Leadership Leap | Cooper Center

Styled after LEAD, and utilizing the typical teams for small group work, Leadership Leap is for those who are first time supervisors or rising stars in your organization.

Again, and again our friends in local government related that one of the toughest organizational challenges is preparing their employees for supervisory roles. Still relying on the principles that make our programs special - context, environment, and connection, we created the curriculum to meet this challenge.

Leadership Leap will include the following workshops:

Leadership in Constitutional Culture
Unlocking your Strengths
Presence, Public Speaking, and Presentation Skills
Supervisory Transition
Managing and Leading Different Personalities, Generations, and Expectations
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Maximizing Leadership Impact
Building a Healthy Workplace Culture
Leading through Change
Project Management Essentials
Stress Management and Life-Work Integration.

Leadership Leap will begin October 4^th at 1:45 pm and end around 1:30 on October 10^th.

Fees & Cancellation Policy

The LEAP fee is $5,500 for 2025. The fee includes instruction, lodging, most meals, and materials. A 10% discount is available for members of the Virginia Institute of Government. Payment in full is due 60 days before the start of the program.

Information You Will Receive in Advance of Program

With your LEAP welcome email, we will send you:

Materials to help you plan your visit, including hotel and parking information; details on getting to Charlottesville whether it is by plane, train, bus or car; and recommendations for places to visit while you are here.
Program schedule that includes meeting times and places.
Additional information about meals, required evening activities, and other details, like meeting etiquette, attire, as well as recommendations for getting the most out of the LEAP experience.
Pre-work to do in advance to better prepare for your experience.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel more than 2 weeks in advance of the program start date, you will forfeit half of the tuition cost. No refunds can be made within 2 weeks of the start date. However, substitutions may be made with our advance approval. We greatly appreciate notification ASAP of any need to cancel.

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Leadership Leap Workshop Descriptions

Leadership in Constitutional Culture: Local government operates differently from state, federal, nonprofit, and private sectors. This session explores the unique dynamics between staff, elected officials, and the community — essential knowledge for managers and leaders striving to navigate and lead effectively in the local government context.
Unlocking your Strengths: Our natural talents are more than personal traits —they’re a powerful source of potential. This session helps participants discover how to harness their unique ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving to boost confidence, improve focus, and increase productivity through strengths-based development
Presence, Public Speaking, and Presentation Skills: Skilled actors capture attention and leave lasting impressions — skills that are just as valuable in everyday communication. This session explores proven techniques actors use to engage audiences and shows how these methods can be adapted to enhance clarity, presence, and impact in a wide range of professional communication settings.
Supervisory Transition: Stepping into a supervisory role requires a shift in mindset and communication. This session will help new supervisors navigate the transition from individual contributor to team leader by exploring communication styles — both verbal and nonverbal — and how to build effective relationships across teams. Participants will gain strategies to foster trust, adapt to different communication preferences, and avoid common pitfalls in managing people.
Managing and Leading Different Personalities, Generations, and Expectations: In today’s workplace, collaboration across varied personalities, age groups, and perspectives is essential. This session explores how to build strong, strategic teams by understanding and adapting to different communication styles, values, and expectations to foster unity and drive results.
Giving and Receiving Feedback: Effective feedback is essential for accountability and high performance. In this session, managers and leaders will learn and practice specific skills to deliver and receive feedback in ways that strengthen trust, improve outcomes, and support professional growth.
Maximizing Leadership Impact: Effective leaders focus their time and energy where it matters most. This session will help participants sharpen their ability to prioritize, delegate work to the right people, and use coaching techniques to support motivation, development, and performance.
Building a Healthy Workplace Culture: Workplace culture shapes how we work, connect, and lead. In this session, participants will explore practical strategies for fostering trust and building strong connections — key ingredients in creating and sustaining a positive, inclusive culture.
Leading through Change: Change is a constant in today’s work environment, and effective leadership requires the ability to navigate it skillfully. This session equips participants with practical tools and strategies for managing change, including how to think strategically and leverage data to support successful transitions.
Project Management Essentials: Project management is a vital skill set in any professional setting. In this workshop, participants will gain practical tools for setting goals, developing work plans, allocating resources, and mastering other key project management techniques.
Stress Management and Life-Work Integration: To have long, healthy lives we must be able to manage stress. This session will offer opportunities for reflection on your stresses and specific strategies for stress management.