3

LEADERSHIP SHIELD

Overview of Activity
Through participation in an art project, leaders identify their basic values
and share them with others, so that participants who will be working
together on assignments have a greater understanding of each other’s
strengths.

Objective
To have participants share some information about their backgrounds,
values, philosophies of life, and leadership experiences.

Setting Up the Activity

GROUP SIZE
Up to 20 participants

ESTIMATED TIME
30 minutes

TRAINING METHODS
 Art project
 Reflection
 Discussion

11
12 THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING ACTIVITY BOOK

MATERIALS
 Handout 3.1: Leadership Shield
 Sample family coat of arms/crest or shield, if possible

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

 Several sets of colored markers for participants to share

 Flipchart paper

 One large poster with an outline of a shield, with one of the four following
words in each section: background, philosophy of life, values, and leadership.

ROOM SET-UP
 Move furniture away from the walls to create space for participants to hang
up and stand next to large pieces of paper during the discussion.

 Post the large poster as you prepare to open the activity.

Comments
Use this activity when you have sufficient space on the walls to post the shields. An
alternative is to have participants complete their shields on copy paper. This is a pop-
ular activity; participants are able to work with categories of information that are in-
teresting to them.

Trainer’s Notes for Activity 3

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Step 1: Ask which participants have a family coat of arms, crest, or shield. Ask
those who respond positively to describe or draw a picture of it. Explain
that the purpose is to develop a new symbol that emphasizes leadership.

Step 2: Distribute one sheet of flipchart paper and several colored markers to
each participant. Ask participants to draw the outline of a crest or shield
on the paper. Demonstrate by drawing the outline of a shield on your
flipchart (or distribute Handout 3.1). As noted on the handout, a shield is
a pictorial representation that may show one’s values, beliefs, and ideas.

Step 3: Explain that four categories of information have been selected for
representation on the shield or coat of arms. Announce one category at
a time, and remind participants to leave space on their shield for all four.
Allow them approximately two minutes to draw each response.
 LAY THE GROUNDWORK, ENERGIZE PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN CLOSE 13

The categories, each of which should be represented in one quadrant

of the shield are:

a. Two of your leadership skills.

b. The part of your current work that you like best.
c. Two values that influence how you lead others.
d. A recent success or accomplishment.

Step 4: Ask the participants to complete their coats of arms by writing their
family names on the shield and adding a personal motto that they try to
exemplify. If they wish, they can embellish their shields with other
graphics or designs.

Step 5: Ask participants to explain what they have included on their shield, and
why. Allow approximately one minute per person. (Participants might
only have time to explain one part of it.)

Step 6: Briefly discuss how our backgrounds, values, and personal philosophies
affect the ways we interact and lead. Tie what is shared by the
participants into the content of your leadership program.

Step 7: Pose these questions:

1. Which quadrant was the easiest to complete, and why?

2. Which quadrant, if any, reveals something about you that others

might not know?

3. Which quadrant demonstrates the values of your company?

VARIATIONS

 Take a picture of each participant and affix it to each person’s shield.

 If you have more than 20 people or you need to save time, form groups
of 5 to 6 participants for Step 5.

POST-ACTIVITY REVIEW

Take time shortly after conducting this activity to reflect on how it went, how engaged
the participants were, and what questions they raised. Then, make notes that include
how much time you actually spent on the activity.
 HANDOUT 3.1

Leadership Shield

Two of my leadership What I like best

skills are my vision about my work is the
and creativity opportunity to influence
others

Two of my values One of my recent

are my inclusiveness successes was to
and integrity reorganize my
department and
save one-half FTE.
 HANDOUT 3.1

LEADERSHIP SHIELD (continued)

© 2005 AMACOM, A DIVISION OF AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

This handout is available in PDF form at www.amacombooks.org/leadershipact.