1. LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE
Leadership Development for Transformative Change
Robert Gabriner, Co-Director LFM
Ireri Valenzuela, Coaching Coordinator

2. Why LFM?
Growth of student success and equity initiatives in California
Emerging roles of faculty, staff and middle administrators addressing reform and transformation
Need for a network among the 113 colleges of middle leaders
Absence of leadership development programs within California for middle level practitioners focused on substantive change for social justice
Focus on executive level training for administrators, faculty and staff;
Focus on career ladders
Focus on policies, laws, regulations and procedures

3. Why LFM?
Leadership development for California Community College middle leaders
Deans; directors; coordinators; department chairs;
All middle leaders with and without title
Founded in 2011 [Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges]
Seven Academies for over 380 CC practitioners from over 40 colleges
Two Co-Directors and a core LFM team of 15 facilitators/coaches, all CC practitioners

4. Leading from the Middle Academy
One-year academy with three components
Colleges send teams of 4-6 middle leaders
Three retreats of 2 ½ days each
Online activities
Coaching support

5. LFM Curriculum Making the Case/Using Evidence
Understanding and Analyzing Institutional Cultures for Successful Leadership
Building Teams and Coalitions
Engaging Resistance

6. LFM Curriculum Using Design Tools Failing Successfully Taking Risks
concept mapping, prototyping,
case studies and logic models
Failing Successfully
Taking Risks
Communicating Successfully

7. Failure
Choose a partner to identify a failed project to share with the group
Discuss the following:
How did you get past your feelings of personal failure?
What did you learn from the failed project?
Reports from the dyads
Group discussion

8. Coaching
“A Coach is someone who (1) sees what others may not see through the high quality of his or her attention or listening,
(2) is in the position to step back (or invite participants to step back) from the situation so that they have enough distance from it to get some perspective, (3) helps people see the difference between their intentions and their thinking or actions, and (4) helps people cut through patterns of illusion and self-­‐deception cause by defensive thinking and behavior.”
(Robert Hargrove)

9. LFM Coaching Framework
Theoretical Framework
Facilitative,
Directive
Transformational
Implementation Framework
Partner
Cheer leader
Critical friend “
Coaching community of practice

10. LFM Pedagogy - How Participants Learn
Smarts are in the room
Problem-based learning
Each team brings its college context and problems
Team time
Cross team time
Working collaboratively
Tools: case studies; stories; elevator speeches; visuals

11. I would describe it as a journey of self-discovery and development
I would describe it as a journey of self-discovery and development. Calling it "training" is almost misleading, insofar as there was little direct instruction and more reflection and guided activities. The bottom line is that one develops their leadership skills by DOING rather than by listening to others lecture or read about it.
Leading from the Middle Participant

12. Ten Insights from our Work in LFM
The moral imperative and the ‘why’ we lead are critical elements for leaders
Middle leaders are the key developers, implementers and sustainers of institutional change
Change process is complex and messy
Resistance is feedback
Failing successfully is a critical leadership skill

13. Ten Insights from our Work in LFM
Leaders must see and understand the bigger picture
Leadership is about collaboration, teams, coalitions; not solely about executive leadership
Practitioners need time away from campus to think and self-reflect
Substantive change is about the long haul and the capacity to understand the change process within your college
Leadership for change requires an understanding of how a change agenda promotes organizational coherence

14. For more information about Leading from the Middle
Bob Gabriner, Co-Director LFM
Ireri Valenzuela, Coaching Coordinator
Leading from the Middle website