Leadership Development
Omega Phi Alpha was founded on the cardinal principles of friendship, leadership, and service. Any OPA member can easily speak about service projects they took part in and how much fun they had hanging out with their big and little sisters. But ask about leadership training and answers will fall across a wide spectrum.
A few years ago, OPA alumnae set out to create a program that would provide training for all sisters in the most underrepresented cardinal principle: leadership. This work is now known as the Leadership Development Program and has expanded to include six core values.
This program is for sisters who want to use these core values in college situations and beyond. Participants explore different aspects of leadership through the prism of the six core values. For collegiate sisters, it aims to bridge the gap between the academic and professional worlds. For both collegiate and alumnae sisters, the program builds effective leaders within the sorority and within their communities.
How Does It Work?
The Leadership Development Program has a class for each of the six core values: leadership, sisterhood, diversity, education, traditions, and service. Each consists of a workshop led by alumnae volunteers and online reflection exercises. To complete the requirements for each one, a sister participates in the workshop (either in-person or through a webinar) and must finish the online exercises in Schoology.com.
Active sisters who complete a core value can also help their chapter earn points in the Chapter Excellence Program. Sisters who complete the Leadership Development Program by finishing all six of the core values will receive special recognition.
What Can I Learn?
Leadership (complete first)
- Defining Leadership
- Characteristics of Effective Leaders
- Qualities of Leaders
- Leading vs. Managing
Sisterhood
- Understanding Team Dynamics
- Sharing Leadership
- Effective Communication
- Problem Solving
Diversity
- Why Diversity is Important
- Factors Leading to Conflict
- Conflict Resolution
- Using Diversity in a Team
Education
- Ethics, Morals, and Values
- Time Management
- Dealing with Stress
- Mentoring
Traditions
- Traditions and Rituals
- Dealing with Change
- Cultivating Creativity
Service
- For those who have completed the previous core values, the service workshop is only offered in person.
- The service core value is the culmination of the Leadership Development Program.
How to Sign Up
To participate in the Leadership Development program or to request a core value workshop for your chapter, please email leadteam@omegaphialpha.org.
Individual sisters should follow OPA’s social media for webinar announcements.
“I learned many surprising things while participating in the program. It allowed me to stop and take the time to be introspective and assess my leadership style and potential as a future leader.”–AW, Alpha Kappa 2016
“I used the qualities and characteristics of effective leaders that I learned about to help me identify people that I’d like to work with during job interviews.”–LD, Nu Alumna 2015