Collective Leadership for Scotland

What does it take to lead in times like these?

What does it take to lead in times like these?

Areas of Work

Working and leading in times like these requires us to find new approaches to harness the skills and capacity from across our system to address the many complex issues we face.
Collective Leadership for Scotland is a collaborative network which draws colleagues from across our public services to help collaborate on complex, systemic issues in service of wider public service transformation.

The Collective Leadership for Scotland team and partners currently focuses on the following areas of work:

Facilitation Development

The Collective Leadership Programme has eight live participant sites across Scotland, with over 25 in active discussion.

With the programme continuing to grow, we look to recruit and support experienced facilitators on a bi-annual basis to work with the teams on site to help them solve the complex issues they’re trying to address.

Who we are looking for

We recognise the importance of skilled facilitation in enabling leaders to become aware of diverse perspectives. This programme will be best suited to those who have some experience of working with complexity and are open to reflecting on their own practice and a willingness to share learning.

The offer

A 4 day residential programme from 17th to 20th November 2020 at Murrayshall near Perth.

The facilitation programme will not be focussed on a technical programme of tools and techniques.  It will be about the use of self within the group experience and how to create the conditions for groups to learn and work better together. On-going peer support and training, to be co-designed with the facilitators themselves.

After running our successful residential programme for two consecutive years, we are considering a new resourcing method and organisations may be asked to make a contribution this time round. We will keep this page updated, along with notifying applicants, as we progress.

The ask

You will be willing and able (with any necessary permissions) to facilitate at least one partnership group.  Allocation of work will be done in conjunction with a member of the team after a supportive discussion with you about your readiness.

Facilitation is focused upon the real, complex work that teams are doing and so there will not be one model that works for all teams.  As a guide, however, participation as a facilitator in the Collective Leadership Programme may involve working for around 6 to 12 months with a team on the complex issue they are trying to address.  This could be a pattern of monthly meetings with the partnership team, where the real work is done, but where some time is also set aside to focus on what is being learned about Collective Leadership.

Application

To apply, please download and complete the Leader and Facilitator Programme Application form and send it to Karen Lawson at Karen.Lawson@gov.scot by 30th September 2020.

Those who’s applications have been successful will then be invited to the interview stage of the process.

One Thing At A Time

One Thing At A Time

Introduction

During this unprecedented global situation, the Collective Leadership for Scotland team has been reflecting on what its response and offer should be. Our first instinct was to rush to “do” something, but we’ve taken the opportunity to reflect, read, speak to partners and listen to thought leaders in the system and have found an appetite for some focussed learning and practice around some key themes. We fully recognise the fear, anxiety and overwhelm of this time and thought it would be useful for us to provide some space and time to slow down, work at depth and move away from the frenetic pace all around us. As a team, we want our response to be helpful, we want to stay present and available and to create “islands of sanity”, which are defined by Meg Wheatley as creating the safe conditions for people to do meaningful work.

More on the Development of this Programme

Overview of Themes

The Three Horizons

This work has been produced in collaboration with Graham Leicester from the International Futures Forum.

To '3 Horizons' Resources

Navigating with Action Inquiry

Our ‘Action Inquiry’ theme has been created in collaboration with Dr Cathy Sharp.

To 'Action Inquiry' Resources

Cultivating a Stable Mind

These mindfulness materials and resources have been kindly generated by many interested in mindfulness and working in different roles across public services.

To 'Stable Mind' Resources

Leading in Unknowing

A series of online learning opportunities with Martin Kalungu-Banda, creating short but in-depth opportunities to learn and reflect together on our leadership at times of unknowing.

To 'Leading in Unknowing' Resources

Supportive Practices

Recognising the very difficult circumstances that many colleagues are working in at present, a really important aspect of this offer is to share a range of approaches and practices that could be tried out by colleagues, either individually, in pairs or small groups. These might create a route for reflection, support and connection or might simply create an opportunity to try something new and have a different experience.

We have made a range of resources available to provide colleagues with simple guidance and information on how to get involved. Have a look at them now!

To our Supportive Practices

Supportive Practices

Supportive Practices

Recognising the very difficult circumstances that many colleagues are working in at present, a really important aspect of this offer is to share a range of approaches and practices that could be tried out by colleagues, either individually, in pairs or small groups. These might create a route for reflection, support and connection or might simply create an opportunity to try something new and have a different experience.

In suggesting these, we are drawing upon practices which have been important in our Collective Leadership work and where we have found that the small amount of time that is invested can lead to quite significant effects. We are also hopeful that creating brief opportunities for colleagues to have different kinds of conversations and experiences at this time may help in making sense and meaning from the things going on around us and offer some alternative routes to achieve the kinds of connections that we may feel are currently lacking.

