Benevolent Society

Social Leadership Australia's programs are for people who are challenged to change their worlds – their businesses, their organisations, their communities, themselves.

Our approach to leadership development is unlike any other in the country.

All of our programs employ, at their core, the adaptive leadership approach developed by Ronald Heifetz and his colleagues at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. It’s an approach which offers powerful and effective solutions to entrenched, complex problems – the sort of problems for which there is no textbook answer. Adaptive leadership is about addressing systemic issues. And it is based on the understanding that any leader seeking to create others must also be prepared to change themselves.

Unlike traditional, curriculum-based courses, Social Leadership Australia’s programs involve intensive, experiential learning in the company of – often – very different individuals from across the not-for-profit, government and corporate sectors.  Our programs include extensive readings, a diversity of guest speakers, reflection, discussions and community visits. Participants are given the opportunity to develop and practice their leadership skills in a holding environment through coaching, peer group, buddy and facilitator support.

A Social Leadership Australia program will help you build the core adaptive skills of analysis, listening, collaboration and partnering, and an enhanced ability to recognise resistance, complexity, assumptions, prejudices and judgements. It will provide you with practical skills you can use at work, in the community and in your personal life.

The benefits are significant

• Greater level of self awareness, especially with respect to your ability as a change agent.
• A strong alignment with your purpose
• Greater level of motivation and persistence to achieve your purpose
• The capacity – knowledge, skill, creativity, resilience and new contacts – to achieve your purpose and to work effectively in challenging and uncertain environments
• An ability to work differently, especially the ability to identify an adaptive leadership issue and the ability to work in partnership
• A broader network across corporate, community and government sectors
• Deeper understanding of the systemic element of social issues and capacity to exercise leadership in challenging environments. 
 
Social Leadership Australia's programs offer an opportunity both for profound personal growth and the chance to help create a better world, whatever your place in it may be.

“Being an expert is a severe impediment to listening and learning.”

Adam Kahane

"It takes more than good intentions to bring about lasting change." 

Robbie Macpherson