The seeds of Community Trusteeship and The Inner Work of the Leader™ were nurtured in Montana six years ago during a presentation offered by Joanna Murray of Ki ThoughtBridge at a statewide economic development summit in Billings. Until then our economic development summits were great in getting people together, however, we lacked leadership in moving forward the concepts offered through the summit.
Tom Scott, the CEO at First Interstate Bank and chairman of the Economic Development Action Group appointed by Senator Baucus had some experience with the Leadership Wyoming Program and suggested that we take a look at their program as a possible example for Montana. Our organizing committee traveled to Casper, Wyoming to meet with Bill Schilling, the Executive Director, and several Leadership Wyoming participants. The testimony from participants regarding trusteeship and the Inner Work of the Leader™ offered through Ki ThoughtBridge convinced us that those concepts should be part of our program.
Bill also suggested that we attend the National Community Leadership Association conference in St. Paul in 2003 and it was there that we met Sallie Suby-Long, one of Ki ThoughtBridge's senior consultants for the first time. We also heard from national thought leaders including Bill Grace, Parker Palmer and Joel Barker. The concepts and themes articulated at the conference provided depth and meaning for how Leadership Montana could be organized. We will always be grateful for the mentorship of Leadership Wyoming to our program.
Joanna Murray and Sallie Suby-Long facilitated our organizing committee meetings throughout 2003, and early 2004, and together we launched our inaugural class in September 2004. We are now one of only three programs in the country licensed to teach Ki ThoughtBridge's Integrated Model of Leadership Development.
As they say, the rest is history…but it is a history that is having continuing impact on the state of Montana. We believe the decision to include the process of Integrated Work™ and the concept of Gracious Space1 as core components of the program, has had a huge impact on the development of a new type of leadership across our state.
When Leadership Montana began we hoped to empower participants to make a difference for their communities and the state. We had no idea how empowering this experience would be. Following are comments from class members with regard to the impact of Leadership Montana and their experience with the Integrated Work of the Leader™:
Leadership Montana has opened my eyes to a multitude of community success stories in our state that I did not know existed. I have benefited directly from the leadership training and I will continue to benefit from the example of the many community leaders I was privileged to network with throughout the program. It is clear to me from my experience in the program that Leadership Montana will be a catalyst for growth, partnerships and progress in our state as current and emerging leaders meet to discuss the challenges of our communities. (Local Police Chief)
Montana and the issues facing the state are incredible. Leadership Montana explores those issues in a manner which immediately enables it's participants to engage in the discussion and empowers them take responsibility in addressing the issues. The cohort of members in each class, and in other classes for that matter, learn to treat each other and these issues facing the state with the manner of stewardship it requires to successfully provide leadership. (Member, Montana Board of Regents)
My experience with Leadership Montana has strengthened my desire to engage in civil discourse as a means of having a positive impact on my workplace and community. Feeling as though business and community leaders from across the state valued my perspective has taught me that regardless of age, gender or background, we all have a place in guiding the future of our state. I believe this program will slowly change the nature of professional and political relationships in our state, and I am encouraged by the common ground we are able to find in our work sessions. (Staff, Governor's office of Economic Development.)
The 217 graduates in the program meet often. Alumni participate as speakers in class sessions throughout the year and at our annual graduation. Regional groups meet monthly and less formally through business and civic involvements. Our alumni provide sponsorships and speakers for every session and are by far our best recruiters. Graduates include City Councilmen and Women, County Commissioners, Legislators, Business Leaders, Educators and more.
We are transforming the way we work together, and serve together, as trustholders for Montana by offering our seasoned and emerging leaders the opportunity to learn and practice the tenants of an Integrated Model of Leadership© which include skills for: Understanding History, Reading Reality Truthfully, Holding in Trust®, Discerning Individual and Community Mission, Practicing Adaptive Skills, Creating Hospitable Space®, Respecting Diversity, and creating and sharing a compelling Vision.
One of our key goals was to build a common language for participants and we know we have succeeded when we hear in the halls of our state legislature, and in city halls across the state, key language and concepts drawn from the curriculum including: Leading In the Gap, Hold in Trust®, Discerning One's Mission and Gracious Space. There is a compelling connection between graduates and their commitment to serve the greater good and this has (and will continue) to support systemic change for the state.
ConclusionWe see evidence of our work every day from collaborative efforts to enhance education and economic development, to a noticeable change in the culture of the Montana State Legislature. This year a sense of civil discourse was clearly evident even though legislators tackled potentially divisive issues. Montana is a state of much diversity, eastern plains and western mountains, urban and rural challenges, Native Americans, native Montanans and those who recently have moved to our state. Such divides have been diminished based on shared experiences and a new understanding of trusteeship garnered through Leadership Montana. Our alumni accept their role as trustholders for the state and for one another and are disseminating this perspective in organizations and communities across the state, from Miles City to Missoula, civic trusteeship is taking root in Montana.
Source
1 Gracious Space: A Practiical Guide for Working Better Together by Patricia Hughes, Center for Ethical Leadership
About the Author
Sharon Peterson is the Associate Director of Leadership Montana.