It is leadership building program for leaders that engages mid to senior – career professionals from across sectors on a personal and professional transformation journey. It aims to nurture and transform them into next generation leaders who stand up to the present and future sustainability challenges in their respective domain. The selected candidates join as ‘LEAD associates’ and graduate as ‘LEAD Fellows’ to become a lifelong member of live, dynamic global network.
The journey from an Associate to becoming a LEAD Fellow is covered through four residential, experiential learning offsite training modules populalry known as National Training Session.
The candidates go through a rigorous training programme and graduate as LEAD Fellows joining a network of more than 200 fellows in India and more than 2000 Fellows worldwide
About National Training Session (NTS)
Each NTS is a week long interactive training held quaterly in a year focused around building leadership for integrating sustainability in development.
To cover the broad and complex gambit of sustainable development the modules are designed in the context of urban, rural, mountain ecosystem and business sector.
Participants will be expected to attend all the four NTS over a span of two years to successfully complete their journey from being a LEAD Associate to becoming a LEAD Fellow.
About LEAD
LEAD is a global network organization with over 3000 cross sectoral LEADers. Our mission is to build 'Leadership for Change' to create a sustainable world. LEAD Fellows, are successful leaders working on a wide range of local to global environmental and development issues in more than 90 countries including Africa, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, USA and UK.
The India Chapter of LEAD is managed by LEAD India (A registered society since 2000), which alone has a network of 200+ LEADers with representation in most Indian states. Our network consists of individuals and organization geographically located across the length and breadth of the country.
Why leadership
The challenges of today’s times in the modern world are huge and complex multiple challenges such as unequal development, rising population, diminishing natural resource base, climate change and many others. While there is a plethora of technical solutions, the question is does having technical solutions suffice? Are there more factors to be addressed and enrolled, for the very many innovations to be embedded in the development thinking and sustain therein because of the increased wellbeing generated for all sections in a society. Is there not a need to think and plan in a way that today’s solutions do not become tomorrow’s problems?
While the technical solutions address a part of the puzzle, to address the adaptive complexities in today’s world, we need Leaders- who are the change makers, the catalysts, the enablers of change who can take along different stakeholders, often with different (and colliding) interests and adapt the solutions through a win-win approach.
Leaders who can see the interconnectedness between various issues and take a holistic approach while going forward
The challenges of modern world are huge and complex with unequal development, rising population, diminishing natural and climate change. While there is a plethora of technical solutions, the question is whether the best of the best technical solutions always worked? Have yesterday’s solutions given birth to a new set of problems today? what we need then alongside technology, are leaders who can face the complexities and the challenges! Leaders who can see the interconnectedness between various issues and take a holistic approach while going forward. Leadership as we see it is going beyond self, moving from ego-systems to eco-systems. Ability to enrol multiple stakeholders/ actors within an eco- system, and the ability to let go.
Spread across a set of diverse programs both technical and non-technical, we engage with varied sectors and people to build LEADers as catalyst for change.
How LEAD Defines Leadership
Leadership, as we see is the ability, consciousness and grit to :
• Go beyond self- and commit to change and larger good for masses
• Operate with an approach of Ecosystem rather than Egosystem
• See the inter-connectedness between issues and challenges and identify the ‘levers’ of change
• Engage and enroll multiple stakeholders/ actors of a system for systemic and long term solutions
• Appreciate and engage with not so like minded people and perspectives and build on the diversity gained therein
• Pursue a quest towards increased self awareness
• Let go
Core Values
Core Values at LEAD India form one of the pillars of leadership building-empathy, equity, Inclusiveness, accountability, combining traditional knowledge with scientific methods, temperance.
LEAD Triad- an Inter related process
We infuse the triad of knowledge, skills and personal awareness and design elements that covers thematic needs to nurture potential leaders LEAD not only emphasizes on strong technical skills but also looks at transforming professionals into future leaders in different realms of life. The inter-related dimensions that stimulate learning processes are knowledge, skills and self-awareness. The program envisions creating a pool of leaders who can foresee and act on the challenges of today and that of tomorrow, for the betterment of their people, organization and the environment – thereby making them 'Integrated Leaders' of tomorrow.
