Forest for the Trees: The Power of Perspective in the Practice of Leadership(Forest-Trees) Leadership is practice, not a position. A key element to effective leadership is how we choose to see the problems and opportunities before us. Perspective is a powerful tool in helping us shift ourselves and the people we lead, and ultimately the results we achieve. In this interactive workshop, we will guide participants through gentle, non-strenuous activities, both indoors and outdoors, to learn key concepts and apply those to their own leadership challenges. Participants will increase self-awareness, understanding of key leadership principles, practice shifting their perspectives, and leave with practical action steps to integrate the learning into their own decision-making. This one-day event will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., at the University of Lynchburg's Claytor Nature Center, in Bedford, Virginia. Lunch will be provided. Before the Event Directions to Claytor Nature Center Pricing for Nonprofit Participants Instructor Bios Disclaimer / Attire Ask three people close to you what advice they have for you in terms of how you live and lead. This will give participants practice getting an alternative perspective - perspective from someone in their personal and professional lives; and will give them/us a practical anchor to work with in terms of how shifting perspective may apply to that. It will probably also church up their emotions as well as their intellect and with the feelings work we’ll be doing, it might be a good way to prime them. The University of Lynchburg's Claytor Nature Center is located at 1844 Woods Road, Bedford, Virginia, 24523. Plan for adequate travel time to arrive by 9 a.m. at this off-campus location. A limited number of discounted seats will be available to those who work at a nonprofit organization. Please email pdi@lynchburg.edu from your nonprofit account to receive a discount code for the event and only pay $325. Jennifer K Wills Nature has been a force throughout Jennifer’s life. As a child, she played in the creek behind her home in Kentucky, catching crawdads and other critters. That love of nature led to an undergraduate degree in biology and then a law degree to practice environmental law. She practiced for 16 years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before leaving in 2019 to pursue her entrepreneurial interests and engage her strengths more directly as a leadership and well-being coach. As a coach, Jennifer incorporates nature into her coaching practice by taking clients outdoors, often on hikes in nature. The force of nature continues in her role as director of the Claytor Nature Center, a nearly 500-acre nature preserve and research center of the University of Lynchburg. She lives in Lynchburg with her husband, two children, a dog, a guinea pig, and lots of houseplants. She loves hiking, mountain biking and traveling, and, in general, exploring the world as well as assumptions. She has a master’s degree in leadership in global sustainability from Virginia Tech, a J.D. from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. in biology from the University of Louisville. She’s an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and is a Gallup CliftonStrengths certified coach. Amanda Noell Stanley Amanda believes leadership is practice, not position; and that it requires presence, non-judgement, and creativity – and she believes that the outdoors gives us a meaningful way to access all three. She started her company, The Artisan Leader, after a career in nonprofit and government human services, in roles that ranged from front-line caregiving to the CEO seat. Her experience in social work combined with her love of writing and the visual arts has led her to a unique professional niche: She helps organizations and their leaders design their tomorrows with care – focusing on workplace culture, team health, and leadership development through coaching and facilitation. Amanda lives in Bedford with her family of four humans, two cats, and two dogs. She has houseplants too, but only two are surviving at the moment due to what must be called patterns of neglect. Baking and attempting to play the fiddle are her current favorite creative endeavors. Amanda has a BA in Sociology and Art from the University of Richmond, an MS in Sociology from Virginia Tech, and a certificate in Design Thinking from the Darden School of Business at UVA. She is an ACC-accredited coach through the International Coach Federation and a certified practitioner of the DiSC assessment. Part of this workshop takes place outdoors. We will be walking on gravel, dirt paths, and mown grass. Some of the terrain will be uneven, potentially with roots and rocks. Wear comfortable clothes/shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and dress for the weather. Casual, not business attire, is recommended. We suggest participants go outdoors even if it’s raining. We will not go outside if the weather is dangerous. Bring sunblock and bug spray. You may want to bring a hat and sunglasses. 15 seats available. Price: $395.00 Quantity: Return to Catalog