Leadership development in the wilderness
From knowing
to doing.
Leadership
is revealed
under pressure
Not in a meeting room. Out in the wild.
Classic training often stops at insight. We take leaders into conditions where decisions have to be made quickly and people have to rely on each other. That is where behaviour becomes visible, and where what you learn actually sticks.
See the programmeWhy an
expedition works
In nature, routines, titles and hierarchy disappear. What remains is how people really function.
[ 01 | Carpathians ]
No hierarchy
Out there it does not matter who is the boss at the office. Everyone carries their own backpack, cooks and pitches the camp. What remains is how people really function.
[ 02 | Under pressure ]
Leadership in action
Terrain, fatigue and uncertainty show how you make decisions, how you take responsibility and how you bring others along.
[ 03 | On the spot ]
Growth in the moment
During the expedition we observe and reflect together. You learn at the moment it happens, and that is why it lasts.
What leaders
take home
After an Element X expedition, leaders notice the difference in their daily work. Leadership becomes more concrete, simpler and more authentic.
Clearer decision making
More calm and focus under pressure
Better insight into your own reflexes
A stronger ability to bring others along
Who is it for?
For entrepreneurs, executives and complete leadership teams. Each programme gets its own form.
01 / 03Entrepreneurs
You want to grow in your leadership and your impact. You head into the wilderness with a small group of entrepreneurs looking for the same thing.
Discover
02 / 03Executives and managers
You lead teams in a complex environment that changes fast, and you want to become sharper in how you do it.
Discover
03 / 03Leadership teams
You want to work together better and make better decisions together. Outside, far from the office, with one clear goal.
DiscoverStep by step
to the field
A leadership programme with Element X runs in five steps. The expedition is the core, the steps before and after make it last.
-
01Introduction
We start with a conversation about you or your team, your goals and where things get stuck today.
-
02Team analysis
We map how you make decisions and work together today, and what drives each team member.
-
03Kick off
At Kasteel Borgwal in Gavere the group meets each other and the expedition leaders, with a first team assignment.
-
04The expedition
Off grid, in a small group. Along the way we observe and look back together on what happened.
-
05Integration
Back home we look back together and translate what you saw into your own work and team.
Who
guides you
Experience in the field and in leadership development, side by side on the same expedition.
Koen De Leeuw
Paracommando · Wilderness First ResponderFounder and experienced expedition leader, specialised in leadership and teamwork under pressure. Known from De Expeditie on Play. On expedition he combines his experience in the field with coaching of the team.
Meet Koen
Fred Van de Walle
Certified Management Drives trainer25 years of international experience in leadership development, behavioural assessment and lasting change within organisations, also in demanding environments up to 4,695 metres. Founder of ArrowHead Leadership in Switzerland.
arrowhead-leadership.chWhat participants say
In the past ten years there was not a single day I did not think about my company. During the demanding Sahara crossing I could finally switch my head off completely. I learned to put things in perspective again. Back home I felt the impact right away: more clarity, better sleep and more calm.Frederik TalemanFounder & CEO, Hive CPQ
Our group felt right from the very first minute. Authentic, warm and full of energy. I felt we truly became a team. What touches me most: out there I found the Dieter I had lost for 25 years. That realisation alone makes this expedition unforgettable.Dieter HolvoetOwner, Bouwfirma.be
From A to Z everything was worked out and thought through down to the last detail. Our wish to be truly immersed in local culture and adventure was fully met. The guidance was professional and warm at the same time.Jan De ClerckAlinso Group
4.9 on Google
Read all reviewsExpeditions for
leaders and teams
For teams, private groups or fully tailor made.
View all expeditions
Frequently asked questions
See all questionsWho is an Element X leadership programme for?
For entrepreneurs who want to grow in their leadership and their impact, for executives and managers who lead teams in a complex environment that changes fast, and for leadership teams who want to work together better and make better decisions together.
How does a leadership programme run?
In five steps: an introductory conversation, a team analysis, a kick off at Kasteel Borgwal in Gavere, the expedition itself and an integration afterwards, in which you translate what you saw into your own work and team.
Why does an expedition work better than classic training?
In nature, routines, titles and hierarchy disappear. Terrain, fatigue and uncertainty show how you make decisions, take responsibility and bring others along. During the expedition we observe and reflect together, so you learn at the moment it happens.
Who guides the programme?
Expedition leader Koen De Leeuw, paracommando and Wilderness First Responder, known from De Expeditie on Play. And Fred Van de Walle, founder of ArrowHead Leadership and certified Management Drives trainer, with 25 years of international experience in leadership development.
Do I need to be very fit to join?
That depends on the level of the expedition. You do not need to be an athlete, but you do need to be motivated. Through the preparation programme (fitness test, training plan and workshops) we safely build your level up to what your expedition requires. We screen in advance, so every participant ends up in the right place.
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