Welcome to the world of Transformative Leadership. This hybrid learning experience prepares you to adapt and succeed in this rapidly changing world. Organizations must transform their paradigm of leadership if they want to address the economical, ecological, and societal challenges of the 21st century.
This 7-week Transformative Leadership program inspires you to make this bold change happen – by providing a whole range of change-making and leadership skills, many valuable insights about the main drivers of transformation, and developing a new attitude towards uncertainty. It’s MINDSET, SKILLS, NETWORK, and BALANCE in one program in a community of exceptional peers.
The hybrid 7-week trek starts off with an immersive retreat weekend with interactive impulse sessions, personal reflection, and team building. After that we meet each week on Thursday nights with inspirational experts and method coaches for the live online sparks – working on the 5 dimensions of the SHAPE® Framework as well as your individual transformation cases.
SHAPESCAPE // Immersive retreat weekend
April 21-23, 2023
SHAPETREK // 5 Remote sparks on Thursday
evenings from 19-22 CEST
SHAPETOPIA // Online discovery week
in May on five evenings
SHAPEABLE // Final presentations and reflection at SHIFTSCHOOL in Fürth
June 11, 2023 from 12-20 CEST
Welcome to the SHAPE® trek! An immersive leadership course with inspiration sessions, break-out assignments, and self-reflective episodes over the course of seven weeks. The intensive kick-off is designed both to provide the necessary insights on future transformation touching technology, digitalization, sustainability, and work culture, and to enhance the critical competencies needed to lead this transformation in times of uncertainty.
Similarly, you will also start to forge your transformation case in peer group sessions applying the previously acquired creative skills and methods. After the kick-off weekend, you are part of a committed cohort of change makers with diverse backgrounds who support each other to make bold change happen. Above all, trust and familiarity in the group now allows you to learn and work effectively without physically being in one room. Over the course of the next program, you will
FRIDAY starting at 1 pm
>> TRANSFORMATIVE MINDSET
Exploration of attitudes and behaviors in a highly
uncertain world
>> TRANSFORMATIVE NETWORK
Team Building in agile contexts and interaction in
sustainable networks
>> TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP
Formulation of a new understanding of roles and
self-responsible action in the age of digitalization
SATURDAY Day 2
>> FUTURE MANIFESTO
Reflection and analysis of transformation processes and vision development for agile teams
>> RAPID PROTOTYPING
Conversion of designs into assessable prototypes and iterative further development
based on peer feedback
>> CREATIVE SOURCE
Building a culture of change and development of transformative roadmaps
SUNDAY ending at 5 pm
>> CULTURE RULES
Tools and competencies to communicate change convincingly and implement them over resistance
>> NAVIGATING AMBIGUITY
Decision Making under conditions of extreme uncertainty and driving transformation with available means
>> APPLIED AGILE
Strategic team and organizational development and implementation of agile projects in the age of New Work
SPARK 1:
SOVEREIGNTY
What are the key conditions for driving a
successful transformation process?
• Exemplary Ownership – the craft of taking responsibility and holding others accountable at the same time
• Entrepreneurial Acumen – the ability to decide and act under conditions of extreme uncertainty
• Autonomous Innovation – the art of daring greatly despite ambiguity
SPARK 2:
HORIZON
How can we provide guidance and direction for sustainable transformation?
• Predictive Re-Creation – the ability of detecting trends and imagining possible future scenarios
• Directive Purpose – the craft of shaping legacy,
ideas and business into an meaningful whole
• Expressive Leadership – the art of forming unity
by means of storytelling
SPARK 3:
ASPIRATION
How can we achieve the best possible outcome through open experimentation?
• Inquisitive Thinking – the ability to challenge the status quo, reduce complexity, and look for inconsistencies in reasoning
• Creative Alchemy – the art of playfully combining interdisciplinary methods with curiosity and serendipity
• Investigative Discovery – the craft to design and conduct descriptive experiments to drive rapid learning
SPARK 4:
PLASTICITY
How can we adapt to changing conditions while simultaneously withstanding forces of inertia?
• Adaptive Judgement – the craft of question beliefs, overcome cognitive biases and adapt opinions accordingly
• Reflective Awareness – the ability of gaining conscious understanding of the self
• Social Sensemaking – the art of gaining clarity by empathic interaction with a group
SPARK 5:
EMBODIMENT
How can we lead by example and embody the change
we seek?
• Open Discourse – the ability to compete for the best solution driven by deviating opinions
• Collaborative Communication – the art of expressing vulnerability and gratitude
• Habitual Improvement – the craft to learn quickly from experience and to persistently grow better over time
SHAPETOPIA Discovery Week
5 impulse sessions with selected transformation experts to discuss future opportunities in technology, innovation, sustainable development, purpose, and science.
