History and Philosophy
PSL was created in 1974 by Dani and Jerry Weinberg and Don Gause to develop leaders who can effectively manage change and practice innovation.
As PSL has evolved, over 3,000 people from all over the globe have taken the workshop and have used their learnings to make significant changes in their organizations and in their personal lives.
We believe that growing as a leader is an intense and personal experience, so PSL is a five-and-a-half-day residential workshop, with a maximum of 20 participants in each class.
We believe that diversity fosters learning, and that leaders must function in diverse groups, so we generally have many organizations represented in each class, with no more than four in a class from one organization.
We believe that leaders need robust models to guide their actions, so PSL is based on sound principles of adult learning theory, general systems thinking, group process concepts, creativity and congruent human interaction.
We believe that learning is not a commodity, but requires individual attention from outstanding instructors, so all our faculty have been carefully selected for their unique personal and professional qualities.
We believe that true learning comes through experience, so we guide each class through a series of simulation exercises designed to optimize their learning.
Participants often say that one week in PSL offers them learning equal to 6 to 36 months on the job.
What topics are covered? What’s the schedule?
The workshop is designed around a series of simulation exercises followed by debriefing sessions. Here’s a day-by-day outline of topics:
Sunday
Participants get acquainted with their colleagues and faculty at a buffet supper.
Monday
Morning
The importance of safety
Creating a safe environment
Setting ground rules
Forming learning teams
Forming problem-solving committees
Gathering individual and team learning requirements
Afternoon
A simulation about leading in a team
requirements
design
creativity
integration among teams
change
The model of Problem-Solving Leadership
Individual consulting
Evening
Free evening (with some homework and individual consulting)
Tuesday
Morning
Debriefing the previous simulation
individual styles of leadership
the MOIJ model of problem-solving styles
the Satir Change Model
Afternoon
A simulation devoted to
problem-solving
teamwork
observation practice
Three styles of observation
The Satir Interaction Model
Individual consulting
Evening
Special topics presented by individual instructors
Individual consulting
Wednesday
Morning
Leading with diverse personality styles (several simulations)
the Myers-Briggs Model
the Keirsey Temperament Model
Choosing leaders
Afternoon
A simulation about leading in a large organization
getting started
observing yourself and others
setting and breaking rules
requirements
design
finance
creativity
teamwork
coordination
quality
communication
dealing with vendors
adding value
dealing with customers
Taking the “temperature” of an organization
Evening
Free evening (with some homework and individual consulting)
Thursday
Morning
Debriefing the previous simulation
finance and problem solving
reporting observations
the impact of rules
roles and responsibilities
recognizing critical moments
designing and documenting processes
adapting to a changing environment
handling difficult interactions
seeing an organization from different points of view
Afternoon
Further debriefing the simulation
applying the leadership models
giving feedback
seeing and handling organizational tradeoffs
handling difficult interactions
More on the Satir Interaction Model
Individual consulting
Evening
Rest and Recreation Evening (planned by class)
Friday
Morning
A simulation about delegating and designing assignments
gathering requirements
designing for performance
creativity versus closure
dealing with difficult people
designing for learning
Afternoon
A class-designed simulation devoted to
applying learnings
extending learnings
Debriefing the design and the execution
Individual consulting
Evening
Another class-designed simulation devoted to
applying learnings
extending learnings
Debriefing the design and the execution
Individual consulting
Saturday
Morning
Feedback:
were requirements met?
what did we learn?
how can we improve?
Answers to various puzzles
Awards and Graduation
Closure
Saying goodbye and heading home to apply the learnings