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Leading at the Edge: Building Trust Through Psychological Safety
July 31 – August 5, 2022
July 31 – August 5, 2022
with George Kohlrieser

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

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Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Need a scholarship? Apply here.

We are living in a world filled with profound threat, uncertainty, and danger. The COVID-19 crisis is just one example. As a result, leadership — leading yourself and others — is even more important to create and maintain trust to inspire employees. We need leaders who can provide psychological safety even in the face of danger and threat.

Psychological safety starts with the personal effect of the leader, creating an atmosphere of trust in the corporate culture. It starts at the top and filters down through the entire organization. Psychological safety is fundamental for creativity, innovation, and high performance. It establishes trust and respect among team members, allowing them to take risks, for example expressing new ideas, being willing to fail, and asking for help.

Drawing on studies of High-Performance Leadership from the world of sports, business, medicine, music, theater, military, and hostage negotiation, managers can translate this knowledge to the real world of leading.

During this workshop you will develop and learn:

  • Cycle of bonding
  • Leading from the mind’s eye (without falling hostage to anyone)
  • Building trust through secure base leadership
  • The use of words — the power of an interaction
  • Conflict resolution
  • Managing emotions

In this week-long journey, you will explore the roots of your leadership and your leadership talents. The workshop offers cutting-edge theory, experiential learning, and opportunities to overcome barriers to your leadership through personal work and role-plays. Examples of case studies on difficult conversations to build bridges and common understanding will be shared.

Recommended Reading: George Kohlrieser, Hostage at the Table: How Leaders Can Overcome Conflict, Influence Others and Raise Performance; George Kohlrieser, Susan Goldsworthy and Duncan Coombe, Care to Dare: Unleashing Astonishing Potential through Secure Base Leadership.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
George Kohlrieser

George Kohlrieser

George Kohlrieser is Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the Institute of Management Development (IMD) Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is a best-selling, award-winning author of two leadership books, a veteran hostage negotiator, and an organizational and clinical psychologist. He has been a workshop leader at Esalen since 1979.

Read More

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Workshop Schedule

Sun
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Mon
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Tue
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Wed
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Thu
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Fri
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing

with George Kohlrieser

July 31 – August 5, 2022
Register Now

We are living in a world filled with profound threat, uncertainty, and danger. The COVID-19 crisis is just one example. As a result, leadership — leading yourself and others — is even more important to create and maintain trust to inspire employees. We need leaders who can provide psychological safety even in the face of danger and threat.

Psychological safety starts with the personal effect of the leader, creating an atmosphere of trust in the corporate culture. It starts at the top and filters down through the entire organization. Psychological safety is fundamental for creativity, innovation, and high performance. It establishes trust and respect among team members, allowing them to take risks, for example expressing new ideas, being willing to fail, and asking for help.

Drawing on studies of High-Performance Leadership from the world of sports, business, medicine, music, theater, military, and hostage negotiation, managers can translate this knowledge to the real world of leading.

During this workshop you will develop and learn:

  • Cycle of bonding
  • Leading from the mind’s eye (without falling hostage to anyone)
  • Building trust through secure base leadership
  • The use of words — the power of an interaction
  • Conflict resolution
  • Managing emotions

In this week-long journey, you will explore the roots of your leadership and your leadership talents. The workshop offers cutting-edge theory, experiential learning, and opportunities to overcome barriers to your leadership through personal work and role-plays. Examples of case studies on difficult conversations to build bridges and common understanding will be shared.

Recommended Reading: George Kohlrieser, Hostage at the Table: How Leaders Can Overcome Conflict, Influence Others and Raise Performance; George Kohlrieser, Susan Goldsworthy and Duncan Coombe, Care to Dare: Unleashing Astonishing Potential through Secure Base Leadership.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
George Kohlrieser

George Kohlrieser is Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the Institute of Management Development (IMD) Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is a best-selling, award-winning author of two leadership books, a veteran hostage negotiator, and an organizational and clinical psychologist. He has been a workshop leader at Esalen since 1979.

Read More

Workshop Schedule

Sun
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Mon
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Tue
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Wed
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Thu
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Fri
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing