What makes a good leader for social change?

This training process guide is an excerpt from Building Power: A Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Who Want to Change the World. You can download the full guide from Original Power. 

Session Process Guide

Session Objectives

Provide a space for people to think about the role and qualities of leaders in social change

Time Required

1 hour

Resources Needed

Butchers paper and markers

How it is Done

This process can be done in groups or with individuals.

1. Creative visualisation: Ask people to close their eyes and picture someone you know who’s a great leader. What about their leadership is great? What makes good or effective leaders might be different for all of us. Think about what that is for you is and what the qualities are that make up good leadership. It might be about what they achieve, how they behave, the skills they offer and so on. Go back to the person you have in mind – how can you see those qualities? Where or when did you experience this person and their leadership? What is it about they way they act or lead? [5]
2. In small groups of four or five draw the outline of a person on butchers paper (you could do this people sized). Share some of the qualities you came up with in your group and draw them on the person [5]
3. Stay in your small group you could use some of these as prompts for discussion

• What does leadership mean to you?
• What do you see as the relationship between leadership and social change?
• What role should leaders be playing in social change? [15-20]

OR – If your focus is less on change making and more on people’s own roles as leaders you could include prompts like

• What are the barriers to you taking leadership?
• How do you become a leader in your community or campaign?
• How are leaders treated?
• How do or could leaders build confidence in others?

4. Re-group. Go around and share some of the highlights. Perhaps choosing one prompt per group to avoid repetition. [10]
5. You could share some of the insights from the leadership challenge (below) who offer five practices of great leadership. Could be done as a slide or read out loud [5]

Leaders for social change:

• Model the way
• Inspire a shared vision
• Challenge the process
• Enable others to act
• Encourage the heart

6. Wrap up. Any thoughts on this model? Ask people to share with the person next to you how you might look for or practice great leadership around you.

Source: Karrina Nolan Original Power and Jason McLeod Pasifika. Resources from http:// www.leadershipchallenge.com/about-section-our-approach.aspx

Handout: What makes a good leader for social change?

Model the Way

Leaders establish principles concerning the way people (constituents, peers, colleagues, and customers alike) should be treated and the way goals should be pursued. They create standards of excellence and then set an example for others to follow. Because the prospect of complex change can overwhelm people and stifle action, they set interim goals so that people can achieve small wins as they work toward larger objectives. They unravel bureaucracy when it impedes action; they put up signposts when people are unsure of where to go or how to get there; and they create opportunities for victory.

Inspire a Shared Vision

Leaders passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future.

Challenge the Process

Leaders search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve the organization. In doing so, they experiment and take risks. And because leaders know that risk taking involves mistakes and failures, they accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities.

Enable Others to Act

Leaders foster collaboration and build spirited teams. They actively involve others. Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts; they strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity. They strengthen others, making each person feel capable and powerful.

Encourage the Heart

Accomplishing extraordinary things in organizations is hard work. To keep hope and determination alive, leaders recognize contributions that individuals make. In every winning team, the members need to share in the rewards of their efforts, so leaders celebrate accomplishments. They make people feel like heroes.

Source:    http://www.leadershipchallenge.com/about-section-our-approach.aspx