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The Connected Leader

The Connected Leader

The Connected Leader helps managers and supervisors develop the practical, people-centered leadership skills today’s workplaces demand. Intended for existing leaders, participants will learn four proven practices—effective one-on-ones, feedback that builds trust, developing others through micro-skills, and delegating with growth in mind. Whether you lead a team of two or twenty, this class will help you create stronger connections, improve engagement, and build a culture of accountability and development that works in any size business.

  • Dates: Kick Off – May 5, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
    • Class 1 – May 14, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
    • Class 2 – May 21, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
    • Class 3 – May 28, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
  • Location: DMACC Urban Campus
  • Investment: $2,500 per seat
  • Registration: Register here or by emailing DBR at dbr@dmacc.edu.

Instructor: Mike Wagner

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Build Trust Through Purposeful 1:1s
    Participants will learn to conduct consistent, structured one-on-one conversations that strengthen trust, clarify expectations, and create a predictable rhythm of connection with each direct report.
  • Give and Receive Feedback That Drives Development
    Participants will develop the skill of offering specific, timely, two-way feedback that improves performance, reduces rework, and reinforces a culture of accountability and growth.
  • Identify and Grow Crucial Skills in Their Teams
    Participants will learn how to spot skill gaps early, break skills into micro-skills, and design simple, effective coaching steps that help team members level-up in their roles.
  • Delegate With Development in Mind
    Participants will learn to expand their own leadership capacity by delegating tasks, authority, and responsibility in ways that grow others—moving from “doing the work” to “building people who can do the work.”
  • Apply a Developmental Mindset to Everyday Leadership
    Participants will adopt a practical framework for becoming a “developer leader” rather than a “task manager,” equipping them to increase engagement, retain talent, and build healthier, more resilient teams in their Central Iowa workplaces.

About the Instructor: 

Mike Wagner is the founder of White Rabbit Group, a leadership development team begun in 2004. He is a skilled business consultant, facilitator and team building strategist. Mike serves leadership teams in the creation of productive organizations that succeed in our dynamically changing times. His approach is a unique blend of practices informed by multiple disciplines and areas of interest. Companies like Corteva, Businessolver, Accumold, and John Deere, have partnered with Mike and White Rabbit Group to grow strong leadership and competitive businesses. Other well-known Iowa clients include Iowa State University and LifeServe. 

As a gifted communicator, Mike speaks across the nation on leadership, employee retention and the development of high performance teams. If you have a friend or colleague that you regularly call to get your mind going again, Mike is THAT kind of guy.

His education includes a B.A. from the University of Nebraska in History and Classical Greek (1977) and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (1981).

Mike’s mission is to create leaders who connect.