Many people haven’t been part of a personal and/or professional growth group before and naturally aren’t sure what to expect from one. For those of you with questions about what my Champaign, IL Leadership Development Group will be like, here’s my best shot at painting a picture of the experience.

Outline of the Day

Who You’ll Be With

Up to nine other people who want to grow and improve. Most from Central Illinois, some flying in from faraway places to participate. Men and women, some business owners, some salaried workers in business, some workers in the nonprofit world. All different personalities. Everyone interviewed by me to ensure a good fit and a positive experience.

Sample Teaching Topics

• The Connection Between Personal Character and Organizational Performance
• How to Engage Conflict and Confront Effectively
• Strategic Thinking and Intentional Future Planning
• Understanding Organizational Cultures and Leading them Intentionally
• When Bad Things Happen: Healthy Responses to Negative Realities In Us and Around Us
• What Makes a Business Model Work

All teaching times will be relaxed and interactive and tailored to the specific interests of the group.

Group Interaction

These are the times that make groups awesome. These interactive groups provide a chance to give and receive feedback that’s hard to get anywhere else. I’ll encourage members to talk with the group about what’s really going on in life and work. You’ll get honest and supportive input on how you are approaching things, and how others in the group relate to you. It’s real-time opportunity to work on communication, know yourself better as a leader, and be part of a supportive community as you work on challenges. I’ll be there to make sure the conversation is healthy and productive.

Workgroups

These are a chance to take 45 minutes to have the group be your advisory board. Twice each year you’ll have a time slot to present a challenge, opportunity, or tough decision you are facing, and have the group help you address it. There’s always a ton of wisdom in the room that can really help.

Action Plan

Each month you’ll leave with one to three specific action steps to move forward with between meetings. When we are back together the following month you’ll ask each other how you did, high-five each other when it goes well, and help troubleshoot when it doesn’t.

Overall Takeaways

You’ll get out of your routine once a month to deliberately focus on growing you. You’ll work from your heart and your head. You’ll make new and surprisingly close friends. You’ll get unstuck in tough areas personally and professionally. You’ll bring your biggest challenges into a supportive community. You’ll see improved results in your work or organization.

What Will it Cost

I’m offering this group for only $100 per meeting, for the entire day, breakfast and lunch included. I doubt I will ever again offer a group experience like this for this price. If you are interested don’t wait for the next one.

Session Dates (All are Fridays):

August 7, 2015
September 4, 2015
October 2, 2015
November 6, 2015
December 4, 2015
January 8, 2016
February 5, 2016
March 4, 2016
April 1, 2016
May 6, 2016
June 3, 2016
July 1, 2016

Courageous Members Wanted

It’s a risk to join a group where you intend to be real, to confront stuck places, and reach for new levels. This isn’t for the faint of heart, and the truth is you won’t know for sure what it’s like until you try it. Growth always involves a willingness to be uncomfortable. If you want better than status quo, contact me about joining the group. Thanks!

When I announced I was offering a leadership development group in Houston, a lot of the feedback I got was “sounds awesome, let me know if you offer this in my city”. Point taken. I’m exploring interest in a professional development group in Central Illinois, where the largest group of my readers are from. What’s a Growth Group Like?

The details are still in development. Here are the highlights:

• An intimate group of 10 participants who want to connect, be challenged, and grow.
• Teaching and group interactions led by me.
• Meeting in Champaign, 8am-5pm, one day per month, for a year. Out-of-towners welcome to travel in.
• Teaching, group interaction, real-time workshopping, and monthly action plans to enhance your relationships and your performance. We’ll have breakfast and lunch together too.
• Teaching topics on emotional intelligence, leading others effectively, addressing conflict, pursuing your passion and purpose, creating healthy culture, strategic planning, and more.
• Designed to be affordable, and reimbursable by your employer as a professional development experience. Pricing to be determined based on interest and feedback. Scholarships available for small nonprofits or motivated individuals to whom cost could be a barrier.
• Likely start date August, 2015.

If you are interested in being part of this group, would you send me an email and let me know? Early responders will have a chance to give input to help shape how we do this. You’ll also have first dibs on registering before it’s opened up to everyone else. Thanks!

I’m in California this week for a one week intensive workshop for my growth as a person, a leader, and a coach. It’s interactive, relational, and authentically human.

I had some doubts about doing this workshop again, whether it’s indulgent, or subject to a diminishing return. This week has reminded me how valuable it is to get out of my routine context, and intentionally invest in my own growth.

When you invest in your growth, you raise the “ceiling” on what’s possible in your work and in your relationships. Don’t let your limitations be a lifelong cap on your potential. Put growth on your calendar.

I am excited to announce that my book on Investing Time & Money will be published by Career Press. It’s scheduled for a Spring 2016 release. Brilliance Audio, Amazon’s audiobook publisher, is acquiring the audio rights, and will release the audio version of the book, probably around the same time.

So ends another round of hand-wringing that turned out to be unnecessary. Thanks to all of you who encouraged me to make this thing a thing.

I’ll be writing a lot in the next six months. I probably won’t have another announcement about the book for a while. When the release date gets closer I’ll announce some ways to get a free personalized copy and stuff like that. If you follow this blog on social media, you can make sure you don’t miss announcements about the book. Just subscribe to email updates. If you want the announcements but not weekly blog posts, choose “News & Events” when you subscribe. Thanks!