ECD Emotional Leadership Course - 3 November 2026

ECD Emotional Leadership Development Certification - 1 Day Course

Become a Certified Emotional Culture Deck Leadership Practitioner!  This course is designed to enhance leadership development by equipping leaders with the tools to understand and manage emotional drivers and dynamics for themselves, their people and teams.

The course focuses on developing emotionally aware leaders who can effectively grow positive workplace cultures.  Participants will actively engage in practical activities that promote self awareness and emotional literacy along with team cohesion, all whilst using the Emotional Culture Deck cards and frameworks.  This allows leaders to better understand and harness the power of emotions to foster more dynamic and responsive workplaces.

"Emotional culture is shaped by how all employees—from the highest echelons to the front lines—comport themselves day in and day out. But it’s up to senior leaders to establish which emotions will help the organization thrive, model those emotions, and reward others for doing the same. Companies in which they do this have a lot to gain." – Sigal Barsade & Olivia O'Neil, Manage Your Emotional Culture

Learning is better together -

One place. Two seats. Learning is better together. Together with riders&elephants, for this certification program we are running an experiment built on a simple belief: learning lands deeper when you do it beside someone.

So every enrolment now includes a second seat, free. One person enrols and pays for the place, and how you and your friend or colleague share the cost, if you share it at all, is entirely between you. Or enrol now and choose your person later. Both of you take part fully, and each of you go home with two free Emotional Culture Decks, the printed Leadership Toolkit, the certificate, the group coaching call, and six months inside the global ECD community. Cannot find your person? You lose nothing, the second seat's decks and toolkit come home with you, to keep or to give to the person you wished could come. And if you would love a learning partner but have no one to bring, come solo and I will happily introduce you to your duo on the day.

One question to ask yourself: who would you love to do this with?

What to Expect

This hands-on course is designed for immediate application within your workplace or community environment, ensuring that you can translate curiosity and insights into action as soon as you return to your people. 

You can expect from this 1 day course experience:

• Active learning through interactive activities and group discussions.

• Learning how to use and embed our ready-made Emotional Culture Deck (ECD) Leadership Tools.

• Understanding the power of emotions in leading others effectively.

• Development of effective emotion-led leadership strategies.

• Exploration of personal leadership and team leadership.

• Enjoyable lunch, refreshments and an opportunity to network with other course participants.

• Post course Follow Up Group Coaching Call.

Is this Course Right for You?

This Course is carefully designed for Executives, Leaders and managers withing organisations as well as those who consult or coach on leadership, culture and emotional intelligence. It is ideal for:

• Organisation Development Managers: Who aim to shape adaptable, resilient organisational cultures.

• HR Professionals: Who support and guide employees through the human aspects of organisational changes.

• Coaches and Consultants: Who help organisations navigate through change with bespoke solutions.

• Project Leaders: Who oversee transitions and want to ensure they are carried out with emotional intelligence.

• Team Leads and Supervisors: Who manage day-to-day team dynamics and want to lead with a deeper understanding of emotional drivers.

• Aspiring and experienced Leaders: You could be developing your own personal leadership OR you already are an experienced leader who wants to develop the emotional leadership space, then this is the course for you.

Whether you are leading initiatives within your organisation or providing expert advice to others, the Emotional Leadership Development Course provides the tools and insights necessary to develop more effective, emotionally aware leaders and teams.

Click here to learn more about The ECD and watch the origin story video below of the founder of riders&elephants sharing the story behind the game.

What is Included in This Course?

Enrol and participate in the ECD Emotional Leadership Development Course and unlock a wealth of resources, as well as become a Certified ECD Emotional Culture Deck Leadership Practitioner:

• Two Emotional Culture Deck, free - Valued at $250 NZD: Every person in the room takes two ECD home with them, an essential tool for applying course principles in real-world settings, adding even more value to your toolkit. One for you and one to put straight to work with your team.

• ECD Emotional Leadership Toolkit - Valued at $355 NZD: Get this toolkit, filled with a selection of physical and online resources tailored for immediate impact. This is a full set of printed canvases, guides and handbooks in your hands.

• Exclusive 60-Minute Group Coaching Call: Enhance your course experience with a group coaching call, scheduled eight - nine weeks post-course. Hosted via Teams, this session provides an opportunity to solidify your learning, address any questions, and ensure you're applying your new skills effectively. Whether you attend live or watch the replay later, this call is a key step in your continued development.

