Whether you’re seeking to develop emerging leaders within your organization or finding ways to develop your own leadership abilities, there are many options from which to choose.

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Emerging leaders institutes, programs, and academies are available throughout the nation, but knowing which ones to are best for you can be a daunting task.

You may ask yourself what separates institutes from academies and how those are different from programs. Here, we’ll go over what these terms actually mean.

Differences in Emerging Leaders Programs, Institutes, and Academies

To help figure out what sets emerging leaders programs, institutes, and academies apart, let’s start with a few definitions.

Emerging Leaders Programs

Merriam Webster defines “program” as “a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal”. It is also synonymous with “curriculum” and “syllabus”.

In essence, an emerging leaders program is any course that orients participants toward an end result—in this case, becoming a more competent leader.

We can consider a “program” to be a catch-all term. It may include institutes, academies, and any other course that’s designed to improve your leadership skills. As such, it’s very broad.

For example, a university may offer a program of study aimed at emerging leaders among its students. In like manner, a corporation may create its own program to train promising leadership candidates within its own ranks.

Emerging Leaders Institutes

An institute refers to an educational organization geared toward the development of a particular professional skill or trade.

Oftentimes, institutes exist either as part of a university or as a standalone program, though this is more of a tendency than an actual rule.

In the case of an emerging leaders institute, it usually indicates a structured program directed towards the professional development of future leaders. These are very frequently held by fraternity and sorority groups as well as universities, though they may exist in other contexts as well.

Emerging Leaders Academies

The term “academy” is often used to refer to groups or organizations consisting of like-minded individuals, usually with the purpose of training in a specific field.

Although this is again not a solid definition. What does remain consistent is an academy is typically its own standalone program or school.

An emerging leadership academy would be a specialized institution dedicated to the training of leaders, likely independent of a specific field, though this may not necessarily be the case.

No Major Difference Among Emerging Leaders Programs, Institutes or Academies

While each term may have its own technical definition, there really isn’t much difference in the context of emerging leadership training. These terms are frequently used interchangeably.

For example, an emerging leadership program offered through a fraternity group at a university may qualify as an institute, but it may not differ in any way from a program offered by a state government agency elsewhere.

Similarly, a company may call its emerging leaders program an “institute,” even though it really wouldn’t fall under the technical definition of such.

Additionally, one program may be called an “academy,” although it’s really just a side program run by a community college.

Branding has become as much about influence on the nomenclature as function, so there’s really no sense in getting picky about terms.

Choosing the Right Emerging Leaders Programs

When choosing the right program for your emerging leaders or for your own development, it’s best to look beyond the names. Examine the offerings of each program as well as its expected outcomes.

Emerging leadership programs can technically be classified based on the following criteria:

Audience

Many programs are specific to a very limited audience, like a certain industry, even offered strictly to employees of a particular company or organization.

For instance, the Alpha Phi ELI is geared toward freshman and sophomore members within that specific sorority.

Some are intended for government officials, others for students who are preparing for leadership positions within university organizations. Selecting the best program for you will largely be a matter of finding one intended for your current role in society.

Offerings

The offerings provided by a program vary widely.

Some involve networking with industry professionals. Others function as mentorships in which successful leaders work closely with individuals to develop their skills. Group projects, seminars, and other opportunities are frequently offered, providing a mix of hands-on and theory-based learning.

When choosing an emerging leaders program, consider whether you learn best through instruction or hands-on application. The sphere of instruction may also be worth a closer look. For instance, industry-specific training may be less important to you if you are already familiar with your field.

Level of Commitment

Different programs may require varying levels of commitment. If you work in a credit union, for example, are you willing to fly out to Austin, Texas for CUNA’s ELI?

Some programs may take weeks or even months, operating more like college courses than brief seminars. Balancing time and resources against the offerings provided by the program can help you narrow down your choices.

Results

No matter what the program claims to offer, there is no worth in it if it doesn’t provide tangible results. The ultimate goal is an improvement as a leader, and if the program is unable to provide that, there is no point in attending. Fortunately, many programs provide reviews from past participants.

They may also give lists of those who have previously completed their programs. If you find someone who attended such-and-such academy has become successful in their field, then that program may be worthwhile.

Selecting the Best Emerging Leaders Program, Institute or Academy

When sifting through different emerging leaders academies and institutes and programs, don’t get too hung up on the terminology. Look at what they have to offer and determine if that could benefit you or your future leaders.

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Posted on July 13, 2018 by Paul O'Keefe