We will make a range of resources available over the course of our “One Thing at a Time” themed weeks to provide colleagues with simple guidance and information on how to get involved. The practices will include:

Practices

Dialogue Walks

Self-organised

A structured conversation where two individuals take the time for a walk (during their daily exercise, around the house or sitting in a quiet spot) where they commit to the intention to
share and listen deeply for a longer-than-usual amount of time.

What is a Dialogue Walk and how to do it online:

For everyone who is new to Dialogue Walks (and how to do them online), we have written a blog post which gives suggestions on how you can do your Dialogue Walk.

To Blog Post

Get our Dialogue Walk Card:

Your companion for when you go on your walk.
Download it for free to your phone or print it out! 

To Resource

Creative Exercises and Challenges

Self-organised

In lockdown, days can feel a lot more repetitive. Combined with spending a lot more time in front of screens, you may be feeling a lack of motivation or general unease. Taking a few minutes to do something different and creative can help. Using creative approaches can also help us to uncover different possibilities.

Pack of Creative Exercises & Challenges:

Some handy information cards with creative practice ideas that you can try with your team, or by yourself.

To Resource

Empathic Listening

Facilitated

There are many definitions of empathy and ideas about what it is. Rather than more discussion this webinar is focused on the experience of empathy. Being deeply heard is a powerful experience that can stay with us. In this space of acceptance we find our own inner resources, solutions and move forward.

Slidepack for Empathy: The Magic of Deep Listening

Download the slidepack for Shona Cameron’s online session, held in May, here.

Download Slidepack

Guided Journaling

Facilitated

You are taken through a series of questions, one at a time, and given a short amount of time to write down whatever comes up for you. Can provide insight into what is going on for you and what is important to focus on at a given time.

Guided Journaling Online Sessions:

We offer free guided journaling sessions online.
Get your pen and notebook ready, and sign up to your session!

Recordings will be made available soon.

Mindfulness Session

Self-organised

Developing a stable or settled mind takes time and practice. A focussed, quiet mind will enable us to see more clearly, be aware of biases and judgments and enable us to make wise
decisions. These short sessions will guide you through a mindfulness practice.

Cultivating a Stable Mind:

As part of our programme ‘One Thing at a Time’, we will be hosting two weeks under the theme of ‘Stable Mind’, including guided audio practices.

Cultivating a Stable Mind

Case Clinics

Facilitated

A tightly structured technique similar to an action learning set, where a participant brings a challenge they are facing and are coached by their colleagues to find a way forward.

What are Case Clinics:

The Presencing Institute offers some resources on Case Clinics, including videos and a downloadable pdf-toolkit. The link will lead you to their online resources.  

Learn more

Come to our Case Clinics:

If you are interested in this offer, please do get in touch with us via the link to the right.

Contact us

Base Camp Groups

Self-organised

A group that agrees to meet regularly to reflect on the day and what they are learning. Suggested light structures for the group to follow are available.

What are Base Camp Groups?

Are you interested in joining a Base Camp Group?
If so, please do let us know via the link to the right.

Contact us

Co-Inquiry Groups

Facilitated

As we introduce our Themed weeks the Collective Leadership for Scotland team members have been formulating some inquiry questions for ourselves as we move through this pandemic season. Part of the reason for developing the questions is that we wanted to bring to the fore the role of action inquiry in our work and take some time to engage in the practice of learning in real time for ourselves and as a team in this unique set of circumstances.

Join our Co-Inquiry Group:

If you would be interested in taking part in this co-inquiry, please let Dot know. (Dorothy.mclaughlin@gov.scot)

You can learn more about this invitation at the bottom of our ‘One Thing at a Time’ webpage.

Get in touch with Dot

Leadership and Facilitation Programme

Leadership and Facilitation Programme

17 - 20 November 2020

Covid-19 Update: It is hoped that, given the uncertainty with Covid-19, this programme will go ahead as planned.
More information will follow on the plans to extend this programme to leaders in public services working to tackle complex issues as well as those who are interested in extending their facilitation skills.

“This was the most amazing course I have ever been on in my 17yrs in Public Sector.
It challenged me and took me to a depth of work that I never expected but was very open to.
I am truly honoured to have been part of such a wonderful group of people from Scotland that took part. ”

Anonymous Participant

The complexity of the challenges we face today across society including issues like enduring poverty and inequality and climate breakdown calls for a different response from public service leaders: a collective leadership approach to bring about transformational changes where answers emerge from collective sense-making. This type of leadership requires self-awareness, the ability to suspend judgement, work in uncertainty and to surface and work with diverse perspectives. Leaders who have in their sights on the health of the whole system not just their organisation or area of responsibility, who can build relationships through deep listening and learn through taking action and reflecting.

