‘We cannot solve our problems with the same mindset that created them….You gotta be the change you wish to see in the world!’
Albert Einstein
LEAP Advanced is a 10-month transformational leadership programme focusing on building capacity in the oikos community with the necessary competencies, qualities, practices, tools and global network to become conscious leaders in the co-creation of thriving and sustainable societies.
News
Applcations for the cohort 2022
Applications for the programm are now closed, but we will reach out to individual chapters to encourage them to send a representative as well.
LEAP cohort 2022
The new cohort will start on February 26th & 27th with an online Kick-off.
LEAP Strategy 2022
Shape the next year of LEAP Advanced together with alumni, coaches, future participants and the oikos team.
Why do we need to LEAP ahead?
The question of transitioning to sustainability, creating thriving and flourishing living systems highlights the need for conscious leadership development.
There is a need to address leadership, to educate and prepare students to lead solutions for sustainability and to focus on the role of the inner dimensions (described as people‘s mindsets consisting of values, beliefs, world-views, motivations and associated cognitive, emotional and relational capacities) of human beings and the potential of inner transformation as a powerful leverage point for sustainability.
Our Solution
LEAP adopts transformative and emancipatory perspectives to education. Seeking to stimulate self-awareness and critical thinking, LEAP considers pedagogical approaches and methodologies that encourage participants to critically consider and reflect on personal and collective world-views, values, practices, and behaviors. At the same time LEAP offers the participants opportunity of active involvement, with several chances for co-creation and prototyping during their leadership journey.
Framework
Learn more.
In LEAP Advanced the participants will focus on learning the skills described in the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework. This framework refers to the skills and qualities needed as a leader to successfully work with complex societal issues, in particular those identified in UNs Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The framework is divided in 5 main dimensions and 23 skills.
Iceberg Model
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The iceberg model explains that what we can see, the 10% part of the iceberg that is visible above the surface of the sea, are the events that define our world today. However, around 90% of the iceberg is invisible to us. And what is hidden beneath the surface, are the underlying patterns, structures and mindsets that are responsible for creating the events that define our world today.
According to this model, the capacity to address and reflect on our own mindsets and potentially adopt new paradigms, is one of the most powerful ways to dramatically influence sustainability outcomes, considered a deep leverage point for change. 
The iceberg model also indicates that we can work at different levels towards sustainability: at the level of behavior, at the level of structural change, at the level of cultural change, and at the psychological level. This last is the level of our mindset, or how we make meaning regarding the world around us. Society needs to address all these levels if we aim to create the kind of change we are hoping for. However, today, the goals to meet climate change and other sustainability challenges are generally located mainly at the behavioural and structural level, with technical and political responses, which relates to the systems and structures we create and use to organize society. However, to focus at the same time at the personal sphere, looking at the individuals, our shared beliefs, values and worldviews that influence how we see the system and how we see ourselves in relation to the system, is critical to lead change.
Theory U
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To support us in this process of working with personal transformation for systemic change in an interconnected way we use Theory U. Theory U is a process created by Otto Schamer that helps us to become aware of the blind spot of leadership: bringing attention both individually and collectively to our inner qualities, to the places where we are operating from: what we pay attention to, and how we pay attention to. By moving through the “U” process we learn to connect to our essential Self, see our own blind spots and pay attention in a way that allows us to experience the opening of our minds, our hearts, and our wills. This holistic opening constitutes a shift in awareness that allows us to learn from the future as it emerges, and to realize that future in the world.
As the diagram illustrates, we move down one side of the U (connecting to the world that is outside of us) to the bottom of the U (connecting to the world that emerges from within) and up the other side of the U ( bringing forth the profound systemic changes needed in society today.
The 10 month transformational LEAP journey is thought of as a big U journey for the participants to experience their learning using these leadership capacities – holding the space – observing – sensing – presencing – crystalizing – prototyping – performing. Still, for each module of the program (every bi-month) there are smaller U journeys happening.
4 Fold Practice
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The 4 Fold practice is a practice introduced from the Art of Hosting organization. This is the practice that inspires our participants to create a culture of caring and collaboration. This is the way they should navigate all the LEAP process in these 10 months as a participant, but also to get inspired to live and bring it back within their communities.
By promoting a culture of hosting in 4 different levels, they learn how to take personal care and deep care for others, assessing needs and taking leadership for creating healthy communities of learning.
LEAP JOURNEY
Elements of LEAP
GET INVOLVED
ParticipantsApply now for the cohort 2022Join the Info Call on December 1st
Every active oikee and alumni can apply to become a LEAP participant.
Applications are open from December 1st to January 20th. 
This year we will have an online and a hybrid cohort for those that cannot join the onsite meetings in March & July.
If you would like to know more about the upcoming cohort or have some general questions join us for the Info Call on January 10th, 7pm CET.
Register here to receive the zoom link.
