In January, the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce will launch a new Leadership Foundation Series, a practical, skills-based program designed to support professionals stepping into leadership roles, preparing for promotion, serving on community boards, or running for political office.

“This program is about giving people the confidence and capability to lead,” said Chamber CEO Rebecca Martin.  “Strong leadership starts with strong fundamentals and whether it’s enhancing skills in the workplace, preparing for a volunteer board role, or considering running for an elected office, this series provides impactful core training for success”

Built on the national Action Based Leadership curriculum from Impact Achievement Group, the series focuses on equipping participants with essential leadership tools to successfully transition from individual contributor to effective leaders, one of the most critical and challenging career shifts.

The program delivers real-world leadership fundamentals including building credibility, managing performance, navigating workplace challenges, and developing influence. The program is a comprehensive curriculum that builds from core topics that directly impact team success, organizational competency, as well as business and community growth.

“Our leadership series is particularly suited for sole proprietors and small to mid-size companies looking to sustain and grow their business and their staff,” said Martin. Participants will gain practical, immediately applicable skills such as:

• Establishing expectations and accountability
• Conducting effective performance conversations
• Managing difficult situations and people
• Communicating with confidence and clarity
• Building influence beyond positional authority

Led by certified leadership coach Dan Eisenman, the series will be delivered monthly through 12 interactive sessions. “Research shows that effective leadership can significantly improve employee performance, engagement, and retention which makes leadership development a critical investment for any organization.” said Eisenman.

The Leadership Foundations series is ideal for:

• Newly promoted or emerging leaders
• Professionals preparing for advancement
• Small business owners and team leads
• Community members considering running for elected office
• Volunteers looking to serve on nonprofit boards

The Chamber Leadership series begins in January and will run for 6 months, with two 90-minute sessions per month, from 11:30 a.m.-1p.m, and includes all training material.  The Chamber is offering an inaugural discount for participants. Regularly $2,500, the first- year leadership class fee is discounted $1,500.  Registration is open to non-chamber members.

The Leadership Foundations Training Series includes 12 core sessions  over six months designed to build essential leadership skills step-by-step. All sessions will be facilitated by executive coach Dan Eiseman, EQUALUS LLC, who also is professionally trained for this national leadership program.

1. Define Yourself as a Leader
   Establish credibility early and set the tone for your leadership presence.
2. Customer-Centered Thinking
   Understand how decisions impact customers and organizational success.
3. From Doer to Leader
   Make the transition from individual contributor to leading others effectively.
4. Working With Your Boss
   Learn how to “manage up” and build strong, productive relationships with leadership.
5. Workplace & Employment Basics
   Gain foundational knowledge of workplace expectations and compliance essentials.
6. Performance Review Essentials
   Conduct fair, meaningful, and productive performance evaluations.
7. Handling Difficult Situations
   Address conflict and challenges with confidence and professionalism.
8. Managing Performance Issues
   Identify and correct performance problems early and effectively.
9. Leading Challenging Personalities
   Navigate difficult behaviors while maintaining team performance.
10. Building Influence and Credibility
    Strengthen your ability to lead through both position and personal impact.
11. Coaching for Results
    Adapt your leadership style to develop and support different team members.
12. Delegation and Accountability
    Maximize your effectiveness by delegating strategically and building ownership.

This comprehensive series is grounded in practical leadership application, helping participants build a strong foundation for career advancement, organizational leadership, and impactful community service.

SESSION SCHEDULE

The sessions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Chamber of Commerce Boardroom.  2027 Dates as follows:

• January 14 and 28
• February 11 and 25
• March 11 and 25
• April 8 and 22
• May 13 and 27
• June 10 and 24

Discounted cost for the first year is $1500 per person and includes all training collateral.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Dan Eisenman, MA-LPI, EQUALUS, is an experienced executive coach, facilitator and consultant. He specializes in leader and team development, focusing on communication skills as well as the impact of emotional intelligence and critical thinking. Dan has over 27 years of leadership and training experience in healthcare, the military, retail, and insurance industries. Past leadership assignments include acting company command in the US Army, retail manager for a major corporation and Human Resource manager in a large Medical Group.

Dan is a Certified Performance Improvement consultant with extensive experience building high performance teams. He has been a guest speaker with the Northwest Communication Association and has spoken twice at Association for Talent Development (ATD) International Expos. For the past four years Dan has also been a Performance Coach and Facilitator for the UW Foster School of Business Center for Leadership & Strategic Thinking (CLST). He also has strategic coaching partnerships with the Center for Transformation & Innovation (Tampa) and New Legends Consulting (Snoqualmie, WA).