It's easy when you're assessing a manager or leader to pinpoint their hard skills: proficiencies such as organization, communication, leadership, or problem solving. But when you're talking about a person's 'soft' skills, things can get very fuzzy.

Continuing Studies at the University College of the Fraser Valley offers a part-time program that not only teaches so-called soft skills, but also brings them out into the open and nurtures them. The Managerial Leadership certificate program was developed by UCFV Continuing Studies program director Cheryl Isaac.

"We had many employers and employees tell us they were looking for a program that integrated the theories of effective leadership with practice," Isaac explains. "This program will greatly help individuals understand leadership, communication, problem-solving, group dynamics, and change in the community or workplace."

The part-time program features six courses, all 24 hours in length, which take place in Abbotsford on Saturdays. The six segments include Foundations of Leadership, Leadership in Communication, Creative Problem Solving, Leading the Team, Leadership for Change, and Leadership in Action. The final, 200-hour Leadership Project is a chance for students to apply what they've learned in an actual workplace situation. Participants develop, implement, and evaluate a project where qualities of their leadership style are examined, Isaac explains.

"This program enhances the skills a person already has or helps develops skills they don't have," Isaac says. "There are all sorts of people in a leadership role who would benefit from this course. You could be a manager of volunteers, a hockey coach, a Sunday school teacher, or a manager of a large corporation."

Chilliwack's Brenda Janzen completed the certificate last year and suggests it's a program that everybody, whether in a leadership role or not, could take something away from.

"You don't have to be in a management position to lead - you could be a janitor," she says. "What this course does is makes look at yourself and your values and how you use those values in relationship with other people."

Janzen says the biggest impact that the lengthy and dynamic program had on her was something she learned the very first day. The class talked about the foundations of leadership and individual values. Janzen says students learned to take a good look at themselves and evaluate how their values affect they way they deal with people.

"The question is, are you in sync in the workplace with your values or not? And you learn that how you handle a situation is very much based on your values."

Succeeding in the UCFV certificate program inspired Janzen to continue into a Royal Roads University master's degree in leadership.

Instructor Catherine Dawson says one of the most important aspects of the program is "the link between self leadership and 'other' leadership, the link between personal value systems and a company's or institution's mission statements and values."

Dawson will take participants on a journey of self-examination where they also learn and understand the elements of leadership, discuss the importance of good communication, and learn about group dynamics and personal style groups. The program examines models for effective leadership and promotes the integration of theories of personal leadership practice. The models empower participants to fulfill their responsibilities and embrace new ideas while remaining open and responsive to change.

"Leadership is a sexy term for some pretty basic practices, including common sense, decency and fairness, honesty, and accountability," Dawson said. "If you ain't got no followers, you ain't got no leadership."

Janzen couldn't say enough about the program and strongly recommends it.

"I just think this is a great course and this is a course everybody should take. It focuses on those soft skills that everybody needs," she said. "Yes, it means giving up some Saturdays but in the end it is well worth it."

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[Please note: as of August, 2004 this program is no longer offered by UCFV. Check Douglas College's Community and Workplace Leadership Certificate Program ]