My passion is for excellence through continuous learning
As an educator with the unique ability to help others recognize and increase their ability to learn, I specialize in leadership development, conceptual and critical thinking, and small group dynamics. The focus of my work centers on helping learners optimize their personal capacity to deal with an ever evolving and changing world through increased self-awareness, effective communication, and innovative thinking. My understanding of what it takes to create effective learning environments and experiences, along with my extensive knowledge of the learning process, facilitates students' abilities to embrace learning, develop personal intellectual capacity, and make deep personal change. Through the integration of diverse learning strategies, experiential activities, traditional teaching methodologies and a diverse theoretical background, I have assisted hundreds of students in reducing their personal learning barriers and in unleashing their hidden potential as learners and leaders. By capitalizing on people's innate desire to learn, the work I do enhances the unique talents of each individual and promotes their development as self-directed, life-long learners and leaders.
I conduct my life and work on the following core values:
Excellence in achievement Integrity of relationships with others Legitimization of self and others Stewardship of the natural environment I am committed to the following:
Being in Ease and Flow Developing Learning Relationships
Force Enterprises Inc., Victoria, BC 1994 - Present President, Consultant, Coach
Offer personal and professional development coaching for mid-career managers
Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC 2001 - Present Associate Faculty for the Master of Arts in Leadership Degree Program
Co-design and instruct first year and second year summer residencies Centre for Applied Leadership and Management
Design and deliver custom leadership programs School of Communication and Culture
Design and instruct the following program Banff Centre, Banff, AB 1994 - Present Leadership Development Associate Faculty, Public Programs
Co-design and facilitate team and leadership development programs Custom Programs
New Media Institute
Facilitate Project Meetings Pacific Center for Leadership, Canmore, AB 1994 - 1999 Associate Consultant
Conduct team effectiveness and leadership development programs
Buzan Centres International, Palm Beach, Florida 1995 - 1998 Associate Consultant
Design, deliver and market creative thinking programs
Mount Royal College, Calgary, AB 1993 - 1998 Learning Specialist, Learning Skills Centre
Designed and delivered "learning-how-to-learn" workshops for
Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, AB 1986 - 1992 Resource and Language Arts Teacher, Van Horne Secondary School
Project leader for the integration of language learning across the curriculum
Enviros Wilderness School, Calgary, AB 1981 - 1986 Chief Instructor
Led and supervised teams of instructors in designing and instructing 3-month long outward-bound style wilderness programs for young offenders
Professional Certificates:
Ph.D. (Education: Teaching & Learning) University of Calgary 2000 Dissertation Title: A Case Study in Sensemaking: An Ethnographic Inquiry into a Pre-conference Geological Field Trip as an Instance of Sensemaking and as an Instance of Pilgrimage.
Focus: Sensemaking & The Evolution of What Counts as Knowledge
M.A. (Applied Behavioral Sciences) Leadership Institute of Seattle 1992 Thesis Title: Restructuring Attendance Policy and Procedures in a Secondary School Through Process Consultation.
Focus: Consulting and Leadership
B.Ed. (Equivalent) California State University-Humboldt 1970
My teaching philosophy revolves around five main points:
Samples of people's comments that reflect the impact of my teaching
Royal Roads University Kelly Outstanding Teacher Award: Jim Force is a one of a kind educator. In the Aboriginal world, the Wisdom Keepers, Faith Keepers and Elders direct you through your life experiences without giving you the answers. These leaders support and direct you to discover the answers your self. In an academic structure, education is often viewed as distant from Aboriginal worldviews and epistemology; yet, Jim Force exemplifies and exceeds our personal expectations of a University faculty member. Jim gives his students the tools to understand processes, guides them throughout the two years of the MALT program, and this is done with the enthusiasm and wisdom of an Elder. The knowledge of leadership and the guiding questions make Jim Force an incredible educator and a truly authentic human being. Jim always poses the question: "How do you know?" With this simple query, Jim sends his students on unbelievable adventures, searching to find their own perspectives throughout their individual leadership journey. Jim's kind, non-judgemental, honest character models the way as a complement to RRU's Leadership Program. A guide, a mentor, a counsellor, a teacher, and most of all, a passionate educator ‚ Jim Force is the one who is most deserving of such an award. It is an honour for us to nominate Dr. Jim Force for the Kelly Outstanding Teacher Award.
