Our Approach

RLI serves the leadership development needs of students at Michigan Ross through high-impact, action-based programs. Our approach to leadership development -- Mindful Engagement -- draws on research by Ross faculty members Scott DeRue and Susan Ashford and five design principles.

Mindful Engagement

RLI programs incorporate a three-stage process of Mindful Engagement.

1	Readying for growth: Increasing awareness of personal strengths Setting specific learning objectives Approaching developmental opportunities with a learning mindset (rather than a performance mindset)
2	Taking action to learn: Becoming familiar with the Michigan Model of Leadership and its competing tensions Leaving comfort zones behind Entering ambiguous, dynamic, complex situations Experimenting with new ways of leading Seeking and receiving feedback
3	Reflecting to retain: Describing experiences Explaining reactions to experiences Considering alternative scenarios Identifying key insights about new behaviors Committing to a few behavioral changes and setting specific milestones

Design Principles

RLI programs are designed with five principles in mind. Our programs are ...

Grounded in research
RLI teaches a unique point of view about leadership. It is rooted in the Michigan Model of Leadership and five core assumptions.
 

Solution-focused
We begin with our goal in mind — preparing students to lead in complex, 21st century contexts — and make that the starting point for programs. Specifically, we prepare Ross students to (1) take responsibility for themselves, (2) take responsibility for others, (3) have everyday impact, (4) thrive under pressure, (5) design for innovation, and (6) face crossroads.
 

Action-based
We get students outside of their comfort zones by placing them into ambiguous, dynamic, and complex situations where they must collaborate, experiment, and take risks in order to excel — all in the service of learning to lead. Our flagship programs — including the Ross Impact Challenge and the Leadership Crisis Challenge — epitomize the stretch experiences we provide to students.
 

Co-created
We partner with students to create our menu of diverse and dynamic programs. The very planning and execution of these programs test and develop students’ leadership skills.
 

Measurable
Every student completes our 360° Ross Leadership Assessment multiple times throughout their Ross experience. Students receive custom feedback and benchmarks on their development.

 

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