Adaptive leadership workshop

OctOber 2025 Retreat

Pre-Retreat Work

• Connecting to Your Leadership Challenge Reflection Worksheet here.

• Core Reading & Podcast:

  • Chapter 2 (pg.1-28), “The Theory Behind the Practice” from The Practice of Adaptive Leadership by Ron Heifetz, Marty Linsky, and Alexander Grashow here.

  • Episode 6, “Leading ‘On a Razor’s Edge’: A conversation with LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate Ian Palmquist” from On the Balcony Podcast here. (also available on other podcast streaming platforms)

• Recommended Reading:

  • Chapter 6, “On the Razor’s Edge” from Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ron Heifetz here.

  • Chapter 7, “Falling off the Edge” from Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ron Heifetz here.

Workshop Material

• PowerPoint presentation here.

• System Map worksheet here.

• Parsing Technical & Adaptive Challenges worksheet here.

• Authority Audit worksheet here.

• Mobilize People into the Learning Zone worksheet here.

Learn More

Additional Resources

• Blog post: Managing Loss

• Blog post: Leading beyond your authority

• Podcast: Leading with authority

Case Example — “Fritz Bauer”
Practicing Leadership on Holocaust Education and the Auschwitz trials in Post-war Germany

• The People vs. Fritz Bauer A gripping film where he’s front and center. It highlights his bold leadership in pushing for the Auschwitz trials and the capture of Eichmann.

• Labyrinth of Lies: – Bauer plays more of a mentor role here, and the film offers a powerful—and slightly more nuanced, less heroic—look at how the Auschwitz trials got underway.

Stay Connected

Continue Your Practice

As you test small leadership experiments in the months ahead, you’re invited to schedule a 1:1 reflection session with Michael

Keep Learning

Follow on KONU on LinkedIn for articles, resources, and program updates

Subscribe to the On the Balcony Podcast, for new conversations with leadership practitioners and adaptive thinkers.