Discovering Leadership: Organisations and their Discontents
A Group Relations Conference, 7 to 10 September 2026
About this conference
“The replacement of the power of the individual by the power of the community is the decisive step of civilisation” – Freud, Civilisation and its Discontents (1939, 284)
Our working life represents the longest phase of our adult lives, and as such it offers much; it shapes our identities, gives us a sense of purpose and value and even protect us against depression and unhappiness. At the same time, organisational life demands from us a good deal – we must become reconciled to the forces of authority, power and leadership, necessarily giving up a measure of our control and our own wishes. As a leader or follower, our success hinges on the capacity to collaborate and work with others who may be quite different, and have their own motivations – conscious and unconscious – that are not the same as ours.
In a world in which the power of leaders can be total, and in which the economic and social pressures on organisations have never been greater, can we still find forms of leadership and successful organisational life that are enriching for us all?
In this conference, we invite you to join us in exploring leadership, as well as the ‘contents’ and ‘discontents’ of working organisational life. You will be able to take up your own authority (whether through formal leadership roles at different levels, or through active followership), and learn to work on complex tasks with a growing understanding of the dynamics and diversity of groups.
The conference includes a small number of places for individuals to join a Training Group. This is for those who have participated in two prior Group Relations Conferences and who wish to deepen their experience of GRCs and develop the skills necessary to take up staff roles – please see the application form for details.
There are also a small number of subsidised spaces available for both external members and training group members.
Director: Chris Nicholson
Associate Director: Gwen Hanrahan
Associate Director Administration: Aly Thompson
Please direct any queries to the conference administrator: GRC@tavi-port.nhs.uk
Who is this conference for?
This Group Relations Conference is suitable for anyone who works within organisations or leadership, and is looking to develop their skills and potential to better navigate complex roles, managing groups and organisational dynamics.
Why attend this conference?
This four-day Group Relations Conference has a focus on the balance between leadership and collaboration. It is an opportunity for members to experience the processes that influence organisational dynamics and group life in an immersive way. It is a chance to pay attention to, and study, the tensions and pleasures generated when the internal world of the individual meets the emerging world of the ‘temporary organisation’. Most importantly, it is a chance for you to explore and develop your own skills, capacities and competencies around leadership and followership through live practice and experience.
Conference venue, dates and timings
The conference will take place in person at: The Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London, NW3 5BA.
To maximise the conference learning for you and other attendees, we ask all members to commit to attending the whole of all four days:
- Monday 7 September: (Registration 9.00–9.30) 9.30–18.30
- Tuesday 8 September: 9.00am to 18.30
- Wednesday 9 September: 9.00am to 18.30
- Thursday 10 September: 9.30am to 16.30
The deadline for applications is Monday 17 August 2026, or when all places are filled.
Please note: Members of the Training Group will also attend two pre-conference meetings: one online at 1pm on Friday 28 August, and one in-person meeting on Sunday 6 August from 1pm.
Conference fees
- Internal Trust member: £600
- External applicant: £765
- Training Group member: £765