The Leadership Challenge How to make extraordinary things happen December 4, 2013 Presented by: Susan B. Wilkes, Ph.D. Wilkes Consulting, LLC

Goals 1. Gain a working knowledge of the model in The Leadership Challenge and its component parts 2. Increase understanding of your own leadership style 3. Strengthen your network of nonprofit colleagues “The danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it.” - Michelangelo

Outline I. Introductions & Overview II. The Leadership Practices Model A. Exemplary Leaders Activity B. The Five Practices Break IIISelf-Assessment on the Practices Lunch IV. Exploring the Practices

Introductions  Please introduce yourself to one other person you haven’t met before.  Find out these things: NameName Where they workWhere they work An aspect of their work they feel passionately aboutAn aspect of their work they feel passionately about A dream they have for the future in their nonprofitA dream they have for the future in their nonprofit A vision for our community (greater Richmond metro area)A vision for our community (greater Richmond metro area)  Be ready to introduce your partner

What is Leadership?  According to Kouzes and Posner, leadership is “the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.”  What are the key aspects of this definition?  What happens to the meaning if we take out “want to?”

Learning From our “Best Leaders”  Think of one of the best leaders you have known.  Interview a partner: What led you to select this person?What led you to select this person? What words describe the experience of working with him/her (the mood, quality, etc.)?What words describe the experience of working with him/her (the mood, quality, etc.)? What seem to be their key pathways to success?What seem to be their key pathways to success? What did they do to get other people involved? to get others to stretch to reach goals?What did they do to get other people involved? to get others to stretch to reach goals? What key lessons about leadership did you learn from the experience?What key lessons about leadership did you learn from the experience?  Next, agree on about 5 characteristics or behaviors that are most important in these exemplary leaders. Write each on a separate sticky note.

The Leadership Challenge Model  Based on research regarding how ordinary people accomplished extraordinary things  Gathered “personal best leadership experiences” from more than 2000 leaders.  Found that leadership is a pattern of behavior, a skill set, things that leaders do.  Affirmed through analysis of the LPI, finding that leaders’ behavior explains the majority of workplace engagement

Practices of Exemplary Leaders  Modeling the Way Clarify values by finding your voice and affirming shared values.Clarify values by finding your voice and affirming shared values. Set the example by aligning actions with shared values.Set the example by aligning actions with shared values.

Practices of Exemplary Leaders  Inspiring a Shared Vision Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilitiesEnvision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirationsEnlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations

Practices of Exemplary Leaders  Challenging the Process Search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and looking outward for innovative ways to improveSearch for opportunities by seizing the initiative and looking outward for innovative ways to improve Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from experienceExperiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from experience

Practices of Exemplary Leaders  Enabling Others to Act Foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationshipsFoster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships Strengthen others by increasing self- determination and developing competenceStrengthen others by increasing self- determination and developing competence

Practices of Exemplary Leaders  Encouraging the Heart Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellenceRecognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of communityCelebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community

Key Practices of Leaders at Their Best: How well does the model fit your experience?  With your partner, decide if each sticky note fits into one of the five areas.  If so, place them on the appropriate flipchart.  If not, place the sticky note on the “other” flipchart.

Exemplary Leadership in Action  Which of the five leadership practices does Whoopi demonstrate?  Note specifics of what she does for each. What are the effective behaviors she displays?  Comment on the impact she has on the team...\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Videos\Sister Act - Sister Mary Clarence Taking Over The Choir.avi..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Videos\Sister Act, Oh Maria.avi

Break Please return in 10 minutes.

Reflections on your leadership Please rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is low and 10 is high) on well you personally demonstrate each of the 10 commitments. Total your two ratings for each of the five practices. Then, circle what your answers will be for the next 4 slides.

Audience Response: Which of the five practices is your strongest? 1. Model the Way 2. Inspire a Shared Vision 3. Challenge the Process 4. Enable Others to Act 5. Encourage the Heart

Audience Response: Which of the five practices is your lowest right now? 1. Model the Way 2. Inspire a Shared Vision 3. Challenge the Process 4. Enable Others to Act 5. Encourage the Heart

Audience Response: Which of the five practices is most important for you to display in your role right now? 1. Model the Way 2. Inspire a Shared Vision 3. Challenge the Process 4. Enable Others to Act 5. Encourage the Heart

Audience Response: Which of the five practices do you most want to develop? 1. Model the Way 2. Inspire a Shared Vision 3. Challenge the Process 4. Enable Others to Act 5. Encourage the Heart

Exploring the Leadership Practices  Please complete the “Identifying Your Leadership Values” worksheet.  When ready, select two to discuss with a partner.

Lunch Please be ready to begin again in an hour.

We need a volunteer “leader” and 16 participants. Please help arrange 16 chairs in a circle around the table with chairs facing out. Exploring the Leadership Practices

Communicating Vision: “I Have a Dream”  In what ways does Dr. King both envision a future and enlist others in a common vision??  Very specifically, what did you see him do that makes the speech so effective? Please jot down a few notes about the behaviors you notice...\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Videos\Martin Luther King 'I have a dream'.mov

Exploring the Leadership Practices Looking outward for innovative ways to improve  60 to 80 percent of important innovations have been in response to market demands and needs  High performing teams have more communication with people outside their group; low performing teams cut themselves off from external information  The critical “OT” in “SWOT”

Challenging the Process: Involves change and movement  In the personal-best leadership experiences, participants chose to talk about times of change.  The most frequently used words were: challenging, rewarding, and exciting.  Words signifying passion (dedication, intensity, commitment, determination) and inspiration (inspiring, uplifting, motivating, energizing) also appeared regularly.  95 percent of the cases were described in these terms.

Partner Discussion With your partner, please discuss: 1) 1) A single key strength, weakness, opportunity and threat you are aware of related to your organization 2) 2) A “best practice” or innovative idea another similar agency uses 3) 3) An idea for a change initiative you want to lead (an existing change or new idea, large scale shift in strategic direction or smaller programmatic change).

Exploring the Leadership Practices  Coaching Skills: A key way to strengthen others  Using the skill of inquiry  R = Q x C (Results = Quality x Commitment)

Three Types of Questions 1. Open-ended a)Aim for 90% b)Use what or how c)Ask questions you don’t know the answer to 2. Closed-ended a)Watch leading questions b)Good for checking understanding 3. Why questions

Open-ended Questions Continuum

Asking Powerful Questions Judith Wilson, coach and author of Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Managers and Leaders..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Videos\Judith Wilson 'Simple Questions. Big Impact'.mp4

The Skill of Inquiry Clarify - what is important? Clarify - what is important? Possibilities – what are the options? Possibilities – what are the options? Action – what’s the first step? Action – what’s the first step? Practice Opportunity First think about a colleague at work and an issue they might want to discuss with you. With that situation in mind, circle 3- 4 questions from the worksheet that would help your colleague move forward.

Practices of Exemplary Leaders 1. Set clear standards 2. Expect the best 3. Pay attention 4. Tell the story 5. Personalize recognition 6. Celebrate together 7. Set the example

In your organization….  Who is someone who…. Lives out his or her values in a way you admire?Lives out his or her values in a way you admire? Reminds others of their sense of purpose or future possibilities at your nonprofit?Reminds others of their sense of purpose or future possibilities at your nonprofit? Comes up with great new ideas to improve things?Comes up with great new ideas to improve things? Is collaborative and/or trustworthy?Is collaborative and/or trustworthy? Offers encouragement and praise to others?Offers encouragement and praise to others?  How might you recognize him or her for their inspiring leadership?

Closing: A Game of Hope..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Videos\A Game of Hope.mp4