The project must directly involve other persons because leadership cannot be demonstrated in an organizational context without developing relationships with collaborators. Most Scholars do their projects with other Scholars in the class; however, Scholars may collaborate with colleagues at work, members of the community or others.

ONGOING PROJECTS

There are a number of Institute projects that are continued year-to-year. They are of great value to public health leadership because they continue networking opportunities of NEPHLI Scholars and enable non-Scholars to call upon the expertise of NEPHLI graduates. These include the:

• NEPHLI Web site
• NEPHLI Newsletter, Scholarly Pursuits
• Regional and Local Alumni Networking Activities
• The Excellence in Leadership Award Selection Committee

Former Scholars are available to mentor those who undertake these activities. Scholars working on any of these projects should also take a role in one or more of the new projects.

NEW PROJECTS


Doing a project as part of a training institute can allow the application of leadership skills in a relatively "safe" context, where rewards to both the Scholar and the community are potentially great, but where the risk of failure is less than it would be if, for instance, one were to make a bold initiative in one's job setting.

Deciding on a project involves a creative vision, team work, planning and testing the idea against the realities of the world, and eventually a specific outcome. A Scholar will be successful in direct proportion to his/her passion about the underlying need which gives rise to the project. When selecting a project, it is generally better to envision something new rather than seeking leadership of an ongoing one. With a new undertaking there is great satisfaction in identifying and helping to resolve a health or environmental issue, and one can be assured of playing a leadership role. However, it may also be useful to lead an effort to revitalize an existing project. The key here is that the Scholar must define and execute a leadership role.

Some projects are clearly outside of your work environment. Others creatively link one's organization to community needs in ways which may benefit both. Scholars are asked to consider ideas that will take them to issues and places outside of their immediate work environment.
The project should provide some positive effects upon health or the environment that uniquely and positively affects people's lives.

There should be an impact and a community benefit beyond those immediately involved in the project itself. While the project should have a reasonable chance of achieving results, or a significant benchmark, before graduation, it should also have the probability of continuance beyond then (i.e., Can this be an ongoing effort that has a mission and a system which likely will still be performing after you have moved on?)

During the course of the Institute the project are presented to the other Scholars, who will comment and give advice on the project and ask about both what has been learned about leadership, and what has been accomplished for others by conducting the project.

Scholars in the Class of 2003 undertook a project to catalog the projects by class and by year of graduations. Have a look.