What are the core values that inform the boas work?

In all of our work, we help leaders to develop clarity, courage, compassion and creativity.

Our work is grounded in a model of adult development, an understanding that we continue to grow throughout life. We pass through different life stages, we evolve personally and professionally, and we all, always have much more to learn.

It would take a long philosophical discussion to explore our basic assumptions and how they shape our work. As an overview, we view effective leadership as being grounded in, and supported by, good self leadership. A person’s inner life is reflected in the decisions they take and the way they act in the world.

We honour differences and recognise the importance of different cultures or opposing points of view. The principle of 'complementarity' teaches us to respect differences and protect the tension between them. A large organisation needs to honour and value its own internal diversity, in order to be effective around the world, and it needs to clarify and distinguish its own internal unity, what gives it direction, what makes it different. This polarity between unity and diversity needs to be kept alive in an ongoing dynamic balance. It’s a bit like music being played on a string, if there is no tension, there is no music.

All of our work aims to be holistic. This means that we look at the whole person, with their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. We look at how these levels work together, how they are integrated. The same is true on a larger scale, taking the whole team or organisation into account, including hidden dynamics and unwritten rules.

Another very important value is what we call ‘co-creation’. This is the idea that we’re not only born into a culture, we are also co-creators of culture. Everything we do and say is a tiny part of reproducing, challenging, or shaping the culture of the organisation. We encourage leaders to work with others to shape culture, and to do this with awareness.

We also challenge the people we work with to take responsibility for their own experience, not pointing the finger of blame at their colleagues, bosses, or employees, but looking at what they can do to make sure that they are really doing their life work, embodying their values, and leading a life they love

Finally, we see all of our work within the larger context of nature, including human nature. Understanding human nature is not just about individuals, it’s about what people have created the social systems, the political systems. It means understanding not just what people want, but what people long for, what people really live for, what people need and engaging with that. It extends to enjoying, respecting and caring for the wider natural environment. We go outdoors to learn from nature and to draw inspiration and strength from the elements. We find that leaders are at their best when they feel fully alive and in touch with their own nature, human nature, and their natural environment.