Leadership Los Alamos Kicks Off Class Of 2026

LLA News:

The Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) Class of 2025-2026 officially began its journey last weekend with a comprehensive two-day Orientation Session designed to lay a strong foundation for future community leaders. Held Friday, Sept. 12, at the Los Alamos Nature Center (PEEC) and Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Bradbury Science Museum, the mandatory session immersed participants in crucial information and team-building activities. This year we have 23 enthusiastic participants joining us from various government and private employers including a variety of local non-profit organizations.

The program was expertly facilitated by Kirsten Bell, an alumna of the LLA Class of 2017 and a former Board Chair, who brings extensive experience in employee and leadership development initiatives. Bell’s work focuses on fostering growth in individuals and teams, strengthening workplace culture, and nurturing the next generation of leaders.

The orientation began on Friday evening while participants engaged in a “Think & Share” activity, partnering up to introduce each other and discuss personal insights, including their first jobs, how they recharge, and their motivations for joining LLA. This led into “Goal Setting” and “Team Expectations” exercises, where individuals articulated their hopes for the program and brainstormed ways to become a High-Performing Team. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to understanding the five key attributes of a high-performing team, based on Patrick Lencioni’s work: Trust, Healthy Conflict, Commitment, Accountability, and Focus on Results. The day concluded with the introduction of a Leadership Journal, encouraging participants to reflect on their leadership journey from the very beginning.

Saturday’s session delved deeper into leadership concepts and self-awareness. Another “Think & Share” activity prompted participants to reflect on admired past supervisors or colleagues and how their examples contribute to personal leadership.

Patrick Moore, Bradbury Science Museum Director and current LLA board member, led the group and explored “Servant Leadership,” defined as “taking care of those in your charge,” discussing key characteristics such as awareness, listening, empathy, foresight, and a commitment to the growth of people.

A core component of the orientation was the “Social Styles in the Workplace” training. This segment aimed to enhance effective communication and relationships by increasing participants' awareness of their own individual social style and that of others. Participants engaged in a process that provides insights into how individuals perceive themselves on the job and how others might perceive them. The training helps develop greater tolerance and versatility in communicating and interacting with diverse styles.

Discussions covered how different styles prefer to be worked with, their strengths and liabilities, how they handle conflict, and their stress behaviors. The ultimate goal of understanding your social style is to foster better communication, understanding, and relationships, leading to increased collaboration and teamwork across organizations.

The LLA program expects its class members to continuously engage with leadership through observation, discussion, and practical application. Participants will observe leadership in action, discuss leadership by interviewing community leaders, and put leadership into action by serving in a leadership role for a community service project.

Orientation session serves as a vital first step in equipping these aspiring leaders with the tools and self-awareness needed to make a significant impact in the Los Alamos community.

The LLA Board of Directors are graduates of the program who choose to remain involved, often driven by a strong belief in LLA’s mission and a commitment to the Los Alamos community. LLA’s core values revolve around developing well-rounded, self-aware leaders who can communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and are committed to serving and making a positive impact on their community, guided by the principles of servant leadership.