This past Wednesday, 29 leaders from one of the world’s most admired companies entered a ballroom to embark on a new 
professional development journey….the Dancing in Leadership Workshop. The very diverse group of leaders, from 23 countries around the world, was confronted with a new experience yet one that was very much like the world that they work in, filled with ambiguity and tough challenges.
Ballroom Dance Master Lukasz Rogowski and I guided the group through 3 stages, each one progressively more difficult. After each stage, the leaders connected the dots with what they had just experienced to their work. During the debrief session, it was revealed that the leaders had experienced a wide range of feelings, both positive and negative. In fact, some of the leaders had approached this workshop with apprehension on their way to the facility. One leader identified that this was more stressful for him than an outdoor ropes course.
Following are the 3 stages of the workshop with specific behaviors listed under each:
STAGE 1. THE POWER OF CONNECTION
- Effectively connect with others.
- Build and sustain momentum.
- Practice positive resistance with others.
- Build consistency on my team.
- Regularly measure your connection power
STAGE 2. THE POWER OF STRUCTURE
- Create the primary structure of my team.
- Foster both leading and following on my team.
- Build “muscle memory” to achieve great results so that it is habitual.
- Regularly measure your power of structure.
STAGE 3. THE POWER OF CHALLENGE
- Consistently challenge yourself and your team.
- Stretch yourself to move outside of the comfort zone.
- Continuously practice innovation.
- Regularly measure your power of challenge.
One leader, prior to departing, stated “he would remember this day for the rest of his life!”
LEADERSHIP IS LIKE DANCING: LISTEN, LEAD & FOLLOW……WITH JOY.
For details on the Dancing in Leadership Workshop, please contact me at rick@listeningpays.com