Reframing Leadership: Why most leadership fails and what really works

Let’s be honest: the way we talk about leadership is broken. Why?

We’ve been sold the myth that leadership is something you are; a position, a title, a personality type, a personal brand. The heroic leader. The servant leader. The “strong” leader. It’s everywhere, and it’s mostly noise and ineffective when approached this way.

There is nothing wrong with learning the so-called skills, attributes, strategies and tactics of what most would call “leadership skills” as they can improve our ability to “lead.” But that is just not what leadership is in a dynamic and evolving environment of people trying to perform together to achieve desired results, there’s so much more to it…

Because when it matters most, in fast-moving teams, high-stakes moments, or complex group dynamics, leadership isn’t about the person with the title. It’s about what emerges when the right conditions for performance are set. It’s simply NOT an individual phenomenon and shouldn’t rely on one person to be “the leader.” This is flawed thinking and ineffective.

Leadership isn’t a thing to do or something we are. It’s a phenomenon that emerges when we have a goal or problem to solve that requires the coordination of effective action with a group of people. While that may sound logical and make sense, it’s much harder to produce this kind of leadership than the traditional ways we have mostly been taught.

In high-performing teams, like the All Blacks, or elite military and creative teams, leadership is a shared rhythm. A real-time coordination of roles, timing, trust and contribution. It moves. It evolves. It passes between people like a live current. And when it’s done well, it looks like magic.

This workshop is about that, and you will see why teams like The All Blacks and The Chicago Bulls have been unstoppable at times, consistently winning back to back championships.

Whether you’re leading people, inside a team, or influencing from the edges, this session will fundamentally shift how you see leadership, and help you become the kind of person around whom great leadership happens. You’ll see that everyone is a leader, and learn to become an orchestrator of having the right people lead at the right time to achieve more with less effort.

You’ll experience it. You’ll map it. You’ll learn to work with it. And you’ll leave with a whole new sense of what’s possible, not because you “became a better leader,” but because you learned how to create the right environment where real leadership emerges.

Key Outcomes:

Reframe leadership as a living, social force, not a fixed identity
Recognise the invisible dynamics that kill momentum, clarity and trust
Create the conditions for fluid, elegant leadership to emerge around you
Navigate team friction without playing the blame game
Speak and act in ways that unlock commitment, not compliance
Use structure and rhythm to orchestrate group performance like an accomplished jazz improvisation ensemble.

Who It’s For

This workshop is ideal for business owners, managers, and leaders who want to sharpen their human skills and lead with more clarity, calm, and confidence.

THE HUMAN ALCHEMY WORKSHOP SERIES: REGISTER FOR ALL THREE

This workshop is part of the Human Alchemy Series, a three-part exploration into the art and science of human performance. Designed for business owners, leaders, and high-performing teams, each session can be attended as a powerful standalone experience or as part of a transformative arc. Whether you come to one or all three, you’ll gain practical tools, real-world insight, and behavioural strategies to unlock performance, reduce friction, and lead with more clarity, connection, and impact.

Hosted in Queenstown by local expert Drew Knowles www.drewknowles.com and supported by Laurel McLay www.laurelmclay.com, each workshop includes opportunities to network with like-minded professionals and share a relaxed lunch afterwards — because some of the best conversations happen afterwards over a meal.

Tickets: $49 + GST per workshop (includes lunch).

Two workshops for $79 + GST

All three for just $99 + GST

You will be emailed your promo codes for your second and third workshops once you have purchased your first ticket.

Workshop 1: Beyond Personality Profiles: How to apply them and navigate human behaviour

Friday 16 May, 10am–1pm (Lunch included)

You’ve probably done a personality profile before, maybe even a few. But do you actually know how to use them when it matters most? This workshop unlocks the missing link: a practical model that helps you decode human behaviour in real time. Learn how to adapt to different people, reduce friction, and get better results with clients, teams, and stakeholders. Whether you find reading people tricky or just want to sharpen your human skills, this session shows you how to move from theory to mastery.

Workshop 2: The Invisible Stress-Load: Managing stress and performance under pressure

Friday 13 June, 10am–1pm (Lunch included)

Stress isn’t just a feeling, it’s a physiological and behavioural force that puts pressure on you and affects your performance long before you realise it. In this workshop, you’ll unpack the real mechanics of stress and learn to spot the invisible signs of overload in yourself and others. We’ll show you how to manage your “Stress-Load” more effectively, so you can lead with more clarity, consistency, and calm. If you’re tired of operating in overdrive and want to prevent burnout (or deal with the aftermath), this one’s for you.

Workshop 3: Reframing Leadership: Why most Leadership fails and what really works

Friday 11 July, 10am–1pm (Lunch included)

Forget what you think you know about leadership. It’s not about titles, personas, or heroic traits, it’s about what emerges when the right environment exists. This workshop flips the leadership script and introduces a powerful new lens based on what actually works in high-performing teams like the All Blacks or elite creative crews. You’ll learn how to spark trust, shift dynamics, and become the kind of person around whom real leadership can emerge, shared, fluid, and wildly effective.