Becoming a Leader Worth* Following calls for more than information—more than a webinar, a two-day offsite, or a leadership conference.
Focusing on WHO you are calls for a developmental JOURNEY . . . one that requires depth, community, and time.
That’s exactly what we created and tested with leaders from around the world.
Here’s how Journeys by The Aperio™ works:
Why journeys by the Aperio™
Journeys focus on the largest majority (77%) of what makes a leader effective.
Journeys are shaped by a proven method designed to make principles stay with you for a lifetime.
What is a Journey?
Journeys are year-long engagements broken down into 3 to 4 month modules where participants go in depth on a single aspect of The Who* of Leadership.
Each participant is placed into a small group of 3-4 leaders. Small groups are designed to provide accountability and feedback throughout the Journey.
Along with other small groups, each group is paired with an Aperio Guide whose research, experience, and lessons learned from previous Journeyers provide support for the group. Aperio Guides will help your small group create, execute, and reflect upon an action plan for each module.
Each module begins with a kickoff session to explain the concepts and prep for the quarter. And modules end with a wrap-up to help participants reflect and apply all that they have learned. But . . . as in any Journey . . . it's about the adventure not the destination.
What happens in between meetings is where the Journey really happens.
Through your small group action plan, you’ll leverage your day-to-day experiences to cultivate an extensive understanding of the quarterly focus. Discipline and consistency will establish the concept deeply into how you engage with the world around you and how you perceive yourself within it. You will look “beneath the surface” to uncover the motives that drive your leadership actions.
“If you want to be a truly impactful leader, you need to deal with [The Who* Not What Principle]. There is no hiding. At some point, if you’re not working on this, you’re never going to be the best leader you can be.”
Journey Client — Director of HR for 4 billion $ Multinational
Journey Content:
The Who* Not What Pinciple
Who you are as a leader isn’t the only thing that matters, but it is by far the most important. Traditional leadership development does not take this simple fact seriously. It is rarely championed in popular media, business circles, or coaching; and yet the research is clear: it is essential.
Journeys by The Aperio is developed with this in mind. Each year-long engagement is broken down into 4 quarters which focus intensely on the “Who* of Leadership.” These elements of leadership are the building blocks of an effective leader. Each quarter we go into depth on these concepts and turn your day-to-day leadership life into the fertile soil for these concepts to take root (see more about how we do this in the method section below).
Watch this video to learn more about The Who* Not What Principle:
“Lasting change happens over time, not overnight.”
JOHN OTT
Journey Method:
Depth • Community • Time
Who you are as a leader drives 77% of your effectiveness. But actually developing Who you are takes more than just learning some techniques. You have to address the core of your being, and this requires a method designed to integrate your learning with day-to-day practice. Simply knowing is not enough. Mastering what it takes to be a leader who is actually worth* following is difficult, and not everyone is willing to do what it takes.
The Aperio Method combines several techniques proven to help learning connect in a deep and lasting way. Journeys move at a deliberate pace to allow the concepts to take root in your daily life. This learning is reinforced by a certified Aperio Guide who knows the way, and fellow travelers who can provide depth and a range of viewpoints to make your development more robust.
The Process:
Step 1: KickOff
Each quarter begins with an Aperio Guide leading a discussion of that quarter’s unique and singular focus. This is followed by the development of an Action Plan for each Small Group (3-4 individuals) to execute during the quarter.
Step 2: Apply
During the quarter, individuals will execute their Action Plan and reflect on this execution within their Small Group (via short, weekly updates, and once-a-month, in-person interactions).
The Guide will continue to send additional instruction; but the majority of the learning will come through peer observations, personal experience, and reflections.
This “Apply” portion of the process provides the most unique and lasting impact of our method.
Step 3: Wrap-Up
The Guide will initiate a Reflection exercise 1-2 weeks before the quarter’s end (this includes one-on-one feedback from the Guide).
A final discussion by the Guide will close out the quarter to solidify the core message and application.
Each year-long engagement is broken down into quarterly modules focused on deep application and the development of Who* Not What Attributes.
Sample Journey Schedule
The Journey Schedule is based on a proven sequence of development, beginning with core concerns and growing out from there (see example year). This can be modified depending on your individual or organizational goals.
But . . . to really understand exactly how The Aperio can partner with you or your organization through Journeys we’d love to talk with you.
“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Journey Cost Summary
Energy and Effort Investment
One year required commitment includes:
Engage in a quarterly action plan while receiving periodic content and communication from an Aperio Guide
15 minutes weekly: email interaction with Small Group
1 hour monthly: discussion with Small Group
6 hours quarterly:
2 hours quarterly: personal reflection and one-on-one feedback
4 hours quarterly: Large Group gathering
Financial Investment:
$12,000 - 18,000 per person annually
can vary based on customization
Journeys not the right fit?
If you are looking for a shorter engagement with The Aperio or a way to bring Who-Based Development to a larger group of leaders at your organization, 3-4 month engagements called Excursions are also offered. Read more by clicking below.
Hear what past clients say about Journeys by The Aperio™
Here's why you should invest in Who* you are as a leader, not just what you can do.
Organizational Outcomes
Create Cohesive vision
Develop a common perspective, understanding, and language around leadership that fuels organic leadership development across the enterprise.
build a real team
Foster deeper bonds within your leadership team that reduce politics and increase efficiency.
Keep Top-Tier Talent
Attract and retain top-tier talent by being an organization that is full of leaders worth* following.
Individual Outcomes
Grow in a way that matters most
Integrate the most statistically critical leadership qualities deeply into the core of who you are.
develop life-long skills
Develop exceptional capabilities in the practices that continuously feed future leadership growth: self-observation and self-reflection.
grow leadership agility
Instill a holistic understanding of leadership that can transcend temporary trends and provide the ability to accurately diagnose and address any leadership challenge.