Leaders by Design (LbD): Becoming a Leader Worth Following

Course Syllabus

COURSE INSTRUCTOR:

Colonel J. William “Bill” DeMarco

Air University

Director of Staff

Office: 953-2224

Email:

Lt Col Duane D. Gunn, PhD

Air Command and Staff College

Department of Leadership and Strategy

Office: 953-7767

Email:

Lt Col Brande Walton

Air Command and Staff College

Department of Leadership and Strategy

Office: 953-7767

Email:

OBJECTIVE:

Course Description: The concept of Leaders by Design(LbD) is simply to be intentional and deliberate in how we develop ourselves as leaders. The military has many leadership programs—but until we take responsibility to develop ourselves—we will fail to meet the leadership challenges of the future.

The Current Situation

Our environment has changed—it is more complex, volatile, and unpredictable. As such, the skills needed for leadership have also changed—more complex, anticipatory, and adaptive thinking and leading abilities are needed.

The methods used to develop leaders globally have not changed (much).

The majority of leaders are developed from on-the-job experiences, training, and coaching/ mentoring; while these are all important, leaders are no longer developing fast enough or in the right ways to match our new environment.

The Challenge Ahead

This is no longer just a leadership challenge (what good leadership looks like); it is a development challenge (the process of how to grow “bigger” minds).

Leaders have become experts on the “what” of leadership, but novices in the “how” of their own development.

In this elective we will spend time examining the arena of leadership development. We will experience visiting lectures from a myriad of civilian entities that will discuss and expose us to leadership development outside the military. As we work through the course, students will experience an in-depth analysis of their own strengths and weaknesses. The course is divided up into four sections which mirror the development of a leader. 1) Know Yourself to Lead Yourself, 2) Lead Yourself to Lead Your Organization, 3) Culture and Innovation, 4) Accelerant. We hope to wrap the course up with a volunteer visit to the Leadercast Conference in Atlanta GA, 6 May 2016 (out of pocket funding and volunteer only, we will coordinate to miss ACSC that day).

Visiting experts will include:

Simon Sinek: is an author best known for popularizing the concept of "the golden circle" and to "Start With Why",described by TED as "a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?"'. He joined the RAND Corporation in 2010 as an adjunct staff member, where he advises on matters of military innovation and planning. His first TEDx Talk on "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" is the 3rd most viewed video on TED.com. His 2009 book on the same subject, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009) delves into what he says is a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in the biology of human decision-making, that explains why we are inspired by some people, leaders, messages and organizations over others. His latest book is Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t.

Andy Christiansen, CEO of High Capacity Leaders, Atlanta GA. He is a nationally renowned thought leader on the topic of identifying "what matters most!" Working primarily with Gen Y leaders (21 to 31 years old) and those who are trying to lead Gen Y (45+ year old CEO's and business owners). Andy co-created Fruit2O® the first no-calorie fruit flavored water that caused a ripple effect of an additional 21 brands worldwide resulting in well over one billion dollars in annual sales. He is the author of The 40:40 Principle, a book that reveals the surprising power of strategic rELBtionships in this post information age economy. With experience in all three major economic sectors, he advises CEO’s and top leaders in business, military and non-profit organizations, like Coca-Cola, U.S. Air Force, Chick-fil-A, the Mattress Firm, Team Novo Nordisk and Northwestern Mutual.

Jason Womack: Jason has the unique ability to take people as they are and focus their individual abilities to reach their very best. His compassion and empathy, two words not often used in productivity coaching, are immense and those attributes help to propel those he works with in-person, online and through his writings to new heights with little resistance and maximum effectiveness. Jason understands that each of us plays many roles – leader, partner, spouse, son, friend, community volunteer, athlete – and to succeed in each of these roles requires a core set of practical and actionable skills that can be learned and honed by anyone with a bit of direction, motivation and support. He is the CEO and Founder of The Jason Womack Company, an advisor to leaders worldwide and author dedicated to helping individual contributors, entrepreneurs and executives work effectively and efficiently so they have the time, energy and focus to achieve more in work and in life.

Jeremie Kubicek: Served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Maximum Impact, Inc. and Injoy, Inc. Mr. Kubicek Co-Founded Giant Partners LLC. He has successfully served hundreds of organizations in the marketplace as an entrepreneur, speaker, publisher, executive and civic leader. In the past 12 years Jeremie has experienced success, both nationally and internationally, by serving clients with attention to results, strategic growth, leadership development ... and applied wisdom. He has founded or co-founded multiple businesses both domestically and internationally in market research, outsourced consulting, e-commerce retail, strategic positioning and revenue generation. In Moscow, Russia, Mr. Kubicek Co-founded Moscow Economics School. It is now the largest private school in the former Soviet Union. During that period of time, his company successfully impacted Fortune Union. During that period of time, his company successfully impacted Fortune 500 and other International firms during the formidable transition years to a new economy. Mr. Kubicek Co-founded GiANT Partners. He Co-Founded and is also Publisher of Revenue Generators, the Chief Executive Officer publication, focused on the results and business insight of leaders in the marketplace. He enjoys speaking and writing and sharing his growth tactics to positively affect clients, organization and ultimately the economy

