I hope this helps. And if you take the course, you may be lucky enough to get Larry Spears as your instructor, one of the nation's top experts in Servant Leadership.
I don't believe that reading books or getting a "certificate in management" makes you a good leader/manager. These "tools" help you to refine your skills in practice. Also, I believe these types of books and courses can reenergize you to practice better management/leadership tools in your workplace.
Going out and getting an Automotive Mechanic certificate does NOT make me an expert in that field...it gives me a license to learn. Qualifying as a nuclear operator doesn't make you an expert, it gives you a license to be safe and really learn how the plant works.
Anyway, for me to do any more Google searching into Larry Spears, someone is going to have to copy/paste a link to one of his students that has become a great manager/leader. Otherwise, it sounds a bit "gimmicky" to me.
Separately, an PO2 can be a good Leader. Many of them don't because they're waiting for someone to grant them a management title to go along with it. Many of them don't because they're then bashing those with the management title..."someday when I'm the XXX [Chief, Division Officer, Engineer, XO, CO], we're going to do things differently". If you think you need "management authority" to be a "leader", then you don't understand either concept.
http://www.amazon.com/360-Degree-Leader-Developing-Organization/dp/0785260927360 Degree Leadership. How you lead, how you follow, how you work with your peers, how you work with other manager's people (teamwork)...all wrapped up in one book.
However, some should start with the basics.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671723650If you don't know how to clearly communicate with your peers, then don't think you can "win over" others with any leadership textbooks. You may have the greatest idea in the world, but if you sound like an idiot to others, then no one listens. (I had a few XOs guilty of this...they didn't get very far).
In the Nuclear Industry, you need three very clear attributes to be a Leader/Manager:
1. Intelligent and Technically Competent.
2. Energetic.
3. Clearly speak/write.
I have seen people become a GS-15 without a 4-year degree, and only "certified SROs" become senior nuclear managers and VPs. When you met these people (Navy and Non-Navy) they CLEARLY all had those 3 common factors. Likewise, I've seen degreed engineers go on to get their MBAs, PEs, (etc, etc) degrees and line their offices with their fancy degrees....but never get promoted out of that office. Why? Because they can LEARN the principles and get their certificate, but could not put them into practice...they lacked one of the 3 fundamental necessities (and sat in the chair waiting for someone to come in and look at their wall).
Start with #2. Go into work today and give it your 110%. Figure out how to improve #3. Make #1 a life-long nuclear career goal. THEN...read a few books in your spare time. This is a life-long journey....welcome aboard.