The Office of Talent Development (AHD) is committed to providing you and every FAA employee with continuous opportunities to learn, to grow personally and professionally, to enhance your line of business/staff office (LOB/SO), and to develop others. This combination of in-person, instructor-led training (ILT) and web-based training (WBT) allows you to customize your program to meet your individual needs. Together, we’ll educate the leaders of the future!
The Exploring Leadership section highlights informal opportunities and formal programs to help you develop your leadership skills.
Program for Emerging Leaders (PEL)
The Program for Emerging Leaders (PEL) is a rigorous 6- to 8-month succession-planning vehicle and leadership development program open to full-time, non-supervisory employees. It is part of FAA’s commitment to developing leaders at all levels.
PEL participants enhance their leadership skills through a variety of self-directed activities and required coursework. Core program components include:
Individual Development Plans
With guidance from mentors and managers and based on feedback from Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) and StrengthsFinder assessments, PEL participants chart a course for individual leadership and career growth.
Readings and Case Studies
PEL participants read and discuss books and case studies pertaining to critical leadership skills and their real-world applications.
Mentoring
Throughout the program participants have the opportunity to receive mentorship from senior FAA leaders.
Development Activities
Guided by their Individual Development Plan (IDP), mentor, and manager, PEL participants select numerous developmental activities to grow in targeted areas over a four-week period. Examples of these activities include detailing, shadowing, leadership training, serving as a representative on a higher-level committee or working group, and performing inter-Agency or intra-Agency rotational assignments.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the PEL Program must:
- Be full-time, non-supervisory employees (I or J Core Compensation pay band or equivalent for other FAA pay bands, although some high-performing H bands may also be accepted)
- Meet the minimum qualifications for a new management position in their current line of business/ staff office (LOB/SO) organizational unit (Note: Completion of the program does not convey preferential consideration when managerial vacancies arise or for placement in FLLI courses)
- Be continuously employed by FAA for the year immediately preceding the application deadline
- Obtain the support and endorsements of their first- and second-level managers
How to Apply
You may work on your application to the PEL Program at any time. However, your application cannot be submitted for review until an application period opens.
- Share your interest in PEL participation with your first-level and second-level managers to garner their support
- Study the FAA Strategic Leadership Capabilities (SLCs), PEL Program Guidelines, and application instructions found on the FAA Talent Development website
- Check out the PEL webpage for the next application submission period at https://my.faa.gov/go/pel
Exploring Leadership Program
Program Overview
The primary goal of Exploring Leadership is to develop learning opportunities for aspiring individuals in management and leadership topics, with a secondary goal of aligning education with FLLI line of business/staff office (LOB/SO) training and leadership opportunities.
Program Components
Exploring Leadership develops proficiency in each of the eight Strategic Leadership Capabilities (SLCs) by providing several learning resources aligned with each capability. The courses are in eLMS, SkillsoftTM, and HR University, and are free for FAA employees. You can also easily access all of these courses from the eLMS home page. It’s that simple!
- Visit the Exploring Leadership home page
- Hover over a leadership capability in the graphic for a brief description
- Click on the one you want to explore
- Select and take a course
- Get credit in eLMS
What will you learn today?
More information on the FAA SLCs are located here
Professional Skills Development
This new online, on-demand professional learning opportunity is available for all FAA employees through eLMS. It is an innovative resource that allows FAA employees to fulfill their potential and advance their career at any time, and from anywhere.
The Professional Skills Development initiative is a concept based on feedback provided at the Administrators’ 2017 Executive Offsite, along with input provided by FLLI students on the skills they wanted to have earlier in their careers. The product will continue to grow as new topics, courses, and activities are added throughout the year.
Skill Areas
The new eLMS application is easy to use. Course content is delivered in 21 professional skill areas, with five different proficiency levels based on pay grades. This allows for easy navigation to a personalized course to master each of the following skills:
- Coaching
- Conflict Management
- Critical Thinking
- Customer Service
- Decision-Making
- Employee Engagement
- Feedback to Promote Employee Performance
- Increasing Productivity
- Interpersonal Skills
- Leveraging Diversity
- Mentoring
- Mitigating Cognitive Biases
- Plan and Conduct Performance Appraisals
- Planning and Evaluating
- Problem-Solving
- Professionalism
- Resolve Conflict Situations
- Team Building
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Written Communication
How to Access
Taking the next step in your learning plan is now simple:
- Visit http://elmscontent.dot.gov/elms/faa/ahr/ProfessionalSkills/index.html from your computer
- Select the skill area you’re interested in
- Select the level of learning that’s right for you
- Launch the learning resource that you’re interested in
- Get credit
Take Charge of Your Learning
FAA has a wide array of leadership development opportunities within the Agency that can help you grow and develop professionally. Opportunities include details, rotations, leadership programs, and other unique experiences. Below are examples of programs to explore that will add value to your career.
Take 5 For Training
FLLI staff continually supports your professional development, even when you might not be able to get away from your workplace or devote a great deal of time to the learning experience. Each month, FLLI focuses on a key leadership capability that will help you grow as a leader in every unique environment of FAA.
Visit the FLLI website at https://my.faa.gov/go/flli for the Featured Leadership Articles and Take 5 for Training recommendations for SkillsoftTM courses and videos related to the month’s topic.
Learning and Development Groups
Your professional career plans may involve an interest in participating and learning with others. As a participant in learning-focused groups, you will discuss the vision of the FAA for the future, their mission, and organizational standards.
- Learning and Development Council
- Integration Group
- eLearning Technical Advisory Group
Contact your line of business/staff office (LOB/SO) Training Coordinator for further information.