There is an increasing appreciation that this is challenging work and therefore requires skilled support and new ways of learning to do this well. Key to shifting to this way of working is to have skillful facilitation embedded with groups of leaders who are seeking to bring about change in real, specific, complex challenges.  There is also recognition that leaders need to develop the capacity to understand their role in whole systems and become more relational and facilitative in their leadership practice.

To meet this expanding need, Collective Leadership for Scotland has developed a Collective Leadership offer, drawing and strengthening connections to other systems leadership offers in public services.

New Collective Leadership for Scotland Strategy Model.
To learn more about us, have a look here.

Facilitation for Collective Leadership – Thought Piece Mini-Series
For a long time we have struggled to articulate the process of facilitation that we believe to be important when working with collective leadership groups tackling complex issues. This art of facilitation doesn’t just lie with those who have a title of ‘facilitator’ but is also key to leadership practice. Over the next few months we will be sharing experiences and thinking around facilitation in complexity, with the view that we can tentatively make the “intuitive, tacit and unconscious” ways of knowing more visible.

Read more on Facilitation for Collective Leadership

Leadership & Facilitation Programme

As part of the development of this Collective Leadership offer, we are bringing experienced facilitators and leaders together for a 4-day residential programme to deepen their own leadership/facilitation practices.

Who we are looking for:

This programme will not be focussed on learning technical tools and techniques.  It will be about cultivating greater insight in the use of self within the group experience, creating  the conditions for groups to learn and take better action together.  This programme will be best suited to those who have some experience of working with complexity and are open to reflecting on their own practice and willing to share their learning.

The ask

Of Facilitators

On completion of the programme, you will be willing and able (with any necessary permissions) to facilitate at least one sustained intervention with a group of collective leaders seeking to address a real, complex cross-partnership problem. This could be a group that you have already been working with or supporting.   Allocation of work will be done in conjunction with a member of the Collective Leadership for Scotland team after a supportive discussion with you about your readiness. Facilitation is focussed upon the real, complex work that teams are doing and so there is not one model that works for all teams.  As a guide, however, participation as a facilitator in the Collective Leadership site may involve working for around 6 to 12 months with a team on the complex issue they are trying to address.  This could be a pattern of monthly meetings with the partnership team, where the real work is done, but where some time is also set aside to focus on what is being learned about the process of collective leadership and the wider system. Ongoing support will be provided throughout this period by members of the Collective Leadership for Scotland Team

Of Leaders

For those in a leadership role the expectation would be that, following the programme, you would actively implement the learning in your work, with a particular focus on complex issues which require a collective leadership approach. This would mean taking up an explicitly systemic and inquiring stance to your work. The opportunities for this would be discussed prior to the programme and consultancy for this work would be provided by the Collective Leadership for Scotland Team.

Please note, this programme is still available to those who wish to develop their facilitation  or leadership practice but are not able to offer their time to the Collective Leadership Programme. The  cost is £2000 +VAT.

Please feel free to contact collectiveleadership@gov.scot to discuss your options if you aren’t clear about which route is best for you.

Application to Programme

All candidates for the programme are required to complete the application process. Read more on the application process below.

Please complete the application form below and send to collectiveleadership@gov.scot by 30th September 2020

To Application Form

Collaborative Work with Margaret Wheatley

Collective Leadership for Scotland has been exploring and building capacity for Collective Leadership in Scotland for many years now. The new skill set that this leadership environment requires includes a level of personal mastery, sometimes missing from leadership development efforts.
It is this area of personal mastery which Meg Wheatey focuses on in her work.

Recent Blog Posts

Life-affirming leadership: Developing the skills of insight and compassion

by collectiveleadershipscotland

We need leaders who put service over self, who can be steadfast in crises and failures, who want to stay present and make a difference to the people, situations and causes they care about. Margaret Wheatley (‘Who do we choose…

Read More Life-affirming leadership: Developing the skills of insight and compassion

The Development of ‘One Thing at a Time’

by collectiveleadershipscotland

By Janet Whitley, Team Lead for Collective Leadership for Scotland Our small team works to develop leadership practice around complex issues, recognising the critical importance of working collectively in pursuit of complex outcomes.  In more normal circumstances, we are out…

Read More The Development of ‘One Thing at a Time’

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