Leading Change: Three Ways to Get Out Ahead Executive Director Consortium Texas Council of Community Centers 11/1/2012 Erin O’Toole Murphy Collaborative Action

3 Levels of Organizational Challenges Technical Challenges Strategic Challenges Adaptive Challenges Degree of Complexity Speed of Change Adapted from Ronald Heifetz & Donald Laurie, 1997 Organizational challenges are becoming increasingly adaptive in nature. As we move toward greater complexity, our challenges retain aspects of the previous levels. ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com

The Path of Adaptive Challenges Stability Instability Reintegration Disintegration Collaboration High Trust Learning Risk Tolerant Joint Problem Solving Feedback Seeking Local Control Allow Emergence Diversity Open Relationships Connectivity Testing Admit weakness Clear Direction & Alignment Identify Problems High Standards Results Hierarchical Control Confusion Secrecy Denial, Blame, Justify Sabotage/Self-Protection Isolation Duplicated Efforts Fear & Distrust Hoarding Holding On To Old Ways Mistakes Not Tolerated Conflict Rampant or Suppressed Low Commitment No Accountability No Results ©Erin O’Toole Murphy, 2008 Spiraling paths aren’t pretty paths. The strength of the predominate cultural attributes determines whether an organization adapts or not. ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com

3 Levels of Leadership Agility Co-Creator & Synergist (~5%) Catalyst (~5%) Achiever (~34%) Articulate an innovative, inspiring vision Facilitative by bring together right people to generate creative solutions Develop other in a culture of participation Expert (~45%) Strategic, outcome oriented Motivated through big-picture challenge Level of Agility Tactical, problem-solving Respected for authority & expertise Pre-expert (~10%) Focus Accountability Direction Engagement Compatable Challenge Leadership influences culture. Because each leadership level is best suited for a specific type of challenge, catalyst leadership best fosters adaptive culture. Joiner & Josephs, Leadership Agility, 2006 ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com

3 Leadership Communication Practices Clear Accountability Compelling Direction Facilitative Dialogue EXPERT ACHIEVER CATALYST Technical Challenge Strategic Challenge Adaptive Challenge Effective leaders employ the communication practice that suits the challenge. Adaptive challenges demand all three practices at some point. ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com

3 Leadership Communication Practices Provide: Clear desired result Measurement Level of importance Level of authority Resources available Others involvement Communication frequency / mode Due date Background/Context What must end The cost of continuing The ideal future state The benefits of the future state What’s next Foster: Advocating for one’s point of view Inquiring into understand other’s point of view Inviting inquiry into your own assumptions Resolving differences Clear Accountability Compelling Direction Facilitative Dialogue Strong leaders improve their communication skills and expand their range of practices. ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com

What To Do Now As you increasingly face adaptive challenges… Understand the type of challenges you face Know your default leadership approach Get better at a wide-range of leadership and communication practices ©Collaborative Action 2012, www.collab-action.com