certificate
program
learning philosophy The Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program helps you develop the skills necessary to effectively implement public policy by: n
c reating a safe and respectful environment where you can hone leadership skills
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i nvolving you in the learning experience by using subject matter grounded in your experience
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providing assessments and feedback that enable you
to enhance your leadership capacity n
roviding course content relevant to the leadership issues p you face on a day-to-day basis
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t aking pride in giving you the highest level of service, allowing your full focus on professional development
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incorporating into the curriculum the most recent
developments in building leadership capacity
challenging good managers
to become extraordinary
leaders
developing passionate
influential leaders
who act with authenticity and
integrity
distinguishing factors n
LEARN from leading scholar practitioners in the public sector
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WORK with a cohort of peers in a collaborative learning environment
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EXPLORE new ideas in the classroom
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APPLY classroom principles and techniques in the workplace
WHO EARNS A KEY EXECUTIVE leadership certificate? The successful applicant for the program
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typically holds a GS-13 (or above) rank or equivalent NGO or private-sector experience
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possesses management experience
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demonstrates significant leadership potential
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has a passion for improving public service
Application requirements
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certificate application
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rĂŠsumĂŠ, including awards, special recognition, and accomplishments
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admission interview with program director
Benefits to you and your agency Upon your successful completion of the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program, your agency will gain a leader who
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applies new talents and skills in the workplace
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is more effective and influential in the organization
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e njoys broad new perspectives on the strategic issues facing leaders responsible for program implementation
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engages in a strong network of mutually supportive leaders
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achieves goals important to the agency
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i s competent in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) necessary for appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES)
70% of
Graduates report having received a promotion
within one year
of graduation
course of study
Leading effective public policy implementation
Leadership skills for program goal setting, monitoring and evaluation
Leading organizational change to achieve results
Leading through strategic communication
Leader as a team builder and facilitator
Leading in the context of constitutional government
Transforming from managing to leading
Diagnosis of current leadership skills and creating a plan for future development
The curriculum consists of eight courses, each designed to provide substantive knowledge and increase leadership capacity. Each course is tied to one of the five ECQs for the SES as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The ECQs and corresponding courses offered are as follows:
ecq 1. Leading change Creativity & Innovation
X
External Awareness
x
x
Flexibility
x
x
x
Resilience
x
x
x
Strategic Thinking
x
x
x
Vision
x
x
Conflict Management
x
x
x
x
x
x
Leveraging Diversity
x
x
x
x
x
x
Developing Others
x
x
x
x
x
Team Building
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x x
x x x
x
x
x
x x x
x
x x
ECQ 2. Leading people
ecq 3. results driven Accountability
x
x
x
x
Customer Service
X
x
x
x
Decisiveness
x
x
x
x
Entrepreneurship
x
x
x
x
Problem Solving
x
x
Technical Credibility
x
x
x
x x x
x
x
x
x
x
ecq 4. Business acumen Financial Management Human Capital Management
x x
x
x
Technology Management
x x
ecq 5. building coalitions Partnering
X
X
Political Savvy
x
x
Influencing/Negotiating
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Executive coaching Key certificate programs uniquely invest in your individual development through coaching. Work one-on-one with an executive coach throughout the curriculum—first to create a personal development plan and then to refine it and assess progress. This process uses both knowledge gained in the classroom and the Hay Group instrument for measuring Emotional Intelligence (EI), the only EI assessment and feedback tool tested and validated using federal managers. This tool provides 360-degree evaluations from colleagues, supervisors, and customers at the beginning and end of the program to help measure progress in the EI competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Working with a coach helps you to reach your full potential by coming to terms with the realities of the insights gained in the classroom and overcoming any barriers to implementing those insights.
A customized Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program The impact of individual change is leveraged when agencies create an agency-based program. Key works with agencies to design leadership development programs that meet specific agency needs. The results include a supportive community of leaders who have developed a common language and approach to developing those they lead as they help each other sustain real change, improvement, and growth.
Agencies can customize n A development plan according to your employees’ GS level n A convenient class schedule n A curriculum designed to meet your agency’s specific needs
Agencies may also use the program to satisfy OPM’s minimum of 80 hours of formal education for a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
To develop a customized program for your agency, contact Robert M. Tobias, Director Key Executive Leadership Programs American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016 202-966-4213 301-520-9038 (Cell) 202-966-4260 (Fax)
ACCOLADES FROM STUDENTS Shortly after graduation, I interviewed for an SES position and was selected for the job. The Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program course material greatly helped me in thinking through the leadership issues related to this position, and in preparing for my interviews. The Key program played a significant role in my selection for this position. Thank you! — Key Graduate Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture The skills and theories I learned through Key will stick with me forever, and I will never forget the connections I made with my fellow cohort members. I know the material covered in Key will prove to be both relevant and highly useful to me and my career, no matter where I am or what I am doing. American University should be proud to say they are the home of the Key program. — Key Graduate Special Agent, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Until this course, I basically thought program evaluation was a bunch of travel on the part of the government employee who got to go to lots of wonderful places to meet interesting people and come back and write about the experience. Now I know there was a lot of advance and purposeful planning that went into selecting the evaluation tool, designing the evaluation criteria and developing the question route to complete a full assessment of the program/office’s policies, processes, and performance outcomes. I also know that this was necessary to determine whether my and your tax dollars were being used appropriately and wisely and probably helped to save the government money in many cases. — Key Graduate Management Analyst, National Science Foundation
American University Key Executive Certificate Program Watkins Building 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 202-885-3857 keycert@american.edu www.american.edu/spa/key
An equal opportunity, affirmative action university. UP13-444