Leadership Academy Frameworks

Leadership Frameworks

In partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership, the Leadership Academy retooled its descriptive and applied leadership frameworks. Both of these were sourced by extensive Data Capture Interviews (DCI) conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership.

Descriptive Framework

A descriptive framework outlines the various levels, description, and nature of progression through the programming.

The UNC descriptive framework is in the shape of a spiral staircase – since UNC student-athletes travel never-ending ascensions of growth and leadership development. The most familiar spiral staircase on campus is that of the Morehead Patterson Bell Tower. As campus tradition dictates, only Carolina seniors can ascend the Bell Tower and only on the cusp of their graduation. As such, first-year student-athletes begin their respective leadership development journeys at the base of the spiral and then each program takes them a full turn up the spiral.

The applied leadership framework is nestled within the descriptive framework like a chandelier. As student-athletes climb, the "chandelier" remains consistent and fixed; however, participants' vantage points of it change with each turn of the staircase. Student-athletes see the applied framework with new eyes given time and experience – their perspective evolves, their understanding transforms, their interpretation deepens, their awareness expands as they ascend.

Also, note that each level of programming is a verb as a nod to the collective sentiment among UNC student-athletes, coaches, and staff: leadership is action – not merely talk or title. Leadership is a process – not a single person. Carolina NAVIGATE is about navigating the first-year student-athlete experience; navigating the core values of being a student-athlete at UNC. Carolina CULTIVATE is about cultivating the student-athlete experience for first-years. Carolina ACCELERATE is about accelerating the leadership development process. Carolina INCUBATE is about incubating the leadership experience – like in a laboratory setting where one can experiment with leadership in a controlled environment with immediate feedback. Carolina ACTIVATE is about activating the leadership tools necessary to lead the team to success.

Applied Framework

An applied framework conveys a language and architecture with which to speak of, think about, and engage with leadership – more than merely outlining the levels of programming. With that, it provides a shared language and culture of leadership throughout the department. It inspires thinking and engagement. It is simplicity on the other side of complexity: the terms, relationships, and nature are self-evident and intuitive. It is so simple that one can draw it piece by piece with a stick in the dirt… or on the back of a napkin. Moreover, such scaffolding allows for self evaluation as well as a diagnostic tool for trouble shooting with others. It is simple without being simplistic – given the spiral ascent of leadership journeys detailed above.

The UNC applied framework is based upon an interdependence between leading self (ME) and leading with others (WE). With interdependence, there is no one absolute right or wrong answer, but rather both are correct – although one of the aspects may manifest more strongly depending on the context. An over-focus on one aspect leads to problems with the other. Too much ME presents problems with WE. Too much WE presents problems with ME. An in-breath is no more important than an out-breath. Both are important. An over-focus on one leads to problems with another, and depending on context, one may manifest more strongly than the other.

UNC Case in Point – after each of his championship seasons, Roy Williams pointedly notes that "winning teams get the individual awards and rewards". The more successful the team is the more individuals can reap those rewards. More specifically, the further a team gets into the NCAA Tournament, the higher his/her draft stock goes. Roy's championship seasons have been when he can get the individuals to buy into the team – the ME to buy into the WE. Only then can the WE pay dividends to the ME.

ME
ME – Define, understand, and own your role. There are an infinite number of roles which can be defined, understood, and owned on a team – roles where an authentic self is valued. Moreover, this specification allows for agency and autonomy in one's leadership identity rather than some top-down, spoon-fed prescription from a coach. What is your ME? Head – Work smarter; Heart – Play harder; Edge – Compete tougher. UNC Case in Point – Anson Dorrance speaks to his team about undertaking a "never-ending ascension" of personal development – finding a way to become one percent better day by day.

WE
WE - Make your role matter. William Shakespeare commented, "There are no small parts, only small players". A role is only as small as one makes it; conversely, a role can be as big as one makes it too. What is your WE? Commitment – Executive with purpose; Chemistry – Strive together; Culture – Achieve with honor. UNC Case in Point – Dean Smith taught us to point to the assist, to appreciate the people who have helped you to get where you are, the people on whose shoulders you stand. All at once, this simple gesture speaks to commitment, chemistry and culture.

Visual Graphic
The visual graphic of the applied framework imparts the key elements above and does so by incorporating Carolina marks and logos. The designer describes the concept behind the graphic, "The graphic creates an angular, three-piece infinity symbol meant to represent the individual (ME), the group (WE) and the school (UNC) to which they all belong. It also pays homage to the current argyle branding without using it outright. Playing off the infinity symbol, the designer came up with an interlocking M and W representing the ME and WE as well as the interdependence of the two aspects. In effect, the weave makes an indivisible whole. ME and WE are inextricably intertwined. The three peaks of the M and W hint at the three elements of each aspect – ME – Head, Heart, Edge; WE – Commitment, Chemistry, Culture."

The framework is unique to Carolina Athletics and uniquely Carolina. Unique to Carolina – it is authentically sourced from student-athletes, coaches, and staff it is specific to the leadership demands and experience at UNC as opposed to other schools or contexts. Uniquely Carolina – the linked diamonds resemble the Carolina Argyle – an image synonymous with and characteristic of Carolina Athletics. Additionally, the argyle shape represents how the ME and WE when working together create the DNA of UNC Athletics. Without the both of them, the argyle shape doesn't exist. Given that, leadership is woven into the fabric of the department – a fabric which spans across and connects the department.

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