Performance Transformation Announces Launch of Affective Leadership Development Programs

Feb. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Performance Transformation, LLC™ (Venice, FL) announced the launch of their new program designed to cultivate leadership skills that resonate with today's multi-cultural, multi-generational, and geographically dispersed workforce.  The approach is based upon five years of research, development and validation in the field and evolved out of their breakthrough Transformational Leadership program.

Affective Leadership is a scientifically-substantiated approach to leadership that leverages the neural mechanisms of human emotion to connect, engage and inspire today’s multi-cultural, multi-generational workforce. It is ideally suited for leading teams and networks of knowledge workers.  The evolutionary approach integrates peer-reviewed research from the scientific disciplines of:

• Affective Neuroscience
• Applied Behavioral Economics
• Transformational Leadership
• Performance Psychology
• Emotional Intelligence
• Dimensions of Culture
• Adult Learning Styles
• Quantum Physics
• Biochemistry
• Creativity

"The intention is not to manipulate emotions, but to develop keen insights into how our presence, congruity, authenticity, transparency and communicative style affects those we lead and seek to positively influence," said Terry Murray, Managing Partner of Performance Transformation. "Affective Leadership is the leadership of engagement."

Through the application of collaborative, experiential learning, in combination with The Accretive Coaching Process℠, leaders and high potentials are provided the opportunity to experiment and discover these lessons for themselves and immediately begin to apply them within the context of the business.

The Accretive Coaching Process℠ is an evidence-based method for professional development designed specifically to empower people to successfully navigate adaptive challenges.  Adaptive challenges are defined as unprecedented situations which, because of their unique nature, we are not equipped to address and resolve based upon the totality of our life experiences (Heifetz & Linsky, 2002).  Cultivating our ability to discover, collaborate and act upon co-creative solutions to unanticipated, novel challenges, in real-time, requires a migration from traditional training to a multi-dimensional approach to professional development.  

The Accretive Coaching Process integrates an strong educational component (drawn from the peer-reviewed, scientific research) with Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning (EFEL) and elements from traditional coaching modalities (International Coach Federation).  The EFEL component, based upon The Epona Approach™ (Kohanov, 2001, 2002), focuses on facilitating the self-reflective process that emerges through the development of the horse/human relationship in specifically designed, ground-based exercises.  No riding occurs.

"The competition for top talent is heating up," added Mr. Murray.  "Developing an open, inclusive and collaborative culture is key to attracting and retaining the best and the brightest.  Creating the right organizational culture, one that resonates with Gen-X and Gen-Y in particular, is highly dependent on cultivating the right kind of leadership.  Employee disengagement levels have hovered at 70% for nearly a decade.  It's apparent traditional approaches to leadership development have proven to be out of step with the times and challenges we now face."

Performance Transformation employs a relationship-based approach to Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning.  Recent, peer-reviewed, scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy and statistical significance of Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning.  Additional studies are currently underway.

"The workshops with the horses delivers a powerful shift in perspective.  Framing each experiential learning exercise within the context of our clients' business objectives, supported by hard science, accelerates learning," commented Terry. "The leadership metaphors that inevitably arise, from the participants themselves, deliver those ah-ha moments of self discovery.  Those aren't the lessons we easily forget.  We own them, they become a part of us."

Performance Transformation's approach is not experimental.  The firm has been conducting leadership, team building and emotional resiliency programs around the country since 2008.  Their pro bono Warriors in Transition program (Terry is a veteran of U.S. Naval Intelligence) was formally commended by General David Petraeus in 2010 and their program for at-risk girls was recently adopted into the core curriculum of a charter school in Bradenton, FL.  Terry is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, "The Transformational Entrepreneur".  His book was cited by the academic Journal of Economic Literature in March, 2012.  

For more information on Affective Leadership Development or Performance Transformation's other programs please visit http://performtransform.com or call (941) 485-7428.  Additional insights from Terry Murray are available on this blog site, http://terrymurrayblog.com.