What can you be curious about today?

As a new participant in Linkage’s Global Institute for Leadership Development^® (GILD) experience, I’m grateful to be part of a company and an experience that is rich in idea exchange, shaped by conversations with leaders from around the globe, and that allows for the rare opportunity to invest intensive time in learning, curiosity, reflection, small team and one-on-one coaching sessions each day.

Purpose and calling was a big theme of day one, which my colleague Sarah Breigle blogged about. Day two took the purpose discussion and continued the conversation with sessions on curiosity, and how to think and engage self, individuals and teams.

Author and coach Jim Collins kicked off the next morning’s session. I took more than three pages of notes for simple, actionable ideas that leaders can use in leveraging sacred strategic thinking time. My fave: the “to-don’t” list—the items that you dredge and clean out and take off of your key to-do list. Jim’s rule: if you add a new to-do, you have to take off a “to-don’t.” You’ll find a handy worksheet from Jim’s session here.

Renowned coach Marshall Goldsmith’s session was filled with advice and tips for coaching and mentoring. He encouraged us to be present, to ask for help, be accountable to oneself and others and to focus one’s efforts on coaching and mentoring those who want and are willing to be coached. And ultimately to strive for three things: to be happy and present, to cherish friends and family, and to follow our purpose. Marshall has a simple process called the Six Daily Questions, which you can find here.

Rounding out an action-packed day were discussions with best-selling author and coach Patrick Lencioni and former Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff, author of It’s Your Ship. Patrick engaged us in a discussion of how to most effectively lead teams and Mike shared his story of turning around the worst-performing ship in the Navy’s Pacific fleet. So many ideas, approaches and new strategies abound, and my next step is to start to distill what I can act on next.

I’m inspired by the thought-provoking conversations and incredible stories of personal growth that are unfolding this week. Please continue to share your thoughts, challenges and insights here or by tweeting or following #LinkageGILD. Please let me know what you’re curious about.