Why Join

The NLA is the professional association for people who study, research, and practice the science of leadership and followership. A professional association defines competence, sets standards for education and practice, protects the public from people who borrow the title without the training, and gives the people who did the work one voice. Joining puts your training behind something bigger than yourself.

Why It Matters

Leadership has no licensure and few protected standards. Anyone can call themselves a leadership coach, strategist, or expert after reading a popular book or taking a personality-assessment course. Organizational leaders often cannot tell trained practitioners from charismatic amateurs, so they hire on polished marketing.

When the advice rests on opinion instead of leadership science, the damage spreads. Team cohesion and morale suffer, performance drops, and in severe cases organizations restructure or fail. Employees, families, and communities pay the price, and public trust in leadership practitioners falls further.

What the NLA Designation Means

NLA-verified practitioners hold legitimate leadership education. They are trained in leadership theory, cognitive and behavioral foundations, organizational dynamics, strategy, and development. They take part in ongoing education, keep up with current research, and uphold ethical standards grounded in leadership science. An organization that hires one is choosing someone who has studied leadership and can apply it responsibly.

If you are looking for leadership support, look for the NLA designation. A great deal depends on that choice.

Member Benefits

• A professional designation that sets you apart and signals credibility
• A network of leadership professionals for collaboration, referrals, and knowledge-sharing
• A listing in Find a Practitioner
• Continuing education, including free or low-cost webinars
• Exclusive resources, research, and publications, plus updates on trends across leaderology
• Opportunities to publish through the association and its journal, JALA
• Research collaborations and research grant opportunities
• Mentorship and professional development opportunities
• Expert advice on the business side of private practice
• Job listings and career resources
• News of leadership events, workshops, and training, with discounts on conferences and conventions
• A voice in advocacy for leadership education and standards