Examples of Project Experience: Non–Governmental Sector

Fully at the Table: Bringing New Life to Physician Leadership 2009, 2010 and 2011

Session:  Reflection and Decision-Making

December 16, 2009  Halifax (For IWK/Capital Health)
December 8, 2010    Halifax (For IWK/Capital Health)
March 4, 2011           Dartmouth (For Doctor's Nova Scotia)

Design, Facilitation and Training: This two to three hour workshop for twenty-five to thirty physicians has been presented in 2009, 2010 and 2011  (to be presented again in May 2012 for Doctor's Nova Scotia). The session has six objectives: 

1. Learn the importance of reflection in advance of decision-making
2. Explore strategies to stop, step back and observe before decisions are made
3. Develop skills for handling difficult questions
4. Understand the importance of mindful practice and paying attention
5. Develop new methods to analyze problems, and priority-setting and time management skills
6. Apply decision-making skills to real situations

"Reflection is a skill. It draws on our innate capacity to look at an issue, challenge, or dilemma from many different angles with patience, curiosity and critical intelligence. In order to reflect clearly, we need to have a mind that is calm, focused, open to new possibilities and genuinely inquisitive. Through the practice of mindfulness, the speed of our reactive minds can slow down and widen our perspective on the decisions that we are considering. Genuine reflection is a creative process, seeing beyond what is familiar and comfortable, capable of imagining entirely new possibilities and solutions. " - Alan Sloan

Contact:

Dr. Joseph Litven
President
Development Associates
Phone: (902) 424-1141
e-mail:

Pathways for Authentic Leadership in Action

June 2010 - February 2011

Co-Design, Facilitation and Training: Pathways was a nine month certificate course hosted by ALIA Institute. It offered an experiential and transformational curriculum, combining personal and interpersonal learning with a broad palette of skills needed to create the conditions for systemic innovation.

The program included participation in the 5-day summer institute, a second on-site session, project coaching, distance learning (webinars), as well as a residential three-day leadership retreat. The focus was on mindfulness practice, Chaordic Design and Facilitation, Theory U and Human Systems Dynamics. Fifteen participants from Canada and the United States completed the course.
Contact:
Susan Skjei
President
Sane Systems
Phone: (720) 320-7860
e-mail:

Property Valuation Services Corporation

Leadership Retreat:  Transformational Leadership

April 21 - 22, 2010 at Oceanstone, Halifax County, Nova Scotia

>This leadership retreat for the PVSC was a two day event in mid-April 2010 for approximately 20 senior and middle managers. The purpose of the event was to build specific leadership capacities and skills while increasing the ease of communication, depth of understanding and trust between the participants.

The retreat environment supported exploration, discovery, insight, growth and positive change. Key leadership concepts, tools and practices that build sef-awareness, confidence, authenticity and competence were introduced. Participants explored strengths, knowledge, capacities, vulnerabilities and limitations - as individuals, leaders and team members. The exphasis of the retreat was on personal transformation and team building.
Contact:

Jemma Lambert

Senior Policy Analyst

Property Valuation Services Corporation
Phone: (902) 893-5815
e-mail:

Think Tank 2009

November 27, 2009 at Harbourside Gallery, Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Facilitator:  Facilitated this one-day workshop, hosted by the Geriatric Medicine Research Unit (Veterans Memorial Hospital in Halifax), for 60 participants, representing a broad cross-section of groups and professions involved with care for dementia patients.  The objectives of the Think Tank included:

1. To define and prioritize topics in dementia care-giving that will serve as a foundation for a research agenda over the next 5 - 10 years;

2. To engage stakeholders in roundtable discussions on topics such as knowledge translation in dementia care research, how an environment conducive to this could be fostered, the current state of dementia care training/education, and other topics;

3. To use the information gathered to create a report that outlines the main objectives of research into dementia care in Nova Scotia in the coming years and the areas/topics of most concern to various groups, as well as mapping out the various relationships, barriers, and connections within the stakeholder groups; and

4. To use and further refine the Think Tank as a model for future workshops on other topics pertinent to aging.

Contact:

Cheryl  Cook
Geriatric Medicine Research
Capital Health/Dalhousie University
Phone: (902)  473-2975
e-mail:

The Power of Reflection for People in Action

October 5, 2009 at Society of Friends Centre, Toronto, Ontario.
Teacher and Trainer:  This was a workshop hosted by Inclusion Press to shoot a video for publication. The workshop consisted of four talks focused on self-care for caregivers. The topics included instruction in mindfulness practice, and the cultivation of gentleness, fearlessness and intelligence.

