Monday 20 May 2013

Learning to be a leader..

Late last year I blogged about YLT (see here) - or Young Leadership Team to use it's full name - which is a leadership training program run by my workplace. Sound like corporate rubbish? Well, it couldn't be farther from the truth... YLT gives me and 40 of my peers the chance to take three days out of work, five times across a year-long period, to focus on our own personal development.

The speed of modern life rarely allows us time to stop and think about ourselves and those around us, to self-indulge, or to consider life's bigger questions like, 'who am I?', 'what do I want my legacy to be?' and 'what am I great at?'..

If I haven't lost you yet, then next time you're standing in the shower, queuing for coffee, or washing the dishes, allow yourself a few minutes to think about these questions. You might be amazed at what a little thinking time can do....

Here are a selection of images from the fourth of five conferences, firstly my group, called 'Orient', holding a discussion in the sunshine of the Yarra Valley:


Here is our room where we conduct most of the conference, either sitting in camp chairs (so comfy!) or sitting/lying on the floor (less comfy when you are pregnant and your jeans don't fit anymore!).


On the second night of the conference was a Eurovision themed dinner. We were each asked to dress up as a rock star, and we then proceeded to perform rock songs in groups with made up lyrics and dancing. It was a fantastically run event, and the costumes were incredible! I went as Baby Spice as part of a group of Melbourne girls who joined together to be the Spice Girls. After a while though, I must admit to feeling very sober amongst a room full of merriment!

 
We always close the conference with a fun session run by four of our participants. This time we all learnt a thriller dance with the help of a You Tube tutorial. It was hilarious and as you can see makes for some odd looking still images!

Friday 10 May 2013

Autumn sun in the Yarra Valley