Stories from the Body about Leadership and Life

NEWSFLASH -  Jan Erkert was awarded the Executive Officer Distinguished Leadership Award from the University of Illinois! This Award recognizes outstanding and effective academic leadership and vision by an executive officer within a college or campus unit.  She was also awarded a Public Voices Fellowship in 2020 as part of the national OpEd Project, which aims to “…dramatically increase the public impact of our nation's top underrepresented thinkers.”

Embodied Leadership

I bring a dancer’s perspective of embodiment, collaboration, improvisation, visioning, and creative processes to the field of leadership.   

CONSULTATION

Consultations for dance programs are designed to meet the unique needs of each institution. Whether exploring visioning, curricular and structural revisions, or preparing for external reviews or accreditation, Ms. Erkert will utilize her knowledge as a national leader to assist you and your organization in aligning your vision with shared goals and values. 

LEADERSHIP COACH

Leadership can be a journey toward the center of your soul.  How might you choreograph leadership - utilizing your unique embodied skills to create the community you want to be?  As a leadership coach, I will listen, research, and analyze the complex ways in which you and your community work together.  We will share, discuss, reflect and create strategies that energize and connect you more deeply to your community. 

THE BOOK   

I wrote Everybody has a BODY full of Wisdom: Stories of Leadership and Life, because when I took on a major leadership position, there was no book out there that helped me understand how to bring my human, sentient being, and my artistic, creative practice to the job of leadership. 

It is my fervent hope that these collection of  stories and ideas will inspire all who want to create a new form of leadership that integrates life/work/play, and ultimately teaches us how to lead embodied lives.

The manuscript is done and I am currently seeking publication. Stay tuned!

Jan Erkert’s coaching inspired me to lead with more confidence, efficiency, and creativity. Through our conversations, I reframed my perspectives about visionary thinking, shared governance, collaborative decision-making, and conflict resolution. Jan provided valuable insights during an important season in my career, and I know I will benefit from her coaching for years to come. I highly recommend Jan Erkert as a leadership consultant! 

/   Krista Bower, MFA, Chair and Associate Professor of Dance, Belhaven University  /