Manitoba Hydro Leadership Excellence, Banff Centre - Personal Letter Just a note to thank you for spending a week with me. Of all the courses, conferences or seminars I have attended, this one is by far the most valuable. My personal gauge is how much I retain from each seminar, and this one rates high. Your easy free-flowing style, not withstanding your knowledge of the material, and your genuine interest in the area make you one of the best instructors I have ever had. Once again thank you, Mark
Building Personal Leadership Capacity, Banff Centre - Personal Letter I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and consideration. I came to this course to find confidence in my strengths and find challenge in overcoming my weaknesses. I have taken a large step in this direction. You helped me uncover something very profound on the evening we discussed reflection. I didn't realize that my belief in "not belonging" could be changed. I had been saying all week "I don't belong here." After that night, I was willing to say to myself Ç I do belong. I really have had this belief all my life Ç so I shall be patient with myself Ç but at the same time I realize that I must change this core level belief. That night (Wednesday) I prayed to God to show me how I belonged Ç and that answer came when you put your hand on my shoulder. I saw in your eyes encouragement and respect. I will be forever grateful for have crossed paths with you. Thank you, thank you! Susan
MALT Classical Studies in Leadership, Royal Roads University - Email Thanks for the comments re: my peer feedback. I often get a sense that I have offended someone when I ask what I consider to be innocuous questions. Your feedback about how those make you feel, and your suggestions for providing some context are most helpful for me. It has caused me to think, and in reviewing this assignment, I have some ideas of how to do things differently. I have an opportunity to put this learning into action with my peer assessment in LT 535 - I was just going to send it off when I read your feedback; I will re-evaluate my evaluation, and am keen to try some new ways of giving feedback. I like the mutual learning, mutual inquiry aspect; it fits more with the concepts of appreciative inquiry, which I am trying to incorporate into my work/life. Thanks again for provoking much thought and enthusiasm for me! Leigh
MALT Learning Theory and Training Strategies, Royal Roads University - Email Thanks for the feedback. You make a very valid point about what purpose is served by being a perfectionist. So far I have established that it is an ingrained behavior from childhood since I was always compared to my older sister. That does not occur anymore but I always feel like I have to be perfect. I really like the idea of analyzing that what this does for me and then looking at other ways of achieving the same results. I think I need to reflect more on the whole topic so I can figure specifically what I get out of it before I will be able to think of solutions. If you are okay with it I would like to seek more suggestions from you once I reach this stage. Thanks, Kim It's been a great 10 weeks of learning and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks for taking the time to provide such detailed suggestions. I realize what a huge undertaking this must be when I consider the volume of writing involved for such a large group of learners. In particular the feedback on providing peer evaluations has been very helpful. Take care, thanks again for all your help and I look forward to meeting you in person one day on campus. Steve
MALT Summer Residency, Royal Roads University - Electronic Feedback Form Jim modeled a Socratic teaching style in a way that was truly inspiring. He provoked thought in the learners and gave us plenty of opportunity to explore and question our own belief systems. He gave me feedback in a way that was both supportive and helpful. His feed back was based in deep insight, skillfully offered, and included coaching for change. When I left the feedback session with him, I felt I had a clear direction and some specific behaviors to practice and develop. I probably got the most out of Jim's seminars versus the other seminars. Jim actually challenged our thinking and I really appreciated that part of the course. Jim is thoughtful and honest and I enjoyed learning from him. I valued Jim's emphasis on learning as an essential part of the program as a whole. He worked to ensure that we were learning in all areas of the competencies, gauging our openness to new ideas and our self-awareness. As the epitome of an engaged learner, Jim modeled what careful and focused curiosity about a subject can do for a learner. Jim made me think more about myself in totality probably more than any other seminar material. He questions, probes, steps back and challenges. It is almost infuriating BUT did I learn, darn right I learned. How I learned. Noel Very thought provoking, non-threatening and empathetic. At times, we could see the thoughts dancing behind his eyes as he listened to someone speak. Jim's love of learning was engaging and he really forced us to "think"! Jim modeled leading from behind with a calm presence. Small group interactions to discuss content made the learning very concrete. Excellent modeling.
MALT Summer Residency, Royal Roads University - Email I wanted to thank-you for your sessions in residency. I loved the dynamic discussions that we were able to have within our groups. I have left residency with a renewed desire to have meaningful dialogue and be engaged with others. I used the self-awareness wheel with my teenage son-who loved it, and we were able to get to a new level of discussion. I am hoping to insert some of your communication strategies (incredibly enlightening), within my leadership sessions this upcoming year. Still reading "Spiral Dynamics!" Pat
May the FORCE be with you!
|
