Leading Together: Growing and developing collaborative leadership practice (March 2022)

We were joined by 15 fellow collaboration fans and champions, and maybe a few collaboration curious and cautious, for our one-day event for North East Together members and others to grow and develop collaborative leadership practice in the north east.

With the event we set out to build on and explore what we (NET members) have created in whole network events, learn from others, and create new tools and understanding. We looked to move from theory to practice together, and each leave with an understanding of our collaborative leadership strengths and a plan for what we need to develop and how we might do this.

What got up to

1. Welcome to the day and preparing to work well together

We each choose an image to capture our interest in/understanding of collaboration, and in turn we shared answered three prompts: What motivated you to come here today? What do you hope to learn? What can you offer others?

2. Our framework for thinking about collaborative leadership

• How we got here: learning about learning — sharing our North East Together story from imagining in a cafe in early 2013, to our first whole network event in November 2014, and (22 whole networks events later) to our first one day Leading, Together events. We summed up some of the impact of the network including contributing to North East England Climate Coalition being formed; the first North East Collaboration Conference (180 attendees) leading to the Collaboration Action Fund funding eight ambitious new collaborative projects; and, training 44 coaches some of who went on to form the North East Coaching Collective, coaching for social change in the north east
• What we need to focus on: seven key issues and considerations for successful collaboration — creating a collaboration framework as part of the Collaboration Action Fund research (and what the NET collaboration framework is adapted from)
• What does it take: reflections on styles, skills, qualities and characteristics of collaborative leadership — sharing the outcomes of NET’s 18th whole network action inquiry event February 2020. Where over 50 people in seven groups generated responses to prompt: ‘What collaborative leadership is required to…’ for example, ‘…identify triggers or motives for collaboration’ and to say what we need to START, KEEP and STOP doing

Collaborative leadership: from theory to practice

It was time for everyone to take a break from listening to us and talk with and listen to each other. We worked in small groups to explore the collaborative leadership framework areas, and then to feedback their conversations. We created massive templates — one for each element of the draft collaboration framework — for a four-step process to capture the following

• Step 1. Knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective practice
• Step 2. In practice, how could we approach this issue? How you might deal with it, how you’ve approached it in the past, and what else you might need to think about
• Step 3. Processes, tools and techniques that already exist. What do you know that might help, what you have used in the past, what might you have used for something else that you can re-purpose for this?
• Step 4. Designing a new tool, process or technique (a few of the designs are below)

In the group feedback, we asked: What learning, thoughts or questions have you taken from this exploration? Is there anything you would do differently next time?

The templates and tools, techniques and process design work were written up and shared with the participants, and will be incorporated into the collaboration toolkit.

Introduction to the NET collaboration toolkit (version 1)

We shared version 1 of the toolkit, explored it together, each of the NET team shared their favourite tools, and answered questions.

Collaborative leadership self-assessment and development planning

We created a self-assessment tool, summarised from the knowledge, skills and behaviours noted on the massive templates earlier, which we completed and then reflected on in pairs, sharing what we’d each look to work on after the event.

Check-out for learning and ongoing connection

We revisited the photos chosen during check-in and asked: How has your thinking about collaboration developed? What are you taking from today? How are you feeling as you leave today?. There were a few goosebump moments during the check-out.

Emerging North East Together collaboration framework

Using Dr Jo James’ collaboration framework as our starting point, we made a few tweaks to create a new NET collaboration framework. There’s more about this in Work in progress: NET collaboration toolkit to grow our collaborative leadership practice.

Co-creating the North East Together collaboration toolkit

We shared our first version of the NET collaboration toolkit with all the participants. It was quite something to hold it in our hands and give it out as like a gift to everyone. Following the event, we’ll be working on version 2 of the collaboration toolkit incorporating the collective wisdom shared by event participants, which we’ll take the June events and repeat the process again.

Gathering feedback

We asked just three questions as feedback, and here’s a few of the comments we’ve received so far.

1. Looking back…what stood out for you the most from the event?

It’s been a couple of weeks, so thinking back to the day, being in the room together, being immersed in collaboration, what stood out for you the most?

• Meeting so many interesting people! It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many like-minded individuals.
• The stimulation and sense of wellbeing which comes from being in a room of like-minded people after such a long time, especially because of being in a different area than in March 2020

2. Since the event…what have you done?

In the last couple of week, we’re really curious to know what you’ve done. This might be using something from the toolkit, talking to your colleagues about it, changing your approach to how you work, or something else. We’re interested no matter how tiny. We’re also interested to know if the answer is ‘nothing’.

• I have spoken briefly to my colleague about the session, but am looking to take the information to ourmeeting next week and use some of the information to inform the agendas for the next few meetings/CPD sessions. I haven’t made as much time in the diary to revisit the work as I would have liked so I am going to try and scratch out some time going forward.
• Reviewed the toolkit and considered possible use of one or two models. Spoken to two colleagues about how best we can engage with wider group.

3. Looking ahead…what would you say to June’s potential participants?

We’re running the day again in June, what would you say to potential participants? This might be to encourage them to come or what you would have loved to know before the day or something else.

• It’s a great way to spark (or re-ignite) your passion for collaboration.
• A good time of coming together, to begin to consider how we can productively work with others in a new moment post pandemic.
• The session is well run, in a supportive environment and offers lots of opportunity for shared practice and discussion. There are things that I can take away and use straight away and other areas things I can adapt and use in the future.

If this has sparked your interest, bookings for the June event are open!

Our reflections

At the start of the event, we said we wanted it to feel informal, conversational, generative and fun. We wanted to raise awareness and understanding, generate new insight, and to be purposeful and focused on the bigger picture, which is to grow and develop collaborative leadership practice across the north east and beyond. We also said we’re learning together, alongside and from each other — drawing on all our knowledge and experiences. I think we did this. And enjoyed ourselves in the process.

After a few giddy moments being reminded of what makes up an in-person event — biscuits, badges (though these were nearly forgotten! *gasp*), massive templates, sharpies, people (most of all) — we did some great work. And I had fun setting up a massive template writing up station to cope with A0 sheets with multi-directional boxes…though I had a few funny looks from my cat (not pictured).

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who came. Your collective wisdom and willingness to share were what made the event so brilliant, and will mean our (North East Together’s) collaboration framework and toolkit will be even better.

We are very grateful for support from North East Youth Alliance (NEYA), Thriving Communities social prescribing network in the north east and Yorkshire and Yes We Can for co-funding places to enable those from the small VCSE organisations and people working independently for social change to take part. And for support from Newcastle University Business School for the room and refreshments through the day. This was very much appreciated.

About North East Together

Our collective mission here at NET is to create the conditions, and platform for, collaboration to become the norm in the north east and to nurture a healthier social change system. Together we can do this.

Our upcoming events

• NET Connect: Knowing me, knowing you and aha moments! 12 May, online (free)…an event to bring together North East Together members and network friends to connect, grow and nurture our relationships
• Leader and manager as coach: A one-day training programme for leaders and managers to develop coaching skills plus network and community of practice, 26 May, online (£150)
• NET x Human Learning Systems pop up events: A three event series all about Human Learning Systems from dipping your toe in to getting stuck in with the learning systems toolkit, all free events. The dates are 7 June, 21 June and 5 July
• Leading, together: Growing and developing collaborative leadership practice, 22 June, 09:30–16:30, in person (£125 with some reduced places at £65)

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events. If you’d like to know more about our work, get in touch.

Stephanie

For the NET team Cisse Tsang, Dr Jo James, Marie Foalle, Robert Laycock, Stephanie Cole