Guidebook & Workbook
The guidebook is designed to support your learning with the self-study materials. It can be printed to have a place for taking your notes and following along with the material.
Every Genuine Contact Program module includes a workbook designed to support your learning both while taking the module and as you begin working with its teachings. While each Genuine Contact Trainer can facilitate the learning of a module's teaching objectives as they wish, all workshop participants receive the same workbook to support common learning experiences.
Pre-Work
Please complete the following learning segments prior to our first day of real-time learning on June 23. The workshop is designed assuming you have done this self-study to be familiar with the learning materials. We recommend booking some time into your calendar immediately upon registration and organizing your learning into blocks of learning over the coming weeks.
Segment 1: Getting Ready for Your Learning
Suggested Time: 1.5 hours | For self-study prior to the rest of your learning
Prepare for your learning experience through a series of readiness exercises. Getting ready for your learning might not be something you’ve thought much about before. We believe taking some time before starting a workshop to get in touch with your personal readiness for learning is an important way to set the foundation for focusing and deepening your learning for the best possible outcomes.
This segment guides you through a simple exercise to focus your intention for the rest of the learning package. The video is 35 minutes and will take approximately 1.5 hours to view and complete the exercises.
Segment 2: Welcome & Orientation
Suggested Time: 5 minutes | For self-study
This video is a warm welcome to your learning. You'll be oriented to what you can expect to learn. Foundational learnings we believe are important to build from when you work with holistic leadership development. You'll also have a sneak peak at the components of the learning module that are designed to support you to accomplish these learning objectives.
The video is 5 minutes, and will take approximately 5 minutes to view and process your learning.
Access the video here.
Tools for Understanding the Context for Leadership
Segment 3: Evolutionary Spiral
Suggested Time: 45 minutes | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Evolutionary Spiral, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Evolutionary Spiral and offer a simple example of working it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is 16 minutes and we recommend making 45 minutes available for this self-study.
Segment 4: Deep Essence Tool
Suggested Time: 1.5 hours | For self-study
In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Deep Essence Tool and offer a simple example of working with it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is 40 minutes, and will take approximately 1.5 hours to view and process your learning.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 5: Operating Matrix
Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Operating Matrix, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Operating Matrix and offer a simple example of working it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool when supporting organizations to develop – whether as a leader or consultant.
Whenever organizational development and design work is done the Genuine Contact Way, we make use of the operating matrix to best understand and describe the organization. Equally applicable no matter big or small an organization is, from a solo-entrepreneur to a multinational corporation, in all kinds of organizations, from NGOs and non-profits to corporations, and even departments within corporations, institutions, and governments, the operating matrix helps to create congruency and alignment that is needed for greatest impact. Every organization has its own unique blueprint. The operating matrix makes that blueprint visible.
The video is 18 minutes and we recommend making 1 hour available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Tools for How You Show Up
Segment 6: How You Show Up
Suggested Time: 30 minutes | For self-study
In this learning segment, we examine the value of how you show up as a facilitator of people. More than any tool that you have in your toolkit, how you show up affects how successful you will be in this very important work. To be really good at facilitation, you’ll discover that you are required to enhance your self-awareness. This requires that you do the work of learning to be consistently in genuine contact with yourself.
The video is approximately 15 minutes long and will take approximately 30 minutes to view and process your learning.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 7: Four Fold Way
Suggested Time: 20 minutes | For self-study
This video explores the Four Fold Way by Angeles Arrien and how it can support leadership development and the development of meeting cultures.
The video is about 10 minutes long and we recommend making 20 minutes available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Tools for Implicit Aspects of Holistic Leadership
Segment 8: Leadership Development through Noticing
Suggested Time: 20 minutes for learning + 15 minutes daily | For self-study
An expanded perspective results from a practice of noticing and is of great benefit to leadership. In this learning segment, we are sharing some tips for how to develop a practicing of noticing as part of your leadership development practice.
The video is 13 minutes and we recommend making 20 minutes available for this self-study and 15 minutes a day to develop the practice.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 9: Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact
Suggested Time: 45 minutes | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact and focuses on exploring what these beliefs are and how we work with them in our work and our lives.
The video is 25 minutes and we recommend making 45 minutes available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Tools for Explicit Aspects of Holistic Leadership
Segment 10: Service Delivery Model
Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Service Delivery Model, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Service Delivery Model and offer a simple example of working it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is 12 minutes and we recommend making 1 hour available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 11: Storyline
Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Storyline, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Storyline and offer a simple example of working it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is 12 minutes and we recommend making 1 hour available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 12: Givens
Suggested Time: 1.5 hour | For self-study
This video focuses on the important role of givens, or non-negotiables, in developing the expectation zone for both meetings and organizations. Having explicit givens (rather than implicit assumptions) and ensuring that they are the right and most minimal givens supports the development of a clear container in which creativity and innovation can soar.
The video is about 25 minutes long and we recommend making 1.5 hours available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 13: Grief Cycle
Suggested Time: 30 minutes | For self-study
This video’s focus is on the Grief Cycle, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Grief Cycle and offer a simple example of working it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is about 13 minutes long and we recommend making 30 minutes available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Segment 14: Medicine Wheel Tool
Suggested Time: 1.5 hours | For self-study
This self-study video's focus is on the Medicine Wheel Tool, a multi-purpose Genuine Contact Tool. In this learning segment, we are going to orient you to the Medicine Wheel Tool and offer a simple example of working with it to help you begin to see what is possible in working with this tool as part of your everyday work and bigger assignments and projects.
