The Power of Authentic Engagement NH SSIP Team Meeting December 16, 2016 Joanne Cashman, Ed. D. joanne.cashman@nasdse.org 703-519-1501

“ People support what they create” Margaret Wheatley

Stakeholders: Who Are They? They know the issue from different perspectives: They contribute through: Internal External* Authority Influence * If they are a stakeholder... are they really external to the work?

Convening: A New Leadership Skill Convening is: More than a meeting More than facilitation The beginning of a relationship focused on practice change Bringing people together in face to face and virtual ways is just the start…we have to find ways for people to contribute…and help them do it! This is the new role as a convener……we are talking about convening across school and community efforts ..and sometimes across agencies…a ‘system convener’ role So…why convene? We need to become allies in making the changes to practice stick…we have evidence based practices…but face continual challenges to implementation and fidelity...no group, agency or organization can do it alone. Predictable changes in leadership make it critically important to have deep understanding in the field that will help the work go on across leadership changes. In the connected world we live in now…stakeholders expect to be engaged…to have a role. If we do not engage them authentically and as allies in accomplishing goals…..we risk having opposing groups undermine efforts with misinformation

Leading by Convening: Framework for Authentic Why do we need a Leading by Convening framework?

Let’s look a popular tool for Coalescing: Four Simple Questions How might this tool be useful during the stages of implementation described in the SSIP?

Four Simple Questions Who cares about this issue and why? What work is already underway separately? What shared work could unite us? How can we deepen our connections? This tool works for almost every situation ..it can help state teams, local teams, stakeholder groups and individuals think through the nuances of collaboration. This tool is a classic and can and should be used as the ‘go to’ tool whenever boundaries must be crosses to begin a collaboration....or

Let’s look a popular tool for Relevant Participation: Engaging Everybody How might this tool be useful in thinking about an implementation science approach to teaming, in the SSIP?

Relevant Participation Has Several Faces: Range, Frequency, and Role Power differential Supporters and critics Players at different levels of scale Frequency: Episodic or ongoing Predictable interaction, sufficient to build relationships Often enough for stakeholders to take roles Role: Fixed or shared leadership roles Everybody comes as a learner

Engaging Everybody Engagement means finding ways that many people can contribute to the common work. Although they may all be involved, they all do not contribute in the same ways. This tool helps teams to understand how stakeholders may want to be engaged and define the work that they will do in support of the goals.

Dissemination Networks Extended Participants Leading by Convening Ensuring Relevant Participation Dissemination Networks Core Team Key Participants Extended Participants Key Advisors Feedback Network Stakeholder Groups: __________ Reflections:

Levels of Participation Convene the group. Take responsibility for structuring each convening and follow up. Plan and monitor interaction. Create engagement strategies. Organize activities. Communicate with decision makers. Oversee review and evaluation. Dissemination Web Act as regular contacts for information on the issue. Give advice and help the core team sense issues and adapt activities in a variety of contexts. Make opportunities for the work to be reviewed within their personal networks. Bring their personal network information back into the work of the Core group. Promote the cross-stakeholder approach to problem identification and problem solving. Join the core team periodically when their expertise is needed Extended Partners   Key Participants   Core Team Volunteer to become involved and represent the perspective of their organization and/or network. Bring the perspective of their role and/or organization into the work. Bring important learnings back to their networks. Identify opportunities within their networks to showcase the learning. Hold both their organizational identity and the group identity while interacting with the group. Identify other practitioners and family members who may become active Key Advisors Feedback Network Receive information. Redistribute information through newsletters, news blasts, meetings, etc. Submit information from newsletters, news blasts, meetings, etc. Customize messages for their particular audience. Communications Links

Create Your Description: Levels of Participation Dissemination Web Extended Partners   Key Participants   Core Team Key Advisors Feedback Network Communications Links

Levels of Participation Where do you see yourself? My Choice for Participation: 1st _________________ 2nd _________________ 3rd________________ Dissemination Web Extended Partners   Key Participants Your Name: Your Contact Information Phone: Email:   Core Team Key Advisors If not you; who? Name: Contact Information Phone: Email: Feedback Network Communications Links Source; Adapted from LbC by the AZ Office of Exceptional Children Activity : Decide what levels of engagement are appropriate for you

When People Change ... Systems Change. Be the change! Shape your brand! This tool focuses on the leader and their vision for the agency or division they lead. What they want and what they are willing to do to achieve it. What they know about themselves and what they are wiling to learn about their leadership style. It is adapted from business...but permits good insights by educators.