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Today, Patrick graduated from Siena College’s Leadership Advancement Series, his second from such courses. This course focused on management skills such as emotional intelligence, trust, communication, managing conflict, leading change, HR, employee engagement and performance, and strategic planning.

At the end of a class, participants were each given a book written by an author authoritative on the next topic. The books served as the foundation for the lectures in class.

Patrick recently completed The Leadership Institute offered by the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The excellent program focuses on 6 areas: leadership and strategic thinking, communication, work-life balance, financial management, HR and organizational development, and board development and service. The program is unlike other Chamber-run leadership programs for two primary reasons:

1. There is a strong focus on breaking down barriers between participants from the outset. The benefits of this effort pay off immediately and throughout each session, as participants feel safe and free with each other to share their own experiences. Suddenly, each participant realizes that they’re not the only one with issues to overcome, and, other people in the room who’ve gone through it before can point you in the right direction.

2. The course is highly participatory. Instead of showing and telling, participants participate. This facilitates learning, and makes internalizing the ideas being presented more likely.

Patrick found it to be an extremely valuable program and would recommend it to anyone who would like to put a steering wheel on their career. If you’re in the area, check it out!