Practical tools, tangible change 

Do you ever find yourself stuck again and again in habitual patterns and wishing for a wider repertoire of skilful responses, especially when under pressure?  Do you ever feel that it’s difficult to translate what you know about leadership into actions that really make a difference?  Do you want to know what it feels like to be truly aligned – head, heart and hands – as a leader, and to see that make a real difference to your leadership?

The leader who can succeed in the future is the leader who can embody leadership principles, rather than just know about them.   Embodiment  - ‘giving concrete form to an abstract concept’ - is the level of learning where we can do something different, consistently and under pressure – something you will learn on this absorbing and innovative programme.

On this programme you will develop a clear picture of your strengths, along with the things you do that trip you up.  You will be able to hone your strengths and focus on your limitations in a way that that enables you to make change at a fundamental level.  There is an ancient saying that knowledge is only a rumour until it is in the muscle.  Immensely practical, the learning that takes place on this programme gets straight into your muscle. You will truly learn what it means to ‘walk your talk’

What is Embodied Leadership?

Our historical methods of education, deriving from a scientific model, are quickly being replaced with experiential learning environments. Leadership trainers know that people learn much quicker through experience.  Developing a leader, manager, or an efficient staff of any kind, is no longer simply about tips and techniques or sending them off to read a manual. It is about embodying the practices of exemplary leadership.

Embodied Leadership means a person engages in recurrent practices in order to achieve mastery in their roles and way of being.   When we see this level of embodiment we trust and believe in their competences.  This level of presence and leadership transcends an idea or wishful thinking.  For example, athletes do not read how to swim or pole vault and then go out and do it.  They train with focus and intention, they have a coach or mentor who provides them with feedback, and they place themselves in a constant game of learning.

Embodiment means that our skills and actions are deeply a part of who we are. A good example of this is our ability to drive a car. When we first learned how to drive, we made silly mistakes and had to use our thinking to drive. Now when you get into your car, your don’t think about it. You just drive. The skills and actions necessary to drive are embodied, transparent, and seamless. Embodied Leadership means the skills of leadership and effective coordination become instinctual, part of our being, not just a good idea.

Why should you attend this programme?

In this programme, you will:

• learn simple and practical ways to develop a leadership presence , commanding attention, trust and respect even before speaking
• learn to adapt your responses to situations and react with clarity and focus 
• learn to give powerful feedback to create change and strengthen relationships
• express vitality, passion, inspiration, motivation in your leadership 
• become better able to take a stand in the face of challenge, change and constant stress 
• become more confident and relaxed as an individual
• begin to embody the leadership virtues of authenticity, integrity, trust and confidence

As a result, you will:

• more easily be able to take a stand
• be a more confident and relaxed person
• be more satisfied, confident and fulfilled in your life and work
• be more empowered and motivated in your life and work
• have a more genuine, inspiring presence
• be able to maintain high levels of integrity
• be able to build trust quickly
• be more aligned with your purpose
• achieve a high level of personal accountability and be able to hold others accountable
• be more able to stay calm and effectively navigate pressure situations, conflict, and charged conversations
  

Programme content

Work in a large and small groups, we will lead you through a series of simple physical practices which will build clear picture of who you are as a leader.  You will leave with clear commitments to what you need to do next. Themes for these exercises include:  taking a stand in the face of pressure, remaining ‘centred’ when dealing with constant change, being resilient in times of complexity and conflict and engaging with others while staying true to your needs.

Who is it for?

Managers and leaders wanting to:

• increase their personal impact and power as a leader
• create a step change in their leadership performance
• develop clarity and confidence when dealing with change and dilemmas

Recent participant feedback:

"As an engineer and CEO/owner of my environmental engineering firm, it was never easy for me to find the comfortable balance between my intellect and my heart.  How does one lead with a measure of both?  How do I engage all of my constituencies from an authentic place of power and patience simultaneously?  How can I get consistent, quality service from my staff without leaving a trail of bodies in my wake?  The Strozzi training gave me the skill set to find the right balance between these two competing aspects of my personality.  I still get things done, but in a very comfortable and supportive way. Even my dog has noticed the difference in me!”

“At 6’ 10” and 300 pounds, I have never felt fully comfortable in my body as a leader.  Thinking I was too imposing, I shrunk from my real size and stature so much that I walked around hunched over trying to be smaller than my frame. The Strozzi experience completely changed the way I hold and carry myself.  I enter a room with the poise, posture and power of my full 6’ 10” frame these days.  People instantly “get” my power and my presence.  I am finally able to claim my full leadership potential.”

“I went to the Strozzi training as a genuine rookie in a veteran world of seasoned CEOs.  I returned from the training a very different, much more mature and enlightened leader.  In the last year I have led my company to its first three quarters of profitability in nearly half a decade!  Customers, employees, vendors, colleagues now experience me as the leader I always wanted to be, but did not know how to show up as that leader.  I feel as if I logged ten years of leadership experience in less than four days!”

“I count my experience at Strozzi as the pinnacle highlight of the ongoing leadership education.  I now am clear about my personal vision and how it is fully connected to my organizational mission.  My exit strategy a decade from now is positively driven by my clear “for sake of what…”.  Finally, my purpose, my vision, my mission all fit beautifully together in one clear picture.”

Programme Director

Peter Hamill, Senior Consultant

Peter is a consultant, facilitator and coach with an international background in leadership and organisational development. He is certified as a Somatic Coach, by Strozzi Institute and has been working with them since 2002. In 2003 he completed a three-month internship with Strozzi Institute, in order to immerse himself in Embodied Leadership. If you would like to know more about this programme, please contact Peter on: 01293 854067

Mark Mooney, VP of Public Programs - Strozzi Institute

Mark is a certified Master Somatic Coach. He is a teacher in Strozzi Institute’s Leadership and Action courses in the US, Europe and Asia, and provides individual coaching and business consulting. Mark uses a Somatic approach in all the domains in which he is involved. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, has managed several small businesses and owned his own manufacturing business for six years. He has been studying with Dr. Richard Strozzi-Heckler for 16 years and has been a teacher at Strozzi Institute for 11 years. He holds the rank of black belt in Aikido.  Mark has been a guest presenter at Yale, George Mason University, Sonoma State University, JFK University, Georgetown University, and the University of San Francisco. He has presented at various conferences including the Organization Development Network Conference, Edges Coaching Community Conference, and a Pfizer Discovery Day Conference.  During his time at Strozzi Institute, Mark has worked with numerous businesses providing them with training in leadership, effective coordination, and developing teams. These businesses include Pfizer, BIA Financial Consultant, Boston Edison, Cisco Systems, Hoffman Institute, Homeland Security, Kaiser Permanete, MetaDesign, Raytheon, Texas Utilities and Vistage.


This programme will be run in partnership with the Strozzi Institute founded by Richard Strozzi-Heckler. 

The Strozzi Institute

One of the forefront technologies for developing today's business leaders is the field of neuroperformance.  It recognises that the elements of focus, attention, knowing how one's past influences us, and practice over time are some of the key elements for fundamental, sustainable change.  Through dynamic experiential practices that demand a strong attention and focus, participants can change fundamental aspects of themselves that interfere with high performance, and cultivate strengths and possibilities - developing Self-Mastery.  This is the hallmark of Strozzi Institute.  This is Leadership in Action.