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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Illinois Leadership Competencies: Interpersonal/Team: Getting Started

Effective leadership requires working with and influencing others to achieve common goals and shared vision. Leaders need to develop skills for building personal, authentic, and productive relationships.

Interpersonal/Team Level of Leadership

Leadership Competencies

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I-Programs

IMPRINT 

The Imprint Leadership program focuses on skills necessary for displaying leadership during times of personal and professional transition. Students develop skills in managing themselves during times of change; and learn how to develop, and maintain, the personal and professional networks necessary to sustain success in any environment. 

INTERSECT

The Intersect Leadership program is designed to help students focus on interpersonal communication and team building. Students who participate will work with fellow students to accomplish team challenge goals. 

Click here to get more information about these and other I-Programs:

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About this Guide

The interpersonal/team competencies make up the second level of practice of the leadership competencies, which is shown on the model shown to the left. Effective leadership requires working with and influencing others to achieve common goals and a shared vision. Leaders need to develop skills for building personal, authentic, and productive relationships. But what do common goals look like? How do we communicate and build relationships more effectively? And what does followership even mean??

The resources in this guide will not only give a detailed explanation of what each competency is, but also give practical advice on how to implement them in your everyday life, at work, school, and even at home. Explore this guide to find books, videos, podcasts, articles, blogs, ILC programs, and other resources that focus on leading effective, productive, and happy teams.

"Build a Tower, Build a Team

Tom Wujec uses the "marshmallow challenge" to show how some teams work more effectively than others. Watch his TedTalk to learn about which team work best. The answer will surprise you!

Team Icebreaker Activities

Here are just a sampling of hundreds of ice breakers we have at the ILC. Stop by for even more fun activity ideas!                                                                              
Name Game                                                                                                                                                                                               Recommended group size: 5-30
 
Directions: The first person gives his or her name and lists something that they are bringing to the party that has the same first letter as their name (Beth brings blueberries, Juan brings juice, Tina brings tires). The second person states the first person’s name and what they are bringing and then their own name. The third person starts at the beginning, reciting each person before adding their own name, and so on.
 

 

 
Stepping Stones                                                                                                                                                                                         Recommended group size: 5-15
Supplies needed: Pen and paper
Directions: Picture yourself standing on one side of a wide river. There are five large stones leading across the river toward the opposite shore. Each stone represents a key event, person, career move, or time in your life that was fundamental to helping you become the leader you are today. In the space below, draw "stones." On each stone, write a brief description of each significant event/person and be prepared to share something about your leadership journey with others at your table. 

UIUC Library Resources

Our campus library subscribes to a few great scholarly journals on all aspects of leadership. You can access these e- journals through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's library:

Seminal Leadership Textbooks