Trim Your Sails
I help leaders and their teams to build and instil leadership skills using the principles and ethos of adventure.
Dr Ursula Stroh
Leading a team can be a courageous adventure that excites you and at the same time brings out the best in each and every one of your team. Your leadership can leave you with a sense of achievement beyond just the realisation of business objectives. You can do something that will make a real difference in people's careers and their lives.
Something that inspires them to be proud, resilient and engaged.
Something that really matters in this world.
Dare to lead with courage and a sense of adventure!
Make Work an Adventure
It has never been so important to build teams that can overcome distance, address the challenges of hybrid environments and manage the ever changing workplaces and spaces, and do so with a team spirit that will make them go above and beyond to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Addressing issues such as quiet quitting and disengagement, burnout, staff retention, work-life balance, organisational wellbeing, etc. are becoming a priority for leaders and managers to reduce turnover.
I work with leaders to bring the ethos of adventure into the office, and build teams that are resilient, engaged, and inspired to achieve their business goals with pride, honour and a sense of accomplishment.
Why Trim Your Sails?
“When you trim your sails, you get them to the optimal shape to provide the most driving force for the wind conditions and point of sail.” How To Trim Sails: The Ultimate Guide
A sail will never be trimmed perfectly for all conditions. Where you want to go, the condition of the seas, the strength of the wind, and the sails you are using, all determine how you can best trim the sails at any point in time. And a good sailor doesn’t just react. They watch the clouds and the water and their instruments. And they plan for it with the crew and boat in mind. And when the wind changes, they adjust the sails. This can be a lot to deal with, but it also makes sailing so much of an adventure.
Because you won’t remember the meetings, or the deadlines, or the promotions, or the pay. You’ll remember the people who were with you when you reached the end of the hike or when you planted the flag at the top of the mountain, or you won that contract or successfully launched that campaign, or crossed the line at the end of an incredible journey. The sense of elation when you pushed yourself and your team to achieve a challenging goal
– that is what will stay with you and make you smile.
This program is perfect for you if...
- you are a leader often struggling to feel excited and challenged by your work.
- you care about your team and their wellbeing and development. You want them to be resilient, committed, motivated, engaged, successful, and happy at work.
- you need some guidance on how to build a strong team spirit in the current hybrid work environment.
- your team is going through major changes and they feel change fatigued by everything going on in the world around us.
- your team is not motivated, their morale is low, they feel overworked, overwhelmed and cynical.
I can help you
Why Choose Me
Dr Ursula Stroh
I’ve studied the theory, published the papers, engaged people in building the strategies. I understand the importance of strengths, values and relationships in teams.
I've experienced how teams can overcome extreme challenges with resilience, fun, purpose and courage. I’ve lead teams through difficult situations and helped them through high impact changes.
More importantly, I’ve actually lived the stories of an adventurous spirit. I’ve climbed the mountains, sailed the seven seas, hiked the miles, won the trophies and medals, crewed with the skippers/guides/captains/expedition leaders who've guided their teams through the challenges, and cried tears of joy when we’ve achieved what seemed impossible.
I made a conscious decision to rise above my painful work- and life challenges, and I came out smiling
- always looking forward to my next adventure!
www.linkedin.com/in/ursulastroh
1
SAILS Workshop
Assess your and your team's values, strengths, team goals, hybrid working context, position on the change curve, wellbeing, etc.
Define leadership/team vision statement with a clear idea of what you need to change to achieve your goals
Choose an on-site program of 5 sessions
run over 5 weeks (or as appropriate)
Start here
2
Strategise Adventure to Instill Leadership Skills
Choose an off site retreat
OR
Two day retreat with a tailored combination of workshops, yoga, meditation, adventure, and team building activities to anchor adventure leadership by going through the 5 sessions of team growth
SAILS Retreat
3
Courageous Leaders
and Teams
(SAILS) course
All sessions are co-designed with you and are available:
- Online or,
- In person, which could include the adventure/experiential element
4
Couragous Work
Packages consists of 5 sessions: 3-5 hours each
+ 1 hour x 6 coaching sessions with leaders
Bring Adventure into your Office
5
Celebration
The Adventurous Mind
Finding value in individual team members - applying the mindfulness and mindlessness of adventure and the outdoors
The Adventurous Team
Finding meaning in team relationships, values alignment and the thrill of exploring and achieving together
Finding strength and resilience in leadership and teaming
Experience optional: eg. kayak, sail or hike, etc
If online - interview with a special adventure guest
Finding courage - team growth, trust, challenge, passion, wellbeing and goal setting
The importance of rest - breath and breathing
Celebrating your journey, reflecting on your growth, achievements, team culture and balance
Graduation
Could include celebration experience, eg ice bath or smoking ceremony
Strategise Adventure to Instill Leadership Skills
Individual leadership coaching
SAILS Workshop
Assess your values, strengths, team goals, hybrid working context, position on the change curve, wellbeing, etc.