You can also watch the video of the Info Call in December 21 here.
This year participants will be required to commit to attend/do at least 70% in each element.
The commitments of the program are:
- Input & Workshop – March to December [2h]
- Readings – every 2nd month March to December [30min]
- Reflections – March to December [1h]
- Self-assessment – every 2nd month [30min]
- Peer group – March to December [1:30h]
- 1:1 coaching – April to December [1h]
- Onboarding – February [30min]
- Self-assessment – February & December [30min]
- online Kick-off – February 26th & 27th [6h total]
- Feedback – December [30min]
- Cohort closing – December [2h]
- Mini LEAP: design a LEAP experience for a group from your environment (chapter, friends, family, work, oikos partners etc.) individually or in groups [duration very flexible, min. 2 workshop of 2 hours + prep + reflection about it]
- onsite Kick-off – End of March [4-5 days]
- onsite Midterm – last week of July [7 days]
AlumniJoin the LEAP Life track for lifelong personal development
The LEAP Life is the track for LEAP Alumni of all tracks and our volunteers.
It’s a community where we learn from each other and support each other’s lifelong development.
It has a self-led and online format, allowing flexibility and inclusion. Participants can choose how they will get involved and join the elements and sessions that serve them best.
Elements of the LEAP Life include
- Input Talks to learn more about topics related to leadership, coaching and personal development
- Brave Spaces to address sensitive topics and exchange based on our experiences
- Peer groups for different learning topics.
In regular Strategy Calls the needs of the LEAP Life community are addressed and new formats may evolve.
Join the LEAP Life today by writing an email to leap@oikos-international.org mentioning that you would like to be part of the Life Track.
VolunteerApply now for the cohort 2022Join for the LEAP Strategy Call 2022
You would like to get engaged in the LEAP as a volunteer? This year we have many opportunities for you!
- Peer coach – coach a group of LEAP participants in the cohort 22
- 1:1 Coach – coach individual participants of the cohort 22, the oikos team, the LEAP Life or the LEAP Researchers Track
- online Kick-off – help organise the online Kick-off for the cohort 22 end of February
- onsite Meetings – help organise the onsite meetings in March and/or July either by developing the content of the meetings or helping out with logistics
- Content – help prepare the content for the cohort 22. Create reflection, workshops, readings or help find experts.
- Communication – help with internal or external communication
- etc. – if there is anything else that comes to your mind let us know
Find the detailed commitments for each volunteer role here.
What our community says about LEAP
Every day we create different versions of ourselves. LEAP Advanced helped me to understand, accept, love and at the same time, improve my own self.
Mariam Kvaratskhelia
Participant 2019/20
Before I started my studies in Graz I did not consider myself a balanced person. Not that I am perfectly balanced now, but I live much more in harmony and peace with myself. Yet, getting where I am now, has not been an easy task. Joining LEAP undoubtedly stood as a milestone in my self-development, as it triggered in me a valuable process of introspection: thinking about myself, my actions, my feelings, my beliefs, my values, my emotions and, ultimately, my purpose. Before, such thoughts were indeed present but kept whirling through my mind in indiscernible and sometimes overwhelming patterns. The LEAP program thus infused me with unprecedented cognitive acuteness and provided me with a space for pursuing personal reflections. Something inside me started changing as a consequence, opening my understanding of a variety of hitherto unchartered regions of the mind. LEAP has therefore been remarkable empowerment for me, and I urge any other oikees to benefit from it as well.”
Hannah Muther
Participant 2018/19
“LEAP put me on a journey to discover who I am. It gave me confidence, taught me to be a change agent, gave me a deeper insight into today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities, helped me make a transition, made me consider what kind of leader I want to be and create my path towards a sustainable future.”
Nino Kvaratskhelia
Participant 2018/19
The LEAP program inspired me to pursue my interest in spreading awareness of sustainability and becoming a responsible leader. Being part of the LEAP Program 2018/2019 was one of the best experiences of my life. The LEAP program taught me, for instance, how to be a responsible leader, gave a clearer understanding of my values and my WHY in life. Our webinars broadened my horizon as we discussed topics I hadn’t been familiar with before. For example, I learned about the importance of organizational culture and how to overcome procrastination by just ‘eating a frog’. The LEAP program changed my life by teaching me how to be aware of my own body, thoughts, and actions. And I would like to pass this knowledge unto other oikees. During my time as president of oikos Bayreuth (2018-2019), I directly used the learned methods and shared experiences of the LEAP program. During this time, we changed the whole organization structure and speeded up processes by using Podio. We separated projects from our discussion panels and built a strong team spirit. I am really proud of everything the whole oikos Bayreuth group achieved in this short amount of time. And I think it would not have been possible without the LEAP experience.
Luisa Pütz
Participant 2018/19
Coach 2018/19 & Participant 2015/16
Sagar Vatkar