2006 Leadership Conference explores management styles; a focus on unique leadership style and development.

The Women's Franchise Committee is especially enthusiastic about this year's Leadership Conference which will take place during the International Franchise Association's Annual Convention in Palm Springs. For the seventh year, the committee will sponsor this half-day program on Feb. 25, which is designed to identify those skills needed to be an effective leader in today's business environment. This year's program is entitled "The People Side of Leadership" and is open to all convention attendees. It will focus on understanding different leadership styles and how they affect a person's professional development and the overall health of an organization.

More specifically, this year's conference will focus on your unique leadership style and what it means for you and your development as a leader. As part of the program, each attendee will have the opportunity to complete a confidential online behavioral assessment designed to identify leadership styles, strengths, areas for development and career paths best suited for a particular personality type. The test, which was developed by the McQuaig Institute of Executive Development, has the test-taker rank words and phrases that best describe them (such as "enjoying routine," "pushing for results," "entertaining." and "obeying orders"). No answer is right or wrong. The idea is not to re-invent oneself or try to develop an alternative leadership style. Rather, the goal is to learn how to leverage one's strengths (and minimize one's developmental areas) to best lead based on the particular personality profile. The confidential in-depth summary of the assessment results will be sent directly to each attendee. Normally, this assessment costs $295. However, the cost of the test and analysis is included in the $50 registration fee for the conference.

Bill Wagner, chief executive officer of Accord Management Systems, is a workplace behavioral expert who will serve as this year's keynote speaker. Accord routinely administers the McQuaig assessment. In his address, Wagner will shed light on how to interpret the test results, how to get the most out of them and what you need to do to reach your full leadership potential and be effective within your organization.

After his presentation, Wagner will lead a panel discussion of three dynamic leaders in franchising. The panel discussion has been one of the most popular parts of the leadership conference in past years and this year will be no exception. Each of the panelists currently serves as president of their franchise company and each has been selected to represent a different leadership style. The panel will consist of Catherine Monson, president of PIP Printing and Document Services, Inc.; Rhoda Olsen, president of Great Clips, Inc. and John Wright, president of Pat & Oscar's. The panel will discuss how their leadership styles have affected their career paths, their companies and their franchise systems. They will share their real life experiences in dealing effectively with others in their organizations with similar and different leadership styles.

Following the panel discussion, the conference will again feature the popular roundtables. These will be led by respected leaders in the franchise community and will allow attendees to follow up on earlier presentations and exchange valuable ideas on how to make the most of one's particular personality type and leadership style.

The Leadership Conference will kick off with a luncheon featuring the presentation of the committee's Crystal Compass and will finish up with a wine and cheese reception. The conference, while presented by the Women's Franchise Committee, is intended to encourage everyone in the franchising sector (men, women, franchisors, franchisees, suppliers and exhibitors) to reach their full leadership potential.

Conference attendees will earn 100 core Certified Franchise Executive credits. For more information or to register, visit Franchise.org and select "News & Events."

Mary Beth Brody is an attorney with the Minneapolis office of Faegre & Benson LLP. She chairs the WFC's Leadership Conference Task Force. She can be reached at [e-mail] or 612-766-8067.