Program Approach And Methodology
At LEAD India, we have the expertise and capability with over 20 years of experience in designing and delivering experiential learning and building multiple capacities.
LEAD programs are based on a proven model developed to inspire change and adapt to complexities. While all trainings follow the exclusive ‘LEAD Approach’ that covers thematic needs and nurture potential leaders, each training program is customized to the specific context, objectives and needs of the target group.
The LEAD India fellows’ network that is represented from across the country, sectors (government, non-governmental, private, media, academia, international) and levels (key decision makers, policy makers, grassroot leaders, CEO’s, top and middle management executives) form an elite panel of well-informed and nuanced faculty at LEAD. The LEAD fellows are also co-creators of the design and delivery depending on the training needs.
Participants learning journeys are designed based on the framework of Theory “U” developed by Otto Scharmer, faculty, Sloan School of Management, MIT. With an open heart, open mind and open will, on a real life sustainability challenge as being faced locally. It is learner centered, participatory, highly dynamic and stimulating. Participants also learn to connect their personal and professional journeys to become more effective change makers.
Systems Thinking
Knowledge and skills to see things around as interconnected to each other and as a part of a bigger unified whole, leading to understanding the root cause of any issue instead of a treating the symptom of any problem. Systems thinking helps to fully appreciate, model, and resolve complex social, environmental, business issues, without triggering or minimising unforeseen consequences.
Systems thinking expands the range of choices available for solving a problem by broadening participants’ thinking and helping them articulate problems in new and different ways. At the same time, the principles of systems thinking makes them aware that there are no perfect solutions; the choices we make will have an impact on other parts of the system. Systems thinking therefore allows participants to make informed choices. The systems thinking tools are effective vehicles for identifying, describing, and communicating your understanding of systems, particularly in participants’ groups. Thus it helps participants in understanding complex inter-relationships between elements of an organization and see the system as a whole.
Adaptive Leadership
This is an approach developed by the faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, which is a practical leadership framework that helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in challenging environments. It is being able, both individually and collectively, to diagnose, interrupt and innovate interventions in complex adaptive challenges to increase efficiency by "getting on the balcony".
Oriental Philosophies of the East
Sometimes we feel stuck in moral issues of our daily life so much so that we are unable to see things clearly. It therefore calls for the leader to balance the emotional behavior of team and oneself to interact productively and be effective as change makers. Though they may not be taught directly however the participants get to know how to adapt insights from the Philosophies of the East, including Bhagwat Geeta and Buddhist teachings. Practices like mindfulness, breath watching and journaling are integral part of our training processes.
Design Principles
LEAD develops the value based leadership learning journy(s) based on the following design Principal
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LEAD training programs are cross sectoral in multiple ways. The participants come from a diverse background such as government, academia, industry or NGO and give their inputs based on their expertise and insights gained from their own diverse experiences. This makes each participant study the same issue from different perspectives leading to understand the bigger picture better.
Stakeholders consultations through the entire value chain is one of the main part of our programs, in which participants interact with community, leaders, government and associated bodies and people to understand an array of perspective. The process thereby adds to the diversity and makes for a cross sectoral training in REAL terms.
Our efforts has been to address all the aspects of the theme. We believe that one can’t bring change in the society merely by acquiring theoretical knowledge which is why our training is experimental and field based in nature. Our training covers a real time field based challenge based on the theme of the module. Participants divided in groups embark on challenge where they go in the field and they engage themselves with the stakeholders and gain knowledge of best practices, failure model, government schemes, technological solutions and thinkers’ perspective by interacting with community, government officials and other local bodies . Participants are expected to come up with a real life solution or develop a sustainability framework and process of tracking based on the cross sectoral analysis post the field study.
Every cohort comprises of participants from regions across India, bringing with them the diversity in language, cultural practices, religion, opinions, ideologies, mental models et al. The program is inclusive and offers a structure for cultural exchanges, and a safe and trusted space to know one another.
