He added that the program was fun in spite of time demands. There was a lot to read and prepare for, but many of his new friends have said they missed the program once it was over. Adrian’s group has gotten together a couple of times afterwards and they have continued the book reviews.
Adrian said the program reinforced the value of personal growth. He said he was always intellectually curious, however this program pushed him to do even more. The program gave him context, the ability to see things in a different perspective and consider alternative solutions. The program helped him to think about himself, his leadership style, his career and what he enjoyed doing. It also showed Adrian that even with a demanding job, he could stretch and do more. He actually sought new leadership opportunities at work and outside. He was the PTA President at his kids’ school for 2 years, lead a team of volunteers to run events that strengthened the community, while also raising funds for the school.
Having a broader network, plus access to the SIM groups, has allowed Adrian to stay connected to peers. It made it easy and natural to reach out to folks for advice and help. Adrian joined one of our Mentor Circles this year.
Adrian said he was able to apply lessons learned from RLF almost immediately. While attending the RLF session, one of his projects at work turned “red”. He returned to work having to deal with a crisis. He said he could apply what he had learned, used a different approach and turned the situation from a “let’s find the guilty party” to a “how can we work together to fix this.” He was so pleased to see people come out of their shells and apply themselves differently once he set the right tone.
Adrian said bottom-line: RLF is about you as a leader, gaining a better understanding of yourself and appreciating the impact you can have. He also advises future attendees to stay in town overnight vs. commuting in every day. The group dinners help strengthened the relationships with others on a personal level.
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