EARCOS Weekend Workshop
Leading Change and Holding Colleagues Accountable
A Workshop for School Initiative Leaders
Marist Brothers International School
January 23-24, 2027
This workshop includes three 60-minute accountability online meetings to reinforce learning, address real-world leadership challenges, and reflect on the progress of your initiatives.
Dates & Time
Janu 23 Sat: 8:30AM-4:30PM
Jan 24 Sun: 9:00AM-2:30PM
Inclusive of lunch and tea breaks.
Location
Marist Brothers International School
Kobe, Japan
Certificate Program
18 Hours of Professional Development will be Awarded
Investment
EARCOS Members: USD 350
Non-members: USD 450
Leading a school-wide initiative often requires you to move others toward a shared goal without the benefit of formal authority. The challenge is significant: how do you hold colleagues accountable when you are not their direct supervisor?
This workshop is specifically designed for any staff member leading change, addressing the unique pressure of navigating peer relationships while maintaining high standards of practice. Participants will use their own real-world change projects as a lens throughout the workshop to explore practical approaches. Participants will learn how to shift from mere task coordination to becoming influential change-makers who can build a culture of mutual accountability and collaboration.
Essential Question
How can I effectively lead change and hold colleagues accountable when I don't have formal authority?
Over-Arching Goal
By the end of this workshop, participants will have strengthened their ability to lead the change projects they are responsible for. Participants will leave with the tools and confidence to lead impactful initiatives, delegate effectively, and evaluate progress while fostering professional relationships built on trust and shared accountability.
Workshop Outcomes
During this learning experience, you will learn and practice how to:
Understand the dynamics of leading change and the critical role of accountability in sustaining it.
Navigate the challenges of "influence without authority" to move initiatives forward.
Master delegation techniques that empower colleagues rather than simply offloading tasks.
Utilize evaluation frameworks to measure the impact of change and the commitment of team members.
Prepare for and facilitate accountability-focused conversations.
Investment
EARCOS Members
USD 350 pp
Non-members
USD 450 pp
Agenda
Day 1 | Jan 23 Sun
Module 1
Change and Accountability
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How do I align change initiatives with clear accountability structures?
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Define the relationship between successful change management and personal accountability.
Identify strategies for building collective commitment to new initiatives.
Learn to establish "social contracts" and norms that support accountability among peers.
Module 2
Delegation
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How can I delegate effectively to move an initiative forward without formal power?
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Understand the difference between "dumping" tasks and strategic delegation.
Learn how to match tasks to colleague strengths and developmental needs.
Practice communication scripts for delegating to peers that emphasize shared purpose.
Day 2 | Jan 24 Sun
Module 3
Evaluation
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How do I measure the success of the initiative and the accountability of my colleagues?
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Develop metrics and milestones for initiative success.
Learn to use data to hold objective conversations about progress and performance.
Identify when to pivot an initiative based on evaluation results.
Module 4
Establishing Your Professional Inquiry
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How do I apply these leadership strategies to my specific initiative?
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Assess the current state of your initiative and identify key accountability gaps.
Develop a clear, inquiry-based goal for your initiative.
Formulate an action plan for the first 6 weeks of implementation, focused on change and accountability.
Format and Structure
Across the two days, participants move through a ‘converge-diverge-converge’ structured cycle four times (once per session):
Introduction (Converge)
Framing key ideas and challenges
Establishing a shared starting point
Reconnection (Converge)
Consolidation of learning
Shared reflection and cross-stream connection
Learning Labs / Streamed Sessions (Diverge)
Focused, smaller-group exploration (based on pre-surveyed affinity) of specific areas of contextual practice
Designed for depth rather than coverage
This repeated structure creates a balance between:
Collective alignment (everyone moving through a shared experience)
Focused depth and contextual relevance (participants engaging more closely with their specific areas of focus/change project)
Consolidation of group insights and learning
Continued Support
Accountability Online Meetings
The workshop is only the starting point. To ensure the change you lead is sustainable, all participants will participate in three Accountability Online Meetings via the PeerSphere Peer Learning Community (PLC). These sessions are designed to:
Session 1: Refine your professional inquiry and share initial implementation hurdles.
Session 2: Reflect on early delegation successes and challenges in peer accountability.
Session 3: Consolidate learning and plan for long-term sustainability of the change.
Session dates & times to be announced.
Facilitator
Michael Iannini
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Michael is ACAMIS’s Leadership Development Facilitator, Board Treasurer for SPAN, Special Advisor for NESSIC, and an affiliated Council of International School’s (CIS) consultant with the following areas of expertise:
Appraisal and professional development
Leadership training
School governance
Strategic planning
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“Michael’s expertise has contributed immensely to the building of an effective Board. He has been instrumental in the development of a sustainable HOS performance evaluation process, building upon the benchmark evaluators of his Success Profile Analysis and has facilitated our Board review and training, bringing governors together for an annual reflection and deep dive into the work for the year and driving strategic direction for the year ahead.”
— Edward Lau, Board Chair, and, Derek Pinchbeck, Head of School, International College Hong Kong
“The training has been very successful and has enabled our middle leaders, some of whom are fairly inexperienced, to develop a wider understanding of the leadership role and be provided with tools to scaffold their leadership journey.”
— Dr. Helen Kelly, Lower School Principal, Canadian International School of Hong Kong
“The consensus of our team was the successful outcome derived from Michael’s careful pre-analysis, including perceptive interviews of the participants before the program commenced, and an uncommon ability by anecdotal good humor to draw out everybody’s opinions, encouraging interactive discussion and create a sense of common ownership.”
— John Patrick Baskett, The J.S.P. Schools Association
Claire Peet
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Claire Peet is an experienced international education consultant specialising leadership development and professional learning programming. She works with international schools across Asia to support learning and development systems, sustainable change implementation and leadership growth pathways.
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“Claire creates a truly collaborative learning environment, and Ileft with practical tools that I was able to implement the verynext Monday. Tools I continue to use today and now amteaching my team to use. That is the true value of her work asa facilitator: actionable skills that create immediate and lastingchange AND ripple effects in organizations.
She was also kind enough to take my call when I reached out in tears after a feedback session had gone completely off plan.She offered a listening ear, clear guidance, and practical stepsthat helped me move forward with confidence.
The ROl is HIGH!”
— Comine Howe, Director of Marketing & Communications at Qingdao Amerasia International School
“Thank you so much for all your support. I’ve really enjoyed working with you and learned so much along the way. This experience has been truly valuable, and I’m excited to put what I’ve learned into practice moving forward.
I really appreciate your guidance and encouragement throughout this journey.”
— Lulu Zhang, Specialist Teacher - Chinese, Head of Year at Australian International School Hong Kong
Learn with Peers at
Marist Brothers International School
1-2-1 Chimori-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0072, Japan
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Marist Brothers International School (MBIS) is a welcoming and diverse international school located in the beautiful city of Kobe, Japan. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School, MBIS offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), providing students with a seamless, globally focused education from Early Years Learning through to Grade 12. Grounded in academic excellence, personal growth, and strong community values, the school nurtures internationally minded learners who are prepared to thrive in an interconnected world. With modern facilities, spacious learning environments, and a commitment to developing the whole child, MBIS provides an inspiring setting for learning, collaboration, and professional development.
Shawn Hutchinson
Head of School
Marist Brothers International School
Recommended Hotel
ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe
1-Chome, Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0002, Japan
Contact Person:
Shinya Ashikawa
Director Of International Sales
shinya.ashikawa@ihg.com