LEAD trainings are highly participative, right from the design stage. Participants are consulted to understand their specific needs within the broader framework, pre-work before the intensive workshops are both individual and group assignments. Further, the training includes group exercises and peer to peer learning.
Participants’ needs are factored while designing the training program. The whole program especially the challenge and skill modules in sync with their need. LEAD also conducts tailor made programs as per the training needs of a group or an organization in terms of skills and or a particular environmental or development theme.
LEAD Fellowship Program - Building Leadership for a Sustainable Future
LEAD is known for its creative and high quality Leadership Training Program. We recruit mid-management professionals from across sectors (Government, Academia, Media, NGO, Businesses, Community Based Organizations etc.) and take them through a leadership journey which allows participants to step back, challenge their perceptions and stretch their leadership capability, while helping them to refine their vision of change- for themselves and their organization. It promotes experiential, participatory and comprehensive learning to equip leaders with the most effective knowledge, skills, attitude and therefore acumen to work towards a sustainable world.
This one-year long training course divided into 7-day residential learning journey runs through four National Training Sessions (NTS).
About National Training Session (NTS)
Each NTS is a week long interactive training held quaterly in a year focused around building leadership for integrating sustainability in development.
It takes the participants to locations across India, to explore live challenges with real cases and people,
To cover the broad and complex gambit of sustainable development the modules are designed in the context of urban, rural, mountain ecosystem and business sector.
Participants will be expected to attend all the four NTS over a span of two years to successfully complete their journey from being a LEAD Associate to becoming a LEAD Fellow.
Knowledge
Business Sector
Mountain Ecosystem
Rural Development
Urban Development
July 2018
October 2018
January 2019
March 2019
Development dilemma for business (Sustainability Vs. Profit)
Mandatory CSR (what does it mean for the corporate)
Rehabilitation, Resettlement – challenges and opportunities Stakeholder consultation across value chains
Integrate sustainability in corporate functioning-a real life scenario
Understanding development challenges and needs of mountain ecosystem
Impacts of climate variability on mountain life
Getting to know Ladakh its natural beauty, fragility, unique culture and people
Harnessing renewable and traditional conservation practices and embracing modern development
Leadership in motion-meet real heroes who modeled development solutions
Experiencing mountain life with community Skill Module Solving complex problem with theory “U” Appreciative Inquiry Stakeholder Engagement
Rural development its needs issues challenges and opportunities, gaps in policy practices
Development best practices and technological solutions for rural development
Sustainability challenges for village development, inter relations of health, water, sanitation, agriculture, natural resource and livelihood sectors
Community preparedness to impacts of climate change and disaster risks
Urban Development and Issues of Sustainability
Sustainability challenges in transport, energy, health, water, waste and housing sectors
Urban governance, development issues and challenges
Solid-waste management in urban settings Needs and approach for making a city smart
Skills
Unlearning to learn
Understanding Self
Know your mental model, patterns and beliefs
Emotional Intelligence- Leadership to deal with frames of mind
Systems Thinking
Solving complex problem with theory “U”
Appreciative Inquiry
Stakeholder Engagement
Negotiation
Effective Communication
Adaptive Leadership
Vision and Values
Theme
As shown in the above table, each NTS is theme based- urban, rural, mountain and business sustainability. The participants, also called Associates go through a series of learning experiences including technical session, skill module and a field study related to the theme, followed by the final step of challenge diagnosis where participants make the presentation, suggesting a framework to address the thematic challenge. With these, the participants not only deepen their understanding about each theme, they also acquire skills that help them navigate in their personal and professional journeys.
Throughout this series of study modules, we expect that the participants will receive a deeper understanding of the theme and gain an expanded perspective to view issues and become aware of the complexities that emerge from the interconnectedness of issues and factoring those in their diagnosis and while arriving at solutions.
