SouthCoast program keys in on qualities that make a good leader

SouthCoast Today.com - New England Business Bulletin
July 25, 2008, 3:10 pm

Direct link to article online through SouthCoastToday.com - New England Business Bulletin

What exactly makes a good leader? Is it listening skills? Creativity? Knowing how to enhance personal relationships? Being able to motivate yourself and those around you?

For Tony Vieira, executive director of UMass Corporate Programs and Partnerships and the backbone behind the Leadership Southcoast program, the answer is all that and much, much more.

Now in its fourth year, Leadership Southcoast has graduated 87 present and future leaders to date. It is a 10-month program consisting of a two-day retreat, nine monthly full-day sessions, and a series of small group team-building activities.

Program participants are challenged by a variety of real issues affecting the SouthCoast and meet leaders and experts in their respective fields. "We teach them team leadership, presentation skills, ethics, decision-making skills and making priorities. They grow as individuals but it also helps them to better understand their community," said Vieira. "It helps people get involved on a personal level and it makes people in certain industries see how businesses are run. "

Yolanda Dennis, UMass Dartmouth Diversity Analyst and 2008 LSC graduate said one of the biggest things she learned from the program was how to take the initiative.

"It taught me how to step out of the box, go with what your passion is, meet different people and ask a lot of questions," said Dennis. "One of the biggest components of the group is the networking, where they are not only building leaders in the community, but talking to different people from different sectors. It teaches you to not be so withdrawn, to move forward and be creative-that's what good leaders do."

The experience helped Dennis become involved in the community-something she struggled with before the class. Now she serves on two to three boards around the city of New Bedford and has also created her own board: the Leadership of Color Council of New Bedford, a group that discusses policies or procedures impacting the community and looks to improve them.

For Gail Fortes, YWCA of New Bedford executive director, the program gave her an avenue to reach out to peers who could provide a sounding board for everyday problems executives encounter. "As an executive director, I don't have anyone to talk to here about certain things and with Leadership Southcoast, it provides me with that and it gives me the opportunity to network with others in the community and share ideas," said Fortes. "It allows you to see other ways to do things, whether it's in creating new programs or finding better ways to raise money."

Scott Costa, co-owner of Bufftree Building Co. of New Bedford, was part of the first crop of LSC graduates three years ago. "It gives you a good opportunity to cross boundaries and see what goes on in the statehouse or hospitals or other places, things you wouldn't normally see or experience," said Costa. "It helps you see the other cogs that are part of the wheel, leaving you better informed and with a better understanding of things that go on in the community, helping to get that by seeing through other people's eyes."