Learning From and Contributing to Constituents

The four central elements of working with constituents: Listening Responding to hopes and concerns Inspiring constituents Delegating work

Active listening: Paying full attention to what a person is saying. Thinking about their comments. Asking questions or making comments that reflect the thought you are putting into what they are saying.

Nonverbal communication is: Always present. Up to 90% of what we communicate. Culturally derived.

Responding to hopes and concerns: Wield influence honorably. Learning to carefully choose between competing desires.

Inspiring to thought and action: Leading by example. Being an ethical model for others.

Delegating work: Decide what needs to be done. Divide work into manageable tasks. Decide who will do each job. Communicate that decision. Explain the task. Offer assistance. Thank them. Spread out the work.

The role of constituents: Show initiative. Assume responsibility. Hold leadership accountable. Recognize that leaders are human. Take on a leadership role, as appropriate. Leave, when necessary.

Working together: Understand that both roles shape the other. See the other as a human. Work with mutual respect. Have an appropriate level of decision making. Remember the common purpose.