Technical Session/Knowledge
LEAD not only emphasizes on strong technical skills but also look at transforming professionals into future leaders in different realms of their lives. Among the interrelated elements that stimulate the learning process to achieve this, one of them is ‘Knowledge’. Human societies across the globe from their own experience and extensive studies have developed a rich understanding of the environment they live in. The issues that world is facing today needs to be studied holistically, as a part of a bigger whole, deserves to be seen through a multi–sectoral lens. Our Technical sessions are specially designed to cater to these needs and cover many nuanced topics related to sustainable development across sectors. Appropriate technologies and practices, best practices for balancing growth and development, learning from what is not working etc. The professionals establish connections between their own expertise and experiences on one hand and sustainable development on the other. Eg. how to integrate sustainability in their own areas of work so as to build resilience against climate change impacts.
Skills Module
Professionals understand the importance of technical and life skills to deliver effectively in their work and personal space. Taking cognizance of this, LEAD India has embedded skills module, covering a range of topics such as Unlearning to learn, Adaptive leadership, System Thinking, Effective communication and Negotiations etc. designed to help professionals develop life skills that help them in all facets of their lives.
Self Awareness
Through a series of highly engaging, fun filled yet intense sessions, participants have an opportunity to peep inside themselves and become aware of one’s mental models; patterns; emotional energies and observe how it empowers or disempowers them. That then becomes the start point for the Associates to take responsibility to align their inner game to create possibilities in their lives and bring greater effectiveness in transforming their own lives and communities.
Cultural Immersion
During the learning journey, the participants visit the field, meet and interact with the stakeholders and understand their way of life and culture, which may be similar or very different from their own. Participants also get the opportunity to stay at ‘Home Stays’ and get to observe and engage with the community very closely, understand traditional wisdom and other practices, the local ways to addressing developmental issues, thus adding to the richness of participant’s learning. Further, local performance troupes are engaged to give the group a flavour of the local performing arts. Different geographies also present to the group, the unique ways in which their wisdom traditions and core teachings spread sustainability messages. Further, the cultural diversity brought in by the participants from diverse geographies in itself presents huge opportunity for cross-cultural learning.
Community Consultation
The key to any successful intervention is the engagement of that community and listening to their voices. The local community, understandably, has questions and concerns about how contemporary developments that is happening may impact them. Constructive community input facilitates the planning and strategy necessary to meet the needs of communities and develop ownership among them. Through innovative and comprehensive community consultation process, we intend to ultimately facilitate learning among the participants, about understanding the best practices, Government schemes, benefits and gaps, thinkers’ perspective and experiences, failed model et al. These helps associates to get an understanding about the different perspectives shared by the stakeholders and thereby learn how they could further promote sustainability within their own domain.
Challenge Diagnosis and Presentation
Immediately after the consultation, teams are expected to collect and analyse the data which helps them in deepening their understanding of the challenge and arrive at concluding sustainable solutions or frameworks which are presented in front of dignitaries or plenaries.
Other Team Practices
Mindfulness and Journaling Mindfulness promotes well-being, empathy and clarification of thoughts. It is one of our team agreed practice where we focus is on breath watching, which is a daily ten minute practice. Participants also practise journaling and share their in-the-moment feeling with the group and feedback to one another, which promotes bonding among them. Each participant has an opportunity to voluntarily take up a leadership role for one of the days, ask and receive feedback about how they conducted their day from others and set personal learning goals during the NTS and see how they fared in achieving them.