Define leadership vision statement with what you need to change to achieve your goals
Start here
Two day retreat with a tailored combination of workshops, yoga, meditation, adventure, and in-depth coaching to anchor adventure leadership by focusing on essential leadership tools for success
SAILS Retreat
All sessions are co-designed with you and are available:
- Online or,
- In person, which could include the adventure/experiential elements
Bring Adventure into your Office
Choose an off site retreat
1 hour x 6 coaching sessions with leaders
OR
5
Choose an on-site program of 5 sessions
run over 5 weeks (or as appropriate)
4
3
2
Celebration
1
Healthy Leaders
Courageous Leaders
The EQ team Leader
The Adventurous Mind
Mindset principles, strengths, communication skills, empathy, vulnerability, confidence, mindfulness and mindlessness of adventure
Relationships, networking, personal brand, values alignment and the thrill of exploring and achieving together
Growth mindset, adaptability, change management, strategic thinking. Leading through change - fatigue, resistance, mindset, stages
Finding courage - resilience, growth, trust, challenge, crisis management
Leadership wellbeing and passion (including breath, breathing, lifestyle, reflection, mattering
Creating balance in physical, spiritual and mental health
Celebrating your journey, reflecting on your growth, achievements, culture creation, managing feedback, continuous learning, and sitting in confidence, calm and stillness
Gratitude
Testimonials
December 22, 2022
"In 2022, Ursula supported my team and me through a significant workplace change. She is highly experienced and capable of change management throughout the full cycle, from planning to execution. Most importantly, she brings her warmth, wisdom and kindness to change, impacting the process and people's experiences. Ursula goes above and beyond to provide advice and coaching because she cares not the outcome but also about how people feel. She is the best change business partner you want to have through the journey."
- Francy Fran Senior Manager
July 22, 2022
"Standing at an important crossroads in life can be daunting and confusing, as it is exciting and motivating. I was at a point in this new role where I was struggling to lead this new team in a new profession that I had no experience in. What I loved about the leadership coaching was that you were able to extract the actual issue that I was struggling to address. Not a lot of coaches can do so. I know that I am on the right track, and I have the confidence that slowly but steadily, I will have my team set up and working in a positive direction.
You have been an excellent coach during the entire process, and I want to thank you for all your help, support, and guidance; I have learned a lot from our sessions. I will highly recommend you to anyone who wants to succeed!"
- Toshna Singh Clinical Teaching Support Manager
October 05, 2022
"Ursula has a special gift of tuning in and staying on track during a session. Her observations and guidance during our session were intuitive and helpful. I especially enjoyed the flow of the exploration that she masterfully guided me through, which in turn revealed traits that helped me gain clarity.
I highly recommend her program for anyone seeking deeper answers, regardless of where you are in your life."
- Roma Mehta Workshop Attendee
March 18, 2021
"Ursula is a highly-skilled, goal-orientated, and innovative strategic thinker. Playing a lead role in the development of our new five-year strategy, Ursula’s collaborative, sensitive and creative approach to the work ensured much stronger and deeper engagement at all levels across the organisation. Ursula has established herself as a trusted advisor. Ursula’s willingness to take on challenging tasks, and desire to work hard and do a good job is a key feature of her career success. Ursula’s adventurous and generous spirit permeates through her work at all times."
- Jonathan Pheasant General Manager | Senior Executive
November 10, 2020
"From the very moment we met, I felt a valued part of the team. Ursula has been a mentor through my time at UNSW, her patience and willingness to help has made me motivated to do the best possible job. Her hardworking lifestyle is admirable and her creative way of thinking is so much different to others - she leads her team with encouragement, motivation and kindness. I highly recommend Ursula for any team lead, and would work alongside her in a heartbeat."
- Tessa Nikov Program Officer | Division of External Engagement
September 11, 2020
"I have been reporting to and working alongside Ursula for the past two years at UNSW. I say alongside because that’s the way she makes you feel- included, seen, heard, supported. You will never feel inferior. You will always feel valued. She also doesn’t micromanage which is something I really respect. Her creativity and stakeholder engagement skills are extremely impressive and she is very strategic in her approaches. I have learnt many things from Ursula but particularly to think much more strategically. Her leadership style is a mixture of democratic, transformational and coach-style. Her approach is always to inspire and encourage rather than “do what I say”. I find it so motivating!"
- Sarah Douglas Marketing | Student Advocacy | Health Promotion
