THE ART OF PARTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP TRAINING
For more than 15 years, The Art of Participatory Leadership training has been organized in Croatia for international groups of participants with diverse backgrounds: corporate world, public administration, educational institutions, private companies, large non-for-profit organisations and more.
Based on hosting and harvesting meaningful conversations, the Art of Participatory Leadership (AoPL) is an approach to leadership that scales from personal to systemic levels. It draws on dialogue, facilitation, collaboration, and the co-creation of new solutions needed to address complex challenges in our work and in the world.
The calling questions that frame our invitation to this training:
- How can we inspire true engagement and collaboration across our organisations?
- What does it take to involve others in conversations that matter?
- How can participatory leadership help us when we need to achieve more with your team?
- How do you lead yourself and others through complexity and change?
Next training date:
4-6. February 2026
The Art of Participatory Leadership (AoPL) integrates methodologies, models, and practices for collaborative dialogue and process design that engage both large and small groups in conversations that matter. This systemic approach empowers individuals and teams to learn together, tap into collective intelligence, co-create new solutions, and move into action quickly.
Connecting individual perspectives into collective wisdom is essential in times of complexity and disruption, when “copy/paste” solutions no longer work.
When to use AOPL practices
Participatory leadership is an approach used in many organizations around the globe, where its implementation has proven highly successful.
It helps people focus on what really matters and enables a strategic approach to complex, cross-cutting issues, leading to sustainable results and increased trust and engagement. It is particularly used in the following areas:
- Strategy design and implementation
- Stakeholder consultations and alignment
- Organizational and business development
- Change processes
- Management alignment
- Team development
- Staff engagement beyond location and ways of working
- Collaboration across levels and departments
- Developing and engaging internal and external networks and communities of practice
About the training
Participatory leadership is a practice rather than a theory and therefore this training will be highly experiential, interactive and motivational.
We will be working and learning together using the methodologies we apply in staff engagement and stakeholder consultation, with immediate practice opportunities. You will have opportunity to step in, join a coaching session and prepare to be active part of the training process.
You will have the chance to use your own challenges and concrete cases as your learning and practice playground – thus leaving the training with new ideas, an expanded network and fresh energy for action!
The hosting team will explain underpinning theories and concepts, share stories and bring inputs from their work in business contexts. They will also respond to questions throughout the training.
Join us, and learn how to implement participatory leadership in your work! You will understand how to lead in complexity, how to involve all stakeholders in diverse situations, and motivate and engage your colleagues and teams.
You are warmly invited to explore, learn, and practice together with an inspiring group of people!
Participants
You do not need to hold a leadership or management position to be a participant. Participatory leadership is a competence that goes beyond formal roles or titles.
Training groups usually include a diverse mix of HR professionals, trainers, internal and external strategy consultants, facilitators, coaches, team leaders, facilitative managers, and innovators — people interested in building the capacity of organisations, teams, and individuals to work in more participatory ways.
Methods and practices
You will learn some of the most powerful methods for enabling participation and creating open, meaningful conversations that lead to commitment and effective results. These methods are applicable to both small and large groups.
By working with a range of collaborative methods, you can tailor your approach to suit your specific context and purpose. This approach is based on the Art of hosting meaningful conversations, and is developed through the AoH network of trainers and hosts.
- Circle
- World Café
- Open Space Technology
- ProAction Café
- Design for wiser actions
- Four-fold practice
- Chaordic path
- Collective Story Harvesting
- Appreciative Inquiry
Trainers
Participation fee and venue
Training will take place in the conference center of Hotel Well, Terme Tuhelj, in the Northwest of Croatia.
The picturesque, hilly landscape, with unspoilt nature, offers many cultural and natural attractions; the area is particularly famous for its excellent cuisine offering a variety of local specialties and fine wines.
Training is held in the English language.
There are options for in-house deliveries upon request, in tailor-made versions.
Participation fee includes:
– 3 days training fee, AoPL workbook, lunch and coffee breaks
– online Follow Up Workshop
– joining alumni network
– individual coaching hour for a concrete project
Participation fees for 2026
Early bird – for registration and payment up to 31 Dec 2025
- 1270 € – Team option (price per person for 3 or more people from the same organization)
- 1370 €- Single person price
Regular price – for registration and payment after 1 Jan 2026
- 1370 € – Team option (price per person for 3 or more people from the same organization)
- 1570 € – Single person price
25% VAT to be added to listed prices.
Price does not include accommodation.
DISCOUNTS
If the cost of this training is a barrier for you please check our discount options or contact us – we are happy to discuss various options, including payment plans and/or scholarships.
For participants from NGO’s we offer a discount of 30 %.
Alumni have 10% discount on all prices! This applies to participants of previous AoPL trainings in Croatia and other trainings delivered by Centre for Participatory Leadership.
Please mention in the registration comments if you want to receive discounted price.
To register, please fill in the registration form and you will receive an offer with all details.
For any questions please contact us, we will be happy to support you.
Accomodation
Link to book accommodation will be provided to all registered participants.
For special prices offered to AoPL participants for 2026 please see our brochure above.
All accommodation prices include breakfast, dinner and entrance to the swimming pools (Water planet).