This document provides an overview of a leadership session on workforce challenges. It includes: 1. Questions for a community briefing on the most essential workforce challenge and how to invest resources to maximize impact. 2. A list of things learned about effective workforce leadership, such as adopting a wide view, building diverse networks, and encouraging experimentation. 3. Information on partners and contributors to the workforce leadership project, led by Social Policy Research Associates.

1. YES,THIS IS THE
LEADERSHIP
SESSION
VINZ KOLLER, KRISTIN WOLFF
& YOU
SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

2. SPRINGFIELD
PROSPERITY
PRIZE
COMMUNITY
RESPONSE
BRIEFING
VINZ KOLLER, KRISTIN WOLFF
& YOU
SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

3. Your briefing should address the
following questions:
1. In your view, what is the most
essential workforce challenge this
initiative could help us address in the
next five years?
2. How would you invest foundation
resources to maximize our impact on
this challenge? How will you know if
we’re successful?

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6. THINGS WE’VE
LEARNED ABOUT
WORKFORCE
LEADERSHIP
SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

8. 2. BUILD DIVERSE
1. ADOPT A WIDE-ANGLE NETWORKS
POINT OF VIEW
Leaders collaborate with partners creatively,
using informal networks alongside traditional
Leaders look for new ways to apply their re-
boards or policy councils.
sources and expertise. They focus on commu-
nity problems, not just workforce problems.
3. EMBRACE OPENNESS
4. ENCOURAGE Leaders share the role of leadership with staff,
EXPERIMENTATION partners, and the public. They use social tech-
6. CULTIVATE NEXT nologies to listen, inform, and collaborate.
Leaders know workforce development needs
GENERATION LEADERS new ideas, and new ideas need testing.
Leaders build skills and share knowledge in
in their communities.
5. ADD UNIQUE VALUE
THE FUTURE OF WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP:
can make a real difference in their communities.
Only those who add value remain relevant.
WEADERSHIP

9. 1
ADOPT A
WIDE-ANGLE
POINT OF VIEW

10. 2
BUILD
DIVERSE
NETOWORKS

11. 3
EMBRACE
OPENNESS

12. 4
ENCOURAGE
EXPERIMENTATION

13. 5
5
ADD UNIQUE
VALUE
ADD UNIQUE
VALUE

14. 6
CULTIVATE
NEXT
GENERATION
LEADERS

15. STRATEGY
INFORMATION
& ANALYSIS
PEOPLE
NARRATIVE

16. US Department of Labor, National Association of Counties, National Association of
Workforce Boards, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors
Association, National League of Cities, US Conference of Mayors, California
Workforce Association, 102 Individual Workforce Leader Contributors (to Date)
Flickr Friends: Letter P (takomabibelot);
SF Library (ahockley); Diverse Networks
(US Army Environmental Command, Ft.
Meade, pas.ca); Open (gsimmonsonca);
Board Meeting (isgce); (jdanvers); M&Ms
(averain).
SPR Research Team: Vinz Koller, Kristin Wolff, Trace Elms, Alison Gash, Ricki
Kozumplik, with assistance from Annie Nyborg and Miloney Thakrar
Follow us on Twitter: @WFLeadership
For more information: www.weadership.org

17. Enhancing Workforce
Leadership is a project of:
Seeded with support from:
The US Department of Labor Employment
and Training Administration