Building a StrongRegional Team

ModuleThree

Reflecting on the Previous Session

• What was most useful from the previous modules?

• What progress has your group made since the previous session?

• Any comments or questions about the previous session?

In This Session We Will:

• Consider the composition of effective regional teams

• Develop a call to action• Examine small group

development • Explore successful

regional collaborations

Green Light/Red Light

• Organizations to which you currently belong

• Organizations of which you once were a member

Why I Joined and Why I Left

What Can We Learn?

How can we apply these lessons to our partnership?

Building Your Team

A Strong Regional Team

• Prepares for obstacles• Assesses group composition• Engages more partners• Promotes action• Advocates

Who Is at Your Table?Who Else Should Be?

Regional Team

Members

Business &

Industry

Local, Regional Government

Education

Nonprofit, Voluntary & Faith-Based

Groups

Local Residents

Who Else Should You Invite to Join?

Name of Team Member Major Sector/Interest Area the Person Represents

Example: Joanne Smith Business (Banker)

Example: Dr. Barbara Jones Education (Comm. College President)

POWER

INTEREST

Power and Interest

Source: J.M. Bryson (2004)

Building Your Regional Team

• Can influence the success of the strategy• Have the skills necessary for implementation• Have resources helpful to the group• Are respected leaders of key sectors• Will spread the message and encourage buy-in• Represent emerging industry sectors• Represent diverse populations

Source: Know Your Region

INVITE INDIVIDUALS WHO…

Call to Action: Basic Principles

• Communicate regional needs and challenges

• Describe purpose• Provide reason for action• Identify timeline• Make sure plans are clear

and understandable

Source: Know Your Region

GROUP DEVELOPMENT

How Groups Often Form

Forming

• Testing the group out• Looking for reactions• Orienting to the task• Determining the ground rules• Depending on leaders• Guarding hidden ideas and opinions• Asking “Why are we here?”

Storming

• Conflict and polarization • Group anxiety• Lack of group unity• Competition for position

and power• Resistance to group tasks• Ineffective problem

solving

Norming

• Trust forming; cohesion builds• Purpose becomes well defined • Hidden agendas become open• Group norms and ground rules

established and accepted• Team gains commitment from

members on direction and goals

Performing

• Group energy channeled• Roles become flexible and functional• Structural issues have been resolved• Group becomes a problem solving instrument• Differences safely aired and resolved• Members take pleasure in the success of the

team - “We” replaces “I”• Trust high• Goals accomplished

Is This Exactly How It Goes?

No. Group Formation Is Fluid.

BUILDING REGIONAL

NETWORKS & COLLABORATIVES

Collaboration Math

1 1 3

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

What is Needed?

EffectiveCollabora

tion

Trust

Shared Vision

Relationship

Communication

Benefits of Collaboration

• Shared resources• Expanded perspectives• Potential for greater positive results

• Increased number of relationships

Building Toward Collaboration

Collaborating

Cooperating

Coordinating

Networking

Tru

st

Effe

ctiv

enes

s

Barriers to Collaboration

• Governmental or “turf” boundaries

• No “big” view of benefits

• Control & trust issues

• Old rivalries

Building a Strong Regional Team

• Big initial success• Small, but powerful group• Attendance dropping• Key leaders leaving• Controversy over priorities and

membership

Challenge

• What changes should the collaborative make?

• How can the collaborative manage the concerns of multiple groups?

• What mistakes did the collaborative make?

Collaboration Expansion

• New organizations or individuals

• Potential barriers

• Potential benefits3

Effective Regional Leadership:The Seven Habits

1. Be proactive

2. Begin with the end in mind

3. Seek first to understand, then to be understood

4. Put first things first

5. Think win-win, be inclusive

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen the saw

Source: Council on Competitiveness (2010)

Final Reflections What are the takeaways from our module?

• What topics did you find most helpful?• What did you find confusing?• What do you hope to implement as part

of your regional team’s activities?• Other items you want to mention?

Looking Ahead . . .

In Module Four, we will:• Review the important

attributes of a good vision statement

• Develop/refine your team’s vision statement

• Begin considering possible regional directions

Homework for Module Four