Leadership Development

TinaMaria Fernandez presents on welcoming newcomers to communities at the 2025 CEC conference in North Platte, Neb. Photo by Russell Shaffer

The Community Leadership Development team helps rural Nebraska communities strengthen their leadership capacity through customized trainings, workshops, and statewide events. These programs are designed to enhance local leadership, foster generational transitions, and empower residents to drive sustainable community growth. Reach out to the team to create a program tailored to your community’s unique goals and needs. Here is a list of the trainings and programs we offer. Contact Jamie Bright at jamie.bright@unl.edu for more information.

Trainings for Personal Leadership Skill-Building

Active Listening

Examine the importance of listening, and build active listening skills.

CliftonStrengths

Through this Gallup assessment and coaching: Discover what you naturally do best, learn how to develop your greatest talents into strengths, and use your personalized results and reports to maximize your potential. 

*Content is proprietary.

Conflict Management

Identifying conflict styles and using practical strategies to manage conflicts effectively.

Data: Finding and Using

Using All Things Nebraska and other data sources to understand your community.

Empathy

Examine the impact of empathy on interpersonal relationships.

PsyCap

Applying Positive Psychological capacities (hope, efficacy/confidence, resilience, & optimism).

Government/Nonprofit Leadership Trainings

Community Engagement

Community engagement strategies and application.

Conflict Management

Identifying conflict styles and using practical strategies to manage conflicts effectively.

Data: Finding and Using

Using All Things Nebraska and other data sources to understand your community.

Group & Team Dynamics

Mastering team dynamics to improve performance (includes communication, shared goals, trust, collaboration, conflict resolution).

Leading Effective Meetings

Overview of parliamentary procedure and public engagement during meetings.

Nebraska Open Meetings Act

Overview of Nebraska Open Meetings Act.

Sociocracy

Examine a peer governance system of decision making based on consent and collaboration.

Synergy Strategy

How to build synergy on a team using a strengths-based approach.

Youth/Adult Partnerships

Learning to collaborate with youth by sharing power and decision-making responsibilities.

Workforce Development Leadership Trainings

Conflict Management

Identifying conflict styles and using practical strategies to manage conflicts effectively.

Group & Team Dynamics

Mastering team dynamics to improve performance (includes communication, shared goals, trust, collaboration, conflict resolution).

Synergy Strategy

How to build synergy on a team using a strengths-based approach.

Ways RPN Can Help Facilitate Community Projects

Appreciative Inquiry

A collaborative process that focuses on strengths and possibilities to create a positive future.

Community Capitals

High level overview of community capitals.

Community Engagement

Community engagement strategies and application.

Community Readiness

Understanding the readiness of communities to address change.

Data: Finding and Using

Using All Things Nebraska and other data sources to understand your community.

Leadership Theory

We will work with your community/group to discover which leadership theory is most applicable to your situation and help you use that form of leadership to move forward.

Social Capital

Participants will understand the importance of building social capital to address complex changes.

Strategic Planning

Defining your organization's direction, setting goals, and allocating resources to achieve those goals.

Visioning

A collaborative approach to planning where community members envision their future and plan how to achieve it.

Youth/Adult Partnerships

Learning to collaborate with youth by sharing power and decision-making responsibilities.

Research Findings on Community Leadership

Transfer of Community Leadership in Rural Communities

Research results from a study examining rural leadership transfer.

*Fees dependent on training length, location, and trainer availability.

Contact Us

JAMIE BRIGHT

RPN Extension Educator
308-254-4455
jamie.bright@unl.edu

LINDSAY HASTINGS

Professor of Leadership
402-472-3477
lhastings2@unl.edu