Meridian

A flexible and personalised leadership course that offers modular learning and development for established leaders in larger metroplitan areas.

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What is Meridian?

A leadership course for established leaders from all sectors and backgrounds based in metropolitan areas. Meridian is currently offered in India and in six other countries. Participants often choose to do some of their modules in other locations and countries.

Spanning a five month period, Meridian offers a flexible modular format that means leaders can tailor it to meet their individual needs and to match their diaries.

The full group - drawn from all walks of life in the area - attends three full days together at the start, midpoint and end of the course. In between, each leader chooses from over 50 events to explore a huge range of real-life challenges - based in anything from a prison to a casualty unit; a trading floor to a production plant; a rehab centre to a radio station - in small groups, learning constantly from each other, the contributors and the experience of operating in very unfamiliar situations.

The result is that participants develop an understanding of how their area really works, the impact of their decisions and become more effective leaders at work and in wider society.

Dishaa Forum

"For the first time in India we actually have a forum that sees merit in the collaborative efforts across the heart, mind, money and muscle to execute programs for public good.  Kudos to the power we together can generate and what we can go ahead and implement, with all this on our side."

Aruna C. Newton, Infosys

Who is Meridian for?

Meridian is for established leaders who are already experienced at delivering objectives and managing people and priorities. It is ideal for leaders who are responsible for developing partnerships, engaging with internal or external stakeholders, working across several locations, divisions or countries or who simply need to broaden their horizons.

As with all our open courses, the participant group on Meridian will be diverse in terms of background, experience, sector, outlook and approach. Participants share and challenge each other and discover that this diversity - far from being a weakness - provides a key strength of the course.

Dishaa Presentation

Who Participates?

Participants are from diverse backgrounds and sectors, such as:

  • Bosch India
  • Fidelity
  • GMR Industries
  • Infosys
  • Local Authorities
  • Local Community Groups
  • Microsoft
  • Senior Government Officers
  • Social Entrepreneurs
  • Toyota Kirloskar
  • UB Group

Participants can expect to:

  • become more accustomed to going outside their familiar environment and better able to adapt to new situations.
  • develop lasting working relationships with people they would almost certainly never have met otherwise.
  • learn how to lead in situations where they have no authority and how to become the kinds of people who can build and lead collaborations when required.
  • become responsible leaders who understand their local surroundings - in the national and international context - and the impact of their decisions.
  • discover how their own language, behaviour and biases can get in their way as leaders.
  • find out when and how they can make their own contribution in society.

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What is the course format?

Meridian participants complete between 60 - 90 hours of learning. For each activity, participants meet at a different venue within the area to give them a range of perspectives.On the three core days - at the start, mid-point and end - participants look at why, where and how they lead and at how their biases influence their leadership. Between the core days, participants select from a series of modules.

Participants can choose to do some of their hours on a Meridian course elsewhere in India or internationally.

Meridian modules are:

  • Understanding place - behind-the-scene insights about how the metropolitan area really works.
  • Understanding change - real-life leadership scenarios based in hospitals, schools, businesses and council chambers, meeting and quizzing the leaders who make the decisions there.
  • Leadership insights - key leaders share their first hand knowledge - from their successes and failures - of leading beyond their immediate area of authority to create positive change.
  • Learning groups - tackling the challenges brought by participants to the group sessions.
  • Practices - participants are set a series of leadership 'practices', small challenges to complete in their own time that will broaden their thinking.
  • Quests - a day immersed in the economic, political and social context of another city, either in the India or internationally.

Where are Meridian courses held?

Meridian courses are offered in larger metropolitan areas across India, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and South Africa.

Upcoming Meridian Course:

Mumbai Meridian started on start 30th September 2011. We are now accepting applications for the second start date scheduled for 11th November, 2011

"Common purpose brings individuals from different walks of life and compels them to see things from multiple perspectives...So what's new about it, you may ask? Well the difference is that Common Purpose makes you see things through not just your eyes but through your experiences too!"

Priya Manoj, Principal Consultant - Talent & OD, Director - Urjja Resources

How can I apply to attend?

1. Download the Course Application Form

2. Complete and electronically sign

3. Return via email to your local course office:

For more about the overall application process, please visit the application page.

"The six months of experiential learning at common purpose was very inspiring. There was something to learn and adopt from each module. The exposure to the network of people from various NGO,Corporates and govt official was wonderful.The concept of "Leading beyond authority" was new to me.The showcasing of the leadership model in each module was done very well and it had a message. The last six months of learning was of great help. I am glad to tell you that we have teamed up with M/S CONZERV and driving energy conservation in a big way in our Bangalore plant. We came to know about CONZERV only through common purpose. Thanks to Common Purpose!"

Shyam Prasad BR, Senior Manager, Bosch Ltd

It was a rare privilege for me to have had an opportunity to have been associated with
'Common Purpose'. This non-textual Program enabled me to build on my Knowledge and
skills particularly in the area of using Communication abilities to achieve goals / vision to
be achieved. Defining the 'Vision' itself was a daring series of activities including attempting
my own Obituary to understand myself. The interactive Common Purpose sessions spaced over six months
slotted in meaningful environs such as U B Towers,Toyota Kirlosker Factories, Vivekananda Kendra in B R Hills,
APD , Theosophical Society, ISRO, Fireflies, Ranga Shankara, Conszerv, Narayana Hrudalyaya Hospital etc.
Modules were well structured and temporally regulated to allow sufficient interaction with stakeholders who had
daringly ventured beyond their Authority. Inputs received both from the sessions and Julia Middleton's "Beyond Authority"
were experiential both in my personal and Official attitudes to life and enabled an internal introspection that enabled me achieve several
of my goals to my satisfaction.
Mohan Chakravarthi ,
Deputy Commissioner of Koppal dist
"It was a rare privilege for me to have had an opportunity to have been associated with 'Common Purpose'. This non-textual Program enabled me to build on my Knowledge and skills particularly in the area of using Communication abilities to achieve goals / vision to be achieved. Defining the 'Vision' itself was a daring series of activities including attempting my own Obituary to understand myself. The interactive Common Purpose sessions spaced over six months  slotted in meaningful environs such as U B Towers,Toyota Kirlosker Factories, Vivekananda Kendra in B R Hills , Theosophical Society, ISRO, Conszerv, Narayana Hrudalyaya Hospital and many more.
Modules were well structured and temporally regulated to allow sufficient interaction with stakeholders who had daringly ventured beyond their Authority. Inputs received both from the sessions and Julia Middleton's "Beyond Authority" were experiential both in my personal and Official attitudes to life and enabled an internal introspection that enabled me achieve several of my goals to my satisfaction".

Mohan Chakravarthi , Deputy Commissioner of Koppal dist, Karnataka