Embark on a transformative leadership journey in the year-long program, LEAD: Leading with Empathy, Authenticity, and Diplomacy.

Watch the L.E.A.P. informational video.

Rooted in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) principles and enriched by insights from modern psychology and neuroscience, this program is designed for purpose-driven leaders seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

Note that registrations are on a rolling basis and that modules are independent, so you can join at any time (See below).

Empathy has been drawing much attention lately as a key skill in effective leadership and thriving workplaces. Being empathic is a human ability that we all have access to. However, relating and communicating with empathy and fostering collaboration effectively are skills that need to be honed and  improved through deliberate practice.

Being an effective leader and making the impact you envision requires many skills, including speaking truthfully while doing so in a way that your message can not only be heard and assumed but also serve to move people forward. A mixture of authenticity and diplomacy is really powerful.

TASTER SESSION: Thursday 25th July at 15:00 BST.

Register for the taster here.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this very practical training you will join other managers and leaders who are driven by purpose and a vision to make a positive change in the world and meet the Sustainability Goals. Through the weeks and months, we will create a learning community to integrate the principles and practices of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as applied to the workplace and to leading teams of people or leading change in organisations. Together, we will explore how to bring more empathy, authenticity and diplomacy to your unique leadership style.

LEAD provides a comprehensive approach to effective, ethical, and community-centric leadership and helps you integrate the principles and practices of NVC as they relate to your leadership. Each session will have a presentation part with theoretical aspects, as well as exercises to help you develop the skills. You will acquire a toolbox to help you better understand yourself and others, regulate emotions, and balance the diverse needs within your organization. Learn to weave together diverse points of view, express difficult messages with diplomacy, negotiate and resolve conflicts while staying connected to others, facilitate meetings that are more effective and include everyone.

See detailed course content below.

Prerequisite: This training requires a foundational understanding of NVC through a training by a certified NVC trainer or similar. It has been designed to follow my 12 week Empathic Leader training. If you are new to NVC, you can still join, but get in touch with me as to what you need to do to prepare. 

FORMAT

This course has a strong component of practice. Prepare yourself for an immersion experience in a new way of looking at people and relationships. In the live calls there will be some theoretical presentation and a lot of group practice and coaching.

The modules have been designed to stand alone. So, you can join the course at any point.

• 1 short video (15 min or so) at the start of each module / month to prepare you for the live call
• 1 live call a month 60-90 min on Zoom, on the second Friday of the month at 16:30-17:45 BST  (for 12 months from your start date)
• One email 2 weeks after the live call with further reflections and pointers to keep the material alive and some bonus material
• Guided practice: I will offer you ideas for practice and reflection for you to engage with throughout the month on the monthly topic
• Accountability and empathy partnership opportunity with others in the course.
• 2 monthly 1-hour practice sessions a month (open to other leaders not in the course): The Empathic Leader Sandbox
• Course hub with recordings, reading, presentation PDFs and other materials to support your learning.
• Coaching/ mentoring (optional): There is the possibility of getting individualised coaching from me, to help you advance more quickly and integrate the skills.

HOW TO REGISTER

The next module on Empathic Leadership starts August 1st. Registrations are on a rolling basis, you can join any month and your end date will be 12 months after you started. The modules have been designed to stand alone.

Sign up here.

ABOUT ME (Nati)

I am passionate about helping leaders learn to have a gentler touch with people and with themselves, and to enhance the impact of their work of making positive changes in the world. I have personally experienced how my ability to hold myself and others with empathy is the difference between succumbing to aggressive ways of doing business or transforming tense situations into shared understanding and effective collaboration that leads to better outcomes. I feel fortunate to work with purpose-driven leaders that work hard daily to make as much impact as possible on the environmental and social fronts, which benefits everybody. I love sharing NVC  as a certified trainer and helping people integrate it into their everyday lives and work so that they can walk the path of compassion and positive change they envision for themselves.

I hold a Masters in Neuroscience, a Masters in Montessori Leadership and Education, and a Batchelor’s in Physics. In my neuroscience research, I am currently investigating the role of emotions in how the brain processes language and regulates emotional states, especially anxiety and responses to stressful situations. I have been a Montessori teacher and love person-centred approaches to learning and inspiring others. I believe that, together, we can create sustainable change through a path of integrity with our values and to create a world that is respectful to the needs of all life. Lastly, I have written a parenting Montessori-Neuroscience book, which will be published in the new year in Spanish.

COURSE DETAILS

1 Mindful leadership

Become more aware of your internal world, which in turn will help you manage your emotions and be more resilient. This is the basis to be able to be more perceptive, understand others better and lead with empathy. Emotional intelligence techniques, stress management techniques, work-life balance strategies.

2 Empathic leadership

Empathy. Listening to others and treating them with compassion. An empathic leader is sensitive to others' emotions, perspectives, and experiences. Treating individuals with empathy involves actively listening, showing understanding, and demonstrating genuine concern for others' well-being.

3 Authentic leadership

Honest expression, boundaries, bold requests. Personal integrity and congruence in communication.

4 Inclusive Leadership

How to ensure that all voices are heard, valued, and included in decision-making processes. Convergent Facilitation, handling dissent effectively.

5 Collaborative Leadership 

Team dynamics and team building strategies. Facilitating collaboration. Build an inclusive culture. Explore strategies for fostering diversity and inclusion within teams, along with team-building activities that emphasize collaboration.

6 Inspiring leadership

The psychology behind motivation. Feedback that motivates and inspires. How to receive feedback gracefully. Inviting feedback across power gaps.

7 Diplomatic leadership

Navigating interpersonal dynamics within the team. Bridging divides without compromising Mediation and conflict resolution techniques. Resolving disputes amicably and keeping connection. Fostering positive relationships. Managing negotiations with tact and assertiveness.

8 Effective Leadership 

Translating needs into effective action. The art of effective delegating. Promoting productivity, creative problem-solving and innovation.

9 Development-based Leadership

Promoting development in people and teams. Coaching and Mentoring techniques. How to foster a growth mindset.

10 Community-centric leadership

Awareness and inclusion of the needs of all. Facilitating open dialogue, holding circles and meetings in a way that promotes trust and a sense of community.

11 Ethical leadership

Influencing people nonviolently, without manipulating them. Awareness of power dynamics and ethical use of power. Inclusive leadership.

12 Adaptive leadership

Navigating change. Shifting the culture to more empathic and compassionate & supporting people to undergo systemic change. Aligning personal and organisational values.