This document outlines an agenda and provides details about an Aspiring Leaders Program at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The agenda includes a leadership training case study, lessons learned, transferable tools, and application time. The program aims to develop leadership competencies for non-supervisors through a mix of online courses, assessments, developmental assignments, and monthly discussions over 12 months. Key elements include a program orientation, leadership assessment, individual development plan, structured learning experience, and end-of-program writing assignment. The program leverages low-cost technology and aims to provide leadership development despite a limited budget.
2. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
5. Program Activities
FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM
Program Orientation
Leadership Assessment/Development Plan
Completion of assigned ATFOnlne courses
Participation in monthly competency discussions
SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAM
Strengths-Based Leadership book study
Continuation of monthly discussions
Completion of (1) Structured Learning Experience
Final writing assignment and 2nd development plan
6. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
7. Sample Advisory Group
Tasks/Input:
Clarifying Scope/Length of the program
Prioritizing first-line supervisory competencies
Reviewing alternative AL programs
Selecting Content
Sequencing Content
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
8. Team member roles,
responsibilities
Refine program objectives and success measures
Review alternative Aspiring Leaders programs
Sample LearnATF courses
Work with other SMEs to review program
Select content, sequence program activities
Clarify scope/length of the program
Draft implementation plan for rollout
9. Anticipated process
Program Assessment (25%)
Who is this certificate program for?
How long should it be?
What is the program supposed to produce/provide?
How will we know we’re successful?
Program Design (40%)
What activities, content should be included?
What’s the right mix of individual and common (group) developmental activities?
How can we pretest the content to make sure its effective?
Program Implementation (35%)
How do we roll this out?
How do we evaluate the program in process?
How do we report on program results?
10. Program Overview
Required for Everyone:
2 hour video-based Program Orientation
Leadership self-assessment
Documented IDP
Structured learning experience
Participation in monthly cohort discussions
Final program reports
Optional Requirements:
Details, formal developmental assignments
Supplemental Activities:
Leadership Resource Center
LearnATF Abstracts
Virtual Book Club (post-program)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
11. Program Snapshot
JAN 2010
ATF Leadership
Competency, Self- MAR 2010
Management ATF Leadership Competency, Integrity
Online courses and Ethics
Web meeting Online courses
IDP review (employee and Web meeting/Office of the Chief Council
supervisor)
Mid-program evaluation and
focus group (LI) APR 2010
FEB 2010 ATF Leadership Philosophy – Panel
ATF Leadership
Competency, Decisiveness MAY 2010
Online courses
Strengths-based Leadership
Web meeting
Part I, Investing in your Strengths, pp 5-17
StrengthsFinder 2.0 Assessment
Web meeting
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
13. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
14. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
15. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
16. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
17. Agenda:
1. Leadership training case
study – what we did and
why (20 min)
2. Lessons learned (10 min)
3. Transferable tools (15 min)
4. Application time - your turn
(30 minutes)
5. Final questions (15
minutes)
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
18. About ATF
At The Front Line Against Violent Crime
ATF is a unique law enforcement agency in the
United States Department of Justice that
protects our communities from violent criminals,
criminal organizations, the illegal use and
trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage
of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts
of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol
and tobacco products.
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
20. We had only $1,000.00 to launch this program—no
travel money was available…
21. Introduction: The ATF Aspiring Leaders Program is a multi-faceted
program which includes a mix of formal coursework, self-assessments,
developmental assignments, and other activities aimed at identifying and
developing leadership skills of non-supervisors:
An entry-level (certificate) program for non-supervisors at or below the
GS-13 level (Stepping Up to Leadership);
Informational assistance to help supervisors develop leadership
competencies of non-supervisors. Resource: Supervisor’s Toolkit;
An advanced-level program for non-supervisors (Leadership
Enhancement Program-Revised); and,
The deployment of introductory curriculum on leadership across ATF
programs (e.g., New Employee On boarding, ATF Academy, ATF Live,
etc.) to introduce the leadership competencies and behaviors
emphasized at the agency.
Session W306 – ASTD/Thimmesch
22. Purpose
The primary goal of the SUTL Program is to develop six core
ATF Leadership Competencies:
Organizational Awareness
Plan, Organize and Prioritize
Teamwork and Collaboration
Decisiveness
Self-Management
Integrity and Ethics
An additional goal of the SUTL Program is to provide an
opportunity for individual assessments
A final goal is to provide individuals with an assessment of
their leadership strengths
23. Key Requirements
12-month program includes:
• 90-minute program orientation
• Completion of Leadership Assessment
• Program IDP w/supervisor
• Structured Learning Experience
• LearnATF online leadership training; monthly discussion
• Assigned reading on leadership
• End-of-Program writing assignment
24. Program Description
The 12-month program included a mix of
Formal coursework
Self-assessments
Developmental assignments
Other activities aimed at developing leadership
skills of non-supervisors
25. Leveraging Technology
SkillSoft training courses/LMS
getAbstract book summaries/LMS
Web meetings (Adobe Connect/Saba Centra)
Instant messaging for team break-outs
26. Monthly Discussion Process
• Teams are pre-assigned specific questions
• Discussion leaders arrange virtual meeting with
team to discuss
• Discussion leader or designate presents team’s
question at monthly training session.
• All participants must attend and participate.
Bill reviews major activities in the 12-month program.10 minutes
ATF is a unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
The Primary goal of this program is to develop six core ATF leadership competencies (humRRO study):Organizational AwarenessPlan, Organize and PrioritizeTeamwork and CollaborationDecisivenessSelf-ManagementIntegrity and EthicsWe also wanted to provide an opportunity for individual self-assessments against all 17 ATF Leadership competencies;Finally, we wanted to provide an opportunity for individual participants to discover their leadership strengths.
Highlight the Key Requirements.
The Stepping up to Leadership Program is a 12-month Aspiring Leaders program aimed at non-supervisory GS 9—through GS-12 employees:Consists of formal and informal program elements such as:Formal coursework (online training from LearnATF/SkillSoft™Self assessmentsDevelopmental AssignmentsOther activities (Structured Learning Experiences)
To service a national audience (field divisions as well as headquarters) we are using the following technologies:SkillSoft training courses from learnATFgetAbstract™ book summaries from Learn ATFWeb meetings through learnATF Live/Adobe™Instant messaging services from ATF Secure Chat