We don’t always have time for a formal training or exercise to do with a team. Shorter 5-10 minute exercises can be perfect options to include in monthly or periodic check in meetings with a leader and their team members. Choose one of the three activities below that best fit your needs.

DESCRIBING LEADERS
This exercise involves a little prework. You will describe leaders at different scales of the leadership spectrum. Do not share the name of the leaders you are describing. Prior to the meeting, go through each question and answer them. During your check in meeting, you’ll go through your answers with your leader.

• Think of the best leader you’ve had (outside of potentially your current leader). What characteristics did you value the most or least? Is there a situation(s) that sticks out to you with them?
• Think of a mediocre leader you’ve had. What characteristics did you value the most or least? Is there a situation(s) that sticks out to you with them?
• Think of the worst leader you’ve had. What characteristics did you value the most or least? Is there a situation(s) that sticks out to you with them?

Now that you’ve gone through these different leaders, what would be your definition of a top leader?


REAL WORLD SITUATIONS
Identify two situations that involved leadership that stood out to you. This can be for a good or bad reason.
1. When writing out the situation, go into detail on what the situation was and why you described it as good or bad.
2. Take the perspective of the individual involved. See if you can gain more understanding of their side.
3. The final step is how you could have had more power in the situation. If a negative situation, this could be with giving feedback to the leader or in the moment speaking up. If a positive situation, this could be with complimenting the leader or publicly recognizing them.

SITUATION #1


SITUATION #2



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discussion questions are a great way to dive deeper into the topic of leadership and gain new insights.

• How confident are you with your leadership abilities? Are there areas you’d like to grow?
• What are your top strengths with leadership?
• Do you see leadership as something only individuals in management take on? Or leadership is a responsibility of everyone?
• Where do you want to learn more within leadership?

For more information about this material, email kmcclain@praeliscere.com or visit https://praeliscere.com/. Copyright Kathryn McClain.

We don’t always have time for a formal training or exercise to do with a team. Shorter 5-10 minute exercises can be perfect options to include in monthly or periodic check in meetings with a leader and their team members. Choose one of the three activities that best fit your needs.

• Describing Leaders
• Real World Situations
• Discussion Questions