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The
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
T he Valley Forge Leadership Experience uses
critical lessons from an especially difficult time
in our nation’s history to draw lessons modern
executives can use to lead in today’s challenging
environment.
In December 1777 George Washington took a battered and
nearly broken Continental Army into winter quarters in the
countryside outside of Philadelphia, which had been recently
captured by the British. Throughout a long, hungry winter
Washington reorganized and revitalized his meager force. In
the spring of 1778 a new American Army took the field and
Participants will learn:
Fundamentals of transformation
How leaders build consensus and
create stakeholders
defeated the British at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey.
Elements of persuasive
communication
We study this remarkable transformation for timeless lessons on
How leaders inspire others and
align their efforts
leadership that will benefit participants running modern
organizations.
How leaders identify and nurture
leadership talent
The Valley Forge Leadership Experience also includes a workshop in Agile Leadership. Participants learn best
practices for leading in uncertain and volatile environments.
Finally, participants draft a personal leadership philosophy, a foundational document for establishing clarity
and setting expectations as to how the team will operate and improve.
T he Valley Forge Leadership Experience
Day One
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day Two (continued)
3 to 6 p.m.
Check in at hotel
5 p.m.
Return to hotel
6 p.m.
Board coach for trip to Valley
Forge National Historical Park
6 p.m.
A conversation with General Washington
7 p.m.
Dinner at the hotel
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Opening reception featuring
cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres,
Valley Forge Visitors’ Center
In his opening remarks, Ed Ruggero begins with an overview of
the Valley Forge Leadership Experience and provides historical
background on the American Revolution up to December
1777, including profiles of key leaders and their challenges.
8:30 p.m.
Arrive back at hotel
7 to 8 a.m.
Breakfast at hotel
8 a.m.
Board coach for trip to Valley
Forge National Historical Park
9 a.m.
7 to 8 a.m.
Breakfast at hotel
8 a.m.
The Leader’s Compass Workshop
Using the book The Leader’s Compass by Ed Ruggero & Dennis
Haley, participants prepare a draft of a personal leadership
philosophy, which tells team members:
Here’s what I believe about leadership
Here’s what I expect from you
Here’s what you can expect from me
Day Two
8:30 a.m.
Day Three
Presentation by the Curator, Valley
Forge Archives, Visitors’ Center
Tour Park by executive coach and on foot
We will visit Washington’s headquarters, a company street of
soldiers’ huts and a defensive redoubt to study the leadership
challenges faced by Washington, his commanders and his
British opponents. These lessons will reveal important
principles of leadership that apply to modern organizations.
12 p.m.
Lunch in nearby restaurant
1 to 5 p.m.
Return to Education Center for
Agile Leadership Workshop
Some leaders and organizations succeed—even thrive—amid
the uncertain and volatile conditions that characterize a
fast-moving business environment. Ed Ruggero has studied
those organizations and leaders to glean their best lessons, and
has distilled what they have to offer into this workshop.
Participants learn and use in exercises the best practices from
modern military organizations, NASA, polar explorers and
humanitarian relief agencies.
The benefits of writing and sharing a personal
leadership philosophy:
You gain clarity in your thinking about leadership
when you have to articulate your beliefs for an
audience. You’ll decide what kind of leader you want
to be, and you’ll commit to this course.
No one has to guess what you want.
The team will hold you accountable to your promises.
You start a conversation around continuous
improvement of the leadership climate and how the
team operates.
The Agile Leader
Can lead amid uncertainty & volatility
Develops leaders who can make decisions & drive
performance
Has situational awareness
Can rapidly adjust to changing circumstances using
thorough contingency plans
Is creative, resilient & sensitive to organizational culture
Operates according to a clearly defined leadership
philosophy