Leading From Within: Foundations of Collaborative Leadership

Milwaukee Public SchoolsOctober 14, 2013

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 andWrote to him, inviting the daredevilTo perform his act over the watersAnd dangers of Niagara Falls. Headded, “I don’t believe you can doit….

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The tightrope walker accepted thechallenge. After much promotionAnd planning, the man appearedbefore a huge crowd gathered to seethe event. He was to start on theCanadian side and walk to theAmerican side. Drums rolled andEveryone gasped as they watchedthe performer walk across the wireblindfolded with a wheelbarrow.

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When he stepped off on the American side, the crowd wentwild. Then the tightrope walker turned to the promoter andsaid, “Well, now do you believe I can do it?”

“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 tightropewalker, “then get in thewheelbarrow and we’ll goBack to the other side.”

Tim Hansel

Protocols

• Assume Good Intentions

• Ouch/Oops

• Make the experience work

• Right to Pass

• Others?

Opening Activities

• Paired Activities – p. 25• Get It Back• Quadrants

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 lifelong journey

AGENDA• Introduction• Exploration of collaborative leadership

What is Collaboration?What is Leadership?What is Collaborative Leadership?

• Connection to your situation• Closing

“We will surely get to our destination if we join hands.”

Aung San Suu KyiBurmese political leader

What is collaboration?

1.A Develop Group Cohesion, p. 20

1. Create basic ground rules2. Choose from the activities and process3. Have students keep track of activities4. Journal5. Shackleton Voyage6. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer7. Discussions about the two events8. Chart of productive & non-productive groups9. Create a Social Contract for the Class

1.C Differentiate Between Cooperation & Collaboration, p. 69

1. Create base teams2. Human Treasure Hunt3. Puzzles Activity4. Pi Chart for Cooperation5. ABC Pyramid Activity 6. Processing Questions7. Information about

Cooperation & Collaboration

8. Base Team Definitions9. Established Definitions

10. Revisit own definitions11. Guest speaker or

interviews12. Class puzzle on

Collaboration13. Vignettes14. Journal15. Rubric16. Channel Activity17. Self assessment using

rubric

Cooperation: 1+1 = 2Concert, 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: 1+1=3

What are your definitions of cooperation and collaboration?

ABC Pyramid Activity

Reflection Questions

Information on Cooperation & Collaboration + Definitions

Puzzle, Vignettes, Rubric, Self Rating

1.D Skills & Tools for Collaboration, p. 83

• Group Juggle with a Twist• Discussion• Create list of skills for productive group work

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.”

~ Dwight D. EisenhowerUS President and General

What is leadership?

2.B Compose a Personal Definition of Leadership, p. 169

1. Think/Pair/Share2. Paper about leadership role model3. Trade papers and discuss (groups of 3)4. Group Brainstorm5. Life skills that support leadership6. Journal – strong traits for self7. SMART goal around one life skill8. Journal – Personal definition of leadership

Think/Pair/Share

Who Do you admire as a leader and why?

1 Minute to think2 minutes each to talk and listen3 minutes to converse

2.D Explore Different Views of Leadership, p. 185

1. Leadership Egg Drop2. Discussion3. Traditional Views of Leadership4. Examples of when each is useful5. Situational Leadership6. Journal7. Acknowledged leaders8. Research 9. Collage10. 100-200 word caption for collage11. Gallery walk

Traditional Leadership Styles (p. 190)

Autocratic

Democratic

Laissez Faire

Situational® LeadershipStage 1: Directingresponsibility, low independence : Low

Stage 2: Coaching: Low responsibility, medium independence

Stage 3: Supporting: Medium responsibility, medium independence

Stage 4: Delegating: High responsibility, high independence

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

“Collaboration works when … leaders… keep the process going.”

~ Chrislip and LarsonAuthors of Collaborative Leadership (1994)

What is collaborative leadership?

3.C Use Collaborative Leadership Qualities & Values, p. 222

1. Balloon Frantic Activity (or Keypunch) 2. Discussion3. Qualities of a Collaborative Leader4. Self Assessment on C.L.5. Classroom Parts Activity6. Compare with C.L. Qualities7. Compare C.L. with Traditional/Situational (see p. 4-5)8. Ropes Course9. Journal10. Journal11. Plan a gathering

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

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.

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