Making Leadership Collaborative 2012 Wisconsin Leadership Conference

1. Making Leadership Collaborative2012 Wisconsin Leadership Conference Laurie Frank GOAL Consulting

2. The Tightrope Walker Once there was a tightrope walker who performed unbelievable aerial feats. All over Paris, he had done tightrope acts at great heights. He followed his initial acts with succeeding ones, while pushing a wheelbarrow. A promoter in America (sic) heard about this and wrote to him, inviting the daredevil to perform his act over the waters and dangers of Niagara Falls. He added, “I don’t believe you can do it…. 2

3. The tightrope walker accepted the challenge. After much promotion and planning, the man appeared before a huge crowd gathered to see the event. He was to start on the Canadian side and walk to the American side. Drums rolled and everyone gasped as they watched the performer walk across the wire blindfolded with a wheelbarrow. When he stepped off on the American side, the crowd went wild. Then the tightrope walker turned to the promoter and said, “Well, now do you believe I can do it?” 3

4. “Sure I do,” the promoter answered.“I just saw you do it.” “No, no, no,” said the tightrope walker. “Do you really believe I Can do it?” “I just said I did.” “I mean do you really believe?” “Yes, I believe!”

5. “Good,” said the tightrope walker, “then get in the wheelbarrow and we’ll go back to the other side.” Tim Hansel

6. OUTCOMES • Differentiate between cooperation and collaboration • Relevant and evolving definition of leadership • An awareness of fundamental beliefs and collaborative leadershipprinciples • A sequence and description of activities/exercises that can be used to teach & explore collaborative leadership skills

7. AGENDA • Introduction • Framework • Collaboration and Cooperation • Definitions of leadership and Collaborative Leadership • Principles of Collaborative Leadership • Closing

10. Collaboration & Cooperation

13. Collaboration • Collaboration • Planning • Division of duties (delegation) • Strategy • Top notch brains • Repetition • Narrow the focus • Common vision • Leveraging strengths

14. Cooperation Concert, joint action, co-acting, commonality, concurrence, joining of hands, common effort, common enterprise or endeavor

15. Collaboration Concur, harmonize, go into partnership with, get together and team up and buddy up, pull together, hold together, hang together, keep together, stand shoulder-to-shoulder

16. Definitions of Leadership & Collaborative Leadership

17. Think/Pair/Share From your experience, and given what we have done, what is leadership to you?

18. Leadership is a reciprocal process of encouraging and supporting people in the pursuit of goals shared by members of a group, organization, or community. Jack Christ, Chair Leadership Studies Ripon College, Ripon WI Executive Director, Wisconsin Leadership Institute

19. Think of a person you admire for their leadership skills/qualities. What are those skills/qualities?

20. Collaborative leadership is a reciprocal process of encouraging and supporting relationships within which people can pursue a variety of shared goals over extended periods of time. • Jack Christ, Chair • Leadership Studies • Ripon College, Ripon WI • Executive Director, Wisconsin Leadership Institute

21. Leadership is a reciprocal process of encouraging and supporting… Collaborative leadership is a reciprocal process of encouraging and supporting… …people in the pursuit of goals shared by members of a group, organization, or community. … relationships within which people can pursue a variety of shared goals over extended periods of time.

22. Fundamental Beliefs of Collaborative Leadership • Everyone has the capacity to lead • Leadership comes from within a group • Leadership takes place in the context of relationships • In order to lead, one must have the opportunity to lead • Leadership involves risk taking • Leadership involves an action orientation • Learning to lead is a journey

23. Principles of Collaborative Leadership

24. Principles of CL • Is focused on the good of the group… • Is aware that the talents, skills, and gifts of each member… • Respects the shared vision of the group… • Is not afraid to … learn …or try new things for the good of the group. • Is aware that followership and leadership go hand in hand… • Tries to contribute to balance and diversity in the group…

25. Principles of CL • Prefers face-to-face communication … • Respects and supports each member of the group as much as possible, even when not sharing that member’s perspective. • Recognizes that collaboration is not simple cooperation with others… • Understands that collaboration is not always necessary… • Celebrates successful collaborations…

26. I Went on a Search I went on a search to become a leader. I searched high and low. I spoke with authority, people listened. But at last there was one who was wiser than I and they followed him/her. I sought to inspire confidence but the crowd responded, “Why should we trust you?” I postured and I assumed the look of leadership with a countenance that glowed with confidence and pride. But the crowd passed by and never noticed my air of elegance. I ran ahead of the others pointing new ways to new heights. I demonstrated that I knew the route to greatness. And then I looked back and I was alone. “What shall I do?” I queried. “I’ve tried hard and used all that I know.”

27. And then I listened to the voices around me. And I heard what the group was trying to accomplish. I rolled up my sleeves and joined in the work. As we worked I asked, “Are we all together in what we want to do, and how we’ll get the job done?” And we thought together and we struggled towards our goal. I found myself encouraging the faint hearted. I sought the ideas of those too shy to speak out, I taught those who knew little at all. I praised those who worked hard. When our task was completed, one of the group members turned to me and said, “This would not have been done but for your leadership.”

28. At first I said, “I did not lead, I just worked with the rest.” And then I understood -- leadership isn’t a goal. I lead best when I forget about myself as a leader and focus on my group, their needs and their goals. To lead is to serve, to give, to achieve together. • Anonymous

29. “I am because we are... … we are because I am.” ~ African Proverb

30. LSFrank@mac.com www.goalconsulting.org Laurie Frank GOAL Consulting