Adaptive Leadership &The Adaptive Leadership &The Possibilities of Small Groups: Possibilities of Small Groups:

Facilitation, Dialogue, Facilitation, Dialogue, Cohesion, and Co-Construction Cohesion, and Co-Construction

(Responsibilities, Behaviors, Challenges)(Responsibilities, Behaviors, Challenges)Jane Lister Reis

North Seattle Community College

OPENING EXERCISEOPENING EXERCISEWhen you think of the word “leader”, what When you think of the word “leader”, what image comes immediately to your mind?image comes immediately to your mind?

Jot down the words that describe your Jot down the words that describe your imageimage

and then share with your group. and then share with your group. Compile a composite leadership image to Compile a composite leadership image to

share share with the class.with the class.

What do we discover?What do we discover?

OPENING EXERCISEOPENING EXERCISEWhen you think of the word “leader”, what When you think of the word “leader”, what image comes immediately to your mind?image comes immediately to your mind?

Jot down the words that describe your Jot down the words that describe your imageimage

and then share with your group. and then share with your group. Compile a composite leadership image to Compile a composite leadership image to

share share with the class.with the class.

What do we discover?What do we discover?

A New Understanding of Leadership

An image of a today’s leader is not a top-down one, but one in which the leader is a “resonant and responsive node in a dynamic network or field of

energy and an agent of emergent possibility” (Daloz Parks, Sharon.

Leadership Can Be Taught, x-xi).

A New Understanding of Leadership

An image of a today’s leader is not a top-down one, but one in which the leader is a “resonant and responsive node in a dynamic network or field of

energy and an agent of emergent possibility” (Daloz Parks, Sharon.

Leadership Can Be Taught, x-xi).

““Facilitation is a way of providing Facilitation is a way of providing leadership without taking the reins. leadership without taking the reins.

As a facilitator, your job is to get As a facilitator, your job is to get others to assume responsibility and others to assume responsibility and

take the lead” (Bens 2000).take the lead” (Bens 2000).

““Facilitation is a way of providing Facilitation is a way of providing leadership without taking the reins. leadership without taking the reins.

As a facilitator, your job is to get As a facilitator, your job is to get others to assume responsibility and others to assume responsibility and

take the lead” (Bens 2000).take the lead” (Bens 2000).

My learning about My learning about group facilitation came group facilitation came

from the river:from the river:

Concept of BalanceConcept of Balance

My learning about My learning about group facilitation came group facilitation came

from the river:from the river:

Concept of BalanceConcept of Balance

Small Groups are organic living systems that need

tending, seek balance, and function best

with diversity.Like a swamp, they are complex, contain many hidden elements, are

important for our survival, and function

interdependently.

Facilitator Attributes1

• PROCESS—structure– “organized” – “sense of direction,” “goal orientation”

• CONTENT—FLC focus, outcomes– “knowledgeable” – “enthusiastic,” passionate about teaching/learning – “curious,” “eager to learn”

• RELATIONSHIPS—harmonizer, “soft skills”– “listener” – “open,” “non-judgmental” – “assertive,” “firm,” “courageous” – “motivator,” “personable”

2323

1717

4646

2121

1616

7777

1Qualitative Study done at Otterbein College, Leslie Ortquist-Ahrens, 2008

At Start

At End

Four concepts:• Authority vs. Leadership• Technical Problems vs. Adaptive Challenges• Power vs. Progress

• Personality vs. Presence

1Leadership Can Be Taught, Sharon Daloz Parks

Facilitator as Adaptive and Collective Leader1

“Today’s complex conditions require acts of leadership that assist people in moving beyond the edge of familiar patterns into the unknown terrain of greater complexity, new learning, and new behaviors, usually requiring loss, grief, conflict, risk, stress, and creativity” (Daloz Parks, 9).

Authority vs. Leadership

Technical Problems vs. Adaptive Challenges

“Adaptive challenges often appear as swamp issues — tangled, complex problems composed of multiple systems that resist technical analysis and thus stand in contrast to the high, hard ground issues that are easier to address, but where less is at stake” (Daloz Parks, 10).

Power vs. Progress

“When leadership is understood as an activity, there is less attention to be paid to the transactions of power and influence and more attention given to the question of whether or not progress is being made on swamp issues” (Daloz Parks, 10).

Personality vs. Presence

“…the multifaceted capacity to be present becomes a key factor in effective leadership: the quality of one’s capacity to be fully present, comprehend what is happening, hold steady in the field of action, and make choices about when and how to intervene in ways that help the group make progress on swamp issues” (Daloz Parks, 11).

• Authority vs. Leadership – do you want to rotate the role?

• Technical Problems vs. Adaptive Challenges – what is the adaptive challenge your group faces?

• Power vs. Progress – how will you measure progress?

• Personality vs. Presence – how will you stay present? What group activities will keep your group focused, present and on

task? (Social and Task Balance in Groups)

Questions about Facilitator as Adaptive and Collective

Leader?

• How do we create a safe, respectful environment (where our most authentic selves can be present)?

• Co-constructing a shared commitment to the vision, goal and process of the group

• What will keep us present and focused? Maintaining clarity and depth of common purpose

Elements of a Strong Holding Environment: Creating a Living

Field

Individual task:Reflect upon your participation in a group you are

currently in.List the strengths you wish to hold onto and

contribute (your natural abilities)List what qualities you would like to build on and

practice in the future? (your growing edge)What norms or values will ensure you fully

participate? (together these create your success plan)

Creating a Cohesive, Interconnected Group

Group task:Share your lists with others in your group.

Build a “group success plan” that lists your group’s norms and values. This list should be generated from a process of listening and dialogue.

Role of Reflection

Bens, Ingrid. Advanced Facilitation Strategies: Tools & Techniques to Master Difficult Situations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 2005. Print.

Daloz Parks, Sharon. Leadership Can Be Taught: A Bold Approach for a Complex World. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 2005. Print.

References