1. Collaborative Leadership and You!
Dr. Susan Camarena
Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer
Federal Transit Administration

2. (this morning, very early!)
What We’re Talking About Today
(this morning, very early!)
A little about Hispanics in Transportation (HIT)
Why this Topic?
A little about me
Defining Collaboration and Leadership
Traits of Collaborative Leaders
Collaborative Framework
Barriers to Collaboration
Looking in the Mirror
Discussing our Reflections
Summary and Questions
This is an interactive session!

3. The professional forum for communicating to the Secretary of Transportation the interests, issues or concerns of the Hispanic workforce within DOT to aid in advancing the DOT diversity agenda.
Promotes diversity and cultural awareness; promotes the exchange of ideas; and provides advocacy and support for its members as they seek professional development and growth opportunities within the DOT.
Focuses on the professional development and retention of the current Hispanic DOT population, and the recruitment of qualified Hispanics for DOT agencies.
THANKS TO YOU!

4. Let’s relearn it together! We can learn from each other!
Why This Topic?
We, not me
Making a Difference
Sustainable Change
NOTHING NEW HERE!
Let’s relearn it together!
We can learn from each other!

5. A Little About Me Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer
Promote techniques that
Avoid “Reinventing the Wheel”
Encourage knowledge exchange to learn
Provides professional and personal development
Encourages employee engagement
Collaboration is key to new ideas and success
Connecting and sharing for new ideas

6. Knowledge Management in Action Practical Application of Best Practices
The Far Side © cartoon and my heading as displayed outside my office

7. Despair.com© poster displayed in my office

8. Collaboration Defined*
Collaboration Defined
Working with each other to do a task and to achieve shared goals.
Sharing knowledge, learning & building consensus.
Teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.
Most collaboration requires leadership
* Wikipedia

9. Leadership Defined *
A process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.
Organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal.
A leader is simply somebody people follow, or somebody who guides or directs others.
* Wikipedia

10. Taking a deeper dive

11. Seven Key Collaboration Factors
A shared, specific interest or purpose they are committed to and cannot achieve on their own (or as well).
WANT to pursue a collaborative solution now and are willing to contribute something to the effort.
The appropriate people are at the table.
There is an open, credible process.
There is a passionate champion (or champions) with credibility and clout.
There are trusting relationships.
The partners use the skills of collaborative leadership.

12. Collaborative Leadership
The Collaboration Framework
Appropriate People
Champion
High Priority
Collaborative Leadership
Relationships
Shared Goals
Open Process

13. Five Qualities of Collaborative Leaders
Feel driven to achieve the goal through collaboration with a measured ego.
Listen carefully to understand other’s perspectives.
Look for win-win solutions to meet shared interests.
Use pull more than push.
Think strategically; connect the project to a larger purpose.

14. Barriers to Collaboration
Ego
Concern that exchange won’t be reciprocal
Silo Mentality
Different goals
Lack of time
No perceived reward for collaboration
Power Imbalances
Lack of resources or competition for resources
Lack of trust or history of antagonism
Different Cultures
Fear of losing control, autonomy, mission, resources, quality
Turf

15. Looking in the Mirror
What are the most challenging aspects of collaboration for you? For your agency?
What are your strengths as a collaborative leader? What would you like to improve?
How do others view your collaborative interests and abilities? How do you want them to view them?
For a project or for your work group: what would help your collaborative team move from being a set of individuals to having a team identity? That is, from me to we?
What can you do today to use collaboration skills daily? At this conference, work or home?

16. Collaborative Framework
Collaborative Leadership Traits
Collaboration Barriers

17. Discussing Our Reflections

18. Questions or Comments
Contact Information 18