Leadership UB is founded upon the principles of the Social Change Model for Leadership Develpment, which was created by a team of scholars working under the auspices of the Higher Education Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles in 1993.
Each year we present at least one workshop based upon the Social Change Model.
You can find out more about the Social Change Model and purchase the guidebook at the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs.
In keeping with the ideals of the Social Change Model, we affirm that:
- Leadership is viewed as a process rather than a position
- Participatory leadership enhances student learning and development
- Leadership competence is achieved through collaborative learning
- Service is a powerful tool for developing student leadership capabilities
In addition, the Social Change Model holds that the following "Seven C's" - seven core values - are essential to the study of leadership. You can see how each one of these values connects to one of our five competencies for Emerging Leader certification, which are in parentheses.
Consciousness of self and others through self reflection means being aware of the values, emotions, attitudes, and beliefs that motivate one to take action, including how one understands others (Personal Achievement).
Congruency means thinking, feeling and behaving with consistency, genuineness, authenticity, and honesty toward others (Personal Achievement).
Commitment implies intensity and duration. It requires a significant involvement and investment of one’s self in the activity and its intended outcomes. It is the energy that drives the collective effort (Personal Achievement, Community Stewardship, Professional Development).
Collaboration is the primary means of empowering others and self through trust. Collaboration can occur when one has trust in the diversity of multiple talents and perspectives of the group members and the power of that diversity to generate creative solutions and actions (Team Leadership, Global Perspectives).
Common Purpose is to work with shared aims and values. It implies the ability to engage in collective analysis of the issues at hand and the tasks to be undertaken. It requires that all members of the group participate actively in articulating the purpose and goals of the leadership development activity (Team Leadership, Professional Development).
Controversy with Civility recognizes two fundamental realities of any group effort: that differences in viewpoint are inevitable and valuable, and that such differences must be aired openly but with civility (Global Perspectives).
Citizenship describes the process whereby the self is responsibly connected to the environment and the community. It acknowledges the interdependence of all involved in the leadership effort. Citizenship thus recognizes that effective democracy involves individual responsibility as well as individual rights (Community Stewardship).
Source: A Social Change Model for Leadership Development - Higher Education Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles.