Journey to Excellence


Journey to Excellence (JTE) is the core program of the Spitzer Center. The workshop is based on Fr. Spitzer’s Four Levels of Happiness®, which reflects profound classical and Christian insights into the human desire for happiness. The Four Levels provides a model that helps people to see their own motivations and behavior more clearly and recognize thought patterns that prevent them from being effective exemplars of Christian love. The model also sheds light on behaviors that shape an organization’s culture and, determines how effectively people unite behind common goals and the Church’s mission.

JTE also includes a pre-workshop survey that uses a well-validated tool to determine key characteristics of the organization’s culture. Leaders can use the same tool to define what their ideal culture would look like, and use the results of the actual survey to identify assumptions and behaviors they want to change.  While JTE has an established format and materials, the program is highly flexible and can be tailored to meet specific circumstances.

Audiences
  • Chancery, parish, ministry leaders & staff
  • Elementary and high school leaders & staffs
  • Priest and deacon convocations
  • Catholic hospitals and health systems
Settings
  • Retreats or in-service days
  • Conferences
  • Special Events
Length
  • One-day foundational seminar
  • Deeper-dive workshop options
Topics
  • The Four Levels of Happiness. A life-transforming philosophy
  • The Comparison Game. How to create your own personal hell in three easy lessons
  • Exit Strategies. How to get out of your hell in three easy lessons
  • The Three Dichotomies

            - Contribution over Comparison
            - Good News over Bad News
            - Freedom For over Freedom From

  • The Four Levels of Happiness and Culture. How Level 2 behaviors create defensive cultures, and how to move to a Level 3 constructive culture
  • Cultural Profile Debrief. How to close the gaps between the culture you would like to have and the culture you have now
  • Cultural Commitments. New ways of working together to build teamwork, trust, and mission success
Methodology
  • Professional facilitation with video clips and power points
  • Group and personal exercises
  • Workbooks with references from  Scripture, Catechism, Saints
Follow-up Programs and Resources
  • The insights conveyed in JTE foundational seminar can be built upon with
  • Additional resources on the Cardinal Virtues and positive habit formation
  • Follow-up culture surveys to measure progress
  • Monthly Newsletter and Daily Inspirations
  • Leadership Self Assessments and Coaching
Feedback from  Past Participants
  • “An excellent vehicle for self-understanding and cultural change.”
  • “It inspired me to reevaluate how I operate within an organization.”
  • “This is right in line with the call to holiness and respect for others we profess to live as Catholics.”
  • “I appreciate how Fr. Spitzer takes philosophy and faith and makes it practical in everyday life.”
  • “Wonderful! Very thought-provoking.”
Outcomes
  • Enthusiasm and techniques to enhance personal and team mission effectiveness
  • Increased trust, respect, optimism, openness, collaboration and esprit de corps
  • Spiritual and personal renewal