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MAY 10-14, 2010 Leading Well in Chaos: This is the age of uncertainty, disillusionment and exhaustion. And the age of exploration, generosity and clarity. Leadership has never been as difficult and perplexing as it is today. In the past, leaders were challenged by great disruptions such as wars or natural disasters, but they dealt with these from a solid cultural basis-there was an acknowledged way to lead and respond (even when this failed.) Today, however, we have no such grounding. The systems that created modern crises cannot resolve them and, in fact, are dying. New systems based on new beliefs and practices must be created if we are to find our way through to new and real solutions. Leaders, therefore, are called upon to play two very different roles–hospice workers to the demise of failed systems and midwives to the birth of new ones. This course is an inquiry into how we, as leaders, can understand the deep and conflicting dynamics of our role and make choices about who we choose to be for this historic and deeply troubled time. Each day is organized as an exploration of a new and ancient belief that stands in contrast to the prevailing assumptions in use today for how to lead and organize. We'll explore the implications of these beliefs and the challenges they raise for us as leaders. We'll harvest the wisdom gleaned from the experiences of all in the group. We'll compare our personal wisdom to some of the great wisdom traditions of the past. We'll challenge ourselves for how we take the wisdom we've gained and apply it every day--in the next meeting, the next budget decision, the next conversation, the next policy. We'll delve deeply into leader identity-what role do I willingly take on? How do I claim and use my power and authority? To what greater purpose do I hold myself accountable? And we'll feel nourished, focused, and strengthened as a result of our shared reflective inquiry. Monday Eve: Working with Chaos
Wednesday: Working with Hierarchy Thursday: Working with Personal Power and Authority Friday: Nourishing the Human Spirit-Ours and Others For more information and to register, visit:
JUNE 6-12, 2010 Leader as Shambhala Warrior
Such times call forth a new yet timeless kind of leadership. We are called to practice warriorship as described in the Shambhala tradition. Warrior-leaders are working within the systems of power, but claim a different basis for their leadership. They are warriors for human goodness, whose unshakable strength and confidence arise from gentleness. They demonstrate compassion and clarity of insight. From being grounded in their own authenticity, they develop the capacity to remain open to what is, to encounter experiences fully. In this way, they become fearless and effective leaders, even in the midst of turmoil. As module leaders, we recognize the need to develop warriorship in ourselves and others. We also know this works best when it is a collective effort, when we can support and inspire one another. Therefore, this module is designed as a joint inquiry/experiment into how we practice warriorship with ourselves, with each other, and within our organizations. We aspire to create a community of learners willing to explore fearlessly and practice warriorship moment to moment during the life of the module. "Warriorship here does not refer to making war on others. Aggression is the source of our problems, not the solution. Here the word 'warrior' is taken from the Tibetan pawo, which literally means 'one who is brave.' Warriorship in this context is the tradition of human bravery, or the tradition of fearlessness. The North American Indians had such a tradition, and it also existed in South American societies. The Japanese ideal of the samurai also represented a warrior tradition of wisdom, and there have been principles of enlightened warriorship in Western Christian societies as well."
—Chogyam Trungpa Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, 1984. Our intent is to go deep and engage with people who already claim their leadership as Shambhala warriors. Meg Wheatley brings her many years of experience as a consultant and student of leadership; Jerry Granelli brings his music and artistic process; James Gimian joins brings his knowledge of Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Both Jerry and James also bring many years of teaching in the Shambhala tradition. In order to encourage depth, risk-taking, and community, we have developed criteria for participation:
In the mid-1980s he returned to active recording and performing, first in a trio with Ralph Towner and Gary Peacock, and then with the group Quartet. He now leads his own quartet, Berlin-based UFB. His recordings include Another Place, A Song I Thought I Heard Buddy Sing, News from the Street, and Broken Circle. Jerry presently teaches at the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin, and also lives and performs in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more information and to register, please visit:
Leadership for This Time: A one-off opportunity to spend 3 days in the Queensland rainforest with Margaret Wheatley, reconnecting with our purpose, with like-minded colleagues and with the living world.
How Does the Retreat Work?
For more information or to register:
Leaders For The Storm: Wisdom Old and New for Leading in Crisis and Chaos This is the age of uncertainty, disillusionment and exhaustion. And the age of exploration, generosity and clarity. Leadership has never been as difficult and perplexing as it is today. The systems that created modern crises cannot resolve them. New systems must be created to find our way through to real solutions. Leaders are called upon to play two roles-hospice workers to the failed systems and midwives to the birth of new ones. This course is an inquiry into how we, as leaders, can work effectively with the deep and conflicting dynamics of our role and make choices about who we choose to be for this deeply troubled time. Each day is an exploration of a belief that stands in contrast to today's prevailing assumptions about how to lead and organize. We'll explore the implications of these beliefs and the challenges they raise for us as leaders. We'll harvest the wisdom gleaned from the experiences of all in the class. We'll compare our personal wisdom to some of the great wisdom traditions of the past. We'll challenge ourselves for how we take the wisdom we've gained and apply it every day--in the next meeting, the next budget decision, the next conversation, the next policy. We'll delve deeply into leader identity-what role do I willingly take on? How do I claim and use my power and authority? To what greater purpose do I hold myself accountable? And we'll feel nourished, focused, and strengthened as a result of our shared reflective inquiry. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
All photos by Margaret Wheatley. Please email our webmaster with any questions regarding this web site. © 2001-2010 Margaret J. Wheatley. All rights reserved. |
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Tuesday: Working with Reality 
As fear and aggression escalate in society and organizations, what is our role as leaders? How do we maintain focus, courage, integrity? When good initiatives and projects get swept aside by crises and cut-backs, how do we avoid cascading despair? How do we not succumb to aggression and fear ourselves?
For over twenty-five years, James Gimian has taught seminars, corporate retreats, and leadership programs on how to apply effectively the strategies and principles of The Art of War in a wide range of contexts. James studied strategy with the Tibetan teacher Chogyam Trungpa, who introduced the Shambhala teachings to the West. He is currently the publisher of the Shambhala Sun magazine and the co-director of the Denma Translation Group, which produced a critically acclaimed and best-selling translation of The Art of War. James is the co-author of The Rules of Victory: How to Transform Chaos and ConflictˆStrategies from the Art of War (2008).
Jerry Granelli, jazz drummer, composer, bandleader, and teacher, began his musical career in San Francisco in the 1960s, as a member of Vince Guaraldi's group, and then later as the rhythm-section mate of Charlie Haden. Over the years he has frequently worked with Mose Allison, and has been regarded as the star pupil of legendary drum master Joe Morello. Jerry spent much of the 1970s and early '80s teaching in various innovative and prestigious music programs, such as Seattle's Cornish Institute and Boulder's Naropa University.
For an intimate and powerful dynamic, this retreat is designed for a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 20 people.
Angela Blanchard is President and CEO of Neighborhood Centers Inc. (NCI). Founded 100+ years ago, NCI is the region's largest human service organization. (1000 professional staff, thousands of volunteers; 60+ community centers; multiple social services; annual budget $200 million.) NCI uses an assets-based approach focused on opportunities rather than needs. It builds on existing human, social, and cultural strengths unique to each neighborhood. It nurtures stronger families and builds stronger communities and empowers individuals. See 