It had been a long time since I last taught the foundational course on participatory leadership within the European institutions. I had almost forgotten how deeply this course can touch people, and sometimes even transform them. I had also forgotten how much I could learn from teaching it: new insights, fresh connections and meaningful human relationships.
Last week, our team of eight hosts held the space, with our hands, our hearts and our minds, for nearly 60 colleagues from different departments and services across the European institutions. Everything that each person brought to this experience, whether as a participant or as a member of the hosting team, was invaluable to me. I feel deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making these three days what they were.
Within the European institutions, it is both heartening and reassuring for the future to see new colleagues learning and practising participatory leadership. Active listening, a deep understanding of others and their perspectives, the art of asking questions and having meaningful conversations, and, ultimately, the ability to turn these conversations into meaningful action: all of these are essential for a European public administration navigating an increasingly VUCA and polarised world.
I am sharing a few photos from the training, together with my graphic recording on top of our 3-day agenda. We chose sailing as a metaphor for the journey, and it accompanied us throughout the training. Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey.
