2010-2011 Leadership Lexington program gets started with Orientation Retreat
Article by Laura Farnsworth, Event Coordinator, Downtown Lexington Corporation and Brandi Berryman, Architectural Urban Designer, Lexington Downtown Development Authority
On August 12, over forty people from Lexington and the surrounding region gathered in Jabez, Kentucky for the annual Leadership Lexington Orientation Retreat. After meeting each other just a few days prior during a reception at SKYBAR-Lexington, there was a buzz of excitement in the air as we prepared for two days that would shape the course of our Leadership Lexington experience.
The learning started quickly, as the class went outside and participated in exercises where we worked as one unit to try and form a square with everyone holding a nylon rope. Easy task? Not when you’re blindfolded. After experiencing less than stellar results, the lesson of thinking things through before acting became a theme of the retreat. Virgil Grant, one of the retreat facilitators, then handed out snapshots to everyone in the class and challenged us to put them together in order. Once we organized
ourselves into a system, and avoided trying randomly to find where each person belonged, we quickly completed the task, and were allowed to move on to the next challenge.
In the afternoon we were split into teams to six to learn more about each other and the leadership styles each person brought to the class. An exercise called the Egg Drop had teams creating a safety harness out of popsicle sticks and tissues that would hopefully shield the egg from disaster once dropped from eight feet. The groups were also responsible for creating a marketing campaign complete with skit. Warren Rogers, W. Rogers Company and Leadership Lexington Presenting Sponsor, sweetened the deal by offering
bonus points to any group that rapped a part of their skit! This activity brought out the team spirit and sense of humor in everyone, and friendships began to form.
Before breaking for dinner, the class came together to pitch ideas for one of the most important facets of the Leadership Lexington experience, the group projects. As ideas began taking shape in the air and the main ideas coming to life on paper, it became clear that the 2010-2011 class has made it a primary goal to make people the focus of our projects. After thinking over the options during “fun time” that night (and yes, the infamous karaoke machine made an appearance!) the class met first thing Friday morning
and voted for four projects that will change the lives of people in Lexington.
Next, we were treated to an analysis of our individual behaviors, based on two surveys we had taken before class. These surveys were provided and analyzed by Randy and Ryan Lisk of Lisk Associates. These surveys detailed behavioral characteristics and what things in the life motivated each persons actions. We took this information about where each person would best a strong asset with us into the group projects.
After everyone had selected a project that intrigued them, the new teams met and began planning how the projects would come to life. Outlines were created, ideas bounced around, additional meetings planned, and duties assigned. After the entire class gathered one more time, a member of each group described the outline for each project. Excitement was building, and everyone is looking forward to seeing each project grow and become a reality for our community.
As the class adjourned late Friday afternoon and headed out of Jabez, each person was as fired up about the retreat we had just left and the ten months ahead. In a matter of hours, the class had come together and, with enthusiasm, great ideas, and a little bit of cornhole, become friends and partners in our experience as future leaders of Lexington.
Leadership Central Ky. class starts new program with Retreat
Commerce Lexington Inc. Staff Report
The 2010-11 class of Leadership Central Kentucky began its new program with a two-day Orientation Retreat at the Hilton Suites Lexington Green. The objective of the retreat is to explore the group dynamics, participate in team-building exercises, and review the program outline and expectations.
Additionally, participants are introduced to concepts, styles and characteristics of 21st Century leadership that helps them gain an awareness of their leadership styles and identify qualities and attributes of the other leaders. Virgil Grant led the group in a variety of team-building exercises on day one, including “The Electronic Carpet Exercise,” a Play-dough activity, and one called a “NASA Exercise.”
Day two again featured Grant during a leadership assessment, while Jay McChord spoke about “Leadership for the 21st Century: Whose Job is it Anyway?” The 2010-11 program is presented by AT&T The Real Yellow Pages.
