EMERGE comes at a critical time for the building community. It’s clear that technologically we can achieve sustainability. We already have shining examples of projects and policies that exemplify the advancements that are available. We have Living Buildings in nearly every part of the globe. It’s possible. But wholesale adoption of sustainable methods and products has not occurred. Clearly, we lag behind in our ability to create deeper change. To achieve a Living Future, we need leaders – and lots of them – acting at all points and everywhere in our societal systems, to help develop the willingness and confidence to see this change through. With EMERGE, every project, no matter how small, or how remote, is an opportunity to transform our built environment.

To help advocates and practitioners hone their leadership skills, ILFI now offers online training providing insight into the EMERGE approach as well as skill sets key to creating the change we’d like to see. The Introduction to EMERGE Leadership on-demand course features three modules, including:

  • An Introduction to the EMERGE Leadership Model, a strategic leadership model combining leadership, change principles, and the chemistry of community with the goal of lasting, positive, change in our built environment;
  • A discussion of “Enrollment,” a tool practitioners and advocates can use to engage our teams, clients, and community members in the prospect of a living future; and
  • A discussion of “Collaboration” with practical tips on planning and facilitating collaborative processes that successfully generate the energy for innovation and the willingness to see it through to fruition.

Kathleen O’Brien, author of EMERGE: A Strategic Leadership Model for the Sustainable Building Community and founder of the EMERGE Leadership Project presents the course.

In addition to the online course, ILFI offers in-person half-, full- and two-day private EMERGE workshops, perfect for teams looking to grow their leadership capacity together.

Workshop participants:

Gain knowledge

  • Be introduced to a leadership philosophy that is uniquely available to sustainable thinking and practice and works, regardless of title or position.
  • Learn the theoretical foundation for effective behavioral change: why it’s a challenge, and what it takes to move towards sustainable thinking and practice.
  • Learn how the principles of quantum physics, field, theory, self-organization, and other new concepts provide a scientific basis for emergent leadership and the integrative process. 

Receive inspiration

  • Hear about speakers’ and attendees’ personal and professional journeys.
  • Join in team-building exercises and scenario development to gain confidence in your ability to immediately apply the theoretical and practical principles of Emerge.
  • Experience a holistic approach to learning that incorporates the outdoor environment, physical integration, intellectual stimulation, and community context.

Develop leadership competencies

  • Apply leadership practice and tools to a variety of real-world case studies.
  • Leave with a personal development plan that expands on the workshop experience while addressing your unique leadership challenges.

Build community context

  • Create and/or build on relationships with others in the sustainable building community that will support and/or contribute to your leadership initiatives.

To learn more about the online course or in-person workshops, reach out to us at education@living-future.org

Written By

Kathleen O'Brien

Kathleen O’Brien, LEED AP, CSBA and Cascadia Fellow is the author of EMERGE: A Strategic Leadership Model for the Sustainable Building Community, considered a “great gift to the green building community” by Jason F. McLennan and available through the ILFI Bookstore, EcoTone.