2026 Residential Group Relations Conference
January 21st– 25th, 2026
Authority: A Life Apart and A Part
What does it mean to feel both part of a system and apart from it at the very same time? At work, in community, and in our families, many of us are navigating tension, division, and questions about where we belong and how we lead.
The 2026 CSGSS Residential Group Relations Conference is a 5-day immersive learning experience for people who want to explore leadership, authority, and group life in real time. Through a temporary learning institution, participants study how they take up roles, give and receive authority, and participate in systems that shape everyday life.
Key Details
- Dates: January 21–25, 2026
- Location: The Connors Center, 20 Glen Street, Dover, MA
- Format: In-person, residential group relations conference
What Is a Group Relations Conference?
Group Relations Conferences are experiential learning events where participants study leadership, authority, and group behavior as they are happening in the here and now. Instead of a traditional lecture format, participants create and inhabit a temporary organization, then use their direct experience to examine both conscious and unconscious group dynamics.
If you are new to this kind of learning, we encourage you to start here.
2026 Conference Theme
Authority: A Life Apart and A Part
In a divided social and organizational world, many of us feel a pull in two directions. We want connection and belonging, and we also want individuality and some distance. That tension shows up in how we hold power, how we relate to institutions, and how we show up as leaders and followers.
This conference invites you to:
- Explore how you experience being both part of systems and apart from them
- Notice how you give, accept, challenge, and refuse authority
- Study the ways identity, power, and anxiety shape the roles you take up
- Experiment with new ways of finding and using your voice in groups
The conference draws on group relations theory and practice, and is inspired by work that examines how people live both inside and outside of institutions at the same time.
Who Is This For?
This conference is designed for people who are curious about leadership and group life, including:
- Leaders, managers, and supervisors in any sector
- Clinicians, educators, organizers, and consultants
- People working in complex systems such as healthcare, education, nonprofits, and corporate settings
- Anyone interested in deepening their understanding of how groups function and how they show up in those groups
No prior group relations experience is required for member participants.
Location
The Connors Center
20 Glen Street
Dover, MA 02030
The conference is residential. Participants live and work together at the Connors Center for the duration of the event. Lodging and meals are coordinated through the conference so that participants can focus on their learning and participation in the temporary institution. (Specific room rates, lodging details, and travel information are available on leadershipgrc.com.)
If you would like to explore the conference in greater depth before registering click below
