Session I: July 14-16, 2010

9. Personal Leadership: Interculturalists Practicing at Our Highest and Best Gordon Watanabe Cultural differences ignite even experienced interculturalists into ways of interacting that hamper high performance or render it impossible. This workshop will provide participants with a system of practice that allows us each to step up to our highest and best in interpersonal and intercultural situations (across, for example, nationality, gender, race, ethnicity, and religion), even when our neighbors and colleagues embody significantly different degrees of intercultural sensitivity.

Designed for Objectives Learning Activities Gordon Watanabe Those who seek to deepen their intercultural practice and effectiveness, including those living and/or working in multicultural situations either domestically or internationally. A general familiarity with intercultural theory is helpful but not required. Participants will have the opportunity to: Apply the principles and practices of Personal Leadership to their real-life and real-time experiences Articulate—and align with—personal visions of what it means for them to be effective interculturalists operating at their “highest and best” Understand the history, theoretical foundations, and context for the development of the Personal Leadership methodology Consider the cultural and intercultural implications of Personal Leadership, and the relationship between Personal Leadership and other intercultural theories and models such as the DMIS, Cultural Detective, Conflict Styles, etc. Enjoy a deeply self-reflective process in the context of an inspiring and energizing community The group will create a “living laboratory,” with activities including: Short presentations on the framework of Personal Leadership In-depth collaborative discussion of the practices of Personal Leadership in diverse contexts Self-assessment and self-reflection Analysis of case studies drawn from participants and faculty Peer exchange and consultation on the application of Personal Leadership to real-life and real-time scenarios   Dr. Gordon C. Watanabe is a founding partner of Personal Leadership Seminars, consults in corporate, educational, and other organizational settings (most recently the Esalen Institute) on Personal Leadership, diversity, and intercultural competence.  He is Professor Emeritus and former special assistant to the president for intercultural relations at Whitworth University where he focuses on the role of deep self-understanding in successful cross-cultural negotiations and intercultural team-building. Gordon was initiated as a meditation teacher in 2000, and now also offers energy meditation seminars. He has taught middle school biology and teacher education, and advised and counseled university-level international, study abroad, and minority students. Gordon is a co-author, along with Barbara Schaetti and Sheila Ramsey, of Making a World of Difference, Personal Leadership: A Methodology of Two Principles and Six Practices.