Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  I need serious help! Leadership resources

    Posted 08-22-2024 04:51 PM

    Hi all!

    I'm not sure if I placed this under the correct topic, but I'll go ahead and shoot my shot here first.

    I am new to a leadership role at a small municipal shelter. I am very interested in taking a course(s) to help me hone in on my leadership skills. We do have a small staff, but I want to be able to lead them all appropriately, respectfully, and professionally.

    I'm the new kid on the block at the shelter and I definitely see some serious imbalances with how some staff are treated compared to others. I'm sure this isn't going to be an easy thing to fix, but I want to try to make a difference for the staff, which in turn, I think, reflects on the shelter pets that we care for each day. 

    So, has anyone taken any good leadership courses, read any good leadership books, etc.? I don't care the cost as I really want to make this work.


    #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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    Liz Gonzalez
    Operations Coordinator
    Jeffersonville Animal Shelter
    IN
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  • 2.  RE: I need serious help! Leadership resources

    Posted 08-23-2024 06:07 AM

    Liz, 

    I cannot speak highly enough about this program https://www.pacific.edu/education/professional-development/certificate-programs/animal-shelter-management

    It addresses everything that will arise in a shelter management position and one of the very first sections of the program is on leadership.  I believe they also have that section of the class as a separate course that can be taken. One of my favorite books they had us read was The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus. Which sounds a bit quirky but was absolutely perfect!

    Congratulations and best of luck in your new position! You are proactive so I'm sure you will do well!



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    Kristen Lewis
    Director of Donor Relations and Reporting
    Charleston Animal Society
    SC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: I need serious help! Leadership resources

    Posted 08-23-2024 06:24 AM

    Hi Liz,

    Caveat - I'm not in leadership myself.

    I liked the book "Managing to Change the World," by The Management Center, which is about management basics, specifically for nonprofits. A previous HR professional gave it to all of our managers a few years ago. This is the revised edition of the book I read:
    Our Book - The Management Center

    This is tangentially relevant, but I also loved this online project management course and think the content would be relevant to you as the leader of a small organization. They talk about stakeholder engagement, team building, project planning, etc.
    Project Management Fundamentals | University of the District of Columbia (ed2go.com)



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    James Pawlowicz
    Humane Rescue Alliance
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: I need serious help! Leadership resources

    Posted 08-23-2024 01:15 PM

    Hi, Liz:

    We have a leadership course on Maddie's University that may be a good start: Effective Leadership in Animal Welfare. We also have a number of on-demand presentations on leadership and organizational management, such as this one: Creating a Culture of Change in Your Organization. You can find the entire list of learning around this topic in the Maddie's University catalog here.

    We also have a very extensive leadership coming out soon, by the end of the year. If you would like me to let you know when that debuts, just let me know! 

    Erika



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    Erika Shaffer
    Instructional Designer
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


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