This document outlines an agenda and provides details about an Aspiring Leaders Program at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The agenda includes a leadership training case study, lessons learned, transferable tools, and application time. The program aims to develop leadership competencies for non-supervisors through a mix of online courses, assessments, developmental assignments, and monthly discussions over 12 months. Key elements include a program orientation, leadership assessment, individual development plan, structured learning experience, and end-of-program writing assignment. The program leverages low-cost technology and aims to provide leadership development despite a limited budget.

1. ASTD Session W306
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN ON A
DIME

2. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

3. Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

4. Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

5. Program Activities
 FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM
 Program Orientation
 Leadership Assessment/Development Plan
 Completion of assigned ATFOnlne courses
 Participation in monthly competency discussions
 SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAM
 Strengths-Based Leadership book study
 Continuation of monthly discussions
 Completion of (1) Structured Learning Experience
 Final writing assignment and 2nd development plan

6. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

7. Sample Advisory Group
Tasks/Input:
 Clarifying Scope/Length of the program
 Prioritizing first-line supervisory competencies
 Reviewing alternative AL programs
 Selecting Content
 Sequencing Content
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

8. Team member roles,
responsibilities
 Refine program objectives and success measures
 Review alternative Aspiring Leaders programs
 Sample LearnATF courses
 Work with other SMEs to review program
 Select content, sequence program activities
 Clarify scope/length of the program
 Draft implementation plan for rollout

9. Anticipated process
 Program Assessment (25%)
 Who is this certificate program for?
 How long should it be?
 What is the program supposed to produce/provide?
 How will we know we’re successful?
 Program Design (40%)
 What activities, content should be included?
 What’s the right mix of individual and common (group) developmental activities?
 How can we pretest the content to make sure its effective?
 Program Implementation (35%)
 How do we roll this out?
 How do we evaluate the program in process?
 How do we report on program results?

10. Program Overview
 Required for Everyone:
 2 hour video-based Program Orientation
 Leadership self-assessment
 Documented IDP
 Structured learning experience
 Participation in monthly cohort discussions
 Final program reports
 Optional Requirements:
 Details, formal developmental assignments
 Supplemental Activities:
 Leadership Resource Center
 LearnATF Abstracts
 Virtual Book Club (post-program)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

11. Program Snapshot
 JAN 2010
 ATF Leadership
Competency, Self-  MAR 2010
Management  ATF Leadership Competency, Integrity
 Online courses and Ethics
 Web meeting  Online courses
 IDP review (employee and  Web meeting/Office of the Chief Council
supervisor)
 Mid-program evaluation and
focus group (LI)  APR 2010
 FEB 2010  ATF Leadership Philosophy – Panel
 ATF Leadership
Competency, Decisiveness  MAY 2010
 Online courses
 Strengths-based Leadership
 Web meeting
 Part I, Investing in your Strengths, pp 5-17
 StrengthsFinder 2.0 Assessment
 Web meeting
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

12. Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

13. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

14. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

15. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

16. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

17. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

18. About ATF
At The Front Line Against Violent Crime
ATF is a unique law enforcement agency in the
United States Department of Justice that
protects our communities from violent criminals,
criminal organizations, the illegal use and
trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage
of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts
of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol
and tobacco products.
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

19. Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

20. We had only $1,000.00 to launch this program—no
travel money was available…

21. Introduction: The ATF Aspiring Leaders Program is a multi-faceted
program which includes a mix of formal coursework, self-assessments,
developmental assignments, and other activities aimed at identifying and
developing leadership skills of non-supervisors:
 An entry-level (certificate) program for non-supervisors at or below the
GS-13 level (Stepping Up to Leadership);
 Informational assistance to help supervisors develop leadership
competencies of non-supervisors. Resource: Supervisor’s Toolkit;
 An advanced-level program for non-supervisors (Leadership
Enhancement Program-Revised); and,
 The deployment of introductory curriculum on leadership across ATF
programs (e.g., New Employee On boarding, ATF Academy, ATF Live,
etc.) to introduce the leadership competencies and behaviors
emphasized at the agency.
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

22. Purpose
 The primary goal of the SUTL Program is to develop six core
ATF Leadership Competencies:
 Organizational Awareness
 Plan, Organize and Prioritize
 Teamwork and Collaboration
 Decisiveness
 Self-Management
 Integrity and Ethics
 An additional goal of the SUTL Program is to provide an
opportunity for individual assessments
 A final goal is to provide individuals with an assessment of
their leadership strengths

23. Key Requirements
 12-month program includes:
• 90-minute program orientation
• Completion of Leadership Assessment
• Program IDP w/supervisor
• Structured Learning Experience
• LearnATF online leadership training; monthly discussion
• Assigned reading on leadership
• End-of-Program writing assignment

24. Program Description
 The 12-month program included a mix of
 Formal coursework
 Self-assessments
 Developmental assignments
 Other activities aimed at developing leadership
skills of non-supervisors

25. Leveraging Technology
 SkillSoft training courses/LMS
 getAbstract book summaries/LMS
 Web meetings (Adobe Connect/Saba Centra)
 Instant messaging for team break-outs

26. Monthly Discussion Process
• Teams are pre-assigned specific questions
• Discussion leaders arrange virtual meeting with
team to discuss
• Discussion leader or designate presents team’s
question at monthly training session.
• All participants must attend and participate.

27. Results
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28. Lessons Learned
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29. Transferable Tools
 Metrics for leadership development programs
 Structured learning templates (SMEs)
 NEW: Learning Assets Inventory
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch

30. Leadership Metrics
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31. QUESTIONS?