A Deeper Dive into the Four Stage Journey
The Explorers Mindset Leadership Programme is conducted as a four stage journey, typically over a 9–10-month timeframe. The reason for this is quite simple. Real change in thinking and behaviour doesn’t happen in in a couple of days or a week.
We have set out to deliver a transformative leadership experience, and we allow participants sufficient time to conceptualise, learn and practice in a way to optimise the opportunity to really shift how they see themselves and act as leaders.
Beginning with an immersion into the mindset of the explorers, a phase of self-discovery and learning over a period of time, a programme highlight is the opportunity for participants to apply learnings in today’s world through designing and completing their own Expedition – an outdoor challenge to “put oneself in the shoes of an Explorer”.
1. SELF DISCOVERY & IMMERSION
The programme commences with pre-work, some contemplation of self and the leadership journey, an initial pre-reading about the Explorers who will be discussed, and the completion of a 360-feedback survey to create data points on how participants are perceived in their current leadership practices.
Participants, usually in a cohort of 12, then attend a Two-Day Foundation Workshop in Christchurch. This workshop allows participants to be immersed into the heroic-age of Antarctic Exploration. Christchurch was the traditional ‘departing city’ for much of the early Antarctic explorers and is rich in history and artefacts. We visit the offices of the Antarctic Heritage Trust and the International Antarctic Centre and enjoy dinner at The Canterbury Club where both Ernest Shackleton and Robert Scott had farewell dinners before departing to the ice in the early 1900s.
We also engage with The Explorers Mindset leadership model, hear from a real-life modern Explorer and participants get their personal 360 Feedback Assessment and articulate and discuss their ongoing Leadership Intentions.
The Foundation Workshop sets up the frameworks for the ongoing learning and informs and motivates participants to embrace the leadership stories and concepts central to the programme and forge their own commitment to action.
2. LEARN & EMBED
Spaced out over the next six months are the six half-day workshops, either face to face or virtually, deeply exploring the Explorers’ Mindset Leadership Model and embedding the concepts and insights. The six Leadership Attributes; Curiosity, Conviction, Loyalty, Resilience, Risk Taking & Courage; are the backbone of the learning. The objective of these workshops is to equip participants with the new skills, insights and confidence to lead in a more thoughtful and compelling way.
We feature a different Guest Speaker (voices of wisdom) in each workshop, ranging from an explorer, philanthropist and naturalist, published author, medical doctor and leadership coach. Each of these guest speakers bring a modern-day perspective and help the participants draw a link between the historic leadership lessons and how they might play out today in a modern context. We allow four weeks between each session for new insights and skills to be put into practice back on the job.
3. THE EXPEDITION
At the conclusion of the six attributes workshops, individually and as a cohort, participants engage in an experiential challenge (their own Expedition), to apply new skills and approaches, testing their physical and mental endurance, and creating a lasting memory to reinforce their journey of self-discovery and learning. The programme can include an outdoor expedition to challenge existing boundaries on risk, applying personal and leadership learnings in a physically/mentally challenging environment, reflecting on what it means to be an explorer. Each cohort is encouraged to commit to a collective challenge as part of the programme participation.
The experiential challenge in the inaugural workshop, was, for example:
COAST TO COAST EXPEDITION
A three-day expedition crossing from New Zealand’s South Island’s west coast to east coast (3 days and 2 nights). The expedition had a flexible itinerary, accommodating a range of physical abilities, skill and experience. Departing and concluding in Christchurch, the expedition was guided by an accredited Adventure Activity Operator. The cohort planned to cycle, hike and raft – exploring “what’s out there”, fuelling curiosity, resilience, leadership and teamwork. The Expedition started in the Tasman Sea, cycled through lush native bush, crossed through the Southern Alps, and planned then to raft the stunning Waimakariri River Gorge and finish along quiet rural roads to the final destination on the East coast. The river rafting was unfortunately changed due to rain and a rising river (that’s the excitement and challenge of any expedition)!
Each cohort what type of Expedition they will plan and undertake together, designing something that will meet their needs that is appropriate to the participants and their appetite for activity, challenge and risk.
4. REFLECTION
The programme concludes with participants coming together, to reflect on their learnings from both the programme itself and the Expedition, and to articulate their ongoing commitment as leaders. A final celebratory dinner or lunch formally wraps-up this transformative programme.
Having now concluded the third cohort, we believe we’ve developed a unique approach to leadership development, borne out by the positive testimonials from those who have participated so far. The quote from one participant:
“The programme you’ve put together in one of the most creative leadership approaches I’ve seen in my career – the narrative you’re threading is exceptionally creative, the guests you’re introducing are world-class and the quest this is attached to is unique. Without question, you are onto something magic here. Congratulations.”