Google's Executive Leadership Training Course is coming back to Shanghai this December. We've written about it before when we interviewed fomer Google Exec, now CEO Rich Fernandez(its a good read) of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute.

Myself, SmartShanghai's Commercial Director, have been through the course twice. The first time I attended, I quit my job and developed powerful relationships that I still have to this day. The second time I went through the course, I did more than stick my toe in the water and developed habitual practices that are now embedded within my life journey. Some people who have gone through the course will call it life changing. It was for me.

Things like meditation, self-awareness... I immediately back away from, especially with an 8,000 RMB price tag because superficially it sounds like voodoo. But if I went back a second time, it's because there's real substance here, or I'm a sucker with money to burn (with my student loans, definitely not the money-to-burn type).

Here's what I got out of it:

• There is a certain caliber of individual who joins these courses. Usually senior executives, at medium and large companies that have a vested interest in developing themselves and are keen at being effective leaders. This is a very specific type of individual, and one that is immensely interesting to rub shoulders with.
• A lot of interesting neuroscience that explains how soft skills can be developed and mastered, and how they can cascade through an organization (like they did at Google).

To introduce this year's course, we sat down with one of this year's instructors who is from our very own Shanghai, Lorna Ducet. We also asked a few experience questions of Byron Kan the Executive VP of the Shanghai Centre.

First up is Lorna Ducet one of the instructors in this year's upcoming SIY Course in December. I should also mention, that the first SIY program that I attended, Lorna was a participant as well. She is... an institution, a tower with her own gentle magnetism, that I can honestly say... will mean a tremendous experience for those that participate this year.

SmSh: Lorna, tell us about yourself!

Lorna: I'm originally from Canada but lived in the US for 15 years before coming to China back in 2007, to work as a University Professor. I teach organizational behavior, and executive leadership courses for the executive MBA program, and for the research Master's Programs at Fudan University.

SmSh: Out of curiousity how do these concepts of emotional intelligence, etc. get embedded into Chinese University MBA programs?

Lorna: Chinese Universities have always thought about leadership questions. Maybe not using "Western Models" but from a Chinese perspective there has always been a deep interest in organizational behavior and leadership in management. I teach it from a more Western perspective, and I think this is because Chinese academics sent abroad and coming back to China to introduce new and broad ideas. Fudan has joint programs with London Business School, MIT, Washington University and many more. And these concepts have been embraced tremendously both in Academia here in China, as well as among my Chinese students who are leaders in foreign multi-nationals. For my foreign students who oftens are older, more established executives, they find this to be surprisngly compelling and functionally beneficial in their MBA's.

SmSh: How much has the science and practice behind these Google leadership program filtered into your teaching?

Lorna: All of my classes regardless of title of class have a mindfulness / emotional intelligence component to it. It's especially the mindfulness aspect that is new, since I become involved with the Search Inside Yourself Institute (SIY). People always receive it well, but it also sets a positive tone for learning in my classes, as it helps students understand what it means to be "present" and ultimately leads to both better retention of taught content, and better overall class experience.

SmSh: How did you become an SIY Instructor?

Lorna: I started life as a Chemical engineer. I wouldn't have ranked myself very high in the area of emotional intelligence for a variety of reasons (laughs). My first job out of undergrad, was as a manager where I became really interested in the "people side" of things rather than the technical. Later I did my PhD in research of Emotions at Wharton, and for the rest of my career have looked at "emotions/emotional intelligence" from a purely academic perspective. But I wouldn't say that this knowledge made me anymore emotionally intelligent. It was a cognitive, cerebral understanding of the subject, but that's it. It wasn't until the SIY class, that I understood that there was an actual tool kit for developing certain parts of the brain, that turned into actual skillsets that are directly related to superior leadership ability... it became BEYOND intellectual knowledge on the subject. And it was a game-changer. It changed everything from my understanding of the subject, but also for my own well-being this course changed everything.

