THE EXPERIENCE THAT CHALLENGES
YOU TO BE A BETTER LEADER

Cirrus has selected experiential training because of its high impact on learning. The impact is a result of engaging everyone mentally, physically and emotionally. Each component of this learning process is important, however, I believe that the emotional involvement makes the difference. You can through the participants' emotional response to the experience, inspire them and give them the spirit to improve and feel good about themselves. In every management book or article I have read, if you can inspire and reach someone's spirit then accomplishments become endless. All this and it is fun too.

The adventure of sailing, being close to nature fits so well into experiential training. The adventure is enjoyable and you learn new skills or reacquaint yourself with sailing but there is considerably more. How do you transfer this experience to your place of work? How do you justify to the controllers that it is money well spent?

The design of the program is very important and needs to answer these two questions. The program has to be safe and relevant to make behaviour change or influence performance and it has to have a business application. This is done by two processes, which are built into the Cirrus' programs.

You have the experience, in this case a sailing experience. The participants will reflect on the experience, before, during and after. There has to be discussions also before, during and after. The participants should be encouraged to analyze the experience and then evaluate it. The process is: experience, reflection, discussion, analysis and evaluation. The facilitator has to make this happen and to relate the process to a work environment.

What you have is a client-centered program that provides intellectual insight, understanding, skill acquisition, growth and change and motivation. This program can address differences that exist in a business, the blending of two companies, team building, knowing each other and building an esprit de corp and leadership decision making to build confidence. To make this successful for you, change in the work place is very important. Nothing will improve if the participants return to the same environment.

The facilitators at Cirrus Management and Sailing have decided that the best method to accomplish this while on a sailboat is to use the narrative. Not a new idea, but extremely useful. When you wake up at night worrying about a problem you use the narrative. The voice in your head that sounds just like you. We believe this is the way to transfer the experience to behaviour change. There are set questions for each person that logically leads them to explain what they are thinking about and sharing that with the others. A three-month follow up with the same questions reinforces the learning and provides an assessment of the program.

There is a way to build a better business and be successful through your own people. To find out how please contact me for keynote addresses, facilitating meetings, coaching or the workshops at (613) 352-5845 or at info@cirrusleadership.com.