28-29 September 2024 — the Office of Student Affairs organized the Skills Development Training Workshop (SDTW): The ABCs of Leadership at the Arrupe Convention Hall, ADNU. As a major component of the Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP). The SDTW aimed at bolstering competency building among officers of recognized college student organizations. Seventy-four student leaders from 26 student organizations participated in the event. The program covered four core topics, each led by leadership and organizational development professionals.
Dr. Ronald Elicay started the event with an interactive session on Basic Facilitating Skills, discussing facilitation principles, group management, and handling correct and incorrect responses. He also explored various leadership styles, encouraging participants to reflect on whether their approach was more person-oriented or task-oriented.
Paul John Legaspi followed with a session on Resource Generation: Maximizing Resources in Student Organizations, where he shared strategies for securing funding and resources for student organizations. His discussion emphasized the importance of utilizing internal resources, organizing fundraising events, and establishing partnerships and sponsorships. He outlined the key components of a resource generation plan, including needs assessment, strategy development, and risk management. PJ underscored that resource generation should be an ongoing process, incorporating diverse and creative methods for sustaining organizational goals.
Day 2 opened with a session with James Nathaniel Refugio, LPT, MMath on Project Development: Challenging the Status Quo, Creating Spaces, which offered a detailed guide to creating impactful projects. He introduced tools like PESTEL analysis—a framework for considering Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors that can project outcomes. Refugio also walked participants through the essential elements of a project proposal, ensuring they were equipped with a comprehensive strategy for successful project execution.
The final session, Understanding and Managing Conflict, was led by John Michael Revilla, RGC, RPm, LPT. He taught participants to identify the sources of conflict within teams and apply effective conflict management strategies. Revilla introduced Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a method that promotes empathy, collaboration, and positive communication to resolve conflicts. His session highlighted the importance of clear and empathetic communication in maintaining a constructive team environment.
By the end of the workshop, the organizers hoped that the participants had gained competencies to strengthen their leadership abilities, empowering them to guide their organizations toward impactful projects within and beyond the University. The SDTW focused on providing technical expertise while encouraging participants to embrace empathy, collaboration, and innovation in their leadership roles.
