Encounters in Authentic Leadership – Step by Step
Preparation for Your Next Step
This journey begins weeks in advance. We will schedule an online meeting with you, connect you with other participants, and explore your starting point. If desired, we will inspire you with articles, books, and stories. You will be invited into our journey—not as an obligation, but as a source of inspiration—so that once we arrive on-site, we can fully engage with one another.
A key part of this preparation is a personal intake conversation with Rombout or Jürg. This online session provides space to identify your personal challenges and learning needs. In a relaxed setting, we will delve into your questions and goals. On your way to Portugal, you will receive inspiring questions and creative assignments to consciously transition from "there" to "here." What does your journey say about your past, your present, and the future that is unfolding? You will receive a small assignment for the first day—nothing is mandatory, you do what feels right for you.
Each day begins with a meditative exercise after breakfast to ensure mindful presence before we enter the daily program.
Sunday (Arrival)
- Until 19:00 – Upon arrival in Portugal, you can choose: rent a car or let us arrange a transfer to our beautiful location, about an hour’s drive from Lisbon.
- From 19:00 – On Sunday evening, we welcome you with an aperitif of Portuguese delicacies. As you step onto the Quinta, you immediately breathe in its authentic atmosphere, tranquility, and serenity. We will meet informally, share travel stories, and open the program.
Day 1: Myself and the Forces That Shaped My Leadership
- 07:30 – Breakfast.
- 08:30 – A short introduction to authentic leadership, followed by a reflective exercise combining thought, imagination, and body awareness. You will clarify your personal question: What do you need to take the next step in your leadership?
- We work with storytelling. Who will place their story in the center first, to explore the past, illuminate the present, and let the future emerge?
- What insights resonate with others in their leadership journeys?
- 12:30 – Lunch & siesta. More than a midday nap, siesta is a time for renewed energy and reflection.
- 14:00 – After the siesta, we dive into the history of the Quinta. We weave the inspiring surroundings into our own leadership journey. In doing so, we further explore the personal stories of the participants—through a constellation, a generative dialogue, or another creative form of reflection.
- 18:30 – At the end of the day, we take brief reflections and conclude with drinks and small bites under the old veranda, surrounded by fragrant vineyards in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.
- 20:00 – We gather in the dining hall, where a table as old as the estate itself awaits us for a welcome dinner, hosted by the Quinta’s owners.
Day 2: Myself in Relation to Others
- 07:30 – Breakfast.
- 08:30 – We continue with storytelling and reflections, shifting today’s focus to relationships and interactions.
- How do you connect with others?
- How do you communicate?
- What patterns play a role in your leadership?
- We explore attachment, resistance, and connection.
- 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
- 14:00 – Afternoon program continuation.
- 17:00 – The day ends around 17:00, followed by a trip to Tomar. Tonight, you choose where to dine and how to explore the city.
- Evening – For those who prefer to stay at the Quinta, a meal can be arranged. We end the evening around the fireplace or veranda, enjoying a glass of port, wine, or any other preference.
Day 3: Myself in the Group
- 07:30 – Breakfast.
- 08:30 – We continue storytelling, now shifting our lens to group dynamics.
- How do you move within a group?
- How do you take responsibility, and how are you influenced?
- We explore the tension between individual and collective and how you take your place within a team.
- We utilize the Quinta’s beautiful workspaces, terrace, and surrounding nature.
- 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
- 14:00 – Theoretical foundations:
- Group processes
- Leadership in teams
- Balancing “I” and “we”
- 18:30 – Aperitif – Between the end of the program and dinner, you have time to rest, walk, or swim in the Quinta’s pool.
- 20:00 – Tonight, we are once again treated to a dinner at the Quinta, hosted by the owners.
Day 4: Myself as a Responsible Person in the Greater Whole
- 07:30 – Breakfast.
- 08:30 – Today, we examine your values and ethical dilemmas through three key questions:
- What does good leadership mean to me?
- What is at stake for me?
- How do I bring meaning to my leadership within the greater whole?
- We alternate practical exercises with philosophical insights.
- 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
- 14:00 – Continuation of the morning program.
- 16:00 – Short refreshment break.
- 16:30 – In the late afternoon, we travel to Ourém, where we work under the ancient trees near the castle and chapel to shape your action plan for the future.
- 19:30 – In the evening, we gather at Restaurant Madeleine, a small, authentic family-run restaurant, where we celebrate our journey with fado music, great food, and personal reflection on each participant’s experience.
Day 5: Departure or Extension
- 07:30 – Breakfast.
- After breakfast – Every journey has a beginning, middle, and end. We say our farewells, and for those who wish, individual conversations with the facilitators are available.
- For those leaving, a transfer to the airport is ready.
- Others may choose to extend their journey with a visit to Fátima, Lisbon, or other destinations.
With new insights and a renewed compass, you return home, ready to shape your leadership with clarity and authenticity.
