We recently posted the Leadership and Race synthesis and are working with the writing partners to develop the publication. The Leadership and Networks synthesis outline has also been posted. We would like to engage you in discussion and questions that can strengthen these publications.
The first section will address the leadership challenges of the social sector that are exacerbated by autonomous nonprofits with executive leadership focused on organizational survival. The second section will share what network forms of leadership that are being experimented with in the social sector and highlight what supports success and what challenges arise. The third section will discuss network leadership competencies that are critical for leading in the connected age (I.e., hyper communication, global integration, complexity of system problems) The fourth section will describe what leadership development supports are needed to catalyze and unleash the power of networks. This is a shift from thinking about how to sustain networks connections. The fifth section will focus on how to evaluate network leadership, with a particular focus on how network leadership catalyzes collective action.
Imagine relationships of trust likes pipes through which ideas, information, resources and accountability flow. The more open and connected these relationships are, the more easily conversation and dialogue can happen, and people can align their actions with what others are doing. Clay Shirky once famously said “if you want to know where new interesting useful ideas are going to come from, don’t look at crowds and don’t look at individuals, look at small groups of smart people arguing with each other Innovation, creativity, and serendipity -- the cornerstones of progress and change-- thrive in environments where accountability exists in working relationships not in the exercise of authority and control. Investing limited resources where there is energy and momentum building has great breakthrough potential Limit investment in building organizational and institutional infrastructure because these are hard to change and dismantle; forms need to support the emergence of new ideas, new relationships, and other sources of innovation and creativity.