We inspire purposeful living and leading through personal discovery, experiential learning and organizational planning that leads to more effective, ethical and enduring leadership in our various roles whether it be as executive, professional, teacher, parent, coach or engaged citizen. Operating on the continuum between personal growth and leadership development allows us to demonstrate this important and often overlooked link between how we lead our lives and how we lead our families, teams, organizations, and communities.
We use a holistic approach that touches mind, body, and spirit and develops trust by advocating the integration of head and heart. We encourage creating community in small groups that keep people connected through an active and influential Leaders Network. We engage the heart through retreats, programs, networking and meaningful conversation.
We develop leaders through the entrepreneurship of their lives, their organizations and their communities. And we challenge leaders to live with purpose.
Philosophy Description: Inside First™
We define the Inside First™ philosophy as a process that starts within, clarifying purpose, values and beliefs that differentiate our character, and then emanates outward, advanced by the skills of visioning and planning to guide our actions and relationships. Inside First leadership has resonance with many similar approaches, including values-based leadership, transformational leadership, servant-leadership, and more. Inside First requires leaders to look within, create clarity and then take action consistent with their purpose.
This philosophy continues to evolve in a multiple- thought leader, open source fashion.
Key Differentiators
Small Groups: Most of our work takes place in small groups 0f 6-8 people with a coach, facilitator or mentor who serve as a guide to the conversations.
Dialogue: We favor a dialogic approach prompted by questions. We use an approach that is more of an uncovering than a teaching. And we practice getting real every time we meet.
Spiritual Perspective:
We believe that people who incorporate their spiritual perspective, however they define that, into their lives are more likely to seek meaning and significance over self-aggrandizement. We believe that our quality of life and leadership effectiveness are built more on character and personal ethics than on skills. And we believe that one’s character and ethics are in turn founded primarily on a worldview that takes one beyond a focus merely on the self. And we bring this dimension into our curriculum by asking what influence each person’s spiritual perspective has on their leadership approach. We do not advocate for any particular approach. The Inside First approach embraces our core, our spirit, the guiding presence in our lives.
Mentorship: By calling upon mentors of the Institute’s White River Council, we invest experience in the success of each participant.
Mountain Environment: Getting out in nature in our mountain setting is not readily available to our competitors.
Value Proposition
Our greatest value is found in participants’ transformational experience of personal discovery gained from our perspectives, processes, environments and network. We promise “ah ha” moments and renewing insights. Another way of saying this is that we help people become more aware of who they are and what is important to them – we facilitate clarity.
