Our unique classroom
 Our leadership classroom is a provocative and intellectually stimulating place. It offers risk, uncertainty and challenge as well as an environment that supports learning.
Sydney Leadership is delivered in a highly experiential manner which includes significant community engagement, often in the form of community visits. This requires participants to come face to face with the reality of the complex social problems facing our region and communities. We use these real life environments within a community to explore the issues, dynamics and complexity that characterise the work of leadership.
Within our programs you will:
• hear from thought leaders, experienced change agents and leaders
• work with our experienced Program Managers in a personal leadership coaching relationship
• form small syndicate groups to develop peer coaching and group support structures
• be exposed to a wide variety of leadership reading, including academic texts, current media, philosophy and case studies
• engage in significant personal reflection.
Our programs attract a wide diversity of senior leaders from all sectors of society, from community, not-forprofit, government and corporate environments. This provides a rich opportunity to learn first hand about other sectors and develop deep and broad cross sector networks.
How does Sydney Leadership actually work?
The Program is delivered through an integrated mix of activities:
1. Community Engagement
We visit a range of different communities and organisations, including prisons, schools, hostels for the homeless, public housing estates, and not-for-profit services. We also visit rural NSW and spend a weekend in Canberra. This experiential learning allows us to see and hear first-hand from individuals who are finding new and innovative ways to address social challenges in their communities.
2. Thought Leadership
Leadership in action! We hear from experienced leaders and change agents, ranging from frontline workers to senior decision makers, politicians and bureaucrats. Our speakers candidly discuss their work and role, share leadership strategies and reflect on the lessons they have learned.
3. Adaptive Leadership Model
The core of the Program is the adaptive leadership model, which views leadership as an activity rather than a position:
• focusing on getting people to face reality
• mobilising people to tackle tough problems
• requiring people to deal with complexity and uncertainty.
This means leaders have to think and operate in new ways.
4. Readings
Participants are provided with extensive readings drawn from many disciplines, including leadership case studies, politics, philosophy, and literature.
5. Personal reflection
The Program offers participants a chance to reflect on their own values, ethics and purpose. We assist that reflective process in sessions with experienced facilitators.
6. Practising leadership
Like any other activity, leadership can be practised. Sydney Leadership provides a safe space for participants to receive feedback, take risks and learn as they explore what it means to exercise leadership.
7. Communication
Successful leadership requires exceptional communication skills, especially the ability to listen well. We provide learning support and development, and opportunities to practise these skills.
8. Personal Leadership Coaching
The Program gives participants an opportunity to experience intense personal and professional growth with one-on-one leadership coaching through the year to maximise their learning and discuss the leadership challenges they face.
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“I came to Sydney Leadership searching for my purpose in life and found my soul and something precious called hope. The program took me on a journey through the social issues in my backyard and in doing so forced me to confront my belief systems, values and ultimately my apathy. Along the way I also learnt through hard experience what I would have to change about myself to be a truly effective leader regardless of the industry I work in. The honesty, warmth and support shown by everyone particularly through the tough stuff will stay with me forever… Oh and did I mention the readings – rich, compelling, confronting and illuminating.”
Gabrielle Curtin, Executive Manager People Operations, Qantas Airways Limited
2009 Sydney Leadership participant
“I swore never to be silent whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Elie Weisel
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