LeaderShape #CoLead14 Retreat.
Just shy of five years ago, I was given one of the best opportunities of my life: to spend a week with 65 others immersed in a program called The LeaderShape Institute. Back then, I had no idea how that week would impact me or that I'd still be connected to the LeaderShape community today.
I had the opportunity to return to the LeaderShape Institute in the summer of 2012 serving as a family cluster facilitator at a national session. Though the participants and the faculty were different thus creating a rich, new learning community, the curriculum remained the same and the impact and the magic that happened that week in Lake Tahoe once again touched me in new and familiar ways.
In a little less than a month, I'll experience my third Institute. Though this year, my role is different as I'll be serving as a Co-Lead Facilitator responsible for facilitating the curriculum (it's a 5 lb. manual), guiding the faculty, and welcoming 60 new participants into the LeaderShape family. As part of this new role, I attended the Co-Lead retreat these past few days in Indianapolis, Indiana. I joined 24 other new Co-Leads (my new Co-Lead cohort whom are all incredible and inspiring individuals) and 100 returners in four days of dialogue, reflection, community building, gut checking, and supporting one another. We traveled from every corner of the US representing various professions, identities, and passions. But we came together united by a common purpose: to create a just, caring, and thriving world. I was nervous at first in the company of some giants in my field. Individuals who are experts in the areas of leadership, social justice, and facilitation. Individuals whose names are spoken in my field with reverence. How daunting. How intimidating. Could I play ball with these all stars? Would I be enough? I did. I am.
My cup is full. Overflowing in fact. I met so many incredibly warm, passionate, and values-driven people who are committed to raising the conversation and staying in the mess to create a world of possibility. These last few days have been nothing short of amazing and exactly what I needed. I owe so much gratitude to the LeaderShape community and I look forward to the opportunity to gather every year with the Co-Lead community and to being able to facilitate the Institute each year at campuses across the US. I'm part of something bigger than me. Something that truly has the potential to change the game and change the world. What more could you want?
We are LeaderShape.
A just, caring, and thriving world.
LeaderShape's vision is simple: to create a just, caring, and thriving world where all lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible. Read that again. Let it sink in. What would a just, caring, and thriving world look like? What would it mean to lead with integrity? What would it look like if you lived your life in possibility? What would it mean to have a healthy disregard for the impossible? That week changed me. Transformed me. Personally and professionally. I began to live my life differently focusing on my values and committing myself daily to those values. I began to approach my work with students with a new focus, a new energy, a new sense of purpose.I had the opportunity to return to the LeaderShape Institute in the summer of 2012 serving as a family cluster facilitator at a national session. Though the participants and the faculty were different thus creating a rich, new learning community, the curriculum remained the same and the impact and the magic that happened that week in Lake Tahoe once again touched me in new and familiar ways.
In a little less than a month, I'll experience my third Institute. Though this year, my role is different as I'll be serving as a Co-Lead Facilitator responsible for facilitating the curriculum (it's a 5 lb. manual), guiding the faculty, and welcoming 60 new participants into the LeaderShape family. As part of this new role, I attended the Co-Lead retreat these past few days in Indianapolis, Indiana. I joined 24 other new Co-Leads (my new Co-Lead cohort whom are all incredible and inspiring individuals) and 100 returners in four days of dialogue, reflection, community building, gut checking, and supporting one another. We traveled from every corner of the US representing various professions, identities, and passions. But we came together united by a common purpose: to create a just, caring, and thriving world. I was nervous at first in the company of some giants in my field. Individuals who are experts in the areas of leadership, social justice, and facilitation. Individuals whose names are spoken in my field with reverence. How daunting. How intimidating. Could I play ball with these all stars? Would I be enough? I did. I am.
My cup is full. Overflowing in fact. I met so many incredibly warm, passionate, and values-driven people who are committed to raising the conversation and staying in the mess to create a world of possibility. These last few days have been nothing short of amazing and exactly what I needed. I owe so much gratitude to the LeaderShape community and I look forward to the opportunity to gather every year with the Co-Lead community and to being able to facilitate the Institute each year at campuses across the US. I'm part of something bigger than me. Something that truly has the potential to change the game and change the world. What more could you want?
We are LeaderShape.
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