• ECD Emotional Leadership Certificate of Practice: A formal acknowledgement of your dedication to enhancing your Emotional Culture Deck skills. 

• 180-Day All Access Pass to our Online Elephant Rider Community: By enrolling and completing this course, you gain six months' access to online ECD resources, expertise, and continued support, all designed to flip the traditional approach to change and leadership. (This is up for a 90 day access.)

• Continued Learning Discount: Enjoy a 50% discount on your future purchases of The Emotional Culture Deck, a testament to our commitment to your ongoing development from Rider & Elephants and via Certified Consultant, Kate Bacchus from hr butter.

• Learning Partner built in: Every attendee leaves with the person they came with. Someone to talk with about what you're applying and to help keep you accountable and new contacts.

This is one of five ECD Certified Practitioner programs. More information about the Emotional Culture Deck and ECD Community, or reach out to Kate Bacchus, ECD Specialist Consultant.

About the facilitator, Kate Bacchus

Kate has over 25 years' experience in Human Resources, working in Australia, UK and New Zealand.  She is the Founder and Lead Consultant at hr butter.  Kate has been using the Emotional Culture Deck (ECD) both in-house and with clients, facilitation and coaching over the last 5 years, and is a ECD Specialist Consultant.

Previous feedback on ECD sessions facilitated by Kate:

"After 1 day you come away with a powerful tool, the confidence to use it in your work, and access to powerful resources to support your work." - Maurie Abraham, HMW Lead 

"I highly recommend attending an Emotional Culture Deck course with Kate. I’ve been to one of her courses before and absolutely loved it. Kate holds space for honest, thoughtful conversations and creates an environment where people feel safe to share and explore. The course I attended was hands-down the most useful course I’ve ever done - practical, engaging, and immediately applicable. You walk away knowing exactly how you’ll use it with your clients, colleagues, or team." - Te Rino Piho, He Tāngata HR

"Illuminating, and ultimately powerful. There is a genuine care and warmth with Kate." - Amanda Assink, Team Recruitment

"Working with Kate and HR butter is awesome. I really enjoyed the first time we worked together and this is my second time which has been wonderful. The room is always lively, full of energy and fun however, it does not steer away from getting into the nitty gritty. We break down topics and explore the uncomfortable AND have a good time too."  - Alisi Kavalu, Oke Charity

What's the refund and cancellation policy?

• Unfortunately, ECD Certified Consultants don’t offer refunds for this workshop experience. 

• However, you may send someone else in your place to this workshop if you cannot attend for any reason.

• You must notify your Workshop host that you will not attend the workshop and the name of the person that will attend in your spot.

• If you cannot attend the workshop, and no one attends in your place, the workshop organiser will post your ECD Emotional Leadership Development Workshop Kit to you – so you don’t miss out completely.

• If the Workshop Host cancels this workshop, you will be transferred to the next available workshop. You can contact the Workshop host for a refund if you cannot attend the revised workshop date.

FAQs about our Learning is better together (One place, Two Seats):

Is the second seat really free?

Yes. Every paid place includes two full seats. Your guest is not an observer, they participate fully and receive their own decks, toolkit, certificate, coaching call and community access. This is part of a learning-together experiment we are running with riders&elephants, the creators of the Emotional Culture Deck.

How does it work?

One person enrols and pays for the place as normal. That place comes with two seats. Then simply send me your guest's name and email, that is all. If you have not found your person yet, enrol anyway, you can name them any time before the course.

Can we split the price?

That is entirely between you and your friend. One of you enrols and pays, and if you choose to share the cost, you arrange that between yourselves. How you split it, or whether you split it at all, is completely your business. The seats are simply yours.

What if my person cannot make 3 November?

Then you lose nothing at all. The second seat's decks and toolkit come home with you, over $600 of extra tools. Keep them for your own practice, or give them to the person you wished could come, so the two of you can learn together anyway, just from different rooms.

What if I have no one to bring?

Come solo, you are so welcome. The second seat's tools are yours to keep, and you'll learn and connect with a wider group of people.

Want to know more ...

Any questions, not answered here, please email kate.bacchus@hrbutter.co.nz for more information or check out this website.