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Connect with K-Staters this semester

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Graphic image with pictures of groups of people from 'Cats Connect sessions

 

Did you know?

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, declared loneliness a major health crisis, urging Americans to strengthen connections and community with one another*.

‘Cats Connect can help! ‘Cats Connect is designed to bring K-Staters together and strengthen the community through meaningful conversations. It’s an opportunity to meet and connect with others while building a sense of belonging at K-State. Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to participate in-person or on Zoom.

Sign up for a ‘Cats Connect group beginning the week of Feb. 10, to build and strengthen your connections!

As a Health Promoting University, K-State is dedicated to supporting the holistic health and well-being of each student, faculty, and staff member. One aspect of well-being includes social health, which is the ability to form meaningful relationships that provide support, guidance and encouragement.

‘Cats Connect has worked to improve mental health and social well-being by connecting more than 1,000 K-Staters! Building relationships can help protect against stress, anxiety and depression. Positive relationships also increase student satisfaction and retention, as well as faculty/staff engagement.

What you’ll do
Groups of 4–7 Wildcats meet once a week for an hour over five weeks, forming friendships beyond their usual social circles. During each meeting, everyone will have the opportunity to respond to a series of fun and thought-provoking questions and engage in a small connection project.

Groups will be built based on availability. Participants can select in-person (on the Manhattan campus) or virtual meetings (via Zoom). There are two spring 2025 sessions to choose from:

  • Session 1: Meets weekly beginning the week of Feb. 10, through the week of March 10.
  • Session 2: Meets weekly beginning the week of March 31, through the week of April 28.

Register for Session 1 by Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Continue reading “Connect with K-Staters this semester” →

Staley School scholars present at global conference

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Several Staley School of Leadership faculty and doctoral students represented Kansas State University at the 27th annual International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference. The conference took place Nov. 7-10, in Chicago, Illinois.

The conference theme, Architects of Change: Leaders, Followers and Communities, highlights the vital role of change-makers in the evolving landscapes around the globe. It emphasizes the importance of both people leading together in communities, reminding us that we all contribute to shaping the future.

The ILA is the largest worldwide professional community committed to leadership scholarship, practice, development, and education. Their mission is to advance leadership knowledge and practice for a better world. The annual conference draws more than 1,200 leaders and leadership professionals worldwide.

The work presented reflects the Staley School’s research priorities of advancing leadership learning and development, building civic capacity, and leading change. Presenters included faculty and graduate students.

“Our faculty and students continue to make field-changing contributions through this dynamic global community of scholars and practitioners. What we share and what we learn advances leadership learning and practice across the university and the communities we serve,” said Mary Tolar, dean of the Staley School of Leadership.

Six Staley School scholars pose in front of an ILA photo backdrop, some holding photo prop speech bubbles like "I heart leadership."

Following is a list of presentations by K-State faculty and colleagues: Continue reading “Staley School scholars present at global conference” →

Shams awarded for dissertation by International Leadership Association

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

The Staley School of Leadership celebrates Keyhan Shams, Ph.D., research assistant professor and assistant director of Third Floor Research, for his recent award from the International Leadership Association (ILA).

The Fredric M. Jablin Doctoral Dissertation Award is presented to one scholar annually  “whose doctoral dissertation research, while on any topic and from any discipline, demonstrates substantial insights and implications for the study of leadership.”

Shams’ dissertation, Bridging the Gap between Learning and Practicing Leadership: Developing New Instruments to Evaluate Leadership and Adaptation, explores how adaptive leadership ties into effective reasoning, focusing on self-awareness, role clarity, and managing conflict.

He presents new tools to measure these skills and examines the decision-making process, which he found to be emotionally and mentally challenging for leaders. His recommendations aim to help educators, researchers, and coaches support leaders in navigating these challenges, making leadership development more impactful and manageable.

“What makes me so happy about this award is that it recognizes a three-year, collaborative, and engaged effort with leadership researchers, educators, and practitioners,” said Shams. “I’m proud that the Staley School of Leadership and the Kansas Leadership Center jointly created a space where this collaboration could thrive.”

Read more about Shams’ work and ILA awards at ilaglobalconference.org/award-winners. Additionally, the latest report from Third Floor Research incorporates part of Shams’ dissertation and is available for free download from the Kansas Leadership Center website.

Keyhan Shams

Keyhan Shams, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor at the Staley School of Leadership and assistant director of Third Floor Research, a research partnership with the Kansas Leadership Center.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and design from the University of Tehran and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Iran’s Shahid Beheshti University. Recently, he earned his Ph.D. in leadership communication from Kansas State University.

Third Floor Research Sheds Light on the Need for Leadership Development in the High-Tech Industry

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

What about the problems that can’t be solved with our technical expertise? What about the problems that do not follow “If A then B logic? Workplace challenges like team conflict, burnout, or lack of communication aren’t like a computer crash that can be handed off to an expert to fix.

