What is a leader?

A person who guides others in action or opinion; a person of eminent position and influence is a leader. From the Oxford English Dictionary 5th Edition

Leadership - “Bringing People to a place where they wouldn’t go on their own”

family mom and child

 

Activist, Advocate, challenger, change-agent, collaborator, community developer, educator, facilitator, framer, innovator, life-long learner, listener, mediator, mentor and coach, negotiator, participant, professional team member, story-teller, role model, supporter, visionary…… LEADER

The Hands & Voices Leadership Book Club

The Hands &a Voices Book Club meets five times a year to discuss different books on leadership. Join one or all five! This is open to the public and we invite anyone who is interested in developing their leadership skills to attend! We typically have a guest facilitator and have a lively conversation! Click below to see books and dates we will be meeting this year!

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Family Leadership

Whether you are looking for leadership skills to enhance your knowledge for your own child or are looking to progress and move towards change at the system level, you can find resources here to develop and better understand these pieces.  There is value in capturing and nurturing all levels of leadership from those at the family level through peer-to-peer and the system.

 

Leadership Moments with Janet DesGeorges & Karen Putz

Tips on Learning to lead:

  1. Get some training & build your skills
  2. Get connected
  3. Consider your strengths/weaknesses
  4. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities
  5. Do what you say you’ll do
  6. Recruit, delegate & inspire!
  7. Recognize your power as a parent
  8. Find a mentor

 

Resources for more ideas on family leadership

Hands & Voices Leadership-to-Leadership (L2L) program: This program is designed to meet Hands & Voices parent leaders on their journey of leadership which is unique to serving families with children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. This program provides leadership development skills to current leaders and supports the sustainability of Chapters and programs through a proactive approach to leadership development and succession planning. https://handsandvoices.org/l2l/

AMCHP
http://www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/family-engagement/Pages/default.aspx

Powerful Partnerships: A Handbook for Families and Providers Working Together to Improve Care
http://www.nichq.org/resource/powerful-partnerships-handbook-families-and-providers-working-together-improve-care

Family Voices
http://www.familyvoices.org/