Self-knowledge is an essential component of effective leadership. By participating in the Leadership Foundations program,
you will gain self-awareness, connect with peers, and explore leadership development areas for your time at Sloan.

—Abby Berenson, Director, MIT Leadership Center

What is Leadership Foundations?

The MIT Leadership Center offers a range of learning experiences to foster your leadership development journey while at Sloan. To start your exploration, the Center offers to newly admitted MBA students the Leadership Foundations program. It provides you with a pre-campus-arrival opportunity to reflect on your current leadership capabilities, explore development goals, and connect with peers.

Our Tools

x360 Assessment

Reflecting cutting-edge leadership research developed by Sloan faculty and experts worldwide, we ask you to complete the x360 Leadership Survey. This online survey aggregates observer feedback and your self-assessment of your leadership capabilities. Observers can be managers, peers, direct reports, and other individuals who provide honest feedback about your leadership acumen.

Leadership Capabilities Report                                                                         The x360 compiles your self-assessment and observer feedback into a comprehensive, individualized Leadership Development Report. To generate a report, you will need feedback from at least five observers along with your self-assessment.

Reflection Worksheet
The reflection worksheet helps you to distill learning from the x360 and combine it with your values, aspirations and experience to create a departure point for discussing leadership development goals.

Program Phases

1.

Complete the x360

Take the x360 for a snapshot of your leadership capabilities, based on your self assessment and a minimum of five observers who provide feedback. You choose your observers. Receive a comprehensive, individualized leadership development report.

3.

Complete the reflection worksheet

After viewing the videos, reflect on the report's feedback. Complete the worksheet we provide to help facilitate your reflection process. Return your completed worksheet so that we can assign you to a small, peer group (1-3 persons) and a guide to explore what you have learned.

2.

View two videos

Watch Professor Deborah Ancona's video, which describes the three building blocks of the model behind the x360. In a second video, learn from Tracy Purinton, Lecturer and Senior Advisor, MIT Leadership Center, how to read the x360 leadership development report.

4.

Explore your leadership development goals

In a guided session with peers, explore the patterns you observe from your report and begin to set leadership development goals for your time at Sloan. Increase your self-awareness, explore goals, and have meaningful conversations with new peers. Trained Sloan faculty, staff, and alumni lead sessions.

 

Leadership Foundations Timeline

 

TIME

ACTIVITY

DEADLINE

2 minutes

Sign-up for x360 survey participation

May 29

10 minutes

Enter Observers into Learning Bridge (x360 platform)

June 2

20 minutes Complete x360 Survey Self Assessment June 15
20 minutes Observers Complete x360 Survey Assessment June 15
Receive personalized x360 Leadership Development Report (via email) June 19
60 minutes Complete Video and Reading Prework (materials for understanding your report) Prior to meeting with guide
90 minutes Submit Completed Reflection Worksheet (Required for meeting with Guide) July 3
90 minutes Meet Virtually with Assigned Guide and One Peer for Leadership Development Discussion Session July 20 - August 21