This article is the fourth entry of a blog series showcasing Third Floor Research’s findings. In this entry, we present the results of a study which highlights the specific needs of high-tech companies in their work environments that can be addressed through the application of leadership skills.

The graphic cover for the Third Floor Research Report, Leadership Development for Global Organizations in the High-tech industry. Over 2019-2020, Third Floor Research conducted a study on a five-week leadership development program at the Kansas Leadership Center, involving approximately 230 employees from a high-tech company across five global sites. Phase 1 of the study, utilizing a survey-based qualitative approach, explored the challenges faced by organizations and their teams in the workplace, as well as the ways peers, employees, and superiors should address these challenges. Researchers Tim Steffensmeier and Tamas Kowalik from Kansas State University, along with Tim O’Brien from Harvard University, point our attention to these challenges in their published report Leadership Development for Global Organizations in the High-tech Industry. The findings revealed a significant need for companies and corporations to saturate their workplace with leadership concepts and skills.

The study identifies eight pressing challenges reported by high-tech industry participants in their companies: Continue reading “Third Floor Research Sheds Light on the Need for Leadership Development in the High-Tech Industry” →

Join more than 1,000 Wildcats who loved ‘Cats Connect

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Looking for a way to meet new people and connect with others? Sign up for a ‘Cats Connect group beginning the week of Oct 21.

Are you looking for a way to meet and connect with other K-Staters? Do you want to help build our K-State community? If so, sign up for ’Cats Connect – a program at Kansas State University designed to build community through conversation.

As a Health-Promoting University, Kansas State University is dedicated to supporting the holistic health and well-being of each student, faculty, and staff member. One aspect of well-being includes social health, which is the ability to form meaningful relationships that provide support, guidance and encouragement.

Over the past two years, ‘Cats Connect has worked to improve mental health and social well-being by connecting more than 1,000 K-Staters! Building relationships within ‘Cats Connect can help protect against stress, anxiety and depression. Positive relationships also increase student satisfaction and retention, as well as faculty/staff engagement.

Graphic image with pictures of groups of people from 'Cats Connect sessions

‘Cats Connect is a peer-to-peer facilitated program designed to help groups of 4-6 Wildcats meet and develop friendships outside of their regular social circles. Groups meet for one hour for five consecutive weeks. During each meeting, everyone will have the opportunity to respond to a series of fun and thought-provoking questions and engage in a small connection project.

Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to participate. Groups will be built based on shared experiences and availability. Participants can select in-person (on the Manhattan campus) or virtual meetings (via Zoom). There are two fall 2024 sessions to choose from:

  • Session 2 will meet weekly beginning the week of Oct. 21, through the week of Nov. 18.

Registration for Session 2 is due by Tuesday, Oct. 15. Continue reading “Join more than 1,000 Wildcats who loved ‘Cats Connect” →

Announcing the 2025 James R. Coffman Leadership Institute: Empowered Individuals, Enhanced Institutions

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Kansas State University proudly presents the 2025 James R. Coffman Leadership Institute. This three-day institute, Jan. 8-10, 2025, will offer faculty and unclassified staff a unique opportunity to refresh and enhance their leadership skills and knowledge. The Coffman Institute serves as a launching point for continuous leadership development, professional networking, and empowerment of K-State professionals. The nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Purpose of the Institute 

The three primary objectives of this institute are: 

  1. Provide an opportunity for participants to refresh and develop their leadership skills in a safe yet challenging learning environment.
  2. Provide an opportunity for networking and interdisciplinary cooperation for faculty and staff.
  3. Infuse Kansas State University with more empowered faculty and staff leaders.

Building relationships

An essential key for leadership success in any organization is building strong relationships. Institute participants will have the opportunity to explore and initiate collaborative projects and discuss leadership issues. They will also have the chance to strengthen current relationships and to build new ones with other professionals at Kansas State University. 

Recognizing your leadership style

The James R. Coffman Leadership Institute is based on the philosophy that every individual can successfully lead. This success depends on learning leadership skills as well as recognition of one’s leadership style. Further refining of one’s leadership style, understanding its associated strengths and challenges as well as its impact on decision-making, conflict resolution, and problem-solving preferences will be a major focus of the institute. 

Institute format

The James R. Coffman Leadership Institute is a three-day experience.

Activities are arranged to maximize participant learning and engage all learning styles. Topics may include: inclusive leadership, conflict resolution, change management, leadership style assessment, shared leadership, and team building. Formats: workshops, panel discussions, small and large group activities, small group discussions, multimedia presentations, case studies, and self-assessments. 

What to expect

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a focused and in-depth adult learning experience aimed at leadership development. They will be offered knowledge and skill-based learning modules to engage them cognitively and behaviorally. Attendees will also interact with other professionals who want to make a difference at K-State. Conference activities will take place at K-State’s Manhattan campus and in the local Manhattan community. As a feature of the institute, participants will get to experience and interact with different parts of the campus and community. 

