The Cox School Executive Education program hosted an open house event showcasing non-credit programs for perspective clients. The program also brought in senior consultant for Hay Group’s McClelland Center for Innovation and Research Scott Spreier to discuss his research on leadership.

Spreier in his presentation noted that we are in the perfect storm for leadership.

“We are in the midst of rapid globalization and flattening of the world where business happens faster than ever,” he said. “Now introduce the economic crisis and it is a disaster for business leaders today.”

Spreier said the leadership realm in business has changed. Using a sports analogy he said it is like a baseball team sitting in the dugout. The middle of the bench is empty he said. On one end are in experienced rookies and on the other end are wily veterans with nothing bridging the gap. Spreier said the rules have changed and new positions are emerging with new skill sets being required.

Spreier said there is more integration with Generation X and Y into the workforce with baby boomers that cannot retire because of the economy. He told a story of his interaction with a “Gen Y-er” and described himself as the “grumpy old man.”

“She had a diamond stud nose ring,” Spreier said. “I come from a culture where we didn’t poke our bodies with needles any more than we had too. She just so happened to turn out to be the best assistant I have ever had.”

Spreier said integration needs to occur between the generations to bridge leadership gaps.

The open house featured Executive MBA programs such as a three-day Master Negotiation course, which provides training to take advantage of the gain-gain approach, the most commonly used form of negotiation today.

Also on display was the Oil and Gas programs the Executive Education program has to offer. Ranging from strategic leadership skills, to finance and management in the industry. Participants of the five or ten day programs got a tour of the Barnett Shale natural gas field of North Texas.