The spotlight was on Navigating and Influencing Community Systems as Leadership Niagara’s Class of 2023-2024 resumed their participation in the Community Leadership Development program for the new year.
On January 19, Learning Day 3 drew participants – professionals from across Niagara – to Niagara Health’s Weiland site where they had an opportunity to hear from two guest presenters.
Nature-centered leadership coach Alison Braithwaite led a thought-provoking presentation on Exploring Systems. Key takeaways included: everything is interconnected; systems thinking is about relationships; a simple change has ripple effects; systems become integrated into our identities; and how we have a responsibility to understand our interrelatedness as well as biases/ mental models.
Niagara Region’s Housing and Homelessness Action Plan Advisor Jeffrey Sinclair discussed Creating Sustainable and Transformative Change. He guided participants through the basics of collective impact and the levers of systems change using an interactive discussion and examples related to homelessness.
The Learning Day continued virtually on February 2 with a presentation on Crucial Conversations. Dr. Andrew Rutledge discussed how to identify crucial conversations (those with opposing views, strong emotions and high stakes), which are key to organizational, team and interpersonal success. He offered tools on how to return to healthy dialogue.
“Our stories create or emotions; we create our stories,” said Rutledge.
In a Crucial Influencer presentation, Organizational Development Consultant Julie Campbell introduced a six-source model activity to diagnose barriers to vital behaviours and what could be done to reverse them.
Program Advisory Committee member Michelle Ross led an engaging influencing activity based on the four TetraMap elements (fire, earth, water or air). Participants completed a TetraMap assessment at the beginning of the program last fall and their personal results were revealed.
Leadership Niagara has worked to develop community-minded leaders since 2007. The current cohort began their leadership journey in October with a focus on developing the skills and competencies required to be Inspiring Leaders – Building Community.
Over the course of the program, participants will complete a series of in-person and virtual workshops and interact with numerous Niagara leaders. They also have an opportunity to give back to the community through ongoing project teamwork in support of a local community group in addressing a challenge in their organization.
When they complete the program in June, the current cohort will join more than 400 proud alumni who live, work and give back to Niagara. Visit leadershipniagara.ca
