WALTHAM, Mass. – The newest initiative of Bentley University Athletics Student-Athlete Development and Success Office was launched during the spring semester. Specifically, the Leadership Lab was developed by Grace Carter, Rick Miller, and Barbara Stevens to help accelerate the leadership development of the rising stars across Bentley Athletics.
              
Leadership Lab sessions were held three times during the semester. Each coach was asked to nominate ten percent of their roster to participate, and for participants it was a great opportunity to get better connected with other leaders among Bentley's 22 varsity teams.
               
The Lab was designed to both focus on self-awareness, situation analysis, and skill building to help leaders excel.
              
Lab participants used Rick Miller's Power Compass to evaluate and assess where each student-athlete stood with regard to their clarity, energy, impact, influence, and confidence. The overriding principle is that you must know yourself before you're able to effectively lead others. Miller, who graduated from Bentley in 1980 and is now both a faculty member and the athletic department's Executive-in-Residence at his alma mater, developed the Power Compass over the course of his successful business career.
              
Carter, Director of the Student-Athlete Development and Success Office,  led efforts to put student-athletes in stressful and competitive situations where communication was key.
              
"The lab was designed to simulate real team and interpersonal conflicts so that our future leaders can get practice navigating those scenarios," explained Carter. "The whole idea is to give them reps, just like in their sport, so that they can go back to their individual teams more prepared to impact the culture in a positive way.  By combining different grades and sports, it really forces everyone to think holistically about what they could be doing differently.
                
"As a former student-athlete and with experience in the corporate world, I've seen instances in both situations where a talented individual contributor is assumed to be ready to assume a leadership role, without adequate training," continued Carter. 
              
Leadership Lab members were also able to participate in Q&A sessions with leadership legends. In particular, retired Bentley women's basketball coach and a 2020 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Barbara Stevens added her expertise and experience in building a winning culture.
              
Based on student-athlete feedback, look for the Leadership Lab to return next spring.