The purpose of this final session is to consolidate all the learnings, to celebrate all the great work that you have achieved so far, and to create an outlook into the future – into a world of radical change, rising complexity, and paradigm shifts. It is our goal to use the spirit and momentum of this class to really push your transformation endeavors out there. Creating impact not concepts! For learning to stick over the long-term, you need time to apply the new methods and practice your new way of thinking on a regular basis. In this final workshop we will discuss how you can achieve sustainable success and continue to thrive in a network of like minded change-makers.
This article explains the background about initiating and sustaining organizational change. It explains the key essence of Transformative Leadership and the 5 steps involved in setting up Transformative Leadership programs in your organization.
By working with the SHAPE® Framework you will build the capacity to
EMBRACE CHANGE.
THINK FOR YOURSELF.
TRANSFORM THE FUTURE.
The SHAPE® trek kick-off takes us right into the heart of the Bavarian Forest National Park. Experience a wonderful and intensive time together with your learning mates. Learning is a social endeavor and bonding a group of excellent people in a combination of in- and outdoor workshops will lay the foundation of an unforgetable learning journey.
During the trek you will directly work on your own transformation case in an area such as digitalization, sustainability, leadership, or cultural change.
An applicable process with useful insights and methods will guide you – with the support of our coaches and your peers. From week to week your project takes more SHAPE and, at the end of this sprint, will cover all necessary steps to turn a vague transformative idea into a successful project.
This learning-by-doing approach is designed to push you out of your comfort zone and to turn your plans into action. We will work on overcoming inner and outer barriers by addressing these fundamental principles of transformation:
DARE
How do we decide and act under conditions of extreme uncertainty?
IMAGINE
How do we shape a purposeful vision out of legacy, ideas and meaning into an interacting whole?
DISCOVER
How can we establish a culture of diversity and creative discourse to find the best possible solutions?
ADAPT
How do we constantly challenge the status quo, reduce complexity, and adapt to an environment of perpetual change?
DO
How can we build trust, reliability, and sustainable relationships with all stakeholders by empathic interaction?
SHIFTSCHOOL means innovation in every aspect! In terms of didactic design and digitization insights. In addition to great training, the entire network offers valuable inspirations to be more innovative in everyday business. All in all, the cooperation with SHIFTSCHOOL is great and the team is always on hand with help and advice for us.
What distinguishes the SHIFTSCHOOL is that it truly encourages people to (re-) discover their creativity. Faber-Castell’s vision is to unleash the creative potential of our customers as well as our employees. Within our global network, we see the SHIFTSCHOOL as an important innovation coach. Faber-Castell’s Corporate Development team appreciates the comprehensive innovation methods and is grateful for the trusting relationship it has developed with the SHIFTSCHOOL team.
What I really appreciate about working with SHIFTSCHOOL is the fact that I get so much inspiration and Best Practice that I can incorporate directly into my daily work. The large network of SHIFTSCHOOL is the big advantage. They collaborate with so many different companies and startups and, therefore, can offer a wide range of insights from many different industries.
The collaboration with SHIFTSCHOOL has been really great right from the start. SHIFTSCHOOL is a reliable partner who always supports me with new insights and constructive critical thinking. Companies that want to make a difference should first send selected employees to SHIFTSCHOOL. Especially large corporates should work with SHIFTSCHOOL, because their programs really breathe new life into established systems. This is necessary, today and in the future!
The program costs 4,900 Euros excluding VAT and covers the tuition, course materials as well as accommodation and food on workshop days. The first year membership fee for the SHIFTSHAPE CLUB will also be included in the package. It does not include travel expenses to the retreat location. VAT shall apply at rates according to national laws and regulations. Please note that training costs are usually tax deductible in many countries.
INNOVATION CATALYST
EMERGENCE & FUTURE
We are looking for people who are leading initiatives, organizations or communities that are playing some part in forging a new “Story of Better”. People who see the future as something we want to create together and not as something that we’d rather like to avoid.
Each candidate must submit a transformative idea that they plan to work on during the program and beyond. Something that is larger than our own career needs and above all shapes a better future – no matter how big or small.
We reject fast food learning and passive content consumption as well as egoistic and inconsiderate behavior towards the group. Our leadership programs are designed as immersive learning experiences. We are looking for individuals who thrive in a community of like minded peers and share an authentic interest in getting to know other participants for who they are, and who they want to become.
We believe that learning is a social endeavor. It is our goal to build lasting relationships, not shallow encounters. Every cohort is formed as a unique community of highly skilled individuals who remain deeply connected and committed to each other and their shared experience.
Are you in? To start the application process, please fill in the application. Once submitted, you will receive an email containing a link to schedule an interview. The goal of the interview is to find out what motivates you to join the community. We will let you know within a week after your interview if you are accepted into the SHAPE® trek.
