Short Course
Leading Without a Script
Build strategic presence and adaptive leadership capability to communicate, influence and innovate when the path forward isn’t always clear.
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What to expect
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Most leaders are effective when the path ahead is clear. The real challenge comes when circumstances change. When the answer isn’t obvious. When your team looks to you for direction, and there isn’t a script to follow. This immersive two-day programme is designed for exactly those moments. Drawing on the Stage to Strategy methodology, developed exclusively for Henley Africa, you'll explore how dramatic and improvisational principles can strengthen your ability to communicate under pressure, think creatively, collaborate effectively, and lead with confidence in uncertain environments. Through a highly interactive learning experience informed by neuroscience, performance-based learning, and improvisational practice, you'll develop practical tools to navigate ambiguity, reframe setbacks, build trust, and inspire action. Expect challenging conversations, refreshing perspectives, and immediate relevance to modern leadership realities. This course won’t tell you what you should do; it will give you the skills to adapt to any situation and shine when pressure, ambiguity and complexity are at their highest. |
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Certification |
Henley Business School Certificate of Completion |
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Faculty |
Tandi Buchan |
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Next intake |
1–2 October 2026 |
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Delivery method |
Face-to-face |
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Duration |
2 days |
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Price |
R9,999 (Including VAT) |
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Location |
Henley Africa Campus, 1 Witkoppen Rd, Paulshof, Johannesburg, 2191 |
Is this course for you?
Leading Without a Script is designed for professionals and teams who want to strengthen their leadership effectiveness, communication impact, and ability to thrive in uncertainty, including:
• Mid- to senior-level leaders navigating complexity and change
• Innovation, transformation or strategy teams seeking new approaches to problem-solving
• Professionals preparing for high-stakes conversations, presentations or stakeholder engagement
• Teams looking to build trust, adaptability, and stronger collaboration
• Emerging leaders seeking greater confidence, influence, and executive presence
What you will gain
Executive presence and influence |
| Communicate with confidence, credibility and authority, whether you're presenting to a boardroom, leading a team or navigating a difficult conversation. |
Leadership agility |
| Develop the ability to think on your feet, adapt to changing circumstances and make sound decisions when the way forward is uncertain. |
Strategic communication |
| Learn how to communicate ideas clearly, align stakeholders and inspire action through compelling messages and authentic storytelling. |
Trust and collaboration |
| Strengthen your ability to listen deeply, build trust, and create the conditions in which people can contribute, collaborate, and perform at their best. |
Innovation and creative problem-solving |
| Become skilled at creating the conditions that support innovation by encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and collaborative problem-solving. |
Presence under pressure |
| Learn practical techniques to regulate your state, remain present, and communicate effectively when the stakes are high and circumstances are uncertain. |
Learning modules
Module 1
Presence, Collaboration and Creative Thinking
- The neuroscience of improvisation
- Key principles of improvisation for leaders
- Listening, trust, and verbal/non-verbal intelligence
- Thinking on your feet: rapid decision-making
- Reframing failure for innovation
- Creative problem-solving and divergent thinking
Module 2
Influence, Storytelling and Innovation in Action
- Vocal dynamics and persuasive messaging
- Storytelling for leadership impact
- Bridging emotion and logic in communication
- Team-based innovation challenges
- The agile pitch: live application and feedback
- Reflection and real-world integration
The power is
yours with a
Henley certificate
Hi, I'm
Modestine Kawganjo
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