Leadership Academy Seminar # 1 - The H-Factor: Exploring the intersection of humility and great leadership
Presenter
Matthew Sowcik, Ph.D.
Bio
Dr. Matthew Sowcik is an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC), and serves as the coordinator for the department's undergraduate communication and leadership development specialization. Additionally, Sowcik serves as a faculty member of the Challenge 2050 Project, a program aimed at developing human capacity to meet the needs associated with a population projected to exceed 9.6 billion by the year 2050.
Originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA, Sowcik earned his Bachelor of Arts at Wilkes University, majoring in psychology and business. He then attended Columbia University, where he received his Master of Arts in organizational leadership. Finally, Sowcik graduated from Gonzaga University with his doctorate in leadership studies.
Sowcik focuses his research on humility and the creation of organizational leadership programs. He also teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses concentrated on interpersonal leadership development, organizational leadership and advanced leadership theory, while similarly teaching some of the courses offered through the Challenge 2050 Project.
Outside of his research and teaching, Sowcik serves as a consultant to The New York Times. There, he focuses on the newspaper’s educational programming for faculty and students within leadership studies.
Overview
The H-Factor training addresses the immense benefits associated with living a life focused through the lens of humility. While humility sounds like a simple concept initially, due to misconceptions, many of the benefits associated with a humble mindset often go unrecognized. Dr. Sowcik lays out the benefits of humility, defines this complex construct, and provides humility-based practices for you to develop.
While humility makes us better leaders, it also makes us better students, sons, daughters, friends, and better people. The “leveling up” that comes with a humble mindset allows us to transcend who we are now, into who we are intended to be.
The H-Factor training is a collection of ten years worth of exploration into the critical role humility plays in moving leaders from good to great. Through stories, research, interviews, and best practices, Dr. Sowcik seeks to understand and develop humility in leadership roles. This training is tremendously fun and engaging while also providing a road map for developing this critical cornerstone for effective leadership and growth oriented organizational cultures.
Objectives
Attendees will leave this workshop with a greater understanding of:
- The critical importance of humility
- Why leaders don’t practice humility, but should, to move from good to great
- The rebranding of humility
- Actionable practices to develop humility in their personal and professional lives