Linking Experiences and Outcomes within a Postsecondary Leadership Development Program

This qualitative study explored the leadership development outcomes associated with specific experiences in a one-year, intensive leadership development program at a large northwest research university. Students highlighted three programmatic experiences for their effectiveness: (a) faculty mentoring, (b) participation in a weekly seminar, and (c) experiential learning through sustained community involvement. As students discussed these experiences, they identified building relationships, gaining a deeper understanding of leadership, exposure to new experiences, and increased communication skills as outcomes associated with having a mentor. When discussing the interactive seminars, students articulated collective growth, increased self-awareness, improved reflection skills, and a deeper understanding of leadership as outcomes of seminar participation. For the experiential learning component, students identified outcomes associated with being pushed out of their comfort zones, improving networking skills, awareness of the value of community involvement, and relationship skill building. Conclusions and recommendations are discussed for the application of these experiences in leadership education.