Nomination deadline: Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

Interested individuals may self-nominate, or a dean, director, or department head can nominate. In the case of a self-nomination, the nominee’s dean, director or department head will be asked to confirm support of the nominee. All nominations can be completed via the 2025 James R. Coffman Leadership Institution Nomination form. 

Prior to submitting a nomination, all applicants should be available to attend the institute in its entirety and be in good standing with their department. Please do not self-nominate or nominate individuals who have previously attended the James R. Coffman Leadership Institute. 

What previous participants have had to say

  • Over 90% of past participants reported that workshops were extremely effective-to-effective. “It was so empowering and an honor to attend.” 
  • “My biggest takeaway from the institute was not learning new leadership concepts or skills but rather an increased awareness about leading on purpose and with purpose.”  
  • “The institute has equipped me with knowledge about my strengths which will be helpful in collaborating with others on research projects and project proposal, and leading my research them. My goal is harnessing my strengths to improve my research program.” 
  • “My expectations were pretty high, and you managed to surpass them.” 
  • “Both the community building and leadership goals were definitely met.” 
  • “Very effective…well organized, meaningful sessions and activities.” 

Additional information
For additional information please contact Kait Long, Staley School of Leadership, at kaitlinl@ksu.edu or Megan Eakin, Human Resources, at meganeakin@ksu.edu.

 

Coach Jerome Tang to present What Matters to Me and Why

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

What Matters to Me and Why leadership lecture series. Image of Coach Jerome Tang, K-State Men's Basketball Coach

The Staley School of Leadership invites students, staff, faculty, and community members to kick off the 2024-25 What Matters to Me and Why leadership lecture series with Kansas State University’s men’s basketball Coach, Jerome Tang.

This What Matters to Me and Why lecture will take place noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the K-State Student Union Forum Hall and on Zoom. The Staley School will hand out cookies, and we encourage attendees to enjoy lunch on their own before or after the event.

Registration is required and due by 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2.

What Matters to Me and Why encourages reflection within the K-State community on matters of personal values, beliefs, and motivations in order to better understand the lives and inspirations of those who serve and shape the University. The presenter is encouraged to share a story of their personal journey – how they have chosen to live their life, the core values they have adopted, the personal choices they have made and lessons they have learned.

“This series is approaching its ninth year with nearly 30 K-Staters having presented, which really speaks for itself when you consider the value and impact it creates for our campus community,” said Tamara Bauer, Ed.D., assistant professor of teaching and director of leadership and service programs at the Staley School of Leadership.

“Programs that positively impact Wildcats’ social well-being is so critical to the strength of our campus success, and this form of storytelling helps us understand one another and build trust, which really makes a difference as we work across the University to deliver excellence for our students and communities.”

This informal leadership lecture series supports K-State’s Principles of Community and the Health Promoting University by encouraging reflection on matters of personal values, beliefs and motivations to better understand the lives and inspirations of those who serve and shape the university.

This series is sponsored by the Staley School of Leadership and supported by a cross-campus planning committee.

Additional opportunities from the Staley School that focus on social well-being include ‘Cats Connect, Wildcat Dialogues, and many more. Subscribe to the Staley School web calendar events to receive regular event updates.

Facilitators needed for Wildcat Dialogues

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Wildcat Dialogues is an intercultural leadership experience designed to introduce first-time students to tools they can use to engage in meaningful dialogues across differences to help create communities of belonging at K-State. 

Are you ready to serve as a small group facilitator? Sign up by Monday, Sept. 9. K-State students, faculty and staff are invited to join us as facilitators. Facilitators are needed each year to play a critical role helping first-year students connect with each other, share their stories and engage in meaningful dialogue. Training is provided and facilitators will get a free Wildcat Dialogues T-shirt.

Wildcat Dialogues will take place 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the K-State Student Union. In addition, facilitators are needed to host a small make-up session 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.

As a small group facilitator you will:

  • Guide groups of 8-10 students in a dialogue to help them develop skills in intercultural leadership
  • Actively contribute to the university in its mission to create a campus culture of belonging for all students
  • Develop your own ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue around difficult topics

How can you join us? All facilitators will participate in training on intercultural learning and small group facilitation, as well as detailed information on the program for Wildcat Dialogues.

To prepare, there is a short training module to complete on Canvas, and facilitators will need to attend a training session and practice session.

Facilitators will need to attend one of the following training sessions in-person at the Leadership Studies Building:

  • 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10
  • 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
  • 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
Additionally, first-time facilitators (and anyone who would like to) will be asked to attend a facilitation practice.
  • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16
  • 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17

Are you ready to serve as a small group facilitator? Sign-up using this link by Monday, Sept. 9.

Join us as a facilitator and gain essential skills during this applied learning opportunity.

Have questions or want to know more? Check out the FAQ’s about the event or email Tamara Bauer or Austin Drake, Staley School of Leadership, tamara@ksu.edu or adrake329@ksu.edu.