1. Foundation Series

Exploring Leadership (Leading with Strength)

1.1 Program Introduction

  • Introductory, Foundations, Team, or Organizational

    • Principles of adult learning and growth mindset

    • Inclusive facilitation and norm-setting practices

  • Model stronger psychological safety in group learning or team settings

    • Clarify your leadership intentions and growth goals

    • Practice co-creating inclusive and accountable team norms

    • Identify leadership strengths and development edges through reflection

    • What will I learn in this program and why should I learn it?

    • Who is on this journey with me and how do we create a safe space for learning?

    • What do I know today about leadership and what do I want to learn more about?

    • What is expected of me and how can I come prepared to learn?

This kickoff session sets the tone for your leadership journey by building clarity, connection, and commitment. Together, we’ll co-create a safe space for learning, reflect on what leadership means to us, and get oriented to what’s ahead.

1.2 Leading Authentically with Values

Values are the heartbeat of leadership. In this module, we explore what truly matters to us as individuals and teams—and how those values shape our leadership and culture. Participants will reflect on their values, explore alignment with their organizations, and walk away with strategies for living their values at work.

  • Track A – Introductory / Foundational

    Track B – Team / Organizational

    • The evolution of leadership (from command/control to collective leadership)

    • Peer stories and shared reflections on “everyday leadership” moments

    • (Track A) Supervision (formal leadership) vs. informal leadership

    • Leadership competency frameworks such as (Track A) John Maxwell’s 5

    • Levels of Leadership, or (Track B) Co-Active model leadership dimensions

    • (Track B) Traps of Leadership

    • Reflect on leadership moments in everyday work and how you show up

    • Recognize and reinforce everyday leadership in action

    • Support a shared language for leadership within your team or organization

    • What does leadership mean to me? (Track B: How has that definition evolved?)

    • What does good leadership look and feel like in my context?

    • (Track A) What is the difference between leading and supervising?

    • (Track B) What leadership behaviours do we want to see more of in our teams?

    • (Track B) What leadership traps do I need to watch out for?

1.3 Appreciative Leadership

Reimagine leadership through a lens of appreciation. Using positive psychology and character science, learners will explore their own strengths, learn how to spot strengths in others, and practice reinforcing feedback that energizes teams and relationships.

  • Foundational

    • VIA Character Strengths (Martin Seligman)

    • Strengths-Based Leadership (Gallup)

    • 5 Languages of Appreciation at Work (Gary Chapman & Paul White)

    • (Extension activity coupled with 3.3 Giving & Receiving Feedback) COIN feedback model

    • Spot and affirm team members’ strengths in real-time

    • Use the 5 appreciation languages to meaningfully recognize others

    • Offer reinforcing feedback that builds motivation and trust

    • Make recognition a regular, intentional leadership practice

    • How can work be more positive and rewarding?

    • How can I recognize and encourage the strengths of others?

    • How can I give reinforcing feedback that builds trust and confidence?

1.4 Understanding your Workstyle

This workshop shines a light on your natural workstyle and communication preferences using the Insights Discovery toolkit so you can stop communicating on autopilot and start building real connections. Participants gain insight into their natural strengths, potential blind spots, and how to collaborate more effectively with others.

  • Know and own your preferences while staying curious about others.

    • Self-awareness and emotional intelligence in leadership

    • Workstyle and communication styles using Insights Discovery (primary tool)

    • Alternative frameworks as needed (e.g. CoreStrengths, MBTI)

    • The science of perception and critical thinking models (Ladder of Inference)

    • Creating a shared team language to enhance collaboration

    • Identify your personal communication style and how it shows up in your work

    • Reflect on how your preferences shape your team dynamics and decisions

    • Increase empathy and adaptability in how you work with diverse styles

    • Use a shared language to understand and navigate interpersonal friction

    • What are my work style and communication preferences?

    • What other work styles and communication preferences are there aside from my own?

    • What do my preferences tell me about my strengths?

    • What do my preferences tell me about my blind spots and opportunities for development?

1.5 Adapting your Workstyle to Others

This workshop helps you turn insight into action by showing you how to stretch your style, bridge communication gaps, and bring out the best in the people around you.

  • Flex your communication to meet people where they are—without losing who you are.

    • Empathy and adaptive leadership

    • Insights Discovery colour energies in action (or alternative framework)

    • Situational style flexing and communication strategies

    • Use recognition of communication and workstyle preferences as a leadership tool to build trust and connection

    • Spot and navigate friction points caused by differences in communication or decision-making styles

    • Adapt your message and approach to better support colleagues and team members

    • Celebrate diversity of style as a strength that fuels team creativity and problem-solving

    • How can I recognize communication gaps that may be rooted in style differences?

    • How can I honour and leverage the unique preferences and strengths of others on my team?

    • What strategies can I use to flex my communication style in real time?

1.6 Developing you Leadership Roadmap

Leadership isn’t something you arrive at—it’s something you live into. This closing session helps participants reflect on who they are and who they’re becoming, connect the dots from their journey so far, and chart a path forward rooted in their values and strengths.

  • Own your growth and set a course for ongoing leadership development.

    • Principles of adult learning and growth mindset

    • Inclusive facilitation and norm-setting practices

    • Reflect on personal growth and how it shows up in real-world leadership behaviours

    • Identify ongoing development priorities that align with your leadership style and role

    • Design a strengths-based personal leadership plan using the Appreciative Inquiry 4D model

    • Celebrate and share learnings that can strengthen team and organizational culture

    • After taking these workshops, how has my identity as a leader shifted and changed?

    • What else have I discovered about my strengths, blind spots, biases, and development priorities?

    • What is my roadmap for continuing to grow as a leader?

    • What do I have to celebrate?

    • What can I share about this program that will help future participants?

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