Bold Conversations with Nature
"I believe that the theme of ecocentric personal development is an essential dimension of the global effort to give birth to the future human."
~ Bill Plotkin, Author, Nature and the Human Soul - from Giving Birth to the Future Human: The Most Essential Conversation and Adventure of Our Time
Inspired Presence™
Bold conversations with Nature programs are designed to re-establish connections to yourself, to Nature and to each other. These group programs tap the valuable learning that is accessible through the natural world. As a result, you become more effective, more confident and more cohesive as you work collaboratively toward common goals, taking turns leading and build trust in yourself and in each other.
Inspired Presence™ is a powerful program using Equine Assisted Learning developed by Sophia Associates in partnership with Robin Dunning and Pam Dudek of The Horse Inspired Growth & Learning Center Inc. Equine assisted learning uses the horse as a feedback partner. As part of our team, the horses are interactive partners in activities with you that elicit natural responses and patterns of behavior. Their inherent ability to accurately read their environment allows for immediate, honest feedback that allows you to learn and to develop inspired presence. The horse becomes the catalyst for the unspoken conversations that drive team dynamics, illustrating limiting behaviors and through expert facilitation, identifying alternatives to move teams to cohesion, high performance, intrinsic commitment and honest collaboration.
What can I expect as a participant and for the organization?
- High-impact learning that is immediate, strong and memorable
- An increase in leadership presence built on connection and common purpose
- Awareness of silent assumptions and beliefs that interfere with creating cohesive, leadership teams
- More effective communication skills that contribute to the successful achievement of team goals
- Heightened self-awareness and awareness of the impact of your behavior and thinking on others
- Higher levels of trust between participants
- Leveraging team dynamics as a step to building cohesive high performing teams and group synergy that taps the leadership potential of each member
- Greater comfort with risk-taking
- How to leverage competing leadership styles so they add value instead of conflict
- Learning that is fun AND relevant
Who would reap the greatest value from this experience?
- Project teams that need to learn to communicate better and work in alignment to achieve significant results, goals and outcomes
- Executive leadership teams who are either at the C-level or Vice President level who need to create and articulate a common vision and mission
- High potential executives who can participate as a learning cohort and continue as an ongoing learning cohort in their organizations
- Talent management and human resource professionals who are looking for alternatives or a supplement to traditional learning and intellect based workshops
- Individuals who want to take their learning and leadership to the next level (as part of a developmental coaching program)
Here's how it works.
All programs are customized and can be stand-alone or incorporated into longer retreats or conferences.
Pre-Meeting: We meet with you, typically over the phone, to learn more about your team, your purpose for the learning experience and to share possible scenarios with you.
On Site: Robin and Pam will take you through a series of exercises designed to elicit natural responses and patterns of behavior and invoke your playful side while your horse will be the mirror, reflecting back to you your feelings and thoughts, hidden strengths and limiting beliefs. You receive immediate, honest feedback through the horse.
Coaching: I ground the experience and learning to the actual work environment, translating how the lessons learned can be applied at work. Commitments to new practices are made before departure.
Post-Meeting: We follow-up with you after the event for feedback, to check progress and to provide supplemental resources if needed.
Do you really need another traditional workshop?
This is a powerful experience that invokes learning through the senses and mind, body, heart and spirit to teach inspired presence and group synergy. You need executives and leaders who are able to adapt on the fly and effectively manage themselves and the complexities of their positions. Most organizations primarily utilize cognitive processes at work and to learn. You need alternative learning environments that allow leaders to safely examine their feelings, thinking and behaviors in order to develop the self-awareness to develop their resiliency and agility.
Having fun and being in a natural environment removes the cognitive roadblocks to learning and the impediments of more formalized learning. Your focus shifts to enjoying the natural environment and to a relaxed and playful approach to learning. You may not recognize the depth of your learning until the event is processed and debriefed with the coach, helping you connect your experience to new more successful ways of being at work and in life.
Join us in this bold conversation that will enlighten, entertain and engage you and your leadership team delivering results that last.
Contact us to learn more about customizing an Inspired Presence™ experience for your leadership or project team. It works, it's fun and it will change the way you interact at work to better support the organization's success.
Call 410-544-5262 ext. 102 or email me at alicia@sophia-associates.com
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550M Ritchie Hwy. #121
Severna Park, MD 21146
PH: 410-544-5262
Bold: Fearless, Daring, Courageous; A readiness to take a risk.
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