Running Head: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Leadership Development Plan

Kristen Kincaid
Touro University Nevada

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Personal Statement
Dominate fear, dont let it dominate you. Create, trust, act, learn from mistakes, and never
stop exploring.
Mission Statement
I am of my best service to humanity when I respect my need to pursue new ideas and
thoughts, while avoiding unnecessary constraints. I feel invigorated and infused with life by the
creation process and value new information and insight. I seek opportunities to travel and learn. I
am enriched when I can share my experiences with others, and feel equally joyful when they
share their experiences with me.
I welcome all the emotions available to human existence, because despite temporary
discomfort, new understanding arises and wisdom builds. Through lived experience, we not only
deepen our understanding of ourselves, but also of those around us.
Life is a journey that unfolds one day at a time, and I trust my internal compass to guide
me through the jagged cliffs and smooth waters. Daily rejuvenation occurs with time spent
outdoors and with the acceptance that one person cannot do all things, nor should they.
I hope to offer the gift of acceptance to those around me. I aim to empower others to
reach their goals and to create a life shaped by purpose, not by circumstance.
Strengths
The strengths identified following the competition of the strengths finder assessment are
as follows: strategic, ideation, communication, input, and individualization. Possessing a
strategic mindset is a valuable asset as it allows me to see problems that others may miss.
However, I will like to continue building on this strength by improving my ability to convey my
findings to others. I need to communicate my findings in a respectful, concise, and easy to

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

understand way. When I use my strategic skills in conjunction with my ability to generate ideas, I
can see weaknesses in the current status quo and produce solutions or new programs that address
the identified limitations. In addition, I am confident in my ability to work independently and
thrive in autonomous settings. I do not require supervision and will only seek out guidance when
needed.
Another area of strength is that I can communicate my thoughts well across different
settings and various sized groups. In addition, I am self-motivated and seek out new education
and experience without prompting. I pursue in-depth knowledge of subject matter, and am
confident discussing areas I feel proficient in, as well as acknowledging when I do not possess
sufficient knowledge in an area.
In addition, I am a genuine, empathetic individual who seeks to understand others, not
just through their actions, but in the unique context of their life experiences. I strive to see the
best in others and understand that are not always able to put our best face forward. I tend to
forgive easily. I cite these as strengths because I believe it is important to realize we are all
human and possess a multitude of emotions and thoughts, not all of which are positive. However,
accepting the entirety of a person is vital for true understanding to occur.
Growth Needs
To live is a process, and the process is hopefully one of growth. Therefore, we all have an
area in which we can improve, that is part of the journey. My path to becoming an occupational
therapist has provided insight into areas that I lack innate strength. The first of these is my ability
to follow through with projects that span months and years. The dark side to having many ideas
is that I tend to move on to the next exciting prospect before the last endeavor has come to

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

fruition. I do not want to change my habit of having many ideas at once, instead I need to grow
my ability to manage my ideas and create definite goals and timelines for their completion. I
frequently jot down an idea on a scrap of paper, just to misplace it minutes later. Therefore, I
need to create a special place in which ideas can be archived for future use. Furthermore, I will
grow in my understanding that it is impossible to pursue every idea. This is something I struggle
with, however, if I dont adopt this principle, I will not have the time required to develop a
project fully. In addition, having journeyed this far in my life, I need to respect the fact that I can
only work on projects for a few months at a time before burnout ensues. I need to grow my
ability to respect my work process. Instead of trying to accomplish it all at once, which is
exhausting and ineffective, I need to heed the words of Oprah Winfrey, You can have it all. Just
not all at once.
Another area for growth is in my ability to put plans into action in a timely manner. Due
to my desire to play out all scenarios of a situation before confidently moving forward, I tend to
take longer than required to complete a project. I over analyze possibilities, and then become
exhausted by the project before it has even left the idea board. I can grow in this area by learning
to trust my instinct and ability to navigate problems as they arise. Although I still believe that
considering a few options is vital for success. No idea or project is beneficial if no action is
taken. I am growing in my understanding that something is typically better than nothing,
meaning that a plan doesnt have to be perfect for it to have a positive impact. This is a very
important lesson that I am beginning to learn, and will continue to grow from. I do not have to
see all the bumps in the road as I continue my journey; I just need to possess the skills necessary
to navigate the rough terrain.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Leadership Style
After completing the various leadership style inventories and questionnaires, I have
concluded that I am Authentic Leader. On the Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment
Questionnaire I scored highly in all subsections except balanced processing. In addition, scoring
for the Servant Leadership Profile indicated that, by far, my strongest subsections were integrity
and authenticity as well as open, participatory leadership. For the Leadership Practices Inventory
(LPI), by far my strongest subsections were: challenge the process and encourage the heart.
Finally, the Transformational Leader Self-Assessment indicated my strengths were in intellectual
stimulation and individualized consideration. The latter is interesting because it matches the
results of my strength inventory. Overall, from the information collection, I align with an
Authentic Leader. Knowing this, when I am in leadership positions I will focus on building
honest relationship with those around me encourage their input. However, I feel that in order to
be successful, I will have to focus my attention on specific leadership qualities in the future.
Goals
One Year
Goal. To complete the Lifestyle Redesign for Weight Management, Diabetes, and Related
Co-morbid Conditions CEU course offered by USC by March of 2015 in order to learn the skills
necessary to be a leader in chronic disease management.
Actions. Prior to registering for this course I must take the prerequisite course,
Introduction to Lifestyle Redesign. Then I must register online for the course and allow time to
complete the six hour web instruction.
Outcome measure. The outcome measure will be the certificate of completion.
Resources. The resources for this class will be provided. However I can increase my
understanding of diabetes and co-morbid conditions by reviewing the literature available online
and in school textbooks.
Accomplished. This goal will be accomplished by March of 2015.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Goal. Become a member of NOTA and attend a two meetings as a professional within
one month of graduation to demonstrate support and leadership within the Nevada occupational
therapy community.
Actions. Register online for membership to NOTA and make a commitment to attend two
monthly meetings.
Outcome measure. The outcome measure will be my status as a member of NOTA and
my attendance at two monthly meetings.
Resources. Resources include http://www.nevadaota.com as well as other NOTA
members.
Accomplished. Registering for membership will be completed by September 2015, while
attending two meetings will be accomplished by March 2016.
Three Year
Goal. Complete the Food As Medicine CEU course offered by the Center for Mind-Body
Medicine to increase my knowledge and ability to lead other healthcare providers with the
incorporation of nutrition into a patients overall health plan within three years of graduating.
Actions. Request time off and register for the course online. In addition, must begin
saving for this course one year prior in order to pay for registration and accommodations.
Outcome measure. Goal completion will be confirmed with the certificate of completion.
Resources. There is a growing body of evidence available online, in journals, and
through both popular and scholarly literature that links nutrition to overall health.
Accomplished. Due to the cost of the course, this goal will be accomplished by May of
2016.
Goal. Run a community-based diabetes education course that aims to educate clients
about the disease, how to manage it, and foods to remove and include in their diet in order to
successfully manage this chronic disease within three years of graduating. The course will
include both lecture and active food preparation. Furthermore, data will be collected throughout
the program to determine if there is patient perceived or medical benefit from the course. This
will demonstrate leadership in the form of program development and preliminary study design.
Actions. There are many steps in order to achieve this goal. The first of which is taking
the CEU course offered by USC. Next, while in practice, I will begin an informal survey of
patients with diabetes seeking their input on what information they wish they had, what would
help them manage their disease, what part of disease management do they find the most difficult,

