Some of the companies/organizations I've worked with:

While I customize my approach to each client/situation, I use the following approaches to varying degrees in virtually all trainings:

Classroom Training

Basic principles of group/organizational psychology and specific techniques for key leadership skills such as team contracting, decision-making, communication and conflict resolution are best taught in a classroom setting before being implemented in the “real world”. All of my classroom training sessions are highly interactive and emphasize making concepts relevant to the organizational/institutional domains in which trainees participate.

Assessments & Benchmarking

The business adage that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it” holds true for the development of leadership skills. The first step to improving leadership competencies is knowing where a trainee’s strengths and areas of improvement lie. This provides a solid foundation for the development of a personalized learning agenda which is unique to each participant.

Experiential Programming

Effective leadership skills cannot be taught by simply providing intellectual training and concepts.  Actualized leadership is action-based.  My experiential programs ensure that all trainees are placed into leadership roles in which they can learn (often through failure!). Whether through a wilderness expedition, community service initiative or a pre-existing program within your organization, all of these programs are designed to give students hands-on leadership experiences.

Project & Team Facilitation

The most effective environment for applying newfound leadership skills is in a “live” situation in which there are real risks and real consequences. Whenever possible I integrate a didactic leadership curriculum into real projects in which the participants are actively involved in a real-world situation.

What is the Resilience Intensive?

Most of the actions we take throughout any given day aren't really deliberate actions.  They are actually habits.  From a neurological standpoint this makes perfect sense.  If we had to re-think how to tie our shoes or drive a car every time we wouldn't be able to function.  This shortcut however also applies to "negative" habits such as smoking, eating, anger, negativity, etc.  Furthermore, our life circumstances are constantly changing and evolving.  Therefore our behaviors ought to change too.  Most of us however don't take the time to take stock of our behavior patterns to ask whether or not they are still serving us well.  That results in low resilience to situations that don't go the way we want. The good news is that with deliberate action and attention negative habitual behaviors can be changed.  That's how resilience is cultivated.

How does it work?

In order to change deeply engrained behaviors (i.e. habits) we need to understand how our mind works.  We need to understand what motivates us - why we are doing what we're doing.  As Marshall Rosenberg points out, "Every action is an attempt to meet a need."  Once we understand the cues and rewards involved in our habitual behavior, we are empowered to engage in the behavior change process.  By definition, habits are things we do frequently.  Therefore, the new behavior needs to be done frequently as well.  This is hard because our brain is literally wired to react in that way.  Replacing this behavior involves awareness, structure, support and most importantly frequency over time.  

The Resilience Intensive is designed to support you in changing specific behaviors (we work together to identify which ones) over a 30-day period.  We articulate the new desired behavior and integrate it into your daily life.  We connect on a daily basis and monitor your progress.  Why 30 days?  Because that's what it takes for your brain/body to create a new habit.  This can be an intense process and requires commitment.  As Aristotle wrote, "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore is a habit."  

Together we will:

• define your new, desired behavior
• speak on the phone once per day
• submit a daily journal entry using a proprietary journaling program

Who is it for?

The process is called "intensive" for a reason.  It involves a considerable commitment of time and attention for 30 days straight.  Unfortunately our challenging habits surface when we are strained and are struggling to find the space and time to change.  This program may be for you if:

• You find yourself repeatedly experiencing dissatisfaction with certain behaviors
• Have tried to change certain behaviors but haven't been successful (new years resolutions)
• Friends and family members are giving you feedback about behaviors they are seeing in you
• Your boss and co-workers have given you feedback but you don't know how to change the behavior in question

It all starts (and ends) with Values

Values are the compass by which we find direction in life and make decisions. Whether we are aware of it or not, our personal values are at play every time we make a decision. The all-important leadership question is whether or not we are consciously making decisions that are in alignment with our values.  Effective leaders are typically very skilled at not only connecting their actions with their values, but also in communicating their values to others.

Knowing Your Values

The first step is getting clear about your values.  This means not only understanding what is truly important to us, but also why.  Oftentimes situations will challenge us to prioritize values or even choose between seemingly conflicting ones.  Unless we have done the up-front work of gaining clarity about our values, we're likely to adopt attitudes and behaviors that contradict our deepest values. Successful leaders are not only aware of their values but are consistently able to act in alignment with them.  They choose to respond to life rather than react to it.

