Established in 2008, the Stepping Stones to Enhanced Leadership program features a cohort-based program comprising nine modules, each lasting four hours, accredited by HRCI/SHRM to offer up to 36 hours of recertification credit. This program stands out for its creativity and innovation, tailored to address the evolving professional growth needs of HR practitioners.

Participants in the program include both members and non-members of Austin SHRM and aims to facilitate recertification opportunities, foster a new generation of leadership for Austin SHRM's Board of Directors, and support organizational objectives related to enhancing employee engagement, retention, and professional development.

2025 Dates & Course Overview

Module 1 – March 20 – DiSC: Self-Awareness 
Participants are introduced to the DiSC learning model and the four basic styles of management then read, discuss, and reflect on their management styles. Participants also explore how they tend to manage time, decision making, and problem solving and learn how to recognize others’ DiSC styles through group activities. DiSC assessment administered.

Module 2 – April 17 – DiSC: Building Collaborative Teams
Participants explore their perspectives on five key management activities: Directing, Delegating, Motivating, Developing, and Influencing Others. They do this by reading about and discussing their strengths and challenges in each of those areas. This course is proven to increase the effectiveness of anyone in an assigned or perceived management role--whether managing direct reports or managing relationships within cross-functional networks. DiSC assessment utilized.

Module 3 – May 15 – Navigate Team Dynamics using Emotional Intelligence
Teaches participants to read the emotional and interpersonal needs of a situation and respond accordingly. By combining the personalized insights of DiSC with active emotional intelligence development, participants discover an agile approach to workplace interactions, empowering them to meet the demands of any situation.

Module 4 – June 19 – Strategic Positioner
The objective of this workshop is to learn what it means to be a “Strategic Positioner,” giving guidance on how effective HR professionals turn insights on external demands and expectations into innovative and aligned HR practices that drive organizational development.

Module 5 – July 17 – Credible Activist
This workshop gives HR professionals an understanding of the role of the “credible activisit” and how to build credibility through results, relationships of trust, and growing the self-awareness to know when, how, and with whom to act.

Module 6 – August 14– Capability Builder
This session is intended to discuss the role of the “Capability Builder,” who defines, audits, and invests in the organization’s capacity to do what it needs to do in its current environment.  As HR capability builders, HR professionals will see how the whole is greater than the parts and establish organizational identities that outlive any individual leader.

Module 7 – September 18 – Change Champion
The objective of this workshop is to learn what tools are necessary to initiate and sustain long-term change as a “Change Champion”.

Module 8 – October 16 – HR Innovator and Integrator
The objective of this workshop is to learn how an effective “HR Innovator and Integrator” converts HR initiatives into impactful, aligned, and sustainable processes. 

Module 9 – November 20 – Technology Proponent
The objective of this workshop is to examine the competency of technology proponent, a new insight focusing on how strong HR professionals use information and new ways of compilation to address both administrative and strategic requirements.

Program Completion Recognition: December 2025