CMA’s Executive Leadership Program

Need: The Christian Management Association provides management information, leadership training, and strategic networking to thousands of Christian leaders and managers. Each year their annual conference ministers to more than 1,500 senior leaders, managers, pastors, and board members. The CEO noticed that there were few leadership development experiences suitable for executives of ministries. He wanted to address this obvious need and found a businessman eager to fund the project. The CEO came to us asking for help designing a world-class executive development experience and launching the first group.

Solution: We proposed a three-phase project to reduce the risk on the part of the client. First, research the needs of CEOs and find out what else is available in Christian and secular spheres. If we could identify a suitable program available from organizations like the AMA or Harvard Business School, why reinvent the wheel? Our needs analysis identified that CEOs of ministry organizations were crying for a quality, leadership development experience together with their peers. We also discovered that nothing like this existed anywhere for senior leaders. Second, we put together a design team of seasoned professionals to look at the data, examine the options, and recommend the best approach for busy executives. We decided on a one-year program that would include three one-week workshops and individualized, executive coaching. Third, we launched the program. We proposed working jointly with the Center for Creative Leadership to deliver part of the program and arranged a strategic alliance between CCL and CMA. We developed all the content and arranged for session presenters. We then recruited the first class and set up the executive coaching process.

Bottom line: CMA’s Executive Leadership Program is forming the third class and is widely regarded as the best leadership development experience available anywhere for CEOs of Christian organizations. For more information about ELP, see the CMA website at www.cmaonline.org.