While the concept of VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) has long been used to describe the world’s increasing complexity, recent developments have intensified this turbulence. The relatively new term BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible) offers an even more accurate framework for the challenges organisations face in today’s environment.

The primary aim of the curriculum is to help students cultivate essential inner capacities needed to navigate these growing complexities. Drawing upon the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) framework, the course is structured around five pillars of personal development: 

Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting.

These pillars foster resilience, effective decision-making, empathetic relationships, productive collaboration, and purposeful action—skills fundamental for leadership in the BANI era.

Leadership in Action 1

Focus:

·       Personal development in the area of Leading Self

·       Inner Development Goals  

The first three IDG pillars of development will inform this module:

• Being – Relationship to Self: Self-awareness, mindfulness, emotional regulation, body awareness, intentional presence
• Thinking – Cognitive Skills: Perspective-taking, critical thinking, sense-making, systems thinking
• Relating 1/2 – Caring for Others and the World: Empathy & compassion.

Students are encouraged to deepen their awareness of self and others, cultivate systems thinking, develop social-emotional competencies, and strengthen their courage and sense of purpose for self-leadership. By linking inner transformation with external impact, the course inspires participants to recognize themselves as change agents in our interconnected world.

Upon completing this course, students will have:

• Encountered and gained experience in cultivating deeper awareness of their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours
• Been introduced to adopting multiple perspectives
• Engaged in relating to others with empathy, care, and a sense of shared responsibility
• Begun to identify personal strengths and areas for growth in their interactions with others
• Practiced acting with greater clarity, presence, and effectiveness
• Integrated personal reflection into their everyday experiences

These experiences establish a foundation for ongoing personal and professional growth.

Active participation in experiential and group-based sessions is essential for achieving the learning goals. Therefore, a minimum attendance rate of 80% is required in general (incl. any online sessions) and 100% for the block seminar Workshop 2.

The course will combine various learning methods to deliver the different topics to the students. These will be explored through a blend of self-reflection, theoretical input, group interaction, and experiential learning - centering on personal growth. The curriculum prioritizes learning by doing, critical reflection, and peer exchange, allowing theory to provide a framework rather than dominate the educational experience.

The final grade of the course will depend on: 

A pass in all subcategories and attendance is necessary to pass this course

Grading scale:

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Reading list

All required except where explicitly marked as recommended*

Module 1: Books

Senge, P. M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (Revised and updated ed.). Doubleday.

Goleman, D. (2006). Emotional intelligence (10th anniversary ed.). Bantam Books. (recommended)

Barrett, L. F. (2020). Seven and a half lessons about the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (recommended)

Pre-reading Kick-off

George, B., Sims, P., McLean, A. N., & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering your authentic leadership. Harvard Business Review, 85(2), 129–138.

Inner Development Goals Initiative. (2023). IDG introductory video. innerdevelopmentgoals.org

Pre-reading Workshop 1 — Complexity / IDGs / State of the World

Snowden, D., & Boone, M. (2007). A leader’s framework for decision making. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 68–76.

Inner Development Goals Initiative. (2021). IDG Report – Phase 1: Skills for inner development. IDG Initiative.

*European Commission. (2021). Managing complexity (and chaos) in times of crisis. A field guide for decision makers inspired by the Cynefin framework. Publications Office of the European Union. (recommended)

*Inner Development Goals Initiative. (2022). IDG Toolkit – Phase 2 Research Report. IDG Initiative. (recommended)

Pre-reading Workshop 2 — Leading Self

Goleman, D. (1998). What makes a leader? Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 93–102.

Drucker, P. F. (2005). Managing oneself. Harvard Business Review, 83(1), 100–109.

Pre-reading Workshop 3 — Self Mission / Vision / Action

To be defined by Workshop 1/End October