Foundations of Collaborative Leadership

AEE Conference 2009

Laurie Frank

GOAL Consulting

www.goalconsulting.org

The Tightrope WalkerOnce there was a tightrope walkerwho performed unbelievable aerialfeats. All over Paris, he had donetightrope acts at great heights. Hefollowed his initial acts withsucceeding ones, while pushing awheelbarrow. A promoter inAmerica (sic) heard about this and

wroteto him, inviting the daredevil toperform his act over the waters anddangers of Niagara Falls. Headded, “I don’t believe you can doit….

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The tightrope walker accepted thechallenge. After much promotion andplanning, the man appeared before a hugecrowd gathered to see the event. He was

tostart on the Canadian side and walk to theAmerican side. Drums rolled and everyonegasped as they watched the performer

walkacross the wire blindfolded with awheelbarrow. When he stepped off on theAmerican side, the crowd went wild. Thenthe tightrope walker turned to the

promoterand said, “Well, now do you believe I cando it?”

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“Sure I do,” the promoteranswered.“I just saw you do

it.”

“No, no, no,” said the tightropewalker. “Do you really believe ICan do it?”

“I just said I did.”

“I mean do you really believe?”

“Yes, I believe!”

“Good,” said the tightrope

walker, “then get in thewheelbarrow and we’ll go

backto the other side.”

Tim Hansel

GOALS• To expand a knowledge base and

understanding about collaborative leadership

• To participate in a dynamic community building and collaborative leadership development process

• To explore the idea that collaborative leadership is as much a way of being as it is a skill set

• To enjoy oneself and each other• To share expertise and ideas with

colleagues

OUTCOMES• Differentiate between cooperation and

collaboration• Relevant and evolving definition of

leadership• An awareness of fundamental beliefs and

collaborative leadership qualities • Ideas for developing collaborative

leadership skills & attributes with students• A sequence and description of

activities/exercises that can be used to teach & explore collaborative leadership skills

AGENDA

• Introduction

• Framework

• Exploration of collaborative leadership

• Action Planning

• Closing

GROUND RULES

• Assume Good Intentions

• Ouch/Oops

• Right to Pass

• When in doubt, check it out

“Leadership is elusive, but I know it when I see it!”

What is collaboration?

What is leadership?

What is collaborative leadership?

What is Collaboration?

Y

O N M

U X D A

C R L Z H

K J E G I P

S B Q T F V W

B

R Q P

X A G D

K U O J C

N M H F L S

V T E W I Y Z

Elements of Collaboration (from our sharing after the Alphabet Team activity)

• Opportunity to plan• Draw on strengths• Everyone did their part• Trust that people did what they said• Intentionality• Knew your task• Cooperatively competitive element: “real work”

(Katzenbach and Smith)• Stating needs• Didn’t want to let the group down

• Pressure – self imposed accountability

• Chose not to push self – did what I did

• Might have over-relied on others – didn’t take on as much

• Worried about making mistakes

• Cover for each other

• Sense of relief – could focus

Cooperation

Concert, joint action, co-acting, commonality, concurrence,

joining of hands, common effort, common enterprise or endeavor

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

Collaboration

Comparing Cooperation and Collaboration

• 2nd and 3rd times – 2nd was more cooperation, 3rd was more collaboration

• Cooperation is part of collaboration

• Relationships seem important in collaboration

• Intentionality

• Sharing resources – collaboration is more of an active sharing - intentionally

• Cooperation moving to collaboration

• Collaboration implies a holistic process from beginning to end – visioning, doing, finishing

• Cooperation may be more event driven or getting something done

• How an individual comes into a group. Cooperation is more autonomous. Collaboration is more of agreeing to be part of a group. More of a commitment.

• Co-operate is to operate together. Co-llaborate is to labor together. (Thomas-Kilman)

• Can you have collaboration if not all are cooperating? Collaboration may suffer, but it is still possible, but may not be as strong.

• Leadership paradigm: Collaboration may be more about ideas rather than tasks – larger framework – short term/long term – goes deeper. (ban bottled water vs. how can we be sustainable)?

• Cooperation allows you to “check-out” and not be involved. Collaboration requires participation from many people or all people in the group.

What is Leadership?

Traditional Leadership Styles

Autocratic

Democratic

Laissez Faire

Situational® Leadership

Stage 1: Directing: Low responsibility, Low independence

Stage 2: Coaching: Low responsibility, Medium independence

Stage 3: Supporting: Medium responsibility, Medium independence

Stage 4: Delegating: High responsibility, High independence

From your experience, and given what we have done, what is leadership to you?

Think/Pair/Share

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 WIExecutive Director, Wisconsin Leadership

Institute

What is Collaborative Leadership?

Think of a person you admire for their leadership

skills/qualities. What are those skills/qualities?

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 WIExecutive Director, Wisconsin Leadership

Institute

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.

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

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.”

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.”

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

Information:

Collaborative Leadership Network: www.leadershipskillsandvalues.com

Frank, L., Carlen, C. and Christ, J. (2008). Leading Together: Foundations of Collaborative Leadership. Oklahoma City, OK: Wood ‘N’ Barnes Publishing.

GOAL Consulting: www.goalconsulting.org

LSFrank@mac.com