Building a Strong Regional Team Module Three

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 MemberMajor Sector/Interest Area the Person Represents Example: Joanne SmithBusiness (Banker) Example: Dr. Barbara JonesEducation (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 The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

What is Needed? Effective Collaboration TrustShared VisionRelationship Communication

Benefits of Collaboration Shared resources Expanded perspectives Potential for greater positive results Increased number of relationships

Building Toward Collaboration Collaborating Cooperating Coordinating Networking Trust Effectiveness

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 benefits 3 3

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