how conflict can be transformative for the development of effective teams.  Tools for managing conflict in teams and organizations will be shared.  Additional competencies will be added to the learner’s personal leadership plan.

At the end of module 3, learners will;
1. Describe why conflict management is a leadership skill. 
2. Identify tips to create greater emotional intelligence to react to conflict during times of change.
3. Define at least four approaches to manage conflict among team members. 
4. Demonstrate at least two conflict management strategies.

Module 4: Change Leadership

Description: 
The fourth module focuses on change management. Learners identify key decision-makers and the people who influence them. Learners will practice persuasive communication, and implementing a healthy process for organizational change.  Managing risks and challenges associated with change, overcoming resistance, and building a positive change culture will be introduced in a case study. 

At the end of module 4, learners will;
1. Identify a change process in your organization.
2. Identify a champion for the change.
3. Develop a strategic change management plan for your organization.
4. Demonstrate how persuasive communication can lessen resistance to change.

Module 5: Systems-Level Change Agents

Description: 
In the final module, learners use logical systematic approaches to break down and solve problems. By leveraging expertise and contacts, the advanced leader incorporates innovative solutions into strategic decision-making that develops new partners and businesses. Learners will explore and have the opportunity to apply strategies to create trans-organizational systems based on common values and facilitate the integration of cultural sensitivity and competence.  Finally, learners discuss ways to empower others through the use of effective leadership traits; integrity, credibility, enthusiasm, commitment, honesty, and caring.

At the end of module 5, learners will;
1. Describe why systems thinking is a leadership skill.
2. Use systems thinking to advocate for health equity. 
3. Practice strategies for maintaining an environment that fosters a continuous commitment to improved leadership.