From George Sharp Ed.D., Stockton University "I engaged the 23 leaders in the first cohort in a six-hour adventure involving the Transformation and Catalyst cards I purchased from The Center for Creative Leadership in November.(www.ccl.org/transformations). During class as well as after the class in the form of email messages, I received very positive feedback from a number of the participants about the use of the cards. Keep in mind that we have integrated a vertical leadership perspective and reflection into each course in the program. So, this was the sixth time that the 23 leaders in this cohort worked in this arena, in some way, and from some perspective. But, it was the first time they were introduced to the cards. (Based upon the feedback, it is apparent that my challenge now is to create several new reflective adventures to reinforce and expand their understanding as they continue their respective growth journey's.)"

2. Transformations: Activity I
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 Think about yourself in the present – at your current stage of
leadership development:
 From the 84 cards on your table, each person on the team will
select four (4) cards that he/she believes accurately or
appropriately describes how he/she thinks, communicates, builds
and sustains relationships, uses his/her authority, and/or takes
action as a leader in his/her organization. If more than one person
wants to select the same Transformations card, one person on the
team can take the card and the other person, or people, can write
the description down onto an index card and use it for the activity.
(Each team will have index cards at the table.)
 Once everyone on the team has selected four cards, please self-
reflect upon the blue questions on the next slide for approximately
15 minutes.
 Once the self-reflection period is completed, please share your
reflective thoughts (and maybe even inquiries) with the others on
your team. You are welcome to share your reflections in any
format, structure, or process as long as everyone on the team has
the opportunity to share with everyone else on the team. You will
have 30-40 minutes for the sharing aspect of the activity.

3. Transformations: Activity I
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 Why did you select these four cards? Why do you feel that these descriptions
are significant for you?
 For each of the four cards you selected, can you ‘frame’ and ‘illustrate’ why
you believe that each card accurately or appropriately describes how you
think, communicate, build and sustain relationships, use your authority,
and/or take action as a leader in your organization, at your current stage of
leadership development. As you reflect upon this question, can you offer any
examples or stories to substantiate your framing and illustrating?
 In the past 5-10 years, what types of events, activities, actions, forces, etc.
have initiated and/or supported your leadership growth to your current stage
of development?
 Focus on the present. What types of events, activities, actions, forces, etc.
may be disrupting and disorienting your current stage of leadership
development at this time? If there are none, that is okay. And, if there are
disruptions or disorientations: How does this make you feel? Is any of the
disruption or disorientation that you may be experiencing, causing a shift in
your focus from a ‘me’ to ‘we,’ or from a ‘we’ to ‘me’ perspective?

4.  Please re-shuffle the entire deck of 84 Transformation cards and re-place them
‘illustration-description’ side up on the table.
 This activity will involve a ‘past – present – future’ reflective view of you as a leader.
Each person on the team will select four cards that address a span of time, something
like 10-15 years. (You decide how long of a span to include.) Choose two cards that
you think accurately and appropriately describe the way you previously thought,
communicated, built and sustained relationships, used authority, and took action at
some time in your past, and two cards that you think could describe an emerging you
– based upon the events, activities, actions, forces, etc. that may be disrupting and
disorienting your current stage of leadership development at this time. (Reflection:
These were expanded to eight cards - four past and four future - as everyone worked
through the activity.)
 As in Activity I, if more than one person wants to select the same Transformations
card, one person on the team can take the card and the other person, or people, can
write the description down onto an index card and use it for the activity.
 Once everyone on the team has selected four cards, please complete and self-reflect
upon the blue activity and questions on the next slide for approximately 20 minutes.
(In this activity and questions, the Catalyst cards will be introduced.)
 Once the self-reflection period is completed, please share your reflective thoughts
(and maybe even inquiries) with the others on your team. As you reflect, begin to put
your thoughts from Activity I and II together, and reflectively think and inquire about
the story of your ‘leadership life journey’ during the span of time you have selected.
You will have approximately 45 minutes for the sharing aspect of Activity II.
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5.  Lay the two (four) Transformation and/or index cards you selected for the ‘past’ and the
two (four) and/or index cards you have selected for the future on the table in front of you.
Leave a space (for the present) between the four cards.
 Now take the four cards (or the index cards) you selected to represent you as a leader in
the present between the past and future cards. You should now have a total of eight (12)
Transformation and/or index cards, in a sequence that illustrates the past-present-future
aspect of your leadership life journey. In viewing your cards and reflecting upon them, are
you able to identify the events, activities, actions, or forces that disrupted or disoriented
you and initiated and facilitated a shift in your growth and development? What happened;
what did it feel like?
 To assist your reflection with regard to the above activity and question, you make select
any four of the 100 Catalyst cards that I have placed onto the table near your team. Two
teams will select from the same table of Catalyst cards. There are 50 unique Catalyst cards;
and, there are two sets of each deck of 50 Catalyst cards on the table. Place the Catalyst
cards you have selected with your Transformation cards at the appropriate past-present-
future span of time. (If more than two people select the same Catalyst card, you may use
an index card to replicate a Catalyst description.)
 Can you share this past-present-future span of your leadership life journey with everyone
on your team? Framing and illustrating through examples and stories are welcomed.
 Take a picture of your leadership life journey sequence. Go back to the questions you
answered on Saturday afternoon of the fourth weekend in LEAD 6010. (Slide #17 above
may be a helpful refresher.) Add this photo to your reflective notes from that session.
 Can you create a 10-word story (Think Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story) that describes
this span of time you selected above on your developmental journey as a leader?
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6.  We will use the 84 Transformation cards for Activity III. Think of a peer,
colleague, or boss with whom you currently work or a peer, colleague, or boss
with whom you have worked in the past. Please keep the identity of the person
confidential.
 From the transformations deck, select four (4) cards that you believe accurately
or appropriately describe how your peer, colleague, or boss thinks,
communicates, builds and sustains relationships, uses his/her authority, and/or
takes action as a leader in the organization. As with the other activities, if more
than one person wants to select the same Transformations card, one person on
the team can take the card and the other person, or people, can write the
description down onto an index card and use it for the activity.
 For each of the four cards you selected, can you ‘frame’ and ‘illustrate’ why
you believe that each card accurately or appropriately describes how your peer,
colleague, or boss thinks, communicates, builds and sustains relationships, uses
authority, and/or takes action as a leader in the organization. As you reflect
upon this question, can you offer any examples or stories to substantiate your
framing and illustrating?
 Why did you select these four cards? Why do you feel that these descriptions
are significant? Share your thoughts, examples, and stories with your
teammates.
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