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what techniques they have already utilized to manage the disease as well as the efficacy of these
techniques.
Outcome measure. Collect at least 5 participants willing to attend the entirety of the
course. The outcome measure will be the completion of the course.
Resources. Fellow occupational therapists who have run group programs or had
experience in nutrition will be a valuable asset. In addition, other professionals, such as
registered dieticians, can help with the nutrition component of the courses. Continuing education
focused on group leadership and coaching will also be a resource to meet this goal successfully.
Finally, collaborating with primary caregivers who believe in the premise of the program will be
a valuable ally as they can assist with the referral of patients.
Accomplished. This goal will be completed when the entirely of the program has run
with a goal date of May 2018.
Five Year
Goal. Partner with at least one primary caregiver in Las Vegas to provide diabetes
management from the USC Lifestyle Redesign to at least one client within five years of
graduating.
Actions. Begin a professional network with Linkedin upon graduation. Add healthcare
professionals to my network and build my contacts over the years. Seek out primary care office
managers to add to my network. Generate data to back up the necessity and effectiveness of the
program. In time, begin to reach out to office managers to set up a meeting with the staff
physicians. Advocate for meetings and prepare a presentation demonstrating the cost effective
and patient care benefits of my program. Highlight that the program is covered by insurance with
a referral from a physician. Take on my first primary care client.
Outcome measure. The first prescription written for the Lifestyle Design course that I
can bill for will indicate that I have reached my goal.
Resources. The best resource will likely be the staff and educators at USC who have
successfully billed for this program. In addition, another occupational therapist who has been
able to successfully build a relationship with a primary caregiver will be a valuable asset.
Accomplished. The aim is to accomplish this goal by March 2020.
Goal. Become a level II fieldwork educator within five years of graduating.
Actions. Take and pass my NBCOT and be licensed for a year. I must work a full-time
schedule in order to meet the requirements to be a fieldwork educator. In addition, I must have
the time to dedicate to a student and be performing work I think can benefit their education.

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Finally, I will need to contact schools with occupational therapy programs and let them know my
contact information, the nature of my work, and ability to be a level II fieldwork educator.
Outcome measure. The outcome measure will be the assignment of a level II fieldwork
student.
Resources. Other professionals that have taken on a level II student as well as the
universitys fieldwork contact.
Accomplished. I would like to accomplish this goal by March 2019.
Ten Year
Goal. Open a LLC that provides a variety of services including diabetes and weight
management service within ten years of graduating.
Actions. Create a business name and register it as a LLC.
Outcome measure. I will have reached this goal when I have a registered LLC.
Resources. An accountant will be very valuable when creating the LLC and filing taxes.
In addition, other allied health professionals who have created an LLC will likely have very good
advice. Furthermore, there are books and seminars on how to successfully open a LLC.
Accomplished. The timeline for reaching this goal is March 2025.
Goal. Lead a series of weekend, outdoor programs that focus on diabetes and weight
management for young adults (aged 18-24) within ten years of graduating.
Actions. I will need to become well educated in nutrition and psychosocial issues facing
this population. In addition, I will need to run groups successfully during my professional career
to prepare for such a large undertaking. Furthermore, I will need to create a program addressing
specific issues this population faces. This will take many years of research, collaboration, and
trial runs.
Outcome measure. The completion the first weekend outdoor program for young adults
will indicate this goal has been met.
Resources. There are weight management camps that exist for the young adult
population. In addition, other health professionals who have worked with this aged populations
regarding these topics. Furthermore, an experienced group leader will be beneficial when
learning how to manage group dynamics and lead participants toward their goals.
Accomplished. I aim to accomplish this goal by March of 2025.