Kallion defines leadership as “the art of meeting the needs of others and empowering them to realize their potential, in individual, collective, and institutional settings”. Other expressions of leadership–change-making, influence, disruption, effectiveness–are valuable only insofar as they address human needs and activate human potential.

Instead of dividing the world into leaders and followers, Kallion believes that everyone has the capacity to be an Agent of Leadership. An Agent of Leadership is someone who reflects deeply on human needs and human potential; helps to address the needs of others and activate their potential; and, in true democratic fashion, treats others as agents of leadership.

Leadership development through the study of the humanities is a lifelong practice or lifestyle, tailored to each individual – not a discrete set of rules to learn in a single session.

Humanities artifacts: Poems, paintings, philosophical dialogues, theatrical performances, music, historical narratives, archival documents, films, and other media through which humans have transmitted their experiences and inner lives to each other

Careful study: distinct from passive, unreflective, or nonverbal consumption. Study assumes curiosity, loving care, and persistent devotion to understanding and savoring everything one can about the humanities artifact.

Diverse community: Community involvement entails an ongoing commitment of time, energy, ideas, and resources on the part of all members toward its collective health and wellbeing. Our communities are composed of diverse members with multiple identities, such as educators, learners, professionals, researchers, writers, artists, and performers. 

Commitment to lead: The study of the humanities in communities always returns to the challenge of translating study into practice with a Commitment to Lead through four basic questions:

1. Do I have the capacity to lead in the ways I have been studying?
2. Do I have the opportunity to lead
3. Would I actually address the needs, and activate the potential, of others?
4. Would I find happiness and fulfillment in this leadership?

Diversity of humanity: Kallion values the inherent capacity for leadership that all people possess. We thus value the various cultural, experiential, educational, generational, and ethical perspectives that all humans bring to leadership study and development. 

Diversity of humanities:  Kallion values the study of all human cultures–regardless of ethnicity, geographic location, or time period–and the ways they have grappled with questions of leadership.

Civic-mindedness and civic engagement:  Kallion values the creative and lasting improvements that everyone can make to their local, national, and global communities because of their study of the humanities.

Reflection:  Kallion values time and space for deep contemplation, including careful, critical examination of one’s self, one’s world, and the experiences of one’s fellow humans from different cultures and times.

Creativity:  Kallion values leadership development as an artform and a craft. Kallion values the power that the study of the humanities has to help us tap into our imagination to meet the needs of others and activate their potential with demonstrable results.

Kindness:  Kallion values leadership practices rooted in a place of kindness, especially our capacity to respect each other’s full humanity and to experience joy through one another’s growth and prosperity.