Leader’s Reaction Course puts problem-solving skills to test
Wendy Tsung, associate dean, leading the EMBA Program team conducting the Fort McClellan Leader’s Reaction Course.
GBS staff team participates in LRC for first time
On an early morning in late October, several students, faculty and staff gathered in the cold and rain to put their leadership skills to the test. However, the inclement weather was not going to hinder our successful completion of the 15th Leader’s Reaction Course.
The Leader’s Reaction Course is a unique experiential leadership opportunity offered to Goizueta selected BBA and MBA students that builds upon the programs and facilities of the U.S. Army for developing leadership.
The one-day leadership challenge, managed by retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, associate dean for Leadership Development at Goizueta, is a hands-on experience that emphasizes learning through team-based problem solving, decision making and effective communication skills.
WEMBA, or Weekend/Modular Executive, students participated in the day’s activities, which started by heading to Alabama by 8:45 a.m.
The students formed into small teams, overcame challenges, surmounted physical barriers, established plans of action and executed their plan to solve a problem. After each event, the participants executed an after-action review to discuss what went right, what went wrong and what needed to be improved.
Through this feedback process and reflection, students apply their lessons in subsequent challenges, which is exactly what business professionals do in business settings. This was a great learning experience for the students in understanding their leadership style and a take on problem solving in a unique creative manner with the help of their team members.
Similar LRC events have achieved the same success rate, but this time, students were faced with miserable conditions. However, the attitude and learning was exceptional. As Keen says, “an Army Ranger weather … if it is not raining, we are not training.”
This was our 15th iteration of the LRC over the past four years, with over 900 students having gone through this event. This was the first time a GBS staff team has participated. It was about leading your team under adverse conditions and our EMBA Program Office staff worked together by “Leading the Way.”