Leadership programs groom exceptional candidates for future leadership roles A compelling letter of recommendation can make the difference between a candidate being accepted or rejected
If you’ve been asked to write a letter of recommendation for a leadership program, follow these tips:
Understand the Program
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Research the leadership program to understand their mission curriculum competencies and values.
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Review the skills and experiences they look for in candidates.
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Talk to the applicant about why this program appeals to them.
Matching your letter to the program’s goals is key.
Highlight Relevant Leadership Skills
Focus on showcasing skills aligned to leadership excellence like:
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Communication – Clear, confident communicator.
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Critical thinking – Analytical, innovative problem solver.
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Initiative – Proactive, results-driven self-starter.
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Collaboration – Builds relationships, unites teams.
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Coaching – Develops and inspires others.
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Integrity – Principled, ethical leader.
Use vivid examples of the applicant demonstrating these skills.
Emphasize Leadership Experience
Showcase diverse leadership experiences like:
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Titles/roles – President, chairperson, captain, supervisor.
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Extracurriculars – Sports teams, clubs, societies.
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Volunteering – Fundraising, organizing events, recruiting volunteers.
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Work experience – Managing teams, projects, clients.
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Mentoring – Coaching, tutoring, teaching.
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Military – Responsible for troops, missions, resources.
Speak to Leadership Potential
Leadership programs invest in future leaders. Emphasize their potential by showcasing:
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Early leadership – Taking initiative and responsibility from a young age.
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Growth mindset – Driven to continuously improve and learn new skills.
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Goals – Clear vision for leadership development.
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Passion – Deeply committed to making a difference.
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Self-awareness – Understands their strengths and development areas.
Use Stories and Examples
Don’t just list skills and accomplishments. Provide stories and examples that reveal their abilities, like:
- A time they resolved team conflict.
- How they excelled in an early leadership role.
- Obstacles they helped others overcome.
- Goals they set and achieved.
Anecdotes make your letter more memorable and compelling.
Address Weaknesses
If you need to address potential weaknesses, do so tactfully. For example:
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“They have a lot of energy which could benefit from further focus…”
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“In the beginning they tended to overcommit, but have since learned to better manage their time and priorities.”
Follow Recommendation Letter Best Practices
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Address the letter to the director or head of admissions. Use their name if possible.
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Limit your letter to 1 page.
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Use business letter formatting.
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Open with a strong recommendation. State in the first paragraph that you highly recommend them.
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Focus on their strengths and skills, not just achievements.
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Close by reaffirming your recommendation. Include your contact details.
Provide Glowing Praise But Remain Honest
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Be extremely positive but avoid exaggerations. Stick to claims you can back up.
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It’s fine to highlight exceptional traits but don’t try to make them seem perfect.
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Strike a balance between selling their merits and realism.
Get Input from the Applicant
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Ask them for a copy of their resume and application essay if relevant.
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Discuss their goals and why they want to attend this program.
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Ask what skills and experiences they want you to highlight.
This ensures you capture their desired message.
Request Reviews before Sending
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Ask the applicant to review your letter and suggest any additions or changes.
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Verify that you’ve represented them accurately.
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Have a colleague also review the letter. Ask if it grabs attention and makes a persuasive case.
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Carefully proofread for any errors before sending your finalized recommendation.
Sample Letter
Below is a sample recommendation letter showcasing the above best practices:
April 19, 20XX
Leadership Program Admissions Director
XYZ Leadership Institute
123 Main St.
City, State, 12345
Dear Mr./Ms. LastName:
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend Jane Doe for your Leadership Excellence Program. As Jane’s high school teacher and mentor for the past 3 years, I have witnessed her grow tremendously as a leader. Jane has outstanding communication skills, takes initiative, thinks critically to solve problems, and inspires peers to get involved. I am confident she has the potential to excel in your program.
In my 11th grade English course, Jane immediately stood out for her exceptional written and oral communication abilities. Her essays were thoughtful and persuasive. When discussing literature, she could capture the audience with her ideas while considering different perspectives. Jane put these skills to use by founding the school’s Creative Writing Club. As president, she doubled club membership by promoting it through speeches and social media.
Leadership is using your skills to make a difference. Jane demonstrated this when she started a tutoring program for underprivileged middle school students in our community. Recognizing struggling students needed greater support, Jane recruited volunteers, developed the curriculum, and forged a partnership with the local library to host sessions. Under Jane’s enthusiastic guidance, the program was a resounding success.
Once Jane sets a goal, she pursues it with passion and perseverance. Though just a sophomore, Jane set her sights on becoming school newspaper editor, a role usually reserved for seniors. She strengthened her skills by attending journalism conferences, building her writing portfolio, and learning publishing software. Her efforts paid off when the faculty advisor asked Jane to be editor the following year.
Jane intends to major in Business and Communications. She understands strong leadership will be integral to realizing her aspirations. Your Leadership Excellence Program will provide the perfect foundation, and I am excited to see Jane absorb these skills. Please contact me if I can provide any other details. I fully recommend Jane for your program.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Contact Information]
Writing a compelling recommendation letter requires an understanding of the leadership program, highlighting relevant skills, and showcasing the applicant’s potential. Use vivid examples and stories to bring your letter to life. Follow these best practices to craft a letter that gives your candidate the strongest chance of admission.
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Tips on Letters of Reference
What is a recommendation letter for a leadership program?
A recommendation letter for a leadership program serves as an endorsement and provides valuable insights into the candidate’s character, skills, and potential. The letter should showcase the candidate’s leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and their overall impact in their current role.
How do you write a recommendation letter?
Explain why you are recommending them by describing the applicant’s skills, strengths and credentials. Keep it focused on those skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the specific leadership role or program. 5. Examples Include specific examples and observations to support your description of the applicant’s strengths and skills. 6.
What is a team leader job recommendation letter?
Want to use this letter? The team leader job recommendation letter convinces the hiring manager that the candidate is the best person for the job as team lead. It highlights his or her leadership and critical thinking skills and makes references to the type of leader the candidate is.
Why should you write a letter of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation help round out an application. They do this by offering insight into an applicant’s personal qualities like integrity, intellectual curiosity, or leadership potential. Writing a strong letter of recommendation as a teacher, counselor, manager, or co-worker can help give an applicant an edge over their competition.