Aligning Your Actions With Your Values

Ultimately effective leadership is about skillful alignment of actions with values.  Once we are clear about what's important to us, we deliberately cultivate the skills to make decisions that reflect these values. This sounds quite simple, yet surprisingly difficult. Often times we waver and compromise our values because standing by them feels too difficult.  No matter what challenges life presents us, as skillful leaders we have mastered the skill to be able to respond, rather than react.  We mindfully choose our attitudes and behaviors so that they become a direct reflection of our deepest vision for the world around us. 

Cultivating Your Unilateral Virtue

Unilateral usually has negative, self-centered connotations. When it comes to living our values, however, acting unilaterally is the ultimate act of leadership.  Powerful and inspirational leaders move beyond the "I'll treat you well if you treat me well" paradigm and live steadfastly by their values and principles.  Taking the "high road" in this manner takes tremendous courage, integrity and self-awareness. Unilateral Virtue is a skill that can be cultivated.  It may sound lofty, but it's empowering and highly effective.  Staying principled fosters integrity and inspires others to treat you well in return.

What is the Fundamentals Intensive?

Direct experience in wilderness is a great place to take stock of where you're at in life.  Whether it's a meditative hike or something more intense like climbing shasta, there's always something we learn about ourselves.  There's lots of physical activity which helps ground us in our body.  Combined with the rawness and beauty of the environment, deep engaging conversations = profound re-centering experience. Mother Nature always challenges us to get back to the fundamentals.

How does it work?

We identify a goal and check to make sure it jives with your physical fitness.  in addition to the technical preparation we also explore your intention for the experience (i.e. why climb shasta?  what do I hope to learn about myself?)  then we go do it. Then we make sense of the experience.  How was it?  How did it feel?  What did you learn?  How do you apply these lessons to your daily life?

Who is it for?

I experienced first-hand the impulse to "unplug" and "get away" in 2008 when I left my corporate job for a 3-month sea-kayaking and mountaineering expedition in Patagonia.  While that may seem like an extreme case, the underlying principle was the same - I needed perspective.  Nature, especially wilderness settings, have an exceptional power to provide such perspective.  Whether it's a weekend, a week or a month, there's always something to be gained from spending time outdoors. It forces us back into the conversation about our fundamentals.

This may be for you if:

• you're feeling burned out in your job
• you need to get some perspective on your direction in life
• have always wanted to have a wilderness adventure but don't feel comfortable doing so on your own

Measure your EQ!

The EQ-i 2.0 is one of the most widely used emotional intelligence self-assessments used today.  

Is This For Me?

If you agree with any one of these statements you will likely benefit from our programs:

• "I've heard about EQ and am curious about how it might apply to m."

• "I feel stuck in some behavioral patterns and would like to gain some insight into how/what I might be able to do about it."

• "I'm receiving feedback from work colleagues and friends that I could improve how I communicate with them.

How Does It Work?

We will provide the following:

1. Online Self-Assessment

Once we have discussed your objectives, you will receive an electronic invitation/link to take the online EQ-i 2.0 self assessment.  After completing the assessment (approximately 30 minutes) we will email you your assessment results as a pdf.

2. Debriefing Session

We will set up a call/video conference to discuss the report results.  The report typically generates many questions and our goal in this 60-minute session is to explore the implications of the report.  

3. Evaluating Next Steps

Although seeing the EQ-i 2.0 report is interesting, it doesn't necessarily lead to actionable insights.  During the 60-minute Debriefing session we will focus on interpreting the results in such a way as to identify specific behavior change goals.

How Much Time Will This Take?

The online assessment takes approximately 30 minutes.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost for taking the online assessment, receiving your assessment report and the 60-minute debrief from an EXLI guide costs $250.

Where Does the Debrief Take Place?

Usually, on the phone or by video conference. We work with clients from all over the world.

How Do I Get Started?

If you are interested in taking the EQ-i 2.0 please fill out this intake questionnaire. We will contact you as soon as we have reviewed your information.