My Hopes/Takeaways from the fellowship
Individual Takeaways:
Self awareness, practicing mindfulness and enhanced ability to deal with difference of opinions and stances
Increased ability to understand frames and mental models of multiple stakeholders and ways of enrolling them
Leadership in motion by embedding empathy as a core value towards decision making and leading teams
Solving problems through a systems approach and Theory “U”
Innovation emerging from clarity on complexity, interconnectedness and multidisciplinary facets of sustainability
Forge networks with multi-sectoral national and global experts
Lifelong Journey - Lifelong dividend:
Become part of the global network of LEAD Fellows from multiple sectors, regions and countries
Lifelong access to a rich pool of expertise from a varied domain that can be leveraged to synergize one’s own initiatives
Access to institutional support from LEAD India to start up social enterprises/interventions geared towards the cause of sustainable development
Collaborate with LEAD India to design and deliver need based interventions for change
Get an opportunity to associate with varied on-ground projects and contributing to SDGs
Continuous learning through peer interactions and expert consultations
Organizational Takeaways:
Learn from the success stories of Government, corporate, NGOs and communities who are implementing best of the appropriate technologies and practices for sustainability
Resilient employees leading to bringing organizational effectiveness
Ability to address conflict situations resulting from eco system driven leadership
Access to a global network of organizations, academic institutions, Government agencies and businesses
Better stakeholder engagement
Enhanced ability of leaders to solve conflict, complex situations and contribute to building a brand equity amongst stakeholders
Collaborations and partnerships to build capacities on technical know how
Application and Assessment
You can apply if you are a:
Professional from any sector
Have passion and commitment for social change
Have working knowledge of English and
Have minimum of 5 years of experience
There are following three stages of screening:
Online application forms are available on www.leadindia.org
Offline forms are available on request, please write to associate@leadindia.org
Applications are to be submitted by the midnight of 15th May 2018
Shortlisted candidates will be informed about work place assessment
Candidate's work place assessment by a LEAD Fellow through on-site visit or virtual interaction
Subject to positive work place assessment, candidates will undergo personal interview through Skype or phone call
Fees:
INR 2.50* Lakh that includes
Training fee and faculty
Study material
Board and lodging
Local travel and site visits.
* Participants are expected to bear costs of reaching the session locations * Scholarship is limited and is available to deserving candidates
FAQs
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LEAD in India was incubated in TERI and CREED in the early years was subsequently registered as LEAD India in 2001. We adopted the international mandate to develop leaders of a new generation with skills and knowledge to support sustainable path. The leadership is extended to public, private and non- governmental organisations, capacity-building and innovative action-based projects that integrate sustainability into planning and delivery. It is a global network organization with over 3000 LEADers and counting. We are a network of cross-sectoral professionals from Media, Grassroots organizations, Academia, Business and Government.
It is a one-year fellowship program aims to take mid-career professionals from across sectors on a personal and a professional learning journey. It is designed to deliver an all-inclusive understanding using the systems thinking approach and integrating the sustainable development trios of: ecological, social and economical dimensions across various businesses, development and environmental sectors. The program promotes experiential, participatory and comprehensive learning to equip leaders with the most effective skills, acumen and attitude for a sustainable world.
LEAD is open to people from any sector as long as they share the vision to contribute towards development of a sustainable society. Our present network has cross-sectoral professionals from Media, Grassroots organizations, Academia, Business and Government.
No, they are session specific but majorly covers Urban, Rural, Mountain ecosystem and Business sector.
Associates use the systems approach and 'U' process methodology to work on a real life sustainability challenge being faced locally. It is learner centered, participatory, highly dynamic and stimulating.
LEAD not only emphasis on strong technical skills but also look at transforming professionals into future leaders in the different realms of life. The inter related dimensions that stimulates learning process are knowledge, skills and self-awareness. The program envisions creating a pool; of leaders who can foresee and act on the challenges of today and that of tomorrow, for the betterment of their people, organization and the environment – thereby making them ‘ Integrated Leaders’ of tomorrow.
Previous NTS were held in Chennai, Ladakh, Pune, Jamshedpur & Kolkata. Tentative venue for Cohort 20 will be based on this year’s theme and will be shared shortly.
These four NTS can be completed over the span of two years. LEAD associate will graduate as LEAD Fellow only after completing all four NTS.
Fees: INR 2.50* Lakh that includes
Training fee and faculty
Study material
Board and lodging
Local travel and site visits.
* Participants are expected to bear costs of reaching the session locations
Your latest CV
Study material
Recent passport size photo
Application form
Scholarship Support is Limited and will be available for eligible candidates like grass root leaders.
Individual Benefits:
Self awareness, practicing mindfulness and enhanced ability to deal with difference of opinions and stances
Increased ability to understand frames and mental models of multiple stakeholders and ways of enrolling them
Leadership in motion by embedding empathy as a core value towards decision making and leading teams
Solving problems through a systems approach and Theory “U”
Innovation emerging from clarity on complexity, interconnectedness and multidisciplinary facets of sustainability