Contact:

Lynda Kahn
Director of Development & Marketing
Inclusion Press International
Phone: (416) 658-5363
e-mail:

Asset-Based Community Development Workshop

September 22 & 23, 2009, for three communities in Albert County, New Brunswick.

Co-facilitator with Mike Green, ABCD Training and Organizing, Denver, Colorado, USA. In this two-day workshop, Mike Green presented an overview of the principles of Asset-Based Community Development, focused on identifying the strengths and gifts of the participants and their communities.  Alan Sloan facilitated a day of community-led, long-term planning utilizing Appreciative Inquiry and deep listening (mindfulness).  The program was attended by approximately 50 residents of Albert County in rural New Brunswick, who successfully identified meaningful initiatives and formed self-sustaining project teams.

Contact:

Rhonda Hamiliton RN BScN
Community Outreach/Program Planning and Coordination
Albert County Health and Wellness Centre
(506) 882-3134
e-mail:

Authentic Leadership in Action Institute

Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership Summer Program, June 21–26, 2009 at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Faculty member:  Presented teachings on mindfulness and authentic leadership to faculty, staff and participants (approximately 220 people).

Contact:

Susan Szpakowski
Executive Director
Authentic Leadership in Action Institute
Phone: 425-0492
e-mail:

Toronto Summer Institute

July 12 to 16, 2009 at Ryerson University, Toronto, ON.
Faculty member: Presented teachings on authentic leadership and mindfulness training to 150 participants – primarily caregivers and service providers for the disabled, from Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Contact:

Lynda Kahn
Director of Development & Marketing
Inclusion Press International
Phone: (416) 658-5363
e-mail:

Nova Scotia Community College

Academic Services Leadership Retreat

May 19 to 21, 2009 - Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Facilitator: Designed and facilitated a three-day retreat for the leadership of  the NSCC Academic Services portfolio. The design incorporated Appreciative Inquiry, World Café and other collaborative methodologies. The focus of the retreat was on further strengthening communication within and outside of the department.

Contact:

Don Bureaux
President
Nova Scotia Community College
Phone: (902) 491-4898 (Exec. Asst. to the President: Mary Trask)
e-mail:

Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership

Summer Program, June 22–28, 2008 at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS.
Executive coach: For four participants from the African–Nova Scotian Community, sponsored by NS Economic and Rural Development. This five–day program offered leadership training in the most current and insightful organizational development methodologies and approaches. Executive coaching included an orientation on the principles of authentic leadership, training in mindfulness and awareness techniques, facilitation, team building, and the integration of the learnings from the leadership modules into the work and personal lives of the clients.

Contact:

Susan Szpakowski
Executive Director
Authentic Leadership in Action Institute
Phone: 425-0492
e-mail:

Toronto Summer Institute

July 12 to 17, 2008 at Ryerson University, Toronto, ON.
Faculty member: Presenting teachings on authentic leadership and mindfulness training to 120 participants – primarily advocates for the disabled, from Canada, the United States, Europe and New Zealand.

Contact:

Lynda Kahn
Director of Development & Marketing
Inclusion Press International
Phone: (416) 658-5363
E-mail:

Creative Institute for Toronto’s Young Leaders

September 11 and 12, 2008 in Toronto, ON.
Co-facilitator and trainer: Trained approximately 25 young adults in collaborative methodologies, including Asset–Based Community Development and mindfulness–awareness techniques. The program was sponsored by the United Way of Toronto in partnership with the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership.

Contact:

Nadeesha Watawala
Program Assistant for External Programs and Partnerships
Organizational Capacity Building Unit
United Way Toronto
Phone: (416) 777-1444 ex 684
e-mail:

The Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations

July 4–6, 2007 at The Shire, Carleton, Yarmouth County, NS.
Faculty member and facilitator: Presented mindfulness–awareness training to approximately sixty participants and staff at The Shire Conference facility. Trained in the Art of Hosting meaningful conversations methodologies and approaches. Trained as an apprentice host in key methodologies promoting meaningful conversations, including World Café, Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space Technology, and Talking Circle.

Contact:

Tim Merry
The Shire Conference Centre
Phone: (902) 761-2736
e-mail:

The Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership

Summer Program – June 21–30, 2007 at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS.
Coach for “Na Gasan” (Gaelic: the stem), six youth from the Gaelic community in Cape Breton attending the Institute through scholarships from NS Economic Development. Four sessions focused on assisting the participants to integrate the skills and approaches taught at the Institute and within their leadership modules into their personal, work and community lives. Contracted through the Office of Gaelic Affairs.

Contact:

Frances MacEachen
Gaelic Cultural Officer
Office of Gaelic Affairs
Phone: (902) 945-2114
e-mail:

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Project experience: Non–Governmental
Project experience: Government
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