Foundations of Field Leadership

Registration Now Open

(See Below for Full Details)

WHAT IS IT?

  • A new online program for new or aspiring field leaders.
  • An 8-week course made up of live lectures, short assignments, quizzes, and video segments.
  • An overview of concepts and practices essential to running a successful mechanical jobsite.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

  • Field leaders who have relatively little (0-2 years) experience running work.
  • Anyone who has been identified as a potential future field leader.
  • Journeyworkers and apprentices interested in becoming field leaders.

WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?

  • The support of their MCAA contractor.
  • The consent of their direct supervisor to step away from their work area for 90 minutes each week to participate in the live online lecture. 
  • An additional hour per week for completing weekly course requirements (assignments & quizzes).
  • Access to a laptop or tablet and a stable internet connection fast enough to allow for video streaming.
  • An email address to receive course information and reminders; a web browser to access the online course portal; and a Zoom account to join the lectures.
  • A desire to learn and an interest in field leadership!

HOW WAS THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPED?

  • The FFL is taught by senior field leaders with extensive experience running mechanical jobs.
  • The curriculum is built from the input of 42 mechanical field leaders from MCAA member companies across the country. The topics covered in this course were identified by these 42 experts as being the most important things for new field leaders to learn.
  • Each lecture is a combination of best practices, lessons learned, and tips and tricks.
  • Upon completion of all course requirements (weekly lecture attendance, video assignments, and quizzes), participants will receive an MCAA Foundations of Field Leadership diploma.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW BY TOPIC

  • The Field Leader’s Role
  • Productivity & Goal Setting
  • Documentation & Communication
  • Planning & Scheduling
  • Relationships
  • Safety & Compliance
  • Technology As A Tool
  • Leadership

WHAT DO OUR RECENT GRADUATES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR FFL EXPERIENCE?

About the course overall:

  • “This program gave me confidence by letting me by letting me know someone above saw my work ethic and thought I could become a leader. Also helping me take steps to become a good one.”
  • “Very informative on the basics of field leadership. And the tips on how to be a good leader.”
  • “I really enjoyed everything about it.”

About the instructors:

  • “I liked the [instructors] because they gave a lot of great stories/examples to better understand the material.”
  • “It was nice to hear from people who know the trade and have been in our situations.”
  • “I liked the personal stories they would tell that were relatable; making the information stick easier.”

About the course content:

  • “The class was very informative and provided plenty of information I could use to help myself in the future.”
  • “I enjoyed the pointers followed with examples to help paint the picture for me to understand the topic.”
  • “Informative and easy to understand.”

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Show up on time to lecture and attend all eight lectures in the program.
    • We understand that due to the nature of jobsite work, participants may not be able to make it to all 8 live lectures. Participants may watch lecture recordings of up to two of the eight lectures, provided they attend a minimum of 6 live lectures.
  • Watch a weekly video clip and answer a few short questions about it.
  • Participate in lectures, including the polls and short-answer chat questions during class.
  • Complete all eight weekly quizzes by their deadlines.
  • On-time completion of all requirements is required for participants to receive an FFL Diploma

2024 COURSE DATES & TIME COMMITMENTS

  • An FFL course is 8 weeks long. Lectures take place once a week, always on the same day of the week.
  • Lectures are 90-minutes long.
    • This includes 15 minutes for participants to put down their tools, leave their worksite, and log in via their laptop/tablet in a quiet place. Lecture begins 15min. after the hour.
  • Upcoming Course Dates & Times
    • FFL Course 6: Wednesdays, 1/8/25-2/26/25
    • FFL Course 7: Wednesdays, 1/8/25-2/26/25

REGISTRATION

  • All registration is done online, via this page.  
  • Registration is first-come, first-served. 
  • There is no limit on the number of participants a company may enroll. 
  • Tuition is $900 per student, to be paid during the online registration process. 
  • Refunds will not be issued after the first day of class, nor for partial completion of the program. 
  • If you have any questions or issues with registration, including payment, email us at events@mcaa.org with the subject line “FFL Registration Issue”. 
  • To register yourself or someone in your company, follow the links below: 
  • Both courses will  take place on Wednesdays 1/8/25-2/26/25