If You Till It, They Will Come:Nurturing Collective Leadership

C U R T I S O G D E N / G I B R A N R I V E R A

Escape

When we get out of the glass bottles of our own ego,

and when we escape like squirrels from turning in the

cages of our personality

and get into the forest again,

we shall shiver with cold and fright

but things will happen to us

so that we don't know ourselves.

Cool, unlying life will rush in,

and passion will make our bodies taut with power,

we shall stamp our feet with new power

and old things will fall down,

we shall laugh,

and institutions will curl up like

burnt paper.

- D . H . L A W R E N C E

IISC is a nonprofit organization that works

for social justice and sustainability. We ignite

the power of collaboration by building

leadership capacity, fostering connectivity,

and facilitating concerted action. IISC

provides consulting, facilitation, network

building, leadership development, and

training services so that our clients can

innovate, think strategically and take vision

to action.

www.interactioninstitute.org

P H O T O : X I N E M

Why This? Why Now?

Increasing Complexity

ComplexityIt is less likely that a single individual will

come up with a single answer. It is necessary

to tap the wisdom, intelligence, greater

capacity of the collective.

Networks

Distributed NetworksRather than having everyone in the same

place and having everyone say something

then and there, we can create more

distributed (small world reach) situations,

where different leaders emerge over time.

Systems vs. Individuals

Systems vs. IndividualsWe often approach systemic problems and try

to resolve these as individuals. We need to

think about what we can do engage more of

the system to resolve complex issues.

Otherwise we experience the futility of our

narrow views and efforts.

What Brings You Here Today?

Where we’re coming from

T E C H N O L O G Y

O N T O L O G Y

C O S M O L O G Y

E P I S T E M O L O G Y

EpistemologyHolistic ways of knowing/being

(mind, body, emotion)

CosmologyEvolutionary and living systems

OntologyHuman being and becoming (development)

Technology/Methodology“Gardening” – with intentionality creating the

conditions for collective leadership to

emerge, while humbly acknowledging that we

cannot predict everything that will ensue.

Tilling the Soil

Organizing Ourselves

PurposeDirection

Desire

People

Stakeholder Analysis

Identifying StakeholdersWho is responsible for key decisions?

Who might block what we are trying to do?

Who has relevant expertise or information?

Who are the implementers of key decisions?

Who will be affected by what we are trying to

do?

Who will need to be informed about our

outcomes?

Invitation

P H O T O : C H R I S I N P L Y M O U T H

High Threshold InvitationInvitation is the call to create an alternative

future. What is the invitation we can make to

support people to participate and own the

relationships, tasks, and process that lead to

success? Be specific and provide some

hurdles. – Peter Block “I want you to leave your interests at the door. Because we’re

not solving a problem, you don’t have to represent your

constituency; you just have to show up and make contact.”

Narrative

Shared Leadership

Leadership Roles

Imaging

ImagingHow do living systems actually work?

What do they look like when they are

thriving?

What would this system look like if it were

thriving?

“For all of those aspects of life that this community needs in

order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we re-build

resilience.”

– The Transition Handbook

Storytelling

Storytelling–Active listening

–Public narrative (Marshall Ganz)

–Rich Pictures - pictorial storytelling (Peter

Checkland)

Platforms

Group Processes

“Social Technologies”

Social Media

“Governance”

Design Principles

Adaptability

Emergence

Contribution

Resiliency

Diversity

Sociocracy

ResourcesConnect on Twitter: @GibranX and @curtisogden

www.interactioninstitute.org/blog

www.interactioninstitute.org/workshops

Fritjof Capra - The Hidden Connections

Carol Sanford’s blog www.carolsanford.com

John Hagel’s blog www.edgeperspectives.typepad.com

Peter Block - Community: The Structure of Belonging

http://systems.open.ac.uk/materials/T552 (Rich Picture)

Berkana Institute - “The Art of Hosting” (social technology)

Clay Shirky - Here Comes Everybody (social media)

www.sociocracy.info (Dynamic Governance)