I HAVE ATTACHED 2 DISCUSSIONS PLEASE READ ND GIVE A SHORT RESPOND TO EACH. DO NOT PUT TOGETHER.

DISCUSSION 1

The collaborative process requires leaders and teams that are transparent, passionate, knowledgeable, resourceful and dedicated to the shared vision. To be an effective collaborative leader, authors Mattessich and Johnson recommend establishing channels of open and frequent communication between the organizations to build rapport, mitigate conflict, and inform stakeholders of important updates (2018, pp. 96). Forbes writer, Goudreau (2013), advises leaders to hire diverse, passionate, and smart individuals that will add valuable viewpoints to the collaborative process. Effective leaders also possess the ability to evaluate, adapt, and make improvements when necessary.

When change is transformed into opportunity, leaders learn to be flexible and open to continuous learning (Mattessich & Johnson, 2018, pp. 94-96). Effective collaborative leaders are respected by community partners and their colleagues for their resourcefulness. Establishing a network of resources gives the leader the ability to negotiate terms that benefits all stakeholders directly and indirectly involved. Collaborative efforts should be for the betterment of the community and surrounding areas. I believe that these aspects of leadership encourage respect from colleagues, buy-in for the project, maintenance of partnerships, and dedication to securing funds for the materials and staff power it takes to accomplish the mission.

Part II
My experiences have taught me valuable principles, competencies, and skills that make me an effective leader and collaborator. I am passionate and honest about the work I do. I love helping my team be the best it can be, and effectively collaborate with them to accomplish our program goals. I have held a position of leadership in nearly all my work experiences, and have gained meaningful lessons from my mistakes and successes. Six plus years in retail sales, taught me how to mitigate conflict and negotiate in a way that builds relationships.

Although, I am confident in my abilities to be a leader, I understand that theres always room for self-reflection and growth. I would like to grow in a leadership capacity in the field of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Which led me to pursue knowledge of Organizational Leadership here at Claremont Lincoln University and Accounting at Evans Community Adult School. My next goal is to learn about human resource management at CSULB in Fall 2021. Education is the key to success.

I believe I have acquired a new set of skills that make me an effective collaborative leader through my educational journey at CLU. Through my studies, I have gained the ability to practice mindfulness, learned to embrace change rather than to cower in fear, and learned the value of dialogue that leads to creative solutions. Most importantly, in this course, Ive learned what it takes to make collaborative projects succeed. In my line of work, Im constantly looking to build and maintain professional relationships with community resource centers, high school counselors, adult school advisors, and community colleges. This course and the material helped me identify ways to understand where I have been, where I am now, where I am going, and how to get to where I want to be (Goudreau, 2013). I have worked in sales and education, Im currently advising youth in their academic and employment goals, and I want to make an impact in higher education someday in the future. Completing my Masters degree is a step toward my professional goals

References

Goudreau, J. (2013, March 21). Eight leadership lessons from the worlds most powerful women. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2013/03/21/eight-leadership-lessons-from-the-worlds-most-powerful-women/  (Links to an external site.)

Mattessich, P. W. & Johnson, K.M. (2018). Collaboration: What makes it work (3rd ed.). St Paul, MN: Wilder Publishing Center, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. ISBN-13: 978-1683367918

DISCUSSION 2

Collaborative leadership is defined by a process, rather than by what leaders do. In my opinion, a collaborative leader reminds me of both servant leadership and transformational leadership. According to David Chrislip and Carl Larson, in Collaborative Leadership, from the premise that “if you bring the appropriate people together in constructive ways with good information, they will create authentic visions and strategies for addressing the shared concerns of the organization or community.”

An effective collaborative leader must be a problem-solver and decision-maker. It is not the leader’s job to decide what to do and then tell the group. Instead, in collaboration, the group considers the problem, decides what to do, and counts on the leader to focus their effort. Another aspect of an effective collaborative leader would be trustworthiness and a trust builder, which helps to strengthen the relationship of the group or organization. It is vital that a collaborative leader uses an open forum process and encourages discussion and dialogue, building trust among those involved in the partnership. A collaborative leader must be able to help with emotional support, able to deal with conflict. Conflict can surface in any relationship and become personal in a group or team structure. Having strong interpersonal communication skills will help if a conflict presents itself. Healthy relationships are built on respect and belief in the other person. Respecting other’s opinions is key to an effective leader in collaboration. 

Part 2: Answer the following questions: do you possess the principles, competencies, skills, and knowledge base of a collaborative leader? What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader? Analyze your leadership abilities and create a strategy for improvement. What steps will you take and what methods will you employ to improve your skills and competencies?

I believe that I am an effective leader and possess the skills and knowledge to be a collaborative leader. I also think that those skills have to continue to be nurtured and refined from time to time. Spending the first half of my adult life in the military leadership was instilled in me every step of the way. Being a leader requires an individual to accomplish the mission or task by providing direction, purpose, and motivation to others. I believe being a leader and being a collaborative leader requires two different mindsets and skills.

When it comes to leadership, the leader is solely responsible for the team’s success and failure. A team that he or she has had time to grow, nurture, and understand each other’s everyday habits. A collaborative leader must bridge gaps and build other leaders and their organizations without fully understanding their team’s internal structure. In collaboration, there is a higher chance of miscommunication leading to breakdowns. In the collaborative process, they must help solve issues and problems outside of their immediate circle by having other partners express their thoughts.

One of the weaknesses that I am currently working on fixing is multitasking and not saying no. Multitasking can be great if the quality of work produced does not suffer. I will try to accomplish as many things as possible in one day and have a hard time saying no if asked to take on additional tasks along the way. Which, in turn, places me and my mission and work behind. To ensure I stay on task, I have started to ask questions before taking on additional duties. For example, I am asking if they are time-sensitive, and what is the suspense date? I have also started to say no if what is asked affects my timeline before giving a blind yes. My strength as a leader is that I am told I am a good listener and caring even if I am not about to help individuals with their problems. I believe that everyone can benefit from mentorship, so I have several who help me stay focused and grounded. I continue to educate myself by attending conferences, and talking self-study course focused on being mindful and socially aware. But, having a strong mentor and coach has helped me the most thus far in life.

References:

Collaborative Leadership (2020, October 1). In Community Tool Box. Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/leadership-ideas/collaborative-leadership/main

PLEASE RESPOND TO THE QUESTION BELOW.

3- Is there a way to change weaknesses into strengths?