The video is 24 minutes and we recommend making 1.5 hours available for this self-study.
Access the learning segment here.
Real-Time Learning
Segment 15: Real-Time Learning
June 23-27, 2025 | Facilitated Group Work Experience | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
This live learnshop is your opportunity to work together with others in deepening your understanding about working with Holistic Leadership Development, for yourself, for teams you are working within, and for organizations that you support as a coach, consultant or leader.
- Facilitation method for the workshop: Whole Person Process Facilitation, designed for the learning styles of the adult learner.
- We start at 9:00AM on June 23rd and finish at 4:00 PM on June 27th. The daily schedule is from 9:00AM to 6:00PM with invitations for reflection in the evening. A truly immersive learning experience.
The real-time learning is happening at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Find out more about travelling here, booking your accommodations, and what to do while visiting the area.
Documentation from the workshop is available here.
Post-Meeting Work
Learning through Application
To benefit the most from your learning, we recommend using your learning from Holistic Leadership Development as soon as possible after your real-time learning. Use it in as many life and business situations that you can find to apply it to. As recommended in Segment 1: Preparing for Your Learning, this is the time of implementing your learning, paying attention to how it unfolds, and then making adjustments to future applications based on what you have experienced and learned so far.
You can revisit your learning materials to support you in applying your learning.
The conversations happening in the Genuine Contact google group can also support you during this time. This ongoing email-based mentoring circle is a place where you can share your designs for working with Holistic Leadership Development to ask for feedback and share your stories about what worked and what didn't to support your adjustments for future applications. You can access this google group through membership in the Genuine Contact Organization. White Level membership is free and paid membership groups are also available that offer additional resources and other benefits. Contact the Director of the international Genuine Contact Organization to learn more or sign up as a member here.
Segment 16: Real-Time Mentoring Circle
3 hours | Facilitated Group Work Experience | October 3, 2025 | 9 am – 12 pm EST
One of the things we believe in all of our training is that having ongoing learning opportunities is critical for learning retention, application of your skills, and continually growing your skills and capacities.
When you have the opportunity to gather with others who have also learned a particular skillset – to share your experiences, wisdom and insights and to ask questions where you still have more to learn – it offers all participants a possibility for ongoing and deepened learning. As part of our commitment to ongoing learning for your leadership development, you are encouraged to participate in a mentoring circle with a focus on working with Holistic Leadership Development.
You also qualify to participate in all mentoring circles about Holistic Leadership Development in the future. These mentoring circles are offered without any additional fees for participation. Your participation is included in your original workshop registration. Invitations to future mentoring circles are available via the Dalar International Consultancy or Genuine Contact newsletter.
Register here to receive reminders and login details (link takes you to the Genuine Contact website for registration).
Additional Resources
These additional resources are intended to support your learning and work with Holistic Leadership Development.
The Genuine Contact Way
- Learn more about the Genuine Contact way of working
- Genuine Contact Way Developing Leadership Cards
- use the cards online for yourself and with your online meeting or workshop participants (also in: Deutsch | Español | Nederlands | Svenska)
- purchase a deck of the cards for yourself or as a gift for friends, family, workshop participants, or clients (available in Dutch, English, German, Spanish and Swedish) Order in North America | Order in Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia
Graphics & Artwork
These graphics, found in the workbook, self-study segments, and in presentations. You can download all of the graphics as 1 zip file or individually below. They are provided to you here for use in your work. You can use them both in internal documents, materials you share with your clients, and publicly. Please credit Genuine Contact when using the images.
- Evolutionary Spiral
- Deep Essence Tool
- Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact
- Four Fold Way
- Service Delivery Model - Business Goal
- Service Delivery Model - Development Goal
- Storyline - Event
- Storyline - Blank Centre
- Examples of Givens
- Givens Worksheet
- Grief Cycle
- Life Nourishing Climate
- Life Depleting Climate
- Medicine Wheel Tool
- Medicine Wheel Tool diagrams – highlighted quadrants
Working Resources
Operating Matrix
Operating Matrix templates are provided for you in 3 different versions as a template for creating strategic plan documentation. Each version is available both as a Google Slides document and as a PowerPoint. Each Google Slides document is set to "view only." Please make a copy (select File->Make a Copy->Entire Presentation) to create your own editable version. Remember to save it in your preferred file location. You can also download all 3 PowerPoint templates in 1 Zip file here.
- Operating Matrix Basic
- Operating Matrix including 5 Cultures of the Organization
- Operating Matrix for Nourishing a Culture of Leadership
Videos
These bonus videos are included here to support your ongoing learning about Holistic Leadership Development and the Genuine Contact Way of working.
- Origin Stories of the Genuine Contact Tools (why each frequently used tool of Genuine Contact came into use and how it was developed)
Further Resources
To access additional resources for working with Holistic Leadership Development, join the international Genuine Contact Organization. White Level membership is free and paid membership levels are also available that offer additional resources and other benefits. Contact the Director of the Genuine Contact Program to learn more or sign up as a member here.