2026 Leadership Development for the Complexity Planners Actually Face
Planning professionals are being asked to lead increasingly complex systems with leadership models that were never designed for this level of complexity.
You work across communities, stakeholders, regulations, politics, and long-term outcomes, often leading through influence rather than authority. Yet many planners carry significant leadership responsibility without access to a development process that reflects how leadership actually evolves in complex, real-world environments.
That gap is what L.E.A.P. (Leadership Evolution Action Plan™) was built to address.
Following his keynote at the APA Florida State Conference in Tampa and subsequent work with the APA Florida Executive Board on leadership, culture, and strategy, Dave Clare and Circle Leadership are opening registrations of interest for the next L.E.A.P. cohort, commencing in the last week of January 2026.
L.E.A.P. is not a certificate, credit-based course, or short-term program. Traditional leadership development often focuses on knowledge acquisition and credentialing. L.E.A.P. focuses on something different and increasingly critical: how leadership behaviour actually changes over time.
This is a 12-month leadership evolution process designed for professionals who lead systems, people, and outcomes over extended horizons. It uses small, consistent actions reinforced through coaching and peer accountability, allowing leadership capability to develop inside real roles rather than outside them.
The commitment is practical and designed for working professionals:
- Four hours per month.
- No offsite disruption.
- No generic theory.
- Direct application in real planning and leadership contexts.
The January 2026 cohort is intentionally limited to 20 participants, with registrations of interest requested by Jan. 18 2026.
As a special offer to APA Florida members, Dave is offering a 25 percent discount off the investment. Dave knows first hand the challenges we face navigating increasing responsibility, influence without authority, and the pressure to lead meaningful change. Circle Leadership Global's L.E.A.P. offers a structured way to develop leadership capability that matches the complexity of modern planning work.
This opportunity aligns closely with APA Florida’s commitment to leadership, collaboration, ethics, and shaping a stronger future for Florida’s communities
If you would like to register your interest or explore whether L.E.A.P. is the right fit, click here