LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT TRAINING

High Performing Managers Initiative.

Strengthen your leadership skills to develop a high-performing team

Join CRE's High Performing Managers Initiative (HPMI), where nonprofit leaders embark on a transformative journey to elevate their teams and themselves. Learn to adapt your leadership style, tackle complex issues collaboratively, and identify critical success factors for ongoing projects. Applications are now closed.

Program Benefits

By participating in HPMI, you will:
  • Learn how to better manage yourself and lead your team. Gain improved communication, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills. Integrate CRE’s Impactful Leadership Model into your current and future work.
  • Master the distinctions between “leading” and “managing”. Adapt your leadership style based on context and needs. Armed with this clarity, you can flexibly adjust your approach, stepping into leadership mode when vision, inspiration, and alignment are critical. Conversely, you will have increased ability to manage efficiently during operational tasks.
  • Gain confidence in tackling complex issues collaboratively. Learn to collaboratively solve complex problems and facilitate learning within your team(s) - using the Action Learning model. Ask powerful questions that provoke deeper thinking and active listening.
  • Learn to achieve and sustain success! Identify the critical success factors specific to your organizational and team context and apply these success elements to ongoing projects and initiatives by navigating challenges with adaptability and persistence.
  • Learn to identify and navigate team dysfunction and cultivate trust and cohesion within your team(s). Recognize signs of dysfunction (e.g., communication breakdowns, lack of psychological safety) and practice encouraging honest dialogue and aligning team members around common objectives. Trust will enhance collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.

The Details

Underline

Program Experience

21 hours of interactive workshops and Action Learning
Access to an insight assessment and related reports
Two individual virtual coaching sessions
Breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day
Invitation to join the CRE Cohort Alumni Network

Dates and Location
Group sessions will be held in-person in Lower Manhattan.
Tuesday, July 23 from 9:30am - 2:30pm
Tuesday, July 30 from 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday, August 6 from 9:30am - 4:30pm

Individual coaching sessions will be held virtually, and scheduled with a designated coach.

Investment

While our program fee is valued at $3,500, participation in this year’s CRE’s High Performing Managers Initiative is $1,700–thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors!

CRE’s equity-based pricing aims to strike a balance between affordability and sustainability. Tuition tiers are based on organizational operating budgets and promote participation of underinvested groups. Through the CRE Rising Fund, additional financial support will be considered for smaller organizations, specifically those with annual budgets of under $1.5 million.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HPMI application process?

Applications may be submitted until Thursday, May 30, 2024. They will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Upon application submission, qualified applicants will then be interviewed for CRE's HPMI program. All program acceptance and scholarship decisions will be made by Friday, June 14, 2024

What is the Action Learning Model?

Action Learning is a powerful and collaborative approach that combines elements of coaching, problem-solving, and peer learning. Sessions 2 and 3 of the program include a 2 hour Action Learning session.

  • Group Context: Participants come together in a small group (usually 4-8 individuals) with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The group serves as a supportive and confidential space for learning and growth.
  • Problem-Solving Focus: Action Learning centers around real-world challenges faced by participants. Each session revolves around a specific problem or project that a participant brings to the group. The problem can be work-related, personal, or organizational.
  • Coaching and Inquiry: The group engages in powerful questioning to explore assumptions, biases, and potential solutions. Participants learn to listen actively, ask probing questions, and challenge conventional thinking. The coach (often a facilitator) guides the process, ensuring a safe and respectful environment.
  • Peer Learning and Accountability: Participants learn from each other’s experiences and expertise. The group holds each other accountable for implementing action steps. Collective wisdom and diverse viewpoints lead to innovative solutions.

Action Learning is a dynamic process that encourages deep learning, collaboration, and practical application. It empowers individuals to tackle complex challenges while benefiting from collective wisdom.

Who is HPMI for?

HPMI is designed for nonprofit professionals who have been managing a team for three (3) years or more. Our participants are primarily from New York City and serve in a range of areas, including youth development, arts, housing, and more!

What if I can't pay the full price?

While our program fee is valued at $3,500, participation in this year’s CRE’s High Performing Managers Initiative is $1,700–thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors. 

Tuition tiers are based on organizational operating budgets and promote participation of underinvested groups. Through the CRE Rising Fund, additional financial support will be considered for smaller organizations, specifically those with annual budgets of under $1.5 million.

What if I can't join all three group sessions? Is hybrid available?

Participation in this program requires attending all three group sessions in-person. Individual coaching sessions will be held virtually. 

Who can I contact for more information?

CRE Consultants, Jen Benstraum and Andrea J. Rogers, will be facilitating the HPMI Summer Intensive. Please contact them at jbenstraum[at]crenyc.org and arogers[at]crenyc.org. 

How many people are accepted into the program?

To maximize learning and offer a community-focused experience, we aim to have approximately 14-22 participants in the cohort. 

Ready to transform your organization's strategy, team, or leaders?