Leading from the Middle: Leadership Skills & Strategies

I feel more confident in my ability to advocate for what I think is right and issues at our institution that should be identified and corrected. I feel more confident in asking questions about current processes and barriers to change.
—2021-22 LFM Academy participant
LFM requires me to step outside of my comfort zone. It has helped me feel more confident in myself and in my strengths. It has also allowed me to see where I could use some work, particularly in engaging resistance effectively and in bringing various stakeholders to the table. The LFM curriculum and my work as a coach have been a key factor in contributing to my professional character and my development as a leader.
—2020 LFM Academy coach
I have grown tremendously as [a] leader throughout this year. I feel my confidence has grown, and I am being heard in my current role. I will forever be grateful for this experience and opportunity.
—2021-22 LFM Academy participant
I think the biggest takeaway for me in regards to leadership is that leadership takes on many different forms and that it doesn't necessarily come from the top. Leaders can step forward and step back allowing others to take on leadership. It was [because of] LFM that I even considered stepping up and applying as one of our GP faculty leads. It was also through our LFM team that I received encouragement to even apply for the position.
—2019 LFM Academy participant
Leadership involves calculated risk, coherence, collective inquiry, belief, and courage. I have learned that I am going to fail, I am going to make mistakes, and I will feel discouraged; however, when these things happen, I have learned that these setbacks are opportunities for learning, developing, and growing as a professional.
—2021-22 LFM Academy participant
I have been able to think more critically about institutional change and the role of data in creating this change and the impact on different departments, faculty, staff, students, and administrators in the process. For example, when trying to implement a project, one of the first steps I take is [to look] for the evidence and data to frame the project. I never did this in the past.
—2020 LFM Academy participant

Overview

To close equity gaps and increase student success, California community colleges require middle leaders who can lead substantial transformation efforts that go beyond system-maintaining to system-changing practices. To do so, middle leaders need to develop and deepen their skills and strategies to “lead from the middle'' by thinking systemically, acting collaboratively, and leading courageously with urgency and care. Developing middle leaders cannot be incidental, and colleges cannot rely on emerging leaders to find their way to independent professional learning. Given their essential role in the change process, colleges must invest in leadership development opportunities for their middle leaders. This type of leadership development requires support, dedication, and time.

Leading from the Middle (LFM) provides a unique opportunity for cross-functional teams composed of tenured and adjunct faculty, administrators, classified professionals, and researchers to have a dedicated space (both virtual and face-to-face) to cultivate leadership skills and knowledge, gain new mindsets, and learn from one another. LFM engages former program graduates to serve as coaches and facilitators to support the learning process. As middle leaders they bring real-world experience that augments and contextualizes the LFM curriculum.

LFM Academy participants will have the opportunity to do the following:

Engage in experiential learning to explore effective leadership strategies that contribute to fostering inclusive student-centered institutions.
Formulate and articulate a collective and individual equity-minded leadership identity
Develop and implement a project that advances systemic equity-focused, student-centered reform efforts.
Apply leadership skills and strategies to their day-to-day work and LFM project.
Examine data, research, and other forms of evidence to make informed decisions to advance their LFM project.
Create sustainable professional relationships where peers share ideas and strategies around equity and transformative change.
Work with a designated coach who will provide support and guidance throughout the LFM Academy

2023-24 LFM Academy Participants

Two LFM Statewide Academies will be offered in 2023-24 in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Each academy is comprised of 12 teams with up to six participants each.

LFM Academy I Participants

Chabot College
Chaffey College
College of San Mateo
Fresno City College
HCATEP/College of the Redwoods
Mission College
Modesto Junior College
Saddleback College
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College/Santiago Canyon College
Santa Rosa Junior College
Shasta College

LFM Academy II Participants

Cabrillo College
Fullerton College
Imperial Valley College
Madera Community College
Merritt College
Norco College
Riverside City College
Sacramento City College
San Bernardino Valley College
Santiago Canyon College
Taft College
West Los Angeles College

Leading from the Middle

Overview

2023-24 LFM Academy Participants

LFM Academy I Participants

LFM Academy II Participants

The RP Group strengthens the abilities of California Community Colleges to gather, analyze, and act on information in order to strengthen student success.