From the introduction:

In recent years extensive research has helped top athletes and championship teams to achieve peak performances through mental techniques such as visualization or deep awareness. Similar research, however, has barely been conducted when it comes to leadership. But if we want to educate future leaders about good leadership techniques for Relational Leadership, the right mindset is of the utmost importance.

Against this background this chapter combines Relational Leadership theory with Theory U to analyse how relational leadership skills can be fostered through the principles of Theory U.

The case study “Relations between Future Leaders and Traditional Communities: Learnings from the Center for Sustainability Studies’ Programme” offered the opportunity to learn from the decade-long experience in experiential learning of FGV-EAESP, who have utilized the concepts of Theory U by Prof Dr Otto Scharmer and Transdisciplinarity by Prof Dr Basarab Nicolescu in their Integrated Education for Sustainability (fis). Theory U proposes a method to change past patterns and behaviours by shifting the attention to the so-called “blind spot of awareness”. It offers the opportunity to address core thought patterns such as the motivation for cooperation. Developing the necessary competences in young future leaders directly affects future decisions towards a more collaborative, long-term thinking - decisions that shape the future of our society. Therefore, the following research question arises: What are the critical aspects of utilizing Theory U to teach Relational Leadership practically in university education?