Nicole Pinkham: Senior Training Consultant at Alabama Training Institute Auburn Montgomery. Nicole serves as the Senior Training Consultant for the Alabama Training Institute. Her professional interests include training and development, coaching, curriculum development, as well as delivering motivational keynotes. Mrs. Pinkham manages and directs training and consulting projects for the Institute and has worked with numerous municipal and state government clients including the Alabama Department of Transportation, Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs, Alabama Department of Revenue, Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, and The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Services. Nicole Pinkham serves as an instructor and consultant for the Alabama Certified Public Manager Program©, Director of the AUM Leadership Academy, the lead trainer of AUM’s Emergency Preparedness Program, and as a motivational keynote speaker for conferences throughout the Southeast.

Amy Norton: Is a senior associate with GiANT Worldwide. Amy has worn many professional hats post college and graduate school -- teacher, art gallery director, fundraiser, event planner, writer, managing editor -- which has allowed her to experience a wide range of work environments. Whether it’s a large, corporate setting, a solo practice, or the frenetic, messy startup world, the common denominator of sustainable success in any organization is consistent, secure leadership. Expertise and resources are important, but it’s a leader’s capacity to leverage individual abilities for the greater good of the whole team that enables vision to become reality. Amy is a bridge builder and enjoys helping develop skills and processes that allow others to see not only the vision, but a well-defined, forward path.

CAPT David Marquet (USN Ret): Captain David Marquet imagines a work place where everyone engages and contributes their full intellectual capacity, a place where people are healthier and happier because they have more control over their work–a place where everyone is a leader. ​David is the author of Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. Fortune magazine called the book the “best how-to manual anywhere for managers on delegating, training, and driving flawless execution.” Captain Marquet was assigned to command the nuclear powered submarine USS Santa Fe, then ranked last in retention and operational standing. He “turned his ship around” by treating the crew as leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This revolutionary approach not only took the Santa Fe from “worst to first” in the rankings, but also created more subsequent leaders than any other submarine. Stephen R. Covey called the Santa Fe “the most empowering organization [he’d] ever seen”and wrote about Captain Marquet’s leadership practices in his book, The 8th Habit.

Dr. Patricia Maggard: Is Chief Program Assessment and Evaluation, Spaatz Center, Maxwell Air Force Base Alabama. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a cognate in Psychology. Dr. Maggard has presented a series of guest lectures in campus and community forums to share experiences from her dissertation and analysis of contemporary issues in the United States. Dr. Maggard is an adjunct Psychology Professor at Alabama State University and Huntingdon College. Dr. Maggard is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Alabama Psychological Association. In her capacity at Maxwell AFB, she provides expert academic knowledge in the areas of assessment; curriculum development; and, presents many different assessment instruments for professional and personal development. Additionally, she is the chief advisor for Faculty Development; designing and developing continuing faculty development workshops; coaching and mentoring faculty in the Teaching Principles of Adult Education course and the Advanced Principles of Instructional Design course. Dr. Maggard and her husband Archie, Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff, reside here in the capitol city.

Col Lee Ellis, USAF (ret):Lee Ellis is founder and president of Leadership Freedom® LLC, a leadership and team development consulting company. He consults with Fortune 500 senior executives in the areas of hiring, teambuilding, leadership and human performance development, and succession planning.He is also a speaker and the author of the award-winning book, Leading With Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, in which he shares his experiences as a Vietnam POW and highlights leadership lessons learned in the camps.For more information, please visit

James “Hondo” Geurts: Is a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acquisition Executive, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for all special operations forces research, development, acquisition, procurement and logistics. He has served as an acquisition program manager with engineering and program management leadership positions in numerous weapon systems including intercontinental ballistic missiles, surveillance platforms, tactical fighter aircraft, advanced avionics systems, stealth cruise missiles, training systems, and manned and unmanned special operations aircraft. He commanded an Acquisition Group, served as the Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing Programs at USSOCOM, and was Commander, Joint Acquisition Task Force Dragon, an elite team of USSOCOM and Service acquisition personnel responsible for executing USSOCOM’s most urgent acquisitions in response to wartime Critical Mission Needs Statements. He retired from the Air Force in the rank of Colonel in Jul 2009 after more than 21 years of active duty.

EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS:

  1. Book Review (25%)
  2. Leadership Profile (LP): Select a leader and ponder his/her personality type in comparison of yours. What do you admire, where are his/her flaws, what do you believe is the leader’s MBTI? (25%)

OR

  1. Research paper suitable for publishing on a leader, leadership, or leadership development topic of the students choosing. (50%)

-- The book review and LP will equal 5000 words or research paper of 5000 words

ALL Students

  1. Presentation of LP or research paper to the class—15 (+/- 5) minute presentation on your selected leader (25%)
  2. Class Contribution (25%)

REQUIRED TEXTS:

  1. Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 1-1, Leadership and Force Development,

November 2011. (PDF)

  1. Gordon MacKenzie, Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace(New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1996) ISBN 0-670-87983 (224 Pages)
  1. Andy ChristiansenThe 40: 40 Principle: Are You Really Connected or Just Linked? How to Create Powerful, inspiring Conversations That Lead to Greater Success(Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2010) ISBN 978-1-4497-0071-3 (136 pages)
  1. Jason W. WomackYour Best Just Got Better: Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More(Hoboken, NJ: Jason Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2012) ISBN 978-1-118-12198-6 (272 pages)
  1. Simon SinekStart with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action(New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009) ISBN 978-1-59184-644-4 (256 pages)
  1. Jeremie Kubicek, Making Your Leadership Come Alive: 7 Actions to Increase Your Influence(New York, NY: Howard Books, 2011) ISBN 978-1-4516-2635-3 (240 Pages)
  1. David Marquet, Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders (Portfolio Publishing, A Penguin Random House Company, 2013)ISBN: 978-1591846406 (272 pages)
  1. Lee Ellis: Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, (FreedomStar Media, Cumming GA , 2014) ISBN978-0983879329 (256 pages)

Total Page Count: @1650

LESSON STRUCTURE

Guest Speakers/Course Offering: We will have guest speakers for a number of classes. We are currently prepared to teach ELB and ELC.

ELB/C 1– Know Yourself to Lead Yourself: Leadership 101 (please have Judgment Index completed prior to class)21 October 2015 and 6 January 2016

Lesson Description: After introductions, course and syllabus review, and discussion of expectations and deliverables, the class will begin to examine the art of you. It is important to have a solid understand of who you are and what makes you tick before stepping into any leadership position. We will discuss the Center for Creative Leadership’s model of horizontal and vertical leadership development. Andy Christiansen will be our guest and will present The Judgment Index—a leadership assessment.

READINGS: The 40: 40 Principle: Are You Really Connected or Just Linked? How to Create Powerful, inspiring Conversations That Lead to Greater Successby Andy Christiansen: (136 pages)

  • Review HCL’s website:

ELB2—Leading with Honor: Leadership DNA (please complete the DNA assessment prior to class).28 October 2015

Lesson Description: Col Lee Ellis will be with us to discuss his book “Leading with Honor” as well as his leadership consulting theories and business. Col Ellis will introduce us to the Leadership Behavior: The DNA report will look at 10 unique leadership styles and help students discover theirs.

READINGS: Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hiltonby Lee Ellis: (256 pages)

  • ReviewLeadership Freedom’s website:

ELC 2–Start with Why & Turn This Ship Around: Simon Sinek/David Marquet Day 13 January 2016

Lesson Description: Simon Sinek and David Marquet will visit Air University to tour and speak at our schools. We are fortunate to grab some time with Simon to get his thoughts on leadership in an intimate setting. Simon’s latest book; “Leaders Eat Last” is a must read at ACSC and an excellent book to guide your leadership journey. In the book, Simon looks at the biological foundations of human behavior and relationships, and focuses on how we can use these fundamentals to build better organizations. Leaders are responsible for creating an environment where people collaborate to protect, prosper, motivate -- and innovate.

Fortune magazine called David Marquet’s book the “best how-to manual anywhere for managers on delegating, training, and driving flawless execution.” Captain Marquet’s Intent-Based Leadership model is turning around all types of organizations—from big manufacturers to start-ups and sport teams to government.

READINGS: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Actionby Simon Sinek (256 pages)

  • Review Simon’s website:
  • Review David’s website:

ELB/C3 – Your Best Fit Experience (please complete your MBTI assessment prior to class)4 November 2015 and 27 January 2016

Lesson Description: We will spend some time dissecting our MBTI types, examining our strengths and our kryptonite. We will take MBTI to the next level. In addition to understanding where we get our energy, and how we process information, make decisions, and live life—Type Dynamics will help us understand how we interact with others. Nicole Pinkam will visit from Auburn University: a true master of all things Myers-Briggs.

READINGS: Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet (272 Pages)

ELB/C 4—Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Lesson Description: When emotional intelligence first appeared to the masses in 1995, it served as the missing link in a peculiar finding: people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70% of the time. This anomaly threw a massive wrench into what many people had always assumed was the sole source of success—IQ. Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack. Dr Pat Maggard will walk us through how we can measure our EQ

READINGS: None

ELB/C5 – The Five Gears and Five Voices

Lesson Description: Leadership is all about trust and relationships, which in turn build influence. How well we connect determines the quality of our relationships. Greater good/liberating leaders use their influence for the benefits of others. We will look at a day in the life of a leader through the lens of having a variety of gears—a powerful tool developed by GiANT. The “driver” is required to shift up and down through various gears in order perform various functions. In the second half of the class we will look at the Five Voice model and overlay that on our MBTI indicators and begin to touch on organizational change. Amy Norton from GiANT Worldwide will visit.