Valerie I. Sessa

College Student Leadership Development introduces the idea that we all play a part in producing leadership and that learning how to participate in the process of leadership is something that all college students need to learn as part of their college academic experience. Rather than approaching leadership from the traditional model emphasizing specific skill sets, this book acquaints students with how to learn leadership using the ReAChS model of leadership development (Reflection, Assessment, Challenge, Support). It then encourages students to directly engage their own experiences to hone their leader identity and understanding of leadership as well as improve their leadership knowledge and skills. Step-by-step exercises lead students in reflecting on their experiences, assessing themselves, choosing challenges, creating support networks, and finally capturing and communicating to others what they have learned. Throughout, examples of student leaders’ experiences provide readers with powerful examples of others’ successes and struggles in leadership alongside the latest psychological research on learning and development.

College Student Leadership Development introduces the idea that we all play a part in producing leadership and that learning how to participate in the process of leadership is something that all college students need to learn as part of their college academic experience. Rather than approaching leadership from the traditional model emphasizing specific skill sets, this book acquaints students with how to learn leadership using the ReAChS model of leadership development (Reflection, Assessment, Challenge, Support). It then encourages students to directly engage their own experiences to hone their leader identity and understanding of leadership as well as improve their leadership knowledge and skills. Step-by-step exercises lead students in reflecting on their experiences, assessing themselves, choosing challenges, creating support networks, and finally capturing and communicating to others what they have learned. Throughout, examples of student leaders’ experiences provide readers with powerful examples of others’ successes and struggles in leadership alongside the latest psychological research on learning and development.

There is already considerable literature on learning at the individual level and a growing body of literature on group and organizational learning. But to date, there has been little attempt to bring these literatures together and link learning at all three levels. Continuous Learning in Organizations targets learning at each of the three levels and demonstrates how processes at one level impacts learning at other levels. At the heart of the work is the idea that individuals, groups, and organizations are living systems with internal learning mechanisms that can be activated and supported or stymied and thwarted. Once activated, systems can learn adaptively by reacting to a change in the environment; they can learn by generating new knowledge and conditions; and/or they can transform by creating and applying frame-breaking ideas and bringing about radically new conditions. Individuals, groups, and organizations are nested within each other forming an increasingly complex hierarchy of intertwined systems. From this point of view, the book describes the interactions between the levels and how developmental processes at one level affect learning at other levels. The text appeals to both the scientist and professionals alike in the fields of human resource development, training, management and executive education, coaching, and organization change and development. It is also for executives who establish directions for learning and need to convince others that continuous learning is the key to on-going success of their enterprise.

There is already considerable literature on learning at the individual level and a growing body of literature on group and organizational learning. But to date, there has been little attempt to bring these literatures together and link learning at all three levels. Continuous Learning in Organizations targets learning at each of the three levels and demonstrates how processes at one level impacts learning at other levels. At the heart of the work is the idea that individuals, groups, and organizations are living systems with internal learning mechanisms that can be activated and supported or stymied and thwarted. Once activated, systems can learn adaptively by reacting to a change in the environment; they can learn by generating new knowledge and conditions; and/or they can transform by creating and applying frame-breaking ideas and bringing about radically new conditions. Individuals, groups, and organizations are nested within each other forming an increasingly complex hierarchy of intertwined systems. From this point of view, the book describes the interactions between the levels and how developmental processes at one level affect learning at other levels. The text appeals to both the scientist and professionals alike in the fields of human resource development, training, management and executive education, coaching, and organization change and development. It is also for executives who establish directions for learning and need to convince others that continuous learning is the key to on-going success of their enterprise.