Thu 10 Apr 2008
The Ecology of Leadership
Posted by nemawashi under Uncategorized
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Here’s a course that could bear repeating in every neighborhood of the nation.
Spring 2008: Santa Barbara, CA
Fall 2008: Bolinas, CA
INSTRUCTORS: James Stark and Christopher Kuntzsch
“Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Introduction
As we face the challenges of our changing world, many people are searching for avenues to make a difference – to play a part in transforming our families, communities, and the greater world in which we live. Each one of us has the potential to bring forth our gifts, develop the tools we need to make a difference, and live up to our own leadership potential so we can be of service.
Whether you have prior experience and training, or if have recently felt called to step onto a path of leadership for the first time, this program provides a unique opportunity to deeply explore who you are, who you wish to be, and how you will contribute to others. You will articulate your vision, get in deeper touch with your gifts and develop new tools, routines, mindsets and skills to be more effective in manifesting what you see for yourself and the world.
Curriculum 
The program is rooted in the following three elements:
We are nature. We are not separate. The program engages leadership that arises from an intimate relationship with the natural world. The more our leadership sources from our connection with the earth, the more effective we will be as leaders.
Specific Leadership Technology. This element includes valuable skills, habits, and mindsets to improve your effectiveness in areas such as:
- Communication
- Making and Honoring Commitments
- Project management
- Gaining support for your vision from others
- Presentation skills
- Using your time effectively
- Coaching – helping others develop new skills
- Bringing all aspects of your life into harmony
- Our ‘Inner Ecology’ Influences How We Show Up as Leaders. In the program, we will explore how our thoughts, mental models, beliefs, and the stories we tell – both about ourselves and those around us – affect our life and our ability to make a difference in our family, community, and chosen work in the world. As we understand and evolve our inner ecology, we become more effective at manifesting our dreams.
Our ‘Inner Ecology’ Influences How We Show Up as Leaders. In the program, we will explore how our thoughts, mental models, beliefs, and the stories we tell – both about ourselves and those around us – affect our life and our ability to make a difference in our family, community, and chosen work in the world. As we understand and evolve our inner ecology, we become more effective at manifesting our dreams.
Integrating these three elements, you will begin to experience leadership as a dynamic process that translates your awareness and insights – about yourself and the world around you – into effective action towards your intended goals.
On your development journey, you will:
- Design and implement a self inspired project which will give you the opportunity to practice new leadership skills while making a difference in your community.
- Explore patterns of behavior, as well as the thoughts and beliefs you operate from, and determine which of these do and do not serve you in your life and work in the world.
- Receive structured coaching and support from your peers between workshops, as well as from program instructors and alumni.
- Adopt routines to deepen your relationship with the natural world and who you are as a leader.
- Take on practice assignments that will help you develop your personal leadership ecology and integrate the skills, mindset, and routines of the course into your daily life and chosen projects.
- Develop and grow a regional leadership circle during the course of the program. After graduation, this circle will continue to serve and support you on your leadership journey.
As the Ecology of Leadership program unfolds, you will experience leadership as a new way of thinking and being. By engaging the practices and routines offered in the program, you will deepen your relationship to the natural world and, thereby, transform your life and your leadership effectiveness as you navigate through this changing world.
Regional Leadership Circles
A leadership circle is formed at the beginning of each program and is guided by the facilitators until graduation. At this point, the circle becomes independent, remaining dedicated to supporting alumni in continuing to integrate the tools of the program as each leader manifests their vision in their community.
Imagine local and regional leadership circles forming throughout the world – connected to one another and united as one. If you would like to explore the possibility of creating a leadership circle in your community, please contact us to set up a free introductory workshop.
Bolinas Meeting Schedule
The course meets once a month for 1-2 days on select Saturdays and Sundays. We will meet from 9:30am until 5:00pm. The first and last sessions will include a Saturday evening meeting, as well. Participants are welcome to bring camping gear and stay overnight at Commonweal Garden during consecutive meeting dates.
The time commitment for your participation – outside of workshops and the project you will develop – will vary by individual. However, you can expect to spend approximately 6-10 hours per month in peer coaching and engaging in program assignments on your own time. The assignments are designed to integrate into and empower the life that you choose to lead. Please consider your capacity to participate fully before applying to the program.
Course Testimonials
“I highly recommend
esign.org/courses-events/the-ecology-of-leadership">Ecology of Leadership. The curriculum is indispensable for folks interested in working for world healing and transformation. The course taught me a powerful technology for leading from within. It stretched me past longstanding limitations. The practices I learned in the course will stick with me for life. EOL helped me to take more responsibility, to do it effectively and make positive change in nearly every area of my life. The course facilitators are especially insightful, and supportive. In addition, I made new, close friends who now serve as trusted allies in my growth. I regained a sense of connection with Nature in the course as a source of inspiration and guidance. Best of all, my clarity of purpose and creativity for projects I hope to do in my community has expanded. I am more effective as a friend, teacher and counselor, and a lot happier in myself. I would do the course all over again! ” - Michelle Nemer, Health Counselor
“EOL provides tools which can help us uncover and transcend the subtle ways that we stop ourselves from knowing and becoming who we really want to be. These tools require some time, some commitment, some willingness to be uncomfortable or afraid; but they do work, if you use them.” -Lydia Neilsen, Permaculture Instructor
“Ecology of Leadership integrates our inner realm with how we show up in the world. I gained insight into how I operate and how I can turn intentions into action in powerful ways.”