SmSh: I remember that part of the program talks about the practical impacts that some of these practices can have in leadership.

Lorna: In the last 15 years or so, there has been a explosion in resreach in neuroscience. This is done using fMRI technology that can measure what happens in the brain as it's happening. Thousands of studies especially on mindfulness exist. One example is a study that was done using monks who practiced regular meditation, and people who didn't. You can see in the brain of the monks, a certain kind of stillness in a certain part of the brain called the "default mode network" that ended up having large scale activity among those people who didn't practice things like meditation. So this regular practice of meditation had shaped brain pathways very specifically. There are also practical and noticeable manifestations after people start developing these "brain muslces"; measurements such as an in increased self-awareness, improved ability to concentrate and focus, reduced anxiety, better self-control over internal processes (like preventing yourself from exploding in anger, etc). And finally, just having better relationships.

SmSh: What are some tips or suggestions you'd have for people to prepare in taking the SIY program?

Lorna: I'm a big believer in what I call "honoring yourself". If you sign up for the program and are very skeptical about it, I suggest you take it at your own pace. Don't force yourself into an extreme experience, you can watch from a distance and get a sense what this is all about, that's OK. But if you feel comfortable to dive in, then go for it also. Approach it at where it's comfortable for you. The second thing I would suggest is... give yourself time. It can be an intense experience, so I definitely would notplan for other things during the evening or off-hours. There's a lot to absorb. So block off time for those two days, trust me you'll want it.

***

To close out this piece, we also asked Byron Kan, the Executive Vice President and COO of the iconic Shanghai Centre.

SmSh: What compelled you to take the Search Inside Yourself (SIY) 2-day workshop in the first place?

Byron: Like most business professionals, I focus way too much on developing hard, concrete, business skills. I often hear of the benefits of being able to understand, interpret and tap my inner strength. But it's so easy to use the "I don't have time" excuse to delay giving myself the opportunity to explore this aspect. I finally took the dive when I learned more about the program through friends who have taken the course in the USA and other parts of Asia.

SmSh: Is there any change in your life or work since the workshop?

Yes, definitely changes. I'm in the business of people – interacting all the time: my team, tenants, vendors, colleagues, government etc. With certain practices I picked up at SIY - I've become more conscious of the way I talk, listen, and interact with others. The workshop has made me become self-aware of my interactions within myself and with others.

Has this helped me with my work? Yes, 100% yes – as I believe my interactions with others are more clear, concise (given presence) and have become more genuine (given the dialogues are beyond ‘transactional' and more ‘relational.')

SmSh: How would you describe this program to a fellow colleague?

For fellow left-brainers, it's best to be open-minded when entering this workshop. For people who are used to structured learning and lean towards the left side of the brain, this program will initially seem abstract. But as you start doing the exercises and understand the neuroscience behind them, you will begin to learn nascent skills that you never knew you possessed.

I would label the first day as "discovery" of your inner self and the second day as "enhancement" of your inner abilities which can positively shift your communications with those you interact with not only at work but also in your personal life.

SmSh: What would you like to advise our new participants who are enrolling for the December 2021 SIY?

1) PUT. YOUR. PHONE. AWAY. You'll understand why when your there.

2) Avoid the temptation of "groupthink" by NOT sitting with your colleagues/friends. Instead, find someone who doesn't seem to have much in common with you (age, race, type of work, etc.). Seriously, go sit next to someone you don't know. You'll thank me for this later.

3) Do the suggested exercises! Practice Practice Practice (again for me it was "SBNRR.", which if you take the course, you'll find out what that stands for).

***

There is a very long-list of impressive companies who have joined the SIY course in Shanghai.

If you haven't yet taken the dive, go for it. It's worth it to spend on yourself not just for what you'll learn, but like an MBA course... also for the relationships you'll develop. And if your company is interested in what is making leadership successful in the 21^st century, get them to pay for it.

Get your tickets here friends...

...or scan SmartTicket QR Code below.