Compassionate Leadership Certification Training Resources
Welcome to the February 2026 Three-Week Compassionate Leadership Certification Training.
Please bookmark this page which will host all the course resources, including slides, video recordings, and additional documents and references.
This is a private page for course participants. Please be respectful that all materials are copyright and offered in support of your learning experience for individual use only.
For Module Resources, scroll down or click here.
ACCELERATED COURSE SCHEDULE
Modules 1, 2: February 19, 12-3pm ET
Modules 3, 4: February 20, 12-3pm ET
Integration and practice session: February 26, 12-1pm ET
Integration and practice session: February 27, 12-1pm ET
Modules 5, 6: March 5, 12-3pm ET
Modules 7, 8: March 6, 12-3pm ET
First Alumni Session: March 18
February 19, 2026
MODULE 1 RESOURCES
Module One Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
These two books each offer a strong foundation for the practice of compassionate leadership:
Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations by Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton – This is the early foundational book written by researchers who have been primary in shaping and defining the field. It offers an excellent framework for implementing compassionate leadership.
Compassionate Leadership: Sustaining Wisdom, Humanity and Presence in Health and Social Care by Michael A. West – This more recent book (2021) written by the UK’s thought leader in compassionate leadership captures much great work that has been done in the field. It is a great reference.
Mangoes: For those interested in reading more about your favorite fruit, there is this: Mango: A Global History (Edible).
MODULE 2 RESOURCES
Module Two Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
February 2026 Cohort Curiosity Statements
February 2026 Cohort Intentions
Everyday Practice – Curiosity
Research Resources:
Tania Singer and Olga Klimecki research on the neurological difference between compassion and empathy.
Full bibliography can be found on the final pages of the Presentation Slides linked in the "Module Resources" section above.
Resources From Our Library:
CFCL Articles: My Uncompassionate Boss
Curiosity: A Core Competency of a Compassionate Leader
Practice Matters: We invite you to explore the world of practice. Click here to read our practice entitled New and reveal the short wisdom bits in support of your compassion journey.
February 20, 2026
MODULE 3 RESOURCES
Module Three Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
Read the research on taking and making roles: “Crafting a Job: Revisioning Employees as Active Crafters of Their Work” by Amy Wrzesniewski and Jane E. Dutton
February 2026 Roles of a Leader
Read the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye
MODULE 4 RESOURCES
Module Four Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
If you are curious about your own expression of self-compassion, take the self-compassion test developed by Kristin Neff, the groundbreaking researcher in the field.
These two books offer a great coverage of self-compassion:
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D. for applying courageous compassion for yourself.
Read “The Five Myths of Self-Compassion” by Kristin Neff
Read the article “How to Turn Your Brain from Anger to Compassion” by Paul Gilbert
Read the poem “Admit Something” by Hafiz from Tuesday’s session
Kindness Resources: The Random Acts of Kindness foundation has a very helpful Science of Kindness page on their website. These are mostly popular press articles with excellent coverage of the broad scope of kindness benefits. The original academic sources are sometimes buried down a level or two. An excellent book on kindness, The War For Kindness, by Jamil Zaki is also an excellent resource. For peer-reviewed scientific research, see Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior or Prosocial behavior mitigates the negative effects of stress in everyday life. The first of those was co-authored by Sonja Lyubomirsky who has an extensive bibliography on her website around happiness, gratitude, kindness, and connection.
Resources From Our Library:
Blog post: Are You Being Kind to Yourself
Practice Matters: Kind To Me
February 26, 2026
INTEGRATION AND PRACTICE SESSION 1
Just Like Me Practice and Q&A:
Additional Resources:
Use these Practices to engage in the Just Like Me and Note to a Dear Friend practices explored in this week's sessions. You may also explore six additional practices to help strengthen your awareness and compassion.
Practice Audio Recordings:
In addition to the written practices above, we include audio recordings to six practices. Each practice has two recordings - one with an introduction and one that is the guided practice only. We hope you find these useful for your growth as a compassionate leader. (Click arrow in audio players below to listen.)
Practice “Just Like Me”
Practice: “Body Scan”
Practice: “Soothing Touch”
Practice: “Loving Kindness”
Practice: “Shared Humanity”
Practice: “Paired Presence”
February 27, 2026
INTEGRATION AND PRACTICE SESSION 2
Note to a Dear Friend Practice and Q&A:
March 5, 2026
MODULE 5 RESOURCES
Module Five Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
More on Scharmer’s four levels of listening: Leading from the Emerging Future, by Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer
Thanks for the Feedback, by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen
Other Resources:
Read the difference between “Lovingkindness” and “Being Nice”
Resources From Our Library:
“Language Matters: Use These Five Phrases to Keep Your Team Feeling Psychologically Safe.”
Blog post: Difficult Conversations
Practice Matters: We invite you to explore the world of practice. Click here to read our practice entitled The Only Way is Through and reveal the short wisdom bits in support of your compassion journey.
MODULE 6 RESOURCES
Module Six Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
"Stereotype Content: Warmth and Competence Endure" by Susan Fiske
Resources Section of UC-Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute
Resources From Our Library:
Blog post: Creating Environments of Belonging
Practice Matters: We Are That
March 6, 2026
MODULE 7 RESOURCES
Module Seven Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
Social Architecture for Compassion:
Psychological Safety:
The Fearless Organization, by Amy Edmondson
“Learning from Mistakes is Easier Said than Done,” by Amy Edmondson
The seven-question psychological safety assessment designed by Amy Edmondson (requires provision of email address)
Amy Edmondson’s February 26th presentation to the Center for Positive Organizations on Failing Well
Growth Mindset:
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck
Resources From Our Library:
Blog post: Compassionate Leaders Create Psychological Safety
Practice Matters: What If We Felt Safe?
MODULE 8 RESOURCES
Module Eight Session Recording:
Module Resources:
Click Here to Download Presentation Slides.
Additional Resources:
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change (PDF)
February 2026 Cohort Future Intentions
Resources From Our Library:
Blog post: Courageous Compassion
Practice Matters: We invite you to explore the world of practice. Click here to read our practice entitled Move into Motion and reveal the short wisdom bits in support of your compassion journey.