Alina Lehnert is a people person if there ever was one, and she’s all about maximizing the person.
With a Ph.D. in organizational leadership and a decade spent studying human behavior, talent and leadership, she understands the psyche that leads to personal growth.
“I help individuals, organizations and communities become stronger leaders, employees and citizens,” Lehnert says. “My passion is to help people pursue personal and professional excellence in order to maximize performance.”
In 2006, she started Lehnert Leadership Group LLC as a vehicle to coach leaders to maximize talent in one-on-one training and in speaking at regional, national and international conferences. This role builds on 10 years of teaching behavioral science, business and leadership programs at the university level.
“You give me an individual who wants to be a stronger version of himself or herself, and I’ll sharpen him or her. You give me a team that wants to increase productivity by maximizing talent – done. You give me a program that’s already good, I’ll study the best practices to implement and ensure continual improvement,” Lehnert says. “I love maximizing.”
During her 2007–12 stint at Evangel University, Lehnert helped launch and coordinate academic leadership and strengths-based development programs. Her efforts extend to children’s schools through the Leadership Springfield Academy for junior high students and a new program for principals.
In partnership with Springfield Public Schools, the Principals of Leadership program takes area school principals, from elementary to high school, through a similar community learning experience as the traditional Leadership Springfield program.
“Many people don’t realize that principals have a hard time leaving their assigned buildings during the day,” says Lehnert, who graduated from Class 23 and served as Leadership Springfield board president this past year. “All the learning, community connections and resources these principals now take back to our schools greatly impact our neighborhoods.”
Those close to Lehnert recognize she has a knack for listening to people, encouraging them in their strengths and making key connections.
“One of Alina’s core abilities is that of connecting people and ideas,” says Kay Logsdon, editor in chief at The Food Channel. “She somehow sees where there are gaps and responds with, “I know just the person!”
A licensed professional counselor and Gallup University certified strengths performance coach, Lehnert earned the StrengthsQuest Architect Award from the Gallup organization for her leadership in research, program development and creation of strengths-based education.
Lehnert remains an adjunct faculty member at Evangel, where she earned a bachelor’s in business administration. She also holds a master’s in counseling from Missouri State University and her doctorate in philosophy from Regent University.
“There is nothing more satisfying than taking leaders who are eager to learn, teaching them and watching for that ‘aha’ moment – then stepping back and seeing the influence it can bring to their lives, their team, an organization and even a community,” she says. “It’s so rewarding.”
