About This Event

Burnout isn't the problem. It’s the signal.

Creative leadership today carries a specific kind of pressure. We are being pulled in every direction, expected to be endlessly adaptable, and are often the ones holding it all together while feeling completely exhausted. When trust and clarity are low, leadership must be intentional, not assumed.

Hosted by AIGA Connecticut and facilitated by Frank Lockwood, this session is a path toward creating meaningful behavior changes. We aren't here to add more to your plate; we are here to help you remove what no longer serves you and learn to lead with clarity.

The Reality of Modern Leadership

• Only 23% of employees strongly agree they trust their organization's leadership.
• 52% of workers report burnout, with lack of clarity being a primary cause.
• 86% of workplace failures are cited as poor communication rather than misaligned intent.
• Trust breaks only when leaders fail to translate expectations and reduce ambiguity.

What You’ll Learn & Do

This is an applied working session focused on the Psychology of Trust. You will explore:

• The Trust Triad: A diagnostic for identifying trust gaps in Credibility, Reliability, and Intimacy.
• Self-Orientation: Understanding how your focus on your own "win" can erode relationship safety.
• Behavioral Translation (DISC): How to recognize the behavioral styles of others and adapt your communication to reduce friction.
• Victor vs. Victim Framework: Moving from deflecting responsibility to owning your influence in any outcome.
• The Forge Card: A 90-second habit-forming tool to shift your emotional response and course-correct in real-time.

Who This Is For

This session is exclusively for those carrying real responsibility.

• Design & UX Leaders: Creative Directors, UX Leads, and Design Managers.
• Copy & Narrative Leaders: Copy Chiefs, Senior Copywriters, and Editorial Directors.
• Agency Principals: Owners, Founders, and Brand Strategists.
• Decision Makers: Anyone whose instincts shift under stress and impact the work of others.+1

What You Walk Away With

• A 30-Day Leadership Reset Plan: An experiential behavioral intervention plan.
• The Digital/Printable Forge Card: To use in moments when trust feels fragile or you feel defensive.
• Leadership Code: An anonymous way to track your own behavioral patterns over time.
• Clarity: A way to turn burnout into alignment.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST
• Investment: * Early Bird (First 7 Days): Members: $75 | Non-Members: $125
• Standard: Members: $95 | Non-Members: $145
• Format: Live, interactive online session.

Seats are limited to preserve discussion quality.