LeaderSurf Program: The Right Climate for Learning
Don’t let our name deceive you – we are not all fun and games. Our Balanced Leadership Approach pairs leadership development assessments with structured individual executive coaching, group instruction and discussion, and a servant leadership experience. We believe that leadership development is based on science, self and service:
•Science: Each participant receives individual leadership assessments to provide data needed for discussions that build self-awareness, vision, emotional intelligence, resilience and self-presentation.
•Self: Through the physical challenge of learning to surf, we celebrate failures, build resilience and apply the principles of this highly technical sport to their leadership styles
•Service: Together we create a legacy. Participants deliver a service project that addresses the community needs in Costa Rica while adopting a leadership approach of selflessness.
At the end of the program, every participant successfully reframes the answer to the question: Would I thrive working for me?
Unlocking insights is our goal, sending you back to work as a better and more balanced leader is our mission.
The program
A six day leadership development retreat hosted in oceanfront locations including Folly Beach, SC, Nosara, Costa Rica and Playa Santana, Nicaragua. Below is an overview of the agenda.
Pre-Program
Participants will complete pre-work to include leadership assessments, learning objectives, and an individual project synopsis
Ninety minute telephone coaching session with program facilitator to outline personal learning objectives and level set for the program
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival and Transport to Accommodations | Group Breakfast | Group Breakfast | Sunrise Surf Session and Group Breakfast | Group Breakfast | Sunrise Surf Session |
| Welcome and Program Overview Session | Leadership versus Management | Leading Dimensions Profile The Power of Self-Awareness |
LeaderServe Humanitarian Aid Project |
Building Personal Resilence The Resilence Factor Inventory |
Group Breakfast |
| Team Assimilation Activity | Morning Surf Lesson | Morning Surf Session | Morning Surf Session | Wrap-Up Activity- Taking the Learnings Forward | |
| Group Dinner | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Transportation to Airport | |
| Free Time | Business Challenge Sharing Session | Business Challenge Sharing Session | Business Challenge Sharing Session | ||
| Afternoon Free time (1 on 1 coaching) | Afternoon Free time (1 on 1 coaching) | Afternoon Free time (1 on 1 coaching) | |||
| Sunset Reflections Session | Sunset Reflections Session | Sunset Reflections Session | Sunset Reflections Session | ||
| Group Dinner | Group Dinner | Group Dinner | Group Dinner |
Daily Routine (link to full Itinerary)
Each day begins with a group breakfast
Morning learning session
Morning surf lesson and surf session
Lunch
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon free time ( one on one coaching sessions held daily)
Group Dinner
Community time- Sunset daily learning and reflection activity
Specialized Curriculum
Individual business challenge sessions- each participant will get to draw on experiences of their peers as they share a challenge they face.
"This was exceptionally useful. We spend all our time interacting with the same industry people and it really offers perspective to have professionals from other walks of life and other industries weigh in on your problems. In addition, listening to other people's problems helps you gain a sort of measure in terms of how you deal with things versus the way others do. It also allows you to realize how much personality impacts on problem solving and ways of approaching a problem. Through each of the challenges, people revealed their personalities and this offered some very useful lessons on how to deal with my own issues."
-Creative Director Participant
90 Minute one on one executive coaching session with Brian Formato, certified coach
Community Project- LeaderServe Humanitarian Aid Project
Surfing lessons
Mindfulness sunset reflection sessions daily
"I loved this! We are all so busy rushing around just ticking the boxes of each day and what sunset reflections did, was to help instill a moment of acknowledgement in the day. It's a chance to take stock, to identify what was good and not so good and in this way, it helps cement learning a lot better than just going through our days without reflection. On a more philosophical note, it was a chance to show gratitude to the glory of the sun as it sets on the day. This is not something we get to do every day. It always made me feel grateful and at peace."
All sessions are mandatory. Because this is a learning community based program it is imperative that all program participants attend all sessions.
“Self-awareness is a strength that every leader needs to learn to leverage. Self-awareness is best developed when we put ourselves in new environments and gain exposure to new experiences.”
program outcomes
Enhanced self-awareness
Inclusion in a learning and networking community of business professionals
The power to influence, inspire and lead others more effectively
Mindful Leadership: A fresh perspective on life and the importance of balancing work and life
An appreciation for one's wealth and living conditions
An increased respect for the ocean and nature
Wellness: Better physical and mental fitness
A renewed passion for one's work and ability to lead change
Who Should Attend
LeaderSurf is intended for seasoned business professionals with 10+ years of management experience. We seek to build a learning community in which much of the learning will occur through the sharing of experiences with other participants. Therefore, the program is focused on experienced male and female managers who lead other managers and senior professionals. Participants must be an experiential learners who welcomes the opportunity to be pushed outside of their comfort-zone. We hope that each program includes a diverse group of men and women from different industries, functional areas and geographies. Given the surfing component, we are looking for active lifestyle participants who are in good physical condition.