Northern Leadership Development Program – Level 2

Program Eligibility

Applicants must be identified by their employer as strong candidates to participate fully in the program and integrate their learning into their respective workplaces.

Completion of NLDP Level 1 is preferred. Otherwise, some formal leadership experience, training or corresponding certificate is required, and eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.  In lieu of formal leadership training, a description of their leadership journey is requested to help determine the appropriate level of learning.

For those students who have not completed NLDP Level 1, they will attend a mandatory two-day pre-entry workshop delivered before Module 1 start.

The student must have a designated mentor that is aligned with their developmental goals and can commit to this vital role for the duration of the program, which averages about one to two hours each month with the exception of the first month and the final month of the program where the mentors are invited to attend an online orientation session and parts of the final, ninth module.

Applicant Assessment

Applicants will be accepted based on the program eligibility criteria and on the recommendation and support of their employer.

Program Admission

Applicants will be admitted based on the program eligibility criteria, subject to space availability.

Program Information

The NLDP courses will be delivered over an academic year. Students will earn a Record of Achievement after successfully completing all of the required modules. Further information about the courses is available in the NLDP Student Guide which will be provided to the students.

Students must attend all online and face-to-face activities scheduled for the program onsite in the Yellowknife area. Each program course will require attendance on two days for Modules 1 – 8 and four days for Module 9. In consideration of the work schedules of the students, the course dates and start and finish times will be scheduled to align with industry-imposed travel arrangements, where possible, and will be shared as part of the program delivery schedule.

Mentors are requested to attend a one day Mentoring Workshop, and part of a second day on the second module of the program, as well as the ninth module, Leadership in Action.

Program Objectives

NLDP Level 2 focuses on enhancing the leadership skills and capabilities of students who already have some foundational knowledge and experience in leadership roles. The program aims to further develop their leadership competencies and prepare them for more advanced leadership responsibilities. The content is based on materials from NLDP Level 1.

Here are the overall program objectives:

1. Enhancing self-awareness: Develop a deeper understanding of their strengths, challenges, values, and leadership style. Encourage reflection and self-assessment to identify areas for personal growth.
2. Developing interpersonal skills: Enhance students’ ability to communicate effectively, build relationships, and collaborate with others. Emphasize active listening, empathy, and conflict management skills.
3. Strengthening strategic thinking: Enable students to think strategically and make informed decisions. Develop their ability to analyze complex situations, anticipate challenges, and identify opportunities.
4. Cultivating resilience and adaptability: Prepare leaders to navigate change, uncertainty, and ambiguity. Provide tools and strategies to manage stress, handle setbacks, and embrace continuous learning.
5. Building team leadership capabilities: Develop students’ skills in leading and managing teams. Focus on team dynamics, fostering a positive team culture, and empowering team members to achieve goals.
6. Promoting diversity and inclusion: Foster an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership. Enhance students’ ability to lead diverse teams and create an inclusive work environment.
7. Enhancing decision-making skills: Strengthen students’ ability to make effective decisions based on data, critical thinking, and ethical considerations. Introduce frameworks for decision-making and problem-solving.
8. Developing leadership presence: Enhance students’ executive presence and influence. Focus on public speaking, presentation skills, and communication.
9. Promoting innovation and creativity: Foster an environment that encourages innovation and creative thinking. Develop students’ ability to generate and implement new ideas.
10. Encouraging continuous improvement: Instill a mindset of continuous learning and personal growth. Encourage students to seek feedback, engage in self-reflection, and set development goals.

The NLDP Level 2 delivery focuses on applied leadership principles and skills for NLDP graduates or current northern leaders who have other leadership training and/or leadership experience. It follows the topic areas of Level 1, Modules one to nine, taking the content to a deeper level with specific focus on leadership in action.  It includes the following:

• Pre-entry workshop for those who have not completed the NLDP Level 1
• Administration of EQi 2.0 360-degree feedback assessment and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (if not already completed)
• Review of key leadership models, principles, skills, and tools related to each module content area based on NLDP Level 1 content
• One-on-one coaching at the beginning, middle, and end of the program delivery.
• Mentor chosen by the participant and employer to support the process throughout. In addition, the mentor participates in the 2^nd module and the 9^th module
• Commitment to applied learning goals, reflections, and content review in between each module.
• Post-administration of EQ 360 assessment.
• In-person delivery for the first module (Personal Development), and the ninth module (Leadership in Action). All other modules would be virtual. The last module would join with the concurrent NLDP Level 1 cohort.

Using the overall program objectives and the models, tools, and theories from NLDP Level 1, the learning outcomes for each module include:

1. Application:
   • Apply leadership theories to analyze and evaluate leadership effectiveness in case studies.
   • Demonstrate effective communication skills in a leadership context.
   • Develop strategies for motivating and inspiring team members.
   • Utilize problem-solving techniques to address leadership challenges.
2. Analysis:
   • Analyze different leadership approaches and their suitability for various organizational contexts.
   • Evaluate the strengths and challenges of different leadership approaches.
   • Assess the impact of leadership on team dynamics and performance.
   • Identify potential barriers to effective leadership and propose solutions.
3. Synthesis:
   • Determine how their personal leadership philosophy/purpose statement based on acquired knowledge and insights applies to the leadership concepts and theories.
   • Design a leadership development plan for oneself.
   • Generate innovative leadership strategies to address complex organizational issues.
   • Combine leadership theories and practical experience to make informed leadership decisions.
4. Evaluation:
   • Critique the effectiveness of different leadership practices and suggest improvements.
   • Assess the ethical implications of leadership decisions.
   • Evaluate personal leadership development progress and identify areas for further growth.
   • Judge the impact of personal leadership development on individual and organizational outcomes.

Completion Requirements

Students must successfully complete all of the courses/modules in the NLDP. To successfully complete a course, a student must attend at least 60% of the course hours and participate in the prescribed activities as directed by the facilitator of the course. A student who does not attend 60% of the course hours for a course, or who does not participate as directed by the facilitator, will fail the course.

The Mentoring Workshop course (    ) is to be taken by the mentors of the students, not the students.

Document